Usually when I wake up in the morning I don't find myself surrounded by two people, a strange furry creature, and a horse-man. This time, I did.
The trio who had tried fending off the monster from me were all staring at me as though I were some ancient relic from the beginning of creation itself, along with a new face, the horse-man. Perplexed, I sit up on the leather couch I was sprawled out onto, and place a hand on my throbbing head. The boy grins slightly at me and says,"Glad that you're finally awake. You've been knocked out for nearly two days!"
"Yeah, like I really believe that," I said in an irked tone. "So, what is this? Some kind of prank show?" I stand up, glancing at all of the people/creatures who occupied the room. Almost a moment later, I find myself feeling light-headed, and begin staggering on my feet that felt like jello. Unable to control my own actions, I decline to the floor. Before I completely fall on my back, the boy and girl reach out just in time to grab me.
"Before you start walking you have to rest more," the girl told me, as though it were the most obvious thing in the world. "You really sucked up your energy after causing that hydra to burst into flames."
" The what now?" I asked, bewildered, and the girl and boy helped to settle me down back onto the couch.
"That monster back at your school," the girl explained. "It's called a hydra, it..."
"Wow, wow, wow," I interrupt. "A monster? What the heck are you talking about? More importantly, who are you and where am I? And why is that guy dressed up as an overstuffed horse?"
"Overstuffed?" the boy asked, then chuckled. "Chiron isn't overstuffed, he's just a bit too buff."
"A bit too buff?" the horse-man asked, sounding a bit offended.
"Just joking Chiron," the boy laughed, clearly amused. "Now, as for your questions..."
"I think Chiron and I should handle most of those questions," the girl said, purposely interrupting. "Would you like to explain to her what's happening, Chiron?" She turned her head expectantly towards the horse-man.
"Certainly," he replied, and cleared his throat. "To start out with, I'm Chiron, the activities director of Camp Half-Blood, and just so you know, I am a centaur, not a man in a costume. Now, you're probably wondering what Camp Half-Blood is, and I assure you that we'll explain mostly everything right now."
"Camp Half-Blood is a safe camp for people like you, where you'll learn how to battle monsters like the one who attacked you at your school. You're the safest here for now because you are a half-blood, the child of a human and a Greek god. The amount of monsters who come after you depends on your godly parent and their powers. Now tell me, have you been attacked by or watched by any other creature before?"
"Uh, I can only remember two times before. The first time happened when I was in first grade, and at that time I was being watched by a snake/ woman thing. Then a few years later I saw a giant spider thing that almost attacked me in the woods," I said.
"Interesting," the Chiron said, scratching his beard. "Anyways, I know this is all probably hard for you to take in, but Greek mythology is real, and not a myth. Do you believe that?"
I shrugged my shoulders, which meant I really didn't know or care. I mean, what were the odds? I knew I had always been different.
Chiron looked over at an antique clock that was nailed onto a nearby wall, and said,"Please excuse me, I have an... um.... errand to attend to. It was nice speaking with you." He nodded to us, and then trotted out the door.
"Well, who are you then?" I asked the boy and girl.
"I'm Nico Di Angelo," the boy said, outstretching a pale arm for me to shake. "Son of Hades, ruler of the Underworld."
Awkwardly I shook his hand, and stupidly asked,"So, he's basically Satan?"
"Yup," Nico said, laughing slightly. "Sorry, I just find it strange how everyone calls him different names."
I nodded, then looked at the girl. She smiled and said,"I'm Thalia Grace, daughter of Zeus, king of the gods."
"Hades' brother," I said, recalling reading that from a book I had checked out from the library. "Sweetness."
"I guess," she said, shrugging her shoulders.
Five minutes passed, and we all sat through a long reticence without uttering one word. A few moments passed after those five minutes, and a loud bell sounded, causing me to jump in my seat.
Thalia and Nico stood up form their lounge chairs, and headed towards the door.
"You coming?" Nico asked, looking back at me.
"Coming where?" I inquired.
"To dinner," Thalia piped in. "I certainly hope you're hungry, because tonight we're having leftover meatloaf and peas."
"Great," I muttered. "Nothing's better than leftovers."
"You should be thankful we aren't having ham and potato salad," Nico said in a disgusted tone as though he had just ate it. "Mrs. O'Leary will eat anything though." He nodded towards the furry creature who wagged her tail. Observing her closer, I said,"She's a hellhound isn't she? I remember reading about her kind."
"Correct," Nico said, scratching Mrs. O'leary under her chin. "She belongs to my friend Percy, son of Poseidon, but I'm taking care of her for a few days since he's been on some trips."
I nod, and then we all head off to eat.
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