She gave him confirmation of everyoneâs presence within the mansion, even noting some of the typical interactions of his kin to which Apollo resisted rolling his eyes. He saw a concern grow within her however and she expressed this saying "Apollo, what's wrong? Has something happened?"
Has something happened?
At first he was confused as to why she would ask such a question, after all didnât Zeus... The Far-darterâs eyes shown realization, near disbelief in them. He said almost more to himself than to his twin, âHe hasnât told you.â A moment passed in complete silence, this new information taking its toll to the point where he paid no heed to what else transpired in the foyer. When the moment ended, his bared a deeply frowning brow and barred teeth in the direction of the dining hall.
Ignoring his sister Apollo strode into the dining hall and was set to bombard his father with questions. What was there to gain from not telling his children and siblings? What purpose was therein failing to warn them immediately what was happening, what was at stake? How could put on that stupid grin and pretend all was well, when of all people in the entire cosmos he should be the most troubled, having faced these monsters before? But Apollo had the wit to calm himself, for now Zeus would address them, Apollo resolving to sit at the obsidian table awaiting for his father to break the news. To Apolloâs great disappointment however he merely mentioned that there would bad news, and decided to yet again stall what would be the most important council in millennia.
No.
The Far-darter wouldnât have it, in his mind there was had no time to waste, heâd done enough of that taking his sweet time in arriving, though at the time he thought theyâd be discussing this already. He rose out of his seat, and faced his father with a face of disappointment and contempt, and perhaps he would be thought insolent by all others within the hall but he spoke anyway, âFeel like a family? You want us to feel like a family? Please donât even try to pretend that we have any semblance of that word, at least not until each of us can openly acknowledge our failings and vices, myself included. But more than that, wouldnât it be far more prudent to address imminent threat to us, and all six billion men women and children on this earth?â his voice was rising and growing ever more irritable.
âThat perhaps you of all people would understand whatâs happening? What do you want? For us cease this infighting? To act unified and ignoring the discrepancies and grievances between us? Theyâll never do it, theyâve had thousands of years to do it, why would they start now when they feel nothing to gain? Well now I say to all of you, that were in not that our very survival hinges within the choices made in this hour I would not care if you bashed in each otherâs brains to your hearts content, but it seems even some part of me long dormant and diminished still loves as kin.
âBut please father, do continue, see how far they go to please you without compromising their egos.â When he was finished his body seemed to relax, and rested his hands upon the table supporting himself, and sighed deeply, âIâm sorry,â he apologized. He then he looked to his father apologetically, âIâm not known for my temper, but even you donât know what I saw, and I shouldnât blame you. Nonetheless this canât be put off for another minute.â
He rose again and addressed them, âLet me tell of my visions. Think of them as the sense of hearing, you donât typically choose what you hear though you can tune yourselves the sound around you to detect what is near. Normally what I see is far off, distorted, subject to change. But earlier today the vision I had was the equivalent to putting ear to a jet engine, it is something that is just short of being inevitable.â
And so it was that the Far-darter sate them down, recounting the events concerning the return of the Titans who visited Persephoneâs shop, and foretold in explicit detail the world he saw. Of the earth caked in the ash of mortals, of the fall of Olympus and detailed descriptions of the corpses of the Olympians not even omitting the fate of his dear sister. Of and age in which all would be laid to ruin under a red sky and sea, of a Crimson Age yet to come.
He finished and regarded them grimly, âYou know me not to be an exaggerator, nor paranoid nor deceitful. But this will happen if we do not act, and sooner than any of us would like. What say you, my kin?â