I lay in my bed staring at the ceiling. It was a night out, and it had been a few hours since dinner. I remembered when Mr. D called us up to introduce Percy and me to the entire camp, although he got our names wrong, which he did intentionally. He introduced me and added the fact that I was mortal; some gasped, but most narrowed their gaze at me, looking at me like I was a freak. Percy was mad, but I calmed him.
The dinner was good, pretty good though, masterfully done. I might just ask the chef to give me some cooking tips to sharpen my own cooking skills even more. It seems it isn't just satyrs and demigods running around camp, but a few other creatures from myth, like the Naiads. Another thing I learned, Annabeth is a daughter of Athena, the goddess of wisdom. Though if I remember correctly, that Athena was a virgin goddess, maybe she broke her vow, I don't really know.
What I do know dinner was great, I can change my drink to whatever I want by saying its name, overall I've had worse dinners. The other campers pretty much ignored me; I was only talking to Luke and Percy. Then we returned to bed and I slept for a little but now I'm here. Staring up at the ceiling like it personally did something wrong to me. My ADHD brain made me antsy, making me want to stand up and walk around. But it's impossible, as it's hard to move around in a place filled with people sleeping, and some of them snoring.
I really didn't like it here, at least at Yancy Academy. I had the very room to myself, and even when Percy came to be my roommate, it was only one person. Now I have people who're farting for thirty minutes, snore that sounds like a monster growling, and people muttering about Aphrodite giving them a girlfriend or boyfriend. Percy seemed to have a peaceful sleep. I don't really blame him since everything that happened with just today.
At my side was a spacious grey backpack to keep my stuff. There weren't many, only spare clothes, a minotaur horn wrapped in bandages. Beside it was my steel gladius sword. I have lots of thoughts brewing in my head, not Sally is...gone, but this whole Greek myth being a real thing. Not only that I feel something big is going on in the background.
While everyone seemed in high spirits, some were tense and whispered about something going on with the Sea God Poseidon and the king of the gods himself, Zeus. It's got nothing to do with me or Percy, so I just ignored it, but I do feel something big is coming soon.
***
I yawned as I woke up campers were already shuffling around as we did morning call. We got ready to head for breakfast, and some campers glanced at me before snickering. I looked down to find that my Camp Half-Blood shirt was ruined by a black marker crossing out the Half Blood part, and written under it was 'mundane'. Percy, of course, got pissed on my behalf, but I calmed him down and told him I was okay.
Later on, we met Luke outside the cabin. He frowned as he looked at my shirt.
"Sorry, Clay. I'll have a talk-"
"No, it's okay. You don't have to..." I say, ignoring my flared anger.
I felt bad for feeling angry, but I really, REALLY don't like it when people think I'm fragile or can't handle it. I've been bullied and my head dunked in the toilet countless times; this, by comparison, is nothing. Luke gave us a paper about the camp schedule and the map to go to.
MONDAY
08:00–09:00 — Breakfast
09:00–10:30 — Obstacle Course / Terrain Training
10:30–11:00 — Snack Break
11:00–12:30 — Duel & Defence Tactics
12:30–13:30 — Lunch
13:30–15:00 — Free Roam (Forest, Beach, or Lake)
15:00–17:00 — Mounted / Pegasi Riding
17:00–18:00 — Cabin Board Games & Chill
18:00–19:00 — Dinner
19:00–21:00 — Open Arena Combat Demo
21:00–22:00 — Quiet Duel Reflection / Lights Out
TUESDAY
08:00–09:00 — Breakfast / Cabin Inspection
09:00–10:30 — Wilderness Survival Training
10:30–11:00 — Break
11:00–12:30 — Archery Class
12:30–13:30 — Lunch
13:30–15:00 — Horseback Riding
15:00–17:00 — Monster Assault Simulation
17:00–18:00 — Free Time
18:00–19:00 — Dinner
19:00–21:00 — Hide & Seek Tag (Camp-Wide)
21:00–22:00 — Free Time / Lights Out
WEDNESDAY
08:00–09:00 — Breakfast / Free Time
09:00–10:30 — Ancient Greek Lessons
10:30–11:00 — Break
11:00–12:30 — Forging & Smith Craft
12:30–13:30 — Lunch
