Aella Lorraine Stedford
Half-Blood Hill & The Obstacle Tower ~ Camp Half-Blood
It had been a long trip… and that was putting it lightly. For the better part of three days it had been the same routine- get up, tend to Alcippe, get her back into the float, pile back into the jeep, drive for hours, stop somewhere for lunch, exercise the horse, put her back into the float, drive some more, stop for the night… and then it all started again. But today- today had finally been different. The moment they had gotten into New York, she’d been sure to ask that they stop at the beginning of the highway that ran through to long island- yeah it was going to take longer, but after the both of them had been cooped up for approximately the last forty-three hours… it was well worth the change of pace.
Pulling back gently though firmly upon the reigns to slow the pace as she drew closer to the top of hill that she now knew to be the entrance to the Greek camp, she steered her mare off slightly to the side, her balance never once seeming to waver on its back as the creature reluctantly came to a stop before shaking out its beautiful mane, the action causing the demigoddess to lean forward over the saddle, her hand softly gliding up and down the animals neck a few times in thanks and appreciation for getting her as far as she had. Leaving her life in Camp Jupiter behind had been easier than she had thought it was going to be- sure it meant leaving all her friends and those she cared about behind in her wake, but she’d made Nolan a promise… and she intended on keeping it, even though it meant uprooting her life and shipping herself off to Camp Half-Blood. Sitting up tall once more in the saddle as she turned her head back to the camp, her attention falling to glance back and forth between the other demigods milling about at their own pace and leisure- this place was so different to what she was used to… where were the uniforms..? Where was the structure..? It was going to take her a while to get used to living here…
Frowning slightly as the roaring sound of cheers and hollers floated up to her from somewhere within the camp, she turned her head and allowed her attention to slowly glide over the area in front of her- the camp looked… deserted. Completely empty, but from the sound that she could hear in the distance, she knew for a fact that wasn’t the case. Something was going on; some kind of event that had everyone on the edge of their seats, though whatever it was, she wasn’t completely sure. Deciding it better to just go on a head and find out for herself, she pressed onward, clicking her tongue a couple of times as she lightly pressed her heels into the side of her horse to once more gain its attention, she lightly flicked the reigns, urging the creature forward and down the hill to where she could hear the thrum of cheers and geers coming from; her eyes flicking about her person so that she could take in as much as she possibly could before finally, they settled upon the distant image of a large tower spinning back and forth, and campers packing the area tight as they tried their best to get a glimpse of what was going on.
Well… that was new. Frowning heavily with both slight confusion and curiosity, she once more urged her mare to move forward, following the path that was lined out for her to follow before eventually, she once again came to a complete stop, though this time it was a few feet away from what she could only assume was some kind of obstacle tower, the familiar sound of grunting and shouting mixed with the sight of campers dropping to the ground at the foot of it helping her to relax and calm her nerves, even just a little.
Furrowing her brows together for a few moments as she looked out at the small arena from where she sat upon the saddle, she leant herself forward just slightly, her hands lowering down in front of her for a few moments as she watched the scene unfolding before her eyes; it seemed like whatever this event was; it was now over. While others made their way back down the tower and over to the bleachers, two of the demigods who had been competing were still standing upon the structure, seemingly happy to be sitting up there talking between the both of them- by the Gods, the Grecian's were a weird lot… did they not have anything better to do than just stand around socializing..? Patting the horse lightly and rather affectionately against its neck a couple of times, she once again clicking her tongue and gently nudging her heels into her horse's sides, doing her best to ignore the stares and gaping from the other campers she passed by as she closed the gap between her and the group that seemed to be collecting together on the bleachers, her back straight and her head held high within her pride as she slowed the creature to a stop in front of them, “Father give me strength…”
Waiting in complete and utter silence until she had the attention of at least the majority of the group, she once more lowered her hands and the reigns down to the saddle in front of her, her dark purple Camp Jupiter top giving clear indication as to where she was from as her both intense and attention demanding dark eyes moved over their figures before finally, they settled upon the eyes of the guy she believed herself capable of getting along with the most; the cowboy’s presence helping her to feel at ease as she felt a gentle tug on her heart strings which only seemed to remind her of her home back in Texas.
“I’m looking for someone called Elena Reese- my name is Aella Lorraine Stedford... daughter of Mars.”