Ath3na blinked, and the first sight to greet her was Jaybird's smiling face.
"Welcome back, boss," he said cheerfully.
Blood dripped down from the cut on his cheek. It splashed onto Ath3na's face.
"I'm sorry," she said. "You guys had a hard time because of me…"
Jaybird shook his head.
"In my final attack, I would have been pierced in a dozen places if the throne's blades didn't suddenly stop mid-attack…" he offered her his hand. "I'm guessing that was you?"
Ath3na reached for his outstretched fingers and then let Jaybird help her up.
"It was all I could do to stall him," she said. Then in an undertone, she added, "Besides, I promised that bastard I'd be there in the moment he was most vulnerable…"
"Um, did you say something?" Jaybird asked as he picked up the book he'd left on the floor and shut it with a little too much force. "Good riddance, Pride…"
"Nope…" Ath3na answered.
