Finding Hope (Book 1)

Chapter 22: Mom?

The next few days I settled into a routine that felt almost normal, if you don't count the fact that I was getting lessons from satyrs, nymphs, and a centaur.

Throughout the day, I'd rotate through outdoor activities, looking for something I was good at. Chiron taught me archery, but we found out pretty quick I was good with a bow and arrow.

Foot racing? No good. The wood-nymph instructors left me in the dust. They told me not toworry about it. They'd had centuries of practice running away from lovesick gods. But still, it was a littlehumiliating to be slower than a tree.

Wrestling? Forget it. Every time I got on the mat, no matter who it was, I always was flat on the ground in seconds. With some kids, mostly from the Ares Cabin, I even broke a bone.

I knew the senior campers and counselors were watch-ing me, trying to decide who my mom was, butthey weren't having an easy time of it.

I wasn't as strong as the Ares kids, in fact 100% of then outweigh me and are bigger.

I really good at archery, but definitely not as good as some of the Apollo kids.

I didn't have Hephaestus's skill with metal work. "Your a good at helping though!" A Hephaestus kid named Leo told me.

Dionysus's way with vineplants was definitely not me ether.

I wasn't pretty like the Aphrodite cabin.

I couldn't even have the heart to steal something, when Travis and Conner were trying to get me to. So Hermes was out of the question.

Even though I wasn't good at a lot of things I still loved Camp. Leo Valdez instantly became one of my best friends. His corny jokes were hilarious, and even though I was 4 years younger, we were basically on the same maturity level. He was easygoing, upbeat, energetic, funny, flirty and loves to tell jokes constantly, he is genuinely very intelligent and honest, and cares about people. He loves to pull pranks, and often went with Travis and Connor.

I also learned that the seven are going to leave for there quest on June 25., that which means that I get to go also. I will take about 6 hours and we are going in Leo's Argo 2.

Wednesday afternoon, three days after I'd arrived at Camp Half-Blood, I had my first sword-fighting lesson.Everybody from cabin eleven gathered in the big circular arena. We started with basic stabbing and slashing, using some straw-stuffed dummies in Greek armor. I guessI did okay. At least, I understood what I was supposed to do and my reflexes were good. The sword that I had was to big, but it was one of the smallest ones, and even then it was too big. When our instructor gave me knives it was like I was with a bow. I was pretty good.

By the time our instructor called a break, I was soaked in sweat. Everybody swarmed the drinks cooler.

Friday afternoon, I was sitting with Leo at bunker nine. I stood to the side, helping Leo make the Argo 2. I asked him about the four empty cabins."Number eight, the silver one, belongs to Artemis," he said. "She vowed to be a maiden forever. So ofcourse, no kids." I was really disappointed, I really like Artimis. "The cabin is, you know, honorary. If she didn't have one, she'd be mad."

"Okay. But the other three, the ones at the end. Are those the Big Three?"

"No. One of them, number two, is Hera's," hesaid. "That's another honorary thing. She's the goddess of marriage, so of course she wouldn't go around having affairs with mortals. That's her husband's job. When we say the Big Three, we mean thethree powerful brothers, the sons of Kronos."

"Zeus, Poseidon, Hades, right?"

"Right. You know. After the great battle with the Titans, they took over the world from their dad anddrew lots to decide who got what."