The Dream Catcher Cleaner

-Chapter Three-

When they returned to Mount Olympus, they were more than disappointed to tell everyone their mission was an utter failure, along with all the death announcements. They failed to bring the cargo to Dadren, they lost too many people on the way, and showed poor teamwork and knowledge on the ocean and its dangers. They, especially one, showed lacking as a minor god. After telling what had happened, the Olympians decided to hold a trial to discuss Zuione's fate.

He stood in front of all 12 gods and goddesses one night, bracing himself for the worst.

"Zuione," Zeus started reluctantly, many of the gods liked Zuione, and were sorry to place punishment on him. "You are aware that your actions came at a great cost?"

Zuione nodded solemly.

"Therefore, it was only fitting that we had to choose something that would pay it. I'm afraid that we had to give you the permanent job of dream catcher cleaner." Zeus finished, but Zuione was confused. What was a dream catcher? And why was it bad? His mother and father seemed distressed at this news, and so did Apollo. He interjected.

"But Zeus, he clearly has the gift of prophesy, couldn't he work for me instead?"

Zeus shook his head. "I'm sorry, but the sentence has already been passed."

Apollo sunk back into his seat, and gave Zuione an expression that said, 'sorry kid, I tried.'

"But lord Zeus, I'm afraid that I don't know what a dream catcher is." Zuione said.

Athena explained. "It is a circular device that is supposed to 'catch' bad dreams in its webs. Most mortals use it. They hang it over their beds at night, so it can do its job. Your duty is to go down into the mortal world, and clean the webs out. You have to swear on the River Styx that you will do it."

Zuione didn't see what was so bad about that, he would be helping people after all.

"Alright, I'll do it. I swear on the River Styx. But how am I supposed to get down into the mortal world?" Zeus, anticipating that question, snapped his fingers.

Zuione immediately felt intense pain in his back, like two daggers had cut deeply into it. It almost brought him to his knees as he cried out and looked back, but instead of daggers, he saw two big, chalk white, feathered wings. He forgot about all pain in his awe, they looked so similar to Eros'.

"Your sentence will start tomorrow at dawn. Trial closed." Zeus finished and Zuione bowed to the Olympians, leaving the main palace back to his home.

He was flying around his house, so excited to start his job, and use these new wings! They were incredible! No more school, no more getting in trouble, and no more fateful adventures.

The next day at dawn he left the house without even saying goodbye. He figured his parents wouldn't want to talk to him after he disappointed them so badly.

So Zuione flew down to the mortal world at the first hour of dawn, when the sun was somewhat visible, and its golden rays enveloped the waking world with soft clarity.

He decided to just stop at a random house and figure out how to do it himself. He opened the door softly to not be heard, but as a mortal came through the corner, she didn't seem to see him. She just walked right past. Zuione let out a sigh of relief, and entered a bedroom. Sure enough, hanging over one of the beds was a circle shaped frame with intricate webs weaved in the middle of it. He immediately saw a few glowing black beads in the webs. Zuione got the impression that those were what it caught, and that only he could see them. He approached the dream catcher, and put one knee on the bed to face it better, staring at the beautiful yet ominous black beads that twirled inside the webs. Maybe this would be harder than he thought.