Camp Half-Blood *Join!*

Ta da. Gone.

Um *coughs.* Lexie is an Ares... Sorry, i don't have enough time to post... just thought I'd point that out.

Ani - Poseidon:

When Daemond jumps in, the splash rolls across the water and splashed Katherine and I, and neither of us could help but let out a scream of enjoyment.

Daemond popped up out of the water, a huge smile plastered on his face.

I got to thinking - had I just scared him away with my protectiveness? Would it be all my fault that Katherine ended up with a broken heart if he backed off?

It was only when Katherine started looking at me worriedly that I noticed that I was starting to bite my nails, something I only do when I am nervous, anxious, or afraid.

Pulling my hand away from my mouth and letting it fall at my side, I gave her a soft smile, trying to get the message across that it was nothing. She didn't need anything more to think about, what with Daemond and her foster parents.

A bitter thought entered my head, and I felt my eyes start to darken and a scowl spread across my face.

If there wasn't the dumb rule that demi-gods weren't allowed to be in Olympus none of this would have happened. Stupid. They're all so stupid, Uncle Zeus, Uncle Hades, and Dad. Why would they make that rule? Why did Dad keep that rule even though he knew what Katherine was going through? Why would he leave Katherine defenseless and alone in the world?If anyone needed help it was her, and Dad just left her be!

Either Katherine was scared that I was getting angry or there was a giant monster behind me, because she looked at me with an apalled, and almost appalled, look.

Daemond looked as if he feared for his life, seeing me angry. I guess he really did take what I said to heart.

"Are you okay Ani?" Katherine asked, reaching out to touch my arm.

Crossing my arms over my chest, I tried to force my eyes back to their calm color so she would think I was okay. It didnt work, but I still answered with "I'm fine. Just thinking."

Deciding to change the subject, I suddenly said cheerily "Hey! I'll race you to the rock pile over there!" and with that, I dove down and began to swim, hearing the two of them come in with a splash after me.

*Hope this is alright!*

Katherine

I was uttery confused. I don't know why but things had suddenly gotten a strange tense and nervous feeling to the air. I enjoyed watching Daemond splash into the water, making me scream in enjoyment but Ani had gone from happy to an aire of bitter resentment.

I honestly wasn't sure what was going on but Daemond's expression kept it's blank, calculating look when he thought I wasn't looking and Ani showed me a soft, reassuring smile to tell me there was nothing to worry about.

I believed her.

Sometimes I'm not sure why I but my thoughts usually skip from one thing to the next and at the moment they were on Ani's crossed arms. She usually did that while trying to hide something.

I wrinkled my nose as she suddenly bubbled up with a smile and lunged into the water with another proclamation of a race.

"You can eat my bubbles, Ani!" I crie as I immediately take after her.

I am a strong swimmer.

I know, people would probably go and say "Your a kid of Poseidon! Of course your a strong swimmer!" but that's not what I
mean. It's not just that, ever since my fifth foster home had taken me in they had forced me to swim. I took to it like a bee to a flower.

A bubble of sadness made me sigh, I had left my tenth foster house at the age of six or something. It's hard to keep track
of how many people believe you to be a monster yourself when you attract so many.

I had just passed Ani while nearly reaching the rocks when I felt the strings of my bikini top come undone.

I freeze in the water.

"Ani!" I shout, clutching my top to my chest and not daring to turn around.

Ani circles around and stops infront of me.

"What?" she asks, and I lift one hand to pluck a red string from tge water.

"My top came undone." I hiss in mortification and I turn my head. Daemond was gaining fast. "Help?" I begged her as I looked into her giggling face.

~Fergus~

This was what perfect was like.
Aura and I were in my treehouse. I remember so vividly making it, my dad showing me for the first time how to create structures in Dream. I never would've thought that I would one day be sharing it with someone I just met. I was leaning relaxedly on the wall of the fort, comfortable on the mat of feathers that stretched across the entire floor. There were no permanent objects in the treehouse, only what I conjured at the time.

"Do you like it?" I ask Aura. Her eyes are open, shocked and unbelieving.

"Yeah.." She pauses and searches for the right words "It's beautiful. Meaning a lot coming from the daughter of the goddess of beauty"

I smile for the billionth time, but all I feel is happiness. She slides down next to me, lightly resting her head on my shoulder.I was thinking about summoning us a pair of smoothies when she frowns.Oh crap was all I could think of.

