Chapter 2: Cerberus
The porthole opened into a dark cavern. Morpheus guided the steed through a series of caverns. Raven remained quietly defiant. The steed's footsteps echoed in the caverns providing the only sound.
"We have a long ride ahead of us," Morpheus finally spoke. "It might help pass the time if we could talk. My steed's not much of a conversationalist." Their mount turned its head slightly and grunted, then continued to slowly trot along.
"I agree with him, whatever he said," Raven coldly replied.
"I don't think what he just said would come out of a lady's mouth," Morpheus replied with a slight laugh.
"Why don't you fill me in on where we're going?" Raven countered.
"To the underworld, silly," Morpheus replied.
Raven paused for a second then dryly added, "Funny, you don't look like death. You're a bit overweight and missing your scythe."
"That's because I'm not." Morpheus said in annoyance. "I'm in charge of dreams and prophecy. I'm just running an errand for my Dad."
"Your Dad?" Raven asked.
"Yea, you know Hades, lord of the underworld," Morpheus answered. "Sorry about the transportation, you'd think my Dad would let me take the chariot. He never lets me use it," Morpheus said in sudden disgust.
"Sounds like you have issues with your father," Raven countered.
"I think you can relate to that," Morpheus replied.
Raven did not reply. Mentioning her father always brought up mixed emotions. Morpheus pulled lightly back on the reigns bringing them to a stop. He quickly dismounted, pulled the reigns over the Nightmare's head and led the stead further into the cavern.
"What's going on?" Raven inquired half curiously.
"Cerberus," Morpheus tersly answered. "You'll see. Can you hold on to this for me?" Morpheus pulled a white towel out of his jacket and held it up to Raven.
"Sure, I guess," Raven reached down and took it from Morpheus.
Morpheus walked out several yards ahead of them and peered into the darkness. "Cerberus, come on boy. Where are you?" Morpheus called out . His voice echoed in the cavern then silence ensued. Morpheus put his hands on his hips and stared into the empty space in front of him.
From the back of the cavern a faint panting noise arose and then the fast scraping of paws filled the air. A dark hulking three-headed form emerged from the darkness. Eager yelps came from Cerberus' various heads.
"Hey Cerberus, where's that toy I brought you?" Morpheus questioned the great beast. Cerberus focused on Morpheus momentarily then bounded off to one side of the cavern. "Go get it boy," Morpheus cried out in encouragement. Moments later the great beast emerged. Two of the heads were grasping a large trash truck, while the other head yelped happily.
The truck fell with a crash in front of Morpheus. Cerberus sat down behind it and two of its head contentedly gnawed on the truck while the other yelped then began enthusiastically licking Morpheus; the beast's large tongue knocking him off balance.
"Ok boy, knock it off will ya," Morpheus pleaded. Cerberus stopped then its one head began groaning in earnest. "All right, but just for a minute, I've got to get back home." Morpheus walked around to the beast's side and began rubbing. Cerberus's other heads stopped chewing and began contentedly growling and yelping.
Raven looked on in morbid curiosity at this strange scene. "Someone pinch me because I must be dreaming," she half said to herself. The Nightmare grunted and shook its head in reaction to her comment briefly startling its rider. Raven leaned forward and unconsciously began stroking the beast's neck.
Morpheus stopped rubbing Cerberus' side, gave a couple of hard smacks for good measure then turned back and began walking to his mount. He stopped short and held his hand out. Raven threw him the towel. Morpheus caught it and began drying himself off.
"That's pretty gross," she called down to Morpheus.
Morpheus vigorously scrubbed his head dry then pushed the towel against his face and pulled it around to get the back of his neck. "Are you kidding? The mouth is the cleanest part of that beast. Do you know how long it's been since he's had a bath? Beside he doesn't get much company." Morpheus finished toweling himself off, pulled the reigns over the Nightmare's head and handed them to Raven before remounting. Morpheus then took the reigns, pressed his heals back lightly and the Nightmare continued into the cavern leaving Cerberus contentedly chewing on his trash truck.