The Son of Hephaestus

Chapter 6: I Find My Best Friend And My Dad

Breakfast just ended. I leave the pavilion and I go to walk River when I hear a strangely familiar voice. One year ago, I was in school in 5th grade. There was a new kid that year, and his name was Ethan Jackson. That whole year we had become best friends. I felt as if I knew him all my life. So, as you would expect, I was very unhappy when he had to leave that very same year. But, I think I might have found my best friend again. I sprint towards the sound, River running beside me. We reach there, right in front of the Poseidon cabin. 

"Ethan!" I call out.

He turns around, and I recognise his sea green eyes, his mischievous smile.

"Carson!" he says and runs towards me. I give him a massive bear hug.

"Dude! It's been so long!" I say.

"Can't- breath-" he coughs out.

"Oh, right. Sorry." I say as I drop him. 

"So, this is River?" he asks and point to him.

"Yeah."

Ethan leans down and pets River, grinning as the dog nuzzles his hand. "I have to go, but I'll see you later!"

"Bye!"

As I walk away with River, I see Skyler sitting on the docks by the lake. I sit next to her, and we start chatting. She starts talking about the games after dinner.

"Games? What games?" I ask her.

"So, sometimes after dinner, instead of having the sing-along, we have capture the flag. But it's not like normal capture the flag. You use swords and armour and stuff."

"Ok, cool. But they're like foam weapons, right?"

"No, they are full celestial bronze."

"Oh." I say, a bit surprised, but I was kind of expecting that. "Hey, can I tell you a secret?" I ask her.

"Um, sure." She says. "What is it?"

"Actually, it would be better if we were alone."

I ask her to follow me as I head towards the edge of the woods, where no one could see of hear us.

As we reach there, Skyler asks "So, what did you want to show me?"

I raise my hand, my palm facing her. "Watch." Immediately my hand burst into flame.

"Woah!" she jumped back in shock. "But only Hephaestus children can do that..."

Right as she said that, the spot above my head glowed a bright orange. 

"Aah! My hair is on fire!" I yelped. "Not again!"

"No, you're not on fire..." says Sklyer, still staring at the glowing thing. "You've been claimed. Quick!" she grabs my wrist as we run to find Chiron.