New chapter! Holy crap I'm unpredictable! =D Several weeks of nothing, then POOF two chapters in less than 10 days!

Sheep: I genuinely appreciate your criticism, and I've been tryin' to apply what you've told me to the story. I did look up Amarantos's name prior to using it, mayhaps I mistakenly chose the male version of the name I was searching for, I meant Amarantha because it is the name of a flower. Thanks for the clarification, I'll try to retroactively correct this. The phrase "balance of miasma" is not a religious reference. It is a reference to the idea that the body was a balance of 4 "miasmas" (blood, urine, mucus, and I'm afraid I forget the 4th), and an imbalance in these is what lead to illness. I'm afraid I do not know exactly when that theory came to be but I find it amusing to have as a side-note in the story as germ theory did not exist until the 20th century. I use tea as a common drink because I don't feel like pumping my characters full of alcohol all the time and I felt it was a generic enough drink. Hot water + plant = something. However, as I said, I do appreciate you pointing these things out and I try to apply them as I write =)

Demi: Amarantos was the girl who gave Herc those flowers when he went to the agora. I will be correcting her name though, Sheep pointed out that I accidently picked a male name. Her name is Amarantha now. I'll retroactively fix that when I have a good opportunity.

Cyber: Glad you liked the update, and I hope you continue to follow

Tigrera: Thank you dear, I'm glad you like my writing style. I didn't really want to kill off Meg, as writing Herc though such monumental devastation would be difficult, and not the direction I was planning to take.

Seems you guys think I did alright with Pegasus, glad it worked out well. I don't know if you read the above notes to people, but as Sheep pointed out Amrarantos is a boy's name and I've thus changed it to Amarantha. It has the same meaning, but it's the more female version. I looked it up, so hopefully my source isn't incorrect again.

Oh and grammar Nazis: No picking on in-dialogue grammar. They speak like people and thus make mistakes. If its OUTSIDE of dialogue please point it out, but inside its usually intentional.

Xxxxx

Cassandra turned from the discarded satchel and sat next to Herc, placing a hand on his back. She was never very good at this comforting thing, but did her best to be there for her friend. She looked up at Icarus and silently begged him to take charge, being the shoulder to cry on was more of his specialty.

"Herc," Icarus's voice was unusually tepid, lacking the usual spark of toddler-esque hyperactivity. "I'm sorry buddy. I know it feels impossible to look at the good here, but you still have Megara don't you? In a time like this you have to remember to be thankful for that much at least." Hercules looked at him, the silence hanging thick in the air before a sigh from Icarus broke through, "Meg is gonna' need ya to be the strong one here. And the only way to do that is to try and look at the good Herc. You have each other, and you can have many more babies." Herc nodded solemnly, rubbing his face roughly with one hand. It was the same thing he had been telling himself, but it didn't help him feel any less guilty that he was capable of any positivity.

Cassandra was relieved that Icarus took over the role of comfort. Not one to ever want children herself; she couldn't even try to put herself in his place to decide how to comfort him. She was still distracted by that damnable flower Hercules had. She wished she could leave to track down that stupid girl, but she couldn't leave Hercules at a time like this. Not after sending for her specifically to keep him company. But Amarantha was nothing if not cryptic, and was the very queen of subtly. The appearance of that flower was never good news; Cassandra was not the only prophet of doom in Greece.

While lost in her distractions, Icarus had seemed to successfully bring Hercules out of searing depression, and she was sure she saw a half-hearted smile. She excused herself for a moment, thinking that some nice mulled wine might do the boy some good. When she returned he attempted to protest, but once she pushed the mug into his hand he gave in. She gave him a sad smile, and reached carefully around his arm and hugged him, sighing against his shoulder,

"I'm so sorry Herc. I know you're hurting… but hey. That's why me and Ick are here." She pulled back, and he nodded at her before she took a seat in the chair across from her pair of friends. They all sat in the den, sharing tales of their adventures and misadventures from their last encounter. The tales were a solid distraction, and for a time Hercules felt relief from his mourning. The group had finished nearly an entire jar of the crimson liquid when the midwife finally toddled out of the room.

"Sir? You may see your wife now." In one sullen sentence the crushing depression returned, and he stood up carefully, trying to collect himself to be strong for Meg as Cassandra and Icarus had said. He felt a firm grip on his shoulder and moved past the curtains. Cassandra and Icarus waited behind, watching their sullen friend vanish through the doorway.

