Running From the Olympians

Chapter 8

Rydia's P.O.V.

Of course I should be excited to be claimed. I mean, I'm going to finally be noticed by my father, whoever he is. That's definitely something to be excited about, right? Wrong. I'm not excited at all. If anything, I'm disappointed. My dad didn't want to be a part of my life. He's proved that. He's only doing it because of some stupid law making every god/goddess claim his or her children before the child turns 13. I'm 14. He wouldn't have claimed me if I hadn't been brought to this camp.

I pushed that thought aside and finished eating. I looked around and noticed that there were only a few more people that were still eating. Everyone else was talking. I didn't want to talk, so I just waited until everyone else was finished.

"Hey, Rydia," Jay said, kneeling beside me. No one paid any attention to her.

"What are you doing?" I asked. "You can't be up."

She smirked. "So?"

"So...You'll get in trouble."

She waved her hand dismissively. "Whatever. Look, there's a pretty good chance that you're gonna be claimed tonight."

"What's it like?"

"Differs. If your father is Dionysus, it's pretty boring. He kinda just points at you and says "claimed." Some are interesting to watch. Aphrodite never hesitates to make things interesting, but it's your father claiming you. Probably not Zeus or Hades. Maybe Hephaestsus..." Jay said, talking to herself now.

I didn't understand most of what she said. "Um, that's all incredibly interesting, but Chiron's looking this way."

Jay shrugged. "Maybe he has something against people talking to tables."

"Jay, he's coming this way."

She muttered something and crawled under the table.

I looked up at Chiron. "Hi, Chiron."

"Hello, Rydia. You seem very fond of this table. Perhaps you could tell me why."

"Oh, um...the structure, you see. It's incredible."

Chiron tapped his chin. "I suppose. Do you mind if I had a look under the table?"

"Oh, um-" I didn't have time to respond, because Chiron had already begun to look under.

He got back up and scowled. "Lovely structure."

I nodded. Without another word, he turned around and scanned the group of campers. I looked at the Zeus table, and saw Jay, who was looking Chiron straight in the eye and smiling. Chiron walked over to her, and they talked. I couldn't hear over all the noise, but it only took Chiron a few seconds before he left.

When Chiron's back was turned, Jay looked at me and grinned. How did she manage to get all the way back to her table before Chiron had noticed? And, she had to crawl around everyone's feet. Then, get by without Dionysus noticing. It seemed impossible, but maybe it wasn't. Jay made it seem somewhat possible, anyway.

Soon enough, everyone was done eating, and all of the plates, forks, knives, and spoons were put sloppily in the center of each table. Chiron pounded his hooves against the ground, ordering everyone to be silent, and they were.

This time, Dionysus spoke. "Well, looks like it's time for the campfire or whatever. Enjoy." He got up, but Chiron pushed him back in his seat. Dionysus sighed. "We also have two new campers, and one who has decided to return." He looked up at Chiron. "Am I finished yet?"

Chiron sighed. "Yes, Dionysus. You are." Chiron looked at the campers. "Everyone, welcome Nyla Harpho, daughter of Hades."

Everyone clapped, excluding the Nemesis cabin, and some stood up, including Jay.

Chiron continued. "We also have Rydia Skilana, who is undecided." Applause followed that announcement as well.

"And, finally, we have Jay Nefili," Chiron said halfheartedly. Not so much cheering ran through the crowd, but I still clapped loudly for her. "Now, it's time for the sing-along. If the Apollo cabin would lead the way, we'll begin."

A table of blonde haired kids got up from their table and ran to the campfire. As they got up, the rest of the tables followed them.

Jay walked over to me. "Ready?"

Nyla popped up behind Jay. "I am."

I nodded, and walked to the campfire with them. We sat on the grass behind the Athena kids. I noticed the flames getting bigger and brighter with each passing song. A few Apollo kids jumped around the fire with instruments, singing songs that the campers shouted out. They all had really good voices, but that wasn't much of a surprise.

I eagerly waited for a sign from my father, but every minute that went by just disappointed me even more. How could I be so stupid to think that he would send a sign?

Nyla and Jay sang along to whichever song the Apollo cabin decided to play. They both sang really well, whereas I sing like a dying cat. All of the songs that were played were known to most of the campers. When an Aphrodite girl shouted a song by One Direction, almost all of the campers booed and shouted different requests. Apparently, One Direction wasn't a liked band at this camp. Most of the campers were on their feet now.

"One Direction!" The Aphrodite cabin rebelled.

"No!" A lot of other cabins shouted.

The Hermes cabin was dying of laughter, the Apollo cabin was trying to start a different song, and the Ares cabin was shouting threats at the Aphrodite and Apollo children. Jay picked up rocks off the ground and was throwing them randomly.

"If you play a 1D song, I will murder you in capture the flag!" One Ares boy yelled.

"Shut up!" Another yelled at the Aphrodite girls. "No one likes 1D!"

"We do!" The Aphrodite girls yelled back.

Dionysus rolled his eyes, and Chiron pounded his hooves on the ground. "Settle down!"

The campers stopped screaming and looked at Chiron. "Sit down." The campers did as they were told.

Chiron sighed. "That's enough for one night. Go to your cabins."

"Why hasn't Rydia been claimed yet?" Jay asked.

"Do I look like a god to you? I doubt it," Chiron said.

"Absolutely not," Jay responded. "Silly me."

Chiron glared at her. "Go to your cabin."

"Well, fine. I-" Jay began, but was cut off by Chiron.

"Strange..." He said. He was looking above my head. "Poseidon swore not to have anymore children since Percy died..." I looked above my head and saw a glowing imagine of a green trident. The symbol of Poseidon.

Everyone stared at the symbol floating above me. Someone started clapping, and then everyone else joined in, while I just kinda sat there awkwardly.

Jay poked my arm. "Poseidon, huh?"

"I guess so."

"Doesn't that make her our godly cousin?" Nyla asked Jay.

Jay grinned. "Yep."

After everyone was done clapping, Chiron told us all to go back to our cabins and get some rest. Jay walked straight ahead, to the Zeus cabin, Nyla went in the opposite direction of Jay, to the Hades cabin, and I followed Jay, but turned left, to the Poseidon cabin.

The Poseidon cabin smelled like the ocean. I loved the smell of the ocean. Makes sense, because I'm Poseidon's child. I turned on the lights, and looked around. There were only two beds, one of which was broken, so I laid down on the bed that was still in one piece. There was also a trunk at the at the foot of the bed. Probably for clothes and personal belongings.

There were four windows. Two near the door, and two more on the opposite wall. Dark blue curtains hung in front of each window and were floating because of the wind coming from the windows. A door stood at the back of the cabin, which probably led to the bathroom.

On the left side of my bed was a nightstand with a lamp on it. I turned the lamp on to see if it worked, and it did.

I turned off the cabin lights and the lamp, and laid down on the bed again, drifting into a deep sleep.