Daughter of Poseidon

Meeting Other Campers

"Come, Anya. Let's see the woods."

As we got closer, I realised how huge the forest was. It took up at least a quarter of the valley, with trees so tall and thick they practically obscured the sky. Chiron said, "The woods are stocked, but go armed. Capture the flag on Friday night. Do you have your own sword and shield and amour?"

"Not a shield or amour, but I have my sword Perseis."

"Ah yes, your sword, may I examine it?"

"Sure." I said and pressed on my necklace, and it instantly transformed. The blade let off a faint blue glow and shimmered beautifully.

"It's an interesting sword, one that I thought I would never see again."

"Why?" I asked, cocking an eyebrow.

"It used to be one of Poseidon's, but that's of no consequence. Now moving on," Chiron looked at me and said."I think a size four shield, breastplate and helmet will do. I'll visit the armory later."  

I was slightly worried about a summer camp having an armoury, not so much why they needed it, but who could use it. If all the kids were able to get their hands on Greek fire at will, then you could probably imagine what sort of mayhem would follow. Chiron assured me that only people who had been cleared could gain access, but I was unconvinced. I was sure there was at least one or two jokers who would manage to sneak in - after all, I'd worked out how I'd do it myself.

The tour continued. We saw the archery range, the canoeing lake, the pegasi stables, the javelin range, the marble performance amphitheatre, and the huge arena where Chiron said they held sword and spear fights. Cabins could challenge each other to fights and apparently they were not lethal . . . usually. It didn't really make me feel very reassured. There was also a special archery range which had targets crazily far away and you could try your luck. Apparently only the kids of Apollo had ever got anywhere close to getting an arrow on it. I quite liked archery and was itching to have a go.

Chiron pointed to an outdoor pavilion framed in white Grecian columns on a hill overlooking the bluer-than-blue sea, that was apparently the dining area. There were a dozen marble picnic tables with a huge bronze brazier burning in the middle. A table for each god or goddess.

Finally, he showed me the cabins. There were twelve of them, nestled in the woods by the lake. They were arranged in a omega shape, with two at the base and five in a row on either side. And they were without doubt the weirdest collection of buildings I'd ever seen. They each had a large brass number above the door and looked absolutely nothing alike, each one faced a commons area. One shone gold, with a blinding light, all the windows gilded and pop music blasting out of speakers. Apollo's cabin, the god of the sun and music. Demeter's cabin had grass for a roof and walls, flowers sprouting around it in a little fairy-circle. It was near the strawberry fields and her children walked among the plants making them grow with the nature-magic that they'd been gifted with.

"And that finishes our tour. Annabeth!" Chiron shouted, gesturing for her to come over. Would you take Anya from here?"

"Yes, sir. "

"Welcome to Cabin eleven, " Chiron told me, gesturing toward the doorway. 

Out of all the cabins, eleven looked the most like a regular old summer camp cabin - emphasis on old. The threshold was worn down, the brown paint peeling, the whole place just looked derelict. Inside, it was packed with people, both boys and girls, way more than I thought possible. Sleeping bags were scattered all over on the floor. It looked like a refugee camp with the rows and rows of bunks and sleeping bags. Chiron didn't go in. But when the campers saw him they all bowed respectfully.