Chapter 1: Busted

I breathed deeply of the icy, biting cold air as I made my way through the woods, wondering just how much longer it was going to be to get to the next town. I hadn't been near civilization for about a week, and my supplies were starting to run rather low, which this far out, was not exactly a good thing. I continued to walk through the woods, the icy air feeling very good on my skin.

I didn't know why cold air felt so good on me. Maybe my body was just designed for cold. Maybe I had an issue. But the cold frost never bothered me, never once in my life. I had never experienced what other people would call cold, though I knew harshly just what the summer heat was. Anything above seventy degrees to me felt like a baking oven, and I would have sworn that I would melt like the Wicked Witch should I ever go to the desert. I'm melting! I'm melting!

I continued my march through the wilderness, moving effortlessly through it. I made a point of staying low, so if any hikers came near, I could easily jump into some sort of cover and hide myself amongst the trees. I had always been good at hiding, since I had been hiding from the world for the past...oh hell, I don't know. All I know is that the world was a seriously messed up POS, and that it was better to go unnoticed. Like I was doing right now.

I only did this when necessary. Stealing was not exactly in my nature, but when you have to do it or risk starvation, what can you do? Sometimes, it is the only thing between you and death, and what would you rather face, death or committing thievery? It wasn't like this was not done on a daily basis by other people, and I only did it out of necessity. And so here I was, approaching another town that I had no idea what it was, did not care in the slightest, and was going to take just a teeniest amount of food for self-preservation. For sheer self-preservation.

The only food I didn't steal was what I could hunt. I was actually surprised that I could catch most small animals in traps and such. I nicked a book on hunting and traps from a library some time ago, and I was able to use it to supplement what I could steal from towns I came across. And most of all, I was able to learn to construct my own bow and make arrows out of stone, and I surprised even myself with how I was able to shoot it so accurately. If I could only make money off of archery competitions, but there was no way in hell I was going to sign up for one. What would people think to see a filthy young teen participating in an archery competition among adults, and even then, just how much money were those even worth?

I cursed under my breath as I heard a car nearby. I did not want to be this close to any roads. People might pull over and ask too many questions. I didn't want to be placed in some home with anyone, I really do not have much patience for that. I had seen and heard of too many cases of foster parent abuse. I didn't watch much TV, but what I did see, just gave that much of an impression that the world was...I already covered that...

The town finally came into view. It seemed to be one of those small town varieties, not much going on, not many people living there. Perfect for what I needed. Now to find the grocery store...

I cautiously scouted out the buildings from my perched position at the edge of the woods. I didn't see many people, only several warmly snug folks walking down various mostly empty streets, laughing and some even cuddling. I snorted at their attractions and affections, for I never had any use for such meager things. I had never bothered to get close to anyone, man nor beast. Man I avoided, and beast usually ended up in my stomach, if possible..

Slowly, and carefully, I made my way out of the protecting woods and into the maze if buildings. I stayed close to walls and alleys, staying crouched and my leg muscles ready to bolt. It would be one thing to be cornered by normal people, bu to be cornered by one of those coppers would be problematic. I wasn't equipped to deal with some one who would not hesitate to shoot me should I resist. And I would resist...

Finally, I came across the grocery store. I was relieved to see that it was a relatively large store. Open areas give room for escape if necessary. I looked for a cashier through the window and saw that there was only one on duty, probably due to it being near closing time. He was a nerdy looking youngster, no more than about seventeen or eighteen years of age. I grinned, for this would be easier than I thought. All I needed to was...

-0-

Darren Black sat at his counter, reading the latest fad magazine about some celebrity mishap, probably Lindsey Lohan or Wesley Snipes. No wait, Snipes was in jail right now. And judging from the content of the story, obviously it was a "Lohan Strikes Again" story. How could that girl do that again and again? Drugs are bad, even toddlers know that. But her IQ was probably in the gerbil range, so he wasn't all that surprised.

The store was deserted, but at this time of night, in this small of a town, he was not surprised of that either. Not many people would want to come into a grocery store at this time of night, nearly the dead of it. So he read the next article of his magazine, seeing news on the mosque in New York. He was so engrossed that he did not notice the boy staring into the store through the window, nor did he see how he scanned the various items upon the shelves, already making plans.

The boy at the window was about 5'7, and of a lean build, sort of like a woodsman would be. His light blue eyes scanned the shelves and made a note of where everything was, at least that he could see from the window. He then turned his attention to the bored young man reading his magazine, and contemplated something.

