Hunter yawned and curled up tighter on the ground. Their ‘camp’ was just a pile of sticks which Tyler had set on fire. No pillows, no blankets. Still, Hunter knew that, if she waited long enough, she’d fall asleep. She always did.

She was just starting to drift off when she heard Tyler whimpering.

“Sorry.” The girl sobbed. “I’m sorry.”

Hunter opened her eyes. In the light of the dying embers, she could see tears smudged over Tyler’s face.

“I’m sorry.” She said again and Hunter realized she was talking in her sleep. “I didn’t mean to.”

Tyler wasn’t a tough kid like Hunter. She’d been thrown out. She’d been ostracized. She’d been demonized. And she thought she deserved it.

Hunter got up and lay down beside her friend. She picked a few leaves out of her hair and lay an arm over her. “It’s okay.” She whispered, not sure if she’d be heard in Tyler’s dream. “I’m here.”

“I didn’t mean to.” Tyler continued to sob. “Aphrodite made me.”

Aphrodite? Hunter raked her brain. She knew next to nothing about the Gods. She knew Zeus was in charge and that he was married to Hera. She knew Hades was God of the Underworld. Who’s Aphrodite?

Tyler’s dad? She guessed. But Aphrodite sounded to feminine to be a boy God, much less a god who set things on fire. Then why does she blame Aphrodite?

“She made me.” Tyler mumbled. Her tears had stopped and she was clinging to Hunter’s arm. “I didn’t mean to.” Her back went rigid. “No!” She screamed.

Tyler shot up, breathing heavily. She hugged her knees and rocked back and forth. “Don’t make me do it again.” Hunter sat up next to her and Tyler yelped. “Sorry, I… Wait, weren’t you sleeping over there?”

“You were crying.” Hunter put an arm around her, but she brushed it off. “What’s wrong.”

“It’s nothing.” Tyler insisted. “Just a nightmare.”

Hunter stayed silent for a while, but she had to ask. “Who’s Aphrodite?” Tyler’s shoulder’s tensed. “You talk in your sleep.” Hunter explained. “I don’t know much about the Gods.”

Tyler wouldn’t meet here eyes. Instead, she stared at Hunter’s gloves. “Your dad it probably Ares.” She finally said. “That’s why you're so strong. He’s the God of war, so he’s really strong. My dad is Hephaestus, God of the forge and fire.”

She hesitated, then continued. “Aphrodite is the Goddess of love.” New tears fell from her eyes. “She made me like this.”

“Like what?” Hunter was still confused. “You, what, don’t think you’re lovable?”

Tyler gave her a sad smile. “The garden fire wasn’t the only reason I was kicked out.” She took a shaky breath. “My step-dad is super religious. My mom had to tell him that she’d been married to my dad, but he’d died.”

Hunter nodded along. She’d known a religious girl from her school way back when. She’d looked down on Hunter’s mom because she’d had a child out of wedlock. Hunter had beaten her on the playground any time she said something nasty.

Something clicked in her mind. “Greek Gods are real.” She mumbled. “So, is the Christian God real, too?”

Tyler smiled for real. “Don’t know.” Her smile faltered. “I kind of hope not.” Her grip on her knees tightened. “I got kicked out because my step-dad found out I’m gay.”