The Child of the Moon

Chapter 9 - The introduction to our quest

After the events of Capture the Flag I was carried off into the infirmary to get my leg properly treated. Annoyingly I had to stay the night even after my many protests. I didn't manage to speak to Percy before they took my to the infirmary, but I heard that he moved out of the Hermes cabin and into the Poseidon cabin. I had tried many times to get up and go to either Percy or Luke but any movement of my leg caused pain to flare up, so I layed on the infirmary bed in defeat. It was still the day of the game, but it was almost curfew so I didn't expect Percy to arrive.

"Hey." Percy's voice snapped me from my daze of looking at the almost night sky.

"Hmm? Oh hey Percy." I greeted "What brings you here?"

"Just wanted to check on how you were doing." Percy replied.

I couldn't stop a smile from creeping onto my face. "You didn't need to do that Perce."

Percy returned a smile "Thanks, you know. For telling me to run and for helping me find out who my dad is."

I was beyond grinning now, it must be the nectar (drink of the gods and healing for us demigods) messing with my mind. "All in a day's work."

Percy laughed.

"Chiron told me to go to the big house tomorrow to talk to him about something. He said to bring two people you trust, so... do you think you're willing to come?" Percy asked shyly.

"Yeah of course!" I grinned.

Percy's smile lit up. "Great!" he said happily. "I'll come pick you up tomorrow morning."

"Okay." I smiled.

"See you tomorrow, Ellen."

I rested my head against the pillow and tilted my head so I could see Percy's figure start to walk away "Bye Percy."

For the first time ever, I felt butterflies in my stomach and just thinking about Percy made me tingle with joy.

'No' a voice crept into my mind 'He will never love you, the punishment for your life means you will never be loved.'

'You will be alone...'

~*~

Somehow after a few hours of struggling I went to sleep, consequently the sleeping gave my leg time to heal. So when I moved it, the pain was replaced by a dull aching feeling. After a few minutes of realising how cool but weird ambrosia and nectar are and how creepily fast they can heal wounds, I got up and started walking lengths around the infirmary testing out my leg. I found out that I could still walk, but with a slight limp. Ryan came over to check up on me and my leg. He told me that I'm allowed to move around but I still need the bandage on.

"So, got used to the 'healing creepy stuff'?" Ryan smiled, using my phase from the first time we met.

"I'm getting used to it." I replied, returning a smile.

"By the way, for a newbie camper, you were amazing at that game of Capture the Flag! Everyone's talking about how you beat up those Ares kids or how you killed that wolf, you're a natural fighter." Ryan said, punching the air enthusiastically.

"Yeah maybe, but just in the woods, that's my mother's domain meaning I have more power, strength and all that jazz." I replied glumly.

"So?" Ryan said "You've still got awesome skills, and, with training you could improve those. Heck, I heard you managed to beat Luke even when you were training. That's a big deal, Luke's one of the best swordsmen in the past 100 years, you have to have something if you beat Luke. You're a natural fighter." Ryan repeated "Deal with it."

I was pretty sure my cheek had flooded with embarrassment from the compliments "Thanks Ryan."

"No problem, see you around, Ellen." He said whilst getting up and walking away.

"Bye- Hi." I added as Percy came through the infirmary. As soon as I realised I was smiling, I quickly removed it. It won't do any good.

"Hey, you alright?" Percy asked.

"Yeah, I'm fine. Let's go." I said firmly.

If Percy had a face of shock or confusion, I didn't see it because I immediately stood up and limped forwards, ignoring his face.

Percy jogged to catch up "You sure you're alright?"

"I'm fine!" I snapped, and Percy stopped walking.

I stopped in my tracks, sighed and turned around "I'm sorry Percy." I tried to cover the quivering in my voice "Today there's tension in the air, but I'm sorry, I'm just... stressed." It was true, the sky was crowded with thick, grey clouds and the atmosphere in Camp was filled with tension, as if something big were happening with the gods. But I also had my own reasons.

I could feel the tears welling up in my eyes "Can we just go? Please?".

Percy nodded and we walked to the Big house in silence. Once we got there, Chiron was standing next to a girl maybe a bit older than me and Percy who had neck long, sandy brown hair with lightning blue streaks. She looked slightly familiar. Mr.D was sat behind them at a table, looking as bored as usual.

Chiron saw us when we were about ten feet away "Ah, Percy, Ellen, glad you could join us." Chiron remarked and the new girl smirked. My defensive mode perked up at her amusement and I looked at her face, but was immediately distracted by her eyes. Her right eye was grey whilst her left eye was blue.

"You got a problem with my face?" The girl snapped.

I scowled in response.

Mr.D heaved a bored sigh. "Calm down Miss. Wilde, no need to get... wild."

I glanced at the girl and saw her face flush with the smallest amount of awe but as quickly as it appeared, it disappeared, replaced with a smirk. Confused at Mr.D's remark, I looked down to see white hair growing on my hands and my fingers growing claws. I took a deep breath and I slowly changed back.

"Jeeze. Anger issues." The girl huffed, and I focused on my breathing. My dad always told me to count to ten when Wyatt and his trolls picked on me, it usually worked. Thinking of my dad made my heart pang with despondence.

"That is enough, Robyn." I remember her now, Robyn Kane, member of Athena cabin. "Leave them be." Chiron said with anger for first time since I've been here. "As for why I've asked you three to come here, I've already told Percy the events that have been happening." Chiron continued "Zeus's lightning bolt has been stolen." just on cue, a thunder of lightning went off, to make it sound very dramatic. Chiron must have acknowledged my unbothered expression "Ellen, this is very serious, Zeus claims that Poseidon has stolen his bolt, and that if he does not give it back by the end of the summer solstice, there will be war."