Not seen, nor heard - still dread of this unknown creature
stalked the night as might stalk even the creature itself.
Idle chatter of fearful children? Old wives tales from the back
woods? Or something else, something evil. Something so powerful
that even the gates of Olympus stood not against it.
No one knew.
And that was why Demo stood at the gate to the demon's lair.
Zeus would know what manner of creature was there imprisoned.
Zeus would know what manner of prison held such a creature in
throe.
Who better to send than Demo? If he succeeded, another task
marked off. If he failed, one less concern as Athena chose
another.
Demo gazed into the still water of the tarn, touched its
surface with his hand. He gasped at the chilling cold that
seized his entire arm.
Was this then the tarn of which he had been forewarned? Would
here the strange tie between himself and the unseen companion be
severed - or brought to its inevitable conclusion?
It seemed fitting!
No drearier spot had he seen. No gloomier grotto existed in
these mountains. If doom hung over his head, it could not choose
a place more suitable than this!
He resigned himself to the inevitable!
The sun slipped swiftly behind the western peaks, and cool
night breezes stirred the leaves. Swallows swooped in the
darkening sky, and night creatures called one to another as day
ended.
Come morning and he would search further. For now, a fire,
food, and a night's rest.
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