Tomorrow was Capture the flag, and the Hermes kids in the cabin couldn't stop staring at Cressida like she was a strange animal that has yet to be discovered. They felt sorry for her; she could feel the pity they exuded onto their faces. And she hated it. They had no idea that she knows who her godly parent is – at least she thinks it – and if they did, gods know they would never believe it. A child of the primordial goddess…? It was rare, scratch that, it's impossible.

Still residing into the Hermes cabin, Cressida tugged on her camp half-blood t shirt and thought to herself, it's good here. Being away from her foster family is a major blessing.She wasn't happy entirely, but she felt accepted. Being here with people – kids just like her, it was something. But if they found the truth – having crazy dreams communicating with the Goddess Nyx, talking to bats – it was nuts. Hell, it was insane.

Cressida hopped off her bunk – it was the morning – and Sarah entered the cabin with a wary look onto her face. She caught sight of Cressida who was now standing with her black hair matted, and walked over.

Sarah bit her lip. "Chiron has summoned you to the Big House. It's important." Her voice was monotone, like she was trying to keep her guard up.

Anxiety blossomed into Cressida's insides. What if he knows about Nyx?She shook her head mentally. He mustn't know… She took a deep breath. "Why?"

She gave a lopsided shrug. But Cressida knew she was anxious, that whatever Chiron wanted to see Cressida about, it was majorly important. "I don't know, but you have to see him now. Do you want me to walk with you there?"

Cressida gulped. She wasn't afraid of seeing Chiron, but she was kind of uneasy. She was mostly worried that he might know of Nyx… "Okay. Thanks."

They both walked along the path to the Big House. The sun was warm and bright, and everything was colourful. Some kids gave Cressida side long glances and were murmuring amongst each other. Some gave her tight smiles, their eyes obviously full of pity.

The strawberry fields were lush and ripe, the Demeter and Dionysus kids using their powers and abilities to help grow the crops in the fields, along with the satyrs playing their reed pipes. Sarah said once that the strawberries help pay the expenses for the camp, and the cover name for camp half-blood was called 'Delphi Strawberry Service'.

The big blue house came into view with its four-story build, its wrap around deck had lounge chairs, a card table and wind chimes shaped like nymphs as they spun. Taking some steps on the stairs, Sarah turned to Cressida. "Good luck." She sighed. "It might be about your godly parent, maybe. But he looked really grief-stricken and pale." Well, that made Cressida feel a lot better. "But don't worry," she added quickly. 'I'm sure it'll be okay." Sarah looked doubtful though.

Opening the door to the big house, Cressida walked in on Chiron on a magical wheelchair in deep conversation with a Satyr. She felt like she was interrupting on something.

Chiron cleared his throat. Sarah was right; he looked awfully pale and wary. His brown eyes tinged with sadness and – fear? He gestured to a couch nearby. "Come in, Cressida. Sit."

The satyr shifted nervously. He tugged at his camp t shirt, blinked erratically, he was scared. Not at Cressida but– at something else, or someone else. He made Cressida feel uncomfortable as she sat on the comfy couch. She stared at the lion on the fireplace mantle.

Chiron wheeled his magical wheelchair, a blanket sprawled onto his legs. "Cressida, we must talk urgent matters. It concerns you solely on the fact that you have not yet been claimed." She could hear edginess in his voice. It felt like all her living organs were tied up with anxiety.

"Are you kicking me out of camp-half blood?" She uttered. Her voice was croaky and shaky. She couldn't stand going back there – to that place. So many dark things happened there, and it was horrible. She wasn't weak, but she just could stand being surrounded by all those indelible memories.

Chiron smiled slowly, but it was a sad smile. "Gods, no. Cressida this is your home." He assured her. "This situation is difficult. And before I tell you the problem, I just wanted to assure you that you are safe nevertheless. Okay?" The complication in his voice was apathetic. Relief and anxiety warred inside her chest.

She took a shaky breath, "Okay."

On the other side of the room, the satyr made unnerving noises under his breath. He kept muttering, 'Powerful scent.' 'Too powerful…' 'Powerful than the big three.' The last sentence was barely audible, but Cressida was sure she heard correctly.