13:30–15:00 — Running & Agility Training
15:00–17:00 — Working in the Strawberry Fields
17:00–18:00 — Free Time
18:00–19:00 — Dinner
19:00–21:00 — Free Evening (Campfire optional)
21:00–22:00 — Lights Out
THURSDAY
08:00–09:00 — Breakfast / Cabin Inspection
09:00–10:30 — Wilderness Survival II
10:30–11:00 — Break
11:00–12:30 — Archery (Advanced)
12:30–13:30 — Lunch
13:30–15:00 — Horseback Riding
15:00–17:00 — Monster Assault Simulation (Hard Mode)
17:00–18:00 — Free Time
18:00–19:00 — Dinner
19:00–21:00 — The Gauntlet Challenge
21:00–22:00 — Lights Out
FRIDAY
08:00–09:00 — Breakfast / Free Time
09:00–10:30 — Ancient Greek Lessons
10:30–11:00 — Break
11:00–12:30 — Music or Crafts Elective
12:30–13:30 — Lunch
13:30–15:00 — Help in the Infirmary (Optional)
15:00–17:00 — Working in the Strawberry Fields
17:00–18:00 — Free Time
18:00–19:00 — Dinner
19:00–21:00 — Capture the Flag
21:00–22:00 — Free Time / Lights Out
SATURDAY
08:00–10:00 — Sleep-In / Brunch
10:00–12:00 — Free Time (Lake, Forest, Beach)
12:00–13:00 — Lunch
13:00–15:00 — Optional Workshops (Arts, Canoeing, Arena)
15:00–17:00 — Open Free Roam
17:00–18:00 — Cabin Hangouts
18:00–19:00 — Dinner
19:00–21:00 — Bonfire & Sing-Along
21:00–22:00 — Lights Out
SUNDAY
08:00–10:00 — Sleep-In / Brunch
10:00–12:00 — Free Time
12:00–13:00 — Lunch
13:00–15:00 — Horseback Riding (Optional)
15:00–17:00 — Free Time / Cabin Socials
17:00–18:00 — Free Time
18:00–19:00 — Dinner
19:00–21:00 — Free Evening (Games / Rest)
21:00–22:00 — Lights Out
It seemed pretty interesting. I read everything and prepared for my official first day in Camp Half-Blood. It's Monday, so I have to deal with the obstacle and terrain training. We have to run having jump through wooden obstacles, and large rocks. It's sort of like parkour, which I've always had some interest in. What I wasn't ready for was how exhausting it is.
Well, exhausting for me, it was clear how above the demigods I am compared to them. Percy was doing pretty good, not the fastest, that was Luke, who was skillfully maneuvering around at high speed, which was expected of a son of Hermes, who is basically the speedster of the gods. I was dead last; it was really embarrassing. I was the last person to finish after nearly half a minute. The demigods looked at me impatiently as I let out deep gulps of air. I forced my wobbly legs to move forward. By the end of it, I lay on the grass, and I was heavily sweating.
It went for about for more than an hour. I could hear some of the campers snickering as Luke helped me up and gave me some water. Percy looked refreshed as soon as he drank some water, good for him. We had a minor snack break before we headed near the ravine, where we had a large space. It was a class about duelling and defence.
I was paired up with Percy as my sparring partner. We wore light leather armour and steel helmets. We both had shields and weapons. Luke gave us a minor rundown of basic sword techniques and safety. And with Percy and I sparred.
Percy had the longer sword, so I kept my distance and kept my shield in front of me. Every time we crossed swords, I was surprised by how strong Percy was. I knew he was a demigod, and he's always been stronger than me, but still, he hits like a truck! I had to rely on my shield most of the time.
He raised his sword in the air, ready to strike my shield, but I had enough and I moved to shoulder check him with my shield, which made him stumble. I thought I landed a good hit, but Percy immediately got his vengeance by swinging his sword at mine hard. The force made my weapon slip in my fingers. It crashed to the ground as I hissed as the force made my fingers feel pain.
"Whoa, sorry. Are you okay?" Percy drops his sword and puts his hand on my shoulder.
My temper flared, and a part of me wanted to smack his arm away. But I cooled down and took a deep breath.
"Peachy."
"Hey, you." A camper called out, kicking the weapon back at me.
"Hold on to your sword, you're going to get people hurt." He shakes his head as he walks back to his sparring partner, muttering about me being a dumb mortal.
Percy frowned, but to his credit, didn't try to do anything reckless as usual.
"Jerk."
I sighed in shook my head, "It is what it is."
We went back and sparred. I never disarmed Percy.