Of course, Darren was not familiar with this boy, for he had his back to him and was engrossed with the reading of his story in the magazine. He chuckled at something funny, and then turned the age to some advertising catalog. He grumbled and turned the page again to see a extremely sexy vixen clad in some tight fitting lingerie. He made a sound of satisfaction and began to drape his eyes over the woman on the page, taking in the curved and feeling the power of...well...great power.

Darren glanced at the clock and saw that it was past eleven. He shook his head and wondered just when the hell midnight was coming. The store owner was adamant about closing times and faithfulness. She would check the cameras to see if he had indeed left when he was supposed to, and had not ditched the store early. In other words, the manager was a bitch.

He wasn't really thrilled about going home either. His parents were nice people, but they were so boring that he would rather sit here and read all night. But if he did that, then the woman who ran the store would come down on him like there was not tomorrow. When the time struck twelve midnight, it was time to pack it up and get out of the store. There were no ifs, and, or buts about it.

He glanced at the store clock after another long wait and swore. Still thirty minutes to go. Why couldn't time go any faster!

Would this guy hurry up and get his ass out of the store already?

-0-

I had been standing out here for about fifteen minutes, wondering just when the hell this guy was going to try and go home. I needed some supplies from this store and I really did not want to stand out here much longer. People would begin to wonder why a boy is standing outside in the cold without any winter gear. I don't really feel the cold, don't ask me why. But other people would, and that was something I wanted to avoid.

I began to pace around, my nerves on end. I listened for any coming footsteps, and prepared to duck behind something in the alley next the back of the store should I hear anything. The guy continued to flip through his magazine, and I was sure it had to be some weird smut mag. I wondered just what people read these days, as I really had not picked up any reading material for months. I knew how to read, taught by some nice people in a home I stayed in for a while, but out in the wilds, you really did not get much reading material.

I growled, an animalistic sound that came from deep in my chest, and I looked around to make sure I was alone...yep, I was still alone next to an almost closed store. And if this guy was not going to come out pretty soon, then I was just going to go in there and knock him flat. I didn't care about the cameras. I would be gone long before anyone could react.

I stood there for a while longer and glared, and then finally, just maybe, he was starting to leave. I slowly descended into the alley behind me, not taking my eyes off of him for a moment...

-0-

Darren finally decided to call it quits. The time for closing was still fifteen minutes, but he just decided to hell with it. He was tired, cold, and had a long day. Home would mean a hot meal and a warm bed, and he was not in the mood to mess with locking much up. He would simply turn on the security system and lock the main doors, leaving whatever happens to be recorded on the cameras.

He went around the store, turning off lights. It grew darker and more creepy with each light turned off, but he really did not care. If a ghost came up while he was this tired, he would have passed right through it without even seeing it.

He finally walked to the front entrance and pressed several buttons on the security system. He took a deep breathe of the cold night air before stepping out onto the sidewalk, wanting to get home before long. He had stepped no fewer than about ten steps before he heard movement in the darkness of the alley next to him.

He stopped at stared out into the vastness, but he could not see anything that would be derived as being of human form. He stared into it again before taking another step forward.

"Help me..."

He stopped at the voice. It was low and barely audible, but it clearly was coming from that alley. He heard a muffled shuffling sound and several small moans of what could be heard as pain. Thoughts ran through his head as to what to do.

Help Him?

Call somebody?

Is it a trick?

He heard more shuffling again, and the voice called out once more, slightly louder this time.

"Please help me..."

Darren couldn't just go off and run away when someone was calling for help, could he? The area around him was devoid of anyone who could help. He was alone, and someone was obviously in danger and badly hurt. He took a deep breathe and moved into the alley.

"Hello!" he called.

"Help me...over here..."

Darren looked over to see a shape of something human laying on the ground near a dumpster outside the store. Darren slowly walked over to the figure, which was mostly covered in shadow.

"Are you all right?"

"I think I need something?"

"What can I get you?"

"You can give me the keys to this store. I need food..." the boy said, and this time it was in a perfectly normal voice.

Darren reared up slightly at the sudden change in tone, but before he could say anything, the figure lashed out and socked him on the side of the head with a vicious blow, and he was thrown to the ground, his vision cloudy, and then he knew no more...

-0-

I grinned in triumph. My plan actually worked, and the guy had been dumb enough to fall for it! I could almost howl with laughter at how stupid some people could be, but that really was one for the ages. I reached into his pocket and dug out the keys. I gave them a little twirl in my hand as I reached down and patted the boy on the head.

