The place where you lock yourself in and lock all else out - that's not your home. Your home is sometimes a place you travel long and far to find.

As soon as Lady Artemis mentioned that name, a nostalgic atmosphere enveloped the camp. Time seemed to momentarily freeze, as if the universe itself was holding its breath in anticipation. Vivienne could've sworn even the birds and animals silenced themselves. All eyes were on the goddess, some in sadness, others in curiosity. Vivienne had never heard the name. Percy Jackson? It sounded like something from a poorly animated film. Then again only a few days ago, she had no idea Greek gods still existed, so who was she to talk about what kind of weird names they had.

"Percy Jackson was a hero!" Someone suddenly called from the crowd of demigods.

"He saved us all!" Another person yelled, which was followed by many grunts and noddings of agreement. Whoever he was, Percy Jackson seemed to be an important person. The camper's impassioned voices proved it. Lost in her thoughts, Vivienne racked her brain to see where the name came from. The familiar tales of Perseus, the legendary slayer of Medusa, sprang to mind… but he married Andromeda, and was never in love with Lady Artemis. Plus, he lived way more than five hundred years ago.

"Campers, you asked for a story," the camp director, Jason, said in his calm voice. "It's time to let Artemis talk, and don't spoil it for those who haven't heard it before."
"If you haven't heard the story of Percy Jackson, you've been living under a rock," one camper scoffed, causing Jason to chuckle lightly.

"I'm sure our new guest, Vivienne, hasn't heard his story before, so let's all calm down, and listen to Artemis." The goddess took a deep breath, giving Jason a small smile.

"Thank you, Jason," she sighed, before addressing the entire camp.

"Percy Jackson," Lady Artemis continued, her voice laced with a tinge of sadness, "he was just a demigod like many of you, but he carried a burden far greater than most. The boy- man was a son of Poseidon, the first son of Poseidon in over fifty years. The reason? Unfortunately, it wasn't that Poseidon learned how to keep it in his pants, but rather, he swore on the Styx to not have any more demigod children, all due to a prophecy." Already, Vivienne found herself captivated by the story, interested in this person.
"In his early years, Percy had a knack for… how do I put this… getting himself into trouble. He faced expulsion after expulsion for reasons unexplainable to him at the time. It wasn't until he came to this very camp that he understood who he was, and what it meant to be a demigod. Throughout his time here, he did many dangerous quests, including defeating the god Ares by himself." A few gasps came from across the campers. Artemis paused for a moment, her gaze drifting to the starry night sky above. The weight of memories and emotions played across her face before she continued, her voice filled with both admiration and sorrow.

"I first met him at a rescue mission, when his crush, Annabeth, got kidnapped by a manticore. He tried going after her, but I didn't let him. There was no point in wasting a life." The goddess paused, letting it sink in. Even though she didn't know him, Vivienne felt a pang of sympathy for Percy, his longing to protect someone he cared deeply for thwarted by the necessity of sacrifice. Somehow, this story was already better than all her previous bedtime ones.

"When he was sixteen, the weight of the world fell upon his young shoulders. In a time of great trouble, he emerged as a beacon of hope to Olympus, saving everyone. Call me cliché, but that's the truth. In a daring act of desperation, Percy washed in the river Styx-" a few people winced at this. Vivienne didn't know why, but she assumed this Styx river must hurt a lot. It sent small shivers tingling down her spine, imagining the torment that Percy willingly endured for the future of this world, "- battled hundreds of monsters, drakons, flying freaking pigs," that earned a few chuckled, especially from the youngsters, "the titan Hyperion, and going toe to toe with the titan lord, Kronos, many many times. It was a hard warfare, one where all us gods were preoccupied fighting against Typhon. Many lives were lost, something I'm not sure Percy truly forgives himself for. He would always say, 'if only I had been a bit faster…' In the end, we were victorious, with the help of two of the opposing sides helping us at the last minute. It was too close, but finally, Kronos was sent back to the pit in more pieces than he used to be."

"Next, Percy-"
"Tell them about his wishes," Jason interrupted, almost like he could read her mind. Hastily, the goddess nodded.

