The Battle Of The Ghouls

Chapter Four

      "Camp Kalopsia?" I echoed Meadow.

      "Yup," She nodded,"The safest place for mixed bloods,"

      "Mixed bloods?" I followed Meadow as she began walking up the path leading to the cabins.

      "Children who's parents are of two different species." She told me,"Like you for example, you are half elf."

      "I know that," I replied, stumbling over the uneven path.

      "That's good, but do you know what parent gave that trait to you?" Meadow walked to the fountain and placed her hands on the edge.

      I came up to her side and did the same, staring into the rippling water and the smooth marble underneath,"Well, my mom is an elf I think. But my dad... I don't know what he is,"

      "You'll find out soon enough, everyone does eventually." She brushed her hand across the water,"I didn't find out what my mother was until I was halfway through my first year here,"

      "What is she?" I pressed, looking at her sharp ears,"Is she an elf?"

      Meadow shook her head,"My dad is. My mom is a ocean pixie... strange couple," She smiled bitterly.

      "Ocean pixie?" I stared into the water, no wonder she reminded me so much of it.

      "There are multiple different kinds of pixies. Ocean, fire, forest, and desert are just a few." She said.

      "Aren't pixies... small?" I asked.

      She gave a small laugh,"Not exactly, pixies have two different forms. A human form, and a fairy type form. Usually, they like their human forms more, they tend to be more comfortable,"

      "Oh," Was all I managed to say before a flaming red frisbee flew across my head and landed in the water, splashing me and Meadow before the flames extinguished.

      "What the--?" Meadow backed away from the fountain, clearly just as surprised as me.

      "Sorry!" A voice frantically yelled from behind us.

      "Shayla?!" Meadow exclaimed and whipped around, probably recognizing the voice.

      A girl, about the same age as me, maybe a year older, came bounding up to us. Her dark green cloak billowing in the light wind.

      Her shoulder length hair was different shades of light brown, but her skin looked like it would burn up at one glance at the sun. Her round pale face had two stripes of bright red painted on each cheek, and I instantly wondered what they meant.

       The girl, Shayla was it? Smiled apologetically before quickly scooping up the frisbee floating in the water. I gasped as all the water evaporated off of it and the frisbee went up in flames again.

I expected her to drop the frisbee so the flames wouldn't burn her hand, but she held on to it, unfazed by the growing warmth.

I, however, took a step away from the glowing frisbee, closer to the fountain. Like hell would I let that thing touch me.

"Shayla," Meadow snapped,"How many times have I told you not to interfere with me while I tour new campers?"

"Too many times to remember," Shayla bashfully smiled, twirling the frisbee on her finger.

Meadow simply groaned and pressed her palm to her forehead,"You've only been here a year and you've caused more trouble than anyone I've ever known."

      Shayla just shrugged,"I can't help it, plus everyone you know are as boring as you,"

      I could only watch in amazement as the small conversation went on. I had only known Meadow for about an hour and I already knew she wasn't a person who you mess around with and get away with it.

      "What's that supposed to mean?" Meadow demanded, tapping her foot on the uneven stones impatiently.

      "Nothing," Shayla said through a sly smile, she knew she had found Meadow's weak spot."Just that you never have the gut to have any real fun,"

      Meadow growled and began taking off her bow and quiver around her shoulder,"Oh, I'll show you fun," That was all she said before she lunged at Shayla.

      The poor girl never had a chance, I realized, as they rolled down the hill, wrestling each other playfully as they went. Thankfully, Shayla had dropped the flaming frisbee in surprise as Meadow dove for her.

I laughed as Meadow triumphantly pinned Shayla to the soft dirt and grass at the bottom of the hill, giving Shayla a grin before standing up and reaching out a hand.

      Shayla looked up and grinned right back at Meadow, then she took her hand. Meadow pulled her up, her dark red cloak shivering in the slight breeze.

They walked back up the hill towards me, Meadow's grin was nothing but a memory, though Shayla's was still plastered over her soft features.

"You're to tour Ilya around camp," Meadow simply said to Shayla when they reached me. Shayla's reaction was nothing short of shocked.

"But Meadow! I need to get back to frisbee with Zora, she's probably wondering what's taking me so long!" Shayla stammered, her grin replaced with a objecting frown.

"You cannot talk back to me Shayla, I am a third year. You're a second. You will do what I say, and I say go give Ilya a tour of camp. You can play frisbee with Zora later," Meadow responded with no forgiveness in her tone.

We watched Meadow calmly pick up her bow and quiver of the ground then walk off to the large cabin to the left of us. Not another word.

"Well," Shayla said after a few silent moments,"She never said we couldn't have a quick game of frisbee first,"