Disclaimer: I respect the books too much to force my presence on them in any way.

Shaybo27: My number one fanfic fan! You like both stories?! Awesomesauce! I give you permission to picture the Walt Disney Philoctettes the way he's depicted in the cartoon. In fact I insist on it. Please do because that's exactly how I see him too. I'm being a bad girl; I'm keeping the characters similar to the books but I'm adding qualities from that cartoon, from original Greek and Roman history and from films (I'll explain more with each chapter). So I'm abusing my creative license. And I don't care. There are no decent oc's for the Percy Jackson fanfictions so I'm trying my hand at it. Hopefully it won't be too bad.

So yes, to all out there who are wondering about Percy's power play in this story...

He's going to rock. I'm going to be arming him up to the teeth... eventually. But don't think that I'm making Lucine into a powerhouse all of a sudden. Her only supposed skill so far is archery. The one lucky shot she had with the Queen Cobra? That's it. She's on a quest to explore what she can really do... and Percy will be the perfect incentive. I mean come on the guy possess the power of hydrokinesis. He's a demon with a blade. He's a progeny at battle awareness... trust me. No over bearing, enormous, superhuman traits for Lucine just yet. Just her bow. Awesome. I can feel the issue of self esteem coming through strongly. A complex will probably form and my oc will be crying at me for weeks... Great.

Chapter 3:

Chased by the Hound Dog from Hell and a Pine Tree Say's Hello

Philoctettes didn't seem as hung up about having to escort Lucine to Half-Blood Hill as much as she thought he would be. On the contrary he looked kind of animated and lively, he took in large gulps of the night air as if it had revitalising properties unknown to man and she unconsciously did the same.

They both walked down the dark country roads of the tip of long Island sharing the brioche loaf and orange juice she'd taken from her apartment. She had to admit, talking with Philoctettes was great fun. He told her a few of the naughtier stories he had of old heroes, or famous people to date that were secretly demi-gods.

He also explained that every now and then the god's or the fates… and sometimes the Grey Sister's (who were also the fates in a cunning disguise of sorts) sent him people to train or to guide or even just to aid in a quest. He wasn't sure what fate had in mind for Lucine and when she explained to him that she didn't believe in fate he just laughed at her (something he was doing a lot of on this trip) and said: "Trust me kid, give it a month, two tops and you'll be cursing fate the same way we all do."

Yeah, he still called her kid, just in concurrence with 'Luce'.

The last time she'd checked her watch it was nearing the 2:15am mark and that was at least 30 minutes ago. Phil had stopped a few times on the way talking to woodland creatures and so forth. So it must be closing 3:00am. Great.

The long road was shadowy; the moon had long since been hidden by cloud coverage. She felt an unusual chill in the air, weird in that it was Summer now and chills were few and far in between.

But without any warning at all Lucine felt as if they were being watched.

"Phil?" She said quietly.

He finished munching the brioche loaf wrapper. "Mmm?"

"Do you feel that?"

"Feel what? Dead leg? My hooves are killing me, that's for sure."

She turned to look this way and that. "…That's not what I meant." Then the girl stopped.

A huge Pine tree, the kind you only saw on television in Washington DC covered in Christmas lights stood about 100 metres up the hill about 45 degrees to their right.

Phil hummed in surprise and she turned towards him with a raised eyebrow. He shrugged and pointed at the tree.

"Never seen that there before."

As the breeze around them began to pick up the leaves of the tree began to swish and Lucine heard its whisper in the wind.

Sssshhhhhhhhhssssswwwwwsssss …

And she felt its energy, like hands held out in greeting, in welcome.

…LLLuuuuucccciiiinnneee…

Whoa… "It's supposed to be there." She muttered and Phil looked at her.

"Huh?"

She nodded to herself. "The tree. It's supposed to be there. It's telling us to come."

"…The tree is telling you to come?"

He spoke slowly as if she were deranged… which was pretty much how she knew she sounded. "I'm a satyr, a woodland creature, we talk to trees too but trust me kid when I say that you sound kind of nuts right now… might want to keep it down when we reach the camp."

