Winnie Sullivan

The way Dahlia covered her mouth when she laughed was a quirk that Winnie immediately fell in love with. Her heart swelled with pride at making a friend like this: what was it people said? Quality over quantity? Winnie felt that this sentiment especially went for friends. She wouldn't trade Dahlia for any number of shallow friends. How much easier it is to feel understood with the right person than in a room full of strangers! "So the universe brought us together!" she grinned. Winnie took Dahlia's hand gladly, enjoying the gentle warmth of the other girl's palm against her own. It was the most eonderful feeling in the world to be welcomed into Dahlia's home, and assured of her place there too. "Our hands fit together just like our souls!" she observed dreamily before taking off into a run with her new friend in tow. She followed the beautiful green shape of the Demeter cabin in the distance, approaching it quickly and breathlessly. She stopped just short of the steps outside of it, giving Dahlia's hand a squeeze and looking her to her for confirmation. "Are you ready?"

16/09/2022 Dearest diary! Today it is sunny and blue; the clouds are scampering across the sky like plush white rabbits. The wind must be high up there, but as I sit in the strawberry fields the breeze is gentle. There's a party tonight, but I'm not going to go. I don't like loud noises or alcohol, or screaming to be heard over music. I wish I did sometimes -- I've been at CHB for a few years, but still it's hard not to feel isolated. No matter! I have my kindred spirit Dahlia, sweet Loukas, and all the satyrs to keep me company. Strawberries, too. They're looking plump and red as usual, thanks to the magic that runs through this soil. I feel it every day, in every bite. Sshhh don't tell anyone, but I sneak some of the ripest ones for myself and Dahlia! There is much going on at camp these days. I've been watching Henrietta Abbot and Liam Santos... they have a very strange relationship that even I can't get a perfect read on. I ought to look away and leave them be to sort it out amongst themselves, but they're just fascinating. So is Tempest Truett. I sense a part of her nobody else sees is about to surface. Everyone will be seeing her in a new light -- one more than most. A red-headed Phobos girl, Beatrix. I'll get to say 'I told you so' to Loukas! And I'm sure Sage will be interested in gossip like that... if she has a Tempest case file, it'll definitely require some updates in the next few months! Anyway, I must go... I found a perfect few berries that simply must be delivered to Dahlia as soon as possible! Darling diary, you should see the sky today! Sweetest sorrow in writing goodbye to you. Love, Winnie

Winnie wasn't surprised to see the mix of emotions that drifted over Loukas's face at her words. It was a serene, mild reaction to an observation that would have many campers angry or defensive; she loved that about Loukas. He was always kind, understanding and measured. Many demigods tended towards the reactionary, impulsive, indignant... Loukas was special like that. She really couldn't picture him getting angry. "That's brave of you to admit," she smiled encouragingly as he explained himself. "And such noble things to worry about -- that shows you're a good person. You're one step closer to getting out of your box." She gave his shoulder a gentle squeeze to show she was proud of his candidness. "Most people aren't as accepting as you, Lou," she said, nervously. "I'm not sure any of these people would take so kindly to me pointing out the stuff they hide from the world. From each other." Winnie shook her head, her usual dreamy smile returning to her face. "I'm happy just watching, you know me."

Enjoying the way the boy's eyes lit up as he spoke, Winnie stayed quite silent as she listened. He seemed very passionate about a variety of things: his home country, his siblings... there were few qualities Winnie admired more than passion and kindness. Miro seemed to have both in excess! When he suddenly turned into a copy of her, her gasp evolved quickly into an airy giggle; "Oh my goodness, how did you do that?" she exclaimed gleefully, peering at him from different angles. It was an incredible power; he had replicated her so perfectly. It was definitely strange to look yourself in the eyes like that! "Yes, I'm Apollo's girl," she replied, once she'd taken in his trick enough to find her words. "That's probably why I love it out here so much," she gestured to the surroundings by sweeping her arms wide. "Everything is so beautiful in the sun." She grinned at the compliment, unable to hide her joy at being complimented. "Coming from an Aphrodite child, that means a lot," she said, tucking a flower behind her ear. "You would be a beautiful model too, though I'm sure you don't need me to tell you that!" she laughed. Suddenly, an idea came to her. "Wait... Can I draw you? It would be an honour to try and capture you in this moment," she said excitedly, picking up her sketchbook from beside her and flipping to a new page.

