CHAPTER 4

My Mythology Teacher is a Centaur

We helped Grover limp into the cave he was talking about. When we stepped in the darkness seemed to ripple and reveal what was really inside the cave. There was a veil that made passersby think it was just any other cave. There were 3 beds, 2 fridges, 1 sofa and some shelves full of books. We laid Grover down on the bed in the left. Percy flopped on the bed in the right so that would make the bed in the middle mine. "Annabeth," Grover croaked, "Can you get me some of those square food and brown juice in the first fridge?" I walked over there and opened it. There were many plates full of peach colored flat squares and I took 2 of them and poured some brown juice on a cup. I helped Grover sit up before I gave it to him. He ate them and almost immediately he looked much healthier and the bleeding on his wound stopped. He drank the last drop of juice before sighing contentedly. "What are those anyway?" I asked. "The square one is ambrosia and the brown juice is nectar. They are food for the gods. They help you heal easily but for us, half-god or made by gods, we should consume them only if we are severely hurt since if you eat too much you will burn." I winced. "Ooh." I saw Grover shiver a little and I pulled the blanket over him. "Thanks. I didn't really expect you to act this way." He said. "Huh?" was my smart reply.

"I mean I'm sure this is your first time seeing a satyr."

"Oh… so that is what you are." I laughed, "I was too scared about that hellhound that you almost looked normal. Besides, you don't seem like you mean us any harm so I am fine with it."

I smiled at him trying to lighten the mood and he smiled back. I heard my stomach growl and I felt my cheeks get hot. "Blaah-ah-ah!" Grover bleated, "There are plates and cups in the second fridge just tell them what you want to eat and it will appear." I smiled and I almost skipped towards the fridge because I felt excited. He was not kidding, was he? I sat on the sofa and said, "A chicken drumstick, a cup of rice and diet coke please." I laughed because it sounded like I was ordering in a fast food but my laugh was cut short when I saw the food practically grow from the plate and cup. "Percy, check this out!" I shouted. "Shhh!" Grover scolded me and pointed to Percy. He was fast asleep. I ate my food as I thought, 'I will be sleeping together with Percy in one room…" I nibbled on my spoon and squealed in my head. I gulped my coke to calm myself down. I finished my food and observed Percy as he slept. It was nighttime now. Wow, time moves so fast. Percy's hair was disheveled and moonlight hit his face making an illusion as though his skin was glowing dimly.

I saw him shiver and I walked over to him and covered him in a blanket. I pushed his hair away from his eyes and my hand lingered in his cheek a second longer. I heard him sigh and he shifted to a more comfortable position.

"Goodnight Grover." "Goodnight Annabeth. Sweet dreams." Grover replied, sounding very tired. I half-regretted waking him up.

I leaned down and whispered in Percy's ear, "Goodnight Percy."

I headed for the bed and lied down. I heard Percy sigh and whisper something that sounded a lot like my name then I drifted off to a dreamless night, the first in many months.

I felt fingers run through my hair. "Annabeth," a voice whispered, "Time to wake up." I groaned. I felt his hands travel to the back of my neck trying to pry me awake. I heard the chirping of birds and decided it was time to wake up. I opened my eyes and squinted in the sunlight. I first thing I saw was Percy's eyes. Wait… Percy? I sucked in a breath and shouted really loud. I saw Percy get off the bed and cover his ears. I got up still screaming. I looked around and then I stopped screaming. Oh yeah. I was in a cave with Percy and Grover. "Annabeth, you scream real loud, you know that?" Grover said, chuckling. I blushed. I had never blushed so much in my life. We ate breakfast and gathered our things.

I found this dagger strap in one of the shelves so I brought it along. At least I won't be worrying about that dagger wounding someone. We headed out and started to scout again. Fortunately, we didn't meet any monsters this time. We reached this big pine tree. It was beautiful but I somehow felt very sad looking at it. I shook the thought off. I looked up and I read the sign: Camp Half-blood. Half-blood? Oh yeah. My mother was Athena. I was a demigoddess. We walked in and we saw a beautiful strawberry field, volleyball court, infirmary, obstacle course, big house, camp fire, big forest and a bunch of other houses with different designs that was in a 'U' form.

"Wow." I hear myself whisper. Grover led us towards the small houses. "These are the houses for the different daughters and sons of the different gods and goddesses. You will live in the house of your father or mother but until we know who your parents are, you will be staying in the Hermes' cabin." Grover said. "But Grover, I am the daughter of Athena. Don't I have to go to the Athena's cabin?" I protested. Grover gave me an apologetic look and said, "The gods will be the one who owns you. They will give a sign to acknowledge you as their own." I pouted.

We were escorted to the Hermes cabin. The cabin was full of kids of all ages. "Determined or undetermined?" One boy asked. Grover sighed and said, "Undetermined." The kids groaned and one chuckled. "Welcome to Camp Half-Blood. This is a place where they train us demigods to fight so that when we grow up and live in the outside world, we will be able to fight off monsters. I'm Luke Castellan, Cabin leader and Hermes' son." The guy, Luke, said. He had dirty blonde hair and a big scar on his left eye. We shook hands with him and he gave us each sleeping bags. I was glad that I get to sleep beside Percy and not some unknown boy.

Luke gave us a tour around the camp and I had to admit, it was pretty cool. Kids were training at archery, sword fighting etc. We spent the whole day exploring camp and we were taken to the mess hall. It was where we ate. There was a small girl tending to the fire. Percy and I greeted her, "Hello." "This is Percy and I am Annabeth. What's your name?" I said. She smiled happily as though we were the first people to talk to her. "I'm Hestia. No one really bothers to talk to the girl who tends the fire." She says. "Hestia… That's a nice name. Won't you come eat with us?" She just chuckled and said, "I don't need to eat." I looked at her and she stared at me. I saw fire flicker in her eyes and I understood but I guess Percy was a lot faster. Percy bowed down and I followed, "Lady Hestia, we are terribly sorry. We didn't realize. You are Hestia the Goddess of the hearth." She smiled at us warmly and thanked us before telling us to hurry along.

"I'll give you a fun fact, the fire I tend gives the mood of the whole camp." She said before we sat down the Hermes' table. Naiads came and gave us each a plate of food and one cup. One by one the campers stood up and headed to the fire. They burned the best food on their plate, the juiciest strawberry, the meatiest beef leg.

I stood up too and asked Luke, "What are we doing this for?"

"We give our offerings to the Gods. They like the smell."

I walked up to the fire and offered the biggest piece of meat and prayed, 'Mother, please acknowledge me as your own and thank you for watching over us as we crossed the forest.'

I got a whiff of the burned food and it smelled great. No wonder the gods liked them. We headed back to our tables and started to eat. After we ate I heard a faint clop, clop, clop of hooves. We looked up and the campers greeted, "Good Evening, Chiron." I looked at the creature. It was half-horse half-human, a centaur. I looked at his face, he looked pretty familiar. I stared some more and gasped. Percy chuckled and whispered, "So that's how he knew." I shook my head in disbelief and said, "Mr. Brunner?" Mr. Brunner laughed and said, "In my world, They call me Chiron."