"We need to get off the road."

He snorted. "Why, did the tree tell you so?"

Lucine shivered and gulped down a wad of fear. "Yes, but also because of that."

Phil looked in the direction she was pointing in and froze as he gasped, like one big chunk of air had been forced too fast down his gullet.

There, standing less than 100 metres behind the two of them on the dark, foreboding road was a large black dog. It had lava red eyes and fangs like daggers. It must have been about the size of a rhino, maybe a small one. It was staring right at them, at Lucine and she figured that the only reason it was remaining so diligently still was because it was waiting for them to move first. Like a cue.

"Mommy!" Phil squeaked.

Wide eyed she glimpsed Philoctettes out of the corner of her eye as she stared down the impossibly massive hound. "Do you even have a mommy?!" She hissed back as she tried to ignore the churning terror in her stomach.

She saw his eyes trailing over the massive Mastiff's hind quarters, each as thick as a tree branch and watched how the large hound's chest inhaled and exhaled. Its jaw looked physically powerful enough to tear through bone. "Everyone has a mother!" Phil whimpered back.

"What do we do?" She asked as the hound growled. "That's a Hellhound isn't it Phil?"

"Yeah, that's a hellhound alright." She saw the satyr tense. "And a Hellhound means…"

When he started to take a step back she yelped. "What are you doing?!" He was going to get us killed.

As Phil's hoof hit the dirt behind him the Hellhound barked a loud ferocious snarl and pushed off its hind quarters.

"…Hellhound means AM-SCRAM!"

Phil shot up the hill behind her and she was bombed up after him as the dog pounded away behind them. For every step they sprinted it took at least 2; they'd never make it to the camp border line before it was tearing them into little chunk size pieces. She knew that it was there for her, to drag her down to the underworld, to face punishment for something she didn't remember doing.

"Phil, keep going!" She shouted at him as she turned in the opposite direction.

"What? HEY KID, WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!" She glimpsed him twist his head around out of the corner of her eye as she sprinted back the way they came in a head on collision with the closing Hellhound. "ARE YOU CRAZY?!" Probably.

The dog seemed to falter for a split second in surprise as she charged but it didn't stop, if anything its speed increased.

This was perfect for her actually.

You know if you ignore the fact you're terrified you can do just about anything and get away with it assuming you have a decent tactic of course.

She didn't have much time (the thing was a super dog) and bile was starting to climb her oesophagus. She just hoped that Phil made it to the borderline in case this goes horribly wrong… and it really might.

Just before she collided with the determined Hellhound she braced both legs on the ground and forced all the power she had in them as her body tingled like it did that morning (or rather the day before) in the library with the cobra, down to her feet and pushed off the ground.

Her body lifted to about 15 feet in the air in a kind of slow twisting somersault over the dog and down behind. The dog had watched her every move and as its head lifted to see her soar it forgot to check its own footing and ended up tripping over its own feet to end up face down in the mud.

In her brief moment of respite Lucine looked up to see that Phil had finally managed to reach the borderline. His hands were cupped over his mouth and he was shouting something at her.

"Not bad kid! Are you alright?!"

"I'm fine!" She was puzzled; why didn't he just go get help?

The dog was up again and was prowling around her in a semi-circle. Any moment now it would charge and she would be doggy chow.

And then it leapt at her.

And she moved without thought.

As its jaw came to within a foot of her face she rammed her closed fist into its muzzle and heard teeth crack even as her knuckles throbbed. She could feel each of the muscles in her arm straining and stretching, she could feel the earth vibrating and rippling underfoot, and it was a peculiar sensation she had to admit but somehow… she'd made herself stronger.

She shook her right hand to loosen the soreness as the Hellhound howled and fell backwards wining. Lucine glanced back at Phil. "Phil, this thing's on steroids!"

Even from here she could see Phil's jaw hanging well and truly open by its hinges. She'd surprised him, and he still wasn't running to get any help.

…And then she was on her back as the Mastiff slammed her to the ground; it was too quick for her to process.

