Poseidon whisked himself away into the evening sky, and Artemis trailed his progress over towards the Atlantic, where his dominion lay. If there was any chance to stop the coming storm of war that loomed over Olympus, Poseidon could quell it. Even Zeus feared Poseidon's strength: the same strength that could challenge his claim as King of the Gods.

When she was young, she had been more aligned with her father, against the Sea God. Now… it couldn't have been more different. If Poseidon was forced into war against Zeus, Artemis knew that she wouldn't hesitate to choose her uncle's side. She suspected that it wouldn't come as a shock to some on the council, as she had burned that bridge with Zeus long ago. Zeus though, would never imagine his perfect daughter would go astray. He had still never realized how much she had suffered on that Expedition, and he never would.

Artemis took once more glance at the flames, intent on leaving to find her hunters, when Hestia manifested back into her immortal form, a picture of innocence as an eight-year-old child.

"Out of all of my siblings' children, you have matured the most, Artemis Goddess of the Hunt." Hestia smiled up at her warmly, a cackle of flame following her soothing voice.

"Out of necessity, yes. I have."

Hestia only answered with a gentle nod. Artemis was careful to keep out any obvious emotions of… him or of the Expedition from her mind. Hestia was a kind Goddess, but Artemis knew she was testing her. Probing her for a weakness.

"I do not know what challenges you have overcome, but this fire," Hestia now gestured to the steadily burning logs, "Is not my doing."

Artemis could only stare into the flames, as their warmth transformed into the harsh scorching heat of war. A war over pride.

Artemis sat on the sand, brooding.

The ashen flakes nestled themselves into her hair, carried on the same wind that brought the stench of smoke, and tar. Men and their pride. She had now at last seen Alexander's true colors. The boyish King was a conqueror, nothing more.

The night after her duel with Perseus, the Tyrians had answered Alexander's requests to pray at the Temple of Hercules.

They lopped the head off the Macedonian messenger's neck and dumped his body into the sea from their high walls. In the resulting outrage amongst the Macedonian troops, Alexander had ordered that Old Tyre, the coastal city that sat opposite from New Tyre, be burned.

The screams from the townsfolk echoed into the night. And Artemis could only watch from the sand dunes, as the flames consumed the town. The only retribution that Artemis saw was the execution of a dozen Theban foot soldiers. Perseus had caught and executed the lot for raping two town girls in their burning home. Both were dead in the rubble. She and Perseus had buried the two girls in the sand dunes, overlooking the sea. It was better treatment than the other dead townsfolk had received, in a large burial conducted by Alexander, after his rage had subsided.

During the digging of the two graves, Artemis felt the cold hatred of men seep into her bones, which she turned into a fervor of strong strokes with the shovel, that bit deep into the sand. Perseus hadn't tried to speak, and only followed her actions with a silence that stretched until morning, when he slipped away towards the Macedonian camp, already awakening for the coming siege of Tyre.

And here she sat, staring at the two graves. Such needless loss.

Yet, it was loss that was avenged, thanks to Perseus. She briefly remembered the torch lit proceedings where Perseus read the sentence amidst the blithering Theban soldiers, before personally cleaving off the head of the closest Theban. The rest were similarly beheaded in turn, but the cold lifeless face that Perseus wore never changed.

Artemis looked up to the shining towers of Tyre, seemingly unaffected by the burning of their coastal city. A similar fate awaited them, when the Macedonian war machine knocked down their proud walls. The history of the city was well known, as the unbreakable city. But if Alexander and Perseus were to try, Artemis knew it would fall, in time.

Artemis scowled at the thought. Her grudging admiration for Perseus had to end. It was an apparition, a ruse, thrown at her by Aphrodite. Aphrodite could never make her love, but she could implant feelings that were not her own.

An image of Perseus staring at the scene of the two battered bodies of the girls flashed into her mind. Perseus had always stood with her… hadn't he? Even when she had treated him unjustly those months ago, at the forest meadow…

Artemis inwardly reeled, as she suddenly sensed the subtle magic at work. She was on her feet in an instance, mental wards already shoving out the unwanted intruder.

"Aphrodite, you come into my head again, and I will kill you." Artemis spat, drawing her hunting knives. The sands around her were empty, and the reeds only blew with the light ocean breeze. But she was here.

Aphrodite appeared from the reeds, as gentle songbird morphing into the beautiful goddess herself, clad in a flowing light blue dress that hugged Aphrodite's slim feminine figure.

"Kill me? I'd like to see you try, Godspawn." Aphrodite sneered, "Especially in your… limited form."

"Maybe not now, but one day, you will regret this Aphrodite." Artemis snapped, her hunting knives at the ready.

"How curious, I recall saying the exact same thing centuries ago… your vote for banishment was as convenient as any opportunity!" Aphrodite trilled, "Your bloodlust against men killed some of my finest attendants in Corinth. Consider this banishment as your favor owed to me."

"That was not my fault. They knew that the hunt was as dangerous as I proscribed it to be." Artemis gestured to the two graves, "The same fate could have befallen them here, at the monsters that dwell in civilization." However, as Artemis knew she was safe behind her mental barriers, the thought of the death of Aphrodite's children haunted her once again. They were bright young girls from Corinth, dedicated to their mother in every way. However, they had elected to join her, and the Hunt. A rogue pack of Hellhounds had startled the girls a week later, and they bolted into the forest. Artemis hadn't seen what had befallen them, but she felt the sickening blows to her core as both lost their lives.

Aphrodite shook her head, her eyes blazing, "You promised me that you would keep them safe!"

"I said I would do my best!" Artemis retorted, clenching her fists. 'Hadn't she done her best? What else could she have done?'

"Your argument matters not. You are stuck with these so called 'monsters'… although… maybe not all are monsters in your eyes."

The rapid change in demeanor was the only warning Artemis had, before Aphrodite narrowed her eyes, as if to peer into Artemis's soul.

A searing bolt of pain erupted in Artemis's head, and she quickly recognized it as a mental assault. Artemis clutched her temples as she stumbled back, holding up her mental walls with resolute determination. After a couple of seconds, the pain ebbed away, and Artemis gasped, falling to her knees.

"I'm impressed, even as a mortal, you protected your memories of him. How noble of you."

"I assure you, it wasn't for him."

Artemis got back onto her shaky feet, glaring at the goddess that stood before her. Aphrodite was absentmindedly looking at her nails, hips cocked in a contra posture pose. The Goddess was barely batting an eye, and Artemis found it hard to stand without watching the world spin around her.

