Mictlan93

CLOSED

Gabriel Aeckard

Location: Roaming Campus Grounds
Interacting With: A snarky Wood Nymph

---

---

Gabe had to admit, adjusting to the college lifestyle was proving to be a bit of a pain. The process of getting back into the habit of taking classes, doing homework, eating in a cafeteria. Made him feel like he was back in high school. And the only things he looked forward to at the end of those days, was being able to go home. He would look forward to that these days, only to realize that he’d just end up seeing the kids from his classes in the town and in his apartment building. So it was like he never left school. Just the thought of that made him groan.

Well, he was a little thankful of his predicament. His one bedroom studio setup meant he wouldn’t be assigned a roommate. And with him being here in Utah, he could ensure the safety of his family. When it came to that, he felt it much easier to shoulder the burden. But, part of him wished he hadn’t left New York so hastily. Or rather, wished he had accumulated some funds before leaving. Living under the tutelage of wood nymphs, he didn’t have too much of a need for money. And even then he really only made enough to afford a one way bus ticket. But here, part of him felt he was missing out on something by being perpetually broke. It must’ve been the new environment he was taking in, all the kids and their carefree purchases. He couldn’t say for sure.

Most of this was being pondered on, as he lounged about the sill of one of his apartment’s wide windows. A potted sapling resided in his lap, doing much to soak in the morning sun. He would pass his fingers over her, and she would curl and sway to his movements. It was always calming to the boy, something to do as he absentmindedly mulled over the happenings of the academy.

The earthquake that took place last evening was indeed weird. And there were rumors of foul play being carried on the whispers of wind-blown canopies, something involving the headmistress or something like that. Interesting events, but nothing serious enough for Gabe to show any real care for. Seemed these past few weeks were full of that: Events that the Demeter-born son just couldn’t find the capacity to care about. But, there were some elements of this new environment that usually managed to get a rise out of him.

tink. tink. Like the individual currently tossing pebbles up to Gabe’s window, snapping him out of his thoughts. Practically pressed up against the glass, it didn’t take too much to look down to ground level, to see who it was. He moved from his perch with the slightest twinge of excitement, grabbing for his backpack and placing his beloved sapling within as carefully as he could. He was sure to the leave the pack open just enough for the sapling to receive slivers of sunlight and oxygen. The girl waiting downstairs was just the motivation he needed to exit his quiet apartment.

As he descended down to the lobby, and out the complex, the pebble-tossing female was quick to greet Gabriel. “You look like a less hairy, less funny, more uncomfortable Eric Andre.” She greeted with a smirk. It wasn't too evident on his face, but he found the comment comforting. He was chuckling internally, if anything.

Her name was Fraxinus Anomala, a spunky, petite wood nymph that made it a personal duty to make Gabe a proper, functioning member of society. The two shared similar fashion habits, though her elements seemed...happier? She wore brighter colors, a denim jacket over a bright yellow sundress, with boots to match. Replace the dress with a t-shirt and hole-filled jeans, and you'd have Gabriel’s current attire. Under the shroud of the academy's barrier, the peculiar green hues of Anomala’s skin and hair took on more typical human shades. Her skin became fair and tan, and her hair auburn and all over the place. Her shimmering verdant eyes usually remained unchanged.

“Mornin’, Mala.” He plainly replied, tussling and picking minute branches and leafy particles from the girl’s hair. Despite her adorably short stature and general disposition, the girl had a good decade or two over the boy. Even then, she was still considered young by tree standards. “Alright, dad.” She sharply shooed him. “Geez, hasn't anyone ever told you not to mess with a girl’s hair?” She replied.

“Nope.” Gabe replied with the smallest smirk humanly possible, already beginning off towards the campus. “Heh, I'm usually rescuing you from class around this time of the day. What's so special about today?” Mala asked, quickly catching up to him. “Changed my schedule. Dropped some classes.” He stated, the adjustment of the semester freeing up a day for him. The comment made the dryad pause. “Sooooo...why’re we going towards the school?” She queried, and with good reason. Gabe was usually one to avoid the academy campus as much as possible, doubly so on off days. But, it was a simple question, answered by the simple reaction of a growing stomach.

“I'm hungry.” Gabriel mentioned. He would cook, if he had the cash to afford ingredients. I mean, he could grow his own fruits and vegetables in no time flat, but meat didn't exactly grow on trees. “Eugh, human food.” Mala turned up her nose at the notion.

