him, in all of his glory.

13. 𝘈 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘤𝘢𝘮𝘱𝘧𝘪𝘳𝘦, 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦 𝘢𝘵 𝘢𝘭𝘭

Yesterday hurt, not gonna lie.

Yes the situation between me and percy is very complicated, but him saying "it's nothing special" after holding me LIKE THAT, made me sad. And I really had hoped he was right about the branch, and it wasn't Malcolm spying on us. Because if he found out about whatever it was between me and Percy, I think he'd have a breakdown. He already hates him, but seeing us together probably would give him flashbacks to what happened to Annabeth. I just want things to go right. We have already traveled so far, but I'm just as clueless and naive as I was when we left camp.

Anyway I was the first one up. It was colder here than in Fargo. I liked that, it reminded me of autumn. I always liked that season over summer. My summers used to be so boring. Can't believe I complained about that, now I have to fear for my life in every season. The sun was already up and it shined through the tree branches. I was admiring the light when I heard a voice behind me, almost like a whisper. It wasn't Percy or Malcolm. "Pssst!" A warm voice said. I could tell it was coming from somewhere around me but where exactly I could not say. I should probably be freaked out but her voice was so warm and calming, I wasn't scared at all. I finally located the whispers coming from a fire in the distance. I slowly started walking towards it.

It seemed strange, a fire in the morning. But it all made sense. A woman with fiery eyes and brown hair was sitting beside it. She was wearing a cloak that hid her away almost completely. But her face stood out. Not only her eyes were literally on fire, but she had this soft smile that was one in a million. "Would you come and sit beside me?" She asked nicely. I nodded and sat down. The fire was helping me stay warm, but I felt myself also strengthening. "Strange isn't it, a fire at 8 am in the morning." She asked me. "Yeah, I guess it's pretty strange." I said. I didn't really know what to say to her. She was so peaceful, I just wanted to stay there to feel that calm ambiance she was causing. She laughed. "You feel it, don't you?" She asked me. "The strength, the calmness? Yes, all of it." I finally said. She smiled at me. "That's good, all great heroes do. They can all appreciate the hearth, the home. I should mention to you I'm Hestia. But you already guessed that, didn't you?" She said nicely. "Ahaah yes, goddess of heart, fire, home and family. I'm familiar. Percy told me loads about you. Said you helped him, when fighting Kronos." I said to her. She smiled again with that calmness. "He still talks about me? How very nice. Indeed I helped him just a tiny bit, but he just needed reminding of what's important. And speaking about that, so do you." She finally said. "I- yeah, maybe I do need guidance. I'm so lost and I can't get any help from my dad, or my friend back in New York, or the people at camp. I've only got Percy and Malcolm. And even with them I can't get it because I'm too busy trying to keep them from fighting each other. I'm so lost and scared. I'm a part of this great prophecy while I've been living in a bubble for 17 years. Are they even sure it's about me? I'm not what they make out of me, I'm not a hero. I just honestly wanna get back to my uni, and be normal again. Everything is tiring me out." I said to her. I couldn't help but tell her everything, it felt safe.

"Child, you are a hero. You saved your friends countless times. You have these powers that are a miracle on its own. You defeated and killed a Keres. That's what heroes do. They get up after every defeat they face, and try again. You, need to try again. All you need is a little push, a little hope." She said and winked at me.

I smiled but tears started forming in my eyes. I never really realized how much had happened and how tired I actually was. Weeks of camping, fighting monsters and training myself. It had finally taken a toll on me. Hestia was right though, I just needed to get up again.

"Thank you, I need to try again." I finally said to her as she was wiping away my tears. She smiled and grabbed something out of her cloak. A little golden ball, it was stunning and had Greek writing on it. She waved her hand up towards the fire and slowly it went towards her fingers and around her hands. She directed the flames in the ball which had now opened. Once it was full she closed the ball. "This is for you. A little present. See it as a reminder to try again. Use it in a time when you need it most. It strengthens your powers and heals you in an instant. Just let the flames consume you." She said while giving me the little ball. She held my hands and looked at me with those eyes. "I can't help you with your questions, even us Olympians are lost. You are the way out, you are the solution." She said warmly. I smiled at her. "Thank you Hestia, how can I ever repay you?" I asked her. I felt so shocked. The stories about the Gods were always cruel. They rarely showed mercy or kindness, not like she just did. "Be a hero, that's how you repay me." She said while Percy was screaming my name in the background. "Looks like it's time for me to go. It was lovely meeting you. Hopefully this advice helps. I'll keep a look out for you." When I thanked her she sort of evaporated? I blinked and her cloak fell to the ground while she became one with the flames as it slowly died out in front of me. I smiled at the gift I'd just recieved. It was truly stunning.