Hercules moved slowly towards the bedroom where Meg lay. He moved slowly to her side and sat on the edge of the bed, carefully taking her hand in his. She was pale, and it was hard to believe the midwife's earlier reassurances that she was alright. She turned to face him as he advanced, her eyes were bloodshot and her pallor exaggerated the dark circles around her eyes. She inhaled sharply to speak, but bit her lip as tears flooded her eyes. She didn't know what to say. Hercules, grasping the need for silence, embraced her without a word. She gripped him with surprising strength, her fingers grasping his toga tightly. The silence was broken by a muffled sob that Meg failed to choke back. Hercules sighed into her hair, rubbing her back gently.

Cassandra poured herself another cup of the wine, beginning to feel the blissful lightheadedness of the alcohol finally taking effect. She felt utterly lost. Even Icarus seemed less cheerful than usual.

"They'll get through this." Icarus finally broke the silence, and the cheerful optimism and the perpetual smile on his face, for once, looked artificial and false. Even Icarus wasn't perpetually happy on such a despondent time. Cassandra looked about the room, the decor having changed slightly from her last visit. There were fewer trophies and awards, and in place of the Greek art there seemed to also be many pieces that were obviously from another country. She could not identify from where, travel didn't suit her. But it appeared that Hercules had done some traveling, or at least ran into a merchant who did. Then she remembered that damnable flower.

She wished she could forget about it, and focus on the situation at hand. She felt guilty for wanting so badly to leave to investigate; she knew her priority should lie here with her friends. Guilt, not an emotion Cassandra was used to. She normally went about her way, and failed to care enough about others or their opinions to feel this much guilt. But her friends were different. She was trying to think of how she could provide comfort, and tried to share in Icarus's optimism that they would be alright. But the poor couple seemed to be plagued with misfortune. She mused if it was related to Megara's family curse.

Cassandra was no fool, she figured out who Megara was. But the woman made her promise never to tell Hercules. She wondered why Megara would want to keep such a secret from Hercules, but she wasn't one to go spoiling people's secrets if she agreed with them or not. She certainly had her own share. Cassandra was drawn from her musing when Hercules emerged from the bedroom.

"Hey guys…" Cassandra and Icarus stood, waiting for permission to see Meg.

"How is she?" Icarus asked,

"Physically she's actually okay. But she's so… sad." Hercules frowned, sad wasn't even an appropriate word. She thought she was at blame for the event, despite reassurances from him and the midwife that nearly every woman experienced at least one miscarriage. But her constant self-depreciating nature wouldn't allow her to believe them. She seemed to want to avoid any attempts at cheering up, and when told Icarus and Cassandra wanted to see her she said that she wasn't ready to see anybody yet, which he then explained to his eagerly awaiting friends.

"She just needs a little time. You're welcome to stay the night." Hercules explained sadly after having to explain that it wasn't the best idea to go see Megara just yet. Even if she didn't want company, he needed it.

"I'll go to the agora and get us something to eat," Cassandra offered, seeing an opportunity to speak to Amarantha. With her eagerness to leave that twang of guilt returned, but she managed to swallow it down.

"Okay, I'm not really up to cooking tonight and I don't think Meg is either," Hercules frowned.

"I'll be right back,"

"I'll join you! We can pick out a delicious meal for our pals together!" Icarus chimed, leaping from his seat and throwing his arms around Cassandra, and Hercules couldn't help but chuckle at the expression that crossed Cassandra's features.

"Uh, Ick? I think Herc would prefer you stay here, keep him company."

"But Cassie, the agora is dangerous, I can protect you!" Icarus proclaimed proudly, puffing out his chest and thumping his scrawny fists.

"I'll survive. Just stay here, Herc doesn't want to be alone." Icarus looked conflicted for a moment, then accepted defeat and agreed to stay behind, much to Cassandra's relief. She gave Hercules another hug, and a hearty pat on the shoulder before promising to return quickly.

"Pegasus can take you, he'll be near the stables."

"Alright. Umm, anything in particular you want?"

"I guess fish would be nice. Meg's always been a fan of seafood." Well her favorite is any kind of soup or stew, but those take all day and I doubt she wants to eat right now anyway. But she should eat, after what she's just been though…

"Oh, one second," Hercules walked over to his satchel and pulled out his coin purse, tossing it to Cassandra, "Here… to pay for the food." Cassandra knew refusing the money would end with her having to take it anyway, so she took the pouch without argument. It wouldn't be until after Cassandra had already left that he would remember that he had just purchased fish and grain for supper at his trip to the agora earlier that day.

"I'll be back as fast as I can," She waved goodbye and made her way to the stables. As she walked down the cobbled path, Hercules's wealth never ceased to amaze her. Rather than a dirt path leading to the stables, Hercules had a pathway with cobbled gray stones. Not even the roads outside of town had that.

As promised, Pegasus was in the pastures near the stables. The winged creature visibly agitated by the day's chaos. She put her fingers under her tongue and gave a shrill whistle, catching his attention. He trotted over, flapping his wings and snorted at her a bit.

