Travis’s POV:

I had no idea my life would change when I was attacked by a Chihuahua.

First off, the day was starting out pretty normal. Me and my brother, Connor, were slouching by Thalia’s tree, taking a break from all the hard preparations for the upcoming war. Usually, we’d be going around camp, pick pocketing campers and trying to hotwire the camp’s SUV, like typical Hermes’ kids, but I didn’t really feel like doing anything that day, which was strange because mostly everyone has something they do in their spare time.
Connor was sitting beside me, poking me with a stick every 10 seconds. It was getting really annoying. I lost it when he poked me in the eye.

“Would you cut it out!?” I yelled.

“Sorry, dude,” he laughed, “I was just trying to get your attention.”

“And the best way to do that is to prod me with a stick?”

“Yeah.”

“You can be such a retard.”

“I may be a retard, but remember: you’re my brother!” I took the stick from him.

“Hey, give it back!” he yelled. I snapped it over his head.

“And that’s what you get!” I said. He grinned stupidly, and I just had to too. Peleus, the dragon that protected camp’s borders, lifted his head and growled, steam spurting out of his nostrils and from between his bared teeth.

“Whoa, boy, it’s okay,” Connor told him, in his most soothing voice, “Relax. We’re not killing each other.” He wasn’t growling at us though. I heard a series of yipping and yapping. Then, before I could register what was going on, I was face down on the ground with a Taco Bell Dog jumping up and down on my spine. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Connor hit the dirt laughing like crazy. Then, I heard a new voice:

“Heel, Buster!” it said, “get down!” the Chihuahua, a.k.a. Buster, got off of me. Someone knelt down beside me and turned me onto my back.

“Oh my goodness, I’m so sorry!” the person said, “I don’t know what’s gotten into him. Are you hurt?” I blinked a few times and looked up at the person through a messy mop of brown hair. It was a girl, about my age, maybe a year younger, with warm gray eyes and long, honey blonde hair pulled back into two, low ponytails. She wore a yellow sun dress under a brown leather cardigan, and big, round glasses. She stared down at me with concern.

“Huh?” I said.

“I asked ‘are you hurt.’” she told me.

“Oh, right,” I said, “no, um, I’m not.” She breathed a sigh of relief.

“I’m sorry about that.” She said, “I don’t know what’s gotten into my dog. He’s never done that before. ”

“It’s fine,” I said, sitting up. Connor stood.

“Uh, hi.” He said, dusting himself off, “I so totally did not fall over laughing.” The girl laughed a little. Then, she turned ghostly pale.

“Is that,” she began, “a dragon?” Buster began barking maniacally again, and Peleus growled at the Chihuahua. Connor and I shared a look.

“That thing, hanging from the tree,” She continued, “is that gold!?” She looked at us, stood, and backed up a little

“Who are you people!?” I could understand what Connor was asking me, although no words were spoken: Is she one of us? I nodded.

“Uh,” I said, turning back to the girl, “I’m sorry, I think we owe you an explanation. My name’s Travis Stoll, and that-” I motioned to Conner, “- is my brother.”

“Conner’s the name.” he said.

“Um,” she began, “I’m Mia. Mia Warren.”

****************************************************

We led Mia past the camp’s borders, after she tied her dog to a nearby telephone pole in hopes of someone picking him up. She stared in awe at everything; the strawberry fields, the climbing wall, the pegasai stables and everything else. We got to the Big House and went inside. Chiron and Mr. D were playing poker, and when we walked through the door, I thought that Mia was going to faint.

Chiron was in centaur form, and Mr. D was wearing his trademark outfit, except more outrageous and neon than usual. I kinda understood Mia on that one.

“Why, Travis, Conner,” Chiron began, “What a surprise!” He looked at Mia, and frowned slightly “Who may this be?”

“Her name’s Mia Warren.” I said, “We met her at Thalia’s pine. She's one of us.”

“I-I-I was j-j-just t-taking my d-d-dog f-for a w-walk.” She stuttered, eyeing Mr. D. He must have been scaring her out of her mind.  Mr. D scoffed and threw down his cards.

“Another pathetic half-blood.” He said, “And this one doesn’t even talk right!”

“Don’t pay any attention to Mr. D,” Chiron sighed, “he’s always like this.” Mia looked around at all of us.

“What is going on?” she asked us, “and who are all of you? Travis said I needed an explanation-”

“You’re a half-blood.” Mr. D cut her off. Mia looked puzzled.

“You mean half god?” she asked. That was fast.

“Well,” Chiron said, “That’s the general idea, but let me give you a more detailed clarification.” He went on to tell her the usual stuff he tells newcomers. Mia listened intently, nodding her head and keeping her concentration on his words.

“I knew it,” Mia said when Chiron finished, “I knew it all along.” It wasn’t hard to see the surprised look on the old centaur’s face, but he nodded.

“Yes, well, it’s nice to know you understand. Not many that come here take it as well.” He said, “Now, I must know your mortal parent’s name so I may contact-”

“No!”  Mia suddenly yelled. We all jumped at her sudden rise of tone. She flushed a deep shade of red.

“I-I’m sorry,” she said, “but I don’t really think it’s the best thing for my father to know where I am.” We sat there in silence. The sun was shining through one of the windows, casting a silhouette of Thalia’s Pine on the floor.

“Very well, then.” Chiron said, “I will give you a guided tour of the camp. Travis, Conner, when we come back, you will help her get situated into Cabin 11.” Connor and I nodded. Chiron, Mia, My brother and I exited the big house. As Chiron and Mia went in the other direction, I found myself staring after them. A million questions soared through my head about Mia. Who WAS she?

“Ohhh,” Conner interrupted my thoughts, “Travis has a crush!” I punched him in the shoulder. Older brothers are stupid.