It pinned her down and she only had a moment to take in its horrible breath, the fact that it couldn't open its jaw, the claws currently digging into her chest and arms, the weight of the Hellhound and that at any moment it would either head butt her, chew her face off or claw her to death.

She heard Phil yell out, panic stricken. "KID! LUCE! GET UP!"

Well she was trying. But then the Hellhound dug its claws into her arm and she cried out. In fact her whole body did and the ground beneath her. It fluxed and a wave of energy overcame her as she pushed up with all her might, her arms and knees smacking into the Hellhound so that it was actually lifted about 20 feet in to the air. A shocked kind of whimper escaped it and its big dangerously red eyes blinked in confusion.

She'd think it was comical in any other situation.

As it fell she systematically pulled out her father's pocket knife and activated it letting an arrow fly into its jugular just as it landed next to her, the velocity of the shot having forced the dog out of alignment with her body. The corpse melted into shadow, into the ground as it vanished completely.

She groaned and heard the sound of hooves moving frantically towards her.

"Luce! Kid, you okay?" His hand actually checked her forehead as she nodded. The moment he noticed her bloodied shoulders and arms he lifted one of them over his shoulder to tug her up into position.

"How did I do chief?" She hazarded the question.

He smiled. "Not bad. We'll make a hero out of you yet." Her side hurt and she limped with Phil up the hill. After a little while she walked by herself; her stamina was pretty impressive.

Then she smirked. "We?"

Caught, Phil just grumbled like the grouch he was and gestured down hill.

About a quarter of a mile down stood what looked like a farm house. In the darkness Lucine could just make out a blue roof; there was a large, several large fields next to it. Far off she could see other buildings and areas whose function she couldn't actualize. Lit torches provided some light here and there and she knew were she was; the dream she'd had… this was the place for demi-gods…

…Except she wasn't one. She was the daughter of a demi-god… right?

…oOo…

Making it down towards the farm house (that secretly looked more like a holiday condo; four stories high) she wondered if anyone was up and about. Checked her watch and finding it at 3:25am she thought her and Phil were pushing the Greek xenia a bit too far.

But when Phil knocked on the door; the satyr had rushed ahead of her to bang on the oak finished wood, there was a few seconds of silence before she heard the clapping of more hooves against a wooden floor and these claps sounded heavier than Phil's.

The large door opened without a creak and straight away an arrow head, one much larger than her Grecian bow had provided was pointed directly at Phil's nose and she couldn't resist the snort of laughter that bubbled out of her as Phil held his hands up with wide eyes saying, "I surrender!"

There was a small very masculine gasp and the arrow came away as the door was pushed further open. Light faintly lit the area around them and she began to say the obligatory words one says in new company when her mouth decided to get stuck half way at the sight in front of her.

The guy was huge… and he was a centaur. A beautiful one by the looks of it; the upper half close to middle aged human and the lower a brown palomino horse.

He was staring, gaping at Phil who was grinning back at him like an old friend. She was completely ignored, which was fine as the teen was still having trouble picking her jaw up off the floor.

"Philoctettes." The centaur said, as quiet as a whisper. "By the God's it's good to see you again my old friend!" He bent down to grasp Phil's arm and as Phil held onto his, the centaur pulled him up into the air in a bone crushing hug.

Phil wheezed. "Alright already! Geez, put me down Chiron." The horse-man did so whilst laughing and Phil shook his head and coughed. "Good to see you too. It's been a while."

"Too long." Chiron muttered. He had a sweet expression of happy nostalgia covering his face.

Lucine nearly jumped as Chiron looked over at her, a welcoming and warm smile implanted now on his jaw. "Who's this?"

Phil chuckled and she frowned at him.

"She's a bit of a surprise that's what." He gestured back for her to move forward. "C'mere kid let me introduce you to the second best ever trainer of heroes." Chiron laughed again as she went to shake his hand.

Then Phil finished. "This is Lucine Maximus Sullivan. Rick's daughter…"

Chiron's grip on her hand tightened instantly.

"It can't be…" He whispered as he now gave her a thorough once over with his penetrating gaze.

He looked back at Phil. "What happened to Rick?"

