• The horse was beautiful. It was beautiful in the way that things are only when you’ve just washed up on the shore of the sea after losing half of your men to a storm. At least that’s what Odysseus thought when he laid eyes on it. The horse was a deep blue-green that shimmered in the light like the sea. Its mane and tail seemed to be made out of seaweed or kelp, and its eyes were dark pools of black, in contrast to the rest of her body. For she was a mare, and a young one at that. She seemed to be in the prime of her life. After noting this Odysseus passed out from exhaustion.
    When Odysseus awoke he was a little distance off of the beach in a cave. The horse was standing over him, and so were his remaining men. Awake at last, said the mare. She chose to speak without sound and instead spoke directly into their minds. Come Odysseus, climb onto my back. I will take you to Poseidon. After losing half of your men he feels that a bargain must be struck with you.
    “Might as well.” He said and began to climb onto the mare’s back.
    A chorus of protest rose up, “No Milord! You must not!” “It could be a trap!” “Who knows who awaits you?!” “Let one of us go instead!”
    Odysseus must go, said the mare. If he does not then Lord Poseidon will become even more angered. Who knows what fate would befall you then.
    “You heard her! I have to go! If I do not return within a three days then continue on without me!” Shouted Odysseus. He then climbed onto the horse’s back. As soon as he was on the mare began to trot towards the ocean. Confused, Odysseus spoke up, “Mare, why are you traveling towards the sea? I cannot breathe under water, and neither can horses.”
    On the contrary, she said, I can breathe underwater because of my position in Poseidon’s court, and since you will be riding me you will also be able to. By this time Odysseus was up to his chest in water.
    “All right, thank you.” But Odysseus did not entirely trust the mare and breathed into his water skin, then attached it to his waist. Then he took in several lungfuls of air as they plunged underwater. Apparently the mare had been telling at least part of the truth, because when Odysseus ran out of air and took a breath his lungs weren’t filled with water. It was really quite remarkable, he thought, how much you could see underwater. He could see the fish swimming by, the seaweed waving in the currents, the bottom. Except that it looked like they were headed for a deep, dark rift in the bottom of the ocean floor. “Mare, why are we going to that scar-like gash in the sea floor? I was told that Poseidon’s palace was in shallower waters.”
    You were told that because it is correct, Odysseus. We are going to my home. As she spoke she turned her head around and grinned, revealing rows of serrated teeth, like a shark. You’ll be a tasty one. Brave men always taste much better. Odysseus pulled out his sword, and managed to get a lungful of air before the mare decided that he didn’t really need to breathe. Odysseus grabbed onto the horse’s mane and swung his sword, it connected with flesh. However, this didn’t accomplish much because the mare stretched her neck out and bit a chunk of meat out of Odysseus’s thigh.
    The red blood clouds the water. Several more thrusts, slices, bites, and Odysseus is free. He has emptied half of his bag of air. To renew his energy he takes another breath. His vision is getting cloudy, and not just from the blood in the water. As he swims to the surface he begins to see spots. He can see the light now, it’s almost tangible. He reaches out a hand to catch it. It goes through the light. His vision goes dark. He sees nothing, feels nothing, hears nothing.
    Odysseus wakes up on his back in a familiar cave. His men are standing over him. “This has been happening too much lately.” He states. There is a murmur of agreement.