𝐖𝐀𝐑𝐑𝐈𝐎𝐑 ᵉᵖⁱᶜ ᵐᵘˢⁱᶜᵃˡ

˚＊✦ʚ♡ɞ✦ ・⚔️・✦ʚ♡ɞ✦ ＊˚

Chapter 4. BONDS IN THE FIRE

❝Even in the heart of competition unlikely bonds can be forged in the fire of necessity.❞
˚＊✦ʚ♡ɞ✦ ・⚔️・✦ʚ♡ɞ✦ ＊˚

The boat lurched slightly as it scraped against the rocky shore of the northern Peloponnesian coast, the men aboard shifting and bracing themselves against the motion.

The mainland loomed before you; its rugged mountains rising sharply into the mist, with dense forests sprawling at their base.

Cries of unseen birds ominously pierced the salty air, mingling with the rustling of leaves in the distance. Stepping off the ship, you took a moment to look around and gather your bearings.

The competition was simple in theory: whoever killed Athena's magical boar first would earn her favor along with the promised riches.

But as you scanned the other contestants it was clear that this was no simple hunt.

Some carried weapons—blades and bows gleaming in the light streaming through the canopy—while others hefted nets and traps over their shoulders.

Tensions were high, but the promise of glory was enough to keep most in check.

You lingered on the outskirts, semi-independent but not entirely alone. A few men from the ship, familiar enough to offer some semblance of safety, had formed a loose group nearby.

You stayed within earshot as they argued over the best way to track the boar. Though their plans was passionate, it seemed disorganized at best.

"That's not how you do it," came a voice from your left. Odysseus, the scrawny boy with the quick tongue, stood near a crude trap set up by one of the older men.

The trap—a clumsily constructed snare—was little more than a pile of rope and broken branches. Odysseus regarded it with an expression of exaggerated pity.

"You call this a trap?" he asked, crouching to prod at it with a stick. "Even a blind boar could see through this."

The older man—one of Iphicles' companions—lip curled. "You've got a lot of nerve for someone who barely looks strong enough to hold a spear."

Odysseus grinned completely unbothered. "And you've got enough muscle to crush a tree branch, yet somehow you still managed to ruin this poor excuse for a snare. Fascinating."

The gathered men exchanged uneasy glances.

Odysseus, for all his wit, had a knack for making enemies. It wasn't hard to see why; his arrogance grated on nerves already worn thin by the tension of the hunt.

You turned your attention back to your own preparations, setting up a small camp near the edge of the forest.

Despite your irritation with Odysseus' antics you couldn't deny a grudging respect for his confidence. He was bold—reckless even—but there was an intelligence in his words that hinted at a deeper cunning.

Still, you kept your distance, content to let him deal with the consequences of his audacity.

As night fell the forest transformed.

The shadows deepened and the air grew heavy with humidity. Fires dotted the shoreline where groups of men had gathered, their voices low and wary.

You sat on the fringes of one such group, listening more than speaking. Your hands busy sharpening one of the many crude spears you'd fashioned earlier.

The scent of charred wood mixed with the earthy tang of damp leaves as the firelight painted shifting patterns across the men's faces.

Sticking to the group was safer, but every glance in your direction reminded you that you didn't belong here—not really.

And then there was him.

"Let me guess," Odysseus drawled from a campfire near yours, he was perched on a log with infuriating ease. "You thought digging a hole and tossing in a few leaves would fool a beast blessed by Athena?"

The man he was addressing bristled, his weathered face darkening as he tightened his grip on the axe in his lap. "The pit was deep enough. It should've worked."

"For what? Catching squirrels?" Odysseus replied as sharp as the blade strapped to his hip. "I doubt even a rabbit would fall for that."

The laughter that followed was hesitant, nervous. Some of the younger men chuckled, while the older ones shifted uncomfortably, their pride stung.

You glanced up from your work, narrowing your eyes at Odysseus.

It wasn't hard for the Ithacan Prince to make himself the center of attention; but it wasn't always to his advantage.

Like now.

"Watch your tongue boy," the older man growled dangerously. "You're not as clever as you think."

Odysseus didn't flinch. If anything his grin widened. "You're right," he said lightly. "Just more clever than you."