"Of course, "Aphrodite conceded, her lips curled in a sneer, "I obtained some of his memories much easier. He is a loyal man, Perseus. For helping you and protecting your identity. A loyal man indeed! What a foreign concept?! A loyal man… to his wife."

"What of it?" Artemis gritted her teeth, trying to get the world into focus. 'How had she fallen so far!' It took all the strength she had to hold up the daggers, let alone trying to maim the vengeful Goddess before her.

"You'll see the humor in a couple of centuries. A loyal man, that you'd wish was not. Love is a fickle thing after all."

"Look into my head again. The only thing you'll see was put there yourself."

Aphrodite laughed, her smile never reaching her eyes. "I do not implant thoughts of love, silly mortal. In the little I saw, is your own doing."

'Wait… her own doing?'

Aphrodite hadn't broken into her mind after all. And that meant…

"It is my own doing." Artemis declared, with the world shifting slowly into focus around her. "I walk my own path on this expedition, and you cannot influence my part in it." She didn't love Perseus. She respected him. And that terrified her.

The admission blew away all the piercing needles that threatened to impale her mind, with their sharp, incessant probing. How freeing it felt! She could challenge her own fears, challenge monsters, across the world! But she couldn't challenge a Goddess. Not now.

"Oh, believe me, I can."

"Then by all means, throw what you want at me. Simurghs, Harpies, Sirens, do your worst. I'd like a challenge from you, Gigante."

Aphrodite took a step towards her, nostrils flared, with her lips curled in a sneer. Another bout of mental jabs pounded into her skull, but Artemis shook them off, finding her mental footing against the blows. She had a purpose now. How hadn't she seen it before? Perseus wasn't someone to be feared… he was a friend. But all she had done was alienate him whenever he was reaching a barrier within herself.

"I told you Aphrodite, stay out of my head."

Artemis watched Aphrodite warily, as she snarled like a frustrated beast, unable to get its prey. Aphrodite could not physically harm her, unless she was willing to break the ancient laws, and be smote down where she stood. But Artemis knew that Aphrodite would never risk herself to be at the mercy of Zeus, and the Olympian council.

Thus, she would live, out of Aphrodite's fear of a similar punishment. She would find the time to laugh later.

"Enjoy your stay here, I'll just go pay Argos a visit."

And the Goddess was gone before Artemis could even blink.

The spasm of terror hit her the next instant, as the hunt flashed into her mind. No…NO!

Artemis looked to the two graves of the Tyrian girls. Her hunters weren't mortal, only she was. Artemis sank to her knees as she watched to dim hours of dawn etch the reds and oranges across the horizon.

"Athena, hear my prayer, protect the Hunt, my Hunters. Please." Artemis found herself whispering. Echoing ocean winds replied, their response whistled through the reeds of the dunes.

"The fire does not respond to me. I can assure you of that." Artemis steeled her features, glaring down into the embered depths. Family, love, kinship? Such things had only brought her suffering.

"Now Child…" Hestia's soothing tones began to fill the air, but Artemis could take no more of it.

"No! My family betrayed me! My mother left me, my father banished me! Who here," Artemis swept her hands over to the empty thrones, amongst the many aided me in my trials? Where do I turn for hope? Family? Kinship? Love- "Artemis cut herself off, her eyes burning.

Hestia looked back into the flame.

"Love."

Artemis couldn't bring herself to answer that, and she stalked out of the throne room without another word towards the Elder Goddess. She had braced herself for pain, but instead of the usual pain, a gentle warmth welled up inside her, like a beating flame. It was love… she knew that. But what was the point? He… he was gone. Artemis felt a curse towards Athena bubble up to her lips, as another panging jolt of loss struck her chest.

The warmth faded, and Artemis twisted her face into a mask of disinterest. Several minor Gods glanced her way, and she scowled back, determined to give them nothing. They didn't deserve to know about him.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Finding the hunters was an easy task. Their signatures blared out to her like a beacon from the halls of Olympus, and Artemis homed in on their signatures before flashing herself down towards them.

Her meetings on Olympus had gone according to plan, but Artemis felt a coming storm in her heart. Even since Athena had spoken with her at the moonlit lake, a growing sense of tension had spiked within her. This…Lightning Thief, a name she had assigned to the unknown figure, could only be the beginning.

The only way to tell for certain was in the wilds. Monster activity would have to be recorded more closely. If she was to find more Drakons, and Basilisks… it could mean only one thing.

She shook her thoughts aside for the time being, as she homed in on the Hunt. They were no longer in New Jersey, at the Garden Emporium, a great relief for Artemis. They were in… Nashville…

The Parthenon.

Artemis rushed through the air, flashing down in the form of a sparrow. She found herself in a wide sunny park, with threatening storm clouds moving in from the horizon. There were dozens of wide limbed oak trees scattered throughout the grassy fields. Mortals ran amok, with their children laughing and playing, seemingly unaware of the gathering storm that would envelop the continent. In the middle of the park, sat the Parthenon. Artemis took a second, perched in the branch of an oak tree, to admire its grandeur. She could almost picture herself back in Athens, where the Parthenon sat on the Akropolis. Its power captivated all who looked upon it, and Artemis had been in her own temple their, alongside Athena and Poseidon at times, basking in the warmth of prosperity…

She hadn't gone back there since the Expedition.

It was with that somber thought that she flew down towards the marble pillars, where mortals sat, eating and drinking. Her hunt was among them, perched on the nearest corner of outer pillars. The mortals paid them no mind, even though they were in their full regalia of gear, wolves included at their sides. Artemis found a small amount of humor in this, as the Mist distorted the image of the Hunt to be a Girl Scout troop, with noisy yapping terriers at their sides.

She swept over them, landing on Phoebe's knee, which was raised as the Elder Huntress lounged on the cool white stone. Phoebe raised her head in question, before smiling.

"Hey, you lot, look lively, we have a visitor!"

Phoebe's exclamation rousing the resting Hunters, as did a well-placed light kick to the sleeping Christina, who had elected to sleep on one of the wide steps. Artemis cocked her head, looking over all of them, as Christina let out a hurried curse as she tumbled a bit. There didn't seem to be any injuries, and all were accounted for.

"Did you have to kick me Phoebe?!" Christina muttered in annoyance, as she stood, dusting herself off.