CLOSED

I have just the song for this turn of events!

Anyone a fan of We Are Scientists?

CLOSED

@Altered Tundra Merry Christmas! I need to find a pic of a skeleton wearing a Santa hat to properly display my appreciation for the holidays while waiting for this timeskip.

CLOSED

@karamonnom Well, it's what I was doing with Gabe, waiting til' after the timeskip.

Dragons of Caerel [accepting!]

Well, that was a quaint little break, but I think it's time to get this back up and running!

Dragons of Caerel [accepting!]

"Ah, there we go." Quincy muttered in confidence, standing to his feet. Working his way around Alejandra's ravenous mauling, he managed to slice a piece out for himself, this slab of fillet from just under the dorsal fin. "Ugh, lookit all this blubber..." He examined the large piece of meat. Quite fatty, but most of it could be carved off without too much sacrifice.

"Didja really have to go and pick out the fattest one, Allie?" It was understandable, at least. A growing Sea Drake could use all the food it could get, especially considering all the miles that would undoubtedly be traversed later on in the day. It was safe to assume this wouldn't even be the last serving of seafood she'd consume before their departure. Once she started digging into the organs, Quincy thought it best to head back to the camp site.

"You get your fill, girl. I'm gonna go throw this on the coals." He mentioned, leaving her to her breakfast before heading back up the hilly terrain. He was sure to pick off some long branches off passing trees on the way up, something to help him tend to his selection while it cooked. He had a brief thought of finding some eggs to compliment the meat, but quickly decided against it.

"Didn't see anyone bring a frying pan, so that's a no go..." Back at the camp, the scene had barely changed. Oberon and his Black Knight were active, and were eating along with the rest of them. Seemed like everyone was eager to get the day underway, which was understandable, as Quincy was eager to do the same. He placed the dolphin meat in the hot ash and coals before sitting back in the grass.

CLOSED

Gabe Aeckard, Son of Demeter

Gabriel E. Aeckard

”Demons run when a good man goes to war.” - Steven Moffat
"..." - Gabriel Aeckard

---

Personal Information

Name:
Gabriel Emile Aeckard

Nickname:
Gabe

Birth Date:
April 28

Age:
21

Gender:
Male

Sexuality:
Heterosexual.

---

---

In The Mirror

In Depth Appearance:
Gabe is a 6 foot 1 mutt, with Micronesian, African-American, and Native American genes all mixed into one body. Average muscle definition on a solid, athletic frame. Has dark brown eyes, and smooth black hair that he keeps up with, making sure it never falls past his shoulders. If it’s possible, he’ll have it cut as low as possible. Funnily enough, while he’ll keep constant tabs on his buzz cut, his facial hair usually goes entirely untouched, resulting in a scruffy black goatee and stubble. His body is lined with faded scars and cuts, lasting evidence of his previous life. The most prominent scarring is a series of slashes, three lines going across his chest: The result of his first run in with a Hellhound.

Clothing Style:
Gabe tends to wear clothes that disregard the concept of order. His t-shirts, jeans, and jackets are usually worn, torn, dingy, and generally distraught. He prefers dark colors over most (preferably black, shades of gray, and some blue), and hates to accessorize. His favorite shirt is a old gray graphic tee (sans sleeves, naturally), with a faded logo for the New York Rangers adorning its center. He’ll usually wear it with a pair of ratty, faded blue jeans, and some old black Converses.

---

Delving Deeper

Likes:

• Peace
• Quiet
• Tending to his sapling
• The Dryads of Central Park
• Long walks through forests or parks
• Being alone
• Listening to obscure music genres
• Cooking

Dislikes:

• Confrontations
• Threats
• Hellhounds
• Harpies
• Peer Pressure

Fears:

• Being ambushed by monsters
• Deaths of those close to him
• Never seeing his Mother in person

Habits:

• Not remembering names
• Daydreaming
• Sighing
• Groaning
• Saying any variation of “I don’t care” or “No.”

Personality:

♦ Quiet ♦ Quick Tempered ♦ Asocial ♦ Impersonal ♦

Gabriel would be considered the type to not always "play well with others". If the situation doesn't call for it, he'll try his hardest to keep to himself. He also houses a hair-triggered temper. Not too keen on smiling either. But he can scowl with the best of ‘em. If someone gets too disrespectful towards him, he wouldn't hesitate to throw the first punch. He is not the talkative type, and won't raise his voice past a quiet monotonic unless he's provoked emotionally. Despite all this, Gabe is capable of being friendly and even cooperative; he just needs to be around the right types.

