The storm had passed, but thunder still echoed in Lucas' chest.
All that remained of what happened were craters and charred trees.
Campers whispered as they arrived, eyes lingering on Lucas, Thalia, and Luke. Some glanced skyward, as though expecting another storm.
Lightning cracked across the sky, and above Thalia's head, a glowing symbol shimmered into existence. A bronze eagle, wings spread wide, wreathed in sparks. Zeus.
Shock and awe spread, all those gathered around knelt toward thalia, or more exactly the symbol above her. Mutterings about a child of the big three being a surprise, but for the centaur it seemed it wasn't all good news.
Lucas overheard him whispering about Zeus breaking a pact.
Next came Luke, a winged staff burned bright over his head with two serpents coiling in harmony. The caduceus. Hermes.
Finally Lucas, a torch appeared; its flame purple and silver, flickering unnaturally. It hovered above him, radiant and silent. Hecate.
Whispers rose all around. Not many recognized it.
A centaur trotted forward then, his frame tall, his eyes calm and kind.
"Welcome," The Centaur said, his voice carrying. "You are safe now."
He stepped beside them, gesturing toward the camp. "You've had a hard journey, but there is much to see. Come. Let me show you your new home. You may call me Chiron, I am the activities director of the camp"
They walked.
Through dirt paths and dappled woods.
They were led towards a large, sky blue house with a porch, decorated by wind chimes, overlooking the Camp with a nearby volleyball court.
"Here is the administrative building, commonly called The Big House. Should you have a need for me you can mostly find me here. On the first floor you can find the infirmary, housed by the children of Apollo or our security guard, Argus who is unfortunately not here right now. If you have been called for a quest or called as head of your cabin, this will also be where you are to gather."
Leading them down the hill, they passed a building which Chiron introduced as the Arts and Crafts center, saying it was open for everybody but mostly the Athena cabin use it.
They were brought to a large clearing where cabins were arranged in a U-shape around a central courtyard, each one unique, echoing the domain of the god it belonged to.
Chiron led them to one of the grander cabins, looking like a white marble box, with heavy, white columns in the front and a dome shaped roof.. This cabin is the biggest and bulkiest of all the cabins. It has polished bronze doors that shimmer like a hologram, and have lightning bolts streaked down them. Everyone knew who it belonged to without Chiron having to introduce it.
"This here is Cabin One, home to the children of Zeus. Thalia, this is where you will be staying"
They moved onto another cabin, this time a traditional looking cabin with faded brown paint and a worn door decorated with a caduceus. Teenagers were coming and going from this place.
Looking slightly embarrassed Chiron introduced this cabin.
"This here is Cabin Eleven, home to children of Hermes"
Lucas had been studying the design layout and only noticed twelve cabins, doubt grew inside him.
"What of children claimed but not of Olympus?"
"The camp has no cabins for others, only the Olympions, that is why Hermes offers his home to others and why it is so full" Chiron went on to explain the reason why Cabin Eleven was so full and worn down.
Lucas was bewildered, from what Chiron has told them, firstly the gods rarely claim children, sometimes forgetting how many they have. Worse still, the camp only celebrated the Olympians, meaning no cabins for minor gods/goddesses.
Feeling their stares, Chiron moved them away from the cabins and to the facilities of the Camp.
Past the cabins were two buildings, one designed as the showers and toilets for the camp and the other a camp store which Chiron said accepted both mortal currency and golden or silver drachmas, you could use the store to buy necessities such as toiletries, camp shirts, tote bags, and packs of Mythomagic cards (a demigod card trading game) or access to Hermes Express, the best delivery service.
They could hear the next building before even feeling its heat, the camp forge.
White marble columns lining walls stained with soot. Chimneys on the roof pump smoke over a gable with carvings of gods and monsters. The forge was located at the edge of a stream, with water-wheels spinning bronze gears.
"Here is the forge, like the arts and crafts center anyone can access this place and forge their own weapons with the celestial bronze kept inside or you could ask the Hephaestus children who are primarily found here. Now that building over there is the armory" Chiron led them towards a nearby building, allowing the constant hammering to fade away. Before them was a large metal shed.
"Here you can find your own weapons, ranging from common daggers and swords to unique weapons such as shotguns and clubs."
Bringing them back around towards the camp, Luke spotted a large amphitheater with many demigods going in and a few being carried out.
"And what's that place over there?"
Chrion looked towards where Luke was pointing and sighed.
"That is the sword fighting arena. Used by campers to duel and practice with different weapons. Also where you will be mostly injured during your stay here."
Chiron led them past the few last facilities, an archery field where he encouraged them to come as he would personally teach them and a giant rock climbing wall that from what they can see will crash into another wall, spilling lava down itself when a camper was too slow.
"Finally, the mess hall. Meals are held here, in a beautiful outside courtyard overlooking the sea. There is no shortage of food. The cups always fill with your favorite drink.
Campers sit with their cabins; it is expressly forbidden to sit at another god's table. Important announcements are often made after meals so don't leave too early. Of course before every meal you must sacrifice some of your food in thanks to the gods, that's what the many braziers are for."
"Mr Chiron.."
"Just Chiron my child"
"Chiron, Is it possible for me to build my own cabin instead of living with the Hermes cabin?"
Chiron considered Lucas' request before shaking his head.
"I am sorry, but I don't believe the god's would be happy or the camp director would allow it"
"And who is the camp director?"
"Campers call him Mr D, but his true name is Dionysus"
"...As in the god?"
"Yes. Unfortunately there was a little trouble between him and his father and so he was punished to serve here with no alcohol, so try and be careful around him"
The group was stunned that an actual god would be their director let alone it would be a grumpy god who was being punished.
"With that I leave you be, I must return to half-blood hill and help with the aftermath. If you have any need, reach out to the cabin leaders. Enjoy your time here, and get some rest you must need it after this long day"
With that Chiron galloped back the way they came, heading towards the hill.
Lucas and the others looked at each other before shrugging and deciding to visit the cabins to see how they will be living.
They first chose to look at where Thalia would be staying.
The cabin has no furniture inside at all, looking like an empty bank. It only has alcoves with golden eagle statues and one intimidating statue of Zeus in the middle looking like a glaring hippie that was ten feet tall and has sight of every place in the room except a corner where Thalia decided would be her sleeping corner.
They moved onto the Hermes cabin, it was split into 3 sections. A male section, a female section and a social room. They looked into the boys dorms where they saw it was furnished by old bunk beds with unsteady tables, a trunk at the bed end and a dirty table near the window.
Seeing the conditions of the Hermes camp, Lucas decided it would be better to camp outside like they had while not in camp.