The Sun God's Daughter

Gabriel

‘Guys.’ No reaction from the people in the cabin. ‘GUYS!!!’ Now the cabin members did look up. ‘We’ve got a new camper for you. Meet Eliana.’

‘Determined or undetermined?’

‘Undetermined.’ I told them sadly. A few people sighed and others just simply lost interest. I looked around the crowded cabin, there was hardly any space left but they still made me a place to sleep and I put my stuff down.

‘Have any of you seen Gabe?’ Adam asked.

Steven must have seen the confused look on my face. ‘Gabriel is the head counselor of Poseidon cabin, we want to see if we can change something with the chores schedule.’ I nodded in understanding.

‘Yeah, he’s in his cabin.’ One of the cabin members told them.

They flashed her a blinding smile. ‘Great. We’ll leave you here now Eliana. You must be tired.’ And they left.

‘Gabe’s sooo hot!’ I heard one of the girls whisper to the other who giggled and nodded her head.

---

‘Wake up.’ Somebody told me while shaking me softly. ‘It’s time for breakfast, come on.’ A few minutes later we were all waiting in a line to go to breakfast. I was told that the counselor still wasn’t back. When we walked into the dining pavilion, Adam and Steven happily waved at me from the other end of the pavilion. I wished I could sit with them, but I was already told that you eat with your cabin members. When the food was brought, every one stood up. ‘What’s going on?’ I asked the person closest to me.

She huffed and rolled her eyes, as if to tell me I was stupid for not knowing such an obvious thing. ‘Well duh, you offer the best part of your food to your godly parent. They like the smell.’ I wanted to ask what you should do if you didn’t know your godly parent, but I decided not to risk another of her eye rolls, afraid her eyes might fall out. I quietly snickered at the thought while she just glared at me. When it was my turn I threw some food in the fire and muttered, ‘To my parent, whoever you are…’ then I said down again and enjoyed my food. Next up the schedule was archery. A small smile spread across my face, I already found out that I was good at archery. After getting myself  a bow and arrow I got ready in line. I aimed my bow, ready to shoot. When the signal was given I shot and hit the bulls eye. I got ready for the next one and once again it hit the board perfectly.

‘You must be the new cabin member of cabin 11, Eliana, undetermined? Adam and Steven told me all about you.’ a voice behind me asked. I spun around to face a young boy, about 16, with dark hair and sea green eyes.

‘Uhm, uh… Uhm.. yes?’ I said even though it sounded a bit like a question. That girl from Hermes Cabin had been right, he was hot!

He chuckled. ‘Well Eliana, it’s nice to meet you. I’m Gabriel, son of Poseidon but everyone calls me Gabe.’

I was slowly returning to my normal self again and flashed him a smile. ‘It’s nice to meet you too Gabriel.’

‘You can call me Gabe if you want.’

I smiled at him again. ‘I know, but I like Gabriel right now. Maybe I’ll call you Gabe later.’

He chuckled again. ‘I guess we’ll see then.’

‘Yes we will.’

‘Now, if you’ll excuse me, there are some bulls eyes I have to hit.’ I smirked at him. I turned back around while he took the board next to mine. I shot and once again had a perfect aim. He tried as well but missed the bulls eye by four centimeters. ‘Fail.’ I coughed. He started laughing.

‘Ok.’ He said. ‘I dare you to split the arrow in the board with the one in your hand.’

‘No.’

‘Ok.’ The corners of his mouth turned upwards in a mischievous smile. ‘I double dare you.’

‘No.’

‘Triple.’

‘Okay FINE!’ I aimed and shot. As I had hoped, it split the arrow in two equal pieces. ‘Ooooeh! Burn! Take that suckah!’

‘You’re really random aren’t you?’ He laughed.

‘Yes, my friend. Yes I am.’ 

He shook his head but continued to laugh. ‘You’re one crazy girl.’

‘Thank you.’ I smiled at him happily.

---

‘So what’s after lunch?’ I asked our head counselor  Jake as he was closest to me.

‘Sword fighting with Artemis cabin and Apollo cabin.’

‘THERE’S SOMEONE IN THE ARTEMIS CABIN!?’ He looked scared by my sudden outburst but I was just really surprised. I didn’t know much about Greek mythology but I knew that Artemis had made a vow  to be a virgin or something like that.

‘uhm, yes… She just got her a little while ago her name’s Atlanta, but she’s actually a forbidden child you know? She’s caused quite an uproar in Olympus and even in a Roman camp…’

‘There are Roman camps?’

‘Yeah, but they suck really. They are violent and aggressive, they worship the same gods but they’ve named them differently. It’s stupid really…’ I nodded in fake understanding.

After lunch we went to the sword fighting arena. After a while the Apollo and Artemis cabins joined us. Steven and Adam walked up to me. ‘Hi Eliana.’ Steven sang happily followed by a, ‘How are you settling in,’ from Adam.

‘Hi guys, I’m settling in just fine. Don’t worry.’ I smiled at them reassuringly. They left when we were separated into sparring couples. I was with a girl I didn’t know, not that I knew a lot of people at Camp Half-Blood but still… She sent me a small smile. ‘I’m Atalanta.’ She told me, something clicked immediately. Artemis’ daughter. ‘Erhm, yeah.’ She said uncomfortably. I must have said that out loud.

‘I’m Eliana.’ I smiled at her. ‘Undetermined.’ I added sadly. I hated saying that!

‘Eliana! Atalanta! Less talking more fighting!’ Jake yelled at us. I presented my sword to Atalanta as she did the same, and then I charged. We fought against each other for what felt like hours, none of us having a chance to end this, until Jake did. ‘Okay that’ll be enough, this won’t ever end now will it? It’s the end of the lesson. You’re dismissed.’ I smiled. I loved that word dismissed, it meant I could leave. Atalanta and I shook hands before I left. I decided that I wanted to have some alone time. I walked on the small beach, with my feet in the water and my shoes in my hand. The sun shone down on me and I enjoyed the heat warming me up. Then loneliness hit me. Sure I enjoyed camp but I missed Monday and Amy a lot. A small tear escaped my eye as I thought about my friends.

‘ELIANA WAIT UP!’ I stopped in my tracks and waited for Gabriel to catch up with me. He looked at me worriedly, ‘Have you been crying?’

‘No.’ I told him. ‘What gave you that idea?’

He rolled his eyes. ‘I don’t know maybe the tear streaks on your cheeks?’ I forced a smile on my face.

‘I’m fine.’ I told him.

‘You sure?’ He sounded concerned. That made my eyes fill up again as I shook my head.

‘No.’ My voice broke. He did the last thing I’d expected him to do. He pulled me in a hug. His arms around my waist, holding me close while I cried, my head against his chest. He made a few noises which were supposed to comfort me but made me crack up. I pulled away and wiped my eyes. ‘I’m sorry I’m ruining your shirt.’

 He gave me a half smile. ‘That’s ok, I’ll sue you later.’ He said making me laugh again. ‘Now tell me. What’s wrong?’

‘It’s just…’ my voice trailed off.  I was afraid of sounding stupid.

‘It’s ok, you can tell me. ‘

‘It’s just that I really miss my friends and I don’t want them to worry.’ He seemed to think about something for a moment before grabbing my arm, making me follow him to the Big House.