* * *

Iolaus stirred on the sand, surfacing slowly as his hunter's instincts warned him something was happening. Groggily lifting his head from the makeshift pillow of his tunic, he peered around him curiously through the starlit darkness.

They had landed on the island that afternoon, skimming Argo past the treacherous shoals off shore and into the safe harbour of the island. Jason wanted to run a few repairs before they became desperate and there was always the hull to scrape free of the marine life that accumulated on her planking. According to Pericles the island was uninhabited unless you counted the sheep and goats that bred unchecked in the lush forest that covered much of the shore.

Hercules was curled up a few feet away, his low mumbling under his breath as he squirmed restlessly drawing the hunter's attention.

Iolaus frowned. It looked like his friend was having a bad dream, normally something that happened to him rather than the demi-god. He hesitated, pondering the wisdom of wriggling over and waking him up. Like any warrior, Hercules tended to be bad at being woken up unexpectedly and if he lashed out without thinking Iolaus could end up on the other side of the island somewhat unexpectedly.

Still, he couldn’t very well leave him to it. For one thing, most of Argo's crew were asleep on the beach and he knew how embarrassed Hercules would be if he disturbed anyone. Scooping up a handful of sand, Iolaus edged to his knees and eased close enough to trickle the sand slowly onto the demi-god's chest at arms' length, staying far enough away to duck any sudden movements.

Hercules bolted upright with a wild yell and Iolaus ducked automatically. Fortunately for him, the demi-god didn't lash out this time.

"What…?" Hercules looked around in bewilderment, brushing damp sand from his perspiring chest. "What are you doing?"

"Waking you up without getting myself pulverised, " Iolaus answered cheerfully as he dusted his hands off. "You were having a nightmare."

"I was not!"

"Yes, you were," Iolaus said firmly, then grinned impishly. "Unless it was an erotic one…Which I guess it could have been from the way you were carrying on. Anyone I know?"

"It was a nightmare," Hercules told him firmly, blushing.

"Oh sure it was. I believe you!"

"I said it was a nightmare!"

"Knock it off you two!" Talaus' irritated bellow came from the far side of camp and was followed by a chorus of complaints for his volume.

Iolaus grinned in amusement, storing the swearwords for future use. When he looked round again, the demi-god had pushed quietly to his feet and was walking off down the beach with slumped shoulders. Frowning, Iolaus scrambled to his feet and dashed after him.

"Wait up, Herc!" he called.

Hercules paused and glanced back at him. "It's okay, Iolaus. You go back to sleep."

"Nah, I'm awake now." Iolaus came to halt and gazed up at him in concern. "What's up?"

"Nothing. I'm fine."

Iolaus gazed after him in puzzlement as Hercules started to walk again, then bounded after him and fell into step alongside his long legged friend. "This nothing is definitely something. What kind of nightmare was it?"

Hercules sighed, lifting his head to gaze out to sea. It was a beautiful night. The stars were huge blue white diamonds on black over an indigo ocean crested with lace topped waves. There was enough of a breeze to keep the worst of the heat off but not to make it cold. Waves and wind ruffled leaves made a softly soothing susurration of sound that helped settle his nerves. So did Iolaus' effervescent presence at his side.

"Hercules?" the hunter prompted, never much of a one for patience.

"I don't know. Vague formless things as if something was chasing me in the dark."

Iolaus considered this thoughtfully. "A god?" he suggested.

"It didn't feel like a god," Hercules said slowly. "There were too many footsteps…" He could hear them now, a constant pitter-patter of claws on stone, like rain on the sea…

"What then?"

"I told you! I don't know!" Hercules caught himself, surprised that his temper should be so sharp. He took a deep breath to calm himself, aware of the anxious expression on his friend's face. "Sorry, Iolaus. I didn't mean to snap at you."

"No problem. Let's be logical about this…"

"You? Logical?"

"Funny. Where did you think you were in this nightmare?"

"I'm not sure…" Hercules paused thoughtfully. "Here I think…."

Iolaus glanced around them warily. "Here as in right here? Right now? Or on this island?"

Hercules came to a halt and dropped down cross-legged on the beach, picking up a handful of sand to let it trickle through his fingers. Iolaus knelt beside him, his impatience showing in his body posture even though he held his tongue and waited.

"I had a feeling it was now and soon. And I think I saw Pericles…."

Iolaus snorted. There was no great love lost between the hunter and the dark haired islander. Pericles had joined them a few islands back as a guide and pilot for the tricky waters Argo had to travel through and had been rubbing Iolaus the wrong way ever since. "So he's going to cause trouble somehow."

"I don't think it's that simple."

"Why not?"

Hercules shook his head, his long brown hair tickling his bare shoulders so that he instinctively ran a hand through it and lifted it off his neck. "I don't know. I wish I could remember more…" He glanced at Iolaus, catching the blond hunter in mid yawn. "Am I boring you?" he asked sarcastically.

"Sorry, no," Iolaus gave him a sheepish look. "But unless you think we're going to be attacked by a Kraken or something, maybe we should both get some sleep and think about your nightmare in the morning? It won't look so bad then whatever it is."

Hercules pursed his lips, drawing up his long legs and absently hugging his knees as he gazed out to sea.

"Look, if you’re still worried we can tell Jason about it in the morning. But if we go and disturb him now, he's going to kill us."

"You’re right," Hercules sighed, unfolding to stretch out on the sand.

"You’re going to sleep here?" Iolaus asked in surprise.

"Better than disturbing anyone else if I have another nightmare."

"Oh…" Iolaus cast a longing look back up the beach to their blankets, then sighed and settled down beside his friend, excavating a small hollow in the sand for his hip.

"You don't have to stay with me," Hercules said slowly.

Iolaus gave him a long look and a small grin. "No problem," he answered as he stretched out, folding his arms behind his head. He loved looking at the stars when they were so bright, remembering the stories that went with them. His smile widened a little as he heard Hercules sigh quietly in relief and make himself comfortable in the sand. Tough as he was, there were times when even Hercules needed some support.

* * *

The following morning Iolaus woke with a yell and an indignant splutter as a trickle of water splashed his face. "Hey!"

Hercules stepped out of reach with a grin. "Revenge is sweet."

"Why you…!" Leaping to his feet, Iolaus pursued the demi-god back up the beach, hurling imprecations at his broad back until they were both of breath and laughing. Coming to a halt by the broad buttress of rock that jutted out into the bay, Hercules looped his arm around Iolaus' shoulders as they started to walk back.

"You feeling okay, now?" Iolaus asked, glancing up at him.

"Yeah. Guess it was only a nightmare." Hercules lifted one hand, waving to Lynceus as the lookout spotted them and beckoned them back to camp. "Guess breakfast must be ready."

"Race you back!" Iolaus laughed and took off; haring back up the beach with sand flying from his bare heels as Hercules pounded after him.

Hercules' won their impromptu race, but it wasn't by much. Iolaus was fast on his feet and with the demi-god to pace him there were few mortals who could match him for speed.

"Where do you two get the energy from?" Archivus complained, yawning as he sprawled in his blankets. "It's barely morning!"

"It's been morning for some time," Jason snorted, toeing the bard's leg to stir him out his blankets as he passed. "Up and at 'em or you'll miss breakfast."

"Ah, how could I miss Talaus' gourmet efforts? How would I survive without more boiled sea bass?"

"It's baked!" Talaus yelled indignantly, hurling a stale bread roll at him. "And you were supposed to fix the bread!"

"Hey, I'm a bard! Fine literature takes time!"

"Yeah, so when are you going to produce some?"

Hercules grinned at their argument as he followed Jason towards the ship, leaving Iolaus to help Lynceus break it up. In the first warm light of day, his nightmares seemed foolish things made from shadows that evaporated in the sun. In daylight they were very easy to dismiss.

Jason had reached the ship and stood studying her, his hands braced on his hips and his shaggy dark brown hair whipping in the stiff breeze. They had beached Argo on the sand so they could examine her hull and see what needed to be done. "Archivus is right," Jason muttered as Hercules caught up with him. "We're all tired of sea bass. Good as Aseus is, we need more than fish! I'm going to send out foraging parties to see what we can round up. A day or two longer in one spot won't hurt and a break will do us all good." He glanced at Hercules; puzzled by the dark expression that had crossed his face. "Hercules? You okay?"

"Huh? Oh yeah, Jase, good idea." Hercules felt a cold shiver run down his back at the idea of foraging on this pretty little island. It was ridiculous really. After all, the place looked so pleasant. True, nobody lived on the island….

