I didn't realize how much I had missed camp. Although I had only been away for a short while, it felt nice to be home. I was lost in these thoughts as I sat down across from Percy for breakfast.

"Anyone home?" Percy joked, knocking his knuckles gently against the top of my head.

"Huh, what?" I questioned, startled, as I looked up causing Percy to let out a laugh. I saw a certain blonde's gaze snap to me as his laughter reached her ears. I saw her lips form a small smile before she returned her attention to her meal. My eyebrows furrowed slightly in confusion but I just shrugged and started eating my waffle. "You seem out of it since you got back," Percy started.

"I just have a lot on my mind," I replied coolly.

"You sure it's not anything else?" He asked, worry creeping into his voice. Damn, I had been hoping he would have forgotten about our last conversation. I guess that's not something brothers forget, though.

"Yeah, I'm sure. It's just nice to be home," I said, giving him a reassuring smile. I was suddenly knocked off balance when an elbow hit me in the shoulder as someone sat down next to me. I looked up to see a splotched figure settling on the bench by my side.

"Uh, Peyton?"

"Yeah?" the tall boy responded.

"You're supposed to sit at your cabin's table," I informed him, to which he simply shrugged.

"Rules, shmules, those two get old after a few hours. Fun to spar with, not fun to have a conversation with," he reasoned, waving a hand dismissively to his half siblings. "Besides, you two are way more interesting."

"Don't say I didn't warn you," I sighed as he settled in further, lightly bumping his shoulder into my already-slightly-bruised one.

"Loosen up. Gods," Percy and Peyton said in unison, causing the three of us to laugh.

"That was creepy," I managed to say between giggles.

"Great minds think alike," Percy grinned.

"Aw, thank you! But I'm too dumb to be called a great mind," Peyton replied, causing us all to laugh again. My attention shifted once again when I saw a muzzle snatch the bacon off my plate.

"Hey!" I shouted, frowning at the dog- correction: wolf- that stole the strip of salty goodness off my plate.

"The Hunters are here!" Percy exclaimed excitedly, looking behind me. I turned away from the bacon thief to look over my shoulder at the group of girls clad in silver clothing.

"Thalia!" I heard Annabeth shout from the Athena table. I turned my gaze in front of me in time to see both her and Percy get up and take off running.

"You have no idea what's happening right now, do you?" Peyton whispered.

"Not a clue."

"Glad I'm not the only one."

A flash of black fur caught my eye once more as the bacon thief helped itself to Percy's now-unattended plate. "Do they just let wolves run around here?"

"Not usually, but I'm special," the wolf said, and I felt my heart try to jump out of my throat.

"What the fuck?" I shouted, jumping up.

"Oh sorry," the wolf laughed as its figure phased into a tall girl with tan skin and long black hair who was wearing the same clothes as the Hunters. "Ever, Hunter of Artemis and daughter of Hecate," she introduced herself, holding out her hand to shake, which I did.

"Damn," I heard Peyton mutter under his breath. I smacked the back of his head.

"She's a Hunter, you idiot," I scolded.

"So?" he questioned, rubbing where I had Gibbs-slapped him.

"No guys. Sorry, not sorry," she interjected in a fake sweet voice, shooting him a smile. He rolled his eyes with a groan.

"So unfair," he muttered.

"Anyway, I'm Mira. This idiot is Peyton," I brought the conversation back to the introduction.

"Nice to meet you. Guess it's nice to meet him too," she replied.

"You don't have to lie," I joked.

"Hey!" Peyton protested.

"Deal with it."

"Rude."

"You should join the Hunters. We'd get along great," Ever suggested with a smile. I felt arms wrap protectively around my waist and pick me up.

"No, no, she's good," Peyton said possessively, pulling me down into his lap, pressed against him so my back was to his chest.

"Hey! What the fuck, get off," I squirmed, pushing against his arms. "You're making the offer awfully tempting." He quickly released me from his grip and I moved to sit next to him again. "I've considered it, but I don't think it's my thing" I said to Ever.

"Your loss," she shrugged. "Anyway, thanks for the bacon! See you later!" She grinned, taking off to join the rest of the immortal girls who had started walking toward the Artemis cabin. I didn't have time to be mad about the bacon before Percy returned.

"Hey... Where did my blue pancakes go?" He asked, sitting down again.

"A wolf ate them," I answered honestly.

"Damn it." he pouted.

"They were basically demolished anyway, dude," Peyton said.

"But you don't just eat a man's blue pancakes! It's the principle!"

"You're ridiculous. Go spar your frustration out or something," I redirected him.

"Good idea, lil sis. Hey Annabeth, want to spar?" He yelled over his shoulder.

"Sure!" Came back her shouted answer.

"Meet you in the arena!" He answered, standing and heading back out of the pavilion. I watched as Annabeth stood and walked in our direction. She paused in her path when she was beside my table, opening her mouth like she had something to say. She hesitated, closing her mouth before opening it again.

"He hasn't laughed that much in a while. You're good for him," Annabeth told me before leaving.

"That was weird," Peyton said.

"You'll get used to it," I replied.

"Hey, what did Ever mean by 'see you later'?" He questioned, mind still occupied with the Hunter.

"Guess we'll find out."