"Sorry, right after the war, there was an emergency council meeting. I was there as Zeus generously offered Percy Jackson immortality. I was a little surprised, but did agree with my father on this occasion. Percy had earned it, but ever so humble, he declined it." Artemis's voice quivered with respect as she continued, her eyes fixed on an invisible horizon.

"Instead of immortality, Percy made a different request. He decided to give all gods recognition, amongst a couple of other conditions. It's funny that the reason almost all of you have a cabin is because of a request he made, over five hundred years ago. The Hecate Cabin, the Janus Cabin, the Iris Cabin, the Nemesis Cabin, they are all because of Percy Jackson." She took a deep breath, rubbing her eyes.

"But peace was short lived," Artemis's voice again grew sombre, her tone reflecting the darkness that descended upon their world. Next was the second Gigantomachy. For those of you who don't know, it was when the giants decided to respawn and started another war, only this time Romans were added into the mix. Gods were fighting their minds, and demigods were fighting their brothers and sisters. It was a mess, one with the uprising of a civil war. In it, Percy Jackson made the dangerous decision to jump into Tartarus for his girlfriend at the time. They survived… barely, but the pit of Tartarus, with its unfathomable horrors and relentless torment, had a toll on Percy. When he came back out he… it's hard to explain" The goddess frowned, as if unable to pinpoint the correct word.

"He wasn't the same," the girl Jason had been talking to before said. Piper. "The pit had destroyed him in every way possible. I'm pretty sure I was one of, if not the only person he shared this with. He would come to me and tell me how his relationship had changed. He kept talking about dreams and visions. He'd tell me about Nyx, Eris and Akhlys, how they'd been so close to murdering him. Tartarus changed Percy, and not for the better." Lady Artemis swallowed.

"Thank you Piper," she said. "After Tartarus, he fought the giants, before Gaia rose again. Percy battled the Romans, and eventually, after Gaia had been defeated, a longer lasting peace was finally restored. In recognition of their unwavering courage and determination, Percy, Jason, Piper, and all of the heroes known as the seven received godhood, as a reward for their services. Again, it's a lot more complicated than this, but I am speeding through most of it." From amidst the crowd, one hand rose up.

"Yes?" Lady Artemis asked. Nervously, the person, a girl, said, "Forgive me for interrupting, Lady Artemis, but this is a story everyone has heard. We all know about Percy Jackson and his achievements, when you said this is a story few have heard before. Is there something else you were going to say?" The girl was respectful, and spoke with a soft tone. Lady Artemis nodded her head.

"Perhaps you have all heard this, but not many have heard the next part. For example, who here, aside from my hunters, knows that slowly, after the Gigantomachy, I began to gain feelings for Percy?" Not a single hand shot up, with people giving each other confused glances. Vivienne herself was also slightly perplexed. She wasn't an expert on Greek Mythology, but she was sure that Lady Artemis was a maiden goddess, one who had sworn off love forever-"
"I never swore love off," Lady Artemis said, turning to face the new camper with a frown. "I merely stayed away from it, because back then, I preferred the company of my fellow hunters, and I didn't see men as highly as I do now." Vivienne's eyes widened.

"You-you can read my thoughts?" The goddess shrugged.

"I don't need to, your expression says it all." Her cheeks flushing red, Vivienne looked down. She was never good with social skills, and being called out in a group of people she didn't even know definitely wasn't something she wanted.

"I'll keep it brief then, seeing as some of you campers are already closing your eyes, be it out of boredom or tiredness," Artemis said with a flicker of a smile. "When the Gigantomachy ended, I was… hurting. Almost all my hunters were murdered by that giant, Orion. Percy… Well he did a good job of hiding it, but he too was grappling with the pain of loss, especially when he thought Leo had died. In time, the world moved on, as it always does. A lot of stuff happened, far too much to explain now, but me and Percy grew closer, before eventually getting together. For the first time in my life, I felt a connection stronger than ever to another man. Percy helped me change my views on men. He helped my hunters get better at sword fighting. He'd protest to Olympus whenever he felt something was unjust, and much much more. It was like I found the one I'd been unknowingly needing my entire life. He… he completed me." The goddess was smiling, a small, cute smile, as if she was reminiscing about what had been.