"Hercules, go eat something before I get Archivus to give you one of his concoctions. You look like something ate your best friend!" Jason scolded. "I only mentioned a foraging party. You don't have to go if you don't want to."

Hercules smiled weakly and headed back to join the rest of the crew. Pericles and some of the others emerged from where they had slept in the cave in the headland, yawning and scrubbing the sleep from their eyes. With a quick glance at Iolaus to check that the hunter was distracted, Hercules went to meet their guide.

"Pericles? Can I talk to you?"

The black haired young man glanced up, his expression indecisive for a second before he shrugged. "Sure. What's up?"

"I was wondering what else you could tell me about this island," Hercules began.

"Not much. There was a small fishing village on the other side last time I was here. Not much more than few huts really. It was being abandoned even then. I doubt if there's anyone there now."

"Any idea why?"

Pericles hesitated. He wasn't much of a one for small talk and rarely offered information to anyone except Jason unless asked. Hercules had done his best to get along with him, but even he was starting to find his aloof attitude hard to take.

"No," the guide admitted slowly. "I guess the fishing catch was dropping off. That's usually what happens."

Hercules nodded thoughtfully. It was a common enough story. The fishermen followed the fish. When the fish stocks were depleted they moved on, returning when the fishing grounds had had a chance to restore their numbers.

"Why do you ask?" Pericles wondered, eyeing him with a faintly suspicious light in his eyes.

"I don't know," Hercules admitted uneasily.

"Hey, Herc! Pericles!" Iolaus yelled at them, beckoning them to the fire. "You're not going to make us eat all the fish on our own, are you?!"

"Coming, Iolaus!" Hercules relaxed with a chuckle, loping back to join his friend and missing the expression of bleak jealousy that crossed Pericles' face as he followed him.

* * *

"Foraging? But I'm a hunter!" Iolaus yelped an hour later as Jason gave his crew the good news. There was a bit of muttering among some of the Argonauts, but Iolaus - as usual - was the only one who let his mouth run away with him.

"Well, you can hunt for lettuces, can't you?" the dark haired captain told him dryly.

"Oh, yeah, I can hear it now. What did you do on the Argo? I hunted lethal attack lettuces waiting to leap out on the unwary. One quick fight and we turned them into tossed salad," Iolaus muttered, folding his arms and glaring at Jason in disgust. "Oh, I'm so scared…"

"You’re getting sarcastic," Hercules murmured

"No, I'm getting mad," Iolaus retorted. "I didn't come along on this trip to turn into a farmer…"

"Iolaus, you'd never make a farmer," Lettus chuckled. "First rabbit takes a bite out of your carrots and you'd be forming a war band."

"We need green stuff, guys. Vegetables, fruit…" Jason was explaining patiently.

"We need meat!" Archivus complained. "Any more fish and I'm going to grow gills."

"Any more complaints about my cooking and I'll give you gills!" Talaus retorted, fingering his sword.

"You and whose army?"

Jason sighed heavily. Sometimes he wished he had listened to advice and hired proper sailors instead a bunch of would be heroes. Of course, they were all getting pretty ship happy by now and the boring food supply wasn't helping. "That's enough!" he barked as Archivus and Talaus bristled at each other. "If you two can't get along, then you can both get off at the next port!"

The threat made both men look at him in alarm and subside, looking sheepish.

"That's better," Jason growled, bracing his hands on his hips as he stood over them. "You lot are going foraging and that's it. No arguments or I’ll pick some of the others. Hercules and Lettus, I want you to go inland and see what you can find. We need fresh water."

"There has to be a stream around here somewhere for the sheep and goats to use," Hercules agreed.

"Are we after meat or not?" Lettus asked, pressing on determinedly when Jason scowled at the red haired sailor. "We do need it, Jase. A goat or a sheep or two wouldn't hurt to supplement the stores."

Jason hesitated and nodded, ignoring the smug look Archivus gave Talaus. "Okay, see what you can catch. Iolaus and Pericles, you go up the beach, check out the headland…"

"Lots more caves up there," Pericles volunteered, glancing at Iolaus. "Should be plenty of birds' nests."

"Oh joy…" Iolaus mumbled sardonically. "I haven't been bird nesting since I was a kid."

"I was thinking of quail…"

Iolaus raised an eyebrow. "Nice thought, but wrong kind of territory. Rabbits now though…" he mused thoughtfully.

Jason snorted. "Iolaus, remember not to fall off the cliff," he retorted. "Archivus and Talaus, since you’re so keen on cooking, you can look for the fresh vegetables, fruit..."

"But…" Archivus began.

"You're the one always complaining we don't use enough herbs," Talaus pointed out with a triumphant smirk. "Now's your chance…"

"Assuming he doesn't poison us all," Hercules said darkly. The demi-god hadn't forgotten the Henbane incident yet.

"I said I was sorry about that," Archivus protested.

"We need fresh water as well," Jason continued determinedly. "Aseus and Tiphys are going to look for shellfish."

"Gee, fish in shells. That'll make a nice change," Iolaus commented.

Jason gave him a 'shut up before I force-feed you to a shark' look. "You want to stay here and help scrape Argo's hull?" he asked mildly.

"Uh no…"

"Then be quiet, suntop," Jason told him. Iolaus opened his mouth to protest the name, saw the captain's expression and wisely closed it again. "Polyphemus and Lynceus, you take the opposite end of the beach…" Jason went on blandly, handing out assignments to the rest of the Argonauts. "I think that's everything. Go. And let's be careful out there…."

* * *

It was getting warmer, the moist heat filling the air and sticking cloth to skin. Peeling his loose tunic away from the small of his back again, Hercules sighed and glanced up at Lettus. Seated on a rock up ahead, the sailor was waiting for him.

"Are you all right, Hercules?" he asked amiably as the demi-god reached him.

"Me? Yeah, fine. Why?"

"You've been pretty quiet since we landed here. Like something was bothering you?"

Hercules stretched and pulled his tunic off over his head, revelling in the instant drop in his temperature as the breeze curled around his bare skin. "I've been thinking about what that Oracle we saw said..." he said slowly.

Lettus frowned. "Oracle?" he repeated blankly. "I don't…Oh, wait, you mean that one Pericles took us to on Myros?"

"She said we'd lose someone."

"But we haven't."

"Yet."

"Look, Jason didn't believe it. Neither should you," the redhead told him firmly.

"She said there'd be trouble," Hercules reminded him doubtfully.

"Well, that was hardly a tough guess, now is it? She could have meant anything by that. You know what they’re like. Give you a load of gabble then insist you misinterpreted it when they turn out to be wrong. And as for losing someone, well, Pericles will be leaving once we get out of this chain of islands."

Hercules frowned, tying the arms of his tunic around his waist to make it easier to carry. "I don't think he wants to."

Lettus shrugged and slid to his feet. "He was hired as a guide. If he wants to stay, then he'll have to persuade everyone to split the profits again. Considering how unpopular he's made himself, I don't think that's very likely."

"He's not that bad!" Hercules protested as he fell into step with him on the goat track they had been following in search of water.

The sailor snorted. "Sure he is. He's even rubbed Aseus the wrong way and you know how hard he is to annoy. Pericles could give lessons in brooding."

Hercules sighed and said nothing. Pericles was annoying, even he had to admit that. He had done his best to keep Iolaus reasonable about the guide, but the hunter's instinctive reaction was simply not to trust him and no amount of persuasion from his friend was going to make him change his mind. And, as Lettus said, Iolaus wasn't the only one. Aseus went out of his way to avoid the guide whenever he could. Archivus left his name out of his scrolls. He knew Lynceus trusted him about as far as he could throw him. Sometimes Hercules wondered if he was at fault for being too trusting…

"Listen, do you hear something?" Lettus interrupted his thoughts.

Hercules lifted his head, pushing his long brown hair out of his eyes as he concentrated. A smile lit his face. "Water!"

"Sounds like a stream," Lettus agreed with a broad grin. "Should be close by too. Let's see if we can find it."

* * *

Watching Iolaus scrambling ahead of him up the hillside, Pericles frowned irritably as he came to a halt. The hunter annoyed him with the very fact of his existence. From the top of his blond locks - currently shoulder length and held out of his face with two neat plaits - to his blue eyes and bouncy personality, Iolaus was a direct contrast to Pericles. Where Pericles was darkness, Iolaus was light. Where Pericles was tall and strong, Iolaus was small, lithe and fast. Where Iolaus was all smiles and enthusiasm, most of the time, Pericles was silent tension.

