Elsie was thoroughly enjoying her role as a mentor, especially considering how lovely Demi was. They were getting on well, despite their differences (really, Elsie couldnât believe how different their tastes in music were), when Elsie realised they should head towards the campfire. She had been too busy being entertained to notice where the time was going, so theyâd had to hurry a little. Especially as everyone knew that Demi would be getting claimed today - it would be a bit embarrassing if Elsie was late in bringing the person who would be most talked-about at todayâs campfire. She was amused at Demiâs explanation of campfires. âI mean, they can be a bit cheesy,â she said, continuing their conversation, âAnd there are songs you definitely wonât know, but the Apollo kids lead it, and theyâre pretty cool. They wouldnât bring out an instrument as basic as a guitar, anyway,â she said with a laugh. âWe sometimes end up singing some old-timey classics like the Beatles, which everyone knows⊠although, actually, you donât like them, do you?â She remembered, shaking her head in bemusement. âOoh, look, itâs gold today,â Elsie said, pointing at the fire. âThat means the campers are generally feeling excited.â
âI like cheesy! Iâm not lactose intolerant,â Demi joked, before their eyes widened as they reached the fire and got the whole effect. Ok, the colour-changing fire was incredibly cool, and they liked the set-up. âI just donât know them! I think Glee did some of their songs, though, if theyâre the British guys with bad hairdos? I liked some of those songs!â they added, with a beam. Not that Elsie was likely to be a fan of Glee, if she even knew what it was. âIt changes colour depending on peopleâs moods? Thatâs cool! And a bit weird. Like, how does it know?â It seemed so far-fetched that the fire could read peopleâs minds.Â
Elsie giggled at Demiâs joke, even though it wasnât the most original. Elsie liked dad jokes, okay? âOh, good, because I live for cheesy.â She was pleased sheâd been watching Demi when they saw the fire, feeling weirdly smug that they were so impressed by it. She snorted at their description of the Beatles. âI mean, yeah, thatâs them. They werenât bad haircuts for the time, though, they were very popular!â Although she wasnât sure how much of that was because the Beatles had popularised the haircut. âI havenât seen Glee,â she had to admit. âBut I know one or two things about it; Kestrel loves it. Sheâs an Apollo kid,â she added, for the extra information. âWell, it sort of feels the auras and emotions of the people around and changes depending on what the general feeling is. I guess it senses peopleâs⊠vibes?â She questioned her use of the word âvibesâ, having heard Lark say it but never having used it herself.
âCheese is good. Except for blue cheese, that should fully be illegal.â Demi had a long list of things that should be illegal. âEw, Iâm glad I wasnât born in the- Beatles time. I wanna say the 50s? I mean, I wouldâve had to stay closeted anyway, so that wouldâve sucked, but having that haircut wouldâve been the shit cherry on the mould cupcake.â That was definitely not a saying theyâd be using again. âYou havenât seen Glee?! You are missing out,â they promised, with a grin. âOkay, Kestrel is my new best friend, introduce me immediately,â they demanded. âHuh. Like Jasper from Twilight!â They glanced around, and noticed that people were starting to quiet down and look in their direction. Ah. This would be for the aforementioned claiming. They had to admit, they were nervous. What if they got a bad one?
âOh, I absolutely agree. Itâs one of the few things my dad and I disagree over; he canât get enough of it. I had it just before I threw up at some point and Iâve never been the same again.â Elsie said, before wondering if maybe that was a bit too much information for someone she barely knew. Something about Demi just made Elsie very chatty. âThe âBeatles timeâ?â She was concerned about who had raised poor Demi. âClose, it was the 60s. Yeah, it definitely wouldnât have been good times to be alive, but the music is excellent.â She grinned. âNope, but if they sing some of the Beatles songs, it canât be too awful.â She knew there was some division around if Gleeâs covers were any good, though. âI will introduce you, donât worry.â She was sure Kes would love Demi. âUh, okay, I havenât seen Twilight either.â Elsie was sure she sounded like a little old lady, and was preparing to say that she didnât knit (which was, in fact, a lie: knitting was one of her favourite hobbies). Noticing Demiâs hesitancy, Elsie squeezed their hand for a moment. âDonât worry, itâll be absolutely fine. Whoever your parent is, thereâs some good people in each cabin.â
Demi couldnât help but laugh at Elsieâs story. âYeah, it does put you off a food if you vomit after eating it,â they agreed. âIâve not had a banana since I was nine,â they added wistfully. âAw, I was so close! I must know some things after all.â Take that, Mrs Greer. âThere we go, Iâll have to introduce you and then you only have to watch four and a bit seasons to get to the Beatles episodes. They might do other songs by them, too, though!â Theyâd have to think of another reason for Elsie to watch the last couple seasons. âYay, Iâm excited!â They rolled their eyes good-naturedly. âGod. -s. You uncultured swine! Iâll show you Twilight, too. And Toy Story!â they added, realising theyâd just referenced it. They smiled back at Elsie, reassured. âSo, like, how does it happen?â they asked Elsie, in a lower voice, because almost everyone was looking at them now.
