Derrick Raines

Looking through the window to the inside of the house where the prank that Tempest had laid was waiting for the two he had helped trick. Made Derrick feel a little bit guilty. He did not understand why his sister was this way but he really wanted her to like him and spend time with him. Trying to not think about it too much he looked back at his half sister with a mixture of excitement and pride. He couldn't believe that she had just called him 'little brother.' It made him feel all warm and fuzzy inside. "Thanks, Tempest," he said, unable to contain his smile. "I'd love to hang out with you. Maybe we could go explore the woods together or have a mini adventure. Or axe throw" Derrick couldn't wait to spend more time with his half-sister and bond with her in a way he had never imagined before. Starting to walk towards the cabin they called home, he waved her to follow him. Hoping whatever it was they did he was just happy to have her by his side! "What do you think?" his voice was one that was uncertain as he did not want to disappoint her and then her walk away.....that would be super sad.

Derrick couldn't help but smile at Octavia's infectious laughter, even as he playfully dragged his heels. He appreciated her enthusiasm for spending time together, even if it meant rushing to some craft activity. As they reached the arts and crafts area, he watched Octavia braid her hair, admiring how the sunlight caught the strands. He sighed, feeling a little uneasy about the girls from school. "I don't know, Octavia," Derrick replied, scratching his head sheepishly. "I think they... like me or something. Azrael said they might have crushes on me, but I just don't get it." His face scrunched up in confusion. "Why can't they just be friends like you and me? Besides, I don't want anyone else; you're my best friend too," he added with a sincere smile. Derrick knew he had something special with Octavia, a friendship that was more valuable than anything else.

Derrick, wide-eyed and a bit overwhelmed by the new surroundings, looked up at Leroy and Octavia with a grin as they approached. "Hey, Leroy!" he giggled as he was so happy to see his friend. "ummm I am not sure what you said Leroy but I'm good, thanks. Yeah, I'm planning to stay the whole time. This place looks amazing, doesn't it?" He gestured around the Hypnos cabin, still in awe of its tranquil atmosphere. This was so different than his own and he hadn't been in too many other cabins. Each seemed to be designed for the god or goddess children. Octavia's sudden jump onto him took him by surprise, but he chuckled and patted her head gently. "Hey there, Octavia! Yeah I met Leroy when he got to camp...he beat me in a race," he said, giggling some more as he began to spin around being silly. "Yeah, your sister's pretty cool and sometimes she beats me in skipping stones" he added with a playful grin. Putting his things down he then looked around with a shocked expression. Seeing another girl( rebecca) joined the group he waved to her. The rushed over to where she was as their was cookies!!! His favorite! "These look so good" he said to rebecca.

Derrick had told that his older sibling were going to some party and he was not allowed to go. Well he didn't want to be around a bunch of weird older people anyways. Azrael told him about this sleepover at the Hypnos cabin which he was happy to join in on. Of course he made sure Leroy his new friend was coming to as he didn't want to be surrounded by girls. Maybe they would try to hold him down and kiss him.....GROSSSSSSS. This thought made him shake his head with a disgusted look on his face as he walked to the cabin. It wasn't too far from his own but he was taking his own time. That was when he noticed Julia the girl he had a food fight with going on into the cabin. Holding his small bag and pillow he then rushed to the cabin as he had never been inside. His eyes got big as he looked around at all the things inside as this place seemed very peaceful. "Hey" he said as he noticed julia wasted no time is going for thing. Was Savannah going to stop her?