"What happened to him then?" The same kid who asked for a story said. "How could such a strong, respected man be reduced to a myth, a legend we tell ourselves whenever we feel something is impossible?" Vivienne watched slowly, as Lady Artemis's face morphed from one of nostalgia to gloom, misery and sadness.

"Percy," Lady Artemis began with a heavy sigh. "He was a god, and an amazing one, but he didn't ever want to be one, and for a good reason. You see, travelling through Tartarus comes with so much negativity, and it never stopped gnawing away at his inside. We, even as gods, are far from perfect. And Percy, for all his bravery and valiant deeds, was not immune to the flaws that resided within him. In a moment of weakness, a lapse in judgement, that he made a mistake." Gasps of surprise rippled through the crowd, eyes wide with curiosity and a hint of trepidation. Vivienne's heart quickened as she wondered what transgression could have caused such consequences. "Five hundred years ago, as of today, it was the last time anyone saw him," Lady Artemis revealed, her voice filled with regret.
"But Lady Artemis," a hunter spoke up. "What was his mistake? What did this hero do that was so bad he was banished for five hundred years and counting?" Lady Artemis's gaze shifted, her eyes filled with a deep sorrow that seemed to stretch beyond the confines of the present moment. She hesitated, contemplating the weight of her words, before responding.

"I think it's best if I don't say," the goddess mumbled, shaking her head to the side. "Some tales are just meant to remain hidden, locked away in the depths of time." The hunter looked like she wanted to prod at her more, but Vivienne caught a glimpse of the stern look Jason was giving her, and she dropped it faster than a hot potato.

"Anything else you want to add to that, Artemis?" Jason asked, cutting through the heavy silence around the campfire. Lady Artemis, usually so composed and regal, appeared visibly shaken, her usually steady gaze now cast downward, her features etched with a sorrow that seemed to seep into the very core of her being. From the confused and slightly shocked expressions from everyone else, Vivienne could tell it was a rare sight to behold, the goddess of the hunt, bearer of strength and resilience, vulnerable and haunted by the memories of a past she wished to bury. This wasn't the same goddess who had rescued Vivienne from all those monsters, just a few days ago.

"I've said all that needs to be said," Artemis responded, her voice carrying a melancholic tone.

"Very well," Jason said softly. "Unless someone else has something to say, I think it's been enough of a night and we should call it a day, or a night rather."

Vivienne was sure that Jason hadn't been expecting a reply. That all changed when a loud whoop came from the end of the campfire, followed by rapid footsteps. Her attention was immediately drawn to the source of the commotion, squinting into the darkness.

"Oh yeah!" the voice yelled in joy. "Guess which Valdez is back again, baby!" Jason's expression began morphing from a sorrowful one, to a mixture of amusement and annoyance, it was hard to tell. "I bet you all have been having the most miserable and lame night possible, but fear not young ones! Daddy Valdez is back, and back is Daddy Valdez, so make some noise for…. LEO!" As the figure began to approach the campfire, light shined onto him and Vivienne finally got a good look at who he was. No older than his twenties, the guy had a mischievous spark in his eyes that hinted at a lifetime of adventures. His scrawny frame belied a hidden strength, a resilience forged through trials and tribulations. His hair was curly and long, and his fingers seemed oily, as if he'd mixed up his water and oil.

The boy, Leo, his infectious grin slowly fading, continued to navigate through the crowd of campers, exchanging greetings with practically everyone.

"Charles, nice to see you," he said, nodding towards someone Vivienne couldn't see.

"Harris, my man, did you miss me or what!?" he grinned, hi-fiving someone else. As he made his way closer to the heart of the campfire, Leo's exuberance suddenly came to a halt. A sense of unease settled over him, causing his cheerful expression to waver. Ever so slowly, Leo turned to finally get a look at who was at the campfire. He gave Jason a nod, which he returned, before noticing the person next to him.

"Oh," was all he said. "I didn't see you." Lady Artemis gave him a wry smile, as if she was almost amused by her antics.

"That's fine, Leo," she said softly. "It wouldn't be the first time someone pretended I didn't exist." Leo's gaze drifted downwards in what Vivienne assumed to be embarrassment.

"Artemis…" he began uneasily, "truly, I am sorry for tonight." The goddess waved it away.

