Thanatos leaned against a wall of the Underworld palace, waiting on Hecate for 'patrol' or lookout. It was basically just lookout.

They would go to one of the few places where a non-Underworld dweller can enter and guard it until the next set of gods come.

Despite what most would think the Underworld was actually quite easy to guard. It was huge yes, but it also had very few entrances and exits. You can't have many exits when there might be souls attempting to escape.

As far as the Underworld dwellers know, Olympus only knows of two entrance and exits points.

But anyway the Queens (Persephone and Amphitrite) wanted all entrances guarded.

That sounds hard.

Well it isn't.

Not many entrance points.

Many gods in Underworld.

Surely you can see the solution here. But if you can't it means that a couple gods are assigned to each entrance at regular intervals while still leaving enough time for rest and other things.

The gods had to have the majority of their essence in the Underworld, especially when on guard duty, and have to rest of their essence doing what they usually do. For example, Thanatos was leaning against a wall waiting for Hecate, but he was also in Greece where a hunting trip went wrong, in Australia where some Kangaroos decided to start throwing punches (or kicks for that matter). He was in many places but most of him was still waiting on a certain goddess of magic who was taking her sweet time.

Eventually the curly haired goddess came into his sight, making a beeline for him. She stopped in front of him with a childish grin on her face.

Thanatos could feel the dumb joke coming from a mile away, luckily he did and had time to prepare his sanity for it.

Hecate was almost bouncing where she stood, "Well it looks like I've come face to face with death."

Thanatos groaned and rolled his eyes before he could stop himself.

Hecate cackled and curled in on herself midair. Shaking in a ball at least 3 feet above the ground.

She used her magic for the weirdest things but Thanatos supposed thats how she showed individuality. Making terrible jokes, puns and using enough magic to dissolve every mortal within a 10 meter radius.

"Lets get moving," Thanatos said walking off towards the edge of the cliff the palace sat upon.

"Your face!" Hecate squealed. She hadn't quite managed to get her feet back on the ground. But that was fine by Thanatos, he planned to fly anyway. Whether she followed or not. He'd been waiting long enough.

Thanatos didn't bother to start flying before falling off the edge. Just letting himself fall for a second before twisting around and spreading his wings. They caught the air and Thanatos soared across the Underworld. Not particularly caring that he had left Hecate behind.

Said goddess of Magic appeared beside him, acting as if she was surfing across the air. The look was completed by the green fog at the feet in the shape and a board. "I was going to ask you for a lift you know," she called over after making a mock turn in the air. She dramatically held her hand out to Thanatos, "Death take me please."

Thanatos looked at her with a blank expression, "No." He continued flying on.

Hecate clutched her heart and fell over breaking through her magical fog. Disappearing along with it.

He faintly wondered where she had went before having to stop in mid-air.

Hecate had appeared directly in front of him. Sitting with her legs crossed upon a purple carpet. "Hey hows it goin'?"

Thanatos turned to the side and continued flying on. He could hear the carpet flapping along beside him, just out of reach of his wings. Pretty much all immortals knew not to mess with someones wings. It was offensive and just something you didn't do. Also because wings were really really sensitive. Also touching the wings was something that they trusted very few with. Touching their wings was also a courting jesture so I'm trusting that you can put two and two together on why they don't let others touch their wings. (Hint: if someone does touch their wings, they would get very distracted very quickly and blank everything that is said).

Hecate tried to start up conversation, "Do you think that any will attack this time?"

Thanatos looked over at her, "You ask this everytime."

"And everytime you say that, you carry conversation as much as the dead."

"I hope they don't attack, but I'd rather they do it sooner than later."

"So you hope they attack then?

"I didn't say that," Thanatos said, finally landing near the 'musical' entrance. The one that could only be opened when music is created nearby.

"Who do you think it'll be?" Hecate asked, still sitting on her flying carpet.

"I don't know," Thanatos admitted. "Also why are you still on that?"

"Its comfy and the purple matches my hair." She curled a strand of black hair that faded to purple around one finger.

Thanatos gestured for the two gods there to leave. Choosing to ignore the slight emotion that Moros had showed before they dispersed into smoke, knowing that the god of violent death would cause Thanatos to have a very violent death.

He was just a gem like that.

How Thanatos knew this? Him and Nemesis had once nearly been on the receiving end of a prime domain example by Moros.

He didn't want to have to relive the experience of having to hide out in a different snowy mountain every few days. It was cold and wet and uncomfortable. Also Nemesis kept going on about how funny Moros' face was when he realised that the two of them had told everyone. Thanatos did no find it as funny as he had been the first target.