Elsie made a sad face at Demiâs wistful tone. âNot bananas! Thatâs absolutely devastating, theyâre the best.â Elsie was a fruit bat so any fruit was great, really, but bananas were just fantastic. âYou do know some things! Hm, okay, as long as not everything they sing is just modern rubbish. They do some Journey, right? Theyâre good,â she had to admit. Sheâd heard Trys and Kestrel talking about Gleeâs Donât Stop Believinâ. She laughed at Demi calling her an uncultured swine, wondering if anyone who didnât know the Beatles could call someone that. âTwilight⊠thatâs the one with the vampire, right?â She checked. Elsie shot the campers a look, trying to indicate that they should back off a bit. Poor Demi. âBasically, at some point during the fire, your parent will, like, send a symbol that shows who they are, but it depends how much attention theyâre paying and how dramatic they want the moment to be,â she explained, rolling her eyes. Some of them waited until there was some debate happening and then sent their symbol to stop the fighting or waited for their kid to do something which proved they were that godsâ kid. âEveryoneâs just being nosey, really, thereâs no need for them all to stare at you right now. Sometimes it happens at different times, like dinner or whatever, but itâs pretty likely itâll happen at some point this evening, given that they all promised to claim their kids.â Which, she had to admit, they were all keeping to, which was nice.
âI know, I used to love bananas, but alas, even the sight of one makes me gag.â Ok, it wasnât that bad really, or they would barely be able to leave the house. âThey do a lot of Journey.â Demi could talk about Glee for hours, so they would have to be careful to shut themselves up here, or Elsie would end up edging further and further away before running for the hills, which would be no good. âYes, Twilight is the vampire one,â they said. Poor Elsie, she really needed educating. âAw, man, Iâve deffo got a dramatic one,â they said, with a pout. It would explain a lot. Their parents were both a bit more chill than them, they must have got it from somewhere. âOh, excellent, so it can happen at any moment,â they said, eyeing the sky with some nerves. The two of them continued to chat for a while, and people stopped looking expectantly at Demi after a bit. The fire was burning low, with the campers beginning to look sleepy and like they were all about to head off to bed. Demi had just started to think maybe it wouldnât happen tonight, and that was just typical, what sort of godly father was this, when they saw something flashing and looked up to see a glowing⊠some kind of musical instrument? Huh.
Elsie had to admit that, if they did a lot of Journey, Glee might be worth watching. She was relieved when the Campers stopped staring so intently at Demi; your first day at Camp was hard enough without feeling like the centre of attention. Elsie was surprised it was getting so late before the symbol started appearing - but it made sense when she realised it was Apollo. What a way to wake everyone up. Kestrel looked particularly pleased, but Elsie thought Demi looked a little stumped. âItâs a lyre, for Apollo.â She quietly but helpfully told them.
âOhhh,â Demi said, nodding, and made a mental note to google lyres later. They didnât really know how to feel. A group of kids was grinning and waving at them, so they assumed that was the rest of their cabin, and therefore their siblings. As an only child, gaining a bunch of siblings was a bit of a shock. Plus, a dad. Except that he was very much still an absent father, so not much of a change there. He had bothered to claim them though, so there was that, plus, like theyâd said, music and archery? Very cool. They waved back at their new cabin, trying to put a smile on their face. âThis is very weird,â they said to Elsie, hoping sheâd understand.
Although it had been several years since being claimed, Elsie remembered it well. At least Demeterâs children were all so gentle and kind that sheâd fit in right away, but it had been a weird experience. Elsie gently put her arm around Demi and gave them a side hug. âIt is. Donât worry, everyone feels like this when they get claimed. Itâs spooky suddenly having a parent youâve never met, but donât think about it too much. Just be yourself and youâll fit right in.â At least Demiâs parent wasnât Ares; they should fit in well with the Apollo kids.
Demi was glad theyâd chosen a good person to sit next to, and leant into the hug for a moment, feeling a little more grounded. âThanks,â they said, trying to show how grateful they were through their smile. The fire had flared for a moment but was dying again, and the campers were beginning to get up to go to bed. They supposed theyâd better go and find out where they were sleeping tonight. âI guess I should go and meet my cabin,â they said, unwilling to move from next to Elsie.
Elsie was glad her words had helped Demi, even a little bit. She was disappointed that it was already time to leave, but agreed that Demi should meet their cabinmates. âGood plan, if you stay up too late youâll get eaten by the harpies!â Realising that might freak out Demi, Elsie tried to backpedal slightly. âI mean, on your first day youâd probably be fine. Just stick with Kestrel, sheâs great,â she said brightly. Kes would look after Demi so they didnât get eaten.
Demi stood up, but paused to stare at Elsie as her words registered. âIâll be whatted by the whats?â That had not been on the initiation video. This place was actually going to kill them. âStick with Kestrel,â they repeated, nodding. âRight. See you tomorrow. Unless I die first.â They set off for the group whoâd waved, looking suspiciously around as they went.