Background:
Originating from the less-than-appealing projects of Queens, NY, Gabriel wasn’t exactly blessed with the best life. On a quiet night in April, a couple was admitted into a hospital in Queens, NY. At 10:20 pm, a beautiful baby boy was brought into the world. His mother blessed him with the first and last name of his father before he was placed in the nursery. Within the short time the parents were left alone, they seemingly vanished from the ER, the mother's name gone from the birth certificate. Fortunately, the hospital staff was able to find a next of kin. After a bit of notifying and paper signing, the fresh faced babe was turned over to the nearest relative: the father's mother.

Gabriel lived his young life filled with resentment towards his parents, learning of his father through his grandmother, but knowing nothing of his mother. His unguided anger became a core part of his attitude and mentality, and it kept him unfocused and careless towards school. His grandmother tried to put him on the right track, but her steady aging only feigned further ignorance from the boy. Despite his delinquencies, his strangely unhinged intelligence kept him from failing out of school. A third of a way into ninth grade, Gabriel's 15th birthday rolled around. Around 12 AM that quiet night, he had a strangely peculiar dream. He found himself wandering through a serene park, the scenario confusing yet immensely calming. A radiant being seemingly materialized beside him and embraced him, her touch felt warm and loving. Gabriel hugged back, and for once, he felt loved. It was one of the rare times where he smiled, and it didn't feel forced. He could barely make out her face, but the fragments he did see resembled someone from a very important part of his life. She spoke to him in a soft, affectionate voice, and said but a few words.

"Soon, you will see the world as I. It is up to you shape your destiny hereafter. You're a part of a much larger family now Gabriel. And a part of a much larger world..."

He awoke from the dream before he could question the occurrence, the sun outside his window barely risen. The words said to him in the dream replayed in his head. He was ready to shape his destiny. He didn't know how, exactly, but he decided that residing with his grandmother would get him nowhere (along with a thought that hung at a corner in his mind, a thought that assumed that his grandmother would be better off if she didn't have to worry about her delinquent grandson getting into trouble at school every other day). With his vigorous volition concreted in his psyche, he packed what he thought was necessary, gave his still sleeping guardian a quiet farewell, and departed from the smelly, dank apartment complex to watch the sun greet him as he began traversing out of Queens.

From there, he saw the world with new eyes. Faced beasts that could’ve jumped straight from the pages of fiction. He was protected and raised by a tribe of wood nymphs that lived right in the heart of Manhattan. He shared a close, maternal bond with one of the Dryads, one named Willow. He learned more about his heritage as he lived amongst them, and was better taught how to hone his godly abilities. In time, he became ever more appreciative towards the nature around him. He lived amongst the nymphs for six years, completing and graduating from high school in the process. These were people he were actually willing to be around, ones he would actually smile at. His time spent among the peaceful wood nymphs came at a price, however. Hellhounds, harpies, furies, and other horrors not only attacked him on his home turf, but at his school as well. He's watched many a dryad fall trying to protect him. He knew that the monsters were only coming for him, and the feeling of guilt ate at him. As any mother knew their child, Willow could see how he was hurting. She made mention of an academy in Utah made especially for the children of the gods.

“Utah…?” He wasn’t too accepting of such a trek, but as he saw it, it was the only choice he had. So, he gathered what little belongings he possessed, and made for the nearest west-bound Greyhound. Not before seeing Willow one last time, though. As they exchanged heartfelt farewells, she handed him a young potted sapling. “She’s yours to guide, to nurture, to protect. When the time comes, and a nymph is born from her roots, it will up to you to raise her. Watch over her, as I’ve watched over you.” She spoke warmly. He was sure to never forget her words as he traveled to his new destination.

Extra:
Hermes. Simple as that.

---

Godly Information

Godly Parent:
Demeter, Goddess of the Harvest and Agriculture.

Relationship With Godly Parent:
He hasn’t physically seen nor heard from her since he was born. Aside from seeing her in one dream (which, could be argued to be nothing), he’s yet to ever talk to her in person. She wasn’t there to raise him, help him on his way, or teach him right from wrong. It’s all he could’ve ever wanted from a mother, and she wasn’t there for any of it. So naturally, he resents her. He may never show it on the surface, but he still loves and misses her. He just wonders why he’s been ignored all these years. That being said, the thought of having half-brothers and sisters (ones younger than him, no less) ticks him off. Mostly due to the implied neglect on his mother’s behalf.

