Elizabeth Potter

Chapter 7

We were close now. I looked at my map and saw that I was almost there. One more hill to get over. It would be easy if I weren't being followed by three hellhounds and two harpies. We had lost them a little ways back, so if I sprinted, I would make it. But it's never that easy. A hound appeared behind me, I could see one on either side of me, closing in, and the harpies flew overhead. I did the only sane thing. I booked it. When I reached the top of the hill, I saw I was wrong. I still had to go down this hill and then up another one. But I could see the protective barrier around camp and the top of a building from where I was. I wasn't going to make it down the hill alive. Two more hellhounds had joined the hunt. In a split-second decision, I launched myself onto the grass and tumbled down the hill. Calla and Strider ran next to me. When I reached the bottom, I sprung to my feet and started up the hill. I pulled out my bow and aimed at a harpie. I was about to let go, but then a hellhound grabbed Strider's tail, pulling him down. I quickly re-aimed and shot the hound, turning it to dust. That gave the harpie an opening to swoop me. I tried to pull out my dagger but wasn't fast enough. The harpie had grabbed my shirt. It started to pull me up into the sky when Calla leaped at it. Calla embedded her recently discovered celestial bronze teeth and claws into the Harpie, turning it to dust. The other hellhounds and Harpie were still at the bottom of the hill, and I really didn't want them to catch up with us, so I continued running.

I stumbled through the barrier, Calla and Strider at my side. A girl ran up to me but backed off when Calla and Strider hissed and got ready to pounce.

"No! Calla, Strider back," I said quickly. Both followed directions, but they still glared. Sensing that Calla and Strider were calm now, the girl helped me up. I must have looked really beat up because she started ordering people around. I only processed one thing. Chiron. The girl led me to a big house. I surveyed the camp as we walked to the Big House. Demigods were running around holding long colorful strips of paper with writing on them, and others were setting up decorations. Soon, we arrived at the house. The girl led me inside. There, we met a centaur. The one and only trainer of heroes. Chiron.

Chiron told the girl to go, and she left us.

"It is good to finally meet you, Elizabeth," Chiron told me. I looked up at him.

"Likewise, Chiron. Can we speak in Greek? It's easier than English. And please, call me Eliza," I said with a smile. Chiron raised an eyebrow.

"Very well, Eliza. You are seven, correct? Youngest camper here. Come now. I will give you a tour of your new home." Home. That was something I hadn't had for months. Chiron brought me onto the porch, where a god was sitting at a table playing a game by himself. I knew it was a god because I couldn't feel the water that was in blood. He smelled strongly of grapes.

"This is Mr.D, our camp director," Chiron told me. I looked the god up and down. Not very impressive.

"Mr.D? What's your full name?" I asked sweetly. Mr.D looked over his cards at me, staring into my soul. I didn't flinch.

"That's none of your business, Half-Blood," He sneered. Oh, he was on my bad side now.

"Why?" I asked.

"Because it's not."

"But why?"

"Because."

"Because why?"

"Because it's not."

"But why is it not?" I asked again. I could do this all day. But, apparently, Mr.D couldn't.

"Because it's not you insufferable little brat!" He practically screamed. I inwardly flinched. I didn't like loud noises. Calla and Strider knew this. Calla sat up straight from where she was on my shoulders, and Strider jumped down from my arms.