Pericles' frown turned into a brooding scowl. He was sure that Iolaus had done something to turn the Argonauts against him. When he asked Jason the night before if he could stay on as part of the crew, the captain had looked at him askance and said no. Oh, he had been politely patient about it, explaining how the crew had been all carefully chosen as a team and how unfair it would be to ask them to split their profits again, how they all had their parts to play and so on. But it had all come down to no. There was no room and he wasn't a team player. Iolaus had been dripping words of poison in Jason's ear since they met. Of course Jason wasn't going to listen to his pleas.

Kicking at a loose pebble, Pericles' eyes narrowed and he glared at the hunter's back. He couldn't go back to the mainland, at least not for a while. He had been lucky to ship out with the Argonauts before his reputation caught up with him. It hadn't been his fault the last ship he had guided had sunk. His instructions to see them through the dangerous shoals had been accurate. If they hadn't given him short shrift and kept him aboard, he would have guided them safely through the treacherous narrows that lay beyond. They got what they had paid for and no more.

"Pericles? Are you coming?" Iolaus had come to a halt, perched on top of a rock with the sun blazing behind him. He stood with one hip thrust out aggressively, his hand resting on his sword hilt.

"Yeah, I'm coming." Pericles climbed after him, scrambling over the rocks and roots that made the ground rough and uneven. He was bitterly aware that Iolaus' doeskin pants with the lace up sides and dark brown suede beaded jerkin was far more practical for climbing about in open woodland than his own red shirt and tan cotton pants.

Iolaus offered him a hand, pulling the dark haired man up beside him. "Where to now?" he asked.

"How should I know?"

Iolaus blinked at him in surprise. "You’re the guide. I thought you told Jason you knew this island?"

"Not inch by inch," Pericles retorted, pushing past him to look down the slope into the vale beyond.

Iolaus stuck his tongue out at the guide's back, but he had promised Hercules to be pleasant to him today and kept his sarcasm in check. "Where are the caves you mentioned?"

Pericles glanced at him, suspicious of the way Iolaus gazed back at him ingenuously. "That way," he snapped and started to slither down the slope, swearing as his feet slipped and he went sprawling. He slid several feet, crashing into a bush before he could stop. Picking himself up, he refused to look back as he heard Iolaus giggle. A blood soaked darkness settled inside him at that moment, a cold grinding rage that bit deep into his soul. One way or another he has going to make the damn runt suffer for this. "Come on and stop dawdling," he snapped and stomped on downhill.

Iolaus padded after him, stepping lightly and practically skipping down the steep slope. Convinced that the hunter was showing off his balance to deliberately annoy him, Pericles' mood blackened even more.

* * *

Sitting back on a rock, Hercules blissfully let the cold water trickle down his bare throat. Lettus was sprawled on his back a few yards away, his feet dangling into the pool as he dozed in the sunshine.

"You realise that Jason is going to yell at us for not heading back straight away, don't you?" Hercules commented as his conscience bothered him. They were supposed to be foraging, not lazing around sunbathing in the peace and quiet.

Lettus opened one eye to look at him. "Only if you tell him," he pointed out amiably.

Hercules sighed, wiping his hand down his bare chest as he climbed to his feet and studied their surroundings. The forest pool lay at the bottom of a deep dell in the woodland, backed by trees on three sides. A cliff on the last side was steep enough to make the small waterfall that tumbled down it, burbling happily as it sparkled in the sunshine, spectacular. "I think I'll go take a look around."

"Suit yourself." Lettus wasn't going to move unless he had to. Folding his arms behind the back of his head, he watched Hercules skirt the edge of the pool and start to scramble up the cliff. Shaking his head, Lettus settled comfortably back down again. "No view's worth that much effort," he murmured to himself as he relaxed peacefully.

* * *

Crouching on the woodland path, Iolaus frowned, brushing his fingers lightly across the undisturbed ground. It had rained recently, not much, only a light scattering of drops, but enough to dampen the ground and make tracking easy. Yet Iolaus, who considered himself a pretty good tracker, had found no sign of any tracks at all.

Twisting on one knee in the dirt, he looked back down the slight slope to where Pericles was waiting for him. The guide was standing in the middle of the path, staring thoughtfully towards the cliff that blocked the way ahead. The dark holes of numerous caves gaped at them, reminding Iolaus of a many-mouthed monster, each maw gaping with hunger. The caves alone would have made him follow the side path up slope, suspecting that whoever had made it had had good reason to avoid the cliff. But Pericles was insistent that he had seen a fair sized deer heading towards the cliffs.

"Pericles?" he called.

"What?"

"Are you sure you saw a deer headed into the caves?"

"Are you calling me a liar?"

"You could have been mistaken. There are no tracks up here."

"So? I told you the island is probably deserted."

"All the more reason for there to be tracks. I don't mean people, I mean animals. There should be something."" Iolaus straightened up, wiping his hands on his thighs. "But there's nothing. No rabbits, no sheep, no goats…no deer."

"They probably don't come up this way. It's too steep. Besides, there's rock all over."

"Oh come on, deer would have no trouble with this climb!" Iolaus paused, aware that Pericles was glaring at him furiously. It made him uneasy. But then the guide frequently made him uneasy. With Hercules prompting him, he had done his best to be friendly towards the guide, but somehow he could never quite get past the cold expression in Pericles' eyes. "Look, you’re the guide, I'm the hunter. I know what I'm talking about…"

"You do?"

Startled by the interruption, Iolaus didn't react for a second then he scowled belligerently at the implied insult. "What did you say?"

Pericles gave him a strange smile. "I said you do. I agreed with you. Something wrong? Not getting paranoid, are you?"

Iolaus felt the coldest of shivers run down his back as he stared at the guide. "No," he said slowly.

"Good. Come on then." Pericles set off towards the caves.

"Hey, where are you going?" Iolaus called after him in surprise.

"There's a short cut through the caves. Maybe we can catch that deer. No point in wasting time and energy going around when we can go through."

"But…" Iolaus really didn't want to go through those caves.

"Not scared are you?" Pericles called back mockingly.

The warrior bristled in fury at that and stalked after him. No one called him scared and got away with it. "I suppose someone had better look out for you. Caves can be dangerous," he snapped as he caught up with the guide.

Pericles looked down his nose at him and grinned. "Only if you don't know what you’re doing."

"And you do, I suppose?"

"Definitely…."

* * *

"Lettus!"

Hercules' distant hail echoing above the sound of the waterfall made Lettus groan. There was no doubt about it. Hercules was an idiot and too conscientious for his own good, let alone Lettus'.

"Lettus!"

Hercules roared again, louder this time and with the kind of edge to his voice that told Lettus he wasn't going to be ignored. With a heavy sigh, the Argonaut sat up and looked around him.

"Up here!" Hercules yelled, waving at him from the top of the waterfall.

"Uh huh." Lettus cupped one hand over his eyes, shading them from the sun. "What is it?"

"Come up here!"

"Why?" Lettus mumbled under his breath. "I'm fine down here! You look at the view!"

"No! I found the village." Hercules beckoned impatiently. "We need to check it out."

"Why?" Lettus shouted aloud this time.

"It looks deserted."

"So?"

"So, I want to know why!"

"Maybe they're all inside napping? It's hot, Hercules!"

"Come on!"

Lettus sighed and climbed slowly to his feet. He had known Hercules long enough to know when the demi-god wasn't going to take no for an answer. Jason was always telling them not to go off alone in strange territory. If Hercules went, then he had to go with him. Besides, he wouldn't want to face explaining to Iolaus why he had let go the demi-god off alone if anything happened to him. On the other hand, a village meant people and livestock. They might be able to buy a couple of goats or sheep instead of having to catch them. Vegetables and fruit that they didn't have to gather sprang to mind. And then there was the possibility of wine….

"Are you coming or not?" Hercules bellowed impatiently.

"Yeah, yeah, I'm coming." Lettus started to climb reluctantly, wondering if Hercules had always given Iolaus this much trouble or whether he had hit it lucky.

* * *

It was pitch black in the caves, not so much as a glimmer of light creeping down through a handy crevice to light the way. Iolaus dithered in the entrance, peering uneasily into the shadows. The longer he stood there, the more unnerved he got. He was absolutely certain there was something waiting for him in there. And he didn't think it was a deer.

Deep in the darkness, there was a rattle and a cascade of pebbles tumbled from the roof, clattering noisily across the cave floor.

"Here." Pericles' curt comment made him jump in alarm and swing around to face the guide, half drawing his sword without thinking. Pericles flinched instinctively at the gesture, his eyes narrowing. "Jumpy, aren't we?" he observed sarcastically as he held one of the torches he had made up in front of him.

