Atticus walks towards the side of the ship, where several small boats are suspended above the water. He looks into the boat, checking for holes where water could leak through.

"Are you ready to go, sir?" Atticus jumps and nearly falls overboard. He turns and sees Polites.

"You scared me half to death," Atticus says, his heart rate slowing. He looks at the long drop to the water. "Almost more than halfway. Also, once more, no need to call me sir."

"So are you ready? " Polites asks once more.

"Yes. And so is our transportation. All we need now is..." He trails off and looks at Odysseus and Eurylochus approaching.

"Let's go," Odysseus commands. The three men climb into the boat and Eurylochus spins a crank that lowers the small craft agonizingly slowly.

Once the boat is finally in the water, Polites and Atticus untie the ropes connecting the small boat to the much larger ship.

The three soldiers all grab an oar and start rowing towards the island. "Polites, my friend, how have you been holding up since we left Troy?" Odysseus asks. He's been busy making sure everything on board the ships was running smoothly he hasn't had time to talk to Polites and Atticus. He's been running around the past two weeks almost non-stop, only stopping to eat and sleep.

"I've been doing well. Now that the war is over things are more calm," Polites says.

"Most thing are calmer than a war," Atticus deadpans.

Polites laughs at that and Odysseus smiles. "Speak for yourself. Life seems to have stayed just as chaotic, if not more so," the king says.

"Well for us lowly crewmembers," Atticus says, slightly mockingly, "we do the same things over and o er again. Eat, keep watch, eat, sleep, repeat. Not exactly a varied schedule."

The men sit in silence for a few minutes as they concentrate on rowing. Soon, their small craft hits the shore of the island. They hop out of it and drag it farther up the beach. They then look towards thick forest that is the interior of the island.

"There's certainly something there," Atticus says. He feels a strange presence. It isn't powerful enough for him to be able to truly identify it.

"How should we proceed, Captain," Polites asks Ody.

"With caution. Draw your weapons," Odysseus commands.

Odysseus and Polites draw their swords and Atticus draws his knives. The trio advance into the forest.

Atticus trails behind, guarding the rear. He hears Polites tell Odysseus something about relaxing. He sees a dark glint of eyes in the trees. He hears the rustle of branches. He strains his senses but can't feel anything deeper than that strange presence.

"Odysseus, Polites, I'm taking a look at something!" Atticus calls to his friends as he slowly moves closer to the pair of dark orange eyes staring into his.

A branch snaps under his feet and the eyes disappear. He chases after the owner of those strange, glowing orbs. He hurdles after it, leaping over fallen trees and large stones. He uses his demigod powers to send more and more strength into his legs letting him move at incredible speeds.

He catches the up to the creature and grabs it. He spins it around facing him and stares in surprise. "You're a winion!" He examines it closer. "But your eyes are wrong. They're too dark."

"Keep your friends close!" It chirps, then it speeds out of his grasp disappearing into the woods.

"Gods dammit," he mutters as he turns, realizing he's lost. He looks to where he thinks he came from. He sees some kind of orange glowing fruit growing from a tree. He sees another a little further on. He connects the orange of the fruits glow to the winion eye color. "Something is very wrong here.

He follows the trail of growing fruit and comes upon a clearing with two figures standing in it, one with sword drawn.

" Ody, Polites! Don't eat any fruit they give you!" Atticus calls to them.

"We already figured that out," Ody says. "You're a little late to the party."

"Really? Damn, and here I was thinking I'm so clever." Atticus responds.

"They say there's a cave to the east filled with food," Polites says.

"Well, Captain? Is that our next destination?" Atticus asks.

Odysseus nods and three start walking back toward their rowboat. Polites turns to Odysseus, "See Ody! There doesn't have to be anymore bloodshed. All you have to do is greet the world with open arms!"

"Open arms," Odysseus murmurs.

Atticus hears what Polites says, and he thinks over the idea. He wonders if the war would have lasted that long if both sides had a little bit more kindness. Suddenly his senses go crazy.

"Polites! Let's get the boat ready!" Atticus runs ahead. Polites follows behind him, slightly confused.

They reach the boat and time seems to freeze. "I sense a war god. And this is quick-thought. Ares?" Atticus questions to the air.

"Guess again." A voice says.

"Athena," Atticus says.

"Use my title when you address me, if you want to live," Athena says.

"No, and that's exactly why," Atticus responds scathingly.

"What do you mean?" Athena asks slightly confused.

"The gods aren't worthy of respect. I learned that, working in your city, helping the gods' mail along, that you're just as flawed as us mortals. And when I started meeting some of you I realized that even more."

"We are more powerful than you and you shall respect us." Athena says.

"You kill people! Not on a battlefield, not in a fair fight, and for the smallest of infractions! Forgetting an offering, a little attitude!" He glares at her. "Not using your title."

"You say we do this and you don't fear that I'll kill you. Why?" Athena asks.

"I don't fear death. There's so much blood on my hands that death is an old friend."

"You wouldn't say that if you knew Thanatos," Athena responds.

"Oh, but I do," this seems to surprise Athena.

"Why did you leave with this one?" She points at Polites.

"He's a follower, like a sheep and he needs someone to lead him. Gods always take advantage of things like that."

"How did you know I was approaching," Athena asks.

"I can sense gods and some mystical creatures. Olympians, like you, are easy to distinguish, but lesser being like the winion are more difficult," Athena narrows her eyes at this.

"Your sense ing powers seem almost as strong as your fathers," Athena says, "Funny, he never mentioned you inheriting them."

Atticus snorts, "He talks about me?"

"Yes," Athena states, "That's part of the reason I came to question you. That and your history is very strange."

"We done now?" Atticus asks.

"You're odd. How have you not been struck down for your insolence?" Athena says.

Atticus doesn't respond. Athena turns to go but stops and says, "You have given me many things to think on. Perhaps we will meet again, Atticus."

Atticus returns to reaching the boat and sees Polites moving too. He's glad the goddess is gone. He doesn't want any more immortals meddling in their journey home.

Soon, Odysseus emerges from the forest and approaches the boat. He's silent as he helps move the boat towards the water and gets in.

They row towards the ship. Breaking the silence, Polites asks, "Atticus, why did we leave Ody's behind for a minute there?"

Atticus feels Odysseus' gaze burning into him. "I just felt we needed to get off that island."

Polites relaxes, "Something did feel a little off there."

Odysseus still gazes at Atticus, but he ignores him. He's entitled to keep his secret.

Odysseus stops his staring and returns to rowing. The three friends return to their crew and their journey.

A.N. Hello! Sorry I'm a little late again. Anyways slightly longer chapter, were getting closer to the action so longer chapters should be coming. Next chapter will be an interim Troy-Cyclops chapter. I'm naming them all after cut songs so I need to figure that out. Some are obvious choices for me others are harder. Either way it's fun. In the end including the interim chapters and epilogue the story will be 40 chapters.

Bye.

2/2/25