"It was five hundred years ago," she smiled, her voice carrying a bittersweet undertone. "What's done is done."
"But that doesn't stop you from reminiscing about it," he pointed out. The goddess shrugged, clearly not wanting to spend anymore time talking about it.

"I think it's time for bed now," Lady Artemis said, ignoring Leo's question. She turned to Vivienne.

"Jason, where's she going to stay? Oh, I forgot to tell you Leo, there's a new camper here, who's unclaimed." Leo shrugged.

"Not the first time that's happened, we'll just put her in Hermes' cabin. How old is she?"

"That's the issue," Jason said. "She's nineteen, and still hasn't been claimed. When was the last time that happened?"
"A couple of months ago? Honestly, my friend, it's not that weird. Stop freaking out about the littlest of things and let me get a look at her." Stepping aside, Jason showed him to Vivienne. The girl was nervous. She didn't know what this claiming thing meant, and why it was such a big deal. He leaned in closer, his eyes scrutinising her with a mix of intrigue and something that bordered on flustered. A subtle frown appeared on his face as he studied her.. From up close, Vivienne couldn't help but notice how flustered the scrawny boy looked. It was like seeing a blushing elf. The thought amused her.

"Tell me about yourself?" Leo asked her. "Stuff like your name, your parents and your hobbies." Vivienne looked at Lady Artemis uneasily, but the goddess just nodded her head, as if to trust him.

"Well my name is Vivienne Monroe," she began quietly. "I'm nineteen and my mother is currently recovering in the hospital from… an incident."
"Your father?" Jason suddenly interrupted. Vivienne's eyes cast downwards, her brows knitting together as she mustered the courage to respond.

"Never seen him in my life," she admitted with a tinge of resignation, "but my mother always called him 'hot-headed'" Artemis suddenly raised an eyebrow.

"Hot headed?" she murmured. "Oh no, is your father my brother?"

"I don't think she knows who her father is," Leo rolled his eyes. "Otherwise, why would we be doing this whole interrogation? I suppose there's only one way to find out. Vivienne, what are your hobbies?" A flicker of enthusiasm ignited in Vivienne's eyes
"I like fishing, cooking, reading books and learning about mechanical engineering."

"She's like every god combined," Jason whispered in amusement to Piper, marveling at her multifaceted nature. "A daughter of Poseidon perhaps?" Leo shook his head, a frown playing on his lips.

"No, I've seen this before," he muttered. "He promised it would never happen again. I mean, he made an oath on the Styx to claim his children by thirteen. How could he forget his own child?"

"It's happened before," Lady Artemis said. "Apollo did it once. When Styx paid him a visit… well lets just say all his children have been claimed since. I've never seen my brother so scared before." Leo nodded, his eyes fixated on the darkened sky above. A mix of determination and frustration flickered in his gaze.

"Father," he bellowed at no one in particular. "Stop being so lazy and claim your child. It's your oath, so you better honour it! Do not force me get Styx to come up here and teach you what it means to be an 'Oath Breaker!'" Lady Artemis raised a skeptical brow, her expression one of mild amusement tinged with curiosity.

"Do tell, how on earth are you going to get Styx to come here?" Lady Artemis scoffed. "Didn't the two of you have a massive argument a while back?"
"Well of course!" Leo smirked. "What, she can come and terrorise Apollo when he breaks his oath, but when the entire council ignored Percy's oath to free Calypso, where was she?"

All of a sudden, as Leo began taking a deep breath, a bright light suddenly erupted above Vivienne. She immediately looked up, covering her eyes from the harsh intensity. A hammer, fiery and red, was above her head. It seemed to almost pulsate. Vivienne tried swatting it away, but it wouldn't budge.

"Don't say I didn't tell you," Leo mumbled with a tinge of smugness. The corners of his lips curled into a mischievous grin as he clapped Vivienne on the back, his touch reassuring.

"Welcome to the family, sis."
"Sis?" Vivienne echoed uncertainty. Leo nodded, his eyes filled with a mix of pride and camaraderie.

"That symbol you just saw burning above your head is the symbol of our father, Hephaestus." Vivienne was in a daze. Her breath caught in her throat as the weight of her heritage settled upon her shoulders. The realisation that she was a child of the mighty god of fire and craftsmanship left her feeling both humbled and daunted.

