I groaned. Why was Cabin 13 always so dark? I reached for the light switch which was conveniently near my bunk, and switched on the light.
Nico was glaring at me from his bunk on the other side of the room. He was already awake of course, and he sat on his bed, grumpily pulling on his boots. He, of course, could see in the dark.
"Turn off the light," He growled, like he did every morning.
"Some of us can't see in the dark," I said in reply like always, turning off the lights as he snapped his fingers and ignited the torches that filled the room with an eerie green glow.
"So much better," I muttered sarcastically. "Who doesn't like creepy tomb lighting in the morning?" I pulled on my jeans and hoodie, as Nico left for the practice field, ignoring me, like usual. I watched him go for a moment, then picked up my camera from it's hiding spot and left to take some early morning shots before Hazel woke up.

---

I sat down at breakfast with Hazel and Nico. Hazel smiled, fresh out of the shower and clean. Nico and I, though, were covered in sweat. Nico from practice, me from climbing to the top of Thalia's tree to take a breath-taking shot of the strawberry fields and the lake.
"I see you both practiced this morning," Hazel said with a mouthful of pancakes.
"Wes wasn't at practice with me," said Nico, not looking up from his plate.
"Oh?" Hazel smiled at me. "Then why are you covered in sweat, Wes?" she asked, her gold eyes bright with curiosity.
I shoveled food into my mouth to give me time to think up a good answer. Hazel and Nico both had their eyes on me, watching me quietly.
Neither of them knew of my photography "hobby" I guess you would call it. It was a secret I kept to myself for obvious reasons.
After all, who would expect a son of Hades to be a photographer, I'd be laughed at for sure.
I swallowed slowly. "I was pracitcing in secret," I lied. "In a clearing in the forest, where I can think clearly."
Nico and Hazel blinked, taken aback by my response. Hazel shrugged then continued eating, but Nico continued to stare at me.
A shiver ran down my spine. The guys could really manage to be creepy. "You don't yet have a weapon of your own, yet," he said quietly. "And none of the camp's weapons were taken this morning. What were you practicing with?"
Opps.
"Um, hand to hand combat?" I tried, my voice uncertain, as I shoved another bite of pancakes in my mouth.
Nico raised an eyebrow but said nothing and returned to his food.
I quickly finished my own and returned my plate to the nymphs before running off, narrowly missing a girl with a ferret on her shoulder.
I grabbed my camera from it's hiding spot under my bunk. There was always an new image to be captured in the forest.
I paused on the edge of the forest. I was near to sparring arena. I could see people sparring with dummies and each other. I could see my brother down there sparring with his friend, Jason.
I wondered if I could have that. Could I have friends? Could I actually spar with a human being instead of a magic practice dummy? I wasn't sure I would ever find out.
For a little while longer, I watched my brother fight, then turned sullenly into the forest.

---

For hours, I took pictures before I saw her. A blonde girl, running through the forest, her blonde curls cut just below her perfectly carved face. Her light blue eyes not noticing me.
She was beautiful beyond comparison. I nearly dropped my camera when I saw her. I didn't think I had ever even seen her before.
She ran past my clearing, her eyes swiveling about as if she didn't want to be followed. Unfortunately for her, I couldn't resist. I followed her.
She wandering into a hidden meadow I hadn't known had existed. Deep blue flowers sprouted all around her . I smiled, a daughter of Persephone then. She sat down in the middle of the meadow. Her blue eyes were mesmerizing--I couldn't resist taking a few shots as she stared at a locket.
I started to move slightly ff to the side, trying to get a good picture of her eyes. But there was a slight problem: I have absolutely not stealth at all. I stepped on a twig, snapping it, and alerting her to my presence.
She glared at me. "What are you doing here?" she demanded.
I turned red and held my camera up. "Taking pictures?"
She folded her arms across her chest, raising an eyebrow. "Shouldn't a son of Hades like yourself be on the practice field?"
I shrugged. "Should a daughter of Persephone be wandering alone in the forest?"
She cracked a smile. "Touche."
I held out my hand. "I'm Wes, by the way."
She didn't take it. "Zoey," she said briskly, already walking away.
I sighed and ran my hand awkwardly through my hair. "So much for making friend, Wes," I muttered to myself.
It was almost dinner time, so I started to make my way out of the forest, only to step on something shiny and metallic. I looked down. Zoey had dropped her locket.

Notes

Finally, I got this up....I'm way too lazy about things---Wes found Zoey's precious locket--what's going to happen now? Stay tuned to find out!

well, you know the drill,
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--Kim