The signing birds, beauty of the forest, and indescribable peace of their surroundings weren’t enough to penetrate the heavy hearts of two greeks. One drowning in guilt, and the other haunted by her actions.

Nefeli walks with the other three, her head hanging low as her emotions are clear to see. Millions of unsaid words crossed her features, even though her eyes were blank. Polydeuces follows beside her, nudging her gently. “Hey… are you sure you're okay? Your mood has changed pretty quickly since we left the ship. What happened to being happy about going home?” Even if his touch on her shoulder was gentle. Nefeli hit it away regardless, clearly on edge, and feeling like She was being watched. That damn bird seemed to be following her even here, meaning, someone was going to die.

“N-not now Polydeuces, we need to be on guard for anything.”

Polydeuces sighs deeply, looking to Polities not too far ahead. Their locked gaze communicating a silent plan. Polities smiles as he moves to Odyseus' side, and Polydeuces to Nefeli’s simultaneously. “You can relax my friends.” Polities smiled brightly at his friend, while Odysseus looked at the other confused. “Huh?”

“We can tell you're getting nervous, so do yourselves a service. And try to relax my friends.” Polydeuces' side hugs Nefeli in a friendly manner, but Nefeli looks away; hugging herself. “W-we’re fine guys.. really.”

Each male pulls their respective friend in opposite directions. “Think of all we have been through. We’ll survive what we get into.” Polities smiles at Odysseus while Polydeuces holds Nefeli’s hands, spinning her around. “We’ll survive what we get into.”

“Po! Quit it!!” Nefeli yelps as Polydeuces accidentally lets her go, causing her to fall into a bush. “Whoops.. Sorry” He chuckles while helping her back up to her feet. Nefeli scowls at him, pushing him off. Groaning as she spots the eagle flying overhead. “Oh for gods’ sake.” Nefeli mumbles while walking away, the others following close behind.

“I know you're tired of the war and bloodshed. Tell me, is this how we’re supposed to live? Look how you grip your sword and spear, enough said.” Polities keeps trying, gently grabbing the two Ithicans shoulders, dragging them back. “Why should we take, when we can give?” Polydeuces leans down a bit, him and Nefeli being face to face; to which, makes the woman blush.

“I will punch you both..” Nefeli huffs.

“You can show a person that you trust them. When you stop and lower your guard.” Due to her being distracted, Polities managed to take Nefeli’s spear away. “Hey!” She refutes, trying to take it back. But, Polydeuces stops her. “Come on Ne, here’s a chance for some adjustment.” He looks at her with a kind smile, all the while, Nefeli looks down at their conjoined hands in regret. “I don’t know Po…”

“Give it a try, it’s not that hard.” Polydeuces pulls her in close, looking her in the eyes. “This life is amazing when you greet it with open arms. We’ll be fine as long as we're leading from the heart.” Polities smiled brightly as he threw flower petals at the two; having put a little flower crown on Odysseus. “I feel stupid…” he mutters, only to be shushed by Polities.

Nefeli’s gaze softens as she looks up at her friend as he continues. “No matter the place, we can light up the world. Here’s how to start. Greet the world with open arms…”

“Greet the world with open arms…” She repeats

“You can relax my friends” Polities pats Odysseuss’ shoulder while the man slightly pouts. “I don't know.. But.. we can give it a try.” Though the moment was cut short as rustling from the bushes around them got their attention. Small bear-like creatures slowly surround them, looking upon the Ithicans with glowing purple eyes.

“Welcome :3”

Odysseus was quick to unsheathe his sword, while Nefeli pulled away from Polydeuces, snatching her spear back. “Stay back!” She warns, “Stay back.” Every one of the tiny creatures takes a step back, surprised by the sudden shift in their company's demeanor. “My friends, greet the world with open arms.” Politeis says softly before looking at the creatures. “We’re only here for food.”

“Food”

Nefeli raises a confused brow at the creatures, “they're.. kinda…cute.”

“Six hundred friends are waiting for us to show our faces. If we do not come back safely, my men will turn this place into blazes” Odysseus scoffs and threatens. Regardless of the danger the two warriors posed, the creatures give them a bucket full of fruit. “Here you go :3”

Nefeli couldn't contain herself anymore as she kneels down; scooping up arms full of the tiny creatures “aw, and you're all so soft to?!” She giggled as they hugged her face in return. Polities and Polydeuces smile at each other a bit, before starting to be carried by the lotus eaters. “See? This life is amazing, when you greet it with open arms. Whatever we face, we’ll be fine as long as we’re leading from the heart.” Nefeli rolls her eyes with a smile, the creatures offering her a fruit. “Hey, this isn’t so bad..” She accepts it, “no matter the place. We can light up the world, here's how to start. Greet the world with open arms.”