Godly Abilities:
Supernatural Agricultural
As an imprint left by his otherworldly mother, Gabriel possesses the ability to control and manipulate all forms of plant life. As long as said plants are his immediate space (and rooted in some form of soil or earth), they're at his disposal. He's quite versed with creating fruits, vegetables, and grains. The talents came to him on an almost subconscious level, most likely due to his mother's divinities.

Marcy
Call him crazy, but Gabe has a young potted sapling that he carries around in his backpack. She’s one of the few personal belongings in his possession that remind him of home. A baby tree bestowed upon him by his surrogate mother, Willow. He’d tend to her in a quiet, private moment, and is fairly protective of her. In a fight however, he’s quick to take control of the plant, forming whatever the situation calls for. Under his command, she’s been formed into shields, entangling tendrils, and even extra limbs. One day, when all the fighting’s done, he wishes plant her in a safe location, so she can grow naturally.

CLOSED

You made a mention on how he wasn't looking forward to having siblings. It should be interesting when he meets Delilah and Jay hehehe.

@Altered Tundra

Ohhh yeahh, it was an angle I explored back I first used him. I figured it was a natural approach for him, considering how neglected he feels about everything.

Soooo yeah, guess I just throw 'im into the characters tab, and hop right in?

CLOSED

Sorry about the wait, got hung up on other engagements.

Gabe Aeckard, Son of Demeter

Gabriel E. Aeckard

”Demons run when a good man goes to war.” - Steven Moffat
"..." - Gabriel Aeckard

---

Personal Information

Name:
Gabriel Emile Aeckard

Nickname:
Gabe

Birth Date:
April 28

Age:
21

Gender:
Male

Sexuality:
Heterosexual.

---

---

In The Mirror

In Depth Appearance:
Gabe is a 6 foot 1 mutt, with Micronesian, African-American, and Native American genes all mixed into one body. Average muscle definition on a solid, athletic frame. Has dark brown eyes, and smooth black hair that he keeps up with, making sure it never falls past his shoulders. If it’s possible, he’ll have it cut as low as possible. Funnily enough, while he’ll keep constant tabs on buzz cut, his facial hair usually goes untouched, resulting in a scruffy black goatee and stubble. His body is lined with faded scars and cuts, lasting evidence of his previous life. The most prominent scarring is a series of slashes, three lines going across his chest. The result of his first run in with a Hellhound.

Clothing Style:
Gabe tends to wear clothes that disregard the concept of order. His t-shirts, jeans, and jackets are usually worn, torn, dingy, and generally distraught. He prefers dark colors over most (preferably black, shades of gray, and some blue), and hates to accessorize. His favorite shirt is a old gray graphic tee (sans sleeves, naturally), with a faded logo for the New York Rangers adorning its center. He’ll usually wear it with a pair of ratty, faded blue jeans, and some old black Converses.

---

Delving Deeper

Likes:

• Peace
• Quiet
• Tending to his sapling
• The Dryads of Central Park
• Long walks through forests or parks
• Being alone
• Listening to obscure music genres
• Cooking

Dislikes:

• Confrontations
• Threats
• Hellhounds
• Harpies
• Peer Pressure

Fears:

• Being ambushed by monsters
• Deaths of those close to him
• Never seeing his Mother in person

Habits:

• Not remembering names
• Daydreaming
• Sighing
• Groaning
• Saying any variation of “I don’t care” or “No.”

Personality:

♦ Quiet ♦ Quick Tempered ♦ Asocial ♦ Impersonal ♦

Gabriel would be considered the type to not always "play well with others". If the situation doesn't call for it, he'll try his hardest to keep to himself. He also houses a hair-triggered temper. Not too keen on smiling either. But he can scowl with the best of ‘em. If someone gets too disrespectful towards him, he wouldn't hesitate to throw the first punch. He is not the talkative type, and won't raise his voice past a quiet monotonic unless he's provoked emotionally. Despite all this, Gabe is capable of being friendly and even cooperative; he just needs to be around the right types.

