Cindy whistled as she made her way towards the forest. She had been excited to show the latest volume of Heartstone Bound Girl to Makaria. She'd managed to get the goddess hooked on the series, and they had binged it up to the latest chapters. Now coming here each month to share the newest volume had become somewhat of a ritual for them.

Cindy loved having someone to share her love of shoujo with, and Makaria just seemed to enjoy having company in general. As she got closer to their meeting spot, she began sensing something nearby. She stopped dead in her tracks, a curious look on her face. It wasn't another ghost, she could tell that much. But if she picked up on it must have been something… well, big.

She usually couldn't pick up on other supernatural beings that weren't ghosts of gods very well, but this one was definitely on her radar. And… it felt a lot closer than before. It was moving towards her, and fast!

"RAWR!"

Cindy gasped and then quickly in intangible, phasing into the ground seconds before the massive figure came shooting out of the shadows and swiped at her with its paws. It dug up quite a big of the ground beneath it, but she managed to get out of the way before any harm could come to her.

She rosed back up and took in the sight of the beast before her. It was a large hulking hound the size of a building, with fur as black as night. It's fur was standing and looked jagged, like it could cut through whatever it rammed into. And it's claws were as sharp as any sword. What stuck out to her most however were the six pairs of piercing red eyes glaring down at her.

The three headed hound growled and it made its way towards her, and she backed up and held her hands up. "Whoa there, hold on. I have a feeling I know who you are, and I think we might have the same friend… at least I really hope so." There weren't all that many tales of three headed hounds in ancient mythology, and considering this is where she met Makaria she figured he had to be who she thought it was.

The hound snarled at her and got ready to charge again, and Cindy prepared to defend herself. But suddenly a figure touched down in front of them both. "Cerberus! No! Bad boy! Very bad boy!" Makaria shouted, pointing at him. The hound slid to a stop, eyes not wide as the young goddess gave him a stern glare.

They halted right in front of her, and then lowered their heads and let out a sad whine. Cindy let out a breath of relief as Makaria stepped forward and pointed at the middle head. "Father told you that you can't just go lunging at strangers like that. Do you want to go back to the Underworld? Because if you don't behave that's what's going to happen," she said.

Cindy raised an eyebrow. This was probably the most assertive she had ever seen Makaria be. And it was towards this… well, frankly terrifying beast. "So that really is Cerberus huh? Guardian of the underworld," Cindy asked.

Makaria looked over her shoulder towards her friend. "I'm so sorry. He's usually not… okay, well he is, but it's complicated," she said shaking her head. Cerberus' job was to make sure nobody ever left the Underworld, and he performed that duty loyally. If anyone entered, he was fine. But the moment someone tried to leave, he did everything in his power to either drive them back, or eliminate them.

At the gates of the Underworld things were simple for him, but outside of it he tended to get a little confused. How he reacted to anybody could be a coin toss. "It's fine… can I go near him now or is he still gonna try to eat me?" Cindy asked wearily.

Makaria patted Cerberus on the head. "Cerberus, Cindy is a friend. You are nice to her, you hear me?" she said. The three heads all barked before looking towards the stranger before them. Cindy flinched at his gaze, but Makaria raised her hand. "It's okay, he'll behave now."

Cindy stepped forward and then reached out to touch him. His fur felt unexpectedly soft, and now that he wasn't all riled up and ready to attack, he actually looked rather cute. "Wow, this is… I mean just wow. Cerberus. Isn't he supposed to be guarding the underworld?" she asked.

Makaria nodded. "He is, but every now and then my father wants to give him a chance to stretch his legs and go outside. So he has one of us cover for him to perform his duties," she explained. "Usually I'll cover while my brother takes him, but since I've been out a bit more lately he thought I should take him."

Cerberus sniffed at Cindy, who let out a giggle. "Your brother huh? You never mentioned him before. Are you two close?" she asked.

Makaria hummed. "We're on good terms I suppose. We don't get to spend as much time together as we did when we were younger. He has his own job, and I have mine. We chat whenever we get the chance, but… well, he's not much of a talker honestly. It's mostly just me filling him in about what's going on," she explained.

