Camp Half-Blood *Join!*

Ani - Poseidon:

"Hey guys!" I yelled at Daemond and Katherine.

About a minute ago, I had put on my blue bikini with the green swirls on it.

I quickly dove in and started gliding under the water, the blissful, amazing water.

I came up for air only when I reached the two of them, pushing the pieces of hair that fell out of my messy bun away from my eyes.

"Hey, what's up?" I said, suddenly feeling tension and awkwardness in the air.

I couldn't believe I had asked it. We were on our way from the Coliseum to the Campfire when for some reason my stupid mouth opened and asked Aura "Do you mind me asking who your parent is?'

Aura froze cold, and was silent. For a second it looked like she wasn't going to answer, then she raised her head up and replied "I'm a daughter of Aphrodite. You?" I was shocked for a second. Despite being here for such a short time I had already picked out the general trends in behavior for each Cabin. Ares were tough, violent jocks. Hermes were mischievous, hyper-active thieves, and Aphrodite? Smug, self-centered and hot-headed. I would never of guessed Aura was one of them. She was kinda pretty, but she was also nice and caring. That would also explain the hint of shame in her voice as she told me.

"Son of Morpheus" I reply. Another silence falls on us. Aura bites her lip, like she was as lost in social skills as I was. For some totally strange, weird reason, this actually made me feel better. We reach the campfire and I notice a small figure tending the flames.

"That's the Campfire pit. It's where we end our days" She turned to me, "Anyway, how long have you been here for?"

I quickly count the days in my head. "About 4.5 days" I say to her. She laughs and I swear its the most beautiful noise you've ever heard. "More like 4.9" she says, gesturing to the darkening sky, "Pretty soon it'll be time for dinner" I smile. Maybe this wasn't a bad idea. Suddenly Aura slapped her forehead. "Why didn't I think of this before? C'mon, there one place you HAVE to see" She grasps my hand and half drags/runs with me towards the Fireworks beach. It was a long run but the feeling of Aura's hand in mine gave me some sort of weird exhilaration that allowed me to keep up. We dashed through the cabins, barging through a bunch of pissed off Hades and Poseidon kids and cut through the edge of the forest.

Once we finally reached the beach I stopped and crouched over panting. Aura looked unfazed however, and despite running non-stop not a drop of sweat had broken on her face. She tugged at the collar of my t-shirt and laughed. "You can't be THAT tired slow-poke. We still have to climb up that hill" She gestured to what seemed like a mountain off to the side of the beach.

"There's more?" I asked unbelievably. Aura laughed and took my hand once more. Together we walked up the hill, ducking under branches and hopping over stones. After what seemed like an eternal up-climb we finally reached an opening in the brush.

"What I'm about to show you is my favorite place in Camp. You've gotta keep a secret ok?" She asked me with a playful smile. I nodded, curious to see what the place was. She took a deep breath and then pulled back the brush. "Welcome to Aura's Point" she said with a grand sweep of her hand.

It was beautiful. The leaves of a great oak tree spread dappled sunlight over a small cliff in the side of the hill. The cliff overlooked the ocean, which had turned a deep orange due to the sunset. The sky had lit up a bright crimson, with pink and orange clouds spread out across the sky. "Its beautiful.." I mutter. And Aura laughs and takes a seat in a small alcove in the tree's trunks. I take a seat next to her. "Its better than Argos" I whisper to myself. Aura sits up and turns toward me.

"What's Argos?" I felt my blood freeze. How could I be so careless? Argos was a sacred place for me and my Dad; never to be shared with anyone else. I looked at Aura's curious and friendly face. She had already opened up to me, and revealed to me a place I'm sure very little people knew about. I sigh.

"Would you like to see it?" I ask her. "Would you like to see Argos?"

"Is it in Camp?"

"Yes"

"Is it far?"

"Not very"

She looked at me then, and then I knew, I KNEW that i had to show her my world. This was it. This was my chance. To share my utopia with someone else. To finally make a friend. Aura twists her lip and scrutinized my face.

"Sure" She said. I smiled wide, and I swear my ears could've of been oozing with the rush of happiness, relief and anticipation that whizzed through my brain.

