Orion found himself staggering lazily through the forest, following closely to a river he could not see and the sun he could only view. All thanks to his new found blindness. But, his sense of touch and smell had improved so greatly, he knew he wasn't alone. He felt the gentle mist of saltwater first—which surely didn't belong to such a river and reached unnaturally high to caress the half giant to begin with—before he heard his fathers voice boom from the water. "Don't ignore me, boy!" Poseidon's disembodied voice spoke through a wave, Orion could feel it nudge his arm impatiently. The domain he was in was that of Achelous, but Poseidon was never one to hesitate to encroach on others' property when it came to his reckless children.

Orion snorted, flicking the water away from his face as he continued his steady trek. "I'm not ignoring you, Father!" he called out back, pushing tree limbs out of his way. "I'm merely... doing as I please! Which is not falling into your trappings again."

Apparently—that was the wrong thing to say to such a... tempered God, as a strong haze of water splash up and over Orion's head. Orion yelped at the cold liquid, which made hair stick to his face and neck as Poseidon continued his reprimand. "Trapping!? You think you know better than your own father? Come home at once son!"

If Orion could roll his unseeing eyes—he would have. Instead he just gave a soft huff and leaned forward, trying to shake as much of the water out of his head. "And what would you have me do father?" Orion countered back as he quickly slicked all his hair back. "Sit in some stuffy underwater palace and wait for my eyes to heal? I am a man of action, not som—!"

"Enough!" Poseidon's voice shouted back through the stream. "You. Are. Blind, Orion. Done so by your own foolish pride and lustful naivety! It is clear to all that you require guidance, before you lose your damn head elsewhere!"

Orion felt his face grow red hot at the scolding, a huff of hesitant disbelief left his lips as he turned his back to the river. Or—at least, where he believes the river to be and further into the forest where he hoped no water would touch. "I have lost my sight, not my mind! I am a grown man, Father. I have adventures yet to have, battles yet to win! Losing my eyes? HA, merely a... momentary setback!"

"Damn you, my boy!" Posieden's disembodied voice shouted right before the earth began to grumble and shake, making the blind giant unsteady. Even worse—a wave of water that was nearly half of the river shot up like a tidal wave. It was more meek and smaller than disastrous ones his father made in the oceans due to his... limited space. Yet still, the water is strong enough to force trees to bow to the angry god, and nearly knock Orion over himself. He could hear the splintering of wood, could feel the waves starting to rush back faster then if came. The liquid tugged at his waist like invisible hands trying to snag and drag him into the river bend.

"F-father!" Orion cursed, but righted himself before listening closely. He turned his head to the direction he heard the branch breaking in, and shot his hands upwards till he could find another. His fingers curled around a sturdy limb. Before pulled himself up to sit high and free from the waves. "Now that was quite dramatic, father, HAHA!"

"Get down from that tree, Orion!"

Orion, now safe from his fathers tantrums, gave a wide grin even if he was soaked to the bone. "Sorry," He snorted, standing up shakily on thick bark and reaching his foot out to find one further away from Poseidon's angry tone. He shakily step away quickly, confidence growing as he practically jumped from tree limb to tree limb, laughing brightly even as he nearly tripped the 5th time and called to his fathers fading tone. "I have no intention of going home, yet! Maybe I'll visit when I have my sight back! Haha!"

---

Now that he was standing alone in the deepest part of the forest, however, the regret from his impulsive act to flee his father's anger had settled in faster than the night did. The sun was mostly gone—not that seeing it mattered much to Orion—but without it, it became increasingly harder to navigate. Orion tilted his head up again and tried in vain to find the way east was by how the light felt on his cheek. But the canopy above was far too dense.

"Shit," Orion muttered low, his brow furrowing as he realized how lost he now was. "Perhaps I shouldn't have run off like that... But as long as I keep going straight, I ought to reach someone eventually!" He mutters, hyping himself up as he continues his journey forward. His footsteps were more carefully then he ever remembered them being, avoiding loose roots or sharp tooth critters. Orion's arms were stretched out, pushing away hanging vines and branches that aim to get in his way. But his arm slips right underneath one and he is quickly punished by the pain of slamming his nose into rough bark.

