I couldn't believe I'd run into a fellow companion of fate again in the Underworld. The last time I saw him was when we were both sentenced to death at the Moirai's Loom of Fate. He had been condemned to be turned into a tiny crab—truly a pitiful fate.
If you've ever heard Greek myths, you might recall the legend in which the great goddess Hera sent a crab to interfere with Heracles during his battle with the Hydra. The little crab fought bravely, surprisingly so. It even managed to clamp down on Heracles' ankle.
Yes... you heard that right. He fought Heracles by pinching him with crab claws. Snap snap.
Um... I honestly have no idea what Hera was thinking. Of all things, she sent a crab to fight a brute like Heracles? That's like throwing a twig at a battering ram. No need to guess how it ended for the poor crab. It died. Obviously.
"Are you still alive, Crab?" I asked my old comrade, still in disbelief.
Crab looked me in the eye. "Wow... is that really how you greet an old friend?"
"Sorry… I just didn't expect to ever see you again. This is unbelievable."
"Yeah… When I saw you running for your life from those things, I couldn't believe my eyes either. I never thought I'd see you again," Crab laughed. "What you did back at the Loom of Fate was insane. I never imagined you'd dare do such a thing… You know, you're kind of my hero now."
Yeah… that whole incident had been reckless and wild beyond belief. If I had failed back then, I can't imagine what kind of punishment would've awaited me. Probably something brutal, savage, and terrifying—something that would make even the worst tortures of Tartarus seem like child's play. I was just lucky to have escaped unharmed, even though I'd once nearly died because of Crab, too.
"You know… I'm really happy I found you," Crab said, his voice full of excitement.
"Happy to see me?" I asked, confused.
"Of course! Because you're my one hope of getting out of this hellhole." His face lit up with hope.
"Me…? I'm your hope?" I could barely survive on my own—how could I help him?
"Oh come on, don't play dumb. You've got the golden needle of Lachesis, don't you? Use it! We can get out of here together!"
"You mean that golden needle?" I said weakly.
Crab grinned and nodded eagerly.
I gave him an awkward, dry smile. "Heh… I didn't bring it."
The golden needle of Lachesis was still aboard the Argo. Not that it was any use now. Something had gone wrong with the needle—whoever touched it would have their thread of fate pulled back... which basically meant death.