The Disposable, Hated, Forgotten

Walt

Walt, Carter, and Sadie walked in silence as Carter navigated them through the trees to "Camp Halfblood". Walt wanted to talk to Sadie, but she was still fuming beside him. He didn't want to admit it, but quite frankly these turtle things scared him. He had used some very powerful charms, but they dodge them like they were nothing and used no magic. What were they?

They definitely aren't Egyptian monsters, Anubis whispered in his mind. Be cautious my friend.

I know that, Walt thought back, but Carter says they're alright. I think we can trust his judgment.

I trust that Carter thinks they are good people, but some are not always as they appear to be. These creatures, I can't place them in any religion and they give off a strange energy. I felt the Ba of one of them and it just felt...unnatural. Anubis said, obviously worried.

Then what can we do? Walt asked him silently.

We need to know more first, that is for sure, Anubis said. Then we will decide.

"You alright Walt?" Carter asked. Walt realized that he was making a worried face and quickly changed his expression.

"I guess," he replied, "but I'm just concerned about those, uh, things."

"They are people Walt," Carter said pausing mid step. "They are a lot like us. Way more than you think."

"Yes, but what are they?" Walt persited. "What are their intentions? You may have talked to them, but we know next to nothing about them. What if we can't trust them?"

"I would expect you of all people to be more accepting," Carter said, his brow furrowing.

"Carter, these are just like the monsters we fight all the time. Ya know, the things that try to kill us constantly. I'm just...concerned."

"Walt, listen, you are about one thing right. We don't know anything about them, but just because they are different doesn't make them monsters. I've talked to them, they aren't like Egyptian monsters. They have wishes and dreams and friends and morals," Carter's voice softened. "And from what it looks like they've been through a lot recently. Please, just meet them first."

"Alright, I guess that is fair," Walt replied with a weak excuse for a smile.

A branch snapped and all three of them quickly looked around. Standing behind Sadie was a young buck, looking at them straight in the eyes. Walt breathed a sigh of relief he didn't know he was holding. It was a gorgeous animal, and it put a smile on his face. He heard the deer give a snort before prancing away from them.

"That was strange," said Saide.

"But cool," Carter added. "Come on, we're almost there."

What Carter didn't mention was that Camp Halfblood was huge. It seemed to go on for acres and from the look of how many cabins there were, there was enough room for hundreds of campers and hundreds of campers milling around there were. It also was filled to the brim with magic. Looking through the Duat, Walt could see the magic blazing fire in the Amphitheater, oozing from the lava on the climbing wall, and shining from the picnic tables. There was so much he started to feel dizzy and had to withdraw.

"Wow," was all Walt could say.

"Yeah, I know," Carter said smiling. "It almost puts our Nome to shame."

"My gosh, Annabeth?" Sadie asked craning her head to look past the crowd.

"Who's Annabeth?" Walt asked her.

"Right there, the blonde one talking to Percy and the turtles, they're hard to miss," she said pointing.

She was right, next to two of the turtles was Percy who was walking and talking to a young woman. She looked behind her at the turtles and said something and the taller one replied. It went back and forth for a while and they both seemed to enjoy the conversation. Suddenly they stopped and they looked serious. The girl walked away, but Percy and the turtles seemed to linger a minute. Carter, Sadie, and Walt took their chance and briskly walked over to the group.