Chapter 8

Annabeth's POV

I panted. Sheesh! What up with these monsters! They're getting bigger everytime. Annoying things…. I continued to grumble, but then noticed a young girl. Percy was still unconicious, and everybody else besides Nico and Thalia had either fainted or rtreated back to camp. I sighed. Why am I always left to clean up the mess? Well, there is Nico and Thalia but- I was cut off from my grumbly thinking when the girl started to cry, hiding her face in her hands. I jogged over and put a hand on her back, then slowly stabilized her to a stand. Her legs were shaking, and she was wearing a ragged up pink short sleeved shirt and some blued jeans that had several rips in them. She wore taddered old sneakers, and she looked about, hmmm, lets say about 6? " It's ok," I whispered softly. She looked up, her face red from crying. " Who are you, and why the heck are you wearing armor?" she asked suddenly curious about her surroundings. Dang! Charlie told me that humans wouldn't see the armor! Why- Once again, I was cut off by the young girls chit chatter. "And why is that guy over there dead? " And why does everyone here have a sword thingy?" the girl kept on asking uestions that weren't made to be said by a human. Several possiblities swam into my mind. Demigod? I asked myself. Then finally, I opened my mouth to anser her questions. " Well, the guy over there, yeah, umm, he's my boyfriend, his names Percy, he just suffered from loss of blood, but he's still alive, but enough with these questions, lets bring you back to camp, Chiron might want a look at you!" I said while heaving her up. " Oh yeah, Thalia, Nico?" I called over to them. They were looking at Percy's wounds, and I heard a yelp of pain from Percy. They looked up, and nodded, knowing what was to be done. Nico got up ran over, quickly shook hands with the 7 year old, saying no words, then went back to Percy, raised some shadows, and whispered to them. I just stared at Nico, shaking my head in disapproval. " Nico, you know what to do." I said while taking the young girl's hand and started heading back towards camp. " What's your name?" the girl asked freely, while gazing around the landscape. "Hmm? " Ohh, it's Annabeth, Annabeth Chase of Athena," I said proudly. I expected a face of confusion from the girl, instead, she just nodded in agreement. Slightly confused, although shaking it off, I asked the girl the same question. " What? " Ohh, it's Carmen, guess how old I am!" she said cheerfully.

I thought for a second then answered. " I guess, 6?" I asked. She shook her head, then answered. " 7," I nodded. Camp came into our sight, and Carmen gaped at the sight. I started to run, and surprisingly, Carmen came at the same pace, jumping over the obstacle logs and ducking at the dove that came from Aphrodite's Cabin. She laughed as a butterfly came and fluttered around her hair. Finally reaching the big house, I knocked on the blue door. Chiron opened it, then his eyes drifted to Carmen.

"Hmmmm," he mumbled. He shifted, making the sound of hooves against wood sound.

" May I ask what your name is?" Chiron asked Carmen while rubbing his chin.

" What? " Oh, it's Carmen Diaz," she said happily while smiling.

Although her eyes show nothing but a small tint of gray, Annabeth remembered her childhood. It was vaguely like Carmen's, although, maybe she was a bit sharper….

"Ok, I'm not sure if you'll get claimed so soon, and we don't get such young'uns to often, although I think you would do fine with Annabeth," he said while switching his gaze towards me. I looked at him in the eye.

" Annabeth, would it be okay if you two shared a bunk? " I don't think little Carmen here would do well in the Hermes Cabin, so could she stay with you until she get's claimed, Annabeth?" I gazed at him, and did a nod. Either way, I would of done it, and plus the fact that I would never even dream of letting Chiron down. He was like a father to me. Even though he is part stallion, he still acts as normal as possible, and who knows how long he's been doing it? I took Carmens hand into mine and started to show her around camp. People came over and introuduced themselves to Carmen. When we visited Percy in the infirmary she blurted out, " He's pretty!" I blushed at the fact that it was well, true. After that, I brought her over cabin to cabin, showing her every one. When we arrived at the Athena Cabin, I showed her the bunk that she was going to be using from now, until her claiming. She nodded cheerfully, then asked a question that I could barely answer myself.

" My parents, why are they dead? " My aunt and uncle say that they died because they were careless people, but I never believed them, but is it true?" she asked sorrowly. I sat down next to her on her bottum bunk, and tried my best to answer.

" Here, I'll tell you this. " They're not as careless as you imagine them as, one of your parents, either your mom or dad, is still alive, and that's why you're here." I said hopelfully. Yet I continued. " You're here, because you, are a demigod, half blood, meaning that half of your blood is godly blood." I explained. Suddenly,

she sat straight, and smiled. " Thanks Annabeth, but just asking, I see so many people with swords, when can I get one?" she asked excitedly. I sighed got up, and took her with me, and started heading to the armory. This is going to be fun…. And exceedingly dangerous…. For me.