"My… My father is Hephaestus?" she stammered, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Yep," Leo grinned, "you're one of us now!" Jason's voice broke the silence.

"It seems our little housing issue has been resolved," he said with gentle amusement. "Leo, I trust you to show Vivienne to her cabin."
"Absolutely, boss," he replied, a playful salute accompanying his words. "I'll make sure she feels right at home in no time."

"Aren't you sleeping in your own house?" he asked. The boy shook his head.

"It's lonely in there without Calypso. When she comes back, I'll go back with her, but until then, I'll give our latest camper some company." A slight smile tugged at the corners of Jason's lips as he turned to address the entire camp.

"Campers, the hour is late," he began, raising his voice. "I'm sure, it is definitely bedtime by now." A couple of people chuckled at that. "Today has been more than an eventful night. I hope everyone welcomes Vivienne Monroe, daughter of Hephaestus nicely. And let us not forget the story about Percy Jackson. He was a hero who, regardless of what he did wrong, should always be remembered in our hearts as the man who waved us through when the odds were piled against him." A murmur of agreement rippled through the camp, causing Lady Artemis to ever so slightly smile.

"Now off to bed, chop chop!"

As everyone started getting up, Vivienne stuck with her now half-brother, Leo. The boy gave a quick fist bump to Jason and a respectful nod to Lady Artemis.

"Come now, Vivienne," he said, guiding her out of the campfire. "It's time to show you the reason why our cabin is the best cabin by far." She followed him. For some reason, even though she had just met these people, Vivienne felt a connection here. It was like she had always been destined to come here. Ever since a young age, her life had been tough, and full of unexplainable events. Finally, it all made sense to her.

"After you," Leo said, opening a door and letting her enter. From the outside, the cabin of Hephaestus appeared unassuming, blending in with the surrounding forest. Its exterior was constructed from aged logs, weathered by time and bearing the scars of countless battles and experiments. Vivienne noticed the occasional burn mark here and there, evidence of some forge work, or perhaps something else. As she stepped inside, the atmosphere changed dramatically. From the outside, it may have looked slightly poor quality, but the cabin's interior was a marvel of engineering and ingenuity. The walls were adorned with various tools, gears and mechanical contraptions, meticulously arranged and organised. Shelves and workbenches were filled with mechanical parts, half-finished inventions, and blueprints scattered about. The room hummed with the constant whirring and clanking of machines in motion.

"It's not much, but it's our home," Leo said proudly. "Here, this is where you're gonna be sleeping." He pointed to a cosy looking bed, its soft sheets beckoning her. As she sank into its embrace, she felt a wave of relief wash over her. The mattress seemed to cocoon her in a cloud of tranquillity, as if saying her journey was finally over. Looking around, she noticed a row of buttons on the wall beside her. They were a myriad of shapes and colours, each one enticing her with the promise of unknown possibilities.

"What do those buttons do?" she asked. Leo pursed his lips, his fingers tapping against his chin.

"I'll tell you tomorrow," he finally said. "You need some rest, but let's just say there's a reason Hephaestus has the most awesome cabin." A weariness settled over Vivienne, her eyelids growing heavy with each passing moment. The events of the day had taken their toll, and her body craved the solace of sleep. Nuzzling her head against the soft pillow, she let out a soft sigh of contentment. Leo's eyes softened with a mix of concern and fondness.

"Yeah, you must be exhausted. Don't worry, sis, get some rest because tomorrow is another exciting day. I'm pretty sure we're playing Capture the Flag." She numbly nodded her head. too tired to do anything. Leo sighed, a small smile playing on his lips.

"Goodnight Vivienne," he said, scrambling into his own bed and shutting the lights off. Snuggling, she pulled her duvet up. As she slowly fell asleep, her thoughts drifted to earlier today. Lady Artemis had told a heart moving story, but it still left her with so many questions. What other achievements did Percy Jackson have? What was he the god of? How did he capture a maiden goddess's heart?

And more importantly, What did Percy Jackson do that was so devastating he hasn't been seen in five hundred years?

Well, that's chapter two done. How's the story coming along so far? Definitely do leave a review if you can please, and hope to update soon!