Just as Nefeli was about to take a bite of the fruit, the eagle from earlier snatched it from her. “You just love ruining stuff huh?” She scoffs at the bird, “you’re welcome.” He scoffs back while dropping the fruit, revealing glowing seeds within. “Huh?”

Odysseus inspects the fruit and its seeds with solemn disdain. “My friends, I wish I could say that I agree. But look at the way this fruit is glowing and filled with glowing seeds.” He picks up the fruit to show them, “it took me a while to notice what kind of fruit they eat. It’s a lotus, it controls your mind and never lets you free.”

“Of course, they were too kind…” Nefeli mutters, just as disheartened as her friend. “Ne… wait” Polydeuces tries to stop her as she turns and walks away. “That’s what you get with open arms…” Nefeli sits at the beach, hugging her legs sadly. Not noticing the lone lotus eater that followed her. “Sad?” They asked while hugging her arm, their big eyes looking up into her own. “Yea.. I… I did something terrible. I’m a monster.. You should probably stay away..”

The creature only shakes its head; climbing up to hug her face, which caused her to smile. But like all things, it didn't last as the eagle landed on her shoulder. “What are you, exactly? Want to know something funny… We didn’t force you to kill that infant… monster~” Nefeli growls and shoos the bird away, “what do you want from me?!” She screams, tearing up. “I’m just curious about you… a woman among men. A cat among wolves. “ Suddenly, the eagle swoops down; clawing at her. She yelps, falling back as the poor lotus eater was also flung off of her. “You are no warrior . You are a joke. A monster who kills soldiers in their sleep! Monster! Monster!!” The creature laughed as he continued attacking her, “s-stop! Go away!!” Nefeli cries and fights the bird off of her. Hearing her screams, the other Ithicans came running through the forest. “Nefeli!!” Odysseus yells, soon finding her curled up; crying.

“W-what?” Nefeli looks around, confused as he looks down at herself. Despite what she saw and felt, there were no visible marks left behind. Was that… just in her mind? All the while, her friends looked upon her worried and concerned for her well being. “Are you okay?” Polydeuces offers her a hand, helping her up. “Y-yea.. Just.. probably spent too much time on that ship.” She lies as Polities pats her back gently, “oh. You and us both my friend” He chuckles, but she flinches under his touch.

“Well, the lotus eaters told us about a cave to the east. Supposedly, filled with food.” Nefeli nods, still having to shake off her previous encounter. “Alright.. Let’s go.” As she was about to follow her friends, the small lotus eater clings to her leg. “Come?”

Polydeuces looks back at Nefeli; noticing the small creature hanging onto her, and chuckles “Seems you've got a stow-away.”

“Yea, she wont stop holding onto me.” Nefeli kneels and picks up the creature, taking it back with them.

The warriors eventually made it back to the ship, greeted by a worried Eurylochus. “You're all finally back! I was about the charge in there after you.” He huffs before noticing their solemn expressions and dirt covered armor. “What happened to you guys? Nefeli, answer me.” Eurylochus grabs her arm, but she immediately slaps his hand away. “Don't touch me!” Nefeli pants, realizing what she just did as the man, along with everyone else, just stares at her in shock. “J-just leave me alone…” She mumbles as she walks onto the ship.

Polydeuces was quick to apologize in her stead, “sorry sir… but, something happened that…made her on edge all of a sudden. I’ll talk to her.” Eurylochus sighs and nods, “alright.. For all our shakes please do..”

Nefeli sat on the ship's edge, leaning against the railings as her new companion nestled in her hair. “Seems like that lotus eater really took a liking to you.” Polydeuces chuckles as he slowly approaches her, joining her side. “Yea… I named her lotus.” Nefeli says simply. Polydeuces, nods, looking away slightly “look. About what happened back there. Everyones worried, you hit Eurylochus when he was only trying to help…” He looks back at the woman, equally worried “Ne.. talk to me.. What's going on?”

Without a word, Nefeli hugs the other tightly. The sudden gesture nearly toppled them both over. “I-I’m a monster!” She cries, “ I did something terrible.” Despite being taken-aback by her odd reaction, he hugs her back gently. “This life is amazing, when you greet it with open arms,” Polydeuces softly lifts her chin, “I see it in your face, there’s so much guilt inside your heart.” He removed his hand to carefully wipe away her steaming tears. “So, why not replace it and light up the world. Here's how to start, greet the world with open arms.” He smiles at her caringly, “greet the world with open arms....” Nefeli whispers back, “you can relax my friend....” Upon his last words, time seemed to slow and stop completely around her.