The warm glow of the campfire flickered off the faces of the young campers gathered around it, their eyes wide with wonder as they sang along to the familiar tune led by their counselor, Ellie. With her blonde hair pulled back into a messy bun and her blue eyes sparkling in the firelight, Ellie seemed to radiate a sense of calm and confidence that put the campers at ease.
But as she glanced around the circle, Ellie couldn't help but feel a sense of unease herself. It was Bee, the youngest camper, who caught her eye. The girl was huddled up in her sleeping bag, her small frame shaking with sobs.
"Hey, hey, it's okay," Ellie soothed, scooting over to Bee and pulling her onto her lap. "What's wrong, Bee?"
Bee sniffled, her bottom lip quivering. "I-I'm scared. It's my first night at camp and I miss my mom."
Ellie's heart ached for the girl, but she knew she had to be strong for her. She glanced around the circle, making eye contact with the other counselors who gave her reassuring nods.
"Hey, how about a joke to take your mind off things?" Ellie suggested, tickling Bee's side.
Bee giggled, her fear momentarily forgotten. "Okay, okay!"
Ellie launched into a silly joke, making exaggerated facial expressions and gestures to keep Bee entertained. And as she watched the girl's laughter fill the air, Ellie felt a sudden warmth spread through her chest. She looked up and saw a symbol of a hearth above her head.
Before she could process what was happening, a booming voice echoed through the camp. "Hestia, goddess of home, the sacrificial flame, heath, fire, family all hail Ellie, daughter of Hestia."
Ellie's heart skipped a beat as the campers and counselors around her gasped in surprise. She felt her cheeks burn with embarrassment as she tried to play it cool, but the other campers couldn't help but stare at her in awe.
One of the older campers, Ava, teased Ellie with a smirk. "Looks like someone's got a special someone watching over them."
Ellie rolled her eyes, playfully insulting Ava back. "At least I'm not worshipped for my ability to turn men into pigs, Ava."
The camp director, a stern woman named Diana, reminded everyone to respect each other and their godly parents. Ellie put Bee to bed in her cabin, her mind racing with thoughts of what it meant to be claimed by Hestia.
As she lay in her bed, Ellie felt a strange feeling wash over her. She saw a small flame on her nightstand and heard a whisper. "Welcome, Ellie. I am proud to call you my daughter."
Ellie felt a sense of comfort and warmth from the flame and fell asleep with a smile on her face.
The next morning, Ellie woke up feeling refreshed and ready for the day. She joined the other campers for breakfast, unable to shake the feeling that she was different. But as she looked around at the familiar faces, she couldn't help but feel excited to see what being a demigod had in store for her.
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