"Are you ok?" I ask. Spiteful words of self doubt began to stir in the back of mind.

"Nothing-" she replies. Then she paused. She looked around once more. She looked at me, and I noticed a single tear well up in the corner of her huge, beautiful eyes. "I just have....parent issues" She shrugged. " Doesn't everyone?" Her lip quivered, and she opens her mouth as if she wanted to say something but stopped herself. The truth lay between us, an unopen jar of her history. I saw more tears form at her eyes. I look at her, trying to be comforting though I had no clue what was going on. Then she poured her soul 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," She shuttered, and wiped the tears and running makeup from her face. She turned, trying to keep her face away from me. "Sorry"

I stare at her. I had no idea all that inner turmoil swirled beneath her calm,cool exterior. She had placed her soul on a silver platter, for me. For the person she just met. And then I knew, I just knew, like I had when I decided to show her Argos, I wanted her to be happy. "Don't be" I say. She turns, her face a flushed mess of makeup and tears. "What your father did was wrong, everyone can agree with that. He was just one of those people that only saw a pretty face and never bothered to learn what was on the inside. He saw you as an opportunity, a tool but your so much more than that, Your funny, and caring and you are able to find beauty in all the most unlikely places. I'm sure thats what your mother could as well, and thats why she loved your father. She saw in your dad a chance to be a good man and a good father. So maybe she couldn't do it, but that doesn't mean you can't. Never give up on those you love, even if they force you to date sweaty old Nascar racers. It's never to late for you and your dad to make up. All you have to do is show him what an amazing person you are"

I don't know where the words come from, but they sound good, and Aura stares at me, her eyes brimming with a new emotion; hope. For a second there's silence, and I offer her what I hope to be a supporting smile.

"Maybe.. maybe your right" Aura says. "It's just... after all he's done to me.. I'm not sure if I can forgive him even enough to see him again"

"But that's the beauty of it. You don't have to right now. Your'e letting your past ruin your future; all you need to do is know that their's always a chance for you to make things up with your Dad, but it doesn't have to be now, or in a month from now or even a year from now. Hope will last you your entire life. You just gotta remember it's there"

Aura looks stunned and stares at nowhere, deep in thought. I let her think. This was a big matter in her life; if she needed space, I would give her space. I got up an walked to the tree house's balcony, supported by the strong branches of an oak that wrapped around the pine. I looked at my face in the water, and subconsciously changed it to Aura's. She was part of my world now, I only hoped I was part of hers.

Cassandra [Hades] - Recently returned to the Hades Cabin:

I stared at my cabin. What the hell? It was covered....in... Well, I wasn't even going to look closely at that. I scrunched up my face in disgust. Who the hell did this? Because, honestly, it had to be a who. "Disgusting," I muttered, picking my way over to my bed. At least my half-sisters and little half-brother weren't here to see this. "Great, I supposed I'm going to have to be the one to clean all this up!"

Muttering to myself, I cast the mess of a cabin a dark look and started cleaning up. I'd demand answers later... Much later. As I cleaned up the cabin, I started thinking about who, out of all the Demi-gods here, were most likely do something like this.....and came up with only a few possible answers. One of those being the Hermes kids. I scowled, dumping the last of the....crazy string? in the bin. No, I wasn't happy. Not at all.

"Cass?" someone called, knocking on the door of the cabin. I looked up, frowning at myself in the bathroom mirror.

"Be there in a second!" I called, shoving the bin in my hands under the sink. I spared a glass for the make-up on the sink and sighed. I'd stolen some of that from the Aphrodite cabin and still other things from other places. I knew my sisters liked make-up. I glanced at my side of the long bench and sink area. My make-up was untouched. I snorted. Not surprising, that.

With a sigh, I straightened up and headed out to see who was calling my name.


((Finally. Something to write about. Thanks for pranking the Hades cabin guys! Oh, dear. Cass is not happy, is she? >.> Oh, and that someone calling her name could be anyone. Also, I think Cass was in the forest earlier, or she was practicing or something. Anyways, continue.))

Darn, then I've got nothin'. WIll wait for Crafty to spark an idea in my mind.

Ok then. Presumming that we are still in the water.

~ Spirit ~


I roll around on my back, floating at the blue sky. It'd been about fifeteen minutes since Fergus and Aura had left and nothing special had really happened since. Laughing, joking, and trying to drown each other. Life had never been sweeter. T.J. splashes me and I jerk up, sticking my toungue out at him.

"What?"