A little annoyed that he hadn't asked her she answered before Phil could; the satyr had obligingly waited for her to do so anyway.

"He died 10 months ago."

Chiron looked back to her, staring for a moment before sighing. His grip slackened and he held her one hand in two before speaking; his voice thick with sadness. "I'm so sorry Lucine."

She gave him a nod and for some reason she couldn't seem to find the will to fake a smile. Chiron was like the perfect young Grandpa. Lucine couldn't lie with her emotions with him like she could with Phil.

Then the centaur let her hand go and he sighed again.

"Again I'm sorry. I wasn't trying to be rude. Your father and I were quite close. I didn't even know he had a daughter." Then he smiled at her as he looked her over. "And yet here you are. And you bring back one of my oldest of friends." His expression turned more serious. "Unusual and possibly fated to bring him here at a time when he will be much needed again."

Phil sighed and scratched his head. "Yeah, I got a nice kick from Zeus a couple of hours ago."

Chiron tilted his head. "Oh really." She was pretty sure he was suppressing laughter.

Phil shivered; from the slight chill or from past memories she wasn't sure. "Are we coming in or what Chiron, I'm shivering out here and the kid, she's injured."

"Injured?" Chiron pulled her gently into the light. "I should have realised." He whispered as he looked at the blood on my clothes then shook his head. "Please come inside. I'm sure you have quite a story to tell."

She was given possibly the softest blanked she'd ever felt. The hot chocolate was terrific as was the warm stew. She was politely asked to take off her top around a cover screen and was passed a bright orange t-shirt with the logo: Camp Half-Blood written on the front. Given that she was a little short the shirt fell almost to her thighs.

Afterwards Chiron had her sitting in a chair while he had his horse legs folded gracefully under him on a shag carpet. Phil was drinking something that smelled kind of fruity and looking all the better for it.

As Chiron dabbed at the wounds on her body with a cotton wool ball he spoke to her. Once Phil had explained a few things for example where he had been these past years, what he could add to Lucine's explanation of the night's events Chiron had given Lucine his full ear. She realised the importance the demi-gods had to him at that moment. To him they were everything that was truly vital. And he treated her as such even though she knew she couldn't possibly be a demi-god…

"You say you were attacked by a Hellhound?" She nodded. "But your wounds are superficial at best. You said his claws raked your skin, well; it looks like you were simply nipped. I don't take you for an attention seeker so I'd say either some God is working in some mysterious way, the Hound didn't act as it should have done or… you have a healing power."

His eyebrows lifted up at her in question and she blinked.

Me? A healing power?

"Oh, I don't know Chiron."

She whipped her head at Phil to find him watching them.

"I'd say the damn dog was acting exactly as it should have. It's just that, well, she broke its face before it could eat her."

One of Chiron's eyebrows fell to create a powerful shrewd quality to his expression.

"Did she? Was a trophy left Phil?"

Huh?

"Trophy…?"

Before she could continue Phil opened his hand to reveal a single blood red eye. The eye itself was coated in a gold kind of sheen like a cover that hadn't been there when it was inside the eye socket of the Hellhound. There was even a small hole at the top as if it could be worn on a necklace or something, and a gold cover screen with Greek runes chiselled on it covered the red Iris. It was actually rather pretty… except that it was a severed eyeball and all.

"Where did you get that?" She asked.

"It was left behind for you to keep."

"You want me to keep an eyeball?"

Chiron spoke. "It's a trophy. Kleos. A symbol of an achievement. It conveys to others that you are in fact worthy of the title hero. It's been awhile since someone has received a trophy outside of camp and on their first arrival too. Well, except for Percy that is."

She wanted to roll her eyes at the name. I mean Percy? Was it deliberate? A euphemism for the famed hero, the only hero who received a happy ending.

Looking back at the… gift… she laughed a little nervously. "Are you sure you don't want it Phil?"

He shook his head with a smile. "Nah, wouldn't look good on this." He puffed out his chest.

She nodded patronisingly. "Thanks."

"You'll be getting a camp necklace; you can put it on that." Gee whiz.