Background:
Originating from the less-than-appealing projects of Queens, NY, Gabriel wasn’t exactly blessed with the best life. On a quiet night in April, a couple was admitted into a hospital in Queens, NY. At 10:20 pm, a beautiful baby boy was brought into the world. His mother blessed him with the first and last name of his father before he was placed in the nursery. Within the short time the parents were left alone, they seemingly vanished from the ER, the mother's name gone from the birth certificate. Fortunately, the hospital staff was able to find a next of kin. After a bit of notifying and paper signing, the fresh faced babe was turned over to the nearest relative: the father's mother.

Gabriel lived his young life filled with resentment towards his parents, learning of his father through his grandmother, but knowing nothing of his mother. His unguided anger became a core part of his attitude and mentality, and it kept him unfocused and careless towards school. His grandmother tried to put him on the right track, but her steady aging only feigned further ignorance from the boy. Despite his delinquencies, his strangely unhinged intelligence kept him from failing out of school. A third of a way into ninth grade, Gabriel's 15th birthday rolled around. Around 12 AM that quiet night, he had a strangely peculiar dream. He found himself wandering through a serene park, the scenario confusing yet immensely calming. A radiant being seemingly materialized beside him and embraced him, her touch felt warm and loving. Gabriel hugged back, and for once, he felt loved. It was one of the rare times where he smiled, and it didn't feel forced. He could barely make out her face, but the fragments he did see resembled someone from a very important part of his life. She spoke to him in a soft, affectionate voice, and said but a few words.

"Soon, you will see the world as I. It is up to you shape your destiny hereafter. You're a part of a much larger family now Gabriel. And a part of a much larger world..."

He awoke from the dream before he could question the occurrence, the sun outside his window barely risen. The words said to him in the dream replayed in his head. He was ready to shape his destiny. He didn't know how, exactly, but he decided that residing with his grandmother would get him nowhere (along with a thought that hung at a corner in his mind, a thought that assumed that his grandmother would be better off if she didn't have to worry about her delinquent grandson getting into trouble at school every other day). With his vigorous volition concreted in his psyche, he packed what he thought was necessary, gave his still sleeping guardian a quiet farewell, and departed from the smelly, dank apartment complex to watch the sun greet him as he began traversing out of Queens.

From there, he saw the world with new eyes. Faced beasts that could’ve jumped straight from the pages of fiction. He was protected and raised by a tribe of wood nymphs that lived right in the heart of Manhattan. He shared a close, maternal bond with one of the Dryads, one named Willow. He learned more about his heritage as he lived amongst them, and was better taught how to hone his godly abilities. In time, he became ever more appreciative towards the nature around him. He lived amongst the nymphs for six years, completing and graduating from high school in the process. These were people he were actually willing to be around, ones he would actually smile at. His time spent among the peaceful wood nymphs came at a price, however. Hellhounds, harpies, furies, and other horrors not only attacked him on his home turf, but at his school as well. He's watched many a dryad fall trying to protect him. He knew that the monsters were only coming for him, and the feeling of guilt ate at him. As any mother knew their child, Willow could see how he was hurting. She made mention of an academy in Utah made especially for the children of the gods.

“Utah…?” He wasn’t too accepting of such a trek, but as he saw it, it was the only choice he had. So, he gathered what little belongings he possessed, and made for the nearest west-bound Greyhound. Not before seeing Willow one last time, though. As they exchanged heartfelt farewells, she handed him a young potted sapling. “She’s yours to guide, to nurture, to protect. When the time comes, and a nymph is born from her roots, it will up to you to raise her. Watch over her, as I’ve watched over you.” She spoke warmly. He was sure to never forget her words as he traveled to his new destination.

Extra:
Hermes. Simple as that.

---

Godly Information

Godly Parent:
Demeter, Goddess of the Harvest and Agriculture.

Relationship With Godly Parent:
He hasn’t physically seen nor heard from her since he was born. Aside from seeing her in one dream (which, could be argued to be nothing), he’s yet to ever talk to her in person. She wasn’t there to raise him, help him on his way, or teach him right from wrong. It’s all he could’ve ever wanted from a mother, and she wasn’t there for any of it. So naturally, he resents her. He may never show it on the surface, but he still loves and misses her. He just wonders why he’s been ignored all these years. That being said, the thought of having half-brothers and sisters (ones younger than him, no less) ticks him off. Mostly due to the implied neglect on his mother’s behalf.

