Where was I...?

Huh. I was... in a cabin of some sort. I sat up, blinking blearily, and then immediately sat down.

Ooooow.

Now I remembered. The, err, Mormo, Rector Pierce, the Camp...

But when did I fall asleep?

I looked around. Wood floors. Lots of beds, lined up. Like a hospital. Some people were in the beds, but, uh, I didn't look to closely. Nasty wounds. No windows. Only one exit, on one side of the long, narrow room.

I sat up again, paying attention to my arm. Huh, someone had bandaged it. How nice. I noticed people tending to the wounded. How convenient. I needed information.

"Hey," I called to one of them. He turned.

"Where am I?"

"Camp Half-Blood."

I glared. "I know that. I mean, where am I?"

"Oh. Uh, Big House, Infirmary section."

"That's better." I slid my legs off the bed. I could stand fine, thankfully. "Now I think I'll be leaving."

Immediately the person grabbed my shoulder. "Nope. Can't leave Camp."

I shoved him a little, glaring. "Leaving the building, I mean."

He shrank back slightly. "Fine, fine."

I walked down to the door, pushed it open. I entered a big room, looked like a lobby. Hunting trophies, an arcade game set in the corner. A way outside. A little tacky looking, in my opinion. I pushed the door open, stepping out.

I blinked in the sun. Huh. I was expecting night, but apparently not. The first thing I saw were cabins. Then a forest. And then a centaur talking to a boy.

I blinked. I blinked again.

Huh.

Rector Pierce was weirder.

The Centaur, seeing me, smiled, waving me over. I reluctantly complied.

"Welcome, Declan! Pierce told me about you. Welcome to Camp."

I just sorta nodded in agreement. The other kid he had been talking to was giving me a curious look that sorta creeped me out. Undaunted, the Centaur continued.

"I'm Chiron, Activities Director of the Camp. The Camp Director is Mr. D. And you, Declan, are a Son of Hermes. I'll show you the cabin later!" He beamed at me.

I blinked. I blinked again.

Chiron raised an eyebrow. "No one explained, boy? Fine, I'll do it myself."

He cleared his throat. I just... waited for his explanation.

"This Camp - Camp Half-Blood - was made for the protection of Demigods. Demigods are, in fact, the sons and daughter of the gods and goddesses. Greek ones, mind you. As soon as you arrive, you are claimed by your godly parent. Unless you under thirteen, of course. Each Cabin is dedicated to a certain God or Goddess, and their children live in their cabin. The Golden Fleece protects us from monsters breaking in, except, of course, for those who have been invited in, like the monsters we order for our forest. Or our Rector Pierce. Good man! I meant monster. I tell you, he's a revolutionary. He'll be convincing monsters all over to work for us. Anyway, as I was saying..."

"You were claimed by Hermes as you slept. Shame you missed it. Anyway, you'll be introduced around Camp, shown the cabins, told the schedule, and generally be introduced. So, Welcome!" He beamed again.

I blinked. "Oh...kay. That, uh, actually makes a little sense. Especially because of last night." I shuddered.

I stumbled forward slightly as he slapped me on the back. "Good! Once again, welcome! Anyway, Ace here'll show you 'round. Now, I should be off!"

He turned around, heading for the Big House. The boy - Ace - looked a little exasperated.

"C'mon, then, new boy. I'll show you Camp."

He set off without waiting for me. Hmph. I jogged to catch up.

As we walked, he listed the schedule.

"Okay, new kid, schedule goes like this; Breakfast and Cabin Inspection - your siblings'll tell you more, later - in the morning, then Ancient Greek. After that, it's either cleaning stables, pickin' strawberries, polishing armor, or lunch preparation. Depends on what day. After that, it's either Javelin throwing, Archery, sword skills, or Pegasus riding. After that, Lunch. After that, tracking, wrestling, armor making, and whatnot. Then firework-making, woodchopping, laundry, letters home, or cabin cleaning. Then free time, then dinner. After that, it's usually a competition of some sort. Capture the Flag's popular. Sometimes climbing wall, though the lava makes it unpopular."

Now that he was showing me around, I took the opportunity to examine him. He was wearing all black, a T-shirt, jeans, high cut vans, and a hoodie. His hair was pitch black, though it had some cool looking red streaks in it. He looked pretty athletic - though, by the sound of the schedule, that wouldn't be rare here. His eyes were an icy blue, and he had two piercings in his left ear. His accent, when he was talking, was strong. Australian? A little English, maybe?

Strangely enough, he also had two sheathed swords. The sheathes were, uh, glowing purple. Creepy.

"You like what you're seein', or are you gonna pay attention?"

"Sorry," I mumbled. He sighed, speeding up slightly.

"So..." I started uneasily. "Which deity is your parent?" It feels really weird to say that. I'd still have to get use to having a cabin full of siblings. Or half-siblings, I guess.

"Hades," Ace replied. Simple and short. "And before you ask, he was actually supposed to be one of the more decent gods."

"Okay, okay," I mumbled again. So this is what if felt like to be the new guy at a camp full of half gods.

Ace sighed, looking down for a second. "Sorry. Hard to get use to, eh?" He grinned. Huh. He had dimples.

I grinned in return. "Definitely."

"Anyway," Ace continued, getting back to business, "This is your cabin." He spread his arms out.

The cabin was... a little disappointing. Looked... old, its dull brown paint chipped, a caduceus hanging above the door.

"Great, isn't it?" Ace said, grinning.

"Absolutely perfect," I replied, rolling my eyes. As I said it, someone opened the door to the cabin and stepped out.

"Ah, just in time," Ace muttered under his breath, then continued in a louder voice, "Oi, Brooker! I've got a new one for you!"

They boy - Brooker, apparently? - grinned, jumping down the steps by twos.

"Ah, come off it, Aussie. I'm Ben."

Ace grimaced. I took a mental note not to call him Aussie. "This is Declan. Declan, this is Benjamin Brooker, Counselor of Hermes Cabin. Means he's technically your boss."

Ben grinned, offering a hand. I shook it. "Nice to meet you, Declan. I'll be sure to tell the other's that you have a week of protection."

I blinked. "What?"

"Means they won't prank you yet," he said. Oh, yay.

I took the time to examine him - after all, he was technically my boss. He had sandy hair and brown eyes with blue flecks. He had a few freckles. He also had a very suspicious look in his eye. Good thing I had a week of protection. He was surprisingly skinny for a guy with a strong handshake.

"I'm guessing Pierce brought you in?"

I blinked. "Uh, yeah. How'd you -"

"You smell of Manticore." And with that, he was off.

I blinked. Did I really? Hmph. Not important.

"Well," Ace started, "Next is-"

Then a horn rang out. The crowds of campers turned.

"Ah, good," Ace grinned. "Dinner!"

Yeah, I didn't introduce to many. But! Next Chapter shall be Dinner and Capture the Flag. More Introductions and Fun then!