All I could feel was the cold wind rushing round me as I ran from the Colchis bull attempting to kill me. My wisdom of battle was struggling to come up with anything. I dived away from a tree, making the bull headbutt it. I got behind it and the Bull looked mad. I was stood facing it, trying to figure out what to do, but I was stuck. I was out of ideas.
'Come on then. Do your worst.' I was ready.
The bull then was hit with what looked like a glass jar and it started burning up. I heard others emerging from bushes nearby. A guy walked towards me. He was stocky, but had some kindness hidden in his eyes. A scar protruded down his left cheek. His light coloured hair blew slightly in the wind. He was dressed in what I recognised as some Greek armour.
'Are you alright?' He asked.
'Other than almost getting killed by a colchis bull?' I questioned his approach.
'I'm Luke. What's your name?' Luke asked.
'Mercy.' I was a little cautious.
'Well, Mercy, we're here to get you to safety.' Luke looked at me funny.
Luke gestured for me to follow him. I was a little cautious about it, but I stayed close. Other kids about Luke's age and younger came out and surrounded us, protecting us.
'So where are you from?'
'Not telling you that.'
'Been on the run long?'
'You could say that.'
'Don't worry. A lot of us have been in the same situation, me included.'
'Where are you taking me?'
'We're going to get you to camp.'
'What camp?'
'Camp Half-Blood. It's where kids like us are safe.'
I was confused what he meant, but I let him lead me to a group of chariots of some kind with pegasi attached.
'Come on. This is our ride out of here.'
Luke helped me onto one of the chariots and then got on himself.
'Hold on tight.' Luke pointed to a metal railing to hang onto.
I did as I was told and let Luke fly us out of there. I had never been up this high before and I loved it. Luke got one arm round my back to keep me in the chariot. It got a bit bumpy, but we finally came down in a massive plot of land with wooden buildings all around us. Kids were running towards us for all directions.
'Luke!' A kid ran towards the chariots.
'Hey Grover.' Luke smirked at him.
Luke got off the chariot and helped me off, keeping me steady.
'This is Mercy. Mercy, this is Grover, one of the Satyrs here.' Luke did introductions.
'Well, Mercy, we'd like you to come meet Chiron in the Big House, if you're up to it? We'll need to figure out who your godly parent is.' Grover said.
'Sure.' I was a bit cautious, but I could see they were trying to make me feel welcome.
I followed Grover through the camp, Luke right behind me. We got to the Big House and I could see a guy in a wheelchair sitting in the main room.
'Chiron, this is Mercy.' Grover explained.
'Got here in one piece, I hope.' Chiron smiled.
'Is anyone going to explain what's going on?' I asked.
'You didn't tell her?' Grover was shocked.
'We had a colchis bull to deal with. I thought getting her to safety was the priority.' Luke looked right at Chiron.
'Do you mind if I talk to Mercy on her own?' Chiron knew the guys were getting weird.
Grover and Luke left, not exactly happy. I was gestured to take a seat.
'Mercy, how much do you know about Greek gods?'
'A lot. My Dad was obsessed with any kinds of gods, Greek and Roman.'
'Any in particular?'
'Athena, Minerva and Juno actually. They're the Greek and Roman version of each other, aren't they, Athena and Minerva?'
'They are. We believe your mother is one of the goddesses. Do you think it could be Athena?'
'It could be. I'm quite good with strategy. I'd just never dealt with a colchis bull before.'
'We'll wait for your parent to claim you and then we'll put you with your family.'
'Chiron, what if they don't want me?'
'What makes you think that?'
'I ran from my Dad because he didn't want me after a while. I've been on the run since I was nine.'
'Mercy, we're going to help you as much as we can. Trust me, you're safe here. We'll teach you how to fight and you won't be on your own again. As you're unclaimed, you'll stay with the Hermes cabin. You'll be with Luke, as he's the camp leader for the Hermes cabin.'
'Bit defensive, isn't he?'
'Luke? He is, but he has a right to. He's been here a long time. He came here with the Athena cabin's leader, Annabeth. He brought her up after she ran away a couple of years younger than you. He gets protective but can be a handful.'
'Chiron, what do you think happened to my Dad?'
'Probably still out there looking for his daughter.'
'I can't go back, could I?'
'I'm afraid not. Now you know, you'll have a stronger signal to the creatures than before. They'll want you dead more than before.'
'Thanks. I'll go get my bearings, if that's alright?'
'Just stay on site.'
I walked out the Big House and down the path to the left. I walked round passing various cabins. Out of curiosity I found myself down by the lake. Out here I could see the Poseidon cabin. I could tell no one was staying there, but I knew in a couple of months they would have someone there.
'Look, it's the newbie!' a girl cackled from behind me.
I knew this was going to be difficult. I got an urge to move, so I dived into the lake and swam through it underwater. I somehow didn't need to go up for air. I was able to breathe easily underwater. I finally decided to surface and I came out on the other side of the Poseidon cabin. The group I'd fled from were nowhere to be seen. I only then looked down to see only my hair was wet. My clothes were completely dry.
'What the hell?' I was confused.
I heard a gong being rung. I walked towards it, curious. I got to an open topped building where everyone was congregating. Everyone was getting food and then I saw people were putting the best bits in a fire in the middle of the room. I joined the line and did as everyone else did.
'Keep it going, Mercy.' Luke had found me.
'What's this for?' I asked.
'Sacrifice to the gods. A load of rubbish, basically.'
I followed the others, as did Luke. He led me to a table and we ate what we had left.
'Shower?' Luke saw my hair was wet.
'More like a swim in the lake to avoid getting in trouble.' I shrugged.
'Did you change your clothes then?'
'No. They came out dry when I got out the water.'
'What?'
'My clothes were stone dry when I came out.'
Luke was shocked.
'Daughter of Poseidon?'
'I know who my Dad is. I don't know my Mom.'
'That's weird.'
'You're telling me?'
The room got a bit louder and I saw Chiron and another guy in a weird shirt enter the room. Something seemed wrong.
'Luke?' I was worried what was happening.
Then I saw everyone staring in my direction. I looked above me and I had two symbols fighting above me. I was fought over by Poseidon and Athena.