Tempest was an especially interesting case. Winnie would have almost no read on her if she hadn't been keeping a vigilant eye out. There was a certain Phobos camper who seemed to do a number on that unshakable Queen Bee... "Usually scary people are hiding how scared they are," Winnie remarked in a hushed tone, her eyes trained on the older girl. "Tempest isn't as tough as she pretends to be. She finds it more comfortable to be hated than loved, that's the problem. Between you and me, I think we'll be seeing a new side to her soon..." Winnie shook her head quickly, grounding herself back in her body. "Sorry, I was slipping away for a minute there," she smiled dreamily. "And you," she turned to Loukas, feeling suddenly bold. "You're scared too. It's a more gentle fear than hers, but I can see it. It lives in your hands," her eyes flickered down to his slender fingers. They carried some strange sadness, an apprehension she couldn't quite place. Winnie gave her friend a sincere smile.

The knowing look Loukas gave his girlfriend wasn't lost on Winnie. There was definitely more to the late-night stable visit, and she couldn't help wondering what he wasn't telling her. A date, a first kiss? Either way, it was a sweet story and she was honoured to hear even the censored version! It sounded so romantic... she couldn't help but wonder if anything like that was in store for her sometime soon. It sometimes seemed like everyone at Camp was in love, and she was missing out on something beautiful. "Definitely a truth girl," Winnie agreed. "I'm an open book. Secrets are just barriers that fence you in," she looked wistfully around the group, her eyes landing on Henry. "See the way Henry's shoulders are hunched? She's sitting in her own invisible box. Secrets do that to people." It was a small wisdom Winnie had picked up from a lifetime of observing people.

Winnie smiled, watching Loukas seek comfort in Sage's eyes. They were very sweet together; when her friends were happy, she was happy. Hugging her knees to her chest, her big eyes scanned the other campers again. Wild and adventurous weren't really her strong suits... most other demigods enjoyed the thrill of spontaneity and battle. She, though, was definitely more of a bake-some-banana-bread-and-bird-watch kind of girl. "I'm not very daring," she admitted. "I once snuck out of my mum's house when I was 10... only because I wanted to feed the ducks at the park though," she grinned, remembering how much trouble she had got in for that escapade. That was about the start and end of her career as a rebel. "What about you? Aside from your earlier performance of course," she questioned with an airy giggle.

Winnie gave Loukas's girlfriend Sage a sincere grin before letting out a giggle at his joke. "The moon, yes! Your moon, not so much," she joked, trying to block out the image of him sprinting into the water. It was seared in her mind! "I've never played before," she added quietly, looking around at the chaos that unfolded. One of the boys was carrying Petal Price around! Was it a dare or a whim of his own? Who knows really... even observant Winnie couldn't keep track of all the flings and affairs around camp! "Everyone looks so happy, I just had to come over!" "You're all very complicated creatures, but you laugh like harp strings," she beamed, looking around. Most people were watching Petal and Gael, but some were, like her and Loukas, caught up in their own conversations.

Winnie wasn't used to participating in things. Usually, she hung around in the background, content just to watch from afar. At Camp Half-Blood, that was usually enough; there was always so much going on, she never got bored of simply observing it all! She'd been watching the distant game of Truth or Dare from her cabin window for some time, far enough away to have to guess most of what was going on. She saw a boy sprint off into the lake, naked -- I guess he picked dare! Another boy had put on quite a show, too. Winnie's curiosity got the better of her, and she slipped out of her cabin into the night. She picked her way carefully over to the group, avoiding pegasus droppings and trying not to draw too much attention. She really had no intention of playing, but it had looked so fascinating. Anything new she could learn about her fellow campers, Winnie was there. She slipped into a spare seat, tucking her hair behind her ears as though preparing to listen. She only recognised a few people by name -- Henry was a spitfire from the Athena cabin. It seemed like her game, as she sat more or less in the centre. Then there was Loukas, one of her friends! She gave him an enthusiastic wave. "Hi! The moon seems happy to see you!"