"I would've tossed you into the dirt, but I cannot stand right now." Phoebe smirked in response, gesturing to Artemis. She gave a little flutter of her wings in response.

"What a brave little bird!" Angelina exclaimed, stepping forward from leaning on a big marble pillar. "Pity you aren't a turkey, or we could eat you."

Artemis surprised a laugh as some of the older Hunters groaned and sighed. Angelina seemed to realize that she had missed something, and slapped her forehead.

It was Zoe, who was shaking her head ruefully, that finally addressed her.

"My Lady," Zoe greeted her, swatting Angelina on the head playfully as she walked forward, bowing her head slightly, "How fared your meeting on Olympus?"

Artemis stepped forward off Phoebe's knee, shedding her disguise, into her natural twelve-year-old form. She smiled at her hunters, "It went well Zoe, I see you have made progress in my absence, how did you cover so much distance in such a short time?"

There was a groan from Angelina as she realized her rather amusing mistake, but Zoe responded instantly, ever her confident Lieutenant.

"We found no one at the Garden Emporium… not even Medusa's remains, so Athena's story must have been true. But we followed a trail of a couple Demigods and a Satyr from the area. One was a daughter of Athena… just as Athena had mentioned. The other Demigod had a weak trace, curious for a son of Poseidon. They have been using public transportation… but we lost them at a train station here in Nashville."

"I see," Artemis paused, thinking things over. Poseidon's words rang in her mind, and she had to be careful on continuing to trail his demigod son. "Are they aware that you have been trailing them?"

"No, My Lady, we have kept our distance. Although, in doing so, I fear we might have lost them."

Phoebe joined in, leaping to her feet, next to Zoe.

"When we got off a train at Nashville, they could have gone several directions. We assumed they would come here, but several other trains and buses were heading to Chicago and St. Louis."

That did certainly make things interesting. The trail that the small party of demigods and their satyr guide took seemed to be tracking Westward. They had to have gone to St. Louis, if not here. Artemis drummed three fingers on her leg, thinking it over. Something was blaring in the back of her head, however, but she couldn't place the feeling… regardless, she cast her gaze over her hunters.

"If they did not come through the Parthenon, St. Louis is their goal. They keep moving West."

"Aye," Zoe responded, "That's what we concluded, but we ran into a small…"

Artemis was in the middle of casting her senses outwards, searching for any signature of Demigods, when she recoiled, sensing the extremely proximity of a terrible monster. She had she hunting knives ready in a flash, causing the Hunt to splutter into action around her. 'How could she have been so foolish to not recognize such a strong presence so nearby!'

"My Lady! We know!" Zoe called, raising an arm, "We didn't leave here because of it… it's taken up residence in the Parthenon."

"Do you know what it is." Artemis spoke quietly, the ever-present warning of such a nearby beast seared into her brain. She had recognized the stench immediately. It was an ancient beast, unlike its fellow kin. It had intelligence, and immortality on its side.

"No… only that it is powerful. We interrogated a Dracanae by the train station. It was fearful of this place." Zoe said, looking more cautious as Artemis met her eyes. She had to have seen the seriousness of Artemis's stance.

"Girls… this is a lair for the Lernean Hydra." Artemis said gravely, looking warily at the marble walls. It had to be inside, lurking in the shadows were the mortals would be clueless. It must've have killed many by now, but it was also smart enough to stay hidden from the picnicking mortals outside it's lair.

Her Hunters muttered and swore, including Zoe, who snapped off two curses in Ancient Greek.

"The Lernean Hydra, as opposed to… a normal Hydra?" Angelina voiced her confusion, and Artemis recalled that though Angelina had fought Hydras before, she had never seen the Lernean progenitor before.

"Yes, the Hydra species had its originator in the Lernean Hydra. It is immortal, and a cunning foe. One that does not forget it's grudges either. We have hunted the Lernean Hydra many times before, when it crawled out of its mountain lairs, reformed and ready to prey on mortals."

Zoe and Phoebe were nodding, recounting their run ins with the Immortal Hydra. Artemis did not like fighting the beast. It offered no reward, and it was a dangerous affair. The Hunt had lost a Hunter last time they had fought the beast.

"How many times as the Hunt killed the Hydra?" Mara spoke up, her bow at her side.

"4, isn't it, My Lady?" Phoebe responded, looking to her.

"4 for the Hunt," Artemis agreed, yet the all too familiar memories of this beast reared themselves, "5 for myself, however."

"What?! Thy has never told me this!" Zoe said sharply, and Artemis smirked, seeing a flash of Zoe's competitive streak show itself for a moment.

Artemis looked at her lieutenant, whose onyx eyes were questioning. But some of her hunters proved to be very astute.

"Wait… does that mean you killed it… during the Expedition with him?" Victoria said cautiously. The girl was a veteran of one of the Lernean Hydra Hunts, that took place in the sewers of London in the seventeenth century, which was one of their more… interesting hunts.

Artemis looked back to Zoe, whose black eyes had a flash of understanding now.

"Yes, I did. If you would like to hear the story, I would be welcome to tell it. We must wait for the cover of darkness to attack the Hydra, with all of the mortals being around during the day.

"But My Lady, the demigods moving west…"

"Will have to wait Zoe." Artemis cut in. "I will not leave a foe such as the Lernean Hydra to remain here, gorging itself of mortals and demigods alike."

That image seemed to put the Hunters in a vengeful mood, including Zoe. She had shared the suffering of watching Hunters die to the Hydra.

"My Lady, where did you fight the beast during the Expedition?" Angelina asked, as she settled back against the pillar.

Artemis too found seating, on the back of a bench, where she could sit and speak to all her Hunters.

"It seems fate has a way of repeating things… for I fought the Lernean Hydra at Tyre, with him at my side…" Artemis smiled fondly, looking at her hands.

Artemis rubbed the course sand into her palms, letting the fine grains clean them of dirt and sweat. She could only trust in Athena now, to watch over her Hunt. No arching pain, nor overwhelming despair had taken hold in her yet. This was a small comfort, as Artemis surveyed the ongoing siege.

It had been some weeks since the burning of Old Tyre, and the beachhead had grown to be a busy place. Dozens of ships were pulled onshore, serving as beach tents and barracks for soldiers. The entire army lay spread out amongst the beach and sand dunes. Some of the men were new, to her vexation, as Phoenician and Macedonian ships sailed in to join Alexander's siege. She had already punched a Macedonian sailor for daring to proposition her as he came ashore. Fortunately, Perseus had been there to turn the rest of the crew away.

