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Name:
Dionysus
Nickname:
Dy
Gender:
Male
Writing:
"Dy, that garden of yours ready?" Mae called across the field as she saw Dionysus moving to his own personal garden.
"Almost, by next week it should be," He watched as the leaves wavered at him and he lifted them delicately to look at the grapes that were almost ripe underneath.
"Hey Dionysus, could you help me with this tree? That past storm really hit it hard," Fera's voice called and Dionysus moved towards where her voice came from. He found Fera struggling to hold a tree that was splitting down the center near the edge of one of the forest gardens.
He quickly helped her brace the tree and called forth vines to help bind the it back together to heal. Once the vines had secured it, they took a step back and Fera examined the tree closely to make sure the vines were holding, "Thank you so much Dy."
Dionysus bowed his head at her and moved back through the gardens, nodding and waving good morning to the various gardeners that each tended to a patch of land. Since his own garden wasn't ready to harvest, he set out to find Mae to see if any of the other gardens could use his help. Mae smiled at him as he approached and leaned on the shovel she was using to clear a patch of rocky soil.
"Hello Dionysus. What can I do for you?" She asked, wiping the sweat from her forehead.
"Good morning Mae, I was wondering if anyone needed help with their gardens. Mine is all set." Dionysus spoke and Mae thought on it a moment.
"Well, you could go with Linden. I think she is delivering stuff to Hades today." Mae motioned to another viscet who was packing up a backpack of supplies.
"Wait, to Hades like in the underworld?" Dionysus asked and Mae laughed and nodded, "You would let me go to the underworld?"
"Of course, its not like we are not allowed there. We are the step below Hades Angels, we are his gardeners. If we really wanted we could come and go as much as we please. We just prefer it up here cause not much grows in the underworld." Mae spoke and walked with Dionysus over to Linden, "Hey Linden, could you take Dy here with you? He has never been on the route before."
Linden brushed the hair back from her face and looked up at the pair as she closed up the backpack, "Absolutely Mae. Anything else you want me to bring?"
"Nah, Hades didn't ask for much this time, just the usual restocking. But on your way back, bring back some of the metal flowers alright? I am starting up a new garden of them." Linden nodded and a dark cloak on over her and the backpack. Dionysus looked at her and Mae tossed him a cloak, "Awful cold in the underworld so you should probably wear this."
Dionysus nodded, pulling on the cloak and then looked to Linden to lead. The pair set off towards the cave entrance to the underworld and it took most of the day to get there. Once at the entrance, Linden touched the edge and murmured something very softly. Dionysus was about to ask why she was praying when the cave lit up with a bluish glow. Along one side of the cave a blue green bio luminescent algae was glowing to guide the way through the tunnels. Dionysus was shocked at how much light it provided but still stuck close to Linden for fear of getting lost in the maze of tunnels. It felt like they had walked for ages before they came to a dead end in the cave and Dionysus looked at Linden to make sure she wasn't concerned.
She simply put her paw to the rock and whispered again, as if praying and the rock slid to the side, revealing a glowing blue river among dark stone walls. Linden stepped through and Dionysus followed close behind, gazing around in amazement, "So this is the underworld?"
"Yeah, the entrance is hidden so mortals won't accidentally stumble upon it." Linden explained and walked towards a boat that was floating lazily in the river, "Careful not to touch the water."
Dionysus looked at the boat and found his mouth hanging open at the detail on it. Scenes were carved into the wood and on the front was a cloaked figure like they typically did with mermaids on ships. He reached out to touch the black carved wood and it suddenly moved. He jumped back with a yelp of fear and heard laughing coming from the boat. The cloaked figure stepped out of the water they were standing in to give the illusion of being a carving on the boat and tossed back their hood.
"Sorry to startle you, I like to play pranks on new folks who come through. Not much for amusement down here so you have to make your own." The viscet shook the water off himself, careful not to throw it off on his guests and smiled at Dionysus, "My name's Charon."
The viscet stuck out his hand and Dionysus shook it cautiously, "Dionysus."
"Ah, after the god of wine?" Charon asked and Dionysus nodded slowly.
Charon chuckled softly, "Well I suppose you are off to Hades, climb in and I'll take you."
Charon swung himself into the boat and looked at the viscets as they climbed in. He pushed the boat into the river and chatted with Linden about how things were going at the House of Angels as they sailed through the water. The river led them out of the crevice and into a massive cavern. Dionysus stared open mouthed and watched souls meander on the banks of the river. He heard Charon and Linden chuckle and closed his mouth as they kept going, on towards the black castle that was up ahead. The river surged under the castle through a series of tunnels and Charon navigated them easily with years of experience before docking next to a stone dungeon like section.
He helped the pair out and looked at Linden, "You remember the way, right?"
Linden nodded and Charon waved to the two before pushing his boat back into the river and drifting from sight. Dionysus followed Linden through the castle, admiring the details within as she guided him to a massive throne room. Sitting on the throne was a viscet munching on some fruit with a bat clinging to the edge of the chair. Dionysus was in awe, this was Hades, the Hades. God of Death and Lord of the Underworld. Linden however seemed unamused, "Hermes, where is Hades?"
Wait. What? Dionysus looked at her confused and then back at the viscet sitting in the throne, "In his study, you know him, always working."
Dionysus looked at the viscet once more, a bit saddened that he was wrong before following Linden to a small room off to the side. Inside sat a dark viscet at a desk writing notes in a thick book as he studied a glass orb. When the pair entered, he looked up and smiled, "Ah, Linden. I was starting to think you had gotten lost in the caves."
The viscet stood and Dionysus couldn't help but feel a bit disappointed. Hades was a black viscet with a wing marking on his shoulder and a scythe marking on his hips, certainly not the image Dionysus had in his mind. He hugged Linden gently and then turned his gaze to Dionysus.
"Ah, a new recruit?" He held out his hand and dipped his head in respect, "I am Hades, it is a pleasure to meet you."
"Dionysus, and the pleasure is mine." Dionysus shook Hades hand and saw a gleam of interest in his eyes.
"Dionysus? After the god of grape-harvest?" Hades asked and Dionysus nodded.
"I am a nature sprite with a specialty in vines. Particularly grapes." He smiled and Hades nodded back.
"Well the House of Angels is a perfect place for you." Hades spoke as Linden handed him the supplies and proceeded to go over the future orders with him. On the way out of the castle, she collected the metal flowers to bring back to the House of Angels and the pair walked through the field of souls to return to the entrance.
"So, Hades wasn't as I expected." Dionysus explained to Linden as they walked. He watched the souls crowd around them, reaching to touch the live viscets and was glad he was wearing a cloak to fend off the cold they radiated.
"He never is what people expect. Certainly doesn't look the part or really act the part." Linden spoke, "But don't let it fool you. He can be pretty terrifying when he protects those he cares about."
"Oh? Like his Angels?" Dionysus asked and Linden nodded.
"And us." She added with a smile and Dionysus smiled back.
He was one of Hades's Angels. Sorta.Words: 1500
All viscets belong to me
Linden, Fera and Mae are all gardeners/nature sprites at the House of Angels
Hades, Charon and Hermes all reside in the underworld 