"Close your eyes" I said. She agreed with no hesitance. I took a deep breath, and then put us both to sleep.

This is becoming dangerously interesting, Crafty. I love the way you make everything so confusing, wondering and most of all compelling. Katherine is dying right now.

;Katherine;

I could feel all the blood rush to my face, he'd been about to- what had he been about to do? Kiss me? No, he thought we were friends; just friends.

My heart pounded in my chest but After a moment I decided to look at him. "It's completely fine." I tell him with a laugh, "You're very good at improv."

He looked at me for a long moment and I swear I could see a thousand emotions in his eyes, like a slideshow of pictures going by way too fast.

"Yep." he lets out a long breath of self satisfaction, "I always planned on being a part-time actor." he boasts,

I wasn't sure why but his words felt like a lie.

Mentally shaking myself, I looked at Daemond and met his eyes. He was my bestfriend and I trusted him with my life,
even if he woul never know how I felt.

I opened my mouth to speak when Ani dove into the water, splashing my face with the cool liquid. I look at Ani's delighted face then turn to Daemond and start laughing.

I raise an eyebrow, a message to him saying that we musn't have escaped as we'd thought.

He laughed with me.

Ani stared at us, "Swimming with lunatics." she noted, "Note to self; remember straightjackets." she mumbled, still not
understanding our joke.

I raised my hands, palm up, in surrender. "So-" I laughed.

"Sorry!" and when I finally stopped I could feel the tension relax visibly.

For those of you who have been complaining that I haven't been putting the names on my post, look! /\

I heard the bell, and it was free time. I had been hanging around with Savannah pretty much all day, and I was really hot. Not like I normally am, but like sweaty hot.

"Hey Savannah, do you want to go swimming with me?" A panicked look flashed across her face.

"Actually, I don't really, uh, I don't know how to swim. You know, me being the daughter of Zeus and everything." She said. I waved my hand.

"I can teach you. C'mon, it'll be fun." A dreamy look passed over her eyes, and I knew I had her.

"Sure, I'll go. I've kinda wanted to learn." She admitted.

"Alright, we can go get changed, and the first one to finish changing can go wait outside the other person's cabin."

"Huh?" She said, confused.

"I'll meet you outside your cabin." I sighed. She nodded. My cabin came up first, and I walked into the flowery scent of my cabin. I opened my mahogany dresser and pulled out my bright green bathing suit. I walked into the bathroom and got dressed, feeling the cool air against my skin. I couldn't wait to get in the water. I grabbed a towel from the closet, black and purple stripes. With disgust, I threw it back, not bothering to fold it. I searched through our seemingly endless closet until I found a towel that matched my bathing suit. It was a tie-dye looking one, which went better than purple stripes. I grabbed my aviator shades on my way out the door.

I strolled over to the Zeus cabin, catching looks from the other girls at camp. They were probably noticing me without my shirt on. I smirked as I kept walking. I arrived at the huge cabin, all made out of marble. I was waiting for five seconds before she came out. I literally had to catch my breath. She was wearing a light-orange bikini, and holding a yellow and red polka dot towel. The silence was a little awkward, so I decided to ask.

"If you don't know how to swim, then why do you have a bathing suit?"

"It's summer camp. It's kind of like a requirement to bring a bathing suit to summer camp." I felt stupid hearing this answer. Of course she would bring a bathing suit to summer camp.

"Let's go swimming." I said.

To be continued next post. Please keep it at free time until then please!

Debates which charecter to use my short amount of time to write for... Anyway, written. It's fun with such a rash charecter like Daemond. Chooses! ( I hate computer class.)


~Daemond~

The tension relaxed around us and I feel my muscles get use to the cool water. I hear Ani and Katherine joking around, but my mind still races at hundred mile pace. What had just happened ago wasn't improv- I knew it and I bet she knew it to. So why couldn't I just admit it. What had happened. I don't know how I felt anymore. I just, just- I hated myself for doing this to myself. I wonder how Katherine felt about me, making a fool out of myself. I wonder what would have happened...if I really had kissed her. I admited to myself. I had tried to kiss my best friend. The damage was done.

