A few campers scrape their leftovers into a nearby fire, so I decide to do the same since I don't see a trash bin anywhere near. Walking over to the fire, I glance to my left and see Nico jogging up to me. He eyes my untouched food and lightly laughs.
"I take it that you don't care for meatloaf and peas?" he grinned, obviously trying to make conversation.
"Nope," I replied simply. "So, what's up with the fire being the new trash bin? Does Chiron want to go green?"
"Not exactly, but a good point made," Nico replied. "You scrape a portion of your food into the fire as an offering for the gods."
"Oh, cool, I can totally imagine Greek gods feasting on burnt food basically turned to ash."
"We don't really know if they eat the food, but Chirson tells us that it's the least we can do to honor them. Oh, and go down to the beach when you have the chance."
Not wanting to ask anymore further questions that probably make me sound stupid, I scrape my food into the fire. I wanted to ask Nico why I needed to go down the beach, but again, who wants people asking them questions all the time?
"I hope you guys like meatloaf and peas," I muttered under my breath, and headed off to the beach that I distinctly saw in the distance.
The beach was deserted from what I could tell. No campers were even playing beach volleyball like I'd heard most people do around this time of year. The waves however had stayed near the beach, and they seemed to be growing bigger by the minute.
I look around the beach, wondering if Nico had just been joking about coming down to the beach. Maybe this was just a prank that they usually played on newcomers. Or, maybe he wanted me to find something. So, I begin scouring the area for anything suspicious.
After ten minutes of scavenging the area for whatever it was I was searching for, I give up and plop down on the smooth beach sand. I stare out at the ocean, realizing that all of my life I had dreamt of this moment. However, I felt an uneasy edge to the atmosphere, and no matter how hard I tried I couldn't enjoy the moment. Squinting against the sun, I stare at the other side of the ocean, and realize why I had sensed an uneasiness. A twenty foot wave was headed my way, and it was coming fast.
I attempt to stand up and run away, but my feet give up on me for the second time of the day when I need them.
"Great," I think to myself. "I'm going to be swept into the ocean by a giant wave. Just great!"
As though on queue, the wave overwhelms me just as my thoughts leave my head. I attempt to swim to the surface, but I keep getting swept out further into the ocean. By now my heart is racing and I'm wildly thrashing about the water, trying to get to the surface, but the undertow keeps me. Salt water runs down my throat as I struggle, and I realize I'm going probably going to drown any moment now.
My eyes slowly begin to close as I take in more water, and right before they close I see the outline of a woman.
Instantly, my eyes flutter open, and I find myself back on the beach. I begin sputtering up small amounts of salt water, and frantically look around. Why was I still alive? Shouldn't I have drowned? Did someone save me?
You should count yourself lucky, Came a voice in my head that sounded strangely familiar. I could have allowed you to die, but luckily I still have a small bit of mercy for half-bloods.
I forcefully shake my head, telling myself the voice is only a figure of my imagination. However, I know it's not.
Aren't you going to say hello to your hero? the voice asks me. I'm right behind you you know.
Cautiously, I look behind me, and sure enough there sits the woman who saved my life. Her long black hair whips about her wildly, despite the lack of wind.
"Who are you, and why did you save me?" I ask.
"It's pity my own daughter doesn't know her mother," the woman said, smiling slightly. "But I suppose you wouldn't remember me since I left. Oh fine, I suppose I'll tell you. I'm Eris, goddess of discord, and your mother."
"Discord is basically chaos, isn't it?" I ask.
"You could say that," Eris said, her cool voice making me shiver. "I create all kinds of chaos over the world. Some chaos I personally create, but some chaos happens unintentionally when my moods are changing."
"I imagine that happens a lot then."
"Yes, but it's just my nature, as it is yours. But, you're not as much like me as I'd want, but you'll do for my first child to ever come here."
"Well, that a relief to know."
"It is, actually. And I didn't expect you to freeze up under that wave, I thought you wouldn't give up."
"I would have died," I said, shrugging it off as though it didn't happen. Then, it came back. "Wait, you created that wave!"
"Of course I did," Eris said.
"Why did you want to kill me?" I demanded, furiously.
