"Just one room for tonight, sir," Artemis murmured kindly, sliding several crumpled bills across the counter.

Grim stood at a distance, keeping his hands in his pockets. He may have found mortals to be slightly amusing, but he couldn't stand to interact with them. For such short-lived creatures, they did everything so slowly. He was thankful that he had a demigod to handle public relations.

After driving through abandoned back-roads for at least three miles, they came across the bizarre staple of the southern portion of the United States: small, shady motels that were always vacant. Grim would have preferred to sleep in a hole in the ground, but Artemis was concerned about the ever-growing storm clouds.

"Have a good night," Artemis said with a smile as the mustached clerk handed him a keycard.

The man grunted in response, harsh eyes falling on Grim. This one of the reasons Grim especially disliked mortals: they felt the need to stare at everything, including all powerful beings. Grim could only imagine his expression if he knew that a god was standing in his trashy establishment. He assumed it would funny, funnier than mortals already were.

They stumbled through a stained, carpeted hallway to their assigned room, which was small and probably once had a tape outline of a body on the floor. Grim flopped on the bed and it creaked bitterly, as if he had woken up all the bugs living in the mattress from their slumber.

Artemis shifted into his wolf form, settling beside him on the bed. Grim laid his head on his furry stomach, forming the sleeping position they had held for hundreds of years. His eyes drooped, and he didn't even notice he had fell asleep.

----

Wind rushed by Grim's ears, throwing off his hood. A typhoons seemed to be swirling around him, heavy fissures trembling in the sky with every roar of thunder. It was like the heavens were breaking apart at the seams.

Creatures scrambled past Grim, their bodies made of clouds. Lightning crackled across their bodies.

Despite the utter chaos around him, Grim felt no fear. He was at peace, far more relaxed than he thought he should be.

A figure stood at the top of a hill, but it was no mystery to Grim who it was. Eris turned, black hair whipped into a fury by the wind. Her eyes were wild, and her lips were parted into crazed smile.

She held out a hand.

----

Grim's eyes snapped open, gasping for breath. Cold sweat clung to his neck.

"Grim," Artemis whispered, green eyes cutting through the darkness, "Are you okay?"
He paused, staring at his brother. A flash of lightning seeped through the window, making him flinch. Rain beat against the outside wall of their room.

"Yeah...I just had a weird dream."