Godly Abilities:
Supernatural Agricultural
As an imprint left by his otherworldly mother, Gabriel possesses the ability to control and manipulate all forms of plant life. As long as said plants are his immediate space (and rooted in some form of soil or earth), they're at his disposal. He's quite versed with creating fruits, vegetables, and grains. The talents came to him on an almost subconscious level, most likely due to his mother's divinities.

Marcy
Call him crazy, but Gabe has a young potted sapling that he carries around in his backpack. She’s one of the few personal belongings in his possession that remind him of home. A baby tree bestowed upon him by his surrogate mother, Willow. He’d tend to her in a quiet, private moment, and is fairly protective of her. In a fight however, he’s quick to take control of the plant, forming whatever the situation calls for. Under his command, she’s been formed into shields, entangling tendrils, and even extra limbs. One day, when all the fighting’s done, he wishes plant her in a safe location, so she can grow naturally.

CLOSED

@Altered Tundra Mandatory pic for the character sheet. Okay, I should be able to do that. (Honestly, I wouldn't mind providing a picture for posting if I can get one for the sheet.)

I'll leave Gabe's original, unaltered sheet here as well, to provide an idea of what i'll be working with. If any of the more vital details need to be changed, do not hesitate to let me know!

Gabriel Aeckard

Name: Gabriel "Gabe" Emile Aeckerd
Age: 21
Sex: Male

Appearance: Gabriel would consider his family tree to be somewhat complex. From what he's learned, he's about 50% Micronesian, 25% African-American, and 25% Native American. Because of this, Gabe possesses a fair reddish-tan/olive complexion, dark brown eyes and smooth black hair (of which he tends to keep in the form of a very low buzz cut). He stands at 6 feet 1 inch(es), sporting an average build on an athletic frame. Gabe tends to wear clothes that disregard the concept of order. His t-shirts, jeans, and jackets are usually worn, torn, dingy, and generally distraught. He prefers dark colors over most, and hates to accessorize.

Personality: Gabriel would be considered the type to not always "play well with others". If the situation doesn't call for it, he'll try his hardest to keep to himself. He also houses a hair-triggered temper. Not too keen on smiling either. If someone gets too disrespectful towards him, he wouldn't hesitate to throw the first punch. He is not the talkative type, and won't raise his voice past a quiet monotonic unless he's provoked emotionally. Despite all this, Gabe is capable of being friendly; he just needs to be around the right types.

Divine Parent: Demeter, the Goddess of the Harvest.

Demigod Abilities: As an imprint left by his otherworldly mother, Gabriel possesses the ability to control and manipulate all forms of plant life. As long as said plants are his immediate space, they're at his disposal. While he hasn't quite fully learned how to weaponize plants past the obvious vine whips and thorned clubs, he's quite versed with creating fruits, vegetables, and grains. They came to him on an almost subconscious level, most likely due to his mother's divinities.

Weapon(s) and Wargear: Gabriel's never been too versed on classes of weaponry, though he's remembered watching the dryads of Central Park use makeshift Bows, Arrows, and Daggers to fend off hostile creatures. He does, however, carry a young, potted sapling in his bookbag. As one might expect from a child of the Harvest, Gabe bends the sapling to his will, usually having it extend out of his bag to entrap or inflict damage upon his foes.

When no one's looking, he likes to tend to the sapling, keeping it healthy. Secretly, he hopes it'll be able to grow up into a full size tree, one day.

Enchanted Item(s): None.

Biography:

One could say that Gabriel's lived a hard life. On a quiet night in April, a couple was admitted into a hospital in Queens, NY. At 10:20 pm, a beautiful baby boy was brought into the world. His mother blessed him with the first and last name of his father before he was placed in the nursery. Within the short time the parents were left alone, they seemingly vanished from the ER, the mother's name gone from the birth certificate. Fortunately, the hospital staff was able to find a next of kin. After a bit of notifying and paper signing, the fresh faced babe was turned over to the nearest relative: the father's mother.

