The young demi-god trampled through the forest, he had two rabbits in his hand and a bow and quiver slung over his shoulder. He made his way back up to his dusty mountain cabin, kicking open the door and dumping the rabbits on a small table, he removed the bow and quiver from his back coming to a stop in front of a partially shattered mirror. He stared at his own reflection, his green eyes rimmed with dark circles, his dark hair was shaggy and almost covered his eyes, he took a knife from his belt and grasped some of his longer hair and was about to cut through when he felt a presence behind him. In one swift move he spun throwing the dagger towards the intruder.
The blade was caught easily by the woman that stood before him, he studied her for a moment, her blonde hair cascade down her shoulders and her eyes were alight with amusement. She seemed to radiate a glow which only came from one being
"Lady Aphrodite" he bowed slightly
The goddess smiled back at him
"Hello Markos Lutz, I am in need of your aid" she said sweetly
And so Markos found himself sat across a grimy little table from the goddess of love and beauty, he couldn't help but think she was really out of place in his cabin, Aphrodite looked around the little dusty place before her dazzling eyes settled on Markos, she took in his features, his scruffy beard and tangled black hair
"You do look so much like your father Markos, especially in his younger years" she tilted her head slightly she still held the dagger in her delicate hands "Apart from the messiness of course"
Then she snapped her fingers and a weird sensation radiated through Markos
"That's more like it" the goddess smiled
Markos looked down and he was in clean new clothes, a black button down shirt and dark jeans, he ran a hand through his hair finding it shorter and slightly styled, his beard now a light stubble. He could also smell a slight cologne, he looked back up at the goddess who was still smiling at him.
"Er… thank you" he said unsure of what exactly she wanted "You said you needed my help"
Her smile faltered slightly "Yes indeed, well it's about your father Markos"
"What of him" Markos said with a slight bitterness
"He is missing"
"Missing? My father is the loudest of all the gods of Olympus, how can nobody not know where he is?" Markos voice was level "Have you spoken to Clarisse, she speaks to him more than I"
Aphrodite shook her head "I came straight to you, he talks about you the most, he may never admit it but you are his favourite child Markos" she was quiet for a moment before continuing "I have looked but my husband is keeping a close eye on me, if word was to get out that the god of war is missing then some might try to attack Olympus"
Markos nodded, he thought for a moment "Where did you last see him?"
The goddess blushed slightly "Our last rendezvous was two weeks ago, we went to Napa Valley to one of Dionysus's holiday residents" she smirked "He doesn't go there much anymore, the wine turns to water when he is there, not good for business"
There was a sudden shake of the earth and Aphrodite sighed and rolled her beautiful eyes "My husband is looking for me, I have to go now" she winked at the younger demi-god and blew him a kiss. And with that there was a poof of pink smoke and she was gone.
"Helpful" he grumbled to himself.
Markos stood there for a moment thinking, the god of war was missing and the only thing he had to go on was his father's not so secret affair with Aphrodite in the Napa Valley. He looked at himself in the mirror once again, his skin was now clean and his hair was styled with some sort of invisible gel. He ran a hand through it ruffling it back to a slightly more messy state that he was used to, he looked down at his clothes and decided to change into more suitable attire. As he removed the black shirt he felt the regular pain of his back and his mind flashed back to when he had been judged by Themis goddess of Law for his crimes against Hades, even after all this time, the years that have passed he still felt the pain like the cuts were new. Another nasty trick of Zeus so Markos would always remember not to trifle with the gods again.
He packed a rucksack full of food and weapons, he kept a concealed dagger at his hip and another in his boot. He took one last look around the small cabin, wondering when he might see it again. It might not be much but it had been his home for a long time now. With a deep breath he stepped out into the rain, he looked up, the clouds were dark. Something was troubling Zeus once more, it was any wonder they didn't have a thunder storm constantly over the U.S.
The last he heard Clarisse was still in Nevada helping out Gleeson at the Wilderness School, Markos was currently residing in South Dakota it was a good days travel by mortal vehicles. But Markos did not have that sort of time, he needed a fast way. He took a deep breath and using his fingers whistled, the sound carried across the hills, there was a moment of silence, but then in the distance there was a howl. Not long after that heavy footfalls drew closer, then through the trees bounded a war hound of Ares. It was 6 feet tall and had a very muscular body, it's fur was a deep red, when it stopped before him it bowed it's head knowing that Markos was a son of it's master.
"Do you know where your master is?" Markos asked scratching the beast behind it's pointed ear, the hound let out a low whimper, Markos sighed "I didn't think so"
He patted it's broad shoulder and leapt up onto it's back, instantly a black leather strap appeared around it's neck and he grasped tightly knowing full well the speed at which these beasts could go.