The Kids Aren't All Right

Time to Be Veronica Sawyer

"What the fuck do you mean she's missing!?" Dy spats out at Chiron.
He fumbles, searching for the right words.
"A couple campers expressed their concerns when she did not show to breakfast, they say they haven't seen her since last night."
I swallow.
"If anyone has any information about the Athena cabin incident last night, please come forward. Now back to the cabins. The campfire will still take place." Chiron continues.
After he gallops away, the boy- Gabe, speaks up again as the group walks. I don't think anyone heard except me.
"Might as well start weaving her shroud now." He mutters under his breath. He looks at me and I avoid his glance, causing a small chuckle before he heads into a cabin made of pure gold. I think it's the Apollo cabin.
I'm about to reach the doors of the Hermes cabin when Wendy steps in front of me with her signature toothy smile.
"What trouble are you pulling me into now?" I kid. Well, I'm actually not kidding, but it comes off the way.
"Chiron said 'the' cabins, not 'your' cabins. Come to the Aphrodite with me, Hadley is throwing one of their famous sleepovers."
"It's not even nighttime.
"Well, yeah. But we all have nothing better to do with all the camp stuff cancelled. Might as well keep ourselves occupied until the campfire. Aw, shit, that's cancelled too. Nevermind." She pauses, then continues. "Personally, I think it's just because the Aphrodite kids are too weak to defend themselves. They're scared of whatever took Savannah, they totally just want some people who can actually fight so they don't wet their beds." She laughs at her own joke.

I think over in my head and say yes simply at the mere possibility of making new friends.
We begin to walk to the Aphrodite cabin; it's a gorgeous sight. The cabin is baby pink and adorned with dozens of flowers and it reeks of sweet perfume.
I cast a final glance at Wendy and we step inside.
"Hey everyone!" Wendy calls out, "This is Elsa. She's new."
I get a few awkward waves and a couple quiet "hi's" before everyone resumes to their chatter. I turn around and Wendy is no where to be seen. It takes me a moment after scouring the crowd to spot her with Aella, smiling and laughing. I almost forgot they're half sisters.
Aella almost immediately spots me and yells from across the room, "How's your arm?" She smirks.
I cast a sarcastic smile her way and turn around, looking for a spot I can simply stand and not have to talk to people in. I glance around the room and notice some familiar faces, but some faces are missing too: Jana, Rowan, Dy, Callista, and obviously Savannah. I suppose the other people here gave no concern over Sav's disappearance. It makes wonder if it's a regular thing and I pray to god, well, the gods that it isn't. I remember my father saying how this camp is safe and can't help but to laugh.

"What's funny?" A voice pipes up from the side of me. There standing is a girl with cascading brunette hair that falls in beautiful waves, perfect arched eyebrows, and a petite nose. She's gorgeous, I assume she's Aphrodite.
"Oh, um, nothing. Just remembered an old joke, that's it."
"Oh, alright. I'm Hadley, by the way." She flashes a pearly white smile at me.
"Elsa, if you didn't hear from Wendy's announcement."
This causes her to chuckle and she gestures to the side with a motion of her head.
"C'mon, I'll show you around to all the campers." She states, leading me to a large group of girls playing a game of poker on the floor.
Hadley goes through the list of names and I have trouble keeping up, but after she's done I know: Flora, Magnolia, Tasmin (but she goes by Tas), Crystal, and Aslynn. They all give me waves and smiles and return to the game, with Tasmin facing Aslynn. As I walk to sit in a empty spot between Crystal and Flora, I see Aslynn has a flush while Tas has a pair of queens. Tas keeps a strong face though, bluffing her way through the bets.

"I'll see your one drachma and raise you two." Aslynn offers, smirking. Tas meets this and they keep on playing.
I can't help but to lean over and ask Crystal, "Sorry, but, what's a drachma?"
Crystal chuckles and shakes her head. "You're a newbie, don't apologize. I only got here a couple months ago. It's just the Greek form of currency. They aren't used for too much, but they're very handy to have for Iris messages."
She sees my confused look and continues, "Iris messages are like the godly FaceTime or Skype. You set a mist of water in light, throw a drachma in as a offering to Iris. She's the goddess of rainbows and managed that stuff."
I take the information in and nod. It's silent for a few more moments before Crystal pipes up the conversation again. "This one time, since we can't use cellular waves, I met this boy on a internet chat room. Basically fell in love with him and he said he was a demigod too. I kept trying to get him to Iris message with me but he always had some sort of dumb, overused excuse. I got really irritated and it turned out it was some Hermes girl playing a sick prank."
"That would make for a interesting episode of Catfish." I retort.
She rolls her eyes jokingly, taking in a huffed breath. "Tell me about it."