The sudden realization that you were a demigod was still sinking in, and to be honest, it felt like a dream you couldn’t quite wake up from. You hadn’t imagined something like this for your summer—not even close.
Here you were, standing awkwardly at the entrance of Camp Half-Blood. The camp buzzed with energy, and you couldn’t help but feel out of place as kids in bright orange t-shirts darted past you, their laughter and chatter blending with the sounds of the woods. Teenagers, similarly dressed, gathered in groups, chatting casually among themselves, completely uninterested in your presence. It felt like a world you didn’t belong to, one that you had no idea how to navigate.
Just as you were about to turn and try to figure out what to do next, a voice broke through the din of noise.
“Hey, are you the new kid?” You turned, startled, to see a boy—no, a young man—standing in front of you. He had sea-green eyes that glinted in the sunlight, messy dark hair that looked like it had been tousled by a sea breeze, and tan skin that looked like it had seen the sun more than most. He was wearing one of those same orange Camp Half-Blood shirts, his posture casual, but there was a friendly openness about him that immediately put you at ease.
“I’m Percy Jackson,” he said, a grin forming on his face. “I’m supposed to give you a tour of the camp.”
You couldn’t help but feel a little bit of relief at the fact that someone—anyone—was offering to guide you through this strange place.