“How many of these damn birds are there?” Contemplates Vasos as he flips into the air while firing his last two arrows.
Vasos’ body was covered in cuts from the attacks of the birds and his strength was starting to run out, but he knew in his heart that he couldn’t keep this up much longer.
“Mother please help me.” He whispers running towards an abandoned farm house in the distance.
As he runs at full speed towards the house he knows in his heart that he’ll never make it in time, the birds will be on him again any second and there will be nothing else he can do about it. Suddenly hope fills his heart when he hears the familiar baying of a hound. Looking to the far off edge of the forest Vasos sees Laelaps running towards him at full force, his silver and black fur glimmers in the sun as his bull size form bays again insistently. Becoming a haze of motion it looks like he’s going to run right into him, but the second before Laelaps reaches him the hound jumps over him grabbing the nearest bird out of the air and tearing it to pieces.
Responding to the new threat the birds swarm towards the hound intent on defeating him but, Laelaps the legendary hound is too fast for them to catch and one by one he grabs the birds out of the sky as he expertly dodges the incoming attacks.
“Thank you mother.” Pants Vasos out of breath as he reaches the safety of the farm house.
For a moment he finally believes that everything will be okay until he hears the roaring grunt of a giant boar dashing his hopes. Running to the door he stares in disbelief as the giant Erymanthin Boar explodes from the forest scattering the birds and the hound in every direction as they flee in terror. With a gasp Vasos takes in the sight trembling in fear for a moment before recovering with a sly smile and a plan forming in his head. The boar roars again breathing its foul breath all over him, its reddish colored eyes stare into his locking in his gaze. The dirt brown fur on its back is standing on end and anxiously it paws the ground with its hoof ready to charge him.
As he stares tearing his gaze from the creatures face finally Vasos notices who is riding on the back of the creature angering him. “Christos.” He growls. “You couldn’t have done this on your own, let me guess, Ares?”
“Did you think he would forgive you the death of his son? No, he wants his revenge and I want mine, no longer will my father favor you and your ilk over me. Your death is now at hand Vasos, beg me to make it quick.” He sneers in an evil laugh.
“Fear not my son for I am with you and I am sending you help.” Whispers Aphrodite in his mind.
“I beg no one, my enemies don’t scare me, for I have family that loves me and I draw strength from them. I give you the chance to leave now before I am forced to hurt you.” He smiles matching Christos look.
“And how will you accomplish that?” Questions Christos with a laugh.
With an enormous crash a giant fox bounds out of the forest until it rams the boar in the side knocking it over in surprise.
Christos rolls to the side narrowly avoiding being squashed by the giant boar flopping around trying to regain its footing.
“The Teumessian fox!” Yells Christos “Your mother won’t be able to save you forever Vasos!”
Climbing onto the back of the fox Vasos laughs. “I won’t need her to save me much longer, I grow stronger with each passing day. And behold here comes my father.” He points as a stream of light shots towards them.
Like a meteor Hephaestus lands between the fox and the boar causing them to jump backwards in fear.
“Humph, I can’t say I’m surprised to find you here Christos, ever the little lap dog of Ares aren’t you?” He says floating up to Vasos on the back of the fox.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about Lord Hephaestus. I have my own score to settle with Vasos devoid of any hate my brother may harbor towards him.” Says Christos climbing back onto the boar.
“Whatever you say child, in either case I have no patience for your interference right now, so stay put.” He says waving his hand forcing a cage to appear around the boar.
“You can’t do this!” Yells Christos trying to squeeze through the bars.
Turning quickly to stare at him Hephaestus silences any further objections with just a look.
“Hello father, I’m sorry you had to intervene. I don’t know how they found me.” Sighs Vasos.
“I’m sure Ares set him to the task, here is your weapon I made for you. Now speed your way to Olympia. Once there you will find aid from Sander the son of Dionysus, he will accompany you on your journey.”
“What journey? Can I not return to Sparta?” He questions.
