Athena! Athena! Nyctimene was screeching in her ear. Before she could ask what the matter was, she knew. The Mother was standing before her ? but a strangely attenuated Mother. She seemed to be fading in and out ? going from solid to transparent ? the sound of her voice fading to nothing and then returning. Athena could make nothing of it.
" Queen dying Prometheus fire magic too strong save " and, at last, "Come! come nooo "
And then she was gone. Like a guttering candle, she had finally winked out.
Athena looked at Nyctimene, appalled.
Come, said the little owl. Whatever it is, someone's in trouble. Let's find out.
Athena stopped to suit up. If the Queen was dying, it might be of some kind of disease. Better to be protected.