Solis

Chapter III

Before running away from her house, Annabeth never really saw herself as a big sister to his stepbrothers; it's not that she has anything against them; she just feels like she wasn't even wanted to be one, it wasn't typical for a kid like her to think that. However, she gets the impression that her efforts have lost their significance now that her new family no longer wants to be with her.

Because they were aware that Annabeth wasn't a normal kid, perhaps her family truly wanted to get rid of her.

Annabeth made an effort to be positive, but enough is enough. She disapproves of the way her brain kept encouraging her to just run away since it might make her impulsive—but she still did.

It was freezing outside, and she was unprepared before she fled, so she has no idea where she ended up after running away. Annabeth contemplates everything and tears spring up in her large, grey eyes. She thought about going back home and giving her father a big hug, but her instincts told her that wasn't a good idea. 

She broke down and trembled as the chilly breeze uncomfortably embraced her body. Nothing would happen if she cried and cried, so she rubbed her eyes with the back of her hand and collected herself. Needless to say, she had to be tough because she had been fighting some monster by herself for three weeks—speaking of monsters.

She heard some footsteps moving in her direction.

The first thought that came to Annabeth was to escape and hide, but she remained quiet and still. As soon as she heard some weird noises, she immediately gripped the handle of the hammer she was holding with—the only item she had before fleeing and that she used in fighting—perhaps this is why Annabeth's stepmother dislikes her because she believes Annabeth is strange or crazy.

First to her bed was invaded by spiders, to now monsters that are prowling around, likely to eat her. 

She's not sure why, but she kept hearing in her head that she should attack, which made her body move on its own. So Annabeth was now standing with a hammer in her hand and her eyes fixed on the opposite side of the street, where the sounds coming from. 

Her eyes widened at the sight because it wasn't what she had expected. It wasn't any monster she had been battling for a few weeks; instead, it was an animal she had never seen before in personal and had no idea lived where she was at that precise moment.

It was a fox. A stunning huge red fox. 

It was staring directly at her and didn't appear to be in a menacing position. The fox is now approaching her carefully and she noticed a brown basket on its mouth as the fox halted in front of her and set the basket down.

Annabeth took a step backward, and was about to speak when they heard some rustles. 

“Wait!“ She yelled as the fox rushed off. Despite not knowing what to do or whether it is a trap of any sort—the blonde girl let his courages wins as she moves forward and peers inside. She held her breath and let out a gasp at the sight. 

A baby.

It's a baby. Inside the basket. Sleeping.

But as soon as she heard the rustling again, her expression of shock rapidly vanished, and she grabbed the basket and bolted away.

Annabeth never imagined that she would run away while carrying a basket with baby inside with her tiny arms.

🔆

“Is she awake? Is she awake? Awake? Awake—”

The sudden interruption of a particular red-haired boy inside of the Athena's cabin at five in the morning caused everyone to grumble as they argued over who had let the kid inside. Annabeth had woken up at the noise and saw Ron rousing the others and asking where she was, didn't surprised her anymore.

“Ron?“ Annabeth called.

She was used in the kid's morning routine, which included rising at the same time as the sun and sometimes running to their cabin to burge in to annoy them rather than doing it to his own half-siblings. This happen when something special was going on or that Ron was going through nightmares again and was uncomfortable sleeping with his brother Lee.

But today, Annabeth thought, it might be something special.

“Its my birthday! My birthday!“ Ron exclaimed.

“It was six in the morning! Six!“ One of Annabeth's half-sibling grumbled irritably, he was one of Ron's victim of getting woken up. 

“I'm turning Six! Six!“ Ron shrieked back happily. 

Again groaning, everyone told Annabeth to put Ron to bed or else they will set fire to the boy's cabin (only to scared Ron because who in their right minds would set a fire in a golden walled cabin), who took the words seriously and curled up next to Annabeth. 

Although they are unsure of the boy's exact birthday, they decided on March because that was the month Annabeth found him. She sighed in relief as she fixed her gaze on Ron's joyful face. If you entered the camp when you are younger than five, then you have to be ready when you turned five. Because five is a significant age since it marks the beginning of their preparation for combat and self-defense. to learn more about what they can do, their capabilities, their strengths, and their flaws.

It's a big opportunity for kids like Ron. 

"I heard Luke will send you in the ground if you duel swords with him when you turned six!" Ron quietly whispered trying not to disturb the others. 

“Where did you heard that?“ She asked in disbelief.

