I think I deserve some praise

A once beautiful but now terrifyingly gaunt face scanned the land, sunken eyes of jet black peering at each home in an attempt to sense any of the participants that were sick, aged, or wounded.

Seeking out the taste of those about to pass on from life, in order to sustain herself.

"Oh, my. You wretched little thing. Who roused you from your sleep?"

Cronus wrinkled his nose at the scent of undeath, and a full bodied shudder ran along his back from the sight of the miserable thing.

"You were a fine lady, once. I can tell from your rags. Such a pity. I'll end this quickly."

Cronus cry of disgust as he bit into the grapes was rather impressive. He was not a man used to bad tastes.

"Oh, oh it's foul!" Cronus complained to a nearby Lares, "What plant produced this? The children will love it but do not let that plant go to seed!"

There was a soft thud as something knocked against her ankle. A soft, warm body, startling large.

The creature would drop an orange at her feet, cocking its head and peering up at her in a silent entreaty for help.

Blinking at the bump to her ankle, she glanced down, and her eyes widened at the sight of the bird at her feet. Immediately clamping a hand against her mouth so Cronus wouldn't hear her squeal in utter delight.

As the orange was dropped, and the bird gave her a pleading look (yes, that was a plea for help, she would never be convinced otherwise), Odyssey immediately became stressed. Trying to peel it by hand would rot it. Perhaps...

Crouching down, she chewed gently on her lip as she flexed her fingers, nervous.

"Hang on," she whispered softly, tugging a long, thin dagger from its hiding spot in the boning of her corset. Holding the blade by the very end of the pommel, wanting to keep her hands far away from both the fruit and the bird, she pressed down carefully on the orange, trying to cut it in half without actually holding onto it.

After the fruit rolled and tumbled about with her first few tries, she scowled before lighting up. Tapping the orange with the knife until it was tucked between the points of her shoes, she let out a triumphant sound when she was able to slice it smoothly in half, and nudged the two pieces towards the bird.

Dipping her head to peck revealed the jeweled collar around her neck her name carved neatly.

DIOGENES.

The fact that she was no longer able to pet dogs was especially painful.

Seeing the jewel covered collar, she let out a laugh and rest her elbows on her bent knees, propping her chin in her hands and smiling down at the bird.

"Ah... I see someone is deeply loved and spoiled," she mused, humming. "I'm going to call you Dio, if that's alright. Are you an indoor bird, or do you get to enjoy that big garden out there whenever you want?" She leaned closer towards her. "If you need me to bust you from this place, just let me know."

She did her best to behave after that, despite loving how reactive Cronus was when he was inconvenienced. After all, she wanted him to let her feed off all that life he was carrying about. However, it'd been an entire three days, and she'd gotten nothing other than a stern reminder to remain in her room at night and to not leave the temple.

Today was far less boring, however. Today, there was new life in the temple.

Odyssey hovered just out of sight of the main room, watching with hungry eyes as a human walked into the temple. No doubt seeing out Cronus for something. Casting a look at the ring she still wore, she hummed before pulling up her glamour and entering the main room of the temple, her dress the same shade as what the Lares were draped in.

The girl gasped quietly glancing up as if she sensed she was being watched.

She stood rabbit still, then, with trembling hands, she pulled a gold chain from around her neck.

she held it in trembling fingers, and the act of placing it on the alter seemed to take all her strength.

She crumpled to her knees, clutching at the alter and weeping quietly.

"Hear my prayer." she whispered, "Please, Lord, Hear my prayer. I don't know what to do."

In an instant, the torches flared to life, and Cronus emerged in a cloud of flame, stepping forward.

He stood an imposing seven feet tall, but instantly seemed to fold in on himself as he dropped to his knee.

"I hear you, smallest one." He cupped her cheeks in his palms, using a thumb to brush away one of her tears.

She looked up at him, her lips quivering, then she broke into a series of sobs and apologies.

Cronus grabbed the edge of his cloak, folding it around her like a blanket.

"I'm sorry, my lord, forgive me, I can't stop." she buried her face in her hands, humiliation radiating off her like a stormcloud.

Cronus kissed the top of her head and tucked her face beneath his chin, holding her as a father would.