Cindy looked curious. "Have you told him about Dorado and me?" she asked. She wasn't sure if it was a good idea for her to be talking about them to the other gods. At least not about Dorado anyway. The Greek history with titans was a bloody one, and if they ended up finding out about him things would get messy.

Then again, Makaria didn't seem to have the same grudge against them as the others, so maybe he family didn't either. "I only told him about you. I even asked about your brother since he travels around more than I did. He didn't hear anything unfortunately," she said, shaking her head. She hadn't told her because… well, what was the point in bringing bad news that wouldn't change anything.

Cindy put a hand on her shoulder. "Well, I appreciate you trying anyway." It was the fact that she tried at all that meant something. "Since you didn't tell them about Dorado I'm guessing your family doesn't take too kindly to titans either."

Makaria looked down with a frown. "My mother and father are fine with them, but my brother… he has a pretty complicated past with them. And he can be a bit overprotective sometimes too. I'm honestly not sure how he would react to it."

Cindy hummed. She hadn't meant to bring down the mood. She had honestly just been curious about her family. Maybe she should change the subject. "What're your parents like?" she asked. "If you don't mind me asking, that is."

Cerberus moved his paw over and allowed Makaria to take a seat on it. "Well, my father is very kind. He's a lot like my brother actually. Not very talkative, but he's… fair. He tends to push people off since he's lords over the dead. Even back during the times when more people worshipped the gods, he never really got many offerings. Not that I can blame people," she said.

Cindy looked confused. "Why? You'd think people would want to be on death's good side wouldn't you?" she asked. If someone could ward off death by giving gifts you'd think they'd be giving as much as they could.

"Death can't be delayed. It can't be reasoned with or compromised," she said, shaking her head. "When it's time for someone to die, they must die. No matter the circumstances or situation. My father doesn't take any particular joy in ending lives, but it's his duty, and one he must do without hesitation. My father is fair, but from a mortal perspective it can hardly seem that way."

Cindy rubbed her chin. She'd never really thought about things like that. She guessed if he really was the lord of the dead he couldn't just play favorites. She wondered if Bruce had to deal with something like that. He had helped those who had already died pass on and find their way, but he never had to actually end a life himself.

At least not as far as she knew anyway.

"What about your mom?" Cindy asked. This was the most she had heard Makaria talk about her home life, and she was growing more curious.

Makaria smiled. "My mother is warm, and kind. Far more expressive than my father is. But she can be equally as fierce. All the souls in the Underworld fall under her jurisdiction, and she tries to make the afterlife as bearable as possible for them. It honestly surprises people how brimming with… well, life she is. But she technically still resides over life and vegetation."

The young goddess then crossed her arms. "She can be… overprotective though. I think that's something she got from my grandmother. If it was up to her she'd probably have me take Cerberus with me every time I came up to the surface," she said, patting the hound on the head again. "He used to be strictly loyal to my father, but these days I wonder just who'd he'd listen to over who."

Cindy laughed. "Guess even a lord of the dead has to answer to his wife huh?" She and Makaria both laughed. "Your family sounds really nice Makaria."

"They are. Or, my immediate family anyway. The rest of my relatives can be… a little much. Not all of them, but still," she said, shaking her head. "Having free reign for so long has made many of them arrogant. They think mortals are just something to be ruled over, not to care for. They don't know the value of life."

Cindy sighed. "Yeah, I know what you mean." Her interactions with her mother's pantheon had taught her how haughty some of the gods could be. "I'm glad at least a handful of people in your pantheons take life and death seriously."

"It seems at least some do in yours too. What you told me about a while ago with your brothers, what he did. I sensed it back then. I didn't know who it was, but I could sense a massive passing of souls, and a great relief from them," Makaria said. "I feel better knowing it was him. If he's the one who's bound to rule over the dead in your pantheon, it makes me feel relieved."

Cindy grew a small smile on her face. She was genuinely happy to hear another deity of death say that about her brother. She hoped wherever he was hiding he was safe, and still doing what he could to help the dead. "I miss him," she said.

Makaria looked worried. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have brought him up."

"No, no it's fine," Cindy said, shaking her head. "It honestly feels nice to talk about him. I think a lot of the others don't like to since it's a sore subject and all."