She hadn't yet told him of her encounter with Aphrodite, and she almost considered not telling him. He had found her that day after the Love Goddess has disappeared, and she had been… relaxed around him. They had spoken of the senselessness of sacking Old Tyre, and the cost of the lives lost. It was the first sense of Perseus's unease with Alexander.

The emotion only continued with the siege's continuance.

"Cleoxene!" Perseus called, walking up to her from the direct of the beach.

"Perseus… looking clean as ever." Artemis responded lightheartedly, watching his familiar form climb the sand dunes.

He sat down at her side and began to rub sand on is arms and legs. She had dirty hands from freshly sharping her arrows and blades on a whetstone. But Perseus was covered in rock dust and mud from his sandaled ankles to his light tunic and hair.

"Building the mole is hard work, its amazing how far we've come."

Artemis had to concede that point. In front of them both, between two beach ships, there was an earthen walkway that had been taking shape for a week now. It was already two ship lengths long and had the width of two ship decks. It was midday, and there were dozens of men and pack animals shipping dirt and timber from Old Tyre to construct such a passageway."

"I'll remember to give Alexander the credit he deserves." Artemis answered, sourness coming into her voice. They didn't sit far from the two graves they had dug together, and she would never forgive Alexander for their deaths.

Perseus glanced sidelong at her, before turning his attention back to the mole, "You know I had no say in the burning of Old Tyre. I tried to convince him otherwise. He… doesn't listen to me."

That was the sad truth of it. Artemis had stood next to Perseus in another Council meeting, where Alexander had outlined his plans to take the city of Tyre. It was a respectable plan, a long, drawn out siege that reminded Artemis of a python, coiling around its victim in a stranglehold. But then Alexander had expressed that none would leave Tyre alive.

"He's changed, from the boy I remember. He was always bull-headed, but he was never…"

"Cruel?" Artemis finished for him.

Perseus smiled sadly at her, "In a manner of speaking, yes. I know the Tyrians have been assisting the Persians in the naval campaigns… but this feels wrong. To murder everyone in the city over the actions of its oligarchy…"

"This will be a long siege." Artemis reasoned, looking over the progress on the beachhead. While impressive, it would be many weeks until the mole was anywhere near the walls of Tyre. And even then, the Tyrians still had dozens of their own ships that were currently prowling nears their two walled harbors. Yes, it would be a long siege… "A long siege to change his mind." Artemis finished.

"I fear it will only harden his resolve. Aye, it'll be long, but if we cannot take the city quickly, Alexander will grow impatient." Perseus bit back.

They sat in silence after that. But it was… nice. Artemis found the circumstances dampening, but for the past weeks, she had really studied Perseus. He laughed with his men, and the Pellian skirmishers. Alexander lead in the field but did not assist in the construction of siege engines, or the ever-lengthening mole. But Perseus was there every day. She, on the other hand, kept busy by repairing bows and fletching new arrows daily. Mundane tasks, but necessary. She needed something to occupy her time. When she wasn't at the whetstone, she stood at the edge of camp, on the highest dune, watching. There was the absolute certainly that Anahita would send her creations, the Simurgh, after the Expedition again. It was only a matter of when, and where they would strike.

"Lady Artemis," Perseus spoke up, ignoring her cover name as no one was around them, "Do the Gods and Goddesses… change?"

"Change?" Artemis echoed, the question catching her off guard, "What do you mean?"

"Well… I suppose what I am asking is if Gods and Goddesses are affected by mortals." Perseus replied, after a little lapse of silence.

Artemis looked over to him, curious if anything by his inquiry, but he did not meet her gaze, as he stared out over the water.

"I…"

She couldn't find the words. Had she ever been changed by mortals? A rush of the memories she had of Perseus flashed through her mind in a moment. Had he changed her?

"I only ask because, in all of the stories of heroes, The Gods are separated from it all. The consequences of their actions. Ares instilling war… Demeter laying bare the fields… Apollo even, spreading pestilence. Eris. Proliferating chaos." Perseus finished quietly, tones of simmering rage leaking into his voice as he named the last Goddess.

"Perseus…I fear that the Gods and Goddesses are unable to change. It isn't in our nature to change! We are immortal, and cannot grasp the leylines of mortality. When we fade away, there is nothing for us. No afterlife. Just… nothing."

"But…you are mortal. Does that change your view on the world? On me- on mortals?" Perseus asked earnestly, swinging his head to look at her with calculating green eyes.

"I feel that even now, I am apart from you. I am a Goddess. Being cursed to walk as a mortal does not change that. I will not fight mortals unless challenged, nor will I impact this Expeditions outcome." Artemis responded, though the words felt dry in her mouth, like a repeated mantra that she had been forced to read. She furrowed her eyebrows… 'No one forced her to do anything. She was a Goddess!'

"You helped us against Anahita, the Persian Goddess of War." Perseus reasoned, his gaze faltering a little at her response.

"Yes…" She answered slowly, "But you are fortunate that I am a Goddess of the Hunt. Had a Goddess like Athena been cursed to walk here, she could hardly fight alongside you in battle. No, I chose to help you against monsters because the Gods treat mortals like pieces in a game."

"And you don't want to be one of the pieces." Perseus sighed.

Artemis frowned, "Are you disappointed by this?" 'What was Perseus getting at? She felt that she was defending her case properly, but why was she doing so in the first place?'

"It's just… The Gods were always something I believed in but was never in contact with. Like a point of navigation, a star on the horizon. And now… here you are."

"Are you calling me disappointing Perseus?" Artemis cocked an eyebrow. Of all the remarks mortals had made about her in her centuries of interacting with the mortal world… that would be a first. She put aside the small jolt of anger… and indignation at Perseus's unspoken meaning.

However, she ended up hiding a small breath of relief as Perseus laughed lightly, as he sat back, his forearms resting against the sand.

"No, My Lady. Disappointing is not the word I would use to describe you."

"What would you describe me as?" Artemis followed up, before scowling, determined to set one thing straight, "And no more of this 'My Lady.' Just Artemis will do."

That seemed to surprise the young man, and he raised an eyebrow at her.

"You are still a Goddess, you said so yourself. I don't think I would ever walk up to Athena, and greet her without a 'Lady'."

