The Child of the Moon

Chapter 7 - Gifts

I woke up to the sound of someone knocking on the door. I opened my eyes hoping everything had just been a dream and that I would wake up, at home, in my bed and that my dad was in the kitchen making breakfast. But no, when I opened my eyes, I saw myself in my lonely cabin, remembering everything that had happened the previous day. Moaning, I sat up feeling my muscles stiff from sleeping on the floor. I sat up to stretch and noticed that I was still in my bright orange t-shirt and jeans from yesterday, they weren't dirty, so I kept them on. The knocking on the door continued.

"I'm up! I'm up!" I shouted, and the noise stopped.

I put my combat boots on and debated whether I should bring the bow from the huntresses with me, but I decided with leaving it here, I felt that this camp was pretty safe. When I opened the door I saw an angry looking Luke.

"What?" I spat, rubbing my eyes.

"I was starting to think you were dead! How much of a heavy sleeper are you?" Luke exclaimed.

"Hey," I said flatly and punched his arm playfully "I had a rough day yesterday."

"Yeah." Luke replied, rubbing his arm but seemed lost in thought. I wonder what he's thinking about all the time.

"Sooo..." I said snapping him out of it "Are we going to see Chiron now?"

"Oh yeah, come on." He said, walking away.

I huffed, and followed him.

Once we got to the big house, we found Chiron and a plump man, in a very flattering leopard print shirt and knee length shorts, he had longish black hair which was combed backwards and had very rosy cheeks. As soon as I got close enough, I saw that Chiron and the man were playing some card game, and when Chiron noticed me and Luke he perked up, happy that he didn't have to play that game any longer.

"Ah Ellen, I believe that you have not yet met Mr.D, the director of Camp Half-Blood." Chiron said, gesturing to the man he was playing cards with.

I remember my talk with Luke yesterday, telling me about how Mr.D was the god, Dionysus, and that because of his restrainment of wine, he was not someone to mess with. I panicked and didn't know what to do. Should I bow? Should I just say Hi? I felt sick and Chiron must've noticed, so he carried on.

"Ellen my dear, I asked you to come to me so I could give you something." Chiron said whilst picking up a small, flat square box, "It's a gift from your mother."

~*~

He handed me the gift, and the box was midnight blue with white dots, to symbolize stars. I looked up to look at Luke, but he had disappeared, gone to the arena most likely. I carefully opened the box and inside was the most beautiful necklace I had ever seen. Attached to the silver chain was a breathtaking midnight blue orb with tiny silver pearls affixed around outside of the orb, in the orb, was a carefully carved, bow and arrow.

"It's beautiful." I breathed out, mesmerized by the necklace.

"Indeed," Chiron agreed "But the best part, is that it is a weapon, my dear."

I looked at Chiron in disbelief, and up until this point Mr.D looked bored out of his brains, but now he seemed intrigued by the jewelry, though only for a moment.

"As fascinating as this is," Mr.D heaved a bored sigh, "I have somewhere better to be, and it wasn't a pleasure meeting you, Eleanor."

I coughed. "Um, it's Ellen."

Mr.D shrugged in response and I scowled slightly once he left.

"Don't mind him, a fate of 100 years of no alcohol has really got to him." Chiron said "Anyway, back to your necklace, put it on," I did as instructed "And press the orb."