"Come on, I promised Herc I would make dinner for him and Meg. I just need to go to the agora to get some things." Pegasus snorted again before laying down next to her so she could mount up on his back. With a few quick flaps of his broad wings he was in the air, and on his way to the agora. By the time they arrived many merchants were packing up. She made her way through the streets, keeping an eye out for a familiar face. The fish merchants were long gone, but she would find some excuse to explain her returning empty handed. She hadn't been entirely honest with her intent. She ignored the calls of the peddlers trying to make some last minute sales, and it was not until she was nearly at the docks that she finally found whom she was looking for.

"Amarantha!" Cassandra shouted, moving up to the figure who was packing up some drying flowers. The girl appeared startled, and looked up with large eyes.

"I'm sorry ma'am didn't see you there, I have some lovely-"She cut herself short when she recognized who it was. "Well it took you long enough," She stood up, slinging her bag across her shoulders. "I've been trying to signal you for weeks!"

"You couldn't just write me a letter? Why this cryptic nonsense with the flowers?" Amarantha sighed,

"Let's talk somewhere else okay? A crowd isn't the best place." She reluctantly agreed to the teenage girl's request, and they made their way together down to the water where there were fewer people. The fishers had gone for the night, and the waves were loud enough to ensure their conversation wouldn't carry up to the nearby homes.

"So, again, why this cryptic thing with the flowers?"

"You're the infamous 'Prophet of Doom' might not end too well if I get caught writing you love letters. Besides, you're the one who taught me to be careful. "She answered sarcastically. Cassandra had met the girl shortly after high school, and the girl had always been a bit of a pip. She met her when she herself was investigating a vision she had of a fire overtaking the docs of a fishing suburb, and found the young girl dashing about screaming the word "fire". Confused, she had approached the girl and it didn't take long to figure out she was another seer. Well aware of the curse this girl had, she had taken her under her wing and educated her about how causing a panic was not in her best interests.

"Well, what is it?" Cassandra was put off by recent events, and was not in the mood to play games. She knew that if she was sending out a message, albeit overly subtle, it was because she was having visions that were not of a promising nature.

"I've had a vision. Well… visions"

"I figured as much…"

"I imagine you have too." Cassandra nodded, recalling her vague visions. They were less focused than usual, and she could make little sense of them. There was rarely any discernible place, or people. Just flashes, noises. And the flashes were of images she had difficulty bringing words to. It was as if the cosmos was giving her a glance at the very heart of chaos.

"They're not good."

"Are they ever?" Amarantha chuckled sadly at the response. Cassandrda was right, they never were.

"I see snow. But then fire… ice and fire falling from the sky. The ground shaking like it was the surface of the angry sea. People… just flashes of people. Chaos… lots of chaos. I can't tell where any of this is taking place." Cassandra was taken aback, the girl had been given the same chaotic visions but with much more focus and clarity. Perhaps she was an ever better seer than the 'Prophet of Doom' herself.

"That's… distressing," Really Cass? That's the best you can muster? But her thoughts were drifting back to her friends and a pang of guild wound its way around her gut and threatened to return the wine to the earth from whence it came. She had to go back. She came to find out why Amarantha was sending out her cryptic signal to get her attention, and she had done that. "I'm not trying to make light of this… but I have a bit of an emergency. Will you still be here in a few days?"

"Cass… you see the moon?"

"Umm… yes? Why-"

"It's about half-full. In my visions, the moon is a little less than half full. I don't think we have a whole lotta time here…"

"It could be this half-moon, or next… it's a half-moon every few weeks. How are you so sure its this coming one?"

"I'm not. I've been having these visions for a while, and been trying to contact you. But you didn't seem to get my message."

"Selling a damn flower? Amara, I know you're subtle but damn it when it's this important just send me a letter! You're not gonna have a riot ad your door over one letter! And if you've really been having that vision for this long, I don't think you happened to catch me 'just in time' like some really bad story. I'll meet you in a few days okay?"

"What's so important you don't want to deal with this now?" Cassandra sighed, accepting defeat.

"Look. My friend… is sick." She left it at that, hoping the young girl wouldn't pry. "I'll come back in three days. I need time to make sense of what you said anyway. A ground moving like the sea, and raining fire and ice, I'll see if I can figure anything out."

"Cass… I… I'm scared. I've never had visions like these." Cassandra looked startled, she often forgot how young this girl was and she wasn't the jaded angst filled youth that she had been.

"It'll be alright Amara. We'll figure this out." She gave the girl a hug, and returned to where she had left Pegasus and headed for home, not realizing she had forgotten to purchase anything.

Was the whole Cassandra – Amarantha part clear? Like, did it actually make sense and WORK? I feel like I rushed it but I don't know how much more I could pump into it. Was this chapter good?