Mortals: Meet... 2

Chiron II - Carleton 'Carl' Becker

I sighed, while finally stepping inside the limits of this camp my Dad had brought me to. He had tears on his eyes and was waving at me, with a smile on his face, knowing that I'll see him when the summer was over. It was the first time we've been apart for too long and I was worried for both of us.

"Carleton Becker?" I heard immediately when I crossed and walked a few steps inside the woods. The voice belonged to a girl who looked strong enough to maul me when it was necessary. But the look on her eyes told me a different story, that she was a shy soul that just wanted a friend. I nodded in acknowledgement, it wasn't politely to leave a girl like her without an answer.

Daddy raised no fools.

"You can call me Carl, if you want" I told her, smiling friendly. She smiled shyly at me and I swear that I saw some pink blush on her dark cheek. She looked cute.

"Shenna Beaufort. But everyone calls me Beaufort" she introduced herself. I frowned. Why would anyone use her last name, her name is beautiful.

"Not sure I can... Shenna is a beautiful name..." What are you doing, Carl? Stop this! She blushed again and fidgeted a little on her place.

"Um, I'm suppose to take you to Chiron... All the newbies have to be taken to Chiron..." she informed me, gesturing inside the camp. I gestured with my hand, silently saying 'lead the way'. She nodded and I trailed behind her before looking at this cap for the first time. It was breathtaking, with its lake and cabins and amphitheater and city... It looked like a hidden city that was still standing, no matter what you throw at her.

"It's a beautiful place..." I mumbled.

"Some of us consider this place home..." Shenna explained to me. It was obvious that she could be consider one of those people and thats he was very proud of it. I liked hearing her like that "C'mon... Big House is this way..." she leaded me towards what it looked like a big house (what a shock there...), with the appearance of a bungalow, painted in blue. Before walking through the door, Shenna knocked on the door.

"Come on in..." A deep grave voice allowed us and Shenna opened the door, peeking inside.

"Sir? The new camper is here... Carl Becker?"

"Let him in, my dear..." The voice was soft and gentle, and I was thinking expecting a guy with grey hair and a cane... or someone with a suit and tie, writing off papers. Shenna opened the door for me and let me in, but she didn't walk in with me, signaling that she'd be waiting for me outside. What I didn't expect was to find a guy that didn't pass his fifties, with long brown wavy hair and matching long beard, wearing a tweed suit... on a wheelchair. Yeah, a wheelchair. Like the guy on Dad's favorite ancient movie. But that guy has his head shaved.

"Good morning, sir..." Manners before anything, Dad always says... The man smiled at me, like my Grandpa would do. I automatically smiled back.

"Good morning, young Carleton... As Beaufort probably mentioned, I'm Chiron..." I nodded, but allowed him to introduced himself "I'm the Camp Activity Director..."

"Nice meeting you, sir"

"Likewise... Now, why don't you tell me why you're here..." he rolled behind a desk and placed his chin under his hands. I suddenly felt I was in troubled.

"Well, every time I asked my Dad about my mother, he'd say that I'd learn at the right moment... He said that coming here was gonna answer that..." I retold what Dad had told me. It was a little disappointed that he didn't want to tell me, but I came to consider the possibility that he didn't know the whole truth. Dad had never lied to me, I don't think he'd start now...