Moros might be a head shorter than him but he could still be terrifying. He had many collections of- pointy objects and not-so-pointy-objects that may or may not be used to cause those violent deaths he loves so much.

Yeah Thanatos' family was a very cheery bunch.

Thanatos sat down on a random rock that would allow him to be comfortable, see the entrance and make sure that Hecate was actually there.

He didn't not sign up to be a babysitter.

As of right now, Hecate was talking with the Ker who was unfortunate enough to be stuck on lookout with Moros.

The Ker was not looking to be part of the conversation, "Is your attempt to flirt over? I would like to rest, my brother is quite annoying-" she looked back at Thanatos "-not that one but the one who has a strange obsession with elbows."

Hecate was at a loss for words (for once) and the Ker used that as an opportunity to escape, flying up into the somehow darker part of the Underworld.

Thanatos grinned at the goddess of Magic, "That went well."

"Shut up."

Thanatos materialised a scythe and a whetstone. Begining to work on sharpening the edge. It was a simple yet beautiful weapon. It had a long handle made of Cypress wood with a curved silver blade arching from the tip of the staff. Singular flower petals were carved at the bottom while butterflies were carved at the top. Somehow over time, the carvings had filled in with white.

Thanatos liked it.

Also sometimes mortals wouldn't believe he was death without showing them the scythe. Mortals are needy like that.

Hecate sat leaned against him with her arm over his head, "Nice scythe, very stereotypical and deathy of you."

Thanatos looked up at her, "Its pretty."

Hecate ruffled his hair, "I know, I'm just messing with you."

Thanatos narrowed his eyes at her, "Somethings wrong, you haven't made a joke since before we got here."

The Magic goddess shrugged, "Its like theres a shadow over my joke making abilities."

In response to that, Thanatos just slid the whetstone over the edge loudly.

Hecate cringed back. "Why?" she hissed dramatically.

"I'm just sharpening this. Not all of us have magic instead of weapons."

"Where did you even get something that can make a noise like that?"

"Tartarus," Thanatos said, sliding the stone along again.

"That sound itself is straight from the pits of hell," Hecate said. Then she scrunched up her nose, "No wait that one was terrible."

"Yes it was, and yes the noise does."

"Seriously?"

"Yup," Thanatos said sincerely. "The whetstone was made so that when its used you hear the screams from the fields of punishment."

"Does it actually?"

"No."

Hecate was silent for a moment, "Thanatos, Son of Nyx was that sarcasm?"

"Possibly."

"YOU HAVE A SENSE OF HUMOUR? But- I've never seen you laugh."

"I've never heard you say anything funny."

"You are cruel. I hope you know that."

"Too bad, its a part of the job description."

Before the goddess could argue back the sound of a flute filled their ears.

Hecate grinned and her signature green lights filtered into view. The strength of the magic casting the dark Underworld into an array of green and blue.

The edge of the cavern began to open and the musical notes wafted down even louder.

Hecate extinguished her lights but the strength of the magic was still overwhelming.

Thanatos stood up and twirled the scythe in his hands. It was quite sharp but he had gotten into the habit of sharpening it even when unnecessary. You never know when you'll have a sibling to stab.

He looked around him. This particular part of the Underworld was where the caverns arched upwards. It would be enough for him to use his scythe and fight comfortably along side Hecate, but not for flight. So maneuvers with wings were out of the question. He could summon his sword but he already had the scythe, no point in wasting time for a weapon that would provide no tactical advantage. He would just keep the scythe in his hands, he preferred it anyway. Maybe it was because of the way mortals saw him, or maybe just because it spun around better, who knows?

Two beings dropped down into the Underworld just as the music stopped, sealing the opening back closed.

Hecate and Thanatos stayed in the shadows. Sizing up the intruders.

One was quite short in comparison to most gods and goddesses. This one was holding the flute. They stood with both legs together- foolish, would easily be knocked down. Wearing a dress under a thick coat- might have concealed weapons but restricted movement. Their hair was tied back in a braid going down their back- Hecate would most likely pull it to get them off guard for a moment.

The other looked more prepared for a fight. They were taller and wore armour instead of the latest fashion in the mortal world. They had a broadsword attached to their back and wore minimal clothing that may catch on anything- high movement but no concealed weapons. Their hair was short- no pulling.

Overall Thanatos would give them a 4/10. Extra points for their choice of music to get in, it was soothing. Minus points for obviously being unprepared for- for just about everything.

