Growing up in Brownsville, a city right across the border, Arianna had seen countless gang fights, but never had she seen so much blood. Thalia's face was as white as virgin snow, and was covered in muck. Twigs and bits of leaves poked out of her shaggy hair, and her clothes were tattered. Shards of bone peaked out through the hunter's shirt, piercing through the flesh.
Bile rose up in Arianna's mouth and she found herself heaving up the contents of her stomach. Her throat burned as if she had just swallowed acid and her eyes stung with tears every time her stomach lurched painfully. Distantly, she felt soft hands caress her shoulder and pull her hair back from her face, murmuring in a soothing tone. Finally, after what seemed like forever, the Hispanic's stomach was empty and calm. She stood there, feeling the burning sensation in her throat slowly fade away. The chill of the night dried her tears and sweat, making her shiver and pull her jacket tighter around herself.
Arianna stiffened; this wasn't her jacket, it was Thalia's. She held the sleeve up to her nose and breathed in the comforting scent of the older girl. Thalia's scent was delicious; a mixture of chocolate and lavender, along with something that was purely Thalia. "She'll be ok." Arianna whirled around to come face to face with a concerned looking Rayne. The blond smiled comfortingly and patted the shorter girl's arm. "Chiron will take care of her."
Arianna lowered her brow. "Chiron, the guy who's half horse?" she asked. Rayne nodded, biting back a smile. "Yeah, that's him. He's the one who trained Hercules, Jason, Achilles, and many others." Arianna snorted. "Please, he doesn't look ancient. Wouldn't he have died by now?" Rayne smirked and patted the smaller girl's head. "You'll soon learn that not everyone is the age they appear to be, especially in our world. Chiron will train heroes until he is no longer needed; so basically, he can live forever" explained the blond.
Arianna's eyes widened. "Forever? That's a long time" she mused. Rayne nodded. "Yeah, but he's very knowledgeable about how to treat wounds and stuff" she pointed out. Arianna whirled around, but the spot where Thalia had laid, looking so broken and helpless, was empty, the only sign that anyone had been there at all was the trampled grass and a dark stain Arianna instantly knew as being blood.
"I thought it would be best if you were distracted when they moved her" said Rayne sheepishly when Arianna shot her a look full of venom. Arianna shook her head. "Where are they placing her?" she asked. "She'll be placed in The Big House, where the infirmary is located" said a cool voice. A huge, beefy girl with auburn hair slipped out from the shadows, dressed in a metallic tank top and jeans, a snow white wolf at her heels. Arianna saw a muscle in Rayne's jaw twitch, much like when Thalia was angrily biting back a biting remark.
"Arianna, this is Phoebe, one of the Hunters" said Rayne, eyes narrowed. Phoebe gave Arianna a once over. "She's the all-powerful demi-god? She doesn't look like she'd be able to swat a fly" snorted the Hunter. Arianna bristled at the remark, but Rayne sent her a warning glance. With much difficulty, Arianna held her tongue. "Phoebe, that's enough" said another voice, this one much higher than Phoebe's deep tenor. A petite girl with dirty blond hair attempted a glare at the offending girl, but shrank away when Phoebe turned her gaze on her. "I-I m-mean, it's not her fault Thalia's hurt. You know Thalia, she always has to be the hero" said the small girl, cheeks flushing at the stutter. Arianna's eyes narrowed slightly as she took this all in; Phoebe was far more dominate than the other girl she noted, and while the girl tried to act strong, she was timid and shy, like a mouse.
Rayne coughed. "Arianna, meet Amanda, she took Thalia's place as lieutenant while she was away with us to get you" explained the daughter of Apollo. Amanda smiled shyly at Arianna, looking at her through her lashes. Arianna smiled back kindly, the hairs on the back of her neck and on her arms bristling as she felt Phoebe's cold stare.