"I've known you long enough Perseus." Artemis smiled lightly, "I think I can trust you with the simple matter of my name. But you are stalling. What would you describe me as?"

"You really latched on to that, didn't you?" Perseus muttered dryly.

"I have to say, I'm curious."

She very much so was. What were the young man's thoughts about her?

"Well…before I tell you… don't kill me down the line at some point, when you are restored to being… well, an Olympian." Perseus began, looking sheepishly at her.

That didn't bode well for him at all.

"I'm listening." Artemis remarked. She drew a hunting knife for good measure, admiring its sharpness.

"Right then…" Perseus seemed to get caught up in staring at her drawn blade, before he regathered his thoughts, "After a while, I have gotten the feeling that you are a very bold, and surefooted Goddess. It was a privilege to fight besides you, as you killed the Chimera…. But."

"But?" Artemis prompted.

"But I feel you are… distant. If that makes sense."

Distant. Artemis internally flinched. She had known that Perseus was astute, and far too perceptive. An instinctive challenge rose to her lips, but it receded as she remembered her own, clear thoughts, when she had expelled Aphrodite from her mind.

'I walk my own path.'

She had no obligations to fulfill any notions of what Gods and Goddesses were supposed to be. Why not open herself up?

"I understand. It's… a habit. To remain closed off from the world. Not only physically, but mentally as well." Artemis admitted, after a brief period where Perseus seemed to be looking for a response.

"Isn't that detrimental though?" Perseus pressed forward, his hands flinging up in a helpless gesture. "As a Goddess, aren't you supposed to be a guide toward mortals. A shepherd even?"

"Perseus." Artemis sighed, and looked at him. He was young, idealistic, and forward. But he had a spark of determination in his eyes that Artemis was drawn to. Something she recognized all too keenly.

"I wish the world was different." Artemis began softly, as she rest her blade on the hot sand. "When I was a godling, I had all the hopes and dreams of the world in my mind. On Delos, with my brother, we dashed about, speaking to any who would listen, any who needed help. I was just a girl, discovering who she was when I met my father, Zeus. And then, there I was, on the Olympic Council. I asked for what I'd wanted since I'd been born: The Hunt! It was, and will forever be, my greatest love in the world. But it came at a price. My first Hunters were my friends, the best of friends. And I had the naivety to believe that their immortality was eternal…."

Artemis took a deep breath, and watched the glistening sea in front of them. "Perseus, I once was the Goddess you thought I would be. But as a Goddess, I had to watch my friends die, my worshippers, advocates… my sacrifices."

"Artemis…" Perseus whispered softly. Artemis knew him as a witty young man, where he was seldom solemn, or quiet. Hearing his soft voice felt like a light wind, that prickled through her hair.

She shook her head in annoyance, "No, let me finish. I understand your questions Perseus. You thought I would be selfless, like many past mortals…like… you. The truth is, all the Gods are selfish. That is what we cannot overcome. Mortals can live good lives, and be blessed… But what of the Gods?" Artemis picked on her blade, and angled the blade to see her amber hued reflection. "No Perseus, the Gods have no reason to change their ways… our ways."

The wind around them whistled softly, driving away the beating sun's heat, and puffy white clouds rode the currents overhead. It was all Artemis could do to avoid Perseus's eyes.

'Had she really said that? Had she revealed what she had been grappling with since her very first moments of being alive? To a mortal?'

"I…" Perseus began, but Artemis snapped her head forwards toward a sudden sound from the beach. Perseus had heard it too. It was a low, rumbling quake, that vibrated the sand which they sat on. Then they heard the screech, and both Artemis and Perseus scrambled to their feet, weapons already at the ready.

The horrid sound pierced the air, driving the peaceful wisps of wind away in an echoing pitched sound that blared across the Macedonian camp. Artemis immediately looked back to the skies, as did other soldiers down below them, fearing another Simurgh attack, but the cloudy skies were clear.

"Artemis! The mole!" Perseus, exclaimed, and he wasted no time in springing forwards off the sand dune, sliding down the steep sand with ease.

Artemis quickly scanned the end of the mole, before she snarled, and joined him. It was a Hydra, a giant one. Its flaying heads reared upwards and screamed challenges to the Macedonian workers on the mole, who were all wisely running for their lives. However, Artemis spotted the mangled remains of at least one worker, torn in half at the claw foot of the beast's massive body.

Alarm bells clanged loudly, and the Macedonian camp mobilized, as Perseus and herself darted through the gathering soldiers. Some were clueless, but many more rushed forwards as well, driving towards the shore like a steadily increasing trickle of a stream.

But Artemis outstripped them all, dodging and weaving through the masses, finding it like navigating the twisting canopies of deciduous trees with the Hunt.

She finally skidded onto the beach, ahead of the rushing crowd, finding collapsing workers at the wide causeway of the mole, along with a hastily formed line of skirmishers… Pellian Skirmishers!

"PELLIANS! WITH ME!" Artemis shouted, her voice carrying over the worried neighs of horses and the shouts of men.

Her voice was instantly recognized by the Pellians, and they turned toward her, just in time as she bolted forward, taking her first steps onto the mole.

She had a clear sight down the constructed land bridge, and saw the beast at the other end. It no longer paid the Macedonians, or herself, any more attention. Its focus was now turned to the mole. The Hydra tore at the rubble and packed earth tearing it apart. Half of its enormous, Trireme sized body was still on the shallow waters of the strait. The other half stomped and slammed itself against the mole. All the while, the hydra had a dozen heads, weaving and biting down at any unsecured material that was dislodged from the mole's seafloor.

Artemis judged her options, as she heard the Pellians arrange themselves behind her, blocking the entrance way of the mole. She could hear… cheering? Distant yells and jeers.

Artemis peered behind the Hydra, and saw tiny shadowed forms atop Tyre's golden walls. The Tyrians had godly friends then. Only an immortal could have called upon a hydra to attack the mole.

And she had no qualms in challenging this attempt.

"Cleoxene!"

Perseus's voice emerging from the yells and whispers behind her. She looked back, and saw Perseus shouldering his way forwards, an assortment of spearmen following him. On the sand dunes behind him, Artemis even saw Alexander, clad in his distinctive plumed helmet, and golden armor, surrounded by his senior generals and companions.

She met the king's gaze, before turning back to Perseus.

"Ever killed a hydra before?" Perseus asked, drawing his sword. Gone was their deep conversation, with understanding eyes and unreadable expressions… Perseus was here to fight.