The lake had gotten rather crowded since we had gotten here and it was no longer nice and quiet. The lake was crowded like all get out.

"It's really getting crowded," T.J. says, mimicking my thoughts, " You wanna go play some basketball?"

"So you can kick my butt?" I say, giving him a playful shrug.

He laughs, his eyes sparkling. "Maybe."

I roll my eyes with a giggle," Sure."

We get out of the lake and dry off. I hurry to my cabin, pull on a pair of shorts and tank top and brush my sopping hair away from my face. I head to the basketball course and catch up to T.J, falling into step with him. Suddenly a dark hair figure swoops out of the Hades cabin, a distraught look on her face.

"Duck!" I whisper loudly.

We both drop to the ground, hiding behind a statue of Hera. T.J. turns to me, looking confused.

"Why are we on the ground," he whispers.

" The girl who just came out of the Hades cabin. Cassandra. If she knows were the one who messed with the Hades cabin we are so dead." I grimance, noticing my bad pun.

"I've never caught caught. I'm not the suspicious type, apparently."

Reluctantly, a smile tugs at my lips.

"All Hermes kids have a reputation. When you're the child of the God of Pranks and Thieves, EVERYONE suspects you.

"So it's not just my innocent face?"

I give him a playful shrug and look for Cassandra. Thankfully, she's nowhere in sight. I pop back up and start heading for the basketball course. Suddenly, I get an idea. I get a lot of those, obviously. Smiling innocently at T.J. I rush to the basketball court and grab the ball, tucking it into my arms. He catches up to me, and when he's only feet away I smile at him.

"If you want to play basketball your gonna have to get the basketball first!" I cry, sprinting away, my hair flying like a banner behind me.

Ani - Poseidon:

It took every bit of strength I had in me, but somehow I managed to summon enough energy to make a wave large and strong enough to push a surprised Daemond further away.

For a second I just stood there. Only about half of the children of gods (true fact) actually inherit their parent's powers.

Turning back to Katherine, I looked at her, pure shock on my face.

Quickly, I snapped out of it and grabbed the red strings of Katherine's bikini, tightly tying it into a double knotted bow. As a precaution, I untied the other ties and retied them in a double knotted bow so this fiasco wouldn't occur again.

"Thank you Ani!" Katherine said, moving her hair back over her shoulder and allowing it to fall over her back.

"No problema!" I exclaimed, turning towards the direction of Daemond to make sure he wasn't hurt.

He wasn't hurt - was he?

Katherine

I had seen the giant wave that Ani had made and I immediately reacted after she'd finished tying the bikini.

My god, my embarassement couldn't have been worse, I thought as I concentrated.

I spread my hands and slapped them on the top of the water, and using a lot of energy I stilled the entire body of water. Nothing moved other than the splashes people made and I panted from theeffort.

"Ani, do you see him?" I asked through gritted teeth, I wasn't sure if he'd gone under after her fiasco.

She peered over at the water, squinting against the sun andthen nodded.

"Yeap!" she laughed. "Like an upside turtle on land, he's splashing around." she joked and I smiled, releasing the water from my command.

I then just sat and waited, thinking about how time passes quickly.

~Daemond~

I was swimming toward Katherine and Ani, puffing. Jeez, those Posiedon girls could kill me in a swimming contest. I keep swimming evenly, seeing how fast I could go, when I freeze. Katherine's red bikini ties no longer held at her neck. Did she- What? I debate whether to keep swimming and risk another fiasco or to turn away. Before I can make up my mind a wave, giant and looming, flies on top of me. Ani. It shoves me under and I wonder briefly if Katherine had told her about what I almost did. I blink my eyes, looking around the beautiful water. Brightly colored fish swim around me and the reef steams with life. I can see how Katherine and Ani love this place so much. SO much better than the King of the Grapes. I resurface slowly on completely flat water. Turning myself, and feeling rather like a fishing bobber, I glance over at the direction of Katherine and dear, dear Ani. Seeing what I believed was them I wave. Hestitation. Both figures wave back. Suddenly, I feel my arm throbbing. Looking down at it with dismay, I wait for the wave that was sure to carry be back. When nothing happened I begin to thrash around. I can imagine Ani laughing and Katherine rolling her eyes, but honestly I've never been out this far. I feel a soft current behind me, pushing me toward the girls. I swim, ignoring the pains in my arm. I reach the girls within a matter of seconds. Brushing my long black hair from my face I smile a sly smile.

