The woods of Camp Half-Blood are louder than you expected.

Even after Chiron explained the boundaries, the air still feels… unreal. Like the world you knew before is already fading at the edges.

You’re still trying to take it all in when a voice calls out from behind you.

“Okay, either you’re lost, or you’re trying really hard to get claimed by a monster.”

You turn quickly.

A boy stands a few feet away, wet curls messy like he just came out of the lake, a sword casually resting in his hand like it’s nothing unusual. He looks you over—not unkindly, just observant. Like he’s already piecing together a puzzle.

“I’m guessing new camper?” he asks.

You nod. “Is it that obvious?”

He gives a small half-smile. “You’re not holding a weapon, you’re standing too close to the forest, and you look like you’re one bad noise away from sprinting.”

“…Fair.”

He steps closer, but not in a threatening way—more like he’s used to being the one responsible when things go wrong.

“Percy,” he says, jerking his chin slightly. “Percy Jackson.”

Then, after a beat: “Don’t worry. If anything tries to eat you, it usually does it on my shift.”

You blink. “That’s supposed to make me feel better?”

“It’s honest.”

That earns a reluctant laugh from you, and something in his expression softens—like he’s relieved you’re not totally frozen in panic.

“Come on,” Percy says, turning slightly and motioning with his sword like it’s a very normal guiding stick. “I’ll walk you to the cabins. Chiron’s probably got someone looking for you, but… knowing camp, they got distracted by a prophecy or something.”

As you start walking beside him, the camp suddenly feels less overwhelming—still strange, still impossible, but less alone.

Percy glances at you out of the corner of his eye.

“You’ll get used to it,” he adds. “Eventually you stop thinking everything here is insane and start thinking it’s just… Tuesday.”

You look around at demigods sparring, a strawberry field that definitely shouldn’t exist like that, and a distant roar from somewhere near the woods.

“…I don’t think I want a ‘normal’ Tuesday anymore.”

Percy snorts. “Careful. That’s how it gets you.”

And for the first time since arriving, you realize you’re not walking through Camp Half-Blood alone.

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