"So, what color do you want your straight jacket?" Ani asks playfully, forgetting about our private ditch Ani joke.

"Black," I say, trying to regain some of myself," It's manly."

The words taste sour in my mouth, and unfamiliar. I partially wish that Ani would leave and just let Katherine and I to figure this out. However, the other part of me was so glad she was here. I didn't know what would have happened had she not shown up. Ani clucks her tougnue and mutters something about "big suprise." I look over at Katherine, preparing to share a wink when I remembered all that had happened and suppose she wouldn't take it very well.

"So girls. Are we gonna go out any farther?"

We were still fairly shallow for my -and two daughter's of Posiedon's taste.

"Sure!" Ani smiles.

Katherine nodds, a small smile on her face.

"Race ya' there!"

I take off before either girl has time to respond. I didn't know where 'there' was but I needed a good swim. I paddle off, letting all my worries float behind me. I wish.

It's amusin to play out Katherine's emotions. She was stupefied.

;Katherine;

The water ripples as Daemond rushes to paddle out, and I tense to race him before my mind flits back to what had happened.That was the question; what had hapenned at that moment in time.I almost wished my face hadn't gone as scarlet as it had. Almost.

I watched him, his muscles rippling under his skin as he sliced through the water and a sigh escaped my control. What happened, was all I could concentrate but when I noticed that Ani was far ahead of me I put the thoughts away.

I loved a good challenge.

I dove under the water, feeling the silky texture of the water craddle me gently in it's murky depths. Being a duaghter of Poseidon wasn't all that ba but being away from the people I'd come to know as my orphanage family hurt.

I propelled myself forward, my strong arms cutting through the water. I was like a sleek bullet passing through air, nothing could stop me. Except maybe a few couple rocks.

I rolled, my hair streaming behind me and I surfaced from the water, taking a deep breath and cotinued on. I had almost caught up to them, my strong strokes took me forward.

I breathed through my nose, this was my element. I could go ahead and use my powers but I liked the excercise my muscles were getting and it relaxed me.

I was suddenly drawn ino my thoughts, remembering something about Alex, though I don't recall the cabin, I remembered her expression when she'd looked at me.

All of a sudden I wasn't so sure I was enjoying the swim considering it gave me time to fret.

"Katherine!" a voice hollered behind me and I paused in deep waters, holding myself aloft by kicking and extending my arms. I turned and saw the dark specks that were my friends.

I laughed loudly, "Either I win or you two are tricking me!" I call out jokingly but I'm embarassed at how absorbed in y thoughts I'd been.

This is going to be trouble.

Ani - Poseidon:

It wasn't until Katherine was way away that noticed she wasn't there.

Cupping my hands around my mouth I yelled "Katherine!"

She suddenyl stopped, turned, and laughed, saying something about how she had won or we had tricked her.

I waited patiently next to Daemond as Katherine began to slowly swim back.

"So..." I said, breaking the silence "You like Katherine, huh?"

I seemed to catch him off guard for a second, because his eyes got wide and he seemed to stumble a little bit, but he quickly composed himself.

"What makes you think that?" He asked, lifting his chin defensively.

WIth a shrug, I responded "I just have a way with knowing emotions, and it's kind of obvious - at least to me anyway."

He was quiet.

Katherine grew close, so I quickly added, "Just don't hurt her, okay? I couldn't bare to see her get hurt anymore." Trying to find the right words, I then added "And if you break her heart, you can bet your bottom dollar that I'll break your face."

Katherine popped up from the water before Daemond responded, but he seemed to get the picture. Almost everyone here knows that I'm the most fun person to be around, but I can get angry easily and when I get that way, nothing can stop me.

Turning back to my cheery self, and joked "Trying to make me look bad infront of dad? Geez, thank you so much Katherine" I said the last part with exaggerated sarcasm in my voice, then giving Katherine a smile to let her know I was joking.

Katherine

I laughed at Ani's remark and flicked my wrist, spraying her with water.

"I'm sorry, maybe next time you could try to keep up?" I suggested playfully.