Iolaus stared at him silently, his fingers flexing on his sword hilt. "You shouldn't sneak up on me like that," he told him steadily. "I could have hurt you…"

"Don't even bother attempting to impress me, Iolaus," Pericles sneered. "I could have taken you easy."

The hunter raised an eyebrow at him. "Oh? Sure of that, are you?"

Gritting his teeth, Pericles shoved the torch at him, forcing the hunter to release his sword to take it. "You don't scare me," he said, attempting to push past him.

Iolaus wouldn't budge. "What is it with you anyway?" he asked darkly. "You've been pushing for a fight since the first day you set foot on Argo but as soon as someone pushes back, you run away."

Pericles froze and gave him a sidelong look. "Maybe I consider arrogant little would be heroes who annoy me beneath my notice."

"Like me, you mean?" Iolaus said softly. "I've never done anything to you, Pericles."

"No? You've made fun of me enough times."

"I make fun of a lot of people," Iolaus pointed out. "It's part of my charm. Your trouble is you can't take a joke."

"Your trouble is, you are a joke," Pericles sneered, his temper churning darkly out of control. "It's easy to mouth off and pretend to be brave when you've got someone like Hercules around to protect you."

"I don't need Hercules or anyone else to protect me!" Iolaus snapped, automatically adjusting his stance in preparation for a fight. Without thinking, he reached out and pushed Pericles hard in the chest, forcing him to stumble back. "Least of all from you!"

"Ah come on, we all know it's only because your Hercules' friend that Jason let you come along," Pericles said nastily, knowing exactly where to dig in the knife to hurt. "And why Hercules puts up with you, I don't know. You're more trouble than you're worth. Unless, of course, you're a lot more than friends that is…"

It was one insult too many. Iolaus dropped the torch and hit him, fast and hard in his smirking mouth. Pericles went down with a thump, landing hard on his rear end in the dirt and clutching at his jaw in surprise.

"You hit me!" he exclaimed in outrage.

"Damn right. You wouldn't say anything like that in front of Hercules and you shouldn't have said it to me neither." Bouncing on his toes, Iolaus stood over him, daring him to get up with his very presence. "Come on, Pericles, let's see you put your dinars where your mouth is. You think you can take me? Go ahead and prove it."

Glaring angrily at the belligerent hunter, Pericles felt the first flicker of common sense clash violently with the roiling of panic in his stomach. He had seen Iolaus fight, not only with weapons but with fists, feet and teeth on occasion. Small he might be, but he was packed with speed, muscle and a hot temper when roused. Pericles had pushed all his buttons and Iolaus was clinging to his self-control by a very fine thread. Now was not a good time to get into a fight with him. It would be very easy to get hurt. "I'm not going to give you the satisfaction," he forced out.

"You mean you're scared of me?" Iolaus mocked.

"I'm not going to give you an excuse to go telling Jason any more lies about me."

"Lies? Iolaus choked in amazement and backed off a little. "What lies? I've never told Jason anything of a kind!"

"You think I don't know what you've been saying about me?" Pericles demanded, deciding that it was safe enough to get up. His pride wouldn't let him sit in the dirt for long, however safe it seemed. "I know why Jason wants me off Argo. You've turned him against me. You've turned them all against me."

"I think you’re the one whose paranoid," Iolaus retorted in disgust as he retrieved the dropped torch. "Jason took you on as a guide through the islands. He made it clear that that was all it would be. There's nothing personal about it."

Brushing himself off, Pericles gave him a cold look. "Oh, of course not," he muttered sardonically, retrieving his own dropped torch. "You're like all the others. None of you will listen to a word against Jason. Has it never occurred to you that he's only using you?"

"Jason?" Iolaus half laughed, eyeing him doubtfully.

"Yeah, your precious Jason. He knows I know what he's up to. He's going to get you all killed and keep the profits for himself."

"That's crazy. Either I've turned everyone against you, or he has. You can't have it both ways."

Pericles glared at him, annoyed that Iolaus wouldn't admit the truth. "You’re working for him."

"Aren't we all?"

"You're in on his plan. You’re probably going to betray everyone, even Hercules, for your own gain." Pericles smiled to himself, wondering why it had taken him so long to see the real truth behind Jason's rejection.

"Me? Betray Hercules?" Iolaus laughed in disbelief. "You really are nuts. Are the Furies after you? You must have really annoyed someone to get the Furies this upset with you."

Pericles snorted and gave him a look of mingled disdain and pity. "Believe what you want. I'm going." Lighting his torch with his flint and steel, he headed into the cave.

"Pericles, come back, you moron. It's dangerous…" Iolaus called sharply after him. "These caves aren't safe…"

The dark haired warrior shot a filthy look over his shoulder at him. "I'm the guide," he reminded him. "I know all about these caves. If you want to go running back to Jason and tell him you gave up because you were scared of a cave, go ahead. I'll do the trapping by myself."

Pericles strode onwards; resisting the urge to look up nervously at the ceiling as a trickle of loose sand slithered from a crevice. The caves should be safe enough for his purposes. There was a veritable labyrinth of caves and tunnels hollowing the island's structure, with numerous ledges and pits for the unwary visitor. Plenty of places for an accident to happen.

Behind him the second torch flared to light and he heard Iolaus, swearing under his breath, start to follow him. Smiling to himself, Pericles entered the first tunnel. He knew Iolaus' ridiculous sense of honour wouldn't let the guide enter the caves alone. Now all he had to do was pick his time and place and he would come out of this with Iolaus looking like an idiot and Pericles the hero…

* * *

The village was silent as Hercules and Lettus warily picked their way along the dusty, unused main street past the abandoned, weather worn stalls of what had once been a thriving market place. Torn awnings flapped in the breeze churning up from the sea that could be glimpsed at the far end of the street.

"It's bigger than I expected," Lettus commented in a whisper as he peered around him, keeping close to Hercules' side. He had lost all hope of buying supplies here as soon as they set foot over the village threshold. The place gave him the creeps.

"Still say they’re napping?" Hercules teased.

"I think they all left…" Lettus retorted.

"And in a hurry." Sobering, Hercules studied an overturned market stall, its produce rotted into a smelly green heap underneath the planking. A tremor seemed to run up from the ground through his feet, sparking a strange tingly itch inside his senses. "Did you feel that?" he blurted without thinking.

"Feel what?" Lettus looked up at him blankly.

"Something…" Hercules looked around slowly, the odd sensation trickling out of him again leaving him uneasy without knowing why. "As if something was disturbed…"

"I didn't feel anything. You think we should go back and tell Jason?"

"Tell Jason what? All we've found is an abandoned village. Pericles said it probably would be. Let's take a look around first at least and see what we can find."

Lettus pursed his lips. "I suppose we can always salvage something," he mused, a speculative gleam entering his eyes as he looked around. He headed for the biggest house on the street, his avaricious instincts taking over. With a rueful smile, Hercules padded after him, knowing he would probably have to curb Lettus' sticky fingers. Despite his smile, he couldn't shake the memory of that eerie feeling creeping through him though. Something had happened. Somewhere on the island something was stirring…

* * *

Iolaus wasn't quite sure how it had happened, but he was once again in the lead with Pericles climbing through the rocks behind him. Having the guide at his back wasn't a position he liked. He preferred to have Pericles where he could see him. He hadn't felt like that when he first met him, he was sure. But there was something about the guide that made his skin crawl. Pericles found it too darn easy to make him lose his temper. It was as if he did it deliberately. Pausing indecisively where the tunnel split, Iolaus stared into his torch flame and waited for Pericles to catch up. Why would Pericles want to goad him into losing his temper? It wouldn't shock any of the other Argonauts. They all knew Iolaus had a hot temper and he was pretty sure that they knew Pericles asked for trouble when he pushed him.

"What's the matter?" Pericles asked sardonically.

Iolaus could feel the sneer in his Pericles' voice even if he couldn't see his expression through the shadows. "Which way?" he asked curtly.

"Don't you know?"

"You’re the guide, so guide. You take the lead for a while."

"Scared of the dark?" Pericles mocked, stepping past him and picking his way across the cracked and split rock of the tunnel floor.

Resisting the urge to beat him to a pulp, Iolaus took a deep breath and followed him. What was it Hercules always said he did to control his temper? Oh yes, count to ten….

From somewhere far off in the caves something moved, creating a weirdly sibilant hiss that echoed up from the depths and twirled itself around them, making the hair creep on the back of Iolaus' neck. "What in Tartarus was that?" he exclaimed uneasily as his skin prickled in alarm.

"The sea…."

