Aaron sat on the roof of Cabin Seven, facing eastward as he tossed a small ball of light back and forth in his hands. It was only a few minutes to sunrise, and the eastern sky was painted with brilliant reds and pinks and oranges. He knew his brothers would all be awake soon. They all woke with the sun, as was habit with all of Apollo's children.

As the sun crept closer and closer to the horizon, Arron began to silently count down the seconds. The ball of light in his hands stilled as he watched the sun rise. Just as the first rays peeked over the horizon, Aaron put out the ball of light and stood up. It was always good to see the sun come up. Going back down into the cabin, he went around to see how many of his brothers were awake, and how many he needed to poke out of bed with the fletched end of an arrow.

Her mother stood in the only field of flowers in the Underworld next to her. Her step-father had made it for her mother once long ago. And now, it was her's also. But today. It was a special day. She could see it all. Real flowers. The sun. Everything that is alive in the mortal world. At Camp Half Blood! Her mother, in her heavenly form stood beside her. Kissing her on the head.

"Do you have everything Ivy?" She cooed. Brushing her daughter's jet black bangs away from her silver eyes. Iris nodded, smiling gently up at her mother. "Yes. Clothes, seeds, and three of your pearls. And money to call you on The goddess Iris' rainbow..." Taking out her blossom pony tail, she tied her hair back. showing off her eyes. The only thing she truly got from her true father. Ivy was more then excited. She got to see all that nature had to offer at the camp. And her mother told her it was time to meet kids, like her. Yes, Ivy had been worried. But, she promised to be brave. Her mother, waved her hand and opened a portal. "Goodbye, mother." She called. "I-I love you!" She yelled and jumped in. Taking a deep breath. Appearing in front of what seemed like a bunch of..little wooden houses. It seemed very dark. But then. She saw it. Oranges, pinks, and purples. Turning toward the brightness. That was her first sunrise. Her eyes lit up. It was so warm...she had missed such wonders down in the underworld. Letting the warmth bath her skin, she twirled.

Ivy didn't even notice the boy with the ball of light sitting nearby. From what she heard. Her mother had informed the heads and helpers of the camps of her arrival. And. She knew, her mother didn't play around when it came to her safety...

Once his brothers were all awake, to some degree, Aaron stepped outside of the cabin. The sun had barely risen any further, and the other cabins were all clearly still sleeping. That suited Aaron just fine, though. It meant that he and his brothers could get in a bit of shooting practice before breakfast. He glanced around out of habit, and his clear blue eyes settled on a girl wandering about amongst the cabins. He had never seen her before at camp, he knew that much. Pale skin and black hair weren't a common combination amongst the demigods. Then it occurred to him that she must be the new one that Chiron had told them about.

Stepping off of the small porch of the cabin, he walked over to the girl.

"Good morning," he said. "You must be the new girl."

Startled by the voice. She flinched a bit and then turned around. Facing a boy with the brightest blue eyes she had ever seen. It was a bit awkward for her. Since every other person she had seen before this was dead or awaiting judgment. So. Pretty much dead. Blinking, she didn't really know how to talk. Her social skills weren't the best after all. Opening her mouth, she closed it quickly and slowly began to nod. Who was Chirion? She wondered. Her mother had warned her of different demigods. One in particular that didn't really mix well. Such as. Apollo and Hades. Dark and light. Sun and Death. But look of his bright eyes. She guessed it was one of his many sons. Becoming very shy suddenly. She whispered. "I'll.. I'll find him myself. Thank you though." Turning, she looked at a few signs before running off. Many kids disliked Hades. And even if she wasn't Hades' real daughter. She was close. Since her mother had been dragged there. She had to learn to live with death. Life and death. Were quite well known to Ivy.

Finding a large building like structure. She walked in. There were centuars, and a few other kids in orange shirts there. But there was one man, in some kind of chair with wheels. Studying it, she wondered what it was used for. Then she noticed the man sitting in it staring at her. "Oh. Excuse me." She blushed a bit embarassed. "But..May I ask where I can find Chirion?" The man raised and eyebrow then seemed to understand. "You must be miss Ivy." Ivy's eyes sparkled a bit in pride. "Yes. Daughter of Persephone." She took pride in that. Nodding Chirion, according to him. Led her way to a dark cabin. It was painted black, and had the aura of what was once her home. "We will be making a cabin for you with the same feel of your home. But it will also be able to have flowers in it. Orders from you mother." He clared his throat and with a smile. Began to role out. "Now remember, just because you have contact with your mother. You are still no different from the children here." Ivy nodded. "Of course. Thank you Mr. Chirion." She whispered and he left. Unpacking her clothes, she took her seeds out. She would plant those when her cabin was ready.

