Connor was no stranger to the southeastern part of the country.
That's currently where he found himself and the goddess Hestia as they were searching for a demigod in rural Tennessee.
They didn't have much information other that she was 18, like Connor, and that she was potentially a daughter of Apollo.
They had a lead that Sydney, the name of the girl they were searching for, could often be found hanging around a local bar.
Considering that they were in a small town in Tennessee, he hoped she wouldn't be too hard to spot.
"There's the bar over there," Hestia pointed out to him as they walked down the sidewalk.
The place looked like your stereotypical small town bar. It had neon signs of different types of booze all over the outside along with a cartoon bear with a beer in its hand.
The Dizzy Bear, what a creative name.
Before they could even make it to the front door, they heard the sound of footsteps scuffling inside the door and were greeted with a drunk middle aged man getting tossed out of the place and landing at their feet.
"I think we might have found our girl," Connor said with a bit of wit which made Hestia giggle.
While at camp, the goddess of the Hearth often took the appearance of a young pre-teen but today she looked just as old as Alex and had on a casual outfit.
"That's your last warning Frankie, next time you try stealin' drinks here, you won't be so lucky," a feminine voice spoke up from inside the bar.
That's when Connor saw her, and boy did she defy his expectations.
The mystery demigod stood in the doorway of the bar with her arms crossed and a stern yet cocky look on her face.
She had blonde hair that reached her shoulders that was messy along with a heart shaped face.
Connor didn't have much time to admire the girl's tomboy looks before she stepped over to him.
"And who are you two supposed to be?" She asked.
She stepped over towards Connor and Hestia with a questioning look on her face. She had on loose fitting blue jeans with boots on to go with a white t-shirt.
"Oh uh...you see we-" Connor stammered to start talking before Hestia cut in.
"Can we talk you into dinner? What time does your shift end?" she said in her trademark sweet voice.
The girl raised an eyebrow, most of the offers for dinner usually came from drunk bar patrons wanting to get a date but something about Hestia's voice gave her enough reason to trust her.
"Alright fine, I get off in an hour," she said before she went back inside the bar, not knowing what adventures would be awaiting her after the dinner she just agreed to.
—-
"That's got to be some of the dumbest stuff I've ever heard!" Sydney yelled out getting some looks from other people in the restaurant.
Connor and Hestia had just given her the rundown on pretty much everything they could. Whether it be the gods themselves or Camp Half-Blood.
Sydney had been laughing pretty much the whole time and hadn't taken anything they said seriously.
Connor was starting to get frustrated and clenched his fists before Hestia put a comforting hand on his shoulder.
"Listen Sydney, we know that all of this sounds very strange to you but the Greek gods are very much alive," Hestia said.
It didn't do much but it made Sydney stop laughing like a hyena.
"Ok then, say all of what you said is true, how would I factor in to all of this?" She asked as their food arrived.
The diner they ate at had the standard menu of greasy burgers and fries along with milkshakes and other American style food.
Sydney ordered the cheeseburger with fries and a coke while Connor ordered just a salad.
"You are a demigod Sydney, one of the mortal children of the gods," Hestia explained as she waited until the waitress left and made a plate of ambrosia appear in front of her.
"H-how did you do that?" Sydney stammered.
Hestia went to take a bite of her ambrosia before she blushed a little.
"Oh, I probably should introduce myself, my name is Hestia, the goddess of the Hearth," she said with a warm smile.
Sydney just started laughing again and Connor rolled his eyes.
"Ok listen here you," Connor interrupted with a harsh tone. He had clearly gotten tired of Sydney's attitude towards them.
"We drove here all the way from Long Island to try and help you but with if you're going to keep being so ungrateful then maybe we'll leave you for the hellhounds to eat!" Connor yelled.
"Connor!" Hestia shouted as she put a hand on his shoulder.
Sydney just ignored Connor's outburst and laughed even harder.
"Hellhounds?! I've been alive for over 18 years and not once have I seen a stupid hellhound," she kept laughing before she started eating her food.
Hestia sighed before she decided enough was enough. The goddess of the Hearth extended her hand out over the table and invoked some gentle warm flames that spread over her hand.
Sydney's expression immediately changed from a doubtful one to a surprised one as she sat there with her mouth open before Hestia extinguished the flames.
"Believe us now?" Connor asked. His tone became more matter-of-fact as he now knew they had at least convinced the skeptical Sydney a little.
"How'd you do that?" Sydney asked.
Hestia giggled at the poor demigod's lost expression before she looked at her.
"I already told you sweetie, I'm the goddess of the Hearth," she explained in a sincere voice.
"Uh-huh right, so where did you learn magic like that?" Sydney asked and Connor just groaned.
That finally got Sydney's attention and she wasn't too pleased with this guy's attitude.
"Listen here you wannabe jock, if you were in my position you'd be skeptical too!" She snapped.
Connor just let out a long sigh, "I understand that this is a lot to take I but you have to trust us, it's a miracle you've made it this long as a demigod,"
Sydney narrowed her eyes at the young man across from her. Growing up around her alcoholic mom, she didn't really have an innate trust of many people. Especially not people who summoned fire and food like it was nothing. She had never seen anything like this and while she still had her doubts, the life of a demigod maybe had some excitement. The only excitement she got at the bar was tossing out dumb drunk men who would rather kiss her.
"I'm in," she spoke abruptly.
"You what?!" Connor responded spitting out some of his salad.
"I still have my doubts about you two, but I think it's about time I switch things up in my li-" she started to explain before there was a light above her head and that's when her life was going to change.
"All hail Sydney Hughes! Daughter of Apollo!" Hestia announced as Connor just looked on in disbelief.