Winnie smiled, nodding a little ferociously in agreement. "Oh yes! The moon definitely likes you. She's beaming down on you very carefully." It was an odd observation, but very true. The sharper of Loukas's features were defined by the pale light it offered. He looked like a painting, while Winnie just looked distinctly sleepy. She was glad that their first meeting was at night, so that she might see him fully realised. During the day, she bounded and skipped around, her delight uncontained. That's how Loukas was at night, and she was honoured to see it. She guessed few people had. "I understand that. The day can be very overwhelming sometimes." Winnie could definitely sympathise with what he was saying; she had always been a bit sensitive. The bustle and noise of breakfast were difficult to cope with; in an attempt to avoid the worst of it, she often missed out on some of the best food. Generally, the Ares and Athena kids got to that stuff first. Which reminded her -- Loukas had a friend in the Athena cabin -- Sage! She had seen them out together quite often and wistfully wondered if they were in love. She hoped so, as they looked darling together. "I notice the little things first, then everything pieces together to make a whole. Usually, the smallest things are the most beautiful," Winnie replied, happy to put her worldview into words. Something told her that Loukas would understand, and maybe even relate. They seemed to be kindred spirits, unlikely as it was. "I'm out here searching for a new perspective," she answered. "And to observe the beauty in the night... I wanted to make friends with the stars, but it looks like I made friends with you instead!"

Winnie couldn't help but let out a little squeal of happiness as Dahlia agreed to sing with her! She was making a friend, and it was so easy! Remembering a movie she once watched, Winnie extended her pinky finger out to the dark-haired girl. "Okay, let's promise. I, Winnie Sullivan, pledge to always share souls with my new friend Dahlia," she recited. Her eyes were big and full of sincerity, eager to solidify this new bond with a gesture. "I hope your stardust rubs off on me! I'd like to sparkle like you," Winnie added happily. It sounded like Dahlia was as excited as Winnie, and that made her extremely glad. Especially because they seemed to have such similar life philosophies; "Oh, definitely! The universe puts us all on this earth for a reason. We're all enough just by being alive," she agreed wistfully. "That's why the sun always kisses the tops of our heads! We're very loved." It had always been important to her that everyone felt important. Often, that sentiment seemed to be a little unreciprocated, especially by kids her own age. But, with Dahlia, Winnie felt purposeful and calm, important and loved. What a beautiful day it was! "I'd love to see your cabin now," she said, a little shyly. "If you and your siblings will have me."

Looking around the room, Winnie tried to take inventory of all the campers and what injuries they seemed to have. Nothing too severe, so that seemed like a decent place to start. "I've never healed before... not on purpose anyway," she said softly, looking at her little sister with something like awe. She was so young, but so in touch with her powers already! Winnie found Becca inspiring in that way: she used her magic for good. "Maybe you could teach me the basics?" She walked over to a sleeping camper who had his arm in a sling. "Can you demonstrate your powers on him?" Winnie asked quietly, careful not to wake him. She was hoping to pick up some tips by watching an expert like Becca at work!

"We should sing together sometime," Winnie said. She felt a sudden rush of courage, feeling distinctly that Dahlia was somebody she could be vulnerable with. Being a daughter of Apollo, Winnie had a good singing voice -- it wasn't that she was trying to hide it. Singing just felt like such an intimate expression, something to be shared with only special people. She could tell Dahlia was special. "I adore French music," she added wistfully. "I'll teach you my favourite French songs if you teach me some J-POP? It's like swapping a little piece of our souls!" She stopped in a patch of sunlight, absorbing its precious warmth and power for a moment. Turning to her new friend, she tilted her head, taking her in. "You know how all humans are made of stardust? I can see your stardust. Most people lose theirs along the way." Dahlia's cabin sounded just perfect! Winnie loved the way her eyes lit up talking about it. Obviously, it was a beautiful, safe space. "I don't suppose... can I come over sometime? I've never had a sleepover before," She just couldn't help asking, even though it was a little forward. She was even too new to camp to know the rules! But whatever punishment there was for being in the wrong cabin, it would be worth it. Growing up so isolated had been tough, but things were looking up now! Maybe it was time to do everything she'd missed out on?

