From Ashes and Dust (Book One)

Chapter 18.2

"Funny coming from the one who used to kill gods," Enyalius mumbled.

Vatra bit her tongue, holding back an argument that would last hours. She didn't feel like explaining herself. Of going around in circles that it wasn't all gods she sought to kill. Only the ones that abused their powers. Like Ares. Like Enyalius himself used to be.

The three of them ran at a steady pace when a static lifted the hair off of Vatra's head, even through the rain. Pausing, Vatra turned her attention from the path ahead. A flash of light streaked across her line of sight.

As if in slow motion, three lightning bolts, almost solid in their form, appeared beside them. From the depths of the light, Geb, Set and Fulgora leapt forth. They landed in the mud already at a full sprint.

"We heard your shouts when we were trying to get away from the fight. Care if we join you?" Geb questioned, the wolf pelt on his head in disarray.

Vatra grinned. "So, your little revolt didn't go as planned, did it?"

"Are you always so smug?" Geb asked.

"Yes, she is," Enyalius interjected. He fell in stride beside Geb and shook his head. "She'll never let you live this down, either."

"Oh, well. I would rather live through this than die. I suppose you all have a plan?" Geb continued.

"Yes, please. Tell us we're not running through this muck for nothing," Fulgora groaned. She wiped a fleck of mud from her cheek with her thumb and grimaced.

"I have a ship," Vatra said. She puffed her chest out with pride just at the mention of the Agkistrodon. "It will get us off this planet before those idiots blast us off to hell. We just need to find it."

"You don't know where it is?" Set asked, his voice as icy cold as the rain.

A chill crawled up Vatra's back as she met Set's dark eyes. "No, but it can't be much farther. We saw it land over here. Our companions managed to get it off that other ship before it crashed."

The storm gods appeared satisfied with Vatra's answers. The six of them ran in silence after she spoke. Vatra was glad they didn't grill her with more questions. She wasn't sure she had the energy to put together another thought.

After dying, fighting, and running for so long, Vatra was exhausted. She couldn't wait to take a shower on the Agkistrodon and stuff her face with some food they'd managed to get off Pocarro before leaving. Assuming the mortals hadn't raided it.

Please tell me they left our food alone, Vatra thought.

They jogged up a slight incline and Vatra pulled the group to a halt. A familiar magnetic pulse vibrated against her chest. The Agkistrodon was in the clearing before them—hidden.

"It's here," Vatra stated. She turned to the group with an assured nod.

"How can you tell?" Nat questioned with a raised brow.

Scoffing, Vatra walked forward about ten strides and slapped a hand to seemingly thin air. Only, her hand stopped against a solid object. "I know my ship," Vatra replied. "Now, the only problem is that the humans took my watch when they took us prisoner. It's the only way I can board when the Agkistrodon is in stealth mode besides poking around until I could find a panel to bypass," Vatra said.

"You don't have a spare?" Enyalius mused. "Or how about we pound on the door until your friends let us in?"

"Do I look like I have my spare on me? It's inside the ship, you asshole. Also, Spyro and the others would have seen us approach. I'm sure they would have lowered the boarding ramp as soon as we neared," Vatra stated.