Chiron stretched and wandered off into the kitchen area of the 'Big House' and Lucine took a look down at her arms. He was right; they didn't feel half as bad as before.

"How strong are you?"

Chiron called out so suddenly it took her a moment to figure out what he'd just asked to understand why it sounded strange to her. Then she got it. Phil had asked her the same thing earlier this evening.

"Er…" She looked nonplussed at Phil who was staring seriously at Chiron. "I'm not sure. Before today I'd say I was barely average in strength but after the Hellhound… and the Cobra Queen…" She shook my head not willing to give an estimate just yet.

Chiron nodded back in acknowledgment before continuing.

"A Hellhound attacked you and you defeated it. Despite the display of skill that only the most prolific of heroes demonstrate on their first outing I'd say we have a problem…"

He clopped out of the kitchen with a large clear glass of cool liquid; kind of tropical looking.

"I think I might know what the problem is but first things first. This…" He presented the cup to her and she automatically licked her lips; it looked great. She didn't miss however the quick, nervous glance the two trainers exchanged. "Is something that will eradicate all possible infection as well as clear up any other nasty bruises like the one colouring rather beautifully on your ribs."

She nodded gratefully and took the drink noticing how both ancient men where staring at her intensely. She took a sip…

…And sighed with a smile.

It was fabulous. All her favourite things in one drink and that included food and scents… cake mix and cookie dough, Chinese food and battered chicken, strawberries, blueberries and plums, she could go on for hours on end and not finish.

The end result concluded in her feeling completely revitalised though a few hours sleep wouldn't go amiss.

But when she lifted her head to offer her profuse thanks she saw Chiron and Phil exchanging another glance. This time however Chiron was smiling widely and Phil was looking thunderstruck.

"What is it?" She asked tentatively

Phil whistled. "Oh boy."

Chiron pointed at the now empty glass. "I just gave you a drink called ambrosia. It's the-"

"…Drink of the gods yeah, I remember my studies. I still don't understand."

Chiron smiled at her. "Good memory! But you see, only a god or a demi-god can drink the liquid without well…"

"Spontaneously combusting." Added Phil helpfully.

Two things rammed into her conscious right then and there.

"Wait." Chiron stiffened at her tone. "You gave me this stuff not knowing if I would survive it!"

He raised his hands in a placated gesture. "I was 90% certain I was correct in my initial assessment of you."

"Only 90%!"

"Please trust me. You don't smell human my dear. You smell like a demi-god, albeit one with a slightly different bite to her but a demi-god all the same."

Lucine stared up at him in shock and whirled to stare at Phil too but he looked as flabbergasted as she did. "Don't look at me kid! I didn't have a clue. Although… I kind of guessed something was off about you from the start."

"Oh really?" She narrowed her eyes at him. "Well thank you for finally sharing this piece of extremely helpful information." Yeah, she was a little upset. "It would have been helpful to know that I smelled like the juiciest t-bone ever to every creature of myth out there before I stepped out into the world on my own!"

"Lucine…"

Chiron's voice already had the perfect soothing affect on her brain that she'd never experienced before.

She looked at him wounded and fearful and he radiated sympathy like a hug.

"My mother…" She uttered. "She was a goddess?"

He nodded and spoke in a quiet tone of voice. "I think it's a logical summation to conclude with at this point."

"Huh?" Said Phil.

She spoke absently. "He means yes. My mother is a goddess."

And a trickle of fear crawled within her as she held down the urge to curl up on the sofa and dream forever. "What do I do now then?" She whispered unsure to Chiron.

He took control of the conversation for which she was grateful. "Now you need to rest. Normally I'd have you bunk at your father's old cabin, Hermes but it's a little late or should I say early to do so." He took in the time on his oak cloak. "We'll wait until later."

Phil scratched at his beard. "A demi-god and a goddess. This hasn't been heard of before."

Chiron nodded. "Yes. Goddesses have been known to guide and favour some heroes more than others but to ah er…" He looked at girl sideways suddenly embarrassed and she shook her head with a sigh.