Ani fixed me with a mock scowl and I turned to Daemond, "You look deep in thought," I shoved him lightly. Staying above water easily while relaxing at the same time.

Daemond blinked and shrugged off my remark. "I guess we know who won the race, hmm?" he asked, I looked at both my friends.

"Ani, we could go ride the Pegasi later on. Trojin is probably hoping to get a good sugar cube sometime." I say as an afterthought. I hadn't seen my horse since I'd been struck by Antoine's bolt. I missed him and was sure he was going to be a grump.

Ani nodded enthusiastically, "I know! My horse is probably starved of patience!" she gigfles and I like hearing people laugh. It's infectuous sound makes it easier to smile.

"Do you think Chiron will let me send a letter?" I asked suddebly, my mood dampening the happy smiles.

Daemond looked at me with raised eyebrows, "A letter to who?" he asked and Ani waved a hand in impatience.

I swallowed thickly, "Maybe. Are you sure they'd be there?" asked Ani with quiet sympathy.

Suddenly the water felt like a stranger, Daemond's confused eyes stayed on me as I turned to answer his qurstion.

"I want to send a letter to my foster home..." And I trailed off.

Memories tried to resurface but i pushed them down, "I was just curious!" I say and lean back to float in the water.

I have got to control these mood-swings.

Could somebody bring Lexie or Andreas into this?? I've been having MAJOR writers block. grr...

I'm having writer's block right now so if someone (Crafty) could post it would really help.

I really want Argos to be seen from Aura's point of view, so until someone *cough* crafty *Cough* posts it im pretty muc huseless here

Savannah Victoria

I bit my lip, nervous.

" Are you sure you won't let me drown?" I said it teasingly, but a hint of worry reached my voice.

" Haha, not a chance, as long as your with me." HE replied. It only made me feel slightly better.

When we reached an empty part of the beach, he set down his towel and I followed suit. I was shaking with fear, but maybe he would mistake it for antticipation.

" Uh, Aetos? I might electrocute the water, you know, Zeus kid-like. So, uh, you might want to get out then." He smiled, but didn't seem worried.

I walked down to the water. I stuck my toe in, like a child in a bathtub, and felt goosebumps rise all over my body. Not only was the water freezing, but it was wet. I hated wet things, they felt so slimy. Showers I can deal with, at least they're warm and smell nice but this cold, disgusting water repulsed me.

" Alright, let's swim!" Aetos yelled.

EURIKA! I have an idea that killed my writer's block and will bring in Noelle! (If I spelled that wrong I'm sorry.) Will post later, have to do homework now. (I hates the stuff.) and

Your posting than DaSpetsnaz? K, I won't worry about it. Just don't forget about Spirit!


~Aura~


All I could see was black. I was floating, just floating. I never should have agreed to Fergus. Argos? I've never heard of it. A shock of fear goes up my back. I didn't know where I was or even how I got here. I begin to open my mouth as I fall flat on my back in a green patch. Fergus appears above me, slightly out of focous.

"Are you ok? I'm SO sorry, I-I've never tried this before."

I bite back a sarcastic reply as I hear the sincerity in Fergus' voice. I sigh, pushing myself off the ground and peering around me. All I can see is green rolling meadows falling into majestic mountains. Forest are off to my left and I see a looming city with flashy lights.

"W-Where..." I am astonded. There is no place like this near camp. "Where are we."

He gives me a sad, knowing smile. "Welcome to Argos."

"How-" I began to ask before I realize exactly what's happening.

I'd heard of this before. Children of Morpheus and sometimes Hypnos having dream utopia's where only they can reach. I was in a dream. "Just wow."

He smiled.

"Is this the first time anyone's ever been here? With you, I mean."

His smile fades and a distant look clouds his eyes, as if he was thinking of a long lost place where nobody else seemed to know or care. If he was like many demi-god's, no one did.

"Let me show you something."

He sprints in the direction of the looming pine trees. I follow him, not sure what was going on. He reaches what I believe to be the center of the forest, where there are every type of tree imagined and a glimmering lake, in it the face of Fergus glimmered. However, the most amazing thing was up in the trees, three stories high with a wrap around porch. A tree house. I try to speak, but no words come out. Fergus' leads up the ladder and we reach the bottom of the fort's deck. He leans aganist the tree house, a relaxed smile on his face.

