A/N: Hellloooo! I would like to apologize for my non-existent updating schedule. Perhaps, sometime in the future, there will be one. For now, I'm just doing it when I feel like it!
Thanks so much to all the people who reviewed! Thanks especially to awesome-sauce97 and DemiLovatogirl for their in depth suggestions! You really helped me out :)
Disclaimer: yada yada yada, i don't own PJO or TLH or Penderwicks. . .
Jane couldn't believe her eyes.
She stood at the top of Half Blood Hill, under the ginormous pine tree, looking over Camp Half-Blood. She was amazed. Strawberry feilds stretched on, dotted with people ( and some strange things that had furry legs) picking. More to her right, there was a huge, five story, white farm house with light blue trimming, and a wrap around porch. Way off to her left was the coast; a long beach of sand that met the sparkling water. In between, there were plenty of buildings. Near the shore was an almost-cirlce of large cabins, and closer to the hill was an array of smaller cabins. Behind the farm house and to the left was a large rock wall, with what could only be described as lava flowing down it every few minutes. Then there was a large, bleach white building with Greek colums and a pointed roof, full of tables and chairs, on a little hill near the shore. Farther away, there was an old Greek-style arena. Beside the smaller cabins were the stables- Jane immediately thought of the Pegasi Jeffery had told her about- and some sheds. Scattered around were some sports feilds, and some more buildings. And around the perimeter of the whole thing was a huge, lush forest, that became denser at the back. Jane loved it.
She could already find some spots where she would spend a lot of time; the lone maple tree close to the shore, perfect for leaning against and reading. The space between the house and Half Blood hill could easily be converted to a soccer feild.
She knew she was going to like this place. "There it is," Mr Penderwick said. The others stared at the place in awe. People went from place to place. Some were playing on the basketball court, some in the volleyball pit. They walked around with swords strapped to their sides, and armour on their torsos. Batty clung to their father's hand as if her life depended on it.
Slowly, they descended the hill, all in a line. A centaur- like in Narnia, Jane thought - cantered up to them. His bottom half was a white Palimino. He had a brown, scruffy beard, and ears pointing out of his hair.
"Hello, Martin," he said to Mr. Penderwick. He turned to Iantha. "I see you and your son made it across the boundaries alright. It took some time to get the spell undone for you. We don't let mortals in often."
"Well, i appreciate it Chiron," she replied with a smile. Immediately, Jane jumped in.
"Chiron?" she asked. "As in the Chiron?"
"If you mean the trainer of most Greek heroes, Jane, then yes, I am," he replied calmly, as if this happened all the time.
"But if you're the trainer of Greek heroes," SKye said boldly, "then how do you know my father?" Mr. Penderwick had explained all about the Roman gods and goddesses, and Camp Jupiter, where he had grown up, the night before.
"Your father decided that the Roman way of life was not for him, and when he met your mother on her quest, he adopted our lifestyle," Chiron said simply. Mr. Penderwick nodded.
"The Romans now view me as a traitor," he said sadly. There was a pause in the conversation. Finally, Chiron spoke.
"I suppose if your father has already explained everything to you, we can get on with the tour." They followed as he trotted around the camp.
"Here are the stables," he stated, standing infront of the barn.
"Does it have pegasus?" Batty asked quietly, the first words she'd spoken since arriving.
"Pegasi," Chiron corrected. "And yes. We do have them. And the occasional horse." This coaxed a smile from Batty, and a happy jump-up-and-down-quietly session.
He showed them the array of smaller cabins, listing a number and a god/goddess for each one. It amazed Jane that there could be so many gods, for so many things. She wondered absent-mindedly if there was a god of soccer. But then they moved on.
"The Olympian cabins," he said gesturing toward the 13 large cabins. "These were built over 50 years ago, except for the Hades cabin, which was built last summer."
When they walked by that cabin, a shiver ran down Jane's spine. She couldn't tell whether it was a good or bad shiver. Perhaps both. But it was the opposite of what she felt when they passed the Posiedon cabin. A warm breeze engulfed her, sending the aroma of salt water into the air. She smiled at the memory of the vacation they had all took to the coast of Maine last year, and how wonderful the ocean had felt.