"Did you expect me just to swim back here? I'm not a child of Posiedon, as you two are."

I laugh, showing them I was totally joking. My eyes land on Katherine's bikini's straps. Well, all of her if I'd admit it. (Which I won't.) Thankfully, they were tied on tight and well. Her skin was flushed and she looked away from me, her long hair streaming in the water. A pang shoots through my heart and I wish that-that. Gods, I didn't know what I want anymore! Thinking about it, I'm not sure if I ever did.

"Well, we expected you to swim better than that," Ani teased.

I roll my eyes, eying them both with suspicion. Did Katherine tell Ani about our little incident. No, Ani looked peaceful and Katherine had a small smile splayed across her...lips. Jeez, I had such trust issues.

"So what excitment do you girls have planned next for me?"

I lean back laughing. Was it possible to feel such bliss when my thoughts were so scrabbled and painful?

Jeez, all my charecters are so messed up in this SB. I think Aura's the worst though. Then again... No wait...

~Aura McCormik~

Fergus left, getting up from his spot on the treehouses balcony and leaving me to ponder his words. What was it that'd he said? He was one of those people who only saw a pretty face and never bother to learn what's on the inside. It was so true, so painfully true. That's all my father had ever used me for: a pretty face. Those Zeus, Hades, and Posiedon kids thought they had it bad. No, it was being the daughter of Aphrodite that led to the worst curse of them all: a pretty face. Fergus had told me to forgive my father. As much as I appreciate him he's never met my father. He did have a point though. My mother had once fallen in love with the man. She must have loved him for a reason, because she wasn't after his money like every other slut my dad had ever married. A thought struck me, a cruel true thought. That might be why my dad was the way he was. I know my cabinmate Aetos' never got over Aphrodite: that's why he had such a goofy name. I guess my dad was the way to Aphrodite the way I hardly ever say him: A gentlemen, funny and sweet. After mom left he'd have to raise me, a young girl. He'd always claimed never to understand girls. However, he understood woman just right. As hard as I tried, a bitter taste still stuck to my father's name. How was it that Fergus seemed to bring up the truths hinded deep inside me? I know that I can never truly forgive my father. Fergus had said that I should have hope. It's just so hard...How would he even know? I can't leave all my father did to me behind in the harsh and cruel past. Fergus had said that I was letting the past ruin my future. He was right, sadly and probaly wrongly. My father was behind every snarky comment, everyday I look in the mirror and frown, every time I frown as I hear the words "Daughter of Aphrodite." It's not like my dad was pure evil after all. He had sent me Missy, the best cat in the world. He'd put behind the wheel of a car, not minding that I would get my "pretty little face dirty," as one of his co-workers had said. I couldn't forget but maybe-just maybe- it was time to forgive.

*********************************************************************************************************************************

I walk around the other side of the porch to where Fergus stood, facing the lake. To my shock, it no longer held his face. It held mine. Not the way it had in my father's magazine's or promo's- I looked simple and beautiful. I had mascara on, sure, but my auburn hair glistened in the fake sun, loose around my shoulders. I blush, feeling shocked and more than a little touched. I walk beside Fergus, putting my manucured hand on top of his slightly chubby one.

"Thank you."

Fergus looked up, shocked." For what?"

"For...everything. You're right I can never forget what he did to me but, there's always time to forgive. Thank you for lisening. Thank you for the lake. It's beautiful."

His cheeks reddened slightly and he nodds. "I'm glad to help."

The sun hits my face and we stand in silence. I feel like a brick's been pushed off my chest, a little slice of heaven. I wonder in the back of my mind what his past was, but turn it away. He'd shown me Argos, and for now I could live with that. Fergus looks down on our hands, mine still on top of his. I feel my Aphrodite coming on in a rush, this time not bothering to turn her away.

" Anyway, the Nascar driver who my dad made me date? He wasn't that old. He was rather cute, honestly." Fergus' face fell and I giggle. "But I think you're more my type."

I decided to take you up on the offer for knocking on the door. Hope you're okay with that.
I'd just been hanging out in my cabin for free time. I was shy, and I couldn't seem to find TJ. He was the guy that showed me around, but I was kind of afraid to go around without him. I was still getting used to the fact that my dad was the sun god, and that some of the kids here had powers I couldn't even think of. Growing up in Vermont, I was outside all the time, and I guess that would explain some of the weird encounters I'd had there. It turns out they were all monsters trying to kill me. No big deal. I chuckled to myself. I decided I had to break out of my shell. I had to meet new people.

I walked out of my cabin and wandered off. I didn't really know where I was going to go, so I just figured I'd let my feet bring me where they wanted to go. I stopped short when I saw the boar above the Hades cabin. It was dressed like the ugliest girl I'd ever seen! I wasn't sure if the Hades kids knew, so I was going to have to go break it to them.

I walked up and knocked on the door. I heard someone moving around inside, and they shouted at me to wait. I waited, feeling the boars eyes stare at me. After a few seconds someone opened the door. I didn't recognize them. She was a teenage girl with long dark hair. She looked irritated, and I had a feeling the pranksters did something to the inside of the cabin too.

"Can I help you with something?" She asked sarcasticly.

"Actually, I was gonna ask you the same thing." I replied, surprisingly calm.

"When I find out who did this-" She cut herself off. "Never mind. Anyway, I'm Cassandra Miller. But please, call me Cassie." She said, all of a sudden cheerful.

"Oh. I'm Castor Jolivette, but call me Chase. Do you want help? Cleaning this up I mean." I pointed towards her room.

"Oh, uh, sure, I guess." I went into the dark cabin. Glow-in-the-dark silly string was sprayed everywhere. I whistled.

"Looks like we've got our work cut out for us." I muttered, half under my breath.

"Hey, you volunteered for this." She joked.

"Well, how about we just lean back and rest for a minute before heading back to dry off? I'm sure Chiron will be calling us back for a last activity before the end of the day." I suggest with a smile on my lips.

My thoughts turn to Trojin, how I met him while on my way here. He'd been fleeing from one of the Ares kids who'd slapped his rump and had ordered him to fly at his whim. The poor horse had been scared out of his wits at defying a gods child's wishes. He knew better now. He would do only as he saw fit to do.

I sigh as I float on my back, enjoying the peace of the water as I unconsciously keep it as still and motionless as possible with my power. Without being aware of it my power was easier to control.

I spoke without lifting my head, I just stared at the brilliant blue sky. "What ever happened to your parent, Daemond? Ani?" I ask, I longed to know that I wasn't the only one who'd lost everything but there was one secret no one had ever been told.

I had a sister, Annella, but she'd been killed by a monster at the ge o three when I was supposed to be watching her while the foster parents had gone to the store. She'd died in my arms, the very moment her breath left her was the very moment I had lost absolutely everything. From then on, nothing had mattered.

The day I met Daemond wad the day I began to feel again. I'd been numb to the world. Oblivious.

Swallowing back the memories a wave of water made me sputter and raise myself upright.

Ani was peering at me with a look of concern, and irritation. "I asked you a question..." she said in an annoyed voice.

Daemond was squinting against the sun but he didn't look concerned.

"What did you ask, Ani?" I asked, turning my gaze back to her.

"We can teach Daemond how to really ride a Pegasis?" she suggested, a sly smile on her face.

Daemond looked up with shock on his face. "I'm good." he says quickly while shaking his head.

I laugh and snile at Ani. "Great Idea."

Cassandra [Hades] - Hades Cabin:

"Looks like we've got our work cut out for us," he muttered, half to himself.

"Hey, you volunteered for this," I jaded, laughing. Oh, yes. This was definitely a mess. and I'd only managed to clean up the bathroom. I sighed. "Well, come on. Time to get to it."

I wandered back towards the bathroom--where I'd left the half-full bin, and tugged it out from under the sink. When I walked back into the main are of the cabin, Chase was staring around in awe.

"Someone seems to have a death wish," I deadpanned, dumping the bin in the middle of the room.

Chase glanced towards me. "Yeah, maybe."

I nodded and got to work on the glow-in-the-dark silly string. Had to be a Hermes kid. They were usually the only ones who dared mess around with pranks on the Hades kids. I'd gotten my fair share of their pranks over the last year....when I wasn't on the quest. I swallowed, turning away from Chase to snatch the pillows off the nearest bed. Wonderful, most of this would have to be washed now. I could only hope they didn't spray the stupid thing in the wardrobes too.

Suddenly worried, I straightened up and raced over to the wardrobes to check. Nope. That was fine...still. I sighed, relieved. Finally, the stupid pranksters did something right. I'd hate to have to explain that to the other Hades kids. I snorted and went back to stripping the bed, glancing towards Chase, who was doing the same. They'd probably blame me anyway. Oh, well.