It's spring break for me folks! That means this story has the possibility of more chapters.
I'll even make a deal with you. For my entire spring break (March 18th to March 25th), every two reviews will get you a new chapter. No chapters have been finished ahead of time, so you will have to give me some time to add them. If there are chapters left to do when it's time for me to go back to school, I'll make an extra long chapter. With every chapter I'm behind will be a thousand words added to the long chapter, so if I'm behind two chapters, the long chapter will be two-thousand words. If I'm behind five chapters, the long chapter will be five-thousand words.
Sound good to you?
As Dionysus led the girls on the tour, he explained the various rules of the camp. Mal and Uma can choose when they have 'lights out', but the overall curfew of the camp is ten at the latest. Uma thought the curfew was a little early, but Dionysus—or 'Mr. D' as the campers call him—argued that a third of the campers are thirteen or below, which is too young for them to be up past ten. If the girls are out past that time, the patrol harpies would find and eat them.
There are many activities for Mal and Uma to do. There was Arts & Crafts where they could paint, sculpt, or make whatever they want. If either girl wanted to practice their sword fighting, the Arena was just a few hundred yards past the Arts & Crafts.
Next to the Arena is a climbing wall that had actual lava spilling down it. Uma vetoed that idea. Since she is part sea witch, she has scales on her skin, but aren't noticeable when she is cool and well hydrated. If she were to get to close to the lava, her scales would start to show, which is not good if they wanted to keep up the act.
Mr. D mentioned a lake that the campers used to practice their canoeing. Obviously, Mal vetoed that idea. In the past two years that she had been in Auradon, she has never learned how to swim. Her fiancé made plans to teach her, but it always got rescheduled because of his responsibilities. Mal was completely fine with that because she's quite reluctant to learn.
The last on the list was Pegasus flying. There was a class taught once a day for those that wanted to learn how to fly on a Pegasus or to teach how to properly hook a Pegasus to a chariot. Some days the Pegasi in the stables get restless so some campers spend the day flying each Pegasus to stretch out their wings. Mal and Uma mutually agreed that they would give that a chance whenever they had a free moment.
As Mr. D led the girls to their temporary cabin—for they had yet to run into the Big Three children—Mal spotted a young girl sitting alone by a big fire pit in the center of the cabin arrangement. The little girl was tending to the fire while none of the other campus paid her any attention.
Excusing herself from her tour guide and friend, Mal walked over to the girl and politely sat next to her on the log.
"Hi," Mal greeted kindly giving the girl a small smile. "I'm Mal, the daughter of Persephone."
The girl stared at her in amusement. "I'm surprised that you noticed me," the 'child' admitted, speaking very much like an adult. "Then again, your half-brother did notice me too."
"He's my step-brother," Mal corrected, though it hurt her physically to say such things. She hasn't even met her siblings, yet she already feels close to them. "I just wanted to tell you thanks, for letting me and my friend stay in your cabin during our visit."
"Oh?" The girl smiled, impressed. "So, you know who I am?"
"Step-Dad told me," Mal insisted as she turned the gold ring on her finger to hide her nervousness. "You are my aunt, Hestia."
The girl chuckled at Mal's actions, for her half-brother does the very same thing. "You are right," she admitted. "How does it feel to refer to him in such way?"
"Terrible," Mal confessed with no hesitation. "I'm just glad my mom let me call her 'Mom', considering my mother has been such a witch to me growing up."
"Well," Hestia began as started to stoke the fire again, "if you have any questions or concerns about the camp or the cabin, let me know. I can adjust whatever I can in the cabin, but I'll have to speak with my nephew, Dionysus, about things involving the camp."
"And none of the campers know you're here?" Mal wondered curiously. "Why?"
"Let's just say, I prefer to remain unnoticed a crowd," Hestia commented with a childish shrug. "And like I said before, your hal—step brother and your cousin know I'm here. Your step-brother makes a point to speak with me at least once a day, while your cousin has forgotten that I'm here."
"Mal!" Uma shouted from afar. "Let's go! I want to rest before we walk around camp again."
Mal sighed in disgruntle. "I guess I better go."
As she made a move to stand, Mal abruptly kissed Hestia on the cheek, causing the latter to jump at the action.
"Do you realize what you just did?" Hestia interrogated in surprise.
"Of course, I do," Mal insisted as she smiled sweetly. "I kissed my aunt on the cheek to show my gratitude. I better go, but I'll take to later!"
As the demigod walked off, the goddess continued to tend to the fire with a smile on her face that refused to leave.
Maybe Hades's daughter will fit in after all.
Don't forget our deal! Every two reviews equal one new chapter.