The boy's big, kind eyes and gentle demeanour put Winne immediately at ease. Often, she was brushed off as strange when she verbalised her thoughts like that. But this boy just seemed amused -- not in a cruel way. Just interested in a new perspective. "I'm beginning to see that," she grinned, looking around for a moment. "If the night has magic, it seems willing to share," she observed, her voice dreamy and distant; he seemed to have come alive in the moonlight, bright-eyed and flushed from the cold air. Up close, she recognised him as Loukas Makris. He was the boy that always seemed languid in the sunshine, and barely ever rose before noon! He had a boyish look about him, with a sweet smile that leaned toward the shy. A child of Hecate -- practically the opposite of Winnie's father Apollo. "You've got moon eyes, Loukas," Winnie said matter-of-factly. "Do you get those from looking at her so often?" She asked, curiously turning her head to gaze up towards the sky. The camp had little light pollution, making the stars not only visible but bright. Even out of her element, she was taken away by the beauty of it all. She eclipsed the light of the moon with a raised hand, picturing it winking down at her. "It's so late... is this why I never see you at breakfast?" It may have seemed an odd question, but she was notoriously observant, as only someone on the outskirts of things really could be. She noticed when people weren't there.

Winnie Sullivan, daughter of the sun god, was giving night-time a whirl. It wasn't that she felt she had exhausted the beauty of daylight -- as far as she was concerned, that was impossible. More so that she wanted a fresh perspective. Dreamy as ever, she observed that the full moon looked like a big, glassy eye, ready to release a big teardrop onto the world. Everything was still, hushed, and dark. Cicadas chirped into the night and tree branches whispered among themselves. The silhouettes of the pines looked strange and surreal in the half-light. Winnie wasn't scared, but she felt distinctly sluggish without the sun shining down on her. And how odd it was to see the usually bustling camp so humble and quiet! Staring up at the sky, Winnie didn't see the person quickly approaching. She was too caught up in daydreams to even hear the crushing gravel and heavy breath of a boy on a midnight run. Stepping out into his path, Winnie collided with him. Stumbling back, she let out a gasp. "Oh my! I'm so sorry," Winnie exclaimed breathily. It was cold enough to see her own breath, her words becoming shapes in the air... but no! She couldn't afford to get distracted by that! "My fault, I wasn't looking where I was going. I was just waiting for the moon to blink" she explained, holding out a delicate hand in case the boy needed help. @ Loukas Makris

Winnie had never explored her potential as a healer. As a kid, she'd been vaguely aware that she was quick to recover from injuries and sickness. Her mum had always attributed it to an excellent immune system. She was still wrapping her head around the fact that it had been a demigod ability the whole time! Keen to explore this power a bit more, Winnie made her way to the first aid area. Because it was the off-season at camp, there weren't too many people that needed treatment... mostly just training accidents are one or two fights. CHB was always full of drama, no doubt some punches had been thrown over a girl or something! Winnie's eyes sparkled when she saw her little sister. Rebecca may have been younger, but she was a very talented healer. "Becca! How lucky to see you," Winnie's voice was dreamy and soft as usual. "I was hoping you'd be here. I'm trying to get the knack of healing. Any chance your wisdom is for sale?" She held a single golden drachmae out in her palm. It wasn't much, but they were handy to keep around for contacting family and friends. Winnie knew that Becca was close with her mortal adopted brothers, so she figured the deal she was offering was a good one!

"Miroslaw," Winnie echoed curiously. "That's very pretty. Sounds like a Slavic name?" she offered, wondering where this strange boy might've come from. She'd never been outside of America before, but longed to see the world. She wondered if Miro had any cool stories. "I'm Winnie!" Technically she was Winnifred, but nobody ever called her that. She picked a daisy from the grass beside them and twirled it between her fingers. "You're a child of Aphrodite, right? What's that like?" she asked, curiously. She always asked a lot of questions; people were fascinating, especially new ones. She didn't usually talk to campers outside of her own cabin, so she always wanted to know their experiences. Preparing to listen to him talk, she closed her sketchbook and slotted her pencil behind her ear. The forest was still and beautiful, like it was waiting for something. A slight breeze rustled the trees above their heads. What a perfect place to make a friend, Winnie thought happily.