Gabriel lived his young life filled with resentment towards his parents, learning of his father through his grandmother, but knowing nothing of his mother. His unguided anger became a core part of his attitude and mentality, and it kept him unfocused and careless towards school. His grandmother tried to put him on the right track, but her steady aging only feigned further ignorance from the boy. Despite his delinquencies, his strangely unhinged intelligence kept him from failing out of school. A third of a way into ninth grade, Gabriel's 15th birthday rolled around. Around 12 AM that quiet night, he had a strangely peculiar dream. He found himself wondering through a serene park, the scenario confusing yet immensely calming. A radiant being seemingly materialized beside him and embraced him, her touch felt warm and loving. Gabriel hugged back, and for once, he felt loved. It was one of the rare times where he smiled, and it didn't feel forced. He could barely make out her face, but the fragments he did see resembled someone from a very important part of his life. She spoke to him in a soft, affectionate voice, a said but a few words.

"Soon, you will see the world as I. It is up to you shape your destiny hereafter. You're a part of a much larger family now Gabriel. And a part of a much larger world..."

He awoke from the dream before he could question the occurrence, the sun outside his window barely risen. The words said to him in the dream replayed in his head. He was ready to shape his destiny. He didn't know how, exactly, but he decided that residing with his grandmother would get him nowhere (along with a thought that hung at a corner in his mind, a thought that assumed that his grandmother would be better off if she didn't have to worry about her delinquent grandson getting into trouble at school every other day). With his vigorous volition concreted in his psyche, he packed what he thought was necessary, gave his still sleeping guardian a quiet farewell, and departed from the smelly, dank apartment complex to watch the sun greet him as he began traversing out of Queens.

It was said that later in the day his grandmother was greeted by two stocky, hairy men who looked fairly uncomfortable in the pants they wore. They asked for Gabriel, and his grandmother suggested for the two to try looking for him at his school, where she assumed he'd be.

By the time he realized he was hungry, the sun was a fair's way into the sky, and Gabriel was in Manhattan. As he took note of his surroundings, he immediately began to take notice of things that were very out of the ordinary. Strange beings and entities walked among regular humans, beings that normal looking humans didn't seem to notice. Was this some type of joke? Did Gabriel mistakenly wander onto a movie filming? He was in this area just yesterday; it wasn't like this then. In hopes to clear his mind (and to prevent a scene of freaking out), Gabriel ducked into the park across the street from where he stood; Central Park, it was called. Unaware to him, he was being trailed by a tall, lurching shadow...

Two steps into the park, a subtle buzzing sensation began to ring through Gabriel's head. The buzzing/tingling feeling became much more prominent as he stepped onto the grass, and closed the gap between him and the plentiful trees and brush that inhabited the giant park. The sound rose to a point that it began to play over the sounds of chirping birds and outside pedestrians and cars. He turned his head to and fro, wondering where the noise was originating from. Was he near a beehive? The noises in his ear were more hurtful than helpful, and annoyed him profusely. With a hasty sigh, Gabriel sat down against the nearest tree, one that housed a very wide trunk. Plopping his backpack down beside him, he rested his head in his hands. Too much stuff was happening for him at once, too much stuff that he couldn't completely comprehend.

Before he could put another question to every strange thing happening, a lingering shadow rushed up to him, blending in with the overcasting shade of the leaves that hung from that massive tree. In the split second used to pull his head up past his shoulders, Gabriel was ripped from his train of thought as a graying monstrosity leaped at him from the shadow, fangs and claws bare. Unaware and unprepared, Gabriel received full extent of the attack, a heavy swipe from the beast tossing him away from his sitting position. His shirt was reduced to shreds where the attacked landed, blood leaking from the series of long gashes that appeared at his chest. He staggered to his feet, one hand at his chest, the other tightened into a fist. The massive hound kept a steady glare on his prey, sauntering back and forth, looking for an opening. It pounced again with maw agape, its teeth aimed for Gabriel's jugular veins. The boy expected the attack this time, intercepting the hound's jaws with outstretched arms.

The force of the lunge, accompanied by the hound's sheer size and weight was more than enough to put Gabriel on his back. The hound was now standing over him, trying its best to shake out of Gabriel's grasp. With every vicious jolt from the hound, Gabriel felt his grip begin to slip, the fear within him beginning to strengthen. As the two wrestled, the tree overcasting them began producing long vines from its branches, those of which began slink down towards the hound. Gabriel's strength faltered soon after, the vines becoming his saving grace as they speedily engulfed the large dog before hoisting it back into the thick canopy. He gave it one last look before grabbing his bag and hastily fleeing deeper into the park.

