Chapter Text
Of the six in the big house, Martin, Tim, Sasha, and Jon went wandering, while the other two, sorted into Hecate, went straight to their cabin.
There was obvious tension from Tim towards Jon, and a nervousness from Jon in general, trying to figure out how to get home. Sasha and Martin stood between the two to keep the conflict at bay as they walked around the camp.
Martin was amazed at what the camp had; from the grand arena that looked straight out of a movie, to the beautiful strawberry fields that were tended to by kids of Demeter and satyr folk. There was even a worrying rock climbing course involving lava, which Martin immediately knew Tim would love to try.
It all seemed a bit much for a kids’ camp, but Martin could tell that these weren’t the average teenager running around. They were almost magical, talking to plants and shooting arrows in the distance.
“Those must be Apollo kids,” Sasha mumbled, looking at the same people training. “Apollo is the god of archery, along with Artemis.”
Martin smiled at her. He knew she loved the history of most European cultures, and it was the one subject that the Archives didn’t use from her wide array of knowledge.
“Does that mean I have to do archery with them?” Martin laughed.
Sasha playfully rolled her eyes. “He has a domain over lots of hobbies. I bet you’ll find your niche among them.”
Jon squeezed Martin’s hand as the group arrived at a sort of dining pavilion. There were campers everywhere, playing card games and having a good time. There also seemed to be a small shop on the side where you could buy and exchange camp items.
“Perhaps we should get a T-shirt from there?” Jon mumbled close to Martin.
The taller man nodded, and his group sauntered over to the stand run by a wild-looking boy.
The boy seems occupied with another customer as they walk up. A girl with curls and a long black skirt that trails the dirt floor, and a frog sitting atop her shoulder.
“Welcome, I’ll be with you in a moment.” The young man mentioned as he bagged up what looked to be fireworks.
Tim seems to chuckle at the absurdity.
The kid looked over to the group and was startled.
“Well! I didn’t think we did parent visiting at the camp.” The boy joked.
“Oh! No, no, we’re new to the camp as campers. We just may not be your… average ones.” Martin explained, causing the boy to be confused.
“Wait so… Oh!” He checks a list under his makeshift counter. “Ah, you’re the specialty campers. Let me guess… Tim is the cool one, Sasha is the only girl, uhh.” He then points at the ginger man. “You look like a Martin. And then there’s… John.”
“You said it wrong,” Jon mumbled. “It’s Jon, not John.”
Everyone except Martin gave the smaller man a confused look. Martin had heard this happen before in the later years, with Jon and Elias bickering about the specifics. They’re both technically pronounced the same, but Jon can sense when a person intentionally says John instead of Jon because of his odd eye powers.
“Yes… Jon. Anyways, you all are on the list, so here are your respective shirts!” The kid checked the names off and grabbed the shirts. “It’s a first to be claimed this early. It usually takes a day or two, or maybe you all were pre-claimed.
“Oh! And I’m Connor Stoll, and Tim… We share a godly parent! This will be fun.”
Sasha chuckled. “Stoll? That’s a wonderful name for a Hermes kid.”
“I know, right?” Conner smiled. “My older brother hates it, but his girlfriend is worse. The last name, Gerdner, for a Demeter kid.”
As the group chuckled to a range of discomfort, Sasha cackled.
“Do the gods do that on purpose?” She asked as she settled down.
Connor shrugged as he handed the shirts out. “Their thought process is a mystery to me, friend.”
The group of four eventually left with their shirts and went to explore the rest of the camp. They decided to split up the group due to a conflict over where to head next.
“Not all of us want to risk our lives on the climbing wall, Tim.” Jon scowled at the man.
In response, Tim rolled his eyes. “Oh, just because you look like an old man doesn’t mean you need to act like one.”
“Excuse me?” Jon glared.
“You heard me,” Tim grimaced. “You are a crotchety old grump that is so paranoid that you won’t do anything fun.”
Sasha tugged Tim away from Jon. “Tim, what’s wrong with you?” She tried to ask, but was dismissed by the two men.
“That was before you died. I’m not some nutcase that you make me out to be. I saved the world and took risks you would never imagine.” Jon responded.
Tim gave a hollow laugh. “And you’re so sure about this? You said you died in the end, and neither of you can tell what happened to Martin.”
“Sam said he saw what happened afterwards, that most, if not all, monsters are gone.” Martin tried to add, but Tim snapped at him.
“So you trust the universe hopper? The one that says that you died in a biking accident and that Gerry was living with Gertrude?”
“More than you.” Jon snarled, excess eyes blinking open as he became angry.
Martin pulled Jon away from Tim. “Enough. Sasha, you can take Tim to the rock wall, and I’ll take Jon somewhere else.”
Tim gave a pissed look towards Martin as Sasha guided him away. Jon huffed and looked away, the extra eyes closing up as he calmed down.
Martin wraps his arm around Jon. “Do you want to go check out your cabin?”
Jon takes a moment to think before answering. “Sure, might as well check it out and find where I’m sleeping tonight.”
Martin smiled as they went to find the cabins.