Percy Jackson stood at the edge of the volleyball court, trying not to look like a baby deer dropped into a gladiator arena.

Across from him, Annabeth Chase had her arms crossed, gray eyes sharp with assessment. Beside her, Grover Underwood nervously chewed the end of a tin can tab like it was gum.

“You’ll be fine,” Grover whispered.

“I’m not worried,” Percy muttered.

A spear thunked into the dirt two inches from Percy’s sneaker.

From the other side of the field, Clarisse La Rue grinned like she’d just found her afternoon entertainment. “Oops. Slipped.”

A blond boy leaning against the Hermes cabin railing laughed under his breath. Luke Castellan gave Percy a small, almost apologetic shrug. “Welcome to camp.”

Nearby, the Stoll brothers were definitely not whispering quietly. Connor Stoll elbowed his brother while Chris Rodriguez tried very hard not to look suspicious for once.

“Five drachma says he trips before dinner,” Chris said.

“Ten says he gets claimed,” Connor shot back.

At the archery range, Will Solace lowered his bow and squinted toward Percy. “He looks like he needs sunscreen. Or medical supervision.”

“Or both,” said Nico di Angelo, standing in the shade like it was his personal kingdom. Hazel hovered nearby, offering Percy a small, sympathetic smile.

Across the green, Leo Valdez wiped grease off his hands and leaned against a half-finished bronze dragon. “If he explodes, I call dibs on studying the aftermath.”

“Leo,” Piper McLean warned, though she was grinning.

Beside her, Jason Grace folded his arms. “He doesn’t look like a fighter.”

“That’s what they said about you,” Piper shot back.

At the canoe dock, Frank Zhang nearly dropped an oar. “He’s skinny.”

“Skinny doesn’t mean weak,” Hazel said softly.

The sound of hooves echoed as Chiron trotted onto the field, clipboard in hand. “All right, campers. Perhaps we could avoid skewering our new arrival before dinner?”

From the porch of the Big House, Mr. D sighed dramatically. “If he’s another child of Zeus, I’m taking a vacation.”

“I’m not Zeus,” Percy blurted out defensively.

The entire camp went silent.

Rachel Elizabeth Dare tilted her head like she was watching invisible subtitles. “He’s important,” she murmured. “The air feels different.”

Grover’s eyes widened.

Clarisse scoffed. “He looks like he’d lose a fight with a satyr.”

Grover gasped. “Rude.”