"Damnation!" Orion howled, clutching his nose tightly, but he can already feel the sticky slick of his golden blood begin to trickle down it. Orion held it more firmly to slow the flow but he can help laughing at his foolishness. "Ah! Remind me to be more careful, will you?" Orion jokes, wiping the blood away with the back of his hands before he paused and remembered, he was alone now. If his father was still here, he would have scolded Orion purple but at least he would have avoided it.

But Poseidon wasn't here now, and Orion had seen to that. His cheeks flushed again at the realization and he gave the back of his neck an awkward scratch at yet another predicament he now found himself in. "Father?" Orion called out, even if he knew it would be useless too. "D-did you see that? H-haha... Me, splitting blood for bark?" Of course, no reprimand came. Not even the feel of a salt water breeze touched his cheek. Not with how far away he ran.

Letting out a soft sigh that was half regret and the other half guilt. Orion immediately turned around and began to trek where he believes to be backwards, losing his path in hopes of finding a river or at least a stream to apologize to his father. He didn't wish to hurt Poseidon's feelings—he knew his father was a temperamental God. But he just couldn't stand the thought of being coddled and treated like a child still needing his father's constant guiding hand and supervision anymore!

However, being alone now since the first time he has lost his sight, Orion can't deny how much he misses his father's presence. And for the first time since his blinding—he wished that he could see someone's face again.

"Are you there, Father?" Orion called out again, his tone now softer and hesitant as he cleared some debris and slowed himself down to his knees. Tilting his head, he pressed his ear to the forest floor in desperate attempt to find his father through the water in the tree's roots. But the night remained silent enough for Orion to hear his own thoughts.

And Orion hated to hear his own thoughts.

He seemed to grow melancholy—pressed against the floor. Thought on his father's face or how good his mother's cooking would be right now. And then... his thoughts turn to Merope. Her gentle smile and the look of love and adoration that sparked in her eye as she spoke. She, the most recent of his... many loves, was something special. "Ah, Merope, forgive me..."

Orion had strong hopes that their bond was something lasting. Well, he wished all his loves would before they perished or tired of him—but he just knew she was the one he would marry for sure! He didn't even mind her determined vows of chastity, the dog he is.

But Oenopion, her father, was anything but approving of their love no matter what accolades he won or feats of strength he performed. No, Oenopion always found a reason to deny him, to cast doubt and suspicion on Orion's character and intentions. Orion always thought it was foolish suspicion.

But then...

"Please, my dear... forgive me."

Orion remembered most of the recent banquet vividly. The way Oenopion had plied him with the richest of wine straight from Dionysus himself—filling Orion's cup until every time he dared mention the deal the two struck on Meropes hand in marriage that Oenopion had yet to deliver. But Oenopion would always just laugh and dismiss his concerns. Would insist that Orion enjoyed himself and they would speak of it later. But such things would never happen, because in his drunkenness... he had stumbled into Merope's chambers with intentions clouded and unclear like Merope's father always implied he would.

The shutter Orion felt had nothing to do with the night cold air. Tried as he might—he cannot recall anything after the doors closed. The next thing he could, however, was waking up to the pain of a knife sinking deep in his left eye. His other had flown open, quickly taking in a few blinks of the scene. Forever painting the memory in his unseeing eyes.

He remembered the shock look on Merope's face staring up at her father, the way they both were naked as they say they were born. And he remembered looking up to see the furious sneer on Oenopion's face on top of him before he had raised the knife and stabbed right into it. The last thing he ever saw before he managed to knock Oenopion right off and jump out the nearest window, howling in pain. He remembered the way it felt crashing through the glass—rolling down roof tops and slamming into metal railings until he free fell in the waiting embrace of Poseidon seas.

Orion's heart felt like it would curl and die from the profound sense of guilt and loss he had. He still wasn't sure what happened that night. If Merope had offered herself to him willingly, or if he—the gods forbid—truly did have such bad intentions to take what he desired without the forethought of consequence. But he knows he still took something precious. Merope's treasured innocence. She spoke so highly of it—that if she did so willingly, it would be to the extreme belief that they would surely be married soon. But now he will never be welcome back—their dreams of marriage doomed and also just ruined her chance at a respectable marriage to another. And that itself felt like a grievous insult to the love and respect that they had once shared.

Orion's fist clenched the earth as he gave himself a much delayed scolding. He was a man of honor, was he not? He wanted to be known for his strength and courage, and yet he behaved in the most doggish of ways. And for what? A fleeting moment of pleasure that cost him his greatest ability, sight?