"Well Arianna, I think it's best that you get settled" said Rayne, grabbing the younger girl by the arm. Phoebe raised an eyebrow. "Has she been claimed?" she asked. Rayne shook her head. "Not yet." Phoebe smirked. "Demi-gods don't always get claimed you know. It took my mother fourteen years to acknowledge me as her own" said the hunter, smiling cruelly. Amanda shot Arianna a look of pity but said nothing. Rayne glared at Phoebe. "Everyone's different Phoebe. Now, if you'll excuse us, I need to get Arianna settled into the Hermes cabin before I get some sleep myself" said the daughter of Apollo, flipping her hair over her shoulder and all about yanking Arianna away.
Arianna found herself staring at a cluster of cabins built in a U formation. Rayne led her to an old cabin with a bad paint job. "This is the Hermes Cabin; any demi-gods who are Hermes's kids or unclaimed stay here" said the blond, opening the door. "Travis, Conner! You got yourselves a new camper" shouted Rayne. Two boys stepped outside of the cabin and eyed Arianna curiously. The younger girl blinked; the boys looked so similar they could've been twins. "Guys, this is Arianna Mendez" said Rayne, nodding to her companion. The taller boy scrutinized her for a few brief moments.
"Unclaimed?" he asked. Rayne nodded. The shorter boy sighed. "Well come on then, we need to get you settled" he said, opening the door wider and stepping aside. Arianna hesitated, but after an encouraging look from Rayne, she stepped inside. The cabin was packed with kids, some sleeping on bunks, and the rest on the floor in sleeping bags. "
"Here ya go" said the taller boy, whom Arianna presumed was Travis, and handed her a sleeping bag, a pillow, and a Ziploc bag with a toothbrush, a tube of toothpaste and a container of soap. "Just find an empty spot on the floor and set up" he told her. "Travis! Come on, Chiron's called a meeting for us" called out Conner from besides the door. Travis flashed her a crooked smile and patted her arm before he went off with his brother.
Arianna turned around and found herself being studied by a horde of kids. She felt the blood rise to her face and she busied herself by scanning the room for an empty bit of floor. After a few moments of searching, she found a space big enough for her liking and unfolded her sleeping bag, setting her bag of toiletries besides her makeshift bed. She had been carrying her backpack with her so she set that down too. She kicked off her muddy high-tops and sat down on the sleeping bag.
A few moments later the door opened again, and with the help of the moonlight, Arianna was able to recognize Amber. The younger girl scanned the room before she finally saw Arianna and she smiled at her, juggling a set of clothes and a towl and she closed the door with her foot. She scurried across the room and grabbed something before hurrying over to Arianna.
"Hey there" whispered the daughter of Hermes breathlessly, throwing her sleeping bag onto the ground besides Arianna's and setting her towl and a bag down besides them.
"Is Thalia alright?" asked Arianna urgently. The thought of the older girl dead made Arianna sick to her stomech. Amber's face took on a serious expression. "She was pretty beat up, but Thalia's a fighter, she'll live" said Amber quietly. Arianna breathed a sigh of relief. A touch at her shoulder made her bristle but it was only Amber looking at her with worry in her eyes. "Get some sleep Arianna, you're going to need it for tomorrow" said the younger girl, letting loose a loud yawn.
Arianna nodded and turned on her side. After a few heartbeats, she could hear Amber's slow, measured breathing and knew the other girl was aleep already. She stared into the darkness, thinking of Thalia, of how the despite the older girl's gruff words she genuinly seemed to care about her. Arianna's throat clenched. No one had ever really cared about her before.. Her father seemed to resent her and was usually busy at work, trying to earn enough money to keep them off the street.
But Thalia was different. She did care, atleast, Arianna thought she did.
Why would she care about you when not even your own parents do?
Arianna clenched her eyes shut, trying desperatly to block out the voice.
She's going to leave you, they all will. Just like your mother left you.
"No" whispered Arianna, eyes burning with unshed tears.
Oh yes, she's going to leave you, she's going to leave you all alone in the world. She doesn't care, you're not worth the effort. You're broken, dirty, used. No one will ever want you. She won't want you, not when she finds out what happened.
The tears spilled from her eyes and Arianna's shoulders shook. The Hermes Cabin continued to slumber, none of them aware of the turmoil their newest cabin mate was experiancing. Even in a crowed room, Arianna was alone with her pain.
You will always be alone.