Chapter Text
Free seating was announced at campfire, and Zane didn’t get what that meant until Nyssa informed him that most of everything at this camp was segregated by parentage.
“That’s stupid” said Zane, “what if a god only has one child?”
Nyssa’s face saddened. “Then they usually sit alone,” she said, “Unless they’re one of the Big Three, of course.
“In my world, all of the gods besides Ixtab only have one child,” said Zane, “and she only has two because they’re twins.”
“Your world sounds interesting,” said Nyssa, amused.
“That’s not even half of it,” said Zane, “the god of wine is dead.”
“I think that’s a story for another day” said Nyssa, looking suddenly nervous as she patted his back, “I’m gonna go sit with a few of the other head councilors, feel free to do whatever you want.”
Zane nodded, then said “I think I’m gonna go and try to find Ren, make sure she hasn't broken her arm or something.”
Nyssa nodded, and the two children of fire gods went their separate ways. Zane found Ren sitting with a small group including Ren herself, Percy, Aru, Reyna, Will, and a few people he didn’t recognize.
“Hey Ren” said Zane, taking the unoccupied seat next to her.
“Oh, Zane!” said Ren, “When did you wake up?”
“About 30 minutes after Aru,” said Zane.
“Huh?” said Aru, “Did someone say my name?”
“It was nothing,” said Zane.
“If you say so,” said Aru, “Also, nice to you’re awake.
“Hey Zane,” said Percy.
“Hey Percy” said Zane. He nodded to the blonde haired girl sitting next to him, “Hi, I’m Zane” he told her.
“Annabeth,” she said, “Percy’s girlfriend and Daughter of Athena.”
“Nice to meet you” said Zane, “Also, I thought Athena was a maiden goddess?”
Annabeth smiled. “You’ve done your research,” she said.
“I used to read a lot of books about a lot of different mythologies before I found out I was godborn,” said Zane, “I didn’t have any friends, so that was the next best thing.”
“I thought Brook was your friend?” said Ren.
“No, she just kinda snuck into the school and then broke into my house” said Zane.
“Ah.”
“To answer your question Zane, just as Athena was born from Zeus’s mind, so her children are born in the same way” Annabeth answered.
“Cool” said Zane.
“So, any ideas for the capture the flag game?” the blonde asked.
Zane laughed. “Sorry, can’t tell you.”
Annabeth smirked. “Could tell you're smart enough not to fall for that” she said, “Unlike someone.” She was specifically looking at Percy as she did this.
“I was telling you fake plans and you know it,” said Percy fondly, kissing Annabeth on the forehead.
“Perhaps you are more intelligent than most people give you credit for,” said Reyna, slowly roasting a marshmallow over the fire.
“Hey, I led the Roman legion, same as you,” Percy pointed out.
Reyna smiled smally. “I’m just teasing Percy” she said, “Everyone here knows you're not actually an idiot.”
“Not them” said Percy, waving to Zane, Ren, and Aru.
“They’ll figure it out,” said Renya, shrugging.
“Uh, Reyna,” said Aru, pointing to the bonfire, “I think your marshmallow’s just a bit too crispy.”
Reyna turned to the fire, pulling away her now blacked marshmallow and sighing. “I think you're right,” she said.
“Oh! Let Zane roast your marshmallow!” said Ren, “He’s really good at it.”
“Here” said Zane, reaching his hand out. Reyna handed him a raw marshmallow on a stick.
Focusing on his godborn side, Zane surrounded the marshmallow in blue fire for a split second, almost too fast for the eye to see. What was left behind was a perfectly toasted, golden brown, slightly dripping, marshmallow.
“Fire powers” said Annabeth, placing a hand on her head, “Of course, you’re a child of Hurakan!”
Zane wordlessly handed the marshmallow to Reyna, getting a wordless nod in return for his silence.
“Okay, that’s it” came a shout. Carter’s voice. The boy came stomping from another section of the amphitheater and sat down forcefully next to Zane, “If I have to talk to one more Ares kid during this campfire, I will break something.”
“Here, Reyna, pass me another marshmallow stick,” said Zane, reaching out to the girl, “He needs one.”
Reyna wordlessly passed Zane another marshmallow stick, with the Aztec godborn quickly roasted before passing to Carter, the Egyptian magician giving him a quiet “Thank you” as he blew on it and took a bite.
“I heard Carter shouting” Sadie said, approaching the group, “What’d you do to ‘im? He never yells. He’s the calm one.”
“It wasn’t us” said Annabeth at the same time Percy said “Ares kids.”
“Ah” said Sadie, sitting down beside her brother, “I got lucky, the Hecate kids aren’t too bad, a little emo though if you ask me. Yo’, pass me a marshmallow.”
“Want me to toast it for you?” asked Zane.
“What are you, some sort of marshmallow-roasting god?” Sadie asked, hesitantly handing the stick to Zane, who shrugged.
“Apparently.” He, for the third time tonight, perfectly toasted the marshmallow before passing to Sadie.
“Damn” said the girl, the purple streaks in her hair flashing, “You’re good.”
“You could make a business out of that,” said Aru.
“I already have enough work between my father, Itzamna, and time traveling, I do not need a toasted marshmallow store on top of that” said Zane, sighing.
“Preach,” said Will.
“What’s the biggesting thing you’ve done as a demigod?” Aru asked the blonde suddenly.
“Went to Tartarus and made it out alive” said Will, leaning against Nico.
“Is that like the underworld?” asked Ren.
“Worse” said Percy darkly, “so, so much worse.”
Ren glanced at Zane, who nodded, then turned back to the fire. “I miss my dad,” she said.
“My mom,” said Zane.
“Mom,” said Aru.
“Thalia and Lady Artemis” Reyna agreed.
The group sat around the fire in mostly silence until the conch shell rang out again, signaling the end of the campfire.
“To the cabins!” Percy announced semi-excitedly, “Unless you wanna get eaten by the Harpies!”
Zane and Ren looked at each other, and out of sheer ridiculousness, started laughing.
-
“Thanks for letting me bunk here” said Astrid, settling on one of the bottom bunks in the Apollo cabin.
“No problem” said Kayla, “surprisingly, it’s been a while since we got a new sibling.”
“Kayla” Will chided, “Be nice, Dad’s been better this past year.”
“A lot better,” Jerry commented.
“Plus, I’m not your sibling,” said Astrid.
“Not yet,” said Austin gleefully.
“Mari would love you,” said Astrid, shaking her head.
“Which one of us?” asked Gracie, “And who’s Mari?”
“My little sister,” said Astrid, “And she would love all of you, sunshine children.”
“Excuse me, all of us-” Kayla waved her hand across the room, including Astrid by wrapping her arm around the cabin, “sunshine children.”
“She already loves me” Astrid giggled, removing*
(This is where I stopped writing)