Heliophilia

the beginning

The Solace's sat at the Apollo table with their half-siblings. The congratulations they had received had made Delilah feel more at home than she ever had felt before. Will was sitting beside a boy named James as Delilah sat beside a girl named Lacy, the head counselor of the Apollo cabin. Lacy had to of been 17 years old, James seeming a few years younger than Luke.

"You two are awfully young to be here. 8 and 5? Jeez! Usually, kids don't come until they're 11 or 12." Lacy explained, digging into her bbq.

"I made it here the weekend of my 11th birthday," James added.

"Will's the youngest the camp's ever had, well, besides Annabeth. Her and Luke got here like 2 months ago." a boy named Harry explained. "Kind of crazy how the three youngest we've ever had arrived all within a month."

"I wouldn't worry about it." Lacy assured the two. "Besides, Cabin 7 is the best cabin to be in. We're the best at everything."

"Heck yeah!" James high-fived the 15 year old girl named Rory and knocked his shoulder into Will.

"Tomorrow, you two start training. But that's only a short period of the day. The rest is free time. You can choose to do whatever you want." Lacy explained.

"What do you guys usually do?" Delilah asked as she popped a grape into her mouth.

"Harry sings, James' usually at the archery station, Rory's big on writing poetry, and you can find me at the volleyball court. But we're always in the infirmary taking care of the injured. It's our main job." Lacy explained. "Is there anything you two like to do that's centered around the arts?"

"I like to paint," Delilah admitted.

"I'm good at putting band-aids on!" Will boasted, earning a chuckle from his sister.

"Not gonna lie, I think Will's more talented than you." Rory teased, the table erupting in laughter.

After they had finished, they kept conversation until lunch was officially over. Lacy was planning on showing the pair their cabin when Chiron approached.

"Delilah, come with me please."

"Is she in trouble?" Will asked, knowing his sister had a nasty track record.

"Of course not." Chiron smiled. "Mr. D and I just have a few things we need to discuss with her."

"Mr. D?" Delilah asked, eyes darting to the man in animal print who was looking at her curiously.

"Dionysus, my dear. Come along." Chiron ushered, the young girl stepping towards him quickly.

The two made their way towards the big house, Delilah sending a comforting nod towards Will. They walked in silence, Delilah waving back to a small girl who sat tending the fire in the middle of the camp.

"We've got important things to discuss, Delilah. It's quite a shock the way you were claimed." Chiron started, the two heading into the big house.

"What do you mean?" She asked him, following him inside.

"He means" Dionysus started from a lounge chair. "Was that your claiming symbol was different than normal. It was a warning."

"A warning?" She asked, eyes darting quickly to Chiron.

"It's not a bad thing, my dear." He assured. "You were born special."

"Daxton informed me of the little stunt you pulled before entering camp." Dionysus continued, seeming quite bored with her. "You possess the power of photo-kinesis. A gift that only your father and the Titian Hyperion have possessed."

"What does that mean?" Delilah questioned.

"It means that you have a gift so rare that we have no idea to control it, or what it does exactly," Chiron explained. "Apollo must have foreseen the gift or he wouldn't have gone back to your mother after your birth."

"You mean to have Will." She stated.

"Yes, Delilah. It's very rare for a God to seek a mortal out again after the birth of one child. There are no other biological siblings here at camp." Chiron finished.

"I've already contacted your father about the claim. Knowing him, he's already boasting to the other Olympians" The god rolled his eyes. "But Chiron is going to teach you how to control it, how to use it. It will become very important in the future. There may be other gifts you possess that we don't know about yet."

"You're the trainer of heroes, right?" Delilah asked when she turned to Chiron. Her mother used to read her and Will stories of the Greek myths before bed. Chiron was known for training all the greatest heroes, so that must be why he stayed at camp.

"That's right. But I know this is a lot of information to take in in one day. And I know Annabeth will be pestering you about our conversation." He smiled at the thought, looking outside to where the girl sat waiting. "We'll start figuring out your powers soon. But the most important thing is to make friends."

"Pfft. Friends" Dionysus rolled his eyes but looked directly at the girl. "It shall be interesting to watch how this unfolds."

Chiron patted the girl's shoulder and led her out of the house, pushing her slightly in the direction of Annabeth. Delilah hopped down the steps and greeted the other blonde, her eyes eager to ask questions.

"So, how'd it go?"

"Annabeth, take her to the weaponry. You know what to give her." Chiron smiled. Annabeth nodded and grabbed the girl's hand, pulling her along to the large, brown shack that sat near the stables.

Annabeth pulled the door open, holding it for the blonde. Inside were rows full of weapons, most the girl had never seen or heard of before. She walked through the shack and picked up a spear that hung on the wall, the plaque beside it claiming it was the spear Bellerophon used to kill the Chimera.

"Is this really the spear he used?" she asked, turning to face Annabeth.

She nodded. "Every weapon in here is famous in one way or another. But this one for you."

Annabeth pulled a bow off the wall along with a quiver full of golden arrows and held them to the older blonde. Delilah hesitated before taking them, running her fingers over the bow. She had never used one before but somehow it seemed like home in her hands.

"Your father used it to kill Python. It belongs to you now."

"Are you sure? It seems kinda important." Delilah said warily.

"That's why it's been given to you. Chiron said Apollo had specifics for who this was gifted to. You're it, Delilah." Annabeth assured.

A smile crept onto Delilah's face at the thought of something being meant for her. She'd never had anything like that before.

"Now let's go check out your cabin, huh?" Annabeth smiled, interlocking the girl's arm with hers. Delilah nodded and the two headed off in the direction of the cabins.