The New Camper - A Percy Jackson Fan Fiction

The New Camper - Chapter 2

Every so often Sophie would look at me dumbfounded, as if she couldn't truly believe any of this was real. I couldn't exactly blame her, I'd felt the same when I was first introduced to the life of a demigod. Even now I think back to before this all happened, before I knew I who I was, and wished for that life back. Regular Percy Jackson, dislexic and ADHD, who couldn't stay in a school for more than a year. Now I was Percy Jackson, son of Posiedon, Greek warrior, and supposedly the savior of Olympus when I turn sixteen. Easy peasy, I thought to myself. Mortals were blinded by the Mist that concealed the world of the Gods and ignorant to the true happenings all around, it'd just be easier, wouldn't it? 

She took all the information well enough; considering she had only just come to her senses after her long and painful journey to camp. She didn't ask too many questions, but just sat there with listening ears and staring at me with her green eyes that were identical to mine. 

Eyes, I pondered. They are the one feature that can tell so much about a person and her eyes were the biggest mystery of all. With such fair skin, blonde hair, and gentle freckles framing her face, the green seemed so out of place, unnatural almost. She didn't have the same dark hair and complexion that our father and I shared, but somehow, in some way, those eyes connected us. They were, in fact, the eyes of Poseidon himself. Hers, however, showed a past of despair and hurt, even an element of mystery screamed at me from the depths.

The topic that seemed to interest her more than the others was Kronos. Kronos was an evil Titan lord and father to The Big Three Gods, Zeus, Poseidon, and Hades. He was beginning to rise again from the remains of his severed limbs within the depths of Tartarus, the remnants of the last battle he'd taken on with the Gods. This, of course, is all thanks to my old pal, Luke Castellan, who had turned to Kronos' side and has tried to kill me every summer since. 

Somehow, this all intrigued her. She sat up straighter when I mentioned Kronos' name, and asked a lot of questions about Luke, many of which I couldn't answer. Even I didn't know all that much about my old friend. What I did know, I'd gotten from campers, especially Annabeth, who had been close to Luke before he turned to Kronos' side. Even now I can tell that she still thinks about him. She thinks she can change him, by some miracle. He and Zeus's daughter, Thalia, had brought Annabeth to camp when she was only seven. Annabeth had even watched Thalia die before the entrances of camp. 

We were still in the middle of discussing Luke and Kronos when Annabeth strode into the room. She seemed calmer now, but didn't pay much attention to Sophie. "Chiron is calling a special meeting at the fire pit to discuss...her." She choked out the last word, as if it pained her to say it, or even look at Sophie for that matter. 

"Awesome, we'll be down in a few minutes." I said, trying to act cheerful and lighten the tension that was visibily slithering through the room right now. Annabeth turned and walked out of the room without another word. Sophie appeared puzzled, opening her mouth as if to say something but thinking better of it. "You should probably eat another square of ambrosia before we go down there, just so you feel at your best in front of everyone." I said, while breaking off and handing her a piece. She already looked stronger as I helped her from the bed, all her open wounds had closed and were beginning to heal, the bruises were all gone except for one under her eye. She released my hands awkwardly and walked by my side from the room.

The whole camp had decided to come to the campfire, however, this one didn't have the feeling of every other one, this one felt serious and angry. All heads turned our way as we both sat down on an empty log. Campers seemed to inch farther and farther away from us each passing minute, as if they were afraid of Sophie. She still seemed puzzled by how odd the camp was acting. I was even surprised; for every other camper there were cheers and toasts, laughter and greetings, for Sophie, there was nothing but shun. 

As the last campers settled in around the warm fire, Chiron's booming voice filled the valley. "Campers," he began, "we have a new demigod in our midst. Sophie-Grace, please stand up." Sophie seemed frightened and uncomfortable at the sudden mention of her name in front of all the camp, but she stood up shakingly and looked around. No cheers, no waves, no greetings -- only silence. Chiron continued, "You may sit down again, child. We have, indeed, another child of Poseidon, a daughter this time," the campers stirred, another Big Three demigod was serious trouble, "You shall all welcome her with open arms, and she will be like any other camper here. Annabeth," he turned toward Annabeth, who was sitting with her fellow Athena siblings, she glared up at Chiron, "It is your duty to help Percy welcome Sophie to Camp Half-Blood, you will be her mentor when Percy cannot. Do you understand?"

With a look of disgust, Annabeth turned her head slowly toward Sophie and me, then back to Chiron. "Yes, I will help her be welcomed to camp," she said, forcing the words out. I didn't know what was up with her. Why did she hate Sophie so much? Sophie had been only kind to Annabeth in their short encounters, but Annabeth wanted no part. I wanted to ask Annabeth what was wrong or what Sophie had done, but she wouldn't meet my gaze. I wrote it off in my mind as girl drama and worried more about Sophie and less about Annabeth's behavior. She had no idea where she came from or who sent her here. She was different than other demigods. Something was wrong, no not wrong...something was different about her than the rest. I didn't know what it was or why I felt that way, but I made it my goal, at that moment, to find out.

The remainder of the campfire was no more cheerful than the beginning. Apollo's cabin led in some half-hearted sing-a-longs, the campfire was a dull flame unlike the usual evenings where it almost touched the stars above with all the excitement and love filling the songs. Everyone went back to their assigned cabins, trudging without purpose, but just wanting to get away from the campfire. It was the quietest night in all my nights at Camp Half-Blood, but for the first time ever, I had a girl roommate in the bunk next to me, I had a sister.