Orion starts to laugh at himself again, but before he could let the self pitying sound bubble from his throat—he heard the snap of something toward the right of the forest. In an instant, he was up and had nocked an arrow into his bowstring. Even blind, Orion was graceful with a bow and precise with his instincts. He held his breath, listening intently.

A rabbit.

Orion decides to let it go, lowering his weapon at its chittering sound. But then, he hears another sound—the clang of metal on metal. The hobble of footfall that was one part flesh and the other machine. And there was only on lame god Orion new to frequent this place.

"Hephaestus!" Orion called out excitedly and immediately jumped to his feet before taking off at a reckless speed. He stumbled, feet catching roots and vines but he righted himself and continued forward.

Hephaestus, who was busy in his workshop, looked up from the bolt flowers he was making in confusion at the call of his name. And even more confusion as he sees the half giant Barrel in his shop. "What in the name of me, Orion!" Hephaestus calls gruffly before dropping his workings and quickly turning into his godly form. Hephaestus' form grew large, his bent back pressing against the Roof of his cave as he snatched up Orion like a doll and safely deposited him on a chair non too gentle like. "Sit, before you do yourself in with mischief!" But then Hephaetus managed to see Orion's face. And while Orion can't see his reaction, he knows it must be one of shocked concern. "Well, it seems I'm a little too late for that... Orion, where is your father? I Know you're a reckless one, but what have you done to yourself now!"

Orion had already started spilling every out in a tumble easily through his guilt. "Hephaestus, thank the gods! It's a long story, and not a pleasant one. I... I did a terrible thing, Hephaestus! Horrible, unforgivable things. I've hurt people I care for deeply. I laid myself in Merope's bed where her father took my sight. I'm blind, you see Hephaestus! A-and I angered my father too! I don't know what to do!"

Hephaestus was silent for a long moment. So much so, Orion only knew the god was still there from the concern grip on his shoulder.

But then, he spoke.

"Ah, Orion. You've gone and made a mess of things, haven't you?" Hephaestus sighs, sounding disappointed as he patted Orion shoulder smoothing. "You let lust and pride cloud your judgment, and now you're reaping the bitter harvest, aren't you?"

Orion has the decency to duck his head and look ashamed. "Yes. I admit this is all my own doing, and I have been punished rightly. Hunting is my joy and survival, I miss my parents' faces! Surely as the god of craftsmen, you must have some skill to restore what I've lost?"

Orion could hear the soft sigh Hephaetus gave, even if he could see the shake of his head. "Yes, I do create that which aids the gods and heroes in their endeavors. But..." Hephaestus patted Orion's back again with his meaty hand. "But I cannot restore that which has been lost, nor undo the damage wrought by a reckless hand and a foolish heart. My creations are to aid an ability someone is lacking in, yes. But there is naught I can do for an ability that is completely lacked."

Orion's heart sank, despair washing over him quickly. Has his fanciful notions of legacy already ended so quickly? Was he truly never meant to do any good at all? Hephaestus watched Orion's reactions, the man's face so honest when he can't tell how others are viewing him and Hephaestus took pity as he always did when it came to Orion. "Tell you what, Orion... There may be a way to restore what you've lost. Helios has an unparalleled ability to heal when it comes to sight! Tis a long journey all the way to the east, where the Sun likes to rest in his golden river in Okeanos. Like this, you won't make it far. But I'll lend you a guide I believe will be most trustworthy. {{user}}! Will you come for a moment!"

Orion listens out for them, hearing the rustle of fabrics pushed before someone steps in. He turned towards the general direction of {{user}}, even if he couldn't see them, a wide friendly grin on his face as he shoved out his hand. But then he quickly retracted it, remembered the dried blood and grime that no doubt still clung to him. "Ah, forgive me," he muttered sheepishly, he wiped his palm on his tunic until the worst of it was gone.

Tossing his hand back out, Orion waited to see if they would take it, but understood if they didn't. "{{user}}!" He called happily, excited by the idea of not only adventures, but redemption too. "I cannot express how grateful I am for your potential aid! I am Orion, son of Poseidon - but I shall make a name for myself, you have my word! I, uh... would you mind leading me towards Helio’s path? I'll make sure your name is included in all my future epics of course.”