"What?" Iolaus stared at Pericles' back in astonishment.

"The caves open on to the sea. Haven't you ever heard the sound of the sea before?" Ignoring him, Pericles climbed over the next pile of rocks to smoother ground and continued on down the tunnel.

"Harpy droppings, that wasn't the sea," Iolaus muttered under his breath, but moved slowly after the guide.

"What did you think it was? Some horrible monster?" Pericles taunted. "I told you I know this island. There's nothing to be afraid of. So don't be scared….

Gritting his teeth and clenching his fist on the torch, Iolaus hopped over the rocks and followed him down the tunnel. One hundred, ninety nine…

* * *

Something was stirring. There was definitely something happening somewhere on the island. Hercules could feel it on his skin. It tingled in his senses, making his teeth ache with subliminal tension and his hair tickle. He had let Lettus go into the dilapidated barn alone, staying outside in the sea scented breeze where he could listen for whatever it was his senses could hear that his ears could not. Whatever it was it had to be powerful if he could feel it from this far away.

"Hercules!" Lettus' wild yell of alarm startled him, snapping the demi-god out of his intense concentration. A moment later the red haired sailor burst out of the barn and flung himself on Hercules, his fingers clamping bruisingly tight on the demi-god's arm.

"Steady!" Hercules protested, wincing and hastily prying him off. "What's the matter?"

"In there! A body!" Lettus stammered.

"A body? Tartarus, Lettus, you've seen a body before. What's the big deal?"

"You don't understand. It, it…It's horrible! I've never seen anything like it before. Come and look…." Lettus grabbed his arm again and pulled, bodily dragging Hercules towards the ramshackle barn door. As they reached it however, Lettus changed his mind and let go. "Uh you go…."

"Aren't you going to show me where it is?" Hercules asked in amusement.

"You can't miss it…."

Pursing his lips, Hercules folded his arms and gave him a doubtful look. "This isn't some kind of joke, is it?"

"No…"

"I'm not going to walk in there and get a bucket of water dumped over me?"

"Nothing like that. Go on…."

"Iolaus hasn't talked you into setting me up?" Hercules continued suspiciously. That had happened a couple of times; until Hercules got wise to the evil sense of humour the pair of them shared.

"Hercules! Go and look! I'm serious!"

Studying the petrified expression on the Argonaut's face, Hercules finally shrugged and ambled into the barn. Lettus came as far as the door and then stalled, peering around the doorjamb nervously.

"It isn't going to get up and eat you," Hercules teased even as he checked for boobytraps.

"I don't know. I've heard of stranger things happening."

"You've been listening to too many of Archivus' ghost stories," Hercules chuckled. "I don't see any body…"

"It's there, in that rear stall…" Lettus pointed towards the shadows at the back of the barn. "I tripped over it…"

Shaking his head in amusement, Hercules padded through the straw and around the broken planking of the rear stall wall where he disappeared from view. There was one sharp indrawn hiss of breath and then only the rustle of straw.

Straining his ears to listen, Lettus craned as far around the doorjamb as he could get without actually entering the barn. "Hercules?" he called tentatively after a few moments. "Hercules?!"

"I'm here…" Hercules reappeared, backing out of the stall.

"Please tell me it's still there. Or don't, which might be better. Then again that might mean I imagined it so…" Lettus babbled in panic.

"You didn't imagine it, it's still there." Hercules told him, staring at his the sticky greyish strands that clung tenaciously to his hands. Scooping up a handful of musty straw, he wiped it off as best he could.

"It looked…eaten…"

"Digested," Hercules said absently. "The word you’re looking for is digested…"

"Uh actually no, I don't think that was the word I was looking for. In fact I was doing my best not to even think it," Lettus stammered, licking dry lips.

Hercules gave him a slow look, glanced back at the rear stall then very deliberately pushed past Lettus and out into the fresh air and sunshine. Breathing deeply, he looked up at the cerulean sky and forced down a spasm of nausea.

Lettus followed him, shooting nervous glances back at the barn. "What do you think did that?" he asked anxiously. "I've never seen anything that could do that to a man…"

"A Chaos Spider could," Hercules told him grimly.

Lettus' jaw dropped then he shuddered. "No, no way. Those are only legends. Archivus' ghost stories…." His voice tailed off as Hercules shook his head slowly and firmly. "But…."

"There aren't many Chaos creatures left, but it only takes one. I think one of us had better fetch Jason."

"One of us?"

Hercules smiled faintly at Lettus' alarm. "I thought I’d stay here and take a look around, see what else I can find. Unless you want to stay?"

"Nooo…can't say as I do." Lettus shot another look at the barn. "We could both fetch Jason and come back with him?"

Hercules hesitated. It was a practical suggestion, but something told him he was in the right place already. "No, you go," he said firmly. "I need to stay here."

"Need?"

"Yeah, need," Hercules gave him a meaningful look. Lettus wasn't quite as quick as Iolaus at getting the point, but he nodded in understanding after a second.

"Oh right, need. Why didn't you say so? I'll get Jason…" Lettus took two steps and then paused, looking over his shoulder at him. "Uh, it is safe, is it?"

"It won't have had anything eat recently. It'll be hibernating to save its strength."

"What if it wakes up?"

"I suggest you run for it."

"Hercules?!" Lettus yelped in alarm.

"Sorry," Hercules grinned mirthlessly. "Why should it wake up? We didn't see anything on the way, did we?"

"Doesn't mean I won't on the way back."

Hercules smiled faintly. "Put it this way, if it's anywhere it'll be here in the village."

"Oh.." Lettus shot a quick nervous look around him and grimaced. "All right, I’ll go. But you’d better be right here when I get back with Jason."

"No problem." Hercules assured him, folding his arms and taking up what Iolaus called his patented hero stance.

"Be right back," Lettus promised and took off at a sprint, only too eager to hare out of the village.

After Lettus had gone, Hercules let out a slow shaky breath and looked around him. The village suddenly seemed a quieter and a whole lot emptier. He only hoped it stayed empty. Slowly and reluctantly, he walked back into the barn, his steps slowing even more as he approached the rear stall and rounded the wall to face the body.

It lay huddled in a cocoon of thick grey white webbing as if a very disturbed weaver had run amok with a loom and murdered someone. The body itself was shrunken, hollowed out by whatever had attacked him…or her. Even that was impossible to tell from the dried up, shrivelled remains.

Quashing his nausea again, Hercules knelt next to the cocoon and gingerly touched the webbing. Although still sticky it was dry and the shell was starting to crack, peeling back to reveal the body within. From what he could see of the body, the only sign of a wound was in the right hand side, where a deep hole had been punctured through the flesh. If it hadn't been for the webbing and he had been less experienced, he might have mistaken it for a sword wound.

Stretching his hand across it, Hercules did his best to estimate the size of what might have caused the wound. Assuming it had been a Chaos Spider, it had to be huge. Hercules had always assumed that there were actually fairly small, like most spiders. But this…

Something this size could easily wipe out the population of a village.

And the crew of the Argo….

* * *

Iolaus paused, glancing back over his shoulder with a frown. They seemed to be going downwards instead of across as he expected. If this was a shortcut, it seemed to be taking a very long time to get anywhere. Lifting his torch higher, Iolaus studied the lie of the ground. There was a definite slope uphill behind them.

"Pericles?" he called after the guide who had stomped on ahead.

"Now what?"

Before Iolaus could reply he was interrupted by the same sibilant hiss that they had heard before. It seemed louder now and was twice as menacing somehow. It didn't have the rise and fall cadence of waves that he would have expected, but the impatient snarl of something disturbed and hungry. "That is not the sea," he said firmly.

"Of course it is."

"No, no it isn't. What's down here with us, Pericles?"

"Nothing that I know of. And I should know. I'm a…."

"A guide, yeah, I know. So why are we going deeper?" Frowning, Iolaus broke into a lope and caught up with the dark haired warrior.

"We’re not."

"Yes, we are." Iolaus lifted his torch again, showing Pericles the slope they had come down. "You said this was a shortcut. A shortcut to where?"

"The other side," Pericles said mildly, half smiling at him.

For some reason Iolaus felt a prickle of unease run down his back at Pericles' smooth answer. "The other side of what?" he asked carefully.

"Why, the cliffs of course, where else?" Pericles answered innocently.

"It seems to be taking a long time," Iolaus said doubtfully.

"That's only because it's dark and you don't know the way. It isn't much further. Trust me."

As Pericles casually strolled onwards, Iolaus stared at his back in disbelief. Trust him? What kind of an idiot does he take me for?