Thanatos managed to catch Hecate's eye and materialised out of the shadows beside her.

"Unprepared," Thanatos said, barely a whisper. "Would be easy to overpower."

Hecate nodded and thought for a moment, "Lets mess with them."

"Sounds good to me." Thanatos fell back into the shadows.

Sparks of various colours darted across the rock ground.

The shorter one shrieked and jumped back. The other scowled and grabbed their arm, "This is a stealth mission. Be quiet!"

The shorter one nodded.

The sparks darted across the floor again and this time the taller one jumped back when it hit their foot.

"Hah! So much for stealth," the shorter one laughed.

Thanatos saw Hecate roll her eyes and raise her hand.

The sparks followed. Crawling upwarsd in the air forming a gaint face.

An illusion, Thanatos thought. Smart.

It opened his eyes, "WHO GOES THERE?"

The shorter one looked back and shrugged before stepping forward. "Um hi? I'm Khoine, goddess of Ice and this is my father Boreas, god of the North Wind. Now if you let us past I won't freeze you and break you into millions of pieces."

"YOU SHALL GO NO FURTHER!"

Boreas stepped forward, drawing his sword, "Oh yeah? And who will stop us?"

Thanatos stepped out of the shadows behind them, "We will."

The two of them spun around and stepped backwards when they saw him standing there. They didn't recognise him of course, none ever did and thats the way Thanatos would like it to stay. But seeing someone standing behind you holding a scythe with wings that were blending into the shadowa was bound to be surprising.

"And who is we?" Boreas asked, leveling his sword at him.

The face collasped and Hecate stood there with her eyes glowing. Her lights seemingly dripping through her fingers. "You can count me into that too."

Khione snarled, "Do you really think you can stop us?"

"Yes I do," Hecate said, a smile forming on her face. "In fact I think it'll be a breeze."

Thanatos almost groaned before realising that those two being here actually did have an opportunity for some jokes. Ugh, Hecate was rubbing off on him. "I don't know about you, but I think it just got a little chilly in here."

Hecate's grin widened, "It sure did, but I think that you making jokes with me is just the frosting on the cake."

Khione was ready to blow a fuse.

"We should be careful, she looks like shes going to kick up a blizzard."

Khione growled, "You have no idea how much I've heard those jokes."

Hecate laughed, "I bet its because of your icy personality."

Thanatos laughed at that one.

The Magic goddess threw her hands in the air in celebration, "Yes! My best friend can laugh!"

Thanatos froze for a second. Then he just shrugged it off with a grin. Maybe she was just joking but they were good enough friends, even if she did make a lot of terrible jokes.

"Oh look at that, the little ice princess is little snowflake," Thanatos taunted.

Either he has no regard for his personal safety or the idiocy of Triton taunting people when threatened has rubbed off on him.

Probably both.

Triton was a terrible influence.

He got Thanatos to socialise for gods sake, he is obviously insane.

Hecate stepped forward at the same time Thanatos did. "Do you want to elaborate? For the sake of our uninvited guests of course."

"Can't take a hit."

With a snarl Khione lunged at him.

In less than two minutes both of the intruders were disarmed, wrapped in magical chains and on the receiving end of a weapon. Boreas was currently being threatened by a particularly sharp rock. Meanwhile Khione had a scythe at her throat.

Hecate pretended to brush dust off her shoulder, "Well that was just light and airy."

"I hate you both," Khione spat.

"Wow princess that was cold," Thanatos said grinning.

Before Khione could cry out jn outrage at anothet pun Hecate clicked her fingers and the two of them went rocketing up into cavern roof. Smashing through and sailing through the air.

Hecate started laughing," Do you think the North Wind is carrying them?"

Thanatos couldn't help it, he started laughing hysterically too.

The two of them leaned onto each other for support. Hecate's lights darting around quickly.

Their mirth was interrupted by Eris running up to them, breathless. "Something happened."

The goddess of Magic grinned at her and booped her on the nose, "Hell yeah it did. Me and your brother kicked ass and were hilarious while doing it."

Eris started running again, "No something else."

Thanatos grabbed Eris' arm, "What happened Eris?"

Eris was shaking, "They attacked the Sea. I saw it. I was told to help get everyone together."

"What was it?" Hecate asked softly.

"They- they-" Eris tried to speak but her voice just kept catching. "I can't- I can't-"

"Shhh it's ok, you don't have to say it," Thanatos said softly, pulling his younger sister into a hug.

"If they can do that, do you think they'll do it to the rest of us?" Eris asked. "I'm scared."