"I didn't do it to kill you," Eris said, rolling her eyes like a teenager who didn't get what they wanted. "It was a mere test, and the next time I summon something to test you, I expect you won't give up. Understood?"
"Sure," I said, and stood up. "Well, I guess I'll see you around."
"Yes, you will be seeing me along with many other gods soon," Eris said, seriously. "Be warned Sara, storm clouds are brewing." With that, she disappeared.
A few moments later, I pinch myself, wondering if all of this were a dream and I'd wake up. Nope, guess not.
Heaving a heavy sigh, I sluggishly saunter back to camp to join the others for the camp fire.
I look around the beach, wondering if Nico had just been joking about coming down to the beach. Maybe this was just a prank that they usually played on newcomers. Or, maybe he wanted me to find something. So, I begin scouring the area for anything suspicious.
After ten minutes of scavenging the area for whatever it was I was searching for, I give up and plop down on the smooth beach sand. I stare out at the ocean, realizing that all of my life I had dreamt of this moment. However, I felt an uneasy edge to the atmosphere, and no matter how hard I tried I couldn't enjoy the moment. Squinting against the sun, I stare at the other side of the ocean, and realize why I had sensed an uneasiness. A twenty foot wave was headed my way, and it was coming fast.
I attempt to stand up and run away, but my feet give up on me for the second time of the day when I need them.
"Great," I think to myself. "I'm going to be swept into the ocean by a giant wave. Just great!"
As though on queue, the wave overwhelms me just as my thoughts leave my head. I attempt to swim to the surface, but I keep getting swept out further into the ocean. By now my heart is racing and I'm wildly thrashing about the water, trying to get to the surface, but the undertow keeps me. Salt water runs down my throat as I struggle, and I realize I'm going probably going to drown any moment now.
My eyes slowly begin to close as I take in more water, and right before they close I see the outline of a woman.
Instantly, my eyes flutter open, and I find myself back on the beach. I begin sputtering up small amounts of salt water, and frantically look around. Why was I still alive? Shouldn't I have drowned? Did someone save me?
You should count yourself lucky, Came a voice in my head that sounded strangely familiar. I could have allowed you to die, but luckily I still have a small bit of mercy for half-bloods.
I forcefully shake my head, telling myself the voice is only a figure of my imagination. However, I know it's not.
Aren't you going to say hello to your hero? the voice asks me. I'm right behind you you know.
Cautiously, I look behind me, and sure enough there sits the woman who saved my life. Her long black hair whips about her wildly, despite the lack of wind.
"Who are you, and why did you save me?" I ask.
"It's pity my own daughter doesn't know her mother," the woman said, smiling slightly. "But I suppose you wouldn't remember me since I left. Oh fine, I suppose I'll tell you. I'm Eris, goddess of discord, and your mother."
"Discord is basically chaos, isn't it?" I ask.
"You could say that," Eris said, her cool voice making me shiver. "I create all kinds of chaos over the world. Some chaos I personally create, but some chaos happens unintentionally when my moods are changing."
"I imagine that happens a lot then."
"Yes, but it's just my nature, as it is yours. But, you're not as much like me as I'd want, but you'll do for my first child to ever come here."
"Well, that a relief to know."
"It is, actually. And I didn't expect you to freeze up under that wave, I thought you wouldn't give up."
"I would have died," I said, shrugging it off as though it didn't happen. Then, it came back. "Wait, you created that wave!"
"Of course I did," Eris said.
"Why did you want to kill me?" I demanded, furiously.
"I didn't do it to kill you," Eris said, rolling her eyes like a teenager who didn't get what they wanted. "It was a mere test, and the next time I summon something to test you, I expect you won't give up. Understood?"
"Sure," I said, and stood up. "Well, I guess I'll see you around."
"Yes, you will be seeing me along with many other gods soon," Eris said, seriously. "Be warned Sara, storm clouds are brewing." With that, she disappeared.
A few moments later, I pinch myself, wondering if all of this were a dream and I'd wake up. Nope, guess not.
Heaving a heavy sigh, I sluggishly saunter back to camp to join the others for the camp fire.
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