* * *

Wiping his hands down his thighs, Hercules straightened up and cupped one hand over his eyes, studying the cliffs. The village lay in the bay between two curving promontories. One was the one he and Lettus had descended, following a well beaten path that the villagers had obviously used to gain access inland. The other was steeper and heavily overgrown with vegetation and precariously perched trees. It brooded over the village, casting deep shadows across the houses as the sun passed overhead. The shadows made the air cooler, for which Hercules was grateful. But the drop in temperature did nothing for his unease. The demi-god had explored the far end of the village, searching for a similar path up into the rocks. He had found nothing but a rough wood stockade erected around the back of the buildings. His first thought had been that it was part of a livestock pen for the goats and sheep that now roamed wild, but closer examination made him change his mind. The wall had been built to keep something out, not in.

How many of the villagers had actually escaped the Chaos Spider, he wondered. And how many had simply ended up as lunch?

Shaking his head, Hercules crouched and started to pick over what he had found. There wasn't much in the way of fresh edibles; the fruit and vegetables he had found were past salvaging. But he had found two salted hams, three sacks of grain that the mice hadn't gotten to, and a couple of casks of dried fruit. A smokehouse had yielded several racks of smoked and salted fish and he had found a store of nuts; which Iolaus, an ardent fan of almonds, would no doubt to be happy to see.

Thinking of his best friend made Hercules frown again and glance up towards the cliffs, aware of an increasing desire to go and find the hunter.

"Hercules?!"

Startled by the unexpected hail from Lettus, Hercules looked round to see the redhead jogging into the village with Jason, Castor and Polydeceus. "You're back fast," he greeted him in surprise. "What happened?"

"I met up with them halfway back," Lettus panted in explanation. "Have you seen anything?"

"No," Hercules admitted. "Did you?"

Lettus shook his head and sat on one of the casks to get his breath back.

"What's going on Hercules?" Jason asked sharply as he reached them. "Lettus was gabbling about monsters and a body…"

"Monster. I think it's a Chaos Spider, but it hasn't show up yet. I've found two bodies so far."

"Two bodies?" Lettus squeaked.

"Two," Hercules nodded grimly. "I found another one. And the cocoons are everywhere, but most of them seem to be empty."

"So the people got away?" Polydeceus said hopefully.

"No, I don't think the cocoons …preserved them very well." Hercules shuddered. The first one he had touched out of curiosity had crumbled in his hands, leaving a sticky green black goo that stuck to everything and stank like a combination of rotting, fish, eggs and vegetables. Hercules didn't think he would ever forget that smell and his stomach churned at the memory.

Something in his expression made Jason step forward and rest his hand on the younger man's shoulder. "Show me the first body you found…"

* * *

Pericles halted, sniffing warily at the air. An indefinable scent was wafting towards him on the feeble breeze that blew through the caves. He could smell the sea in it and something half sweet, half rotten. Probably the body of some large sea animal had been washed up into the lower caverns to rot. He hadn't entirely lied to Iolaus about the sound of the sea echoing through the caves. The sea hollowed out the base of the headland and waves constantly crashed though the lower tunnels. He had never risked exploring them personally. Warned off by stories of mysterious disappearances, he had confined his exploration to the upper tunnels. But he had memorised all the maps of the tunnels that the villages had. Part of his talent as a guide was memorising routes and maps that he had only heard or seen only once. It rarely failed him and had led him safely deep into the labyrinth this time.

By his reckoning, the short corridor ahead of them led into an open cave and a chasm that dropped straight down to the sea. The villagers had called it The Maw, claiming that the very rocks themselves would close on a careless climber, chew them up and spit out the bones. It wouldn't be too hard to cause a simple little accident. Even if Iolaus wasn't killed in the fall, he would be hurt at least. A broken leg would be good enough if it removed him from the crew.

A soft footstep made him jump nervously and shoot a quick look at Iolaus. Silent footed in his soft leather boots, the hunter had come up on him unnoticed. He lifted his torch enough to study Pericles' chagrined expression and smiled sardonically. "What's that smell?" he asked however.

Pericles shrugged and told him his sea beast theory. "We could take a look," he added. "The next cave opens onto the sea. It's called The Maw and the view is spectacular."

Iolaus tilted his head to one side. "I'm more worried about getting back to the others than a pretty view," he retorted. "This short cut of yours is taking too long."

"Suit yourself." Pericles said easily and strode on ahead.

"You…" Iolaus gritted his teeth on the explosion of temper and stomped after him, kicking viciously at a hapless pebble that bounced and skittered its way noisily down the tunnel, throwing back a thousand echoes.

The tunnel opened out a few yards further on into a spectacular expanse of cavern with huge stalactites hanging from the ceiling high above. Iolaus raised his torch for a better look and as the torchlight caught their tips the stalactites flashed white and startling in the gloom, glinting with flecks of gold. The rest of the ceiling remained in deep shadows but Iolaus was almost sure he saw some kind of moss or lichen growing in a huge patch above them. Curious about the faintest of green shimmers shining on the rock, he touched the wall and promptly snatched his hand away again, shaking his fingers as they stung. Whatever was growing on the walls was slick and wet and bit back like no lichen he had ever come across before.

In front of them the cave floor ended suddenly in a crest of jutting rock that seemed to have been cracked and split up from below by some titanic struggle. The sound of the sea filled the air, the vast boom and crash of the waves far below muffled by an acoustic trick of the rock.

Even the ever cynical Pericles was awed into silence as he stared around him. "I didn't know it looked like this," he murmured.

Iolaus padded over to the edge of the crest, staring down into the chasm below as the air rushed up to swirl his hair around his face. Pinning it back with his free hand, he lifted the torch higher to see what lay below. He hissed softly between his teeth and backed up, bumping into Pericles who had come up behind him while he was distracted.

Iolaus turned to face him, sparing only a second to wonder at the dark anger on the guide's face. "I think you said there was nothing in these tunnels?" he said sarcastically.

"There isn't…"

"Then I think you’d better take a look down there and think again."

Pericles glared at him, but circled round him and peered over the edge. The sea churned furiously below in froth of white foam and grey green water, but between them and it was a wide mesh of silvery netting that stretched right across The Maw. As he watched a sparkle of green light ran through it, flickering and glittering as it sped through the strands before earthing itself against the rock. Interspersed at odd points across the webbing were strange pods that seemed to be made of the same grey mesh. The whole web gave off an eerie grey green gold that cast strange shadows across the rocks.

"What is that?" he asked nervously, drawing back uncertainly.

"You're the guide. Don't you know?" Iolaus mocked.

"Don't be funny. Do you think the fishermen made it?"

Iolaus gave him a look of sheer disbelief and half-laughed. "No. It's a web. I think a monster made it and we'd better get out here."

Pericles bit his lip, weighing his plans against the possibility of an encounter with some kind of giant spider. Survival won. There would always be another chance to get Iolaus out of his way. "This way then…" He started quickly back across the cave and then froze as something moved above them in the darkness, what had seemed to be merely a darker patch of shadow unfolding itself into a many legged form that dropped towards them with terrifying speed.

* * *

Hercules dropped the cask he was lifting into the cart with a crash, oblivious to Polydeceus leaping out of the way as the cask cracked and split the grain across the dirt.

"Hey, watch what you’re doing there! That was nearly my foot!" Polydeceus complained then paused and peered anxiously at the ashen-faced Hercules. "Hercules? What's the matter?"

"I…" Hercules couldn't get the words out. His whole body was crawling with the sensation of tiny claws climbing all over him. "I…something…I…"

"Here, sit down." Polydeceus pushed him down to sit on the edge of the cart and turned to bellow for Jason.

"I'm okay," Hercules said feebly, knotting his hands together as they shook.

"Then what is it?" Polydeceus crouched in front of him, watching him anxiously.

"There's something on this island with us and I think it's awake…"

"What's awake?" Jason demanded as he sprinted up in response to Polydeceus' hail.

"The Chaos Spider," Hercules answered, shooting a worried glance up at him. "And I think it's hungry…."

* * *

As the giant shadow dropped towards them Iolaus and Pericles both froze in sheer shock at the sight. Iolaus was the first to recover, his warrior instincts kicking in automatically. "Look out!" Diving at Pericles, he tackled the guide out of the way, the two of them rolling in a tangle of limbs back across the floor as the creature landed on the rock behind them.

It hissed in annoyance at missing its prey on first pounce, its vivid green eyes glittering and sparkling like dark living emeralds as they caught the torchlight. Bobbing on its clawed toes, it stared at them, mandibles snicking together as it turned its round head this way and that to get a better look at them. Its oval body was covered in long green fur with darker patches and here and there flashes of green gold glimmered amongst the strands.

