The Hyperionite trireme had reached land with the great, walled city of Hyperion, sitting upon the hill that allowed it to overlook the plains and sea around it, in sight. The moment Acinonyx had grasped Rowena by the arm, she reached for the dagger on the prince's person, only for Acinonyx to grab her by the wrist with his free hand.
"Better have you bound." Commented Acinonyx, still sounding pleasant, even if what he said was anything but. "Don't want you trying anything—" The moment an arrow came flying past his head, the Crown Prince of Hyperion realized that there was no time for such things. Throwing the Queen of Aether over his left shoulder, Acinonyx barked: "We are so close to home! Just take the others and let's go!"
Not at all unhappy with her situation, Rowena eyed Acinonyx's quiver full of arrows hanging from his right shoulder. He really shouldn't have bound her, otherwise her hands would not have been free. The moment she did reach for an arrow, Acinonyx tripped over a stone, and in progress, sent her down onto a bed of grass.
Rowena did not know if it was just coincidence, or some poorly-thought manner of the Goddess of Love keeping her favourite mortal from being slain, but all she knew was that for the moment she was free. As Falco and his companions made their way from their trireme to come to the rescue, Rowena made a dive for Acinonyx's dagger. Here was a chance to slay her abductor.
Alas, Acinonyx was born under the correct sign. With cheetah speed, he grabbed, Rowena by the wrist and proceeded to struggle with her. He was so close to being successful in his abduction and soon his captive would be his bride, the mother of the future rulers of Hyperion!
Suddenly, a piercing pain shot through the pack of his left shoulder. Releasing Rowena, Acinonyx saw Falco before him, bow in hand and his caracal Kenneth by his side. That blasted islander had shot him with an arrow! Rising to his feet, the Crown Prince of Hyperion was about to draw his dagger and begin his final battle with the Divine Deucalion of Aether, when suddenly, the world turned dark.
The fighting between the two parties ceased, none knowing what was going on. Why had the Sun God withdrawn his light from the world?
Out to sea, everyone looked to see an explosion of some sort. All knew what had happened. The volcano on Aether had erupted. Rowena felt her blood run cold as she stared out and saw running through the sky, a great bull with fur of lapis lazuli and horns of silver.
The Earth Bull was free and Aether was no more.
Dropping his bow in shock, Falco found it difficult to stand. Their home, his mother... All gone.
While the rest of the Hyperionites were overcome with sympathy for their pursuers, Acinonyx was not. Seeing his chance to slay the Last Divine Deucalion of Aether, he prepared to strike only for his cousin Ascanius to grab him by the wrist.
"There has been death enough this day, cousin. Aether has been destroyed, let these few Aethereans that remain and their foreign companion live and let us return their women to them."
Acinonyx would have given a response, had not a group of chariots come down from the city. With them were his father and brother, Leo and Pardus, with their maneless white lion Priam and their black leopard Hector trailing the chariots.
Smiling, Acinonyx said: "Let your petition fall upon the ears of my royal father, cousin! Let him declare what their fates will be!"