-She isn't dead, not really, is she? He asked Chiron, pulling the collar of his jacket closer to his neck with the arm that wasn't around me. I was leaning on him. I was tired, scared, sad, and all the other things a 7 year old would be.
-I'm not sure. I think most of her is indeed dead. He answered, his tail swinging in the air.
-Luke closed his eyes tight and bit his lip. I whipped the corner of my eyes with my sleeve.
Thalia had been untouchable. She'd always stood tall, she'd always been there during a fight, she'd always made the best of things. And now she was reduced to a pine tree people would pass by every day, not knowing.
-Camp Half-Blood, Chiron started, is for kids like you. You'll be safe here.
-Well how come Thalia wasn't safe? She was right here! Luke yelled. He jumped to his feet, fists balled up. Chiron didn't flinch.
-She wasn't within the safety borders. But thanks to her sacrifice, the borders have been extanded to the spot where the pine stands. My eyes were stinging. I blinked a few times and chocked back a yawn. Chiron must've noticed. I'd read soemthign about horses havign better hearing then humans.
-It's been a long night for both of you. Three of you I should say... Chiron said. His eyes rolled a little bit to the side and looked at Grover, who'd crouched down in the corner and hadn't talked or moved since he'd brought us into the room.
-... Maybe you should go to your cabins.
-Cabins? Luke asked, emphasising the s.
-The cabins are sorted by immortal parent. Chiron explained.
-No way! No way! Luke said, I'm not leaving Annabeth alone with strangers, not tonight! He said.
-Luke, they're her siblings, she'll be perfectly...
-She's 7. She's not staying alone. Luke insisted. He looked at me in a "cue-the-big-pleading-grey-eyes-thing".
Chiron looked from Luke to me.
-Alright then, just for tonight. He said.
*******
Everyone in the cabin was asleep. There were more people then there should be in there, about 17. Luke found a spot in a corner and sat down against the wall, stretching out his legs. I sat down next to him, trying to make myself small. His leg still looked stiff.
-Are you okay? I told him.
-I'm fine Ananbeth. He said, rubbing his eyes.
-Seriously, I'm fine kiddo. Try to sleep. He said addresing my unfooled glare. He put his arm around my shoulder and tugged me closer to him. I fell asleep nearly instantly.
I woke up before Luke. 3 kids were awake and looking at me. All of them had mischivous smiles and elfish features.
-Hey kid; what's your name? The taller one, a girl with heavy black curls asked.
-A... Annabeth. I said.
-Annabeth what?
-Annabeth Chase.
-No, I mean, who's kid are you? You're definetly not Hermes.
-Well them she's unclaimed, git. A boy with a british accent and more freckles theh his heart-shapped face could handle, said.
-My mom's Athena. I said before the other could open his mouth.
-Well what the Hades you doing here? And who's he?
-He's Luke. He's a son of Hermes. I said.
-Hun, you know him right? I nodded.
-Well, if your mom's Athena you can't be here. The last girl,a tiny girl said.
-Why not? I asked defiantly.
-For starters,different demigods dont mix. Secondly, you nearly got whipped-creamed 7 times in the last night, I wouldn't risk staying in here any longer. The redhead said.
-Gordon, be nice! Look, you just... can't be here. Common, its a nice place if you're the book type.
-Books? I asked.
-Yeah, sure. And they have other stuff. They've got puzzles and maps and designs for stuff.
-Like architecture? I asked.
-A 7 year odl who's already into architecture, look at that, but sure, they've got architecture.
I didn't want to scare Luke or anything, but they obviously didn't want me in their cabin. I didn't want to leave Luke either. I didn't know them; I didn't know if there were monsters. I'd seen too many of those, and they varied. Soem looked sweet and nice, some looked fishy from the start... Then I remembered my mother's words.
"There's a camp I want you to find. You'll be safe there. Safer then anywhere else."
If I couldn't trust Athena, who could I trust?
-Will you tell Luke where I am? I asked.
-Swear on the Styx. Gordon said.
-Okay. I said figuring that meant yes, whatever the Styx was.
-Great. Come with me Ananbeth, my name is Kaitlyn. The one with dark hair said. I nodded. She extended her hand but I didn't take it, I just followed her out of the cabin. She took me to one painted grey.
-It's easy to remember which one, its the same color as your eyes. Kaitlyn said. She led me up the steps of the small entrance porch and knocked loudly. The door swung open. The girl had eyes the color of clouds on a stormy day and blond hair, cut mid-neck. She was holding a book in her hand, her middle finger as a bookmark. She had a nice smile but she still looked strong enough to kick serious butt.
-Kaitlyn? What are you doing up at this ungodly hour? She asked Kaitlyn.
-Well you uys are all awake.
-Early bird gets the worm. She shrugged.
-I had stuff to do. Anyways, found her.
-Oh. Hi, kid. What's your name? She asked.
-Annabeth Chasse.
-That's an annagram of Athena isn't it? I nodded.
-That's smart. So I'm guessing you're a daughter of Athena? I nodded again.
-Then you belong here. I'm Megara Willfern, but everyone calls me Meg or Meggy, and I'm the cabin leader here, like Kaitlyn is for Hermes. She said holding out her hand. I shook her hand.
-Comme in, we're nearly all awake. She said. I walked inside.
The bunks were pushed onto either side of the room. Drawing table took up the most space, most cluttered with papers and diohramas. Weapons, blueprints, maps and polished shields hung on the walls too. There was also a whiteboard, equations and mathematicla drawing doodled on. Piled of scrolls were propped up in the corners as well. 8 other kids were in there. 2 were working at the tables, 5 were reading in an odd language, one was inspecting a sword. I looked around in awe.
-Welcome, to cabin 6. I think you'll like it. Meg said.
