This Dark Night ― Percy Jackson & Annabeth Chase¹

―vi. naomi makes a friend at summer camp

THE BLONDE GIRL FROM BEFORE was reading a book in front of the last cabin on the left, Cabin Eleven.

When they reached her, she looked Percy over critically, like she was still thinking about how much he drooled.

"Annabeth," Chiron said, "I have masters' archery class at noon. Would you take Percy and Naomi from here?"

"Yes, sir."

"Cabin Eleven," Chiron told them, gesturing toward the doorway. "Make yourselves at home."

Out of all the cabins, Eleven looked the closest to an actual cabin—an old one at that. The threshold was worn down, the brown paint peeling. Over the doorway was one of those doctor's symbols, a winged pole with two snakes wrapped around it. Naomi couldn't remember what it was called, but she recognized it from hospital emergency rooms. 

Inside, it was packed with people, boys and girls, way more than the number of bunk beds. Sleeping bags were spread all over the floor. It looked a little like the orphanage a few summers ago, when a freak hurricane hit and it had to be turned into an evacuation center.

Chiron didn't go in. The door was too low for him. But when the campers saw him, they all stood and bowed respectfully.

"Well, then," Chiron said. "Good luck, Percy, Naomi. I'll see you at dinner."

He galloped away toward the archery range.

Percy stood in the doorway, Naomi all but hiding behind him. Around his arm, she could see the other kids staring, sizing him up.

"Well?" Annabeth prompted. "Go on."

Naturally, Percy tripped coming in the door and made a fool of himself.

Naomi was only a little happy that it took the attention off of her.

Annabeth announced, "Percy Jackson, Naomi Murphy, meet Cabin Eleven."

"Regular or undetermined?" somebody asked.

"Undetermined," Annabeth said.

Everybody groaned.

A guy who was a little older than the rest came forward. "Now, now, campers. That's what we're here for. Welcome, Percy and Naomi. You can have those two spots on the floor, over there."

The guy looked like he was out of high school, maybe nineteen, and he looked nice enough. He was tall and muscular, with short-cropped sandy hair and a friendly smile. He wore an orange tank top, cutoffs, sandals and a leather necklace with five different-colored clay beads. The only thing unsettling about his appearance was a thick white scar that ran from just beneath his right eye to his jaw, like he'd been slashed with a knife.

"This is Luke," Annabeth said, and her voice sounded a little different. Naomi looked at her, and she could've sworn her cheeks were tinged pink. "He's your counselor for now."

"For now?" Percy asked.

"You're undetermined," Luke explained patiently, like this wasn't his first time dealing with a pair of clueless newcomers. "They don't know what cabin to put you in, so you're here. Cabin Eleven takes all newcomers, all visitors. Naturally, we would. Hermes, our patron, is the god of travelers."

Naomi vaguely remembered Chiron/Mr. Brunner's lesson on Hermes. She was pretty sure he was the god of thieves, too.

She looked around at the campers' faces, some sullen and suspicious, some grinning stupidly, some eyeing her and Percy as if they were waiting for a chance to pick their pockets. Naomi figured they'd be pretty disappointed when all they got was lint from hers.