Finally she was somewhat settled in. Sighing, she wished to be out in the sun more. Some rushing out of her cabin. She was faced with many many campers. Kids around her age. Some younger, some older. But they all seemed to be whispering about her. Feeling uncomfortable. She saw the beach from the distance. And decided to go towards it for a stroll along the warmth of the sun.

Aaron watched the girl stutter a little awkwardly and excuse herself before he got the chance to say anything else. How strange. Then again, it made a twisted sort of sense, if she had really had no contact with the outside world before now. He let her go, watching as she walked toward the Big House.

Later in the day found him out at the archery range with his brothers. The range was set up near where the fields gave way to the beach, where there was less of a chance of hitting a tree with an arrow and pissing off a dryad. His brothers were all lined up, waiting their turns to shoot. Aaron motioned for the first one to step forward, and the younger boy readied an arrow. Forming a ball of light in his hand, Aaron threw it into the air. The younger boy immediately shot the arrow at the ball of light. When the arrow connected, the ball exploded into a million tiny sparks before fizzling out.

"Very good, Jackson," Aaron said. "Back of the line now. Next up!"

Ivy held her black sandals in her hand. While she walked along the water. It was cold. But not cold enough to make her want to start shivering. Everything was so new and strange. Having her side bag with her. She collected these strange pretty little things along the sand. Her mother taught her some things. But others were still unknown to her. Some of the strange rock-like things were smooth. Others bumpy. And sometimes they had little creatures inside. Those, she put back, not wanting to disturb them anymore. Ivy glanced inside her bag. It was getting heavier and more filled with them. Thinking about how they were all sandy. She decided that when she got back to her cabin, she would wash them off. Hearing cheering and yelling. Her eyes averted to some boys shooting some kind of pointed object at a target. There were small balls of light. It made her curious. Then her eyes found a patch of flowers next to it. Her eyes lit up.

"Flowers..." she whispered. Running across the hot sand. She stopped in front of the patch. They were so vivid. Not like the one's in the underworld. And Isabelle could sense their feelings in an odd way. These were much more optimistic and bubbly flowers. The ones in the underworld never really got along with each other. Kneeling down in the grass, she touched a petal. Feelings of life going through her. Most of the buds were in bloom. And her mother taught her just a bit about her power.. Seeing a bud that had yet to open. She closed her palm, concentrated, and opened her palm slowly. The bud blooming into a beautiful rose. It amazed her how much more beautiful the world above her home was. Her powers were strong...she could defend herself. But powers like her mother had. Those, she had yet to learn. As the only daughter of Persephone. She needed to make her mother proud.
Out of the corner or her eyes, she noticed the rest of the boys. They were still shooting at the targets. Gently picking up a flower, she wondered. Did anyone here take care of them? Their were so many weeds. And her mother would have most of their heads if she heard about this.. "Maybe.." she whispered having a sudden idea. When her cabin was done, she would ask. Her eyes caught the one's of the boy from earlier. Feeling a bit shy, she smiled at him sheepishly. Then looked down back at the tulips.

Aaron worked with his brothers for a while longer, until he spotted the girl from before. She was kneeling in front of a patch of random wildflowers, not too far from the archery range. It was weird, how she kept showing up around where Aaron was all the time... Briefly, he wondered whose kid she was. Chiron only told the cabin leaders that there was a new girl arriving, someone relatively important, but he didn't give them any details.

Aaron smiled at the girl in return when she looked up and met his eyes. He didn't have time to watch her long, though. Turning back to his brothers, he had them all put away their bows and sit down. They needed to practice gathering sunshine like he could, none of them were near good enough at it yet. Maybe later, he would try to talk to that girl again. He at least wanted to get her name.

For awhile, she watched the oldest boy with the light in his hand. It was amazing. That a boy could hold something so precious in his hands. She must had stayed there for a good half hour. Then, she heard the horn. blinking, she noticed the boy and his brothers leaving toward the pavilion. Cocking her head, she shrugged. Most of the other kids were going that way too..Maybe it was important. Following them, she saw that they were getting food. Oh. It was lunch. Ivy did feel a bit hungry. Ivy looked around. It seemed the tables were marked with different symbols. The bright eyed boy and his brothers sat at the table with the sun. And in the corner. Was a new addition table. It had a rise on it. Smiling a bit, she made her way through the people. Then sat down. The nymphs offering her a glass. "Thank you." she smiled and they nodded. Asking for water, the glass magically filled. The food was good. Not as good as home. But it was fine. Seeing all the other kids. She felt. Lonely.

Taking slow bites. People kept staring at her. And when she was done, they all sat and watched wondering whose daughter she was. Standing, she threw her food into the fire. "For Persephone." she spoke. People were surprised. Persephone wasn't known to have children. But then again. She was standing there. For the most part. She was the only child. Turning, she kept her head held high. Most kids stayed away from death. Her mother informed her of that. so she promised her. That her feelings would not be hurt. Yes. She was different.