"Thanks man, I owe you one. I hope you don't get screwed for this..."

I walked over and began to try out the various keys on the door. No one was around, and the guy I knocked out would take some time to return to the land of the living. I tried the first key and it was no good. Key number two went into the hole, and again it was no good. I treid a third and it once again would not work. I grumbled in annoyance and tried a forth key and open the door swung. I stepped in an observed the scene.

Jackpot!

I quickly opened my bag and began to collect the foods I was after. I first went to the produce department and scooped up some of the fruits and veggies that were on display. Then I made my way to the bread ailse and picked up several loafs. Then I made a point of collecting several water bottles to help in avoiding the necessity of melting snow or finding a stream or natural water source.

My bladder began to talk to me, and I quickly slipped into the bathroom. As I was reliving myself, feeling the blessed release of built-up fluids, I heard something outside. I focused my hearing to block out the flow into the toilet, and heard what sounded like people talking. A man's voice could be heard and a woman as well.

"Some alarm tripped. I don't see any sign of forced entry..."

I swore silently. Apparently, there was some silent alarm. Bloody Hell...

I could not stop peeing. My body was almost done, but the disturbance of the toilet water was loud enough to attract anyone who knew what to listen for. And apparently, they also saw the light coming from the bathroom, and I heard them run up and a man's voice called out harshly.

"All right, come out with you hands up!"

I finally stopped peeing. How could I have tripped an alarm? I went in through the front door, not bust a window or anything? Maybe they had one of those alarms that had to be activated and would be tripped if you came in without first deactivating it. Oh how could I have been so damn stupid? Wait a minute, I wasn't stupid! How was I to know that a low budget grocery store would have an advanced security system? But that was the least of my worries. It sounded like the cops were threatening to bust the door down and take me with my pants down, somewhat literally.

First thing I did was zip my fly...

"I say again, this is the police. If you do not open this door at the count of ten, we will bust it open and you will face possibly more serious charges. Open the door now, and we will be much less violent. I say again, on the count of ten. One...two...three" he began to count down.

Ten seconds? All the time in the world...

I took into account that the door opened swinging to the left, and that they would be in a exposed position from the their right if they just barged in. I considered the possibility that they would simply kick the door down and order me out, but then again, police were not known for their intelligence. So I was pretty sure they would rush in blindly, trying to apprehend a meager thief. Well, I may be a thief, but I am far from something meager. Two pigs would be drop in the bucket to me, provided I didn't get shot or taserd.

I took a position just to the left side of the door, so I would be on their right as they came in. I listened to them count down and when he got to ten, the door flew open due to the smashing kick the cop placed on it. His leg strength was not lacking, but his basic intelligence was, as he simply rushed in, and my hand connected to the back of his neck. His head was thrown back and he fell to his knees, and I kicked him in the back of his head, sending him to the tiled floor. I whirled to find the woman cop swinging a nightstick.

I ducked the blow, and smashed her nose with the flat of my palm, forcing her head up as well, and then I gave her a blow to her gut, and she went down. I picked up the nightstick and held it over her, knowing what had to be done. She looked up at me with her face oozing blood from her nose, and I gave a few twirls of the nightstick, getting used to it in preparation for a final blow.

"No, please don't-!" she pleaded

"Lady, I can't have you calling for back-up, now can I? Besides, I won't kill you. You'll wake up with a big-ass headache, but you won't be dead." with that, I brought the club down on her head, and she instantly was knocked out by the blow. She still breathed slowly however, so I knew that I had not accidentally hit her too hard. I gave a few more twists of the nightstick, and found I liked the feel. I might just hold onto it for a while.

"Please understand, I have nothing against you. Just going my way and surviving the best way I can..." I said to the unconscious police. Then I strapped my bag of stolen supplies tighter to my back and walked out, making a run for the exit, determined to get out of this town before any more attention could be directed on me. Apparently I was out of luck in that department.

A siren sounded from a few hundreds yards away, and it was closing fast. The cops might have been given several alarms from this place, and when they did not get a call from the downed officers, they must have sent some additional units. Oh hell again...looks like this was going to be some fancy chase after all.

I did not give them a chance to stop and pile out of their car, but took off down the alley, past the store workers body, and ran down the alley toward the connecting street. hopefully I could lose them in the maze of the city before making my way toward the woods at the opposite end of the town. I ran down the sidewalk of the street from which the alley opened up, and then crossed the empty street to the opposite side.

