Chapter 14: Caudus' Offer
The next day, the Cerberus woke up. It yawned and looked at its son, who was still asleep. Argentum smiled as it stood and ran out of the cave, heading into the forest to hunt. Ares and Athena were next to wake up. They noticed Argentum missing, but didn't panicked. He had done that to them before. Sure enough, he showed up half an hour later, just as his son started to stir. The Cerberus went into the cave with dead animals in its mouths. It looked at them as they left, and it began to eat its meal. Flamma moved again, and Argentum perked up, but she went right back to staying still. The Cerberus growled and continued to eat. Once it was done, it snarled and ran into the forest again, howling. Ares heard this and sighed.
"What's wrong with it?" Athena asked her husband.
"My guess, it's frustrated about Flamma. I hope she wakes up soon. I care a lot about her, and we need her to fight Mars," Ares said.
Athena nodded. "What should we do?"
"There's got to be something we're missing. We already saved her life, but there must be something that will wake her up," Ares said. He then heard Caudus' voice in its head.
Don't mean to intrude, but I may have something, it said.
What is it? The wolf asked.
You know how sometimes the thing that attacks someone, could be the cure to helping them? Caudus asked. Well, the only cure to hydra venom is to obtain a scale from the same hydra that poisoned the victim, and have them swallow it whole. It will dissolve and the victim will be healed.
We'd have to get a scale from you, Ares said.
Easy. Just come by the portal and you can take one. I'll make sure Mars and the others aren't following me, the hydra said. The wolf nodded and vanished. It reappeared next to the portal as the hydra walked out. It looked at Ares and growled. Even though I know, I must ask as the Guardian why you want to enter the Underworld, Caudus said, which made Ares chuckle.
"To cut a scale from you and save a friend."
The hydra nodded. It vanished as Ares followed it through the portal. Apparently, the moment you become the Guardian, you know all the rules and procedures as Guardian. It's really confusing, Caudus said.
"I understand," Ares said. "Now...what do I do?"
Pretty simple. Just rip a scale off. I don't mind, the hydra said, and lowered its neck. Ares nodded and bit down on the hydra, ripping off a scale. It roared in pain and nodded as its wound healed. There. Now hurry. I can sense Hades coming.
The wolf snarled and vanished. The hydra closed the portal as it looked around. Hades walked up to it. What was that? Who did you let in? The Cerberus snarled.
I don't think that's any of your business, Caudus said, growling slightly and standing tall over the Cerberus.
The Cerberus as it looked at the hydra, which turned its back to Hades. It growled a little as its nine heads looked around the Underworld.
What a pain, Hades said to himself, before he stumped off, making Caudus snicker a bit.
The hydra followed him. So, what are we going to do down here? It asked.
Hades looked at it. What do you mean? I thought you wouldn't listen to me.
It shrugged. I'm still your servant, I just have free will now.
The Cerberus nodded. Very well. Help me look for anything that could report back to Sonic. We don't need spies out here, other then you, Hades snarled.
The hydra nodded. "I'll do that," it said, and followed the Cerberus. They came to the chamber and went inside to see Persephone. The goddess looked at them.
"What happened out there? It sounded like quite a racket," she said, smirking.
Ares and the others came to get Licnus, Hades growled. However, we have gained a new servant. This hydra is now the new Guardian of the Underworld. It will serve us well.
The hydra bowed as it looked at them. Don't get me wrong though. I hate all of you, it said, in a mock, polite tone.
They chuckled and nodded.