Derrick smiled at Leroy's enthusiasm for the beach and his interest in fishing. "Fishing gear? We have a place for that here at camp. You can borrow some equipment and try your hand at fishing in the lake. And don't worry about the Cajun food; we've got a pretty good mess hall here, and they make some tasty meals," Derrick replied, his earlier moment of contemplation fading as they chatted. Leroy's question snapped Derrick back to the present, and he nodded. "Yeah, I'm good, just lost in thought for a moment. But you're right, let's head to the bonfire. It's a camp tradition, and it's a lot of fun." Derrick walked alongside Leroy as they made their way to the gathering spot for the bonfire. Would his friend be claimed tonight? The end

Derrick couldn't help but chuckle at Leroy's excitement and enthusiasm for the beach. "That's the spirit, Leroy! Follow me, it's not too far from here," he called out as he led the way through the forest, the sound of the ocean growing louder with every step. Thinking back when he was worried about his life. It was his best friend Forest who was a Satyr that died protecting him. Turning into a flower as the monster was after Derrick! The pain of that still hurt him but he was going to get revenge one day!!!! Coming out to the beach was a quiet safe place where he skipped stones. To get his anger out as he just wanted to go back out there and kill that monster. As they finally reached the beach, Derrick watched as Leroy's face lit up with pure joy. "Isn't it amazing?" he exclaimed, sharing in Leroy's excitement. "The ocean is one of the best things about camp. You can swim, build sandcastles, and maybe even find some cool sea treasures." Derrick walked closer to the water's edge, feeling the cool breeze on his face and the soft sand beneath his feet. He couldn't have asked for a better day to make a new friend and explore the wonders of Camp Half-Blood. Looking over he saw a stone, smirking he picked it up and held it out for Leroy. "Try skipping it."

He grinned as Leroy bounced with excitement, holding up the snake for him to see. "Nice catch, Leroy! That was quick thinking," Derrick praised his new friend. "As for a name, how about 'Sly' for our little snake friend? Sounds fitting, right?" With Sly safely tucked away in Leroy's pocket, Derrick considered their next move. "Well, we're in the forest, and there are lots of cool places to explore around here," he explained. "But how about we head to the beach? It's not too far from here, and it's one of my favorite spots at camp. We can relax, enjoy the view, and maybe even find some cool seashells or skip stones. What do you think, Leroy?" Derrick was eager to continue their adventure and introduce Leroy to the different places of Camp Half-Blood, all while making a new friend along the way

Derrick's heart raced as he continued his act, weaving through the house as he ran back out the front door. He could feel the eyes of the other campers on him, their gasps as they followed him. He couldn't help but wonder if his sister was watching. Would Tempest be prod of him??? Would this mean that she would spend more time with him??? As he reached the area outside, he finally slowed down, taking a moment to catch his breath. But when they came to where he was outside he dropped to the ground as he rolled. The two campers that she wanted to mess with were with him which should give her good time to do what she needed to do. "Ohhhhh that was so scary" he said looking up at them with big eyes. Trying to get them to stay there as they checked him for damage. "I think...well I think I am okay but lets look just to make sure" playing the part until the very end. His eyes looking towards the big house to see if she would signal to him that she was done so he would then run away. That was when he saw his half sister, nodding he then got up. "Well don't worry about me you know" laughing nervously he then walked backwards. "I will just see myself to the apollo cabin....ohhhh no you don't need to walk me." But then before they could say anything else he ran away. The two campers shrugged and then walked back into the house muttering how weird that was. But circling around, Derrick found his way back to the side of the house.

Derrick couldn't help but grin wider as Julia's laughter filled the air. He wiped the mashed potatoes from his face and responded to her question between bites of food. "Sure, there are other ways, but there's something great about letting go like this, you know?" Derrick said as he grabbed a handful of spaghetti and flung it across the room, narrowly missing a counselor. "It's like all our worries disappear, and we're just kids having a blast at summer camp!" As the food fight raged on, Derrick enjoyed his emotions in the chaos. He ducked behind a table to avoid a volley of flying peas and then popped up with a handful of corn, sending it sailing towards a camper who had been a bit too daring. The camper's surprised yelp was followed by uproarious laughter from the entire room. Derrick couldn't remember the last time he had laughed this hard. He looked at Julia, mashed potatoes still clinging to his hair, and shouted, "You were right, Julia! This is the best way to have fun!"