The tension in the clearing grew thick enough to cut. You caught the furtive glances exchanged among the men—the unspoken resentment brewing beneath their forced camaraderie.

Odysseus was young, too sharp for his own good, and entirely too comfortable challenging men twice his age.

"Idiot," you muttered under your breath. Shaking your head, you placed your now finished spear down and left to find another stick to wilt.

It was during your search near the forest-line that you overhead it.

"He's a problem that boy," one of the men muttered, his voice low but laced with venom. "Thinks he's smarter than the rest of us."

"We can't let him win," another added. "If he's outsmarted us this far, what's stopping him from outsmarting the boar? He's a liability."

"Are you saying what I think you're saying?"

A pause. Then a gruff reply. "If he's smart enough to talk his way out of traps, let's see if he's smart enough to survive on his own."

Your stomach tightened. It didn't take a genius to understand what they were planning.

They were going to get rid of Odysseus.

'Let him deal with it,' a small voice in your mind whispered. 'He brought this on himself.'

But another voice, louder, countered. 'He won't last alone.'

As much as his arrogance annoyed you—the thought of standing by while he was ambushed didn't sit right.

With a quiet sigh, you left the talking men and slipped into the shadows of the forest.

*･:*:★☽✧⚔️✧☾★:*:･*

You found Odysseus perched on a low rock beyond the edge of camp.

He didn't seem surprised when you approached, though his brows lifted slightly in curiosity. "You've got an interesting habit of showing up uninvited," he remarked.

"Get up," you said curtly. "You're in danger."

His grin faltered, replaced by a flicker of confusion. "What are you talking about?"

Before you could answer the sound of approaching footsteps reached your ears. Panic jolted through you as you stepped back into the shadows, leaving Odysseus exposed on the rock.

You held your breath as four burly men emerged from the trees, their expressions cold and determined. "Well well," one of them sneered, his voice dripping with malice. "The little genius—all by himself."

Odysseus scanned the quartet, his body tensing as he kept his eyes on the axe one of the men held.

"Gentlemen." he began, his tone light but cautious. "Look I know I'm charming, but if you wanted alone time you could've just asked."

"Shut up," another of the men snarled as he steps closer.

As they closed in a whistle cut through the air. A handmade spear struck the ground just inches from one of the men's feet, the impact causing all four to recoil in alarm.

"That's enough," you commanded, your voice ringing out from the shadows. You emerged slowly, your other spear ready to throw.

The men turned toward you, their expressions shifting from aggression to confusion.

"Stay out of this," one of them growled.

You ignored him and moved to stand beside Odysseus. Your grip on the spear was loose but deliberate, the moonlight casting shadows across your face.

"You're wasting your time," you said coolly. "Athena's boar is out there, yet you're here picking fights with children. Pathetic."

One of the men took a step forward. "Careful boy. You're out of your depth."

"Maybe," you said evenly, your gaze steady. "But it'll be hard to pass Athena's test with a spear through your foot."

The threat hung in the air. The man hesitated, his anger warring with uncertainty.

Finally, with a muttered curse, he turned and stalked back toward the camp. The others followed reluctantly, throwing you and Odysseus dark looks as they disappeared into the trees.

For a moment the two of you stood in silence. Then Odysseus let out a low whistle, running a hand through his curls. "Impressive. Didn't think anyone would bother saving me."

You crossed your arms, your glare sharp. "Don't flatter yourself. I just hate wasting time."

His grin returned though it was softer now. "Still you saved my life. That deserves a thank you doesn't it?"

You shrugged as you step past him. "Try not to need saving again. Next time I might not bother."

"Wait." He caught your wrist, his fingers brushing against the braided bracelet hidden beneath your sleeve. His eyes narrowed slightly as he studied your face, something flickering in his expression.

"What?" you snapped, yanking your hand free.

His grin returned, but it was bigger now, more curious. "You're full of surprises aren't you? For a boy you're—"

You cut him off with a glare that could've turned him to stone. His words faltered, his confidence cracking as realization dawned in his eyes. "Wait a second..."

"You're usually smarter than this," you said, your tone laced with teasing as you stepped closer, invading his space just enough to make him fluster. "Or do you only have book sense?"

