2nd Generation

Chapter 4: I Show Up my Jerk Cabin Mate

About fifteen minutes later we went to dinner. It was brisket, grapes, and some other healthy stuff. Before we ate, we burned part of our dinner as a sacrifice to the gods. When it was my turn, I walked up and burned the best part of my food. I prayed to Poseidon and Athena. I thanked them for letting me arrive safely at camp and asked that they would help me while I was here.
​After we finished eating, Chiron stomped his hoof to get our attention.
​"It is now time to introduce some new campers who arrived today. Taylor Grace, son of Jason Grace and Piper McLean, grandson of Zeus and Aphrodite."
​Everyone stood and clapped for Taylor. Chiron had to stomp his hoof again to get everyone's attention.
​"I must also introduce Melody Jackson, daughter of Percy Jackson and Annabeth Chase, granddaughter of Poseidon and Athena."
​Everyone was silent for a few moments while I stood up. Then my cabin started clapping and standing and everyone followed their lead, including the Ares cabin. It took Chiron a few tries to quiet down everyone. After he finally did quiet everyone he said, "All right. It is time for the campfire. Everyone to the amphitheater!"
​Everyone stood and ran to the amphitheater except for me. I wanted a moment alone to think about everything that had happened lately. I would try to sneak in later. Unfortunately, Onyx had had the same idea. Well, either that or she still knew me better than anyone else.
​"Hey. What's wrong?" she asked.
​"We haven't talked in ages and yet you still know me so well." I said.
​"Yeah, well. Somethings never change. Now, tell me what's wrong."
​"I guess I'm just nervous. Considering who my parents are, it's a lot to live up to. I'm not sure I can do it." It wasn't a lie. I was nervous. I just didn't tell her everything.
​Onyx smiled and said, "You shouldn't worry. You're amazing. You've got your parents skill and brains. You've always been the best at everything you've tried. You'll be the best here. Don't worry."
​I smiled and said, "Thanks. I needed that. Let's go join the campfire."
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​When we got to the campfire, the flames were fifteen feet high and bright yellow. The Apollo cabin was leading everyone in a sing along. We joined our cabin and got some s'mores.
​"Hey, where were you?" Whitey asked.
​"Oh, I just wanted to ask Melody something. I was wondering what it was like to live in San Diageo, California." Onyx answered.
​"Yeah, that's where I live outside of camp." I added.
​"Cool. I live in Texas." Whitney said. 
​"Really? What city?"
​"Houston. I used to live in Dallas."
After a while people started leaving and going back to their cabins. I wanted to find Taylor and ask how his first day was, but I couldn't find him. He must have had already left. I would just ask tomorrow.
​We went back to our cabin. I was so tired, that I fell asleep as soon as I lay down in my bed. Unfortunately, sleep meant more dreams.
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​I was in a cave filled with weapons and spoils of war. It was a huge man cave taken too literally. It looked like it could fit a god in it and still have space left over. I was looking at a glowing spoil of war that was different from the rest for some reason when a huge man walked in. He was obviously a god. He radiated power, and he was way too big to be a human. He was dressed like a biker in black leather. He had scars all over his face and walked with a small limp.
​I knew which god this was. It was Ares, the god of war. This was his cave. But, why was I here? Besides his differences with my dad, I had nothing to do with him. It made no sense.
​Before I could think of any explanations, my dream changed. I was in a beautiful garden on the side of a mountain. It was covered in Mist, the magical veil that prevented humans from seeing monsters and other mythical things. There was a black palace in ruins at the top. I could hear moaning and screaming coming from the top.
​I knew this place. It was the garden of the Hesperides, the immortal daughters of Atlas, who had been a general in the Titans army. I could hear them singing in the distance. Atlas's eternal punishment was to hold up the sky on top of Mount Tam, where I was. In the garden there was an apple tree that was bursting with golden apples. Curled around the tree was a huge, sleeping dragon. It was Lydon, the dragon that guarded the tree.
​And with that I woke up to my first full day at camp.
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​It was a beautiful at camp, just like always. After we all woke up, we cleaned the cabin and headed to breakfast. We burned part of our meal as a sacrifice and then ate our food. Then, we went to sword fighting practice. Since our cabin was so small, we would be practicing with the second generation boys. Which meant I would get to ask Taylor how he was adjusting to camp.
​They were already there when we finally got there. We were running a little late, because Onyx's hellhound, Mr. O'Higs, had gotten loose after breakfast. Mrs. O'Leary, my dad's hellhound had had some puppies a while back, and Onyx had gotten one. It took us a while to catch him. We finally stopped him when he ran into the canoe lake after a butterfly.
​Anyway, Rebecca and the lead counselor from the boy's cabin were teaching us today. They were still going over the last of the basics for some of the new kids, but I already knew everything my dad knew about sword fighting and so did Onyx and Taylor. I guess Rebecca didn't like that we weren't paying attention, so she called me up to demonstrate a move.
​She had a triumphant smile on her face, like she had already beat me. I guess she didn't know that I was even better than my dad at sword fighting. This was going to be fun.
​"I'm going to demonstrate a disarming move. It's were you get your blade under their hilt and twist. Like this." 
She motioned for me to grab a sword from the rack, but instead I pulled out my pen and uncapped it. It transformed into a three foot Celestial bronze sword. I smiled and swung Riptide around. I held my sword let her disarm me. She looked satisfied.
"Now I want you to try to stop me. If you even can." Rebecca said with small laugh. I smiled right back.
"Let's do this." I said.
We got in a ready position and started. It was easy to disarm her. She wasn't trying very hard.
She picked up her sword and said through gritted teeth, "Let's try that again. This time I won't go as easy on you."
She got back in the ready position and started before I was ready. She was trying to catch me off guard, but I saw it coming. I disarmed her just as easily as before.
"Enough of this. Everyone get in pairs and practice the move yourselves."
I smiled and started showing the move to Elizabeth and Whitney. When they had gotten it down, I went and practiced with Onyx and Taylor. We were about the same with a sword, but I could beat them any day with a knife or a bow and arrows.
After sword fighting, we had archery. I was better than everyone except Elizabeth and Whitney. They were awesome. Since their grandfather was Apollo, it wasn't very surprising that they were good, but most second generations didn't have that much skill. I was impressed.
Chiron was teaching us and whenever he needed help he asked one of them. They were that good. I mean, no one can beat Chiron at archery except for Apollo and Artemis.
Rebecca couldn't shoot at all. Chiron tried helping her, but she's like my dad. She's hopeless with a bow and arrow. My mom's ok, so I guess I get it from her.
Then, after archery we had lunch. It was the same as dinner last night. It was still good. I hope it never gets old, because we have this for lunch and dinner every day.
Anyway, after lunch we went to the climbing wall. I raced Onyx and Taylor up and beat them both. It was fun. I also raced Rebecca, because she wanted a rematch for earlier. I won of course. She was so mad, that it was funny. I was going to challenge her at some point, but I was going to wait a little bit. I had only just gotten there. I wanted to wait and learn more before I did.