The Heroes of The Camps

I shook river water out of my messy hair and stared up at the weird girl with a streak of green in her hair. “I’m sorry, but you are...?”

She held out her hand. “Victoria.”

“Um. Hi?” I took her hand and she hauled me to my feet.

“So, where are you from? I haven’t seen you around here.” She gave me an odd look.

“I...don’t...remember, um; exactly.” I smiled sheepishly.

“Oh. Well then.” She waved her hands at the sprawling walls and gate in front of me.
“Welcome to Camp Jupiter.”

“Thank you?” I was lost at this point.

“What’s your name?” She asked, throwing her weight into the gates and pushing them open with a grunt.

“Echo Jackson.”

Victoria slipped and fell into the mud. I held out a hand, but a loud voice stopped me.

“Wait.” I looked up to see a regal figure walking towards me. A girl with dark hair and dark eyes surveyed me with a commanding air. She stepped forward, and held out a hand for Victoria, who took it and sprung up.

A shimmering light behind me caught my eye and I spun on one heel to stare up at a woman who had a stern look on her face and a staff topped with a lotus flower in her hand.

“Lady Juno.” The girl with the dark hair and the purple cloak thingie fell to her knee, as did Victoria and several onlookers behind them.

Juno smiled. “Romans, I present to you the daughter of Neptune! For months she has been slumbering, but now she is awake. Her fate is in your hands. The Feast of Fortune comes quickly, and Death must be unleashed if you are to stand any hope in the battle. Do not fail me!”

The girl in the purple cloak stepped forward. She examined me warily, and I couldn’t shake the feeling that she wanted to run me through with a dagger.

“So,” She said coldly, “a daughter of Neptune who comes to us with the blessing of Juno.”

“Look,” I said, “my memory’s a little fuzzy. Um, actually, it’s GONE. Do I know you?”

She hesitated. “I am Renya, praetor of the Twelfth Legion. And...no, I don’t know you. “

I could tell she was lying, but I didn’t want to argue and risk getting stabbed or something gorey like that.

She gestured to Victoria. “Bring Echo inside. I want to question her at the principia. Then send her to Octavian. We must consult the auguries before we decide what to do with her."

“What do you mean by THAT?” I narrowed my green eyes.

“We must find out if Juno has brought us a savior...or an enemy to kill.” Renya’s hand tightened on her dagger.

“Oh. Nothing serious then.”

Victoria grabbed my arm and started dragging me away to who knows where in the massive camp.

Notes