Why didn't I duck into the woods immediately...I'll never know. My only thought was to get free of any pursuers, and maybe by allowing themselves to get tangled up in town, they wouldn't follow me into the woods. So I continued to move through the streets, making sure that it was clear of any people before I made a move.

I was about to go through another alley when I heard the siren, and another cop car swerved onto this road. I didn't know if this one was the same or a another one, but I immediately bolted once more, attempting to lose it. I was at one end of the alley when another car pulled up to block that escape. I swore to all damnation at my really lousy luck since grabbing those damn keys from that worker.

"Hands in the air! Drop the weapon and put your hands in the air!" I heard a copper bark, and I do mean literally. It sounded like dog barking, and I couldn't help but chuckle.

"You sound like some dog barking dude! That's actually kind of funny!" I laughed again.

"I said put the weapon on the ground and put your freaking hands where I can see them!" the cop snarled again, and this time, it didn't sound as warm as it did last time. Though it wasn't warm the first time anyway.

I lifted my weapon, the nightstick slowly to the ground. But I would be damned if these bastards would be taking me without a fight. I slowly raised my hands, and the cops slowly approached me, guns raised, as if an unarmed man was a threat to about four coppers with guns. Well, they were cops...and so I was a huge threat...

When the first cop approached within striking distance, I lashed out and swept his gun away. He let out a startled cry and I gave him a chop to his neck, sending him into a choking fit. I was just about to give him another good flap when something hit me and an unbearable pain shot through my body. I felt my muscles instantly clench, and I let out a loud grunt of pain as I fell to the ground. The world around me slowly grew dark, and I blacked out completely...

-0-

Sheriff David Burrows walked down the hall of the cell block, his feet making echoes as he walked. His mind wondered just what to ask this strange boy that had taken down three of his officers in span of five minutes, and he couldn't come up with a straight plan. He growled in annoyance at himself.

Just stick to the book, he thought to himself. If nothing came to mind by the time he reached the boy's cell, he would just start with the basic questions. Nothing at all difficult about that, now was there?

He reached the cell of the boy, to find him sleeping on the cot of it. He had been given a medical examination by the department medic, and had been declared fit to be sent directly to the station, rather than the hospital. Three of his officers were in the hospital now though, and the sheriff wanted answers. Burrows raised his clip and began to examine the necessary information. It was very basic info, such as name and motivation, evidence for the judge to give his sentence.

He looked at the boy again. He was a slimmer muscled youth of an estimated 5'7. He had mid-neck sandy blond hair and seemed light blue eyes. He had slight acne on his forehead, probably due to the fact that he seemed to have not had a bath or bathed regularly. He noted all the physical description he could before he rapped upon the bars of the cell, in an attempt to awaken the sleeping boy.

"Wakey, wakey little sleepy-head. You have got some questions to answer boy. And we have got some news for you."

The boy stirred slightly, and then did not move again. Burrows growled and smacked the bars again.

"I said get up!"

The boy suddenly turned and smiled at him, as if he had just heard exactly what he wanted to hear.

"I hear ya' dude, I hear ya'. No need to get all grouchy."

"I have some questions for you. You will answer them straight and to the point. What is your name?"

"What's yours?"

"I asked you for your name boy!"

"And I will gladly tell you, oh kind sir, if you will tell me yours."

Burrows snarled, but relented.

"Sheriff David Burrows. Now what is your name?"

The boy grinned and looked nonchalant.

"Einar. Einar Geirodd."

The sheriff blinked in surprise.

"What kind of name is that?" he asked, breaking the tough sheriff mentality for a moment.

"What kind of a name is Burrows? What, do ya' crawl into a hole when your scared?" the boy shot back, a smile on his face. Burrows felt a pitch of anger, but maintained composure. Criminals, regardless of age, liked to get under your skin. He had to stay focused.

"Well, Mr. Geirodd, you are in a spot of trouble. We have three officers down due to your actions, plus you ran from police. Do you have any reasons for this?"

The boy shrugged.

"They were going to attack me. I only attacked them first."

Burrows did not respond, for he sensed it would be useless. He simply wrote on his clipboard and then turned back to the boy.

"Why were you in the grocery store?"

"I was hungry."

"Why didn't you just go in and buy some?"

"I don't exactly carry money on me."

"There are places for you to go if you are homeless you know."

"Whatever..."

Burrows had had enough. He had his information and then gave the news to the kid.