Afternoon rolled around in Central Park. After ensuring he was as far away from that mutated canine as possible, Gabriel took a seat at a nearby bench to catch his breath. He looked down at himself. His chest, stomach, and (what remained of his) shirt was caked with drying blood, dirt, and grass stains. The only thing running through his head was more questions. How did that dog get so big? How did that tree save him? Why was this all happening to him? As his mind continually reeled with queries, there was a being perched high in a tree behind him. She looked on cautiously, yet displayed a look of annoyance.

She dropped down from her hiding spot, and strode towards the confused boy, tapping him on a dirty shoulder. Gabriel jumped in fright, and jumped again as he turned to get a glimpse of the girl's peculiar look. Her ears were unusually long and pointed, her skin was a flushed color of green, her shoulder-length dark green hair was filled with twigs and leaves, and she wore clothing weaved from leaves of various sizes. She began to rant on about there being a hellhound wrapped and strapped to her tree, and wanting the son of Demeter to take it down. The title bestowed him upon stuck out in his mind, the "son of Demeter".

"You...know my parents?" He asked the young lady. She shrugged, replying that only a son of the Goddess of Agriculture and the Harvest could manipulate her tree in such a way. Her words left Gabriel slightly speechless. He summoned the vines? He was the son of a goddess? The girl saw his look of confusion and smiled.

"You're new to this, aren't you?"

"New to what?"

"Being a Demigod. I mean, you have to be one! Only a demi would be able to see Dryads and Hellhounds, and have the abilities that reflect that of their parents." She replied, now joining him on the bench. He was still going over what she said. So he was a Demigod now? He sighed. More questions and more confusion.

"Can you tell me more about Demigods? About...my mom?"

"Yeah...just get the hellhound out of my tree first." The wood nymph replied with a smile before introducing herself with the name Willow. Gabriel didn't really smile back, but her friendliness did cause him to warm up to her.

6 years pass. While attending and eventually graduating High School, Gabriel lived among the Dryads of Central Park. With their help, he grasped a better understanding of his abilities, and became ever more appreciative towards the nature around him. The buzzing in his head turned into fairly audible whispers that traveled on the wind. His time spent among the peaceful wood nymphs came at a price, however. Hellhounds, harpies, furies, and other horrors not only attacked him on his home turf, but at his school as well. He's watched many a dryad fall trying to protect him. He knew that the monsters were only coming for him, and the feeling of guilt ate at him. The night of his 20th birthday, he drove himself out of Central Park, to keep their lives safe from his curse. He found a sound happiness living in that Park, and being away from them caused his emotions to go back to its quiet, hostile, state. From a broken boy, to a broken adult, Gabriel aimlessly roamed the city, unsure and fairly uncaring of where his life went next.

One day, through his travels of vagrancy, Gabriel found himself on the outskirts of Long Island, and smack-dab in the middle of a conflict between two opposing parties. It wasn't a disagreement over him, so to say, Gabriel just seemed to have knack of being in the wrong place at the wrong time. To the untrained eye, one might mistake the scuffle to be some sort of gang war. To Gabriel, the fight looked more like something you wouldn't see on an everyday basis. A small group of individuals (most of which, looked to be in their teens) were engaged in fierce combat between an even smaller (and steadily shrinking) group of gorgons. Some of the kids used weapons of mythical origin, weapons that shone a brilliant gold-like color, while others used the elements to gain the upper hand. And then there was Gabe, dumbstruck while trying to fully assess the situation, unaware of the monstrous snake-woman that slowly approached behind him.

Before the monster of Grecian legend could inflict any damage upon the boy, it was stuck down by a volley of arrows. As the battle died down, he found himself being approached by the kids, and they began bombarding him with questions while they murmured amongst themselves. Where'd he come from? Could he see the gorgons? Was he a demigod? The last question fully acquired Gabriel's attention, and answering his own questions. It was no doubt that these kids were the half-godspawns he may have been subconsciously searching for. And with that, he decided to answer all their questions.

"My name is Gabe. My mother is one of the gods. Demeter, is her name." He told them, quietly. One of the teens (one which seemed to be the eldest), stepped towards Gabriel, putting a hand on his shoulder.

"You should come with us, then. There's no safe haven outside of Camp Half-Blood for demis like us." The boy said, leading Gabriel and his group to the fabled camp. Gabe may not have known where he was being lead, but he figured he might as well go with the kids, and give himself a few nights of easy rest.

Notes: He doesn't like to admit it, but Gabriel has a natural talent for cooking. And according to previous acquaintances, he has a strange taste in music.