Heaven Burns

2 Years Ago

Thia's POV

Quinn sat at the Heapheastus dining table with a bronze communication system up and running. She was thirteen years of age and a spunky individual but she carried a large burden many of the other campers didn't understand.

Her hands fluttered across the switches and dials as she listened intently for information on the search parties. Though camp was nowhere near the size of Camp Half-Blood or New Rome, New Athens was shaping up nicely; it was placed on the grounds of Order's old and collapsed temple. It seemed only right to build it there.

Cabins, albeit small, housed a total of fifty six campers who all varied in age and godly parent. They got along well and seemed eager to expand the safe haven so more of their siblings could be protected.

It was why Quinn found herself so interested in radio frequencies. It had taken some time to complete but she and a few of her siblings had developed small devices for satyrs to communicate with. The devices operated on a very thin frequency that monsters weren't likely to pick up. It also required a very sensitive receiver hence the big bulky sound board.

She sat listening every morning waiting for anyone to send word that a demigod had been found. She had been the first camper here and something, though I didn't know what, had left her rather damaged. Not in a broken sort of way, but in a way that didn't go unnoticed.

She was perpetually restless, anxious, and she often lashed out at other campers. I had to keep an eye on her, not for fear she'd hurt someone, but because I was concerned. She was young and refused help due to pride but I was slowly earning her trust.

"Thia, can you tie my shoe? Toby is busy so he said no." A little boy who I knew very well, Liam, a Hermes demigod, tugged on the sleeve of my white robe.

When we'd first met he was convinced that I was a Jedi from Star Wars. It took a lot of convincing for him to accept that I wasn't. "Of course, but you're getting close to six years old and that means you have to learn to tie your own shoes."

Sighing, I knelt down and he lifted his foot settling it on my knee. His small hand gripped my shoulder for balance. "I've been practicing."

"Good, keep it up," I smiled. With a final tug I completed the knot and set his foot down. "Now go find Gwen. I'm certain you have a class with her and some of the other kids."

"You got it!" He gave me a thumbs up before tromping off across the grass. The sound of laughter caught my attention and I glanced over to find the twins looming above Quinn's work.

They were very friendly and sociable children of Iris but Quinn didn't fancy them. With an agitated expression the young Heapheastus girl pulled off her headphones and glared up at the siblings. "Can't you see I'm busy?"

"I wanted to know if you were going to the arena later today for class," Tori smiled eagerly.

"Yeah, it'll be cool!" Her brother Shawn agreed with a nod.

"I have my own schedule," Quinn replied coolly. "I work alone."

"Please? How do you even train by yourself?" Tori frowned.

"Alright guys, I think Quinn just wants to focus on her work." The twins didn't seem happy that I'd interrupted the conversation but it wasn't going anywhere pleasant. "She might stop by later for a tiny bit, right?"

"Sure," Quinn mumbled, already reaching for the headset again. The twins took this proposition at face value and left.

"You really should try training with others. You don't have to do it all of the time, but a little bit would me nice." Moving, I sat across from her at the table. "Team work is important when you're a demigod. You often have rely on other people to get you through tough situations."