"You can say it. You know, sex. Just get it over with already. Sex."

Chiron actually looked a little flustered as he tried to finish. "Yes… quite. Ah…"

"So what does this mean for Luce?" Asked Phil from the corner of the cackling fireplace.

For a moment the centaur seemed to contemplate.

"It's unclear why this has happened or why it has happened now. But I do not believe in coincidences and this seems to coincide rather suspiciously and perfectly with recent events. Fate had something planed for you my dear." He extended a hand towards Lucine. "Your destiny maybe tied with that of a few other heroes here at camp. One of which will be arriving here tomorrow evening in fact." He sounded momentarily content by this fact.

"Let me guess. This 'Percy' you referred to." She probed.

He nodded.

"A son of Zeus or son of Poseidon?" It was an understandable supposition.

Chiron's eyes twinkled at her. "Poseidon."

Phil coughed into his drink. "Hah! The pact of the big three didn't last long huh?"

"Quite." Agreed Chiron. "But what else is to be expected…"

"…From anthropomorphic super beings?" She finished helpfully.

The centaur laughed lightly. "You're quite quick on the mark Lucine. I expect you were one of the few of my students here who actually enjoy school."

"I enjoy learning." She corrected and he nodded.

"So what's the pact of the Big Three?" Lucine asked the room at large.

She saw Chiron give a small wince as Phil smiled. "Kid… that is a long story."

…oOo…

It was a long story.

The very idea of Zeus, Poseidon and Hades making such a pact was a bit ridiculous to Lucine. From the very basic working knowledge of Greek mythology it was horribly clear that all the gods couldn't keep their lustful natures in their pants were they belonged.

Basically, they were very human. It didn't say much about humans as a whole did it?

And as such children had sprung. The gods and goddesses were all allowed their moments of overwhelming emotion but according to Chiron there were close to 150 campers at the camp.

The immortal supremes must have had a lot of moments of overwhelming passion.

It was… sort of irresponsible. But also understandable; loneliness was a powerful driving force.

She'd slept on the couch after that.

Six hours later the sunlight streaming in through the windows woke her. Blinking against the sharpness of it she rose off of the makeshift bed and took in the smell of scrambled eggs and toast. She could hear pots clattering and figured Chiron was in there. Saliva accumulated in her mouth and she rushed forwards-

-Something stopped her.

It wasn't a sound, or a smell, or something in her vision.

It was a pull in her head, a whisper.

Curious she tiptoed away from the delicious fumes in the kitchen and moved sideways towards the stairs of the old farmhouse. The décor was lovely and warm. A large wooden staircase raised two floors upwards and she moved to climb them. There was something on the second floor that she was supposed to see. Shrugging, she continued past a hallway and came to a stop.

Just right of the top most stair was a hatch above her head. A trapdoor that lead to the attic. She moved a hand upwards to open the door but before she touched the handle greenish smoke that reeked of decay filtered fast through the millimetre wide gap on each side of the square opening.

A loud croak and gasp of air sounded from behind the door and Lucine gasped hearing once again the words uttered in her dream by the Grey Sisters.

Then the greenish smoke blasted outwards. "Whoa!" She yelped before blitzing it back down the stairs.

At the bottom of the stairs she came face to face with a man whose appearance was so strange she actually stumbled backwards.

The man looked down at her with concern. He was covered with eyes. He was eyes. Eyes on his face, his neck, his arms, legs, any skin that was showing and his hair was blond.

I wonder how he gets out of the bathroom in the morning or if he uses it to… my mind just to a very bad place…

"Hi?" She asked uncertainly. "I'm a fly on the wall, completely ignore me."

The clip clop of hooves was heard before she saw Chiron appear from the vestibule that led outside. "Good morning." Taking in her wide eyed self his brow wrinkled in concern. "Lucine, are you alright? I was calling you for breakfast. Oh I see you've met Argus."

She made a sort of squeaky, 'uh huh' sound that actually caused the many eyed individual to grin. He held out a hand for her and she took it smiling properly for the first time and conveying that she was sorry for her stupidity. Argus shook his head.