Miro

Derrick watched with a mix of surprise and amusement as Leroy suddenly took off into the forest in pursuit of something he had spotted. "Leroy, wait up!" he called out, a chuckle escaping his lips as he followed after his new friend, his sneakers making soft thuds on the forest floor. It was moments like these that reminded Derrick of the unpredictable and adventurous nature of camp life. As he reached Leroy and saw him close to the log, Derrick knelt down to help. Using all his strength of his ten year old body he was able to move it just right when the snake came into view. "You were right, it's a snake!" Derrick exclaimed, a grin spreading across his face. "Camp Half-Blood is full of surprises, huh? Just like I said. You never know what you'll find here." Derrick marveled at the snake for a moment before turning to Leroy. "So, do you want to catch it or let it be?" He was curious to see how his new friend would react to this unexpected encounter with camp wildlife.

"Of course, Leroy, follow me," Derrick said, leading him toward a area with marshmallows, chocolate and gram crackers. "Grab whatever you like, and let's find a spot to sit." They settled down with their snacks, and Derrick spoke thoughtfully, "Finding out about your godly parent can be a bit of a journey, Leroy. It often begins with you going to the big house and then coming here." He paused, taking a bite of his chocolate bar. The taste of the yummy candy in his mouth was so good. It had been one year since he arrive at camp, it was when he found octavia that made him feel much happier to have someone to play! "Percy Jackson made the gods promise that they would claim their kids..meaning us...by the time we are thirteen" Derrick hoped his words offered Leroy some comfort amid the mysteries that surrounded him. It was a lot for kids their age to really think about.

Derrick grinned as Leroy called out for him, his thick Cajun accent adding a unique charm to his words. "Leroy, this is where the real fun begins," he replied with a chuckle, patting Leroy on the back as they settled by the fire. "I can't wait to see who your parent is.....well we singing and some might dance. Then maybe might tell of a story from a quest and some get claimed" Derrick watched in amazement at how easily Leroy connected with everyone. "We do this quite often, Leroy," Derrick answered as they swayed to the music and enjoyed some of the company. He was looking around to see if his older brother Azrael was there or not.

Derrick nodded, understanding that the idea of being claimed by a god or goddess might sound strange to someone like Leroy who was new to the camp. "Yeah, it's kinda like being chosen by your godly parent. And the bonfire tonight is a camp tradition. We gather around, tell stories, sing songs, and just have a good time. It's a great way to bond with your fellow campers and celebrate being here at Camp Half-Blood." As they approached the rock wall, Derrick couldn't help but chuckle at Leroy's reaction to the mention of lava. "Haha, don't worry, you get used to it," he reassured him with a grin. Derrick led Leroy to the impressive rock wall, where other campers were already climbing or cheering on their friends. "This is the rock wall! It's a blast. .....the lava makes it a bit more challenging" Derrick encouraged, excited to see how Leroy reaction to it all.

Derrick grinned at Leroy's questions and curiosity, finding his reactions both amusing and endearing. "Oh, 'unclaimed' just means that the godly parent hasn't officially claimed you yet. Each cabin here represents a different god or goddess, and when your parent claims you, you'll move to the cabin that matches their domain." Derrick explained as they walked. He turned backwards as he began to move his hands as if he was drawing a picture for the boy. Derrick was a very animated boy, especially the more he was at camp. "As for Cabin 11, the Hermes cabin, it's kinda like the cabin for the unclaimed or those whose parent isn't a major god. But hey, maybe you'll get claimed soon! Maybe tonight at the bonfire you will be chosen and then BAM you get to be with your half-siblings!" Leroy agreed to exploring more of the camp, Derrick's smile grew wider. He understood that the crowd at the cabins might be a bit overwhelming for someone not used to it. "Sure thing! There's a lot more to see around here than just cabins." Derrick led the way, excited to show Leroy around. "Alright, let's head to the rock wall first. It's a cool place to climb, but you gotta watch out for the Lava" As they walked, Derrick couldn't help but appreciate the opportunity to introduce Leroy to different parts of Camp Half-Blood. It felt good to make a new friend and show them the ropes, all while sharing the magic and adventure of their demigod world.