I see a single stroke of lightning going above our heads and hitting the creature in front of us in one of it's faces, the thunder resulting from my dad's attack being heard shortly after. The twins shoot one arrow each at the same time, both of them hitting one of the eyes as Hephaestus thumps the body with the hammer, Ares arrives with a labrys axe, jumps and cuts two heads at once. For our luck, it's not a hydra, but a ladon. I always tough that there was only one, the one who protects the Golden Apples, and that it was not a monster hard to defeat, but I was clearly mistaken. This one is at least ten times bigger than the original and his skin is also thicker. I go behind one of the nearby constructions and walk carefully until I have a clear view from behind it, preparing to strike.
But something holds me back. Physically.
I look at the person holding my clothes firmly, recognizing Aphrodite right away. Trying to get out of her grasp, I move and open my mouth to speak but she cuts me off.
-They can deal with it, Thena. You have to go, don't you?
-How do you-
-You can be better than me reading texts, Thena, but I can read hearts, and I would never not want you to follow yours. Here. - she lets me go and gives me a sack, smiling when I take it - Hephaestus prepared some things that you would need, but he is a fool in anything that is not about his work, so I put everything else.
-I... - looking at her, no words come out of my mouth - ...thank you...Dite...
-Well, you using my nickname it's something new.
-...but I cannot let them!
-Of course you can. - she takes my shoulders, turns me and walks, taking me to the edge - You just need...a little push.
Then, I feel myself loosing balance as she shoves me. Her hands go to her girdle, taking two long whips that come out of the gem and turning back.
I fall. At first it feels slow, by body suspended on air for some seconds, until gravity acts on me.
Hitting the ground, I brace myself and hold the bag in my arms, rolling for some time and stopping as I hit a tree.
When I look to the top, my mind questions the next step for some seconds. I could go back to help, but this can also be the last opportunity to get out of here. As my sister-in-law said, they can for sure deal with it. Holding onto the trunk and getting up, I look below me, to the forest, a little city far away, and start to run. Go as fast as I can to it's direction, which is really fast running down the hill. Nothing stops me in the way, it's like I was made to do things like this, getting full speed and avoiding obstacles as I go, even using what should disturb me in my way as a advantage, using rocks to launch me towards my goal and branches to slow me down just enough for me to not trip.
This time I don't feel like the youngest princess or the little sister. I know that, if I was a mortal, I could not do half what I'm doing the way I'm and this makes me have conscience: I'm a goddess.When I get to the base and hit another tree with my back I cannot help but laugh. Two thousand, nine hundred and seventeen meters or nine thousand five hundred and seventy foot...and I'm not even tired. Part of it is for sure cause of the adrenaline but who cares?
I contain my happiness while walking to the city I saw earlier, hanging the bag on my shoulder, realizing I left the sword at the top of the mount. This make me sigh and roll my eyes in annoyance. I cannot go back now, just hope that my brother found a way to put a weapon in this small sack, or at least some coins, and that is what I check, opening the object Aphrodite gave me as I sit. There is some money in there, the package decoration letting me know that the love goddess put it here, a box with Hephaestus symbol in it, some clothes, two small daggers in holders, ambrosia and a canteen with I suppose that is nectar inside.
Putting the bag where it was before, I keep walking until I reach the city. I can at least get a place to stay tonight and plan what to do next, so I research the prices until get to a conclusion. I come back to the cheapest decent inn, but in the balcony there's a different person from the mister that was there before. There is a woman with her back turned to me, she looks at my direction, making me freeze for some seconds.
I recognize her, from two of my dreams. Her skin, her green eyes and blonde hair, her facial characteristics. There is no doubt. She also looks surprised, but recovers quickly.
-In what can I help you this afternoon?
-Oh. right. I want to rent a room for the night, if that's possible.
-That would be four coins.
-Wait, the other guy said it was six.
-Do you want to pay more?
-No. Thanks. - I take the money and stop before giving one her more coin - You can keep one for you.
-Oh. Okay. - she puts it in a pocket, the payment for the room going under the balcony.
-I am...
-...Athena. The princess of Olympus, right?
-I don't usually use this title but yes, that is me.
-Right. - she gets in front of the wood structure, gesturing for me to follow her after getting a key - I will show you your room.
I walk behind her in silence for some time.
-How do you knew who I am?
-Well, we all heard about the girl that got out of Zeus' skull and her appearance. Someone with a divine aura, dark hair, grey eyes, no freckles and younger than all the others gods and goddess can be just one person. - we get in front of a door that she opens, I get in and look at her.
-But I didn't get your name.
-I am Medusa.