A Foe's Gift

The fire continued to dance as the night deepened. Athena lowered her head, covering half of her face with her knees as she stared into the flame, trying to recall what happened to her. And when her memories began to clear, she finally remembered the situation beforehand.

The memory of her son did shatter her soul. She knew not why those memories they shared punished her. All she knew was that she truly loved him—her little treasured secret.

The wolf noticed her forlorn aura and moved closer to her. His bright eyes lanced, hoping to grab her abysmal attention.

As she sensed his longing, the goddess ignored her running head and gave him a warm smile that glowed beautifully from the fire's light.

"Cannot sleep?" She asked him.

His eyes replied that only her soul could decipher and then lay on her lap.

Athena was surprised, then calmed down—carefully brushing his head until she spoke again, "I am sorry again for making you all worry for me. It just—happened. I now wonder if I was cursed or simply the sorrows already overflowed without me realizing it." She sighed as the reminiscences of Erichthonius flashed again in her head. "Can I ask you something?"

The beast looked up, wondering about her inquiry.

"Have you experienced great pain?"

The wolf mumbled like a little dog, telling her something she now could not define.

"I hope you did not suffer any pain. This is only a secret between me, Nocturna, and another god. I hope you will not tell someone about it, not even the other critters. I am going to tell you about my son, Erichthonius."

With an open heart, Athena finally shared her long-kept secret. She narrated to the wolf the whole story of her son, from birth to death. She smiled at every joyful moment and curved down to a frown at every maddening and sad instant they had been. Talking to a beast seemed to lift off the heaviness from her chest. A Pandora's jar being opened, yet only a benevolent tale of a mother and son.

"I missed him," Athena said. "But I guess I had to carry on with my life now—a thousand years or more. After I lost Erichthonius, I sometimes wished I was like the mortals, naturally flawed yet dead, setting their spirits free from the dread of their corporeal lives. Absurd, but the rhythm of my heart sang for it."

The wolf pitied her as he now understood her grief. He stayed on her lap until the dancing fire went still and the forest outside no longer hummed its mysterious melody.

Not long after, the power of Hypnos began—

It was a fading aurora as her silver eyes gave in to sleep. With the warmth that glided inside the whole cave, Athena finally slumbered after what seemed to be a day of agony.

The wolf, now attached to her, slept beside her and offered warmth with his fur adding more comfort to the goddess. Nocturna kept watch as she gazed at the entrance, preparing herself if some kind of trouble was on the horizon.

The three spent the rest of the night in calm and quiet solitude, letting the crackling of the kindling fire set the whole ambiance.

***

The dawn breaks, rising with the colors of rose gold on the heavens. Though the night bid farewell, the festivities recommenced even merrier since yesterday. Lyres were strummed, flutes were blaring, and a couple of percussions banging as the flow of wine and food never ceased.

With the streak of light piercing through her dreamless sleep, Athena slowly opened her eyes and saw the blinding sunrise welcoming her.

"Is it morning already?"

Looking around, the wolf was nowhere to be found.

Once she saw her fully awake, Nocturna went to her mistress and told her that the wolf left for his daily hunt. Athena understood and decided not to wait for him as someone in Olympus might notice her absence. She hoped that when she returned, the wine would dilute the other gods' senses since she could sneak quite easily.

Before leaving the premises of the sacred forest, Athena gathered some berries and flowers and left them inside the cave as a gift for the wolf.

As she exited the cave, with Nocturna on her shoulder, the little forest creatures ran towards her and gathered flowers and nuts by her feet.

"Are these for me?" She asked them.

Happy and thankful, she accepted their offering and gathered it in her palms. She bid them farewell and finally left for Olympus.

Her heavy feet dragged her lazy body with great effort. Every muscle stretched, every vein burning with adrenaline, and every second of air pumping on her lungs labored. "After we reach home, we shall sleep for more hours, Nocturna." She told her owl.

As soon as the wandering goddess arrived back in Olympus, true enough that everyone was in high spirits—too high that almost every guest was undressed and out laughing to some jests made by drunken centaurs.

Zeus boomed the loudest chuckle while Hera, sitting by his side, rubbed her temples from a headache. Other deities were dancing, frolicking all over like a bunch of maniacs. Athena frowned at the chaotic scene as she hid the thick shadows of the large side pillars of the ballroom.

"This is the reason why I regretted agreeing to this." She whispered.

On careful tip-toe, Athena walked to a passage barren of deities and loitering guests. She was also on guard to see if any prying eyes were darting in her direction. She could not risk being dragged to the celebration, where everyone smelled like desperation and stupidity.

Alas! After surviving the battlefield of wild gods and goddesses, Athena and Nocturna arrived at their chamber.

As peace embraced them and the scent of lavenders kissing their noses, the goddess and her owl decided to go back to sleep and wait until noon came.

The midday struck, and Athena rose from her slumber. Seeing that her owl was still asleep, she let her be and left to inspect if the party was not wild since she arrived.

Yet, as she went to the balcony where she could see everyone, she saw the most rambunctious scene of unruly beings dancing with spilled wines and flowers on the ground. Athena felt a petrifying sensation tingling her spine. Her skin also crawled under her thin dress.

"Goodness! I guess I shall trap myself again." She mumbled.

She moved away from the balcony but accidentally bumped and stepped on someone's feet. "Forgive me," She said, startled by his groan. Athena immediately paced and added, "I have not noticed you—"

However, as she turned to face the stranger, it was her most despised deity of all deities. Ares had a scowl on his brow, clearly annoyed at her. "Athena—" He managed to utter in between gritting his teeth while easing the pain on his toes caused by her heavy foot.

"Oh, it is just you." She mocked. "What a pity. I am so sorry for your toes, oh great god of war—the father of Amazons, the savior of Troy. Do you want me to kiss your feet? They say it can take the pain away."

Ares growled. He did not debate her jest. Instead, he grabbed her hand, took his knife that rested on his side, and sliced her palm—letting her ruby blood flow down onto her skin and his.

"How dare—" Before she could fully react, Ares licked on the cut and bit on it until she screamed.

The god of war was mischievous as he laughed auspiciously at the desecration of the goddess.

Angry and humiliated, Athena grabbed his knife, locked him by the neck, and pointed the knife to his face. "You are in no position to do what you have done! I can kill you right here, right now."

"The sands of time are at its end, Athena. It is you who will regret this." He said while admittingly struggling from her hold.

She did not understand him. "Must be the wine?" She thought. Feeling a bit merciful somehow, Athena let him go. Arguing with a drunken god was futile and far out of her disposition. "You won the argument this time. It would be a shame if I plunged this knife into you, mixing my blood with yours." She almost stuttered as she exclaimed with a brewing vexation.

"Ha! Ha!" Ares chuckled like a deranged person. "Keep the knife, oh beautiful and wise goddess. A gift from an enemy." He sneeringly suggested.