Winnie's laughter rose to the canopy of trees above like bubbles. She was so delighted by Dahlia, and how easily they fit into each other's worlds; she didn't usually have much in common with people her own age. It was definitely a nice feeling. "J-POP? What's the J stand for?" Winnie enquired curiously. She wasn't usually insecure about her sheltered upbringing, but she really wanted Dahlia to think she was cool. Asking questions was supposed to be good when you meet new people, but was this too much? Winnie's worries were quieted when she looked at Dahlia's pretty, gentle face again. It was clear she wasn't being judged for once. Winnie flapped her hands in joy, feeling at once soothed fulfilled by the repetitive movement! "Oh yes," Winnie smiled serenely. "There's always music playing. We lead the singing at the campfire, too. There are lots of artists and poets in my cabin -- they're fun to watch work. I don't usually join in, but I like to observe..." she trailed off. "I do my singing in private," Winnie added shyly. Many of the other Apollo kids were flamboyant, keen to show off their beautiful voices. Whenever she joined in, she felt she sounded too squeaky and mousy! "What about you, Dahlia? What's your cabin like? Is it as pretty on the inside as it is on the outside?" Winnie liked the Apollo cabin, but secretly she was incredibly jealous of the Demeter kids. Their cabin was beautiful and whimsical, with grass growing on the roof and plants everywhere. She was grinning just picturing it!

A boy stumbled out of the bushes before Winnie. She recognised him instantly as an Aphrodite camper -- they all had a certain way about them. Very chic, excellent posture, traditionally attractive. This boy ticked off all those criteria. "Oh! Yes, I couldn't let such a day be wasted on violence," she spoke in the dreamy, breathy tone she usually did. Grinning at his compliment, she angled her sketchbook towards him so he could get a better look. It was a rough sketch of the trees around her, pretty much just a mindless doodle. She shifted slightly and patted the grass next to her. "Join me!" she invited, smiling kindly. It seemed she'd accidentally hijacked this boy's drawing spot. "What's your name?"

Winnie was skipping training again. She was a pacifist to the core, uninterested in combat or weaponry; instead of training, she usually ducked into the arts and crafts pavilion. Today, though, she didn't want to be inside. The sky was a beautiful shade of periwinkle, dusted with clouds like icing sugar on a big blueberry pie. The forest beckoned her; she sat just deep enough to be safely contained in the barrier, but far enough in to be out of the way. The sounds of swords clashing on the grounds was distant and muffled. Winnie pulled out a sketchbook and mindlessly followed the curve of a tree on the page in front of her. That was when she heard a rustling. She lifted her head, looking around for danger. Had she accidentally trekked past the magical barrier -- was she being ambushed by a monster? @ Miroslaw Mihailov

"We shouldn't have control over flowers anyway... they should grow in their own time, like us," Winnie said solemnly, nodding to herself. Her nose wrinkled at the mention of battle, but smoothed out again when Dahlia mentioned singing to the plants. "You like to sing? Oh goodness, me too!" Excitedly, she took Dahlia's hand and held it aloft, twirling her around. How quickly and easily they'd clicked! For a moment, all the world seemed golden and not just because of the sunlight; a true friend, finally. This is what Winnie had been waiting for practically her whole life. While she was perfectly happy in solitude, maybe solitude shared with Dahlia would be even better! Giving a small hum of agreement, Winnie thought of her cabin. In the sunlight it gleamed golden, reflecting the god for which it was erected. The other Apollo campers were kind to Winnie for the most part, but none seemed to like her particularly much. So similar and yet so different... Dahlia's words struck a chord with her. Even now, out of the isolation she grew up in, she felt pretty alone. That was, until about ten minutes ago. "Found each other? I found you, and you fell out of a tree!" Winnie's giggle was kind rather than mocking, sharing in the joy and amusement of their origin as friends. Winnie returned Dahlia's squeeze, smiling radiantly at her. "You must pick some strawberries with me soon," she said. "The satyrs don't like to ask campers for help, but they'd be so thrilled with you!"