"You will be seeing a federal judge in two days. Have a fun time in there..."

"Swell..."

Burrows walked off, wondering just what the hell was in kids these days. Being able to take down three officers? Something was really amiss here...

-0-

Well, is this not the best thing in the world? A cop just had to go and taser me, and now I am stuck in this dump of a station, with none of my equipment, and being watched by these cameras 24/7!

I snarled audibly at the emotions of embarrassment running through me. This was bullshit, just plain bullshit! If I had been granted just one extra minute, then I knew I could have outrun those damn cops. But fate seemed to have been against me ever since I knocked that poor kid out. I wondered if he was okay and recovering, and I cursed the police I bashed all to hell.

Okay, time for an inventory check. I have on my person...absolutely nothing. There is a cot and a toilet here, and the bars are solid as a rock. In other words...there is now way out of this joint. I am just gonna have to find a way out when I get sent to wherever they send me, whatever the hell that will be.

I walked over and slammed my fists into the bars in pure frustration. The sound echoed through out the area, and a gruff voice shouted out from somewhere.

"Hey, would you keep it down! Some of us are trying to sleep here!"

"Bite me!" I shouted back.

"What'd you say to me? I'll bust you up little man!" the voice called again.

"And just how do you intend to do that when your locked up in these cells big shot!" I shouted.

The voice shut up after that. I paced my cell several times before collapsing on my cot, in a desperate attempt to get a little more sleep before anything else happened...

-Two Days Later-

I was ready to get out of this place. I'd have rather they stripped me of my gear and then thrown me back into the wild. I could have simply started over, but this should be listed under cruel and unusual punishment. The food was repulsive, the guards were assholes, and it was hot enough to feel like I was standing in the Sahara. I asked a guard to lower the temperature, and he only replied that it was a comfortable seventy degrees. comfortable my ass!

I paced in an unending circle, my energy being spent cooped up in something so small. I sometimes bashed against the bars to relive my anger, but this resulted in guards coming by and threatening to taser me once more if I did so. One actually got his out and pointed it at me, and I stopped doing that, since I could see the seriousness in his cold, brutal eyes.

And so there I was, waiting to be judged for what I saw as simple self-defense, and to be sent to some prison. Oh how life had smiled upon me with her big pearly white teeth that I just wanted to punch right out...

Finally several guards came by and told me to back away from my cell entrance. I slowly obeyed and they entered. I growled as they put me in hand-cuffs and then allowed them to walk me down several hallways to another building attached to the station. I was told to wait on a bench outside the room, and as I waited, several men in orange jumpsuits left the room. They sneered at me as they passed, but the guards holding them urged them on forcefully.

I was finally called in, and I saw that there were very few people in the courtroom. Only several groups in several rows of seats, probably being the family of the cops I busted up. I saw the judge and he made me smile, for he looked like a complete nerd that had been splashed with white pain. Extremely dorky glasses hung off his nose.

I was bade to stand before him, and I stood there, actually chuckling to myself as I did, because this guy really was very geeky. He looked at me with beady eyes, and when he spoke, he sounded...well, dorky as he looked.

"So, Mr. Einar Geirodd, you stand accused of attacking several police officers and thievery. Do you have anything to say before I pass sentence?"

"Yes I do actually...you might want to buy better glasses, as those make you look like you could get HD reception through them."

The man's eyes widened slightly and then he sighed.

"Very well. I have been approached by a certain individual who thinks he might have a better alternative than prison. He runs a delivery service that is reputed to be very disciplined. He suggested that he could make use of a strong young man for his business."

"Oh, I am flattered," I muttered sarcastically.

"I sentence you to his care, until such time that he feels you have repaid your debt to society," he then slammed the hammer down and the guards dragged me outside.

"We are going to release you to him out in the parking lot. Don't you dare make a move when we take these cuffs off," one of them hissed. I simply rolled my eyes and allowed them to take me outside, where a van with Delphi Strawberry Service painted upon it. A man sat in a wheelchair in front of it. Another one with what looked like closed eyes tattooed all over him was standing with his arms folded next to him. The cops dragged me in front of him and then undid the handcuffs. I rubbed my sore wrists and looked at the man in the wheelchair.

The "eyes tattoo" man did not bother me. I felt I could take him easily. But the man in the wheelchair actually sent a shock through my body, almost as if he could see right through me. He smiled, and I actually found that smile rather comforting, as though he gave a kind of fatherly aura. I looked back at the cops a little ways behind me, having stepped back but staying close.

