Claimed

Chapter One

A/N: Again, please don't be quick to judge. Most of this was written in my seventh grade year, and I'm trying to edit this as well as I can. While I would love it if no-one judged my works, I am always open for suggestions and friendly criticism. Criticism is greatly appreciated, so don't be afraid to say things about this story.

I can't believe we actually did it. I mean, Eibhlin and I have been talking about running away for some time, but I never actually thought we would do it. I'm Ciara Devlin, and my life is anything but normal. It started off alright, I guess, but Dad isn't home very much, and no one knows where Mom is, so it's just Eibhlin and me. Ev is my twin. Her hair is close to mine, light brown with purple highlights, but a bit shorter and lighter, and we're both twelve. Our eyes are exactly the same-stormy grey that shine when we get ideas. We both hate, and I mean hate, spiders. But enough talk about us. Lets start a few days ago when Ev and I ran away.

. . .

"Ev, come on!" I yelled. "We've talked about running away plenty of times, and do we actually do it? No!"

"Well, I think we actually should run away this time! For good!" Eibhlin yelled back.

We had snuck out before, but we always came back. Actually running away would be too difficult.

"Are you sure?" I asked.

"Yes, I'm sure," she replied, "Let's get packed."

We went to our room and started packing to go who-knows-where.

"Hey, Ev, are you bringing all our books?" I asked.

"Yeah." she answered.

Pretty soon, we were finished and exited the house, into a world where mysteries awaited.

. . .

"Hey!" a voice calls, "What are you two doing out here?"

"Balefire?" I ask hesitantly, "Is that you?"

"You better believe it!" he responds, his curly brown hair bouncing as he limped towards us. "I'm here to help you get to camp safely!"

"Camp?" Eibhlin voices, "What camp?"

"You'll see. Come on! It's just over this hill!"

We go over the hill and see around 20 cabins, each looking more bizarre than the last. There is also an enormous (ok, maybe that's exaggerating) blue house and strawberry fields next to it with strange creatures dancing around in it playing reed pipes. Behind the house, there are volleyball courts, something that possibly is an arts and craft building, an amphitheater, and a climbing wall with something that looks suspiciously like lava flowing down it.

"This is Camp?" I ask. "How can people not see it?"

"Magic, Ciara, magic," Balefire replies, his forest green eyes twinkling. "Let's go see Chiron."

We go to the Big House and get orientated. I will spare you the boring details, but here is the rundown. We are Greek demigods, and my mom is a goddess. Chiron is a centaur, Mr. D is the god Dionysus, and Balefire is a satyr. Very confusing.

"Since you are now aware that you are demigods, I will have you go down to the Hermes cabin until you are claimed. Have a nice afternoon!" Chiron exclaims.

We head down to the Hermes cabin, getting a better view at the other cabins.

"See you guys later! Connor and Travis, don't scare them away," Bale commands.

"Hey, Ev, you want to go look at the other cabins?" I ask.

"Sure!"

Along the way, we meet people who seem nice and some who don't. One girl from the Ares cabin yells at Ev, and they start talking. Good for them. I loop back around and walk by the goddess cabins. I am walking by a cabin that smells like a perfume store (gag) when some girls sneer at me.

"Hey, Nat, looks like another loser for this camp," a girl sneers.

"Yeah, let's leave, Mystic." They walk off laughing.

I start walking again feeling hurt. They don't even know me, and they are already making fun of me. The next cabin I walk by seems nicer. The roof is covered in plants, and flowers blossom everywhere. One girl sees my dejected expression, says something to her friends, drops her plow, and runs over to me, her black curly hair bouncing.

"Are you OK?" she asks kindly.

I sigh. "Yeah, I guess so. It's just that there were two girls by that awful smelling cabin who laughed at me and told me I was a loser. Who are they?"

"Those are daughters of Aphrodite, goddess of love. What's your name? Mine is Forrest. Forrest Wraith," she explains.

"Oh, mine is Ciara Blackwood," I reply. "Can you show me the rest of the cabins?"

"Sure! Let's go!" she smiles excitedly. "This cabin is Demeter, and this next one is Athena."

"Hey, if this is a camp for demigods, why aren't there many people here?" I think suddenly.

"Since it is fall, most of us go back to our houses for the school year. Some demigods aren't as powerful, so monsters can't sense them as well. I just can't go back to my house because my dad lives in California. Too far away from camp," she replies.

While we pass the Athena cabin, I see my sister laughing with her new friend. Phoebe, I think. I feel a strange connection with the regal stone building and then everyone gasps. Ev and I look at each other, and I lay eyes on a glowing, holographic, silver owl over her head. She gasps and I look up, catching a glimpse of a fading owl over my head too. We have been claimed by Athena, goddess of wisdom. We meet each other's eyes and decide to go inside the cabin. I suppose it's time to meet my new family.