Inexperienced

My spirits lifted as soon as I saw the archery field. I had, of course, seen it the day before when Aloisyus showed me around, but I'd forgotten about it because of, well, the thing with my mum.

Now, as we approached it, although it looked like Aloisyus was heading elsewhere, I pulled on his arm, getting his attention.

'Um, could I, you know, perhaps, shoot a couple of arrows?' He looked at me, slightly surprised.
'Well, yes, I suppose so. I'll ask Chiron for a bow.' Before I could ask why he had looked so surprised, he ran off to Chiron, who was standing on the other side of the field, observing the archers.

A quarter of an hour later, I was all set up. After determining which eye was my dominant eye, I had put on protective gear and chosen a bow.

'Plant your feet firmly on hip-width, push your heels inside and your toes outside. Do you feel the muscles in your legs?' I nodded, very aware of Aloisyus's eyes on me.

After I had nocked my arrow and pulled out my bowstring, Aloisyus righted my elbow and placed my hand on the right spot, just beneath my jaw, anchoring it in the hollow that I didn't know was there until now. I could feel his breath on my shoulder, giving me goose bumps.

His voice brought me back to reality. 'Close your non-dominant eye and focus on the middle of the target. Now slowly draw back your arm and relax your hand.' I did as he said, and the arrow flew straight towards the target, fixing itself in the blue part of the target.

'Wow.' Aloisyus said. I lowered the bow, looking at him. 'What, wow? I've done it before.' 'Well, it's just that children of Poseidon are usually not particularly good archers.' I shot another arrow. This one went into the red part. 'Maybe I'm an exeption.'I huffed. I hadn't meant to sound offended, but apparantly I did, because Aloisyus's eyebrows arched themselves into a frown.

'Anne, that wasn't meant offensive. I just meant that you're different, that's all.'

That was the final straw.

I gave him back the bow and the protective gear, and begun walking towards cabin No. 3. 'Anne, what-' Aloisyus called after me. 'I, um. I'll just go read a book.' I mumbled, and kept walking, as the realisation buried itself in my mind.

I was still different. I had always been different, but I thought I'd finally found my place, only I had a father who wasn't supposed to have demigod children, and I had some hobbies that didn't fit with the standard, uncluding reading and achery, which automaticaly made people (satyrs, whatever) look at me funny. Well, then, I would stop trying to fit in. I had always been, and would always remain different. Whether I liked it or not.

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