Chiron gave him a side-long glance, his mouth pursed with a thin line. His brown eyes were sunken, and his beard ragged. He looked like he aged another 1000 years. And he was really old. "Quintus, that's enough." He soothed the satyr, Quintus. "We have far more important matters onto our shoulders."

Quintus shuffled closer to Chiron, his body shaking at what the other man is about to say. Chiron turned to Cressida, his face pale. He cleared his throat. "We've been receiving Iris messages lately from Olympus," He began saying, the Centaur was anxious no doubt. "And the Olympians have their suspicions about you." He drawled. He stopped and looked down.

So many feelings flooded into Cressida. Anger, resentment, uneasiness, it was all too overwhelming. She doesn't even know why she felt so much infuriation.

He continued, "They have confirmed that you are not one of their offspring, and the minor gods are definite when they say you are not one of theirs. But one thing is for certain, Cressida, are that you are a half-blood nonetheless."

Cressida stared. She expected sooner or later that the others would know for sure she isn't a normal half-blood. That she wasn't an offspring from the Olympians and/or the minor gods.

"You don't look surprised," Chiron sat back in his wheelchair, his face pensive as he stroked his beard. Cressida gulped. Maybe now is the time to tell the truth.

"Chiron," she said nervously. "I've been having strange dreams…"

"Ahhh." He said, now it was his turn not to be surprised. "That is one of a half-bloods many traits or abilities, as one might put it. It is normal for a demi-god, but these dreams are not like mortal dreams." Cressida's chest felt like a thousand ants are eating away at it.

"How so?" she managed to ask. She bit her tongue.

"Well, these dreams have a meaning, or a purpose. They are dreams of importance, indicating a message from someone else, or what may happen in the future…" he elucidated. "What dreams have you been having, Cressida?" he asked, eyebrows lowered.

She gulped. "It might sound crazy, but – I – I've been somewhat communicating with a goddess… and a very powerful one." Her chest heaved. "You might not believe me – but, I'm certain it was the primordial goddess Nyx."

Quintin yelped, his hooves thundered on the carpet. He made a strangled sound deep in his throat, and muffling noises whilst chewing on his t shirt. He kept muttering. Chiron was pale. He shook his head, "That's impossible, child. You must be mistaken, or it must've been just a regular dream." She could see the terror in his eyes, though. Chiron looked so confident and invincible, but she has never seemed him look ruffled.

Cressida's blood turned cold. "She said you wouldn't believe me. I know what I saw – dreamed – whatever. It was real. It felt real." Her voice sounded foreign to her. Her face transformed impassive when Chiron shook his head, clearly treating her as if she's a child. Quintin gasped silently.

"Cressida, if you talk of the Night, it is dangerous. Dangerous for all of us. Names hold power." Chiron said softly. "You are mistaken." He smiled, but it didn't reach his eyes. "You may go now." She nodded slowly, kind of let down.

Cressida wanted to protest, snap at him for being like this, but she knew better not to argue. After all, he'd treated her like family she's never had, and welcomed her with opened arms. She respected that. But, he's supposed to understand. But no one does. Right now, she wanted to punch a wall. Scream on the top of her lungs. But she stood and nodded once, balling her fists up and controlling the anger that is fighting to consume her. She walked silently out of the house; Quintin looked so small and fragile, his eyes bulging with fear.

Once out, she walked toward the cabins. Thunder rumbled in the sky, flash of neon blue zigged above erratically against the sun. The Aphrodite girls were screaming outside their cabins, holding shampoo bottles, their hairs were vivid pink. They were chasing the two twin Hermes boys – Travis and Connor Stoll – who were laughing and running for their lives, high fiving each other. A daughter of Demeter rolled her eyes and shook her head at the twins. It eased the anger inside Cressida.

"The Stoll brothers love to prank on the Aphrodite cabin. But this was epic, replacing their shampoos with pink hair dye." An amused boy said behind Cressida.

"I bet you 20 drachmas they will end up in the infirmary. Boy would that be a sucker, capture the flag is tomorrow!"

She put her head down and walked away, careful not to make eye contact with anyone. All she wanted to do was run into the wildness in the dark forever.

AN

HELLO HELLO HELLO. GREETINGS EARHTLINGS.