"You weren't warned. It's understandable." He said and gestured from the girl to Chiron. "Breakfast?"

Chiron nodded. "Please."

The centaur brought her outside onto the porch were a table and two chairs were set overlooking the long green fields.

"What were you doing on the stairs?"

Lucine looked at him as she sat (he kneeled and she wondered whether the wooden floor was actually comfortable for his horse legs). "Sorry, I wasn't trying to snoop."

He raised a hand. "It's quite alright, though in future I would suggest an air of caution. Not everything is as it seems here."

She peered at him. "What's in the attic?"

His eyes snapped towards her. "Why?" He queried softly.

"I heard a whisper and there was this greenish smoke." She shook her head. "It doesn't matter."

"Was there anything else?"

"…No."

Her hesitant answer told him she was hiding something but instead of bombarding her with questions he merely smiled and nodded in understanding.

Argus came through the glass doors to present them with their English breakfast: scrambled eggs, tomatoes, mushrooms and sausages with several helpings of toast.

"Thank you Argus." Chiron said warmly and Lucine smiled in way of gratitude.

Wow… it tasted really good. She could get used to this.

Stevie Queenie seemed a million light years away now. As if he'd been reading her mind the kind centaur spoke. "The bruises on your face look like they were quite painful to acquire my dear."

Her mouth full of food she did a jerky kind of head bob and her cheeks puffed in her effort to chew quickly. Chiron chuckled at her as she finally swallowed.

"Ah, it wasn't anything big. I suffer from an affliction, an affliction which prevents me from tolerating any and all crap sprouting from the mouths of my peers. This feature gets me into all kinds of trouble." She finished with a slight smirk. She'd learned how to laugh at herself a long time ago.

His chuckle turned into an all out laugh. "Very good!"

She mocked bowed from across the table.

He asked her a few other questions during the remainder of their breakfast which surprisingly enough pertained to her life in general rather than her uniqueness. Her past schools, her test results (both eyebrows raised suspiciously high when he heard her say she's past exams two years ahead of her age), the times she'd had with her father…

"Your father was quite the hero when he was here. An image that somewhat clashed with his title as the camp hell raiser." His beard twitched.

Her eyes lit up and she threw him an incredulous smile. "What, really?"

He nodded. "Oh, Yes. If he wasn't daring the son's of Ares into mortal combat he was making his, ah, 'moves' on the ladies. Quite the charmer your father."

She laughed. "Now that I do believe. My father was very handsome. I don't look like him at all." When she said it she meant it as a literal truth rather than a self criticism and he seemed to accept that.

He gestured towards her. "Your features are quite striking if you don't mind me saying so. I'm trying to place you among the other campers but… none of them seem to fit the bill as your kin."

She sighed forlornly. "I am a conundrum."

He shook his head at her acerbic manner and his tail flicked.

"I've already talked to the camp director for you and we're discussing to arrange more appropriate sleeping quarters for you."

Lucine blinked. "The couch was pretty comfy… you know I could just sleep in the wilderness. I've camped before." She shrugged.

But Chiron looked scandalised and refused no matter what she said.

"Can I take a look around?" She asked after they'd finished. She'd caught sight of the place from atop the hill and in her dream but it wasn't the same. She didn't have any of her other senses to rely on for what everything smelled like and tasted like, felt like etc.

The centaur rose to his full height. "Of course. In fact I wanted to escort you myself but I have business to attend to; the boy I told you of last night is arriving earlier than expected and I have to…"

She slashed a hand through the air. "Say no more Sir. I will be more than okay with investigating on my own."

"Please call me Chiron."

She nodded with a tentative smile.

"And I won't be long; there are still some things we need to discuss, that I'd like to talk with you about." He said reassuringly.

Lucine glanced around. "Er, where's Phil?"

His lips twitched. "My old friend is currently visiting the Council of Cloven Elders. He's been gone a long time. It's an assembly of the wisest and most respected satyrs." He explained at her confused expression.

Huh… she thought. "Why do I have a feeling he's not going to enjoy the experience?"