He blinks. "I—well—you—"

"A girl?" you finished for him with an raised eyebrow. "Congratulations. You finally figured it out."

He opened his mouth to respond, then closed it, his cheeks reddening slightly.

"In my defense," he began, "you've done a good job hiding it. Not that I'm unobservant. I mean anyone could have...."

"Missed it entirely?" you finished for him, a smirk tugging at your lips. "Then again can't fault you too much. Common sense is hard to come by these days."

He sputtered again making you chuckle despite yourself. Brushing past him, you make your way back to the campfires. "Good night Odysseus. Try not angering anyone else yeah?"

He turned to watch you go, his expression a mix of confusion and admiration. "Good night...Nobody."

═════════════════˚･:*:★☽✧⚔️✧☾★:*:･˚══════════════════

The sun filtered through the dense canopy as the camp stirred to life.

Men muttered curses under their breath as they realized Odysseus had survived the night unscathed—much to their irritation.

Odysseus, for his part, seemed entirely gleeful. He shot them a toothy grin—one that was more provocation than pleasantry as he stretched his arms lazily. "Morning gentlemen! Sleep well?"

"You're still here," one of the older men grumbled, his tone incredulous.

"Surprised?" Odysseus replied as casually toss a stone into the dirt. "If I'd know better, I'd say you're hurt I didn't fall into your little attack—but we both know it wasn't clever enough to catch me."

A few grumbled in response, but no one dared challenge him outright. Instead most turned away with mutters under their breath.

You bit back a smirk, appreciating his ability to remain so annoyingly confident. Odysseus caught your eye and his grin widened as he gestured for you.

"Come on Nobody," he called out rising to his feet. "Let's check those traps of yours. The ones everyone laughed at."

You scowled but didn't argue and followed him into the forest.

For the rest of the morning you and Odysseus used the time checking traps, walking through the forest in companionable silence.

The ones you had set the day you arrived on Mount Erymanthos were simple but effective—pitfalls covered with foliage, snares woven from sturdy vines, and sharpened stakes buried in soft earth.

He occasionally made observations about the terrain or suggested adjustments to your setups. Despite his arrogance, there was a genuine cleverness to his input that you found difficult to dismiss.

At one point, as you crouched to inspect a snare, you caught Odysseus watching you. "What?" you didn't bother to hide the irritation in your voice.

"Nothing," he said with a shrug, though his tone carried a teasing edge. "Just wondering why someone like you bothers with all this. You're clearly smart enough to do something else."

You rolled your eyes and returned to your work. "Not everything's about being smart Odysseus. Sometimes it's just about surviving."

"Yeah but what's the fun in that?" he gives you a cat-like smirk as you adjusted one of the snares, your fingers brushing against the worn ropes, "I mean for someone who's so skilled at this, you're awfully quiet about your past. Mysterious even."

"And yet you're not quiet enough about yours. It's a wonder you haven't talked the boar into surrendering."

He chuckled, leaning against a nearby tree. "Touché. But come on! Can't blame me for being curious. You've got that...aura about you. Like there's more to your story than you let on."

You glanced at him, debating whether to respond. Finally, with a small sigh, you tugged up your sleeve to reveal your leather bracelet.

The simple braid was worn but sturdy, its craftsmanship hinting at care and precision.

A faint smile tugged at your lips as a memory surfaced— a younger Penelope weaving the strands together as she hummed a tune.

"It was a gift," you said softly. "From someone special. They made it for me when I first started...working for them."

He tilted his head, curiosity flickering in his mismatched eyes. "Sounds important."

"It is," you replied, the fondness in your tone unmistakable.

Before the conversation could deepen, a distant sound broke the moment. It was faint but distinct—a rustle in the underbrush followed by a low grunt.

Your heart quickened as you exchanged a look with Odysseus. Both of you reached for your weapons, the earlier conversation forgotten.

"The boar," he whispered, excitement laced in his words.

You nod as you grip your spear tightly. Together, you moved cautiously toward the sound, your steps deliberate and silent.

Unfortunately for you both, the source of the disturbance proved to be nothing more than a bird taking flight.

Frustration gnawed at you but there was no time to dwell on it. The hunt would continue and the stakes were only growing higher.