"Do you like it?" He asks.

"Yeah..." I try to think of something to say, but I can't," It's beautiful. Meaning a lot coming from the daughter of the godess of beauty."

He smiles, yet again, and I slide down besides him. I always used to wish that I had a tree house like this. My dad and I had even written up plans for it, before he had married step-mom two. I frown, unhappy that such an unpleasant memory had re- surfaced in such a beautiful place.

"Are you ok?" Fergus asks, sensing my unhappiness.

"Nothing-" I begin. I always said nothing. Fergus had shown me his utopia, me, who he hardly knew. " I just have...parent issue's." I shrug. "Doesn't everyone?" My lip quivers, because I know it's not true. All the nasty things and words I've every thought about my dad lay on the roof of my mouth, leaving a sour taste. The truth lay between us, an unopen jar of my history. I feel weak tears sting at my eyes. I was such a weakling. Fergus' looks at me, a tender look in his confused eyes. Then it all comes out. " My dad doesn't give a damn about me! He marries a new idiot every year and has so many mistresses I've lost count. He tries to keep things good between us and when my hope is raised and then slashes me down as soon as I believe him. He's a nascar driver nad used my face to go forward in his career, get him followers because of his hot daughter. He once made me date one of his collegues to soften the man up. I hate him! He's just...so many words that I shouldn't be saying. He's done some other stuff that I won't even burden you with," I shutter, and wipe the tears and smeared mascara away, keeping my face away from Fergus." Sorry."

Savannah and I walked towards the beckoning water. It's calm waves lapped gently against the shore. I felt like a little kid again. I'd always loved the beach, and I went with my dad sometimes. Before I ran away. I shook my head to empty it of these thoughts. I laid my towel down on the beach and set my sun glasses down carefully on them. I took off my flip-flops and ran and jumped into the cold water. I surfaced, feeling the cool water all over my body.

"Come on in! The water's fine!" I yell. She looks nervous, but steps gingerly into the water. A bigger wave soaks her ankle and she jumps back on shore.

"I promise, you'll be fine. It'll be fun! Come on!" She walked into the water, at a painfully slow pace. She got up to her waist and stopped. I waved her on. Eventually she made her way out to me. The water was up to her neck, even though it was only up to my armpits. She looked panicky, and I knew she was going to get out soon.

"Okay, you're doing great. Just come out here and I'll show you how to swim." She shook her head, clearly afraid to go out any farther. "You can trust me." She came out a few feet further, until it was right under her nose.

"Now kick your feet to stay up. Like this. I kicked my feet and rose a little way above the water. She did too, but she took the kicking thing too literally. She kicked me in the shin several times before she got it. She was doing great, so I thought I'd take it to the next level.

"Okay, now you're going to swim forward. Just watch what I do." I demonstrated, and she tried it. She was doing okay with the doggie paddle, and all of a sudden she screamed and went under.

"What's wrong!" I shouted. Her words came up as bubbles, but I thought I heard the word slimy. I dove under and opened my eyes. The salt water stung, but I didn't care. Savannah was thrashing around in the muck, and an electric shock ripped through my body. She must be electrocuting the water, because I couldn't think of anything else that could do that. I gasped for air and went back down to get her. She was getting weaker, but her shocks were getting stronger.

By the time I lifted her up she was unconscious. All my time working as a lifeguard really paid of, because I knew exactly what to do. I brought her up on shore and started pumping her stomach. She coughed up some water, but she still wasn't breathing. I plugged her nose and tilted her head back, and I started to breath into her mouth. After a few minutes, she coughed up some more water, and her eyes opened slowly.

"You, you saved my life." She said dreamily.

"Are you okay?" I asked. She sounded fine, but she kept coughing and she was pale.

"I think I'll be fine." She drifted back into unconciousness, and I wrapped her in my towel and carried her to the nurses office.

Sorry for the long post. Savannah is fine, by the way.