They were being introduced to the Demeter cabin when a blonde girl walked over. When she came closer, Jane realized it was Annabeth. Even though she had circles under her eyes, and her hair was pulled back into a messy pony tail,Jane still noticed her beauty. Another thing she and Skye seemed to have in common.
"Ah, Annabeth," Chiron said, waving her over. "These are our new deimgods...and their..parents." Annabeth raised her eyebrows when she saw Ben.
"Isn't he a little young?" she asked Chiron. Iantha laughed.
"Oh, no, Ben here isn't a half-blood." Ben smiled at his name. "He and I are regular mortals. Just along for the ride." She shifted Ben to one arm, and stuck out her other. "I'm Iantha," she said.
"Annabeth," she replied, shaking her hand. She turned to the girls, grey eyes glinting. "Jane, right?" she said.
Jane nodded eagerly. "Yep, that's me!" Then, in answer to her sister's questioning looks, she said, "We met via Iris-message."
Before the other sisters could consider what Iris-messaging was, what could only be described as a 'fire-ball' flew past them. It landed on the ground, and a streak of flames burned the grass. Chiron immediately started to trample the burning grass with his hooves, and Mr. Penderwick whipped off his sweater and beat at the flames. It didn't take long for the fire to be reduced to charred grass.
"Sorry!" a voice called from the farther end of the plaza.
"Leo!" Annabeth replied angrily as a a boy with light-brow skin and dark, floppy hair ran up to them. " That has got to be the third time this week! What is with you?"
"I'm stressed," Leo said, though he didn't sound like it.
"So you decide to set the camp on fire?"
"I was just letting off a little steam!" His face broke into a smile. "Hey, get it? Steam, fire? Get it?" Annabeth rolled her eyes.
"Just try not to do it, okay? We're running a tight ship around here."
"I'm the one running a ship! You know how much pressure building the Argo II puts on me?"
Annabeth walked back toward the Penderwicks, but the boy followed her.
"I'm working double time trying to finish it within our deadline. Talk about-"
"Everyone knows you love it, so stop griping," Annabeth said. He grinned.
"I do love it. It's my baby."
"Well, that's healthy," Annabeth mutttered, but Leo didn't hear. He had just noticed the Penderwicks.
"Helloo," he said, his eyes sliding over Batty and Jane and resting on Skye and Rosalind.
"Don't mind him, he's just Leo," Annabeth said to the girls, bumping him out of her way. "Now, i'm still not finished with the introductions."
"I'm Rosalind," Rosalind said, stepping forward and shaking her hand. "And that's Skye and Batty."
"Annabeth's a daughter of Athena," Jane piped up as Skye shook her hand.
"As in, the goddess of wisdom?" Skye asked in awe. Annabeth nodded. Skye's eyes widened.
Jane wasn't sure who she wanted to be her parent. She knew it was no good thinking about, seeing as it was obviously permanent. But she couldn't help but wonder. She hoped it was someone she was aware of, and not a god/goddess she didn't even know. After being introduced to all the gods and goddesses, and what they ruled, it was hard not to pick ones she would want to be realated to. Artemis- yes. Too bad she was an eternal maiden. Hermes- definitely. The thought of moving from place to place, stealing things whenever you pleased thrilled her. Of course, she would never steal, but it was exciting to think about.
So after the sisters had been introduced to both Annabeth and Leo, and Leo had attempted to flirt with Rosalind, only to be shot down by Skye, who informed him that she was taken, and after his hands accidentally lit up with fire, and he had to explain to the Penderwicks that he was a son of Hephaestus, god of the forge, and Annabeth yelled at him again about controlling his powers, and Batty whined about being hungry, and Ben cried because he needed to be changed, and Rosalind tried to keep everyone looking sane as they finished the tour, the bell for dinner finally rang.
Jane couldn't wait to see what demigods ate.
What did ya think? I personally really like my Leo part :D Review and tell me if you think I did him and Annabeth justice!