Winnie listened to Dahlia's answers, completely enthralled at all the new information. She nodded, smiling earnestly through all of it. "Oh wow, fascinating! Can you make flowers grow?" she asked dreamily. It was easy to imagine Dahlia commanding nature; Winnie had never seen Demeter, but she imagined the family resemblance was striking. There was something about her that fit in so well with nature. More so than other people, you could tell that the forces that made flowers, trees, rivers, and land had made Dahlia too. That's what Winnie thought anyway. As Dahlia returned her question, Winnie's eyes lit up with pride. Her free hand stretched up above her to the sky, blocking out the sun with the silhouette of her fingers. "Daughter of Apollo," she answered happily, her voice like a soft exhale. While she'd only recently discovered her heritage, she swelled with pride at being the child of the sun god. Poetry, healing, music, light... It made sense, her mum being a famous poet and all, but Winnie could still hardly believe it. "Cabin 7," she added, though she'd only recently moved in there. "Haven't made any friends yet, though... how weird is it that we have so many siblings we never knew about?" Winnie liked to watch her siblings, and already knew all of them by name. They liked to sing, dance, practice archery... she was still on the outside though. As usual. She didn't mind, but she was also very glad to have Dahlia now.

"Dahlia! Like the flower," Winnie smiled dreamily. "I can definitely see that in you," she squinted at the girl, cocking her head. With the sun behind her, Dahlia almost did look like the plush perennial. Just as Winnie had suspected, this girl was something special. A kindred spirit at last! Suddenly, the thought of residing at Camp Half-Blood didn't seem so scary. The blush that flooded Dahlia's cheeks made her even more similar to her namesake flower, making Winnie let out a giggle. "Manga?" sheltered Winnie hadn't heard the term before, but she liked the way it sounded and felt in her mouth. "It's very pretty. I love it already!" In an easy movement, Winnie hooked her arm in Dahlia's. It was like they'd been friends for a long time already, for how comfortable and familiar she felt. Winnie began to walk, continuing to explore the forest with her new friend at her side. Fascinated to learn more about her, she began the questioning. If she was more concerned with normality, she would've been worried to overwhelm Dahlia. But she was too excited by the prospect of knowing more about her to care! "Who are your parents? What cabin do you live in? What's a manga? How do you get your hair so shiny?"

Winnie, feeling guilty for making the girl fall, held out her arms uselessly, as though she could catch her. When she hit the ground, a book fell from her hands. Winnie liked her already. "Oh! Are you okay?" she asked breathlessly, concerned, but maintaining her usual optimism. Holding out a hand to help this new friend up, Winnie let out a soft giggle. It wasn't that she thought the fall was funny -- quite the opposite! -- but she was delighted by the contrast of her thoughts and the reality of the situation that had unfolded. Right after pondering how much this girl looked a fairy, she'd tumbled from the tree in a move that couldn't be less like flight! "I think it was very elegant!" she reassured. "Like a swan trying to fly," the words came out dreamily. Formally, she offered a hand to shake. "I'm Winnie. What's your name?" She picked up the book and smiled, flicking through its pages. It was almost all pictures! A dyslexic's dream!

Winnie Sullivan was new to Camp Half-Blood. Indeed, she was practically new to the world; she certainly looked around like that was the case. Walking through the forests that skirted the camp grounds, Winnie's eyes were trained above her, wondering at the sunlight that dappled through the leaves. Her mother had kept her so sheltered growing up that the grounds often overwhelmed her. The campers were loud, often violent (even if only in training), and almost always guarded. Fascinating to watch, but difficult to join. Suddenly, something interrupted Winnie’s view. Someone. A pretty girl with dark hair sat in the crook of a tree above her head, holding a book in one hand. Winnie smiled dreamily, noting that she looked completely at home there. Like a fairy, she observed, tilting her head for a different angle. The morning sun haloed the girl, painting her warm and magical-looking. I suppose we technically are magic, she pondered, still getting used to the reality of her heritage. Not loud enough to frighten her, but still to be heard, Winnie called out. “Hi! What are you doing up there?” @ Dahlia Wakabayashi