Aaron sat down at the table with his brothers. His was the only table without any girls at it. Every other table in the Big House had a fairly even ratio of boys to girls, but Apollo table didn't. Apollo was notorious for only siring male children, and it definitely showed.

"Phoebus, don't stuff mashed potatoes into Jake's ear," Aaron said as he saw one of his middle brothers about to do just that. A cabin of all boys was definitely rowdier than a table with girls present, but he didn't mind much. Getting up, he took the last of his dinner over to the fire.

"For Apollo," he said, dumping the food in. Taking his plate back to the table, he'd barely sat down when the new girl got up and made her offering. Everyone was waiting quietly to see who she would offer to. There was a sort of stunned silence after she declared her offering to Persephone.

That was new.

No. She didn't blame them. Ivy was a bit surprised Gods and Goddesses were so...how should she put this. Active. With other mortals. But Gods loved their children. Her mother just took her with her. She was the only demi-god to live with her real Goddess mother. Feeling uncomfortable. She ran back to the lake. The whispers still ringing in her ears more then anything. Was it a mistake to come here? Even here she was an outcast. No. She loved being the only daughter of Persephone. But it made things harder, kids were jealous she was so accepted by her mother. And then others were still grossed out about the fact she was raised in a land full of death. Sitting on the dry sand. She cupped handfuls of the golden specks. Letting them empty from her hands. It was still light out. The sky at it's highest point.. Funny. It hadn't been half a day at all. And she was ready to go home. On her neck lay a silver rose necklace. Her mortal father had given it to her mother. And now it was for her..It helped her through her darkest times.

Laying her head on her knees, she sighed. Strength. Her mother had it, so she needed it too. Standing, she looked around. Wondering what there was for a flower child to do. In the water, she could see fish. Her eyes lit up. They were so lucky. To be able to swim so freely and easily. Ivy had never swam before..the River Styx was forbidden to swim in. Still. It would be nice one day to try. Looking back at the pavilion. She just wanted someone to talk to. That would treat her like anyone else. Not the daughter of the Lost Goddess.

After lunch, Aaron let his brothers have some free time. The sun was high in the sky, and that meant that his brothers would never be able to focus on training, not until later in the afternoon. Settling his bow and quiver on his shoulders, he walked back down towards the range. He probably wasn't going to shoot, but he knew a quiet place to practice with his lyre for a little while until training started again.

He walked along the river, heading towards a quiet little bend. The naiads never minded when he went to practice with his lyre. He was good at what he did, after all. Inherited gifts and all that. He was surprised to see the Persephone girl from before already there.

A figure appeared in her line of vision. And it was the same boy that showed up everywhere. The Apollo boy. Deciding it would be best to move. She pushed herself off the sand and began to walk the other way.. Sun and Death. Ha.. That would be an odd pairing. As friends she meant. Though... Ivy glanced back at him. A sad look on her eyes. It would have been nice to have some kind of sunshine in her life. Don't get her wrong. The underworld was her home for many years. And she was probably the first demigod to ever live there. But still. The mortal in her loved life and the sun. And everything about it. But as she glanced at him, she saw his lyre. Her mother had told her of how Apollo loved his poetry and music. Not just the sun. And Ivy loved to sing. Problem was. She was always somewhat off the key. Alone, she did fine, but still always one note or key off. It annoyed her. He caught her eyes again. Making her blink and quickly glance down before quietly moving a loose strand of her black hair out of the way. Her hair had many streaks of silver in them. Her mother had told her her father had silver hair. So, she wanted to have part of him as well. So, she got it highlighted. They had stayed that way ever since though.

He seemed to smile at her. Which gave her the courage to flash him her own sweet smile. Even growing up in a world full of death. It didn't mean that she wasn't unhappy... Her mother had told her she was another reason why the underworld was so bright. Her mother had loathed the dreaded place for many many years. But her mother began to visit. And sometimes, Hades, her step father, would let Persephone out of the Underworld and into the sun again. So she could do her work on the flowers. Gardener's don't do all the work. Her mother decides if they are worthy of such beautiful plants. Natural wonders of the world.

"You don't have to leave," Aaron said. He settled himself down underneath the laurel tree that grew on the bank of the river. The laurel almost seemed to welcome him, brushing his shoulders with its leaves. It was the sacred tree of Apollo, and he was one of Apollo's sons. It made sense, somewhat. He absently waved it off. "Really, I don't mind if you stay. Plenty of room and everything."

Once he was comfortable, he picked up his lyre. Concentrating, he flicked his wrist and the lyre slowly turned into a guitar. He strummed it experimentally, checking the tune, and then began to play an easy, generic tune. After a few moments, he shifted fluidly into a more complicated song, though his fingers still danced across the strings easily.