"What is that?" Pericles stammered, cowering behind Iolaus as the warrior scrambled to his knees and drew his sword.

"What does it look like?" Iolaus snapped back and shot a quick suspicious look at him. "Did you know it was down here?"

"What do you think I am? Stupid?"

"Yes," Iolaus retorted curtly. "I told you I heard something, but you wouldn't listen. What in Tartarus were you up to?"

Pericles tensed, his eyes narrowing as he glared at the warrior's back. "I didn't know it was here or I’d never have come…I’d never have led you here…"

"You were right the first time. You always save your own hide before you worry about anyone else's." Iolaus broke off, rising smoothly to his feet as the giant spider stirred.

The spider paused again and started to bob up and down thoughtfully. There was something terribly hypnotic about the motion, almost soothing...

Iolaus tore his eyes away with an effort. "Get up." he snapped at Pericles.

"Why? It'll only attract its attention."

"We already have its attention. It might back off if we seem threatening enough."

Grumbling under his breath, Pericles climbed to his feet, still staying behind the hunter. "Now what?"

The spider stayed right where it was, its mandibles clicking together rapidly as it bounced up and down on its many legs. But it didn't rush them.

"Start towards the exit," Iolaus urged quietly.

"Oh right! And you’re going to let it pounce and eat me while you get away?"

"We're not all as cowardly as you are," Iolaus retorted and took a step sideways, gradually easing his way away from the chasm towards the cave entrance. Pericles stifled a groan of fright and shuffled after him. The spider turned with them, still studying them in silent calculation.

"It almost looks like it's…thinking…" Iolaus muttered under his breath.

"It's a monster, who cares? Kill it." Pericles urged.

"I'm not that suicidal. If it bothers you that much, you kill it."

The spider made a sudden move; it's claws tip-tapping in a quick fandango on the rock as it turned to keep them in view.

Iolaus came to a halt; aware that the spider was closer to the exit than they were and it wasn't going to let them reach it. He swore bitterly and elbowed Pericles back behind him as the guide pressed too close.

"Come on, what are you waiting for?" Pericles demanded impatiently.

"I don't think we can get past it," Iolaus said doubtfully.

"Now, who's the coward?"

Iolaus scowled, his shoulders tensing in outage at the insult, but he kept his temper. Cheiron taught his students well. Now was not the time to let Pericles goad him into losing control. Anger lent itself to mistakes and a mistake now could get them both killed. "Shut up and let me think," he growled.

"To Tartarus with that!" Pericles yelped and dived past him, running for the exit.

"You idiot!" Iolaus leaped after him.

The spider was faster than both of them. With a casual hop it was in front of the exit, blocking Pericles as he scrabbled to a halt and went sprawling among the tangle of legs. With a hiss of annoyance, the spider danced around him, wanting the torch away from its vulnerable belly. It squirted spider silk at Pericles, to subdue him, smothering and extinguishing the torch's flames rapidly.

Pericles was screaming in terror as he flailed wildly at the spider's legs. Ignoring him, Iolaus attacked the spider, aiming for the green eyes blazing at him with eerie iridescence. A segmented leg blocked his sword and the blade slithered off the black chitin, while a second leg swept around and smashed into the hunter's ribs, knocking him to the ground and sending the torch spinning from his hand.

"Help me!" Pericles screamed in anguish as the spider turned its attention back to him, seeking to pin him down for wrapping.

Biting back a groan, Iolaus struggled to get up and was stepped on by a clawed foot that held him down. Black skin flexed between chitin and claw on what would have been a human ankle.

"Iolaus!" Pericles yelled again, his voice rising high pitched with terror.

Gritting his teeth, Iolaus drew his belt knife and drove it point first into the black skin, forcing it deep between claw and carapace. The spider let out a hiss like escaping stream and whipped its leg away, allowing Iolaus to roll to his feet.

Iolaus crouched, staring up after the spider in shock after its prodigious leap straight upwards. He hadn't expected it to be capable of such a jump. Retrieving his torch, he searched the shadows above them, wanting to see where the creature had gone.

A whimper from Pericles as the guide rolled over made him shoot a quick glance at him. "Are you hurt?" he demanded sharply.

"No thanks to you if I'm not," the guide retorted sarcastically.

"Save it for later. I don't have time right now. Are you hurt or not?"

"I don't think so…"

"Then stop damn well whining and get up! We have to get out of here before it comes back."

Pericles shot a rude answer back at him but climbed to his feet. "Why didn't you kill it?"

"I didn't get a chance. You've got a knife. Why didn't you kill it?"

Pericles barely hesitated. "I was acting as bait…"

"You were running away!"

The silken trapline dropped silently out of the shadows, encircling Iolaus' shoulders and trapping his sword arm. There was a satisfied hiss of triumph from above them and the warrior was yanked off his feet, dropping the sword as his wrist was constricted against his chest.

Twisting and turning, Iolaus was lifted into the air. He could see the spider above him, hanging upside down from its web. Below him Pericles had dived after the sword, but Iolaus didn't hold out much hope of the guide having any intention of helping him and didn't bother waiting for him. Instead he concentrated on working his left arm free to bring the torch to bear on the silken strands binding him. He could hear the hungry clicking of the monster's mandibles as he was drawn within biting range. At the last moment he jabbed upwards with the torch, stabbing the flames into its face. The spider squealed in a cacophony of indecipherable sound that almost deafened Iolaus, but it reacted instinctively and flipped its trapline to drop the hunter back to the floor.

Iolaus hit with bruising force and rolled, his head cracking hard enough against a rock for his senses to spin blackly for a second. He was dimly aware that he had landed on the edge of the chasm, narrowly escaping going over the edge.

Pericles' yell of panic from near by made Iolaus force his head up and gather his scattered wits about him to look round. The spider was back on the floor, chittering in rage as it sidled towards the guide in a macabre dance.

"Pericles…" Iolaus called shakily, struggling to get to his feet. "Get away from it…"

The guide shot a look over his shoulder at him and ran to back to the hunter. "You've got do something, Iolaus. You've got to get me out of here!"

The spider was coming after them, stalking swiftly across the rocky floor with implacable menace. The emerald eyes glittered emotionlessly, their emptiness all the more terrifying for the lack of feeling. It was almost on them.

"We have to split up. You go that way," Iolaus decided grimly. "Keep the sword…" He figured that while he could protect himself with his knife and the torch, Pericles would be better off with the sword.

"I have a better idea," Pericles snarled and lunged, grabbing for the torch.

"What are…?!" Busy watching the spider's approach, Iolaus was taken by surprise as the guide ripped the torch from his hand. He had no time for anything more than a token protest as the guide slammed his shoulder into his midriff and hurled the hunter over the edge into the chasm below.

Staggering on the edge of the rift, Pericles flailed wildly to catch his balance and swung around as the giant spider loomed over him. This was not how he had planned for things to happen. Sheer terror made him drive the torch into the spider's face and it reared back with a squeal, lifting its front legs to protect its eyes. Seizing his chance, Pericles ducked past the creature and ran for it, dropping the sword in his panic-stricken need for speed. He heard the spider's shrill hiss as he fled down the tunnel, desperately bolting for cover…

* * *

A shadow swept across his mind, an ice-cold chill that made Hercules shiver violently and drop the water barrel he had been lifting onto the stone edge of the well.

The village well had proved to hold sweet clear water and they had decided to fill the barrels from it rather than the pool. Castor had discovered two small but sea worthy fishing boats drawn up on the beach and it was Jason's plan to sail the water barrels and salvaged foodstuffs back around the island to Argo.

"Oh great," Hercules heard Polydeceus complain, his exasperated voice seeming to come from far, far away. "Hey! Jason! Hercules is at it again!"

Hercules ignored him, concentrating instead on the images that crept stealthily across his mind's eye. The sensations bothered him, made his skin creep and crawl as if a thousand spiders were tiptoeing across his flesh. He had never felt anything like it before.

It was power and darkness...

It was a lethal embrace that tempted him...

A poisonous kiss that provoked him…

It called to him…

And it scared him….

And darkness engulfed him…

For a split second he thought he heard Iolaus scream, then the image broke and shattered like the surface of a pool disturbed by a thrown pebble. Fragments of reality colliding with shards of darkness…

Hands clamped tight on his upper arms and shook him hard. Opening eyes he hadn't realised he had closed, Hercules winced as the light blazed back into them and he swayed, dropping limply to his knees as all the energy seemed to run out of him at once.