"If you don't mind me asking, what was he like?" Makaria asked. She had talked about the rest of her family before, but hadn't gone into much detail about her brothers.

Cindy looked up in thought. "He was… reliable. Really protective of us. I think because he was the oldest he felt like he always had to carry the burdens. Even though we always said we'd look out for each other," she said. "It was annoying sometimes, but it was nice too. We always knew he'd be there for us."

"He actually wasn't all that well liked by our pantheon. They're stuck in their ways, and he challenged them a lot," she said. "Never even thought twice about it either. Bruce never backed down from a challenge or a fight."

"He sounds cool."

"He is. He can be annoying sometimes too of course, but that's brothers in general I think," Cindy said, shrugging her shoulders. Makaria nodded in agreement.

Before either of them went on, Cerberus' heads suddenly all shot up. Makaria and Cindy both looked up as a winged figure soared down from the sky. The man who had landed before them was tall, and had rather pale sickly looking skin. His hair was jet black, and his eyes were a dull grey that sent a chill up Cindy's spine. It was as if the figure was devoid of life itself.

The most prominent feature were the two large black wings on his back. Cindy couldn't help but think of Dorado's when she saw them.

Makaria stepped towards him, putting herself between him and Cindy. "Brother Thanatos. What are you doing here? Not that it isn't pleasant to see you," she said.

The man looked down at her, but then glanced over towards Cindy. She flinched at his gaze. There was something so unnerving about him. He didn't just have an aura of death like her brother and Cindy and some other ghosts. It was like… he WAS death.

"Forgive my intrusion lady Makaria. I know these are your woods, but I had sensed a titan in them and grew concerned. Would that I knew it was simply Cerberus, I would never have troubled you so," he explained. "Or your acquaintance."

"No, it's fine. He leaves so rarely it's hardly a surprise you didn't notice," Makaria said. Cerberus stood up, lowering his head towards the man and gently nuzzling his side. Makaria held his hand up. "My acquaintance here is Cindy. She's a friend of mine, and a member of the Chinese pantheon. Cindy, this is Thanatos, a god of death. He works closely with my family, guiding dead souls to the Underworld."

Thanatos bowed respectfully towards her. "Tis a pleasure to meet you, my lady. Pray forgive my intrusion on your time with lady Makaria. But since word of titans around this area has spread, I thought it wise to make sure all was well," he said.

"Oh, it's no problem," Cindy assured, waving her hands. For a death god he was rather polite… then again so was Cindy. Maybe that just seemed to be a thing with death gods or something. "It's nice to meet you too. And… wait a second, Cerberus is a titan?" she asked looking back up at the hellhound.

Thanatos nodded as he rubbed Cerberus' nose. "He is. One of the few remaining within the Greek Pantheon," he explained. "While Zeus is wont to put down nearly every titan he sees, Cerberus was one of the few exceptions. He is a loyal beast, and he saw fit to have him guide the gates of the Underworld for his elder brother."

Makaria nodded. "Sorry, I thought you could sense it," she said.

Cindy clicked her tongue. She honestly probably should have seen that coming. Orthrus was a titan too, and he'd been a big part of Greek Mythology. She wondered if there were any other monstrous titan kept within the pantheons as pets or guards. With how much blood feud there seemed to be between them, it couldn't be many.

"I probably should have. But just out of curiosity. If it hadn't been Cerberus here, and another titan… what would you have done?" she asked.

Thanatos looked at her confused for a moment, but then hummed. "Ah, forgive me. I had forgotten that the Queen Mother has stricken an accord with the King of Titans. Thou are most likely on far more peaceful terms with them than those of my own ilk," he said crossing his arms. "If I were to come across a titan within any area ruled to be under the Greek Pantheon's jurisdiction, such as this forest, the Underworld, or Olympus, it would be well within my right to execute them there and then."

"Wait, you'd kill them just for trespassing?" Cindy asked in disbelief. When it came to the Chinese pantheon, the law stated any titan trespassing in heaven had to be reported to her mother.