Artemis shook her head, clearing her mind of the… guilt that had welled up inside her. Now was not the time to revert to that line of conversation.

"Not this one!" Artemis yelled back, casting a quick gaze back to the hydra. It was still preoccupied. She raised her voice again, looking at Perseus and the odd three dozen men that surrounded the both. "Listen up! Avoid cutting off the heads! You do that, two more will take their places. Skirmishers, go for the eyes, blind each head if you can. Spearmen get close if you can… hit the body! Pin the heads to the mole with spears! If you get close enough, stab at the underbelly!"

"You heard the Amazonian!" Perseus called out, raising his sword, "Let's get it done!" The men must've looked up to Perseus, because they followed him with enthusiasm, and Artemis watched them all shoulder forward into formation.

Perseus lead the charge, the twenty spearmen rushing to join him. They all stood abreast, which took up the entire width of the mole. Artemis made sure to follow close behind, leading the skirmishers on with her.

"Lady Cleoxene!" A man ran up besides her, bearing only a sling, "I won't be much use here…"

'There was no time to deal with him…' Artemis was about to snap that any well-placed rock would be just as effective as an arrow… when she paused.

"You are quite right, take a message to Alexander." Artemis said smartly, "Get a siege weapon arranged to fire on the hydra, make it an incendiary shot."

"Do you mean King Alexander—"

"YES, I MEAN KING ALEXANDER" Artemis snarled in response, pivoting from the group, and shoving the man backwards. "Tell King Alexander to ready a siege weapon, and sound it with a horn blast! Go! Now!"

Fortunately, the man sensed her rage, or the urgency of the situation, and scrambled backwards over a section of an Old Tyre mudbrick home. He took off running, passing through more hoplite ranks that had surged forwards, forming a secondary line of defense, if the Hydra was to break through.

The sounds of bows and slings sounded from the mole, and Artemis swore, shifting her attention back to the Hydra. Several of the bow-armed Skirmishers had pulled up a ship length away from the Hydra, and had released a volley of shafts at the beasts.

Artemis counted six arrows that slammed into the Hydra, with one finding a weak pot in the reddish scales, behind the frilled ears of one of the heads.

The Hydra screamed, and swung its twenty-four eyes at the approaching men. It was no longer focused on the mole, and its dozen heads screamed a challenge at the long shield wall that Perseus had erected. Around twenty paces in front of the archers. A javelin man took that opportunity, and hurled his spear. It sailed true, and struck the Hydra in its right shoulder, punching straight through the heavy scales.

'Not bad.' Artemis grinned, as she quickly strung up her bow, having grabbed the black yew bow from her back. It was unstrung, but in a matter of seconds, she had it humming to her touch, ready to use.

She pulled the first shaft out of her quiver when the Hydra charged forward, lurching out of the water. Its legs thundered down on the mole, creating a massive churning wake as the Hydra brought itself fully on land. It bellowed a challenge, the sound echoing through a dozen mouths, that hit her eardrums like a series of crashing waves. Heavy scaled legs dug deep the mole, plunging entire sections into the sandy bottom of the channel. Artemis narrowed her eyes, and drew back her bow, her black shafted arrow nestled under her cheek for a split second.

With the slip of her fingers, she released the bowstring, sending her arrow flying. A flurry of other projectiles flew with her shaft toward the Hydra. Artemis snapped off another shot just as she watched her first arrow slam into one of the Hydra's numerous eyes. The other projectiles all found various marks as well, but it only enraged the beast, and it was almost upon them.

"Doorway! Doorway!" Perseus called from the middle of the Macedonian shield wall. The wavering line held, even as the massive Hydra bore down on the soldiers. Perseus walked along the line, shouting animatedly, encouraging the men.

The Hydra made the last lunge forwards, half a dozen heads arcing down on the Macedonian lines, with its gigantic body plunging forwards in the same motion.

As it did so, the Macedonian line dissolved completely, as the various men scattered to the sides of the mole, creating a gap that the Hydra could not turn from. The Hydra screamed, and it turned awkwardly, all its heads and tails flailing wildly as it chased the individual Macedonian spearmen. Perseus himself dodged the Hydra's zipping tail, that sped through the air at alarming speeds

Artemis watched with wide eyes, as she dispatched another arrow, when one of the spearmen dove too short, and was seized around the waist by a Drakon sized mouth. The man screamed once, before he was torn in two by the gaping mouth, revealing bloody serrated teeth. The head turned toward her, hungry and gaping with a leering gaze, when she fired an arrow, burying the shaft in the Hydra's bright glowing yellow eye. A javelin man to her right found his mark as well, piercing the other eye on the same head.

More missiles rained down on the beast, and at such a close range, a mere stone throw, it was impossible to miss.

Artemis stepped forward, shooting another arrow into the beast, testing its body's defenses, and she snared when her arrow ricocheted from the well armored underbelly of the Hydra. But the scattered spearmen were closing in. Perseus was up in front, dodging any Hydra head that had any vision still. Other spearmen had pile-drove some heads into the mole, holding them there with spears and swords, all being careful to not decapitate any.

But the Hydra was by no means dead, and it made its fury known it a tail sweep that caught two men unawares. The heavy armored tail slashed at the breastplates of both Macedonians, cutting through the armor like butter. Blood splattered against the mole, and coated one of the nearby skirmishers in the splash of gore that spurted from the chests of the two victims.

"CLEOXENE! HEL—" A muted scream from Artemis's left cut off, and she only saw a flash of a diving Hydra head, as a severed set of legs plopped down onto the packed earth.

Artemis swore, and jumped back as the Hydra shook off a dozen spearmen who had pined down five of it's heads. The skirmishers around her scattered backwards towards the Macedonian camp, and even the secondary line of hoplites recoiled.