"You need not do that. We can manage him from here, thank you," the man in the wheelchair said to the police. One of them fidgeted.

"He is kind of dangerous sir," one of them replied.

"Oh we can manage. My associate here is quite capable," the wheelchair man said, indicating the man with the eye tattoos.

The cops slowly left, keeping an eye on us until the last second. I kept my gaze staring right back, not breaking eye contact with them until they were within the facility. I slowly turned to regard the two in front of me. I could not help but allow a smile to cross my face.

"I'll give you two credit, you guys are pretty brave to just let me free."

"Why do you say that?" wheelchair man asked.

"I could knock you both out and be out of here in seconds. And I won't be making the mistake of letting those pigs back there catch me again."

The man in the wheelchair chuckled. Tattoo man actually grinned slightly as well and flexed his muscles, allowing them to ripple across his body. I was not the least bit intimidated. I had seen harsher looks then this.

"I'm afraid your skills, as commendable as they are, would not enable you to get away from us, at least not at this time. I promise that you will not come to harm with us, Einar. We are going to take you to a safe place."

"Safe?"

"Yes, safe. Please get in the van."

I eyed the van before slowly walking over and opening the door. Wheelchair man got in via lift in the back, and the tattoo guy entered the driver seat and started the van. In the back, wheelchair man smiled t me with those warm smiles again, and though I did not allow myself to show it, I felt another fatherly feeling in my gut.

"I think you might want to know that the judge was a little misinformed as to the nature of where we are taking you."

"What do you mean?" I asked, apprehension rising. The man seemed to detect my sudden scare...no, apprehension...and smiled again.

"You do not need to be afraid of us, Einar. We are taking you somewhere were you can be safe from the world, until you are ready for the challenges ahead of you."

I scoffed.

"I have been surviving on my own in the wild for about five years now. I think I can manage."

Wheelchair man nodded, as though he had heard this argument before.

"Einar, many have said those exact words. And many of them are now dead. Do not fall into hubris. It is the bane of heroes."

"I ain't no hero..."

"Yes you are...you just do not know it yet..."

I snorted and shook my head in disbelief. The wheelchair man stroked his brown beard in thought.

"I do not believe I have introduced myself."

"No, I do not believe you have."

"My name is Chiron."

I thought for a second, then shrugged.

"Well...nice to meet you I guess."

Chiron seemed surprised at my reaction. It was as if he was expecting a different response. He leaned in closer to me and talked in a low voice.

"You do not recognize the name?"

"Nope."

He leaned back and nodded slowly, as if this was something new to him. He was silent for the rest of the trip, until I noticed something.

"Hey, tattoo man! Could you get the air conditioner a little higher please! I'm sweating bullets back here!" Chiron looked at me in wonder.

"I am personally freezing my tail off. Are you sure you are not cold?"

"I never get cold. I don't know why man, but I never have felt cold at all truly...wait a minute, did you say 'tail'?"

Chiron grinned.

"You'll see soon enough."

I decided not to push it. The van drove out of the town and down the countryside highways. Soon it turned off onto some lesser traveled roads bordering large forests. The frost gave the trees a nice silvery touch, and I found that I still loved that personal touch. The icy frost was always a home to me, and I wished I could go outside and feel the loving cold air. But the van pulled up to some strange track of road, and then pulled over to the side of it. The tattoo man killed the engine, and then stepped out, opening the door for me.

"Thanks eyes," I said, and he seemed surprised by my sudden nickname. Chiron was soon let off of the ramp in the back, and eye guy then went back into the van, turned on the engine and proceeded to leave us there. I stared at him in shock, wodering just what the hell happened.

"Uh, is it just me, or did he just abandon us?"

"Oh, the place is just out of sight over here, come follow me," Chiron said, and he proceeded to roll himself up the hills. I decided to give the poor guy a hand and took the wheels, helping to push him. He smiled at me in thanks and directed us over the hill. When we came to the top of it, I stopped, looking in awe of the sight ahead of me.

It looked like a camp of some sorts had been set up within the valley below us. I couldn't make out any real details this far away, but it seemed like it was rather large, with multiple areas for what seemed like different sports or such things. I looked at Chiron, one eyebrow raised. He looked back at me and smiled.

"Einar Geirodd, welcome to Camp Half-Blood."

"Sure...thanks," I said. Camp Half-Blood? Just what kind of name for a camp was that?

Well, I hope you all have enjoyed this first chapter. Please review and I will work on the next as soon as I can.