A/N: Thank you for reviews :) well...two claimings in this chapter, and more stuff is starting to happen!


Chapter Three: Dolphins

Percy's POV:

After the sun had set, I willed the waves to calm and hold us in place. I'd Iris-messaged Annabeth and Grover at camp to tell them we were on our way.

Everyone was below deck, where there was a tiny kitchen then two tables on each side. The boat was only a few meters wide and long, but I liked it. My mother had saved up for it from her wages.

There was a small passageway between both tables. Darius and Larka sat at one table, seemingly lost in conversation and oblivious to everyone except Ezio who appeared amused. I sat with everyone else, talking about random things.

Everything there got quite stressful. I was also glad everyone was mature in the way they weren't constantly asking me irritating questions like 'have you ever met a mermaid?' (I speak from experience from that one-although the girl who asked is now twelve instead of eight and we have a laugh about it nowadays.)

Darius and Larka suddenly remembered everyone else existed. "I'm bored." Darius declared. "Percy, what was the game Leo told you about?"

Leo was our friend, and also a son of Hephaestus. In addition to that, he was immune to fire and enjoyed playing 'the matchbox' story game, which was easy for him as he had no pressure. Basically, once you lit the match you had to say one memory out loud. However, when you're under pressure you generally say something very interesting to others yet awkward to you.

"The matchbox game." I had no desire to play with matches. But everyone was bored, so I sighed, before slipping to the kitchen to get some matches.

It's interesting what you find out from people from that time span: Dan's first school play, George's first sight of a guitar. The first drawing Melody did. Darius and Larka both remembered from different perspectives when he helped her atop a boathouse. I myself mentioned the first time I wore armour and held Riptide.

"So you're Poseidon's son." Melody seemed to say it like a statement, with a questioning tone to her voice. "Indeed I am." I smirked at her.

"What's Darius?" Asked Larka. Darius seemed to suddenly get embarrassed, and pulled away. He also looked slightly annoyed.

"Well...he's half human and half something, but not half god like us." I began. He glared, so I shut up.

"What other sorts of things are there at camp?" Melody changed the subject. I got the idea she sensed tenseness and was trying to break it away.

"Mostly Demigods. But there are quite a few dryads and satyrs. Even a centaur and a cyclops. The cyclops is my brother." I let pride seep into my tone when I mentioned my younger brother, Tyson. I'd had demigods before who would've laughed or questioned, but when these sensed it they remained silent, although looking slightly confused.

"So how do you find out who your godly parent is?" Melody broke the silence after a few moments. "You get claimed." I replied. "There's always some sort of sign. It's usually a symbol above your head."


Melody's POV:

I was most worried about night time. The bunks were 3 on each side, with a few feet in between them like the distance between the two tables. I was worried because we were in a confined space and I was prone to sleep talking.

Nonetheless, as much as I told myself I wouldn't sleep to prevent me sleeptalking, as soon as I curled up in the bunk I felt my consciousness slip.

I was running. Through a maze...it was so dark. Snarls echoed from behind me, ever pursuing me. There was a painting of some sort of woman on the wall, before a forked tunnel. One glowed gold and the other was pitch black, almost like this corridor. I went for the gold one. When I came to a huge room I realised; It had been a trap! Thousands of monsters-warm and foul smelling-seemed to pounce on my, crushing my bones with their weight, tearing my flesh to shreds...

I woke up shivering. It was dark, but I had a feeling I was moving. I could hear waves lapping against the side of the boat. It was cool and peaceful. I was on a boat surrounded by nice people, instead of in a room full of unknown monsters. Still, I shuddered in remembrance of that dream.

Careful not to disturb anyone, I pulled some clothes on over my pyjamas and put my trusty old high-top trainers on. I headed up onto the deck.

"Couldn't sleep?" I was startled to hear a voice, but I realised it was just Percy. "Nightmare." I admitted. "Ah." He looked sympathetic. "Demigods get used to them."

I nodded, a chill going down my spine.


Dan's POV:

I woke the next morning to the sound of some sort of creature chattering. I looked around and remembered where I was. The creature sounded like...dolphins?

I went into the cabin beyond the bunks for privacy to get changed, then went up on deck.

Sure enough, there were dolphins. Darius was climbing on the mast, whilst Percy, Melody and George were looking and seemingly talking to some dolphins. Larka and Ezio seemed to be sleeping still. The dolphins leapt up and flipped, performing all sorts of tricks whilst Percy and George seemed to click at them. One leapt up and touched noses with Melody. She giggled, then turned. Her facial expression changed slightly when she saw me.

"Hey Dan!" George grinned. "Hello!" I smirked. "How do you do that?" Melody wondered after Percy and George spoke to the dolphins a little more.

"Me? They're sea creatures. My Dad's the sea god. But George..." Percy's gaze drifted to George. "I don't know."

No sooner had he said that, the sunlight seemed to change slightly. Then I saw; a sign above George's head. Some sort of ancient musical instrument in front of a golden glowing sun. It was slightly shocking to see my best friend suddenly have that appearing. I felt my hands tingle a little, and noticed electricity sparking from my bitten nails. Ah well.

"George. It looks like you've been claimed." Percy said. "It does make sense now."
"Hm? Who's my Dad then?" George didn't look up as he clicked at the dolphins again. "Apollo. God of the sun, music, poetry and healing. His patron animal is mentioned as the dolphin a lot."

"He's not the only one who's been claimed." Melody said quietly, her gaze meeting mine. I could sense and half see a light above my head, but was infuriated when I couldn't see. Percy gasped in shock. "What? What is it?"
"A lightning bolt." Melody said simply. "Think it means Zeus."
"Yes. It does." Percy had an edge to his voice I couldn't quite understand.

The dolphins chattered. That was when I noticed a shoreline in the distance. Even I could tell they didn't want to go too close to shore. I myself would be was when Larka stumbled on deck. Out of nowhere, Darius seemed to appear behind us. I could've sworn something was happening between those we were closer to the shore, I could make out five figures on the beach.

"Well, we're almost here." Percy gestured ahead. "Welcome to Camp Half-Blood."