Ron is like Luke's little brother, hence Luke would never treat him that way. They spent a lot of time together, much like Annabeth and Ron did. The three of them always hangs out in the pine tree to also visits Thalia and Ron always put chocolate bars in the root before they leave. 

Annabeth exhaled as he watched Ron giggle at the question and snuggle comfortably on her bed; he went on yawning but kept blinking away his sleepiness, so she dragged the blanket from her side and placed it on the younger's body to keep him warm.

“Can you tell me the story again?“ Ron requested instead.

"I can't," Annabeth replied, not wanting to recall what had happened before; he only told Ron what had happened previously when the redhead saw their photo together—with Luke and Thalia—and that was enough.

"It's okeh," Ron yawned once again. "Thalia...she's really nice." 

"Yeah," Annabeth nodded tiredly, yawning herself. "We should get some sleep."

"Thalia...is like the sun..." 

"Hmm." She hummed, her eyes getting heavier by the second.

"...will rise soon..." Ron added before falling asleep; Annabeth didn't hear it but still nodded before succumbing to the darkness.

🔆

Instead of their own family outside, campers typically celebrated their birthdays with their half-siblings inside the camp. They could have simply scheduled the celebration with them for a later time. However, Ron doesn't need to worry about it because his family is the camp itself.

Because it is the first day of March, everyone who is close enought to know Ron wishes him a Happy Birthday! Some of Herme's campers pranked him with some plastic snakes, and he cried for two hours because of it, refusing to let go of his older brother—Lee's arms, and the fact that his brother—mostly all of their half-siblings—is also scared of it. 

Annabeth gave him a bracelet she tried to make for him a week prior, and Luke did not bother giving him the best embrace he deserves, as well pointing out he's growing. Telling him about how he remembers him when he was tiny and small.

"It's time," Luke stated as he knelt in front of Ron and presented a wooden sword.

"That's wood," Ron observed. 

Annabeth snorted, and the elder teen made a faked unbearable look at it. "It's my gift to you!" He exclaimed. "I make sure it's sharp and pointed.“

"But it's made of wood!" Ron stomped his feet 

"Yeah, and?"

"It's made of wood!"

Luke groaned and tossed the sword on the ground, finally accepting that Ron didn't appreciate his present, but he heard a giggle and looked at the redhead who seized the sword and swung it towards him. Luke immediately shifted backwards while raising both of his arms; Annabeth is unsure if he is defending himself or giving up again. 

 “Oh no, no. Don't—don't you dare.“ He yelped, dodging Ron's attack.

"I'm going to defeat you!" Ron screamed, but Luke was already running away, so Ron chased him away.

Later that day, Ron received a few special gifts from his half-siblings, including even more Greek literature about his dad, a new yellow thick blanket that is really comfy, and gloves. Stacey, one of his sisters, told him that it was for his hand when he tried archery.

He didn't hesitate to hug and kiss all of them on the cheek as a thank you, and some tickled and pinched him on the cheek in response.

"Ron, tomorrow is an important day for you. And as a head counselor, I am now permitting you to participate in outside activities, but please be cautious; no rushing around in the woods late in the afternoon."

“Okeh!“ Ron answered.

“No fighting with other kids!“ Lee heard some giggles from his behind.

“Okeh!“

“No climbing in the lava wall alone without us!“ 

“Okeeeh!“

“No staying up late at night; after dinner, you'll return with us right away to sing along!“

“Lee, no need to pressure him.“ Louisa, one of their half-siblings with brown braided hair, chimed up at their discussion.

“He'll manage.“ They agreed.

“Remember one time when Norman got lost and he ended up with a wrong cabin? Clarrise is so mad she almost ended his life—”

The boy with a messy gray hair who sats in the corner blushes in a sudden mention of his name. “Jullianna! Stop!“

Ron's half-siblings snickered at them, and Lee glared at them again, "Same as all of you!" He yelled, then quickly sighed and turned his attention to their youngest. "But the most important thing is that I want you, Ron, to realise how dangerous the world is for people like us."

"But, why?“ Ron asked, now jumping on his bed. "We're strong!“

“Not all strong people win, Ronald," he heard one of them say. "But they died as a hero."

"We're heroes," Lee stated emphatically. "We protect and fight." 

One of them smirked—he's the short black-haired boy that is two inches taller than Ron. "And now is your chance to do so." 

"Not cool.“ They booed.

Michael Yew, the tiny boy, but older than Ron, was giving them a nasty look. He pointed his arrow to them one by one, "After I washed all of your stupid remaining underwears—" 

“You lost in a godsdamn bet!“ 

“LANGUAGE!“