But Artemis would not give ground. She threw her bow across her chest securing it tightly. The Hydra charged forward, screeching as Perseus desperately tried to slow it. He dashed in from the right side and drove his sword into its belly, spilling a massive amount of blood. But it wasn't enough, and the Hydra was undeterred

Artemis grinned, and met the beast head on. Two of the Hydra's heads swept down to devour her, but at the last moment she spun to the side, stabbing at the nearest lunging head with her left knife. A rush of air blew over her as the cavernous mouth snapped dangerously close, with its rancid smelling breath, but her knife bit, and dig itself into the frilled ear of the Hydra. The head reared back instinctively, but the blade held, and Artemis gripped the handle tightly, allowing herself to be flung upwards. For a full second, she was airborne before she descended, landed directly on the neck of the Hydra. She lost her grip on the imbedded bronze blade, but wasted no time in dashing forwards, balancing perfectly on the unsteady neck. The head connected to her perch coiled upwards, as two more heads noticed her, and she ran forwards, feeling herself being drawn downwards, on the increasingly sloped scaly surface. Another gaping mouth lunged to bite her, but she slid forwards, sliding down the neck of the Hydra towards the confluence of the writhing heads of the Hydra.

The lunging mouth bit deep into the neck of its companion head, and there was a knot of flashing mouths as the beast stumbled, coming to a halt as it sensed an interloper on top of it.

But it was all too late, and Artemis raised her knife from on her back and drove it deep into the Hydra's upper back. The movement and pull immediately swung her around onto her stomach, and she was now held up by her hunting knife, as her weight and speed dragged the blade deep into muscle, flesh, and bones.

After hitting two sharp barriers, Artemis felt her blade snap, and she tumbled downwards, rolling off the Hydras backside. Having slid down the monster's back, she landed on the mole with enough force to drive the air from her lungs.

She landed on her back, gasping, clawing feebly at her leather chest plate as her lungs were devoid of air. After several moments of seeing flailing tails and the shadow of the Hydra overhead, she sucked in a massive breath that sent the darkened corners of her vision away, only to see a massive foot loom above her. She cursed, and desperately rolled sideways, her breath running dangerously short still. The titanic foot slammed down into the mole just inches away from her head, sending bits of stone, water, and dirt pelting at her face and body. She was blinded, and felt dozens of small gashes from the pelting. Instinctively, she dragged herself away from a second stomping, when she heard footsteps, and the sound of a blade striking deep into flesh.

'Perseus, of course, who else would come to her aid?'

Her vision cleared, and she saw Perseus standing in between her, and the back foot of the Hydra. He had discarded her shield, bearing only his blade, which he had hilted into the Hydra's thigh. The Hydra's thigh looked mangled and useless, as the blade has cut through most of the muscle there. Perseus pulled the blade out with a flourish, which sent a spurt of blood that washed over him; He slashed again, striking the beast's knee, which bit deep into bone, despite the armored scales. Other spearmen from the first and second lines renewed their assault, and half a dozen spear thrusts found their way into the monster's torso. Blood poured from a dozen wounds from the Hydra, with much of it spilling down from the five-meter-long gash that was carved into its back.

Artemis shook her head, and stumbled to her feet. In the struggle to avoid the Hydra's clawed foot, she had found herself near the edge of the mole. Another roll, and she would have been subjected to an unforgiving drop into saltwater.

But it still wasn't over. The Hydra shook itself angrily, and tried to break free, using its sightless heads as impromptu battering rams against hoplites, and its tail sliced two more Macedonians who tried to slash its other back foot. It was a bloodbath, even when they had subdued the Hydra. Artemis was about to join Perseus, who looked as if he was going to climb on to the Hydra's back, when there was a deep horn blast, that echoed over the water.

Artemis froze, and looked toward the Macedonian camp.

There was a catapult stationed at the beginning of the ramp, with a burning projectile sitting on the rail. Alexander himself stood on one of the catapults beams, with a torch raised, waving it towards the struggling fighters at the end of the mole.

Others around them understood the message, and Artemis made to run towards the end of the mole where the hydra had come from, to get away from the beast, she saw that Perseus hadn't stopped.

"PERSEUS!" Artemis screamed, throwing her useless dagger hilt down, as she watched him scramble up the back leg of the Hydra. A dim image of a flying burning missile entered the fringes of her vision, as she rushed forwards.

He was already halfway up the leg, but Artemis took a running leap, flying high enough to snap her fingers around his breastplate.

Perseus let out a muffled curse, as Artemis slammed him into the scaled hide of the Hydra, and he rocked to steady them, on the upper thigh of the monster. Artemis ignored him, and pulled trying to get him off the Hydra while she clung to him.

"YOU IDIOT! GET OFF" He was going to kill them both! Of all the stupid ways to get killed, she would die because of a mortal who was too dog-headed to let go of a Hydra!

"YOU GET OFF—" Perseus screamed back, before he was cut off by a flash of light. The Hydra's numerous heads that coiled above them burst into flames as a canister of oil and stone exploded overhead. Searing heat washed over Artemis, and Perseus's hair and tunic caught fire, as shards of stone and splotches of oil went everywhere. The Hydra in turn, screamed a horrible sound, and lurched backwards, towards the edge of the mole in a desperate attempt to flee.

Perseus yelled in shock, and he lost his handhold on the Hydra in the same moment as Artemis kicked off the scales with her feet, dragging Perseus with her as they both crashed into the waters of the strait.

Artemis grabbed hold of Perseus in the air as they tumbled, before they plunged into the water together.

Perseus hit the water first, and Artemis shut her eyes as they impacted against the surface. They were immediately swallowed up by the churning wake, and to Artemis's surprise, there was another jolt as Perseus hit the sandy bottom of the strait.

Artemis recovered, and tugged on Perseus, who was still unmoving at the bottom of the strait, sword still in hand. Artemis swore to herself. 'He was unconscious!'

She made a quick stroke to the surface, and gulped in a fresh breath of air before diving back down to the bottom. Sand was churned up from the debris and their own impacts into the water, making it murky. Her eyes stung as well, as the saltwater got into her eyes, yet she slipped her arms under Perseus's own, and planted her feet on either side of him, pulling him off the bottom with all her strength.

Fortunately, he weighed less in water, and he came easily. Even better, she found that she could stand at this depth, and she resurfaced, with the lapping waves coming up to her neck. Artemis coughed, blinking quickly as she gripped Perseus, steadying him so that his shoulders and head were out of the water. Still though, head eyes were closed, and his head lolled forward.

"Come on you idiot!" Artemis snarled, and with one hand she repeatedly slapped his breaded cheek. "I didn't save you, just so you could go and die!"

Perseus suddenly retched, his eyes shooting open as a mouthful of saltwater came out of his throat. Artemis gripped him as his legs stiffened and his body shook, as it tried to orient itself. He kept coughing, a hand coming to his throat. His other hand dropped his sword, and she felt him grip her own hand, that held him around the chest.