“Zeus has decreed that you must undertake three quests. For the first quest you must journey to Rhodes where you will find the home of Chrysaor the golden sword, you must defeat him and his pirates once you have bring back his golden mask. For the second quest you must find the lost armor of Achilles and bring that back. Both are hard tasks and will test you in every way, should you survive both tasks you will be joined for the third by a Norse demigod, Kol son of Loki. Together you both will first travel to Tartarus and retrieve the sickle of Kronos then you will travel together to Helheim and retrieve the sword of Surtr. Be warned that once the third quest starts you and the other demigod will only have your powers and each other, no one else may help you including the gods.”
“All this for defending myself against a mad son of Ares?”
“It is that and much more, everything will be revealed to you in time.” He sighs in response.
“I don’t suppose you could tell me the other reasons could you?” Huffs Vasos.
“Regrettably I cannot my son, I have already interfered more than I should have. I must release Christos shortly, in the end you will have to deal with him on your own. I will allow you a good head start though, go my son and may the fates be kind.”
“Thank you father.” Says Vasos hugging him tightly before shooting off into the distance at full speed on the fox.
Turning back towards Christos, Hephaestus smiles. “Now what shall I do with you? Release you and the boar? Or send the boar away and make you find another way to follow your cousin?”
“You can’t take my boar from me.” He pleas.
“It is not your boar, it is a creature of the wild that belongs to Pan and I seriously doubt that he gave it to you.” Snaps Hephaestus.
Abruptly a ball of fire slams into Hephaestus’ chest knocking him to the ground.
“I allowed him to use it.” Roars Ares landing next to the cage forcing it to dissolve releasing the boar and Christos. “Vasos couldn’t have gotten far, stop him before he gets help from the other demigod.” He says turning to Christos.
Flying through the air a large hammer rams into Ares with such force it buries him in the ground.
“It was unwise of you to interfere Ares.” Declares Hephaestus walking towards the hole.
The ground erupts with Ares shooting into the air with a red glow around his body “Really? Do you think I fear you, you pathetic cripple?”
“No, I don’t believe you would, but I do believe that you fear our father.” He smiles.
With a deafening sound of thunder lightning crackles through the clear blue sky striking Ares with such force he is barely conscious.
“You dare to defy me Ares?!” Booms Zeus’ voice as he lowers himself to the ground.
“Father, what lies has Hephaestus told you?” He questions struggling to get up.
“None, it was not he that informed me of your plans but another. Someone who’s council on the subject I would not take lightly. I know for a fact you helped Christos to track Vasos and gave him the means to get here before Hephaestus could deliver the message I sent, do you still deny it?” Rumbles Zeus.
“I do not. I have the right to my revenge. The whelp killed my son!” Yells Ares defiantly.
“Your son was a disgusting little bully who got what he deserved in the end.
That does not mean that you interrupt my well laid plans, especially when it concerns the fate of Olympus!” He screams firing another bolt of lightning into Ares.
Blocking it just in time Ares flies back just a bit. “What in Hades are you talking about!”
“The oracle of Delphi has spoken. Vasos and another demigod named Kol will be instrumental in our survival or destruction.” Complaints Zeus. “And you are ruining everything!”
“I…I don’t care! I want him dead and one day soon he will be!” Yells Ares disappearing.
Zeus just stares at the sky for a moment before turning back towards Hephaestus who has been quietly watching.
“In truth he has a right to his anger.” Says Zeus.
“He will be a problem.”
“Maybe he will, but I think it best if someone else watches over Vasos, your feelings towards Ares go much deeper than this and I do not need a war among the gods. I will have someone else take charge of his welfare for now.” States Zeus firmly.
Hephaestus opens his mouth to argue but then thinks better of it. “As you wish father.”
Giving him one last stare Zeus changes into a bolt of lightning flying back to Olympus.
“Maybe I cannot directly help you son but that doesn’t mean I can’t do exactly what Ares is doing in my own way.” He smiles disappearing himself.