"Hercules?" Keeping his grip on his arms, Jason crouched in front of him and peered anxiously into his glazed eyes. "What is it?"

Hercules gurgled incoherently, clutching at the captain for support.

"Here," Polydeceus knelt beside them, shoving a wineskin at the younger man. "Take a swig, it'll help…."

Hercules grabbed the wineskin and gulped gratefully, the sharp sweet taste of the wine chasing away the last shards of shadows from the edges of his vision. Jason released him slowly, sitting back on his heels as he watched the demi-god warily. Hercules could guess why. Facing a berserk demi-god would worry anyone with any sense.

"I'm okay…" he mumbled, shakily wiping his mouth with the back of his hand and letting Polydeceus take the wineskin back.

"You don't look it. What's the matter?"

Hercules gave him a hesitant glance, wondering if he looked as strange as he felt. He could feel a strange pulling sensation inside him, as if something deep down was responding to a call. He was drawn to look at the steep cliffs at the far end of the village. "I think…I had some kind of a vision…"

"A vision?" Polydeceus echoed in surprise. "You've never done anything like that before."

Hercules coloured in chagrin. He wanted so much to be ordinary and treated like everyone else but somehow he always gave himself away. "I think it's because there's background level Chaos Energy here," he said awkwardly. "It's concentrated in the Chaos Spider and that's why I'm…aware of it…"

"What's it doing?" Jason asked sharply, his first thought the safety of his crew.

"It's in the caves," Hercules said slowly, feeling that strange pull inside him increasing with every second. It dragged him to his feet. "I have to go…"

"Woah, I don't think that's a good idea." Leaping upright, Jason blocked his way. "You don't know how you're going to react if you run into this thing. It's better if we simply stay right away from it and get off this island as soon as possible."

"I don't think I can do that."

"You want us to hog-tie you and throw you in the back of a boat?" Jason snapped impatiently. "I'm captain here, remember? Now, come on. We're going to finish loading and get out of here." Taking his cue from Jason's' tone, Polydeceus righted the barrel Hercules had dropped and lifted it back to the well edge where the captain steadied it.

Hercules didn't move. "Iolaus is up there somewhere," he said simply.

"What?" Jason froze and the barrel crashed back down for a second time. Polydeceus leaped out of the way barely fast enough and shot a murderous look at the captain.

"Iolaus is somewhere in the caves," Hercules repeated steadily and his blue eyes were drowning deep with a haunting darkness. "And Pericles was with him…"

Jason swore, long and vehemently, gesturing violently with his clenched fists in frustration. "I should have known!"

"It isn't Iolaus' fault…" Hercules surfaced enough from his inner turmoil to protest.

"I never said it was," Jason snorted, giving him a quick frown. "All right, forget the supplies. We can come back for them later. We'll go back to Argo and get the others before we enter the caves."

"There may not be time," Hercules said flatly and took a step towards the cliffs, pointing. "There's a way in up there…The spider uses it…"

Shading his eyes with one hand, Jason studied the cliff face and shook his head. "We can't get up there…"

"Maybe you can't, but I can," the demi-god reminded him grimly.

"You can't. You’d be on your own…"

"So's Iolaus."

"You said Pericles was with him."

"Same difference," Polydeceus muttered, then rushed on when Jason glared at him. "Come on, Jase. We all know he's a coward!"

Jason scowled. "We need weapons to fight a monster," he argued.

"Jason, please?" A note of pleading entered Hercules' voice as he focused on the dark haired older man. "I know I can get to Iolaus and help him."

"And fight a giant spider on your own, bare handed?"

"Yes," Hercules said softly. "I have to…"

Jason stared into the demi-god's anxious eyes for a long moment then swore and shook his head again. "I must be some kind of a fool. All right, if you think it's that important and you think you can do it, then go."

"I’ll go with you," Polydeceus said promptly.

"No," Hercules refused him flatly. "Sorry, but I can move faster alone. I'll need a rope, a torch and a sword…"

* * *

Struggling wildly, Iolaus could feel his skin abrading where the web clung tenaciously to his bare flesh. His efforts to free himself made it stick ever more tightly, wrapping itself around his legs and clinging to his jerkin and pants like glue. Realising that the tickling sensation running down his arms and bare back where his jerkin had ridden up and his skin had met the web was actually his own blood, Iolaus forced himself to stop struggling and take a deep, shaky breath to calm himself.

The words came silent and unbidden into his mind, forming their own mantra as he repeated them over and over. It stopped him screaming out loud in terror as he heard the chittering sound from above him and looked up. It the weird light glowing from the web he could see the spider as it perched above him on the wall. The silky strands clung stickily to the side of his face, gluing his hair to the web and preventing him from pulling his head free.

The spider started to descend the wall, mincing downwards on its claws with a fine disregard for gravity.

Clenching his fists, Iolaus wrenched again, feeling muscles pop in his shoulders to no effect. He was stuck tight, helpless prey for the predator. He had lost his knife when he slammed into the web.

The spider reached the web and stood poised at the edge, delicately caressing the silken strands that held Iolaus fast as it sensed his position on the web. It watched the hunter, its mandibles masticating on fresh air as it contemplated him. Then it stepped onto the web and came towards him, tiptoeing with eerie grace closer and closer…

It paused to step over a pod, its toes flexing as they snagged on the webbing and it tore, spilling human bones to drop through the web and vanish into the waves below.

Iolaus choked back a yell of terror, feeling it close his throat tight as he yanked frantically at the web.

The spider paused and hissed, bobbing up and down on the web in excitement. Its claws flexed on the strands, feeling the vibration of the prey, experimenting with how tightly he was held. Satisfied, it tensed and crouched a little.

Iolaus froze, holding his breath in fear as he stared at the spider.

Maybe if he didn't move…

Or breathe…

Or blink…

Or think….

Maybe it wouldn't jump.

Maybe it would get bored and go away.

Maybe…

The spider jumped, landing astride the trapped hunter. So close that the chitin of its legs brushed his face.

Iolaus screamed, the cry escaping him despite all his good intentions to hold silent. He gulped it down, choking himself into silence as a single sob of mindless fear escaped him and he struggled desperately to tear free.

The spider ignored him, examining the web that held him with quick precise touches of its claws. At the same time, it started to spin more web, slathering the fresh strands over his face, legs and body. Its touch was dainty as it held him, spinning the cocoon around the young man, trapping his arms against his body without ever removing him from the web.

Unable to move, with the warm wet web filling his nose, eyes and ears, Iolaus was plunged into a muffled world of increasing darkness. The pressure of the tightening web crushed his ribs and stomach. Webbing gagged him, unable to stick to his tongue but choking him so that each breath became a desperate struggle to draw breath. There was no point in fighting any more; all he could do was hold still and concentrate on breathing. He could feel the tapping of the spider's claws, testing the silken shroud for security, plucking at the strands like some insane harpist. It seemed to be nuzzling him, its mandibles nipping at the strands across his chest until they were smoothed to its satisfaction.

Then it bit him.

Iolaus was both expecting it and not, half-fearing abandonment as the latest addition to the spider's living larder, half dreading that he would not be merely cocooned but eaten alive. He didn't expect the sheer pain as the powerful jaws bit through the silk and sank into him, popping through his skin like biting into a plum. He screamed instinctively in agony, inadvertently inhaling more of them web. As the jaws sank deep into his side, he felt something probe into him, snake like and sickeningly warm. After a moment a strange suctioning sensation began. It was acutely painful at first, then gradually the fire of the bite faded and the darkness crept closer. Distantly he sensed that the spider was going to drain him dry, but although some part of him knew it was wrong, he no longer cared as a delicious, warmth and lassitude slipped through him. A giggle of fearful madness slithered up on the edges of his consciousness before he slipped over the edge into unconsciousness.

* * *

In the torchlight, Hercules studied the grey green strands he had dragged in a tangled mess from the wall. If it hadn't been for the faint shimmer of light that sparked through them as he brushed accidentally against the rock he would never have seen them at all. He was glad he had. Destroying them would create a blind spot in the spider's web if he was lucky. If he wasn't, it would merely attract the creature's attention.

He hoisted his torch higher and peered warily down the corridor, half wishing he had accepted Polydeceus' offer to come with him. Climbing the all but vertical cliff hadn't been easy even for him however and he didn't think Polydeceus would have been able to keep up with him. The man was a marvellous warrior, but he wasn't much of a climber.

Taking firmer grip on the torch, Hercules moved closer to the wall. The webbing shimmered with light and he felt a strange prickling sensation run across his skin, urging him to touch it. He was aware