Artemis blinked once, before pushing him away, sending a small wave of water at Perseus, which slashed his head. She let out an inner sigh of relief, as when he hadn't immediately responded, she had feared the worst.

Perseus let out a final cough, easily keeping his footing in the should high water. He turned toward her in amazement.

"You saved me…" Perseus murmured, softly, as he wiped him mouth with his hand.

"Yes, I did!" Artemis shot back, her anger fresh. She glanced up to the mole, looking for the Hydra. There was only a mangled carcass, that burned bright, belching black smoke into the sky. "You should have let go! Why didn't you let go!?" Artemis angrily slashed him. Her newfound friend had a suicidal death wish!

Perseus paused, looking puzzled, wiping his face again from water, "I…"

"Nevermind that!" Artemis seethed, turning in the water, "Just follow me."

She waded forward to the edge of the mole, making sure to find good foot holds. Two submerged wooden beams served as a good stairway, and she hauled herself out of the water, coughing as a cloud of smoke billowed her way.

The Hydra was very much so dead. The carcass was massive, taking up three quarters of the width of the mole, stretching almost twice that distance length-wise. Other survivors ambled over. Many had the same idea as Artemis originally did, by running in the direction of Tyre along the mole. Others too had found their way into the water. But Artemis could only count a dozen, from the original forty or so who had met the Hydra head on.

"Perseus! Perseus!" A familiar voice called out from beyond the smoke, and to Artemis's surprise, she saw Alexander striding through the smoke, walking on top of the dead Hydra's back. His eyes met with hers, and in that moment, Artemis felt a little sympathy for him. Hatred pooled in her gut for his actions at Old Tyre, but he also seemed to care for his old friend.

Artemis turned around, and looked for Perseus, who by all rights, should have been stepping onto the mole behind her, but he wasn't there. She stared at the submerged wooden beams for a second, before turning back to Alexander.

"Cleoxene! Where is Perseus?" Alexander stepped forwards. An increasing number of Macedonians had joined their young king. There were at least a hundred now in view, and only more were moving in. The veteran survivors had a lot of wounds between them from the fight, and some staggered forwards, and even dropped to the dirt in shock.

"He was right behind me…" Artemis paused, looking at Alexander. Hephestion had joined him, and Artemis recognized at least three other Companions, including Kleitos, alongside Alexander. "He is fine—"

"I got it!" a muddled voice called from the water, and Artemis turned, along with a substantial number of the gathering crowd to see Perseus stepping out of the water, with his sword in hand.

Artemis scowled. Of course, the stubborn man had gone back for his sword.

Perseus easily stepped onto the mole, and sheathed the gleaming bronze blade into his scabbard, somehow being unscathed. Alexander stepped forward, and grasped Perseus's forearm, while slapping him on the shoulder.

"Aren't you a welcome sight Perseus! I come out from inspecting the horses when I hear that there is a Hydra loose on the mole, and there you are, leading a charge onto the mole already!"

Perseus smiled ruefully, and nodded to his King, "I was close Alexander, I know you would have done that same if you were there." Some of the new coming men had stepped forwards and were giving water to the beleaguered men who had survived the whipping tails and snapping heads of the Hydra. Artemis watched them closely, looking to her own hands. The plunge into the water had washed away much of the blood and gore, but red stains splattered up her arms like faded scars. Needless deaths, she had remembered saying at the Battle of the Issus. When had she seen the deaths of mortals to be needless? Was Perseus… right?

Suddenly, Perseus's voice drifted back into her ears.

"—the praise shouldn't go to me for this victory Alexander, Cleoxene deserves it!" Perseus exclaimed, pointing to her. Artemis felt her eyes widen, as she looked at Perseus, and quickly looked away from the warm expression she saw there.

She looked to Alexander instead, "I didn't do much—"

"Cleoxene led the attack when the Hydra broke free, and climbed onto the beast! Then she saved my life when that catapult shot crashed in." Perseus continued, and around him, the other Macedonians voiced their approval, especially the surviving skirmishers. More had appeared, clamoring through the smoke, and Artemis was slightly relieved to see that not as many had died as she had feared.

"It seems out resident Amazonian deserves just reward then! Cleoxene?"

Artemis thought it over, before shrugging lightly, cooling her features down, "Some new hunting knives. I lost both fighting the Hydra." She checked her bow and quiver quickly. Her bow was still intact, but she had lost all her arrows… somewhere. However, it was easy enough to replace the arrows. The bow, a gift from Apollo, was another matter. The peeking sun, having been hide for awhile behind a cloud, suddenly shown down in full force, and Artemis felt the watchful presence of her twin above her.

"Hunting knives? Consider them a gift then." Alexander nodded to her, before turning to the larger crowd.

The young King stepped forward onto the smoking corpse of the Hydra, and addressed the army surrounding him. "Macedonians, fellow Greeks! This Hydra was sent by none other than the Tyrians, who have mocked us so. First, they butcher our messenger. Now, they send monsters to strike us instead of meeting us in fair combat? Such cowardice cannot be tolerated. We will burn our dead tonight. We will burn the valiant who did not hesitate to step forward, whom did not hesitate to lay down their lives for this noble cause. For this, there can be no quarter, no forgiveness: Tyre must be taken! And it will be done!" A rousing cheer thundered off the mole, and continued through the Macedonian camp. It was so clear and loud that Artemis had no doubt that the Tyrians in their high walls could hear the battering cries of war.

The Tyrians had made a mistake in summoning a Hydra to strike the Macedonian Expedition. Artemis had made the agreement months before that she would combat any monster that threatened the Expedition. Now, Artemis had aided in bringing about the end of Tyre, even if by one small measure.

Artemis looked briefly for Perseus, but she did not see him in the crowds. She debated on looking for him, but then she remembered his warm tone in praising her, and his wide eyes as he had realized that she saved him. It might be best for her to avoid him for a bit. Her prior guilt reared up again, and she internally flinched. Hadn't she said that the Gods were selfish? And now, she had risked herself to save Perseus. She wondered briefly what he thought of her now.

Artemis paused once more, looking back to Tyre. Alexander and his companions, after briefly discussing things, had walked back to the Macedonian camp. Only the men who tended to the wounded and the dead remained on the mole for now, along with the Hydra's carcass. She didn't spare it another glance, and began walking back to her tent. She had a hunch that she would find Perseus there. Perhaps, if she was lucky, he wouldn't be in a talking mood.