At her dry tone the centaur chuckled again. I made a centaur laugh at least twice today. Score… internally her eyes rolled. Way to set the bar low for yourself Lucine…

The camp was beautiful.

From the fruit trees to the rivers and streams.

From where she stood Lucine caught glimpse of an open air pavilion beside which stood a grand amphitheatre which spoke to her on a more primal level. Would she one day fight in one? It was all so very Greek. There was an archery range were several teenagers were already trying their hand with longbows and a few kids were racing in some canoes. A volleyball match was thundering playfully inside a sand pit and a satyr was making its way towards the open bank of a river.

She made her way over to the reflective surface of the water. Beyond the trees was a rolling mass of hills and green life. She heard birds sing and wondered for the first time why her father hadn't ever talked about such a place with her.

Tittering streams of laughter echoed out across the water and she looked askance at a group situated by the canoe trail. A brow arched. Girls. Lots of them ranging from about age 13 to 18 and all as stunning as their parentage; these had to be daughters of Aphrodite. They were super replicas of their idols, all in training for America's next top model. Black hair, blonde hair it didn't matter; their facial structure sold them out as siblings. Lucine couldn't help but frown in distaste when each female fluttered their lashes teasingly at a boy who was walking past.

Ugh, I think I'm going to vomit.

Obviously her mother wasn't the amorous Goddess Aphrodite.

Like when she realised with bombshell Stevie; Lucine was far from curvaceous and apart from the boldness of her hair and eyes (her lack of boobs and bum was not a subject she would venture into, she didn't want to spend the glorious day in a state of self imposed depression) she lacked any and all of the qualities that would put her anywhere near those girls.

She heard another perfect laugh from the group of cheerleaders and closed her eyes, breathing in the fresh air of the camp. She wondered what they were trying to accomplish there by the water. Trying to improve of the perfection of their reflections? She mused. It's all a façade…

Her thoughts came to a cold halt when she opened her eyes just in time to glimpse the small wave of water heading right for her face. It hit her immediately and she was drenched through to the bone. What the…?

Spluttering indignantly, she glanced down at herself and groaned. Everything was wet, wet, wet. The new top presented to her from Chiron ruined, her hair stuck to her face, her frame freezing. And of course there was mud from the side bank slowly trailing down the side of her face.

Just another day in the luckless world of Lucine-Maximus.

She heard the group laugh raucously and her thoughts turned dark with visions of drowning each and every one of the Barbie dolls in the stream, wondering how they'd fair without their makeup. Taking a breath she turned to leave with as much dignity as possible but as she glanced back towards the group (who were still laughing at her cheerfully; mean girls) she caught a blurry view of a black haired boy standing close to them. She wiped her eyes of the left over mud and cringed at the thought that he was probably laughing at her too. You may leave the school behind but obviously the school doesn't leave you.

When she'd finished wiping she glanced up into green eyes…

"Percy, you're so funny!" One of the girl's said to him with a tinkling laugh that reminded Lucine more of a hyena than anything else.

The son of Poseidon?

Whose main power was control… over… water…

Did he…?

Lucine's mortified expression quickly turned into a death glare.

The guy had the intelligence to gulp.

Xenia: Greek word meaning hospitality. In greek mythology (especially throughout the works of the Odyssey and Iliad) Xenia was a mark of the true Greek. You would welcome travellers and strangers even into your home; feed them etc before asking them about themselves. It was to show that everyone was equal in terms of human power. Plus! An immortal God/Godess may one day stumble across your doorstep in disgise as a beggar. You would be foolish to turn away ugliness in case of the beauty and possibility that lies within.

Kleos: Renown/glory. A hero earns renown after accomplishing great deeds either through word of mouth or through trophies/riches.

If there's one thing Lucine can gloat about it's that she's somewhat educated. She's a smartass.

And that, ladies and gentleman, was the last chapter I had saved on my computer from well over a year ago. The first few pages for chapter 4 are saved as well so when its released (soon!) there will probably be a difference in the way I right and narrate. I will be improving on certain aspects of the story as well so hopefully it will still be fine.

Au'revoir!