𝙰𝚌𝚑𝚒𝚕𝚕𝚎𝚜 (𝙹.𝙶.) [𝟷]

1.1

THE BOY WITH NO MEMORIES

"WILDERNESS SCHOOL"

Wacky 

Improvisations and 

Laughter 

During 

Extreme 

Recreation, 

Nature 

Exploration, and 

Survival 

School

The idea of a "Wilderness School" made Mae appreciate the adventures and camaraderie she experienced among fellow demigods. Whether it was battling monsters, exploring the woods, or sharing laughs around the campfire, every day brought something new and exciting. It was a place where unconventional skills were prized, and survival often meant more than just making it through the day.

However, Mae couldn't help but shudder at the thought of her brief stint at a mortal school, the notorious Wilderness School. Surrounded by high schoolers whose antics could put the children of Hermes and Ares to shame, Mae felt like she was navigating a minefield of teenage drama and questionable hygiene. She'd take on a minotaur any day over enduring another hour in that cesspool of angst and chaos.

In comparison, Camp Half-Blood was a sanctuary—a place where she could be herself, hone her demigod abilities, and bond with others who understood the challenges of living in two worlds. It was less about grades and more about survival skills, less about cliques and more about forging friendships that could withstand battles against gods and monsters alike.

The only saving graces were Leo Valdez and Piper McLean (her two best friends in that hellhole), whose antics provided much-needed entertainment.

And then there was Coach Gleeson Hedge, the gruff but oddly endearing satyr who'd first brought her to Camp Half-Blood when she was a lost five-year-old, abandoned by her mortal father and her sickly mortal mother who died a few weeks after he found her.

As luck would have it, she and Hedge had managed to sniff out two new demigods to protect.

Leo Valdez liked to call himself a handsome "Latino Santa's elf," a title that Mae couldn't agree with more, well, except the handsome part.

The guy was a wizard with his hands, able to build anything from nothing and fix even the most hopelessly broken items without breaking a sweat. It was downright spooky and always made Mae think of her old friend Charles Beckendorf.

Rest in peace, Beckendorf.

Salut to the master builder.

Back to the story, though. Leo always wore a look that said, "Don't let me near anything remotely dangerous." Naturally, Mae and Piper let him be around all the dangerous stuff—she loved a good thrill.