Thanatos waved his hand. "Such is the agreement between the Greek's and the King of Titans. If any of our kind were to tread in his dimension, I doubt he would hesitate to do the same. That is only what the law states however. I have no particular ill will towards titan-kind. My main concern is that it would threaten Lady Makaria. I could scarcely forgive myself if the same fate that befell her brother-"

"Thanatos," Cindy said, cutting him off. Her voice was a mix of worry and just a bit of annoyance, and Cindy noticed that some of the grass around her slowly started to decay. It had seemed Thanatos struck a nerve. "Please don't bring that up. It's hardly appropriate."

Thanatos bowed towards her. "I pray thou forgive me, my lady. I had no intention of souring thine mood. I was simply concerned. No doubt your mother and father are as well. More titans are being detected passing through the dimension, and your outings are become more and more frequent. Tis rather dangerous to-"

"Not all titans are bad you know," Cindy said, cutting him off.

"Pardon?"

"I said not all titans are bad. I know you pantheons have had bad experiences with them, but… they are a lot of titans that are kind and peaceful. Or at least don't want war," she said. "I just think it could be dangerous to assume anyone you sense is a threat."

Thanatos stared at her for a moment, but then looked over at Makaria. She was trying to keep her expression even, but he had known her long enough to pick up on even the most subtle of tells. "Relatively speaking, ALL titans are indeed a threat by virtue of being titans," he countered. Makaria looked down, and Cindy frowned at him. "That being said, I believe I understand your sentiment. I hope you do not mistake my caution as anything more than just that. As I said, I have no particular hatred for Titan-kind."

He spread his wings out and then hovered off of the ground. "Twas nice to see you in good health Lady Makaria, and a pleasure to meet you as well Lady Cindy. I shall take my leave. And if I sense any titans about this area… I suppose I shall just assume it is another outing with Cerberus." He gave the hell hound one last pat before taking off.

Cindy and Makaria watched him fly off, and when he was out of sight, the former turned towards her friend. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have said anything," she said, frowning. She had just been so… irritated at him talking about killing titans so casually. "Is that going to be a problem? Because if you need to then-"

"No, it's fine," Makaria assured. "Even if Thanatos did suspect something, he wouldn't say anything. He wasn't lying about what he said, and he wouldn't say anything that would get me in trouble."

"You don't think any of the other gods will find out about Dorado coming here, do you?" Cindy knew most of the other Greeks probably wouldn't be as accommodating as Thanatos was. Their meetings here could end up becoming more risky, and her disappearing to mewni would probably get picked up on if they did it too often.

Makaria balled her fist up and narrowed her eyes. "Being able to talk with you and Dorado, being able to travel through mewni freely… I'm not giving that up. If someone who'll be a problem finds out then, I'm just going to have to deal with them," she said as more of the grass and plants around her began to wither.

Cindy walked over towards her and put a hand on her shoulder. "Don't worry, I'm sure it won't come to that. And if it does, I'll have your back," she assured.

"Thank you. That means a lot." Cerberus leaned and down nuzzled her side, and she smiled and patted his head. "I know Cerberus. Thank you too."

"Do you want to talk more about this? Because if not I brought some stuff to read and-"

"Oh! You have the latest volume of Heartstone Bound Girl, don't you!?" she asked excitedly. Cindy smiled as she pulled the book out of her backpack. "Yes!"

As the two girls took a seat and began to crack open the manga, they were unaware of the figure that watched from above. Thanatos hummed as he watched them giddily go through their book. It was rare to see Makaria in such high spirits. He would have to make sure patrol this area more often. He wouldn't want any wandering gods to come across them. It would be rather unfortunate for him to have to deal with any who would attempt to dampen her spirit.

He would also have to keep an eye out for this titan. If Makaria trusted them, they were not likely a threat to her. But he wanted to be sure. Hades had always been a loyal comrade to him, and as far as it was in his power, he would never let Makaria or Zagreus fall to harm.

Not again. From titans, other gods, or their family.

A/N: Fic of Makaria and Cindy for Laylaylamode! She gave me two freebies for her commissions! Also introducing some minor characters with Cerberus and Thanatos! He's the 'brother' she was referring to when she saw Dorado's wings. Not actually related, but just a close family friend (though I was originally thinking about having him as a Hades kid too) And Zagreus is also going to make an appearance! In some future one-shots, and eventually in the Futrue Au arc I have planned!

Hope you enjoyed!