How to Run From the Mess You Made

There Are Weirder Ways to Learn About Death

(I HOPE THIS IS GOOD, I APOLOGIZE IN ADVANCE IF NOT)

1117 words.

TW: Fluff, Dad jokes/Bad jokes, mentions of self-harm, and Death.

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Sade happily spoke with Sky as they pulled up to the Camp.

Sky sighed heavily as her palms started to get clammy. Sade realized how anxious the younger girl was and gently helped her out of the car, then hugged her. "Everything will be alright. if anything happens, call me. Magic works if you speak it into existence. you're strong, you just have to tap into it." The older girl smiled, and Sky smiled in return.

"Are you ready?"

"Yea, I guess so."

The two girls walked up the hill towards the Big House. A patrol stopped in their tracks to let them pass, gossiping as they felt Sade's malevolent energy as she walked past them.

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Sky was scared out of her mind talking to Chiron. just standing in the same room as a centaur is terrifying. no one talks about how freakishly tall they are. You already know how tall a horse is but put the upper half of a man on it. it is absolutely terrifying.

Sade is holding her hand for encouragement, reassuring her that it will be okay and making sure she knows that Chiron hasn't trampled too many campers. at least, none have died.

Chiron started to speak but was interrupted by Annabeth. she said, "So, what's your story?"

Sky turned to Sade, squeezing her hand as a way to tell her she was too scared to speak to the girl. she was standing intimidatingly, but Sade saw straight through her.

"Annabeth, stop trying to be intimidating." Sade sighed, " Well, as far as her godly parent goes, her dad is dead and she's good at convincing people." Annabeth raised an eyebrow at her demeanor change. "Can she not talk for herself? well, I guess that's not my business. What about her mom? Is she alive?"

Sade rolled her eyes at the older girl's attitude. "She can talk, she's just shy. And her mother is out of the picture, always has been. she's been living in orphanages, foster homes and summer camps. her father was killed by the Chimera that was slayed last week."

Annabeth's expression softened slightly as she heard that this new girl has been through quite a few hardships. then again, she was a demigod. "Where are you from? Did you travel far to get here?" She still kept her 'intimidating' demeanor up to try and scare away the girl and see if she would shy away from the question.

Sky finally regained her composure and fixed her posture. "I... I'm from Manhattan, New York."

Sade smiled and gave her a gentle pat on the back, encouraging her to keep up her strong and independent attitude.

Annabeth, still trying to overpower her with attitude, came back with a snarky response. "New York? Hm, not too far. alright, who is your godly parent? One of the Olympian gods, i hope."

Sade sighed and shot the older girl a glare, and Sky slumped back down to being insecure, due to her lack of information on the topic. "You know she hasn't been claimed yet, Annabeth. she literally just arrived at camp an hour ago."

"Hmm, I see. in time that should change." She snickered mockingly, "Who do you think it is?" Her voice lowered as she stepped closer to Sky, towering over her. Sade straightened her posture and stepped in front of the defenseless girl. she wanted to defend her, knowing that Annabeth might try to push her over due to how shy she was being. "Shes likely to be a child of Aphrodite. She was born with the curse of Beauty, after all. she also seems to have an easy time convincing people. the way she speaks leads me to believe she might be able to use charm speech."

Annabeth seemed to be thinking, she paused for a minute, then spoke up again. "Aphrodite... Aphrodite is quite the popular goddess here. though I am a daughter of Athena. now I wouldn't consider myself beautiful, but I do know that people flock to me for my wisdom. it's funny though, I haven't heard of this beauty curse. what exactly do you mean by it?" She continued to glare down at the new girl, occasionally looking at Sade to make sure she wasn't about to get hit.

Sade rolled her eyes, annoyed by the older girl's confidence and ignorance. "What I'm saying is that she was born naturally beautiful." Sky's eyes widened and she smiled slightly. still uncomfortable from the situation, but thankful for Sade's compliment.

Annabeth lightly chuckled, "I can see that. So, you have a pretty friend and think that she might be a child of Aphrodite? Not a bad accusation, but it will be proven in time."

Chiron began to speak, causing Sky to flinch and hide behind Sade even more. "She's likely to be. But we might or might not find out at the campfire tonight."

Annabeth agreed, "I suppose we will. How old are you, if you don't mind me asking." She asked Sky, watching as the younger girl fidgeted with her hands.
"I'm 12... my 13th birthday is tomorrow..."

"13 years old huh? Any plans to celebrate it?" Annabeth smirked; she could tell that she was getting under Sade's skin. She watched as Sky smiled, about to   answer her question but Sade cut her off. "Annabeth. Don't get her hopes up, you know we don't celebrate birthdays unless the person is special. You were just lucky that your boyfriend was the chosen one." Sade sighed heavily, giving the girl a glare.

Annabeth was taken aback by the girl's sudden attitude towards her. yet she continued to press on. "Is that so? I suppose there's no birthday cake to eat in the pavilion, then? No presents?"

"This is Camp Half-Blood, Annabeth. Don't even start with me." Sade was now visibly upset, that was until Sky pulled on her arm, pointing out the window to show her that the sun was starting to set.

Annabeth continued to pry, "I was simply asking. You seem quite wound up about this. is your birthday usually not celebrated?" Her words carried venom and strike Sade as they were supposed to. Chiron told Sade to go give Sky a tour of the camp, while he stayed behind to discuss things.

as they were leaving, they couldn't help but overhear the Centaur scolding the Demigod child on her behavior. "Annabeth, that wasn't very cool of you. I know she hasn't been claimed, but that doesn't mean she won't be in time. Shes new here, please give her some time to settle in instead of getting agitated with her."