CHAPTER
SIX

I MEET AN ACTUAL CENTAUR?!?

       ONCE I GOT OUT, OF THE BUS, I was confronted with a new problem, walking. Driving the sun had taken a lot out of me, from all the screaming, crying, oh and sweating. The second I stood up from the seat I wobbled back down like jello.

So, instead of walking, I sat on one of the few patches of snow on the grass, ignoring the cold feeling.

This was the camp Percy had talked about fondly, it looked beautiful in winter. Light patches of snow were everywhere, there wasn't a lot but also wasn't nothing, along with that was a light snowfall. Behind us was a waterfall which seemed to have frosted over and all around us were different buildings and things.

On one side there were twelve different cabins, each one having different themes but they had one similar quality. Each one had Christmas lights. Then in front of me was a climbing wall, though there was something unusual about it. At the top, there was actual lava coming out of it. Then on the other side was this large house, which was also decorated with lights.

All around were other small buildings and more; an amphitheater, arena, a few fields, a forest, and something I think was a camp store. "Woah, Is that a climbing wall," I heard Nico say in awe beside me.

"Yeah," Percy answered.

"Why's there lava pouring down it?" I asked, still comfortably sitting in the snow.

"Little extra challenge." Now I was a bit worried to see was a big extra challenge would be at this camp. Percy glanced down at me, his eyebrows furrowing.

"Why are you sitting in the snow?" He questioned and I just shrugged, "I was a bit dizzy after almost driving the sun into Maine."

He sighed, helping me up. I said a quick thanks and he nodded before turning to Zoë. "Come on. I'll introduce you to Chiron. Zoe, have you met—"

"I know Chiron," Zoë interrupted, "Tell him we will be in Cabin Eight. Hunters, follow me."

Cabin Eight? Why that specific Cabin, I questioned inside of my head but on the outside I just nodded.

"I'll show you the way," offered Grover.

Zoë shook her head, "We know the way."

"Oh, really, it's no trouble. It's easy to get lost here, if you don't"—he tripped over a canoe and came up still talking—"like my old daddy goat used to say! Come on!"

Zoë just sighed disappointedly after rolling her eyes. The hunters grabbed their stuff and began leaving. I looked around for Bianca, wanting to say goodbye to her. I noticed her whispering something to Nico and it didn't get a good reaction from him. She frowned and walked to me.

"I know you're probably upset at me joining the hunters and not saying I don't know like you but—" "Bia, I'm fine with you joining the hunters, I'm considering it anyway," I interrupted, smiling at her.

I'd been so focused on whether or not I was joining the hunters that I hadn't been focused on how I felt about Bianca joining. Of course, I was upset, but I couldn't tell her that. Nico was already upset with her it'll just make her feel worse if I was too. In all honesty, I didn't want to join the hunters, at all, I just didn't want to leave Bianca and she was already hopeful that there was a chance I was joining.

Bianca nodded, hugging me before joining the hunters.

"Take care, sweethearts!" Apollo called after the Hunters, gaining many glares from them.

He turned to Percy before winking, "Watch out for those prophecies, Percy. I'll see you soon."

Then he looked at me, raising an eyebrow, "You should watch out as well Maria," He glanced and Percy then me back and forth for a few seconds before giving us a wicked smile, "See you, love, and next time you drive please, erm, have someone to supervise you."

"What—" Instead of answering, he quickly got back onto the bus. "Later, Thalia," he called. "And, uh, be good!"

He smiled before closing the doors, not giving me a chance to question his comment. The engines revved and all of them turned away. What did 'Watch out as well mean? He definitely knew something, but the question what did he know? I thought before turning back around, the bus was gone and all I saw was sunlight.

Nico smiled a bit, staring at the sun before turning around and going back to his upset mood. Then he realized something, "Who's Chiron?" He asked, "I don't have his figurine."

"Wait, who is Chiron?" I repeated, realizing I didn't know either.

"Our activities director," Percy answered. "He's... well, you'll see."

"If those Hunter girls don't like him," Nico murmured, crossing his arms, "that's good enough for me. Let's go." I raised an eyebrow, what did Bianca say to Nico?

When Percy and Thalia had taken us up to what he called 'The Big House.' It had a bit of a homey feel and the smell of hot chocolate was in the air. He guided us to a room where two people were playing a card game. One of them was wearing a warm fuzzy sweater with a hoof on it. He had curly brown hair and a beard, when he saw us he smiled warmly.

The other one not as much, they were wearing a leopard-skin suit. A golden laurels wreath was in in his black hair. He just sighed sadly when we entered the room.

"Percy! Thalia! Ah, and this must be—," The one with brown hair exclaimed.

"Nico and Maria di Angelo, they're half-bloods," Percy said.

The brunette sighed of relief, "You succeeded then."

Wait, was it not normal to succeed? I would've dwelled more on the matter but Thalia murmured, "Well..."

In an instance the brunette's smile fell, "What's wrong, and where's Annabeth?"

"Oh, dear," The other one said in a monotone voice, "Not another one lost." I was even more confused than before, is it a normal thing for children to just go missing in this camp?

"What do you mean?" Thalia asked, her eyes widening. "Who else is lost?"

Suddenly Grover came in smiling, but he didn't exactly look in a condition to be happy. The Satyr had a black eye and slap mark on his face, "The Hunters are all moved in!" Did the Hunters do this? If so what did Grover do to make them so mad? I had too many questions.

"The Hunters, eh? I see we have much to talk about," Chiron frowned before turning to Nico and I, "Grover, perhaps you should take our young friends to the den and show him our orientation film."

"But... Oh, right. Yes, sir."

"Orientation film?" I questioned, "Is it G or PG because Bianca and I are kind of picky when it comes to what Nico ca—"

"It's PG-13," Grover answered.

Quickly Nico quickly looked at me, "Maria please let me watch this I'm almost 13."

I sighed. "You owe me a pack of mythomagic cards and you can't tell Bianca about this," I whispered to him, "Okay, let's go!" I exclaimed.

Nico smiled brightly and nodded, "Cool!"

The Orientation film was... okay. Nico enjoyed it a lot. I didn't have an exact opinion of the film, all I had was as an 'It was okay.' Apollo definitely directed it and it was very informative. I could tell it was from the '50s because of the quality of the video, the film did answer some of the questions I had but the film itself was very... Unique.

Right after the film had ended Nico bolted out of the room, quickly I ran after him and Grover followed me. "So cool!" Nico yelled, "You're.. you're a centaur!"

Chiron smiled. "Yes, Mr. di Angelo, if you please. Though, I prefer to stay in human form in this wheelchair for, ah, first encounters."

"And, whoa!" He looked at Mr. D. "You're the wine dude? No way!" I sighed at the nickname but stood beside my brother.

Mr. D turned away from Percy glaring at Nico, who was too excited to see the look the god was giving him. "The wine dude?" Mr. D questioned.

Nico smiled, "Dionysus, right? Oh, wow! We've got your figurine." I thought back to what was now only a few hours ago, though it felt like weeks. Nico and I were playing mythomagic while Bianca watched us, a small smile on her face.

"My figurine," Mr. D repeated, sounding a bit confused.

"In my game, Mythomagic. And a holofoil card, too! And even though you've only got like five hundred attack points and everybody thinks you're the lamest god card, I totally think your powers are sweet!" Nico exclaimed, practically jumping up and down from excitement.

"Ah," Mr. D said, less aggressive than the earlier comments. Percy unintentionally sighed of relief which caused my eyebrows to furrow for a second. "Well, that's... gratifying,"

"Percy," Chiron said which caused eyes to turn to him, "You and Thalia go down to the cabins. Inform the campers we'll be playing capture the flag tomorrow evening."

"Capture the flag?" Percy asked. "But we don't have enough—"

I tuned out the conversation, focusing on Nico and his rants, "While Maria, her favorite card is Hades. She doesn't have his figurine but one day she'll get it! And so will I, he's the only figurine I don't have," Nico ranted, using his hands to talk, "Oh and Apollo he has 2000 defense. Maria was so excited when she got his figurine!"

"Don't forget that Apollo has +30 health. Though Artemis has +50 attack points and +1500 defense," I interrupted, my inner mythomagic geek, coming out.

"Athena has +100 knowledge and 3000 attack," Nico remembered. "Zeus had lightning bolts that do damages."

I thought for a second before adding, "And Ares had blood rage or infinite health for 3 rounds."

"Then- Oh, where did Percy and Thalia go?" Nico asked, noticing the missing teens.

"They went out to prepare for capture the flag, Travis, the head of the Hermés cabin will be here soon to pick you two up," Chiron explained smiling at the two of us. I nodded.

Almost on cue, a boy walked into the parlor, a mischievous and sarcastic smile on his face. He had curly dark brown hair and particular elvish features. The boy was tall and skinny, he wore a bright orange shirt with the words 'Camp Half-Blood' on it with a pegasus below it and some shorts. "I'm assuming you're the di Angelos?" He questioned, the smile not leaving his face.

Nico and I nodded. "Let's go then!" Travis exclaimed before walking out, Nico and I followed him.

"You guys already saw the film right? I've never personally seen it but it explains the camp and everything," Travis questioned.

"Yeah, Hermes is the god of travelers so undetermined campers stay there," I answered and Travis nodded, accepting that answer.

"What's your atta-""Nico you can't just ask everyone their attack points," I said and Travis looked surprised for a second.

"Attack points?" Travis asked which led Nico onto a mythomagic rant. As we walked to the Hermes cabin Nico explained the art of Mythomagic, why it was so amazing, all of the characters' powers, all of the figurines. Travis looked amused throughout the whole conversation, while I sometimes added in a few facts but wasn't really focused on the mythomagic ordeal.

Soon enough we reached the Hermès cabin,  I could tell it was the largest cabin and it looked a bit worn out. A light sheet of snow laid on the roof, along with lights that looked similar to Christmas lights. Though now I realized they weren't like Christmas lights, they were actual balls of lights. "Welcome to Cabin 11!" Travis announced.

The cabin was a bit crowded but from what the film told Nico and I, I'm guessing this was a lot less than usual. A few campers glanced at us but then turned back to their business. Travis directed us to a corner, the paint on the wall was slightly chipped but I shrugged it off. If your cabin takes all the new unclaimed campers and all the already unclaimed campers lived in it, it would be pretty hard to keep it up to date.

"So-""Travis!" A kid interrupted, running towards him. The kid looked exactly like Travis; curly brown hair, camp shirt, shorts, elf-like features, mischievous blue eyes. "The camp store!" He exclaimed if it's possible their smiles both got even more mischievous. Travis nodded before turning to Nico and I. "Make yourself at home and personal tip, don't leave your stuff unattended," Travis winked before running out with the kid.

We turned to our corner, I nervously glanced at Nico. "Well we might as well make ourselves at home," He murmured before sitting down, placing his bag on his lap. I nodded, doing the same.

"Mythomagic?" I questioned, pulling a pack of cards out.

Nico smiled before nodding, taking out his cards.

NOTE.
I don't own pjo or it's characters. i only own my oc, maria.

i'm ngl, i had so much writers block while writing this. also i can't wait for a few of the scenes i've already planned in my head.

oh and instead of writing the one shot, i decided that i would do a Q&A instead. in the Q&A you, the readers, can ask questions about selcouth, maria, and the behind the scenes of selcouth. (ex. 'what gave you the idea of selcouth?', 'does maria have a middle name?', etc)

comment your questions here!

- the Q&A will be published on april 21st, 2021. that will also be the day where i will be no longer accept questions !! < 3
-i won't be spoiling anything
-i'll also be adding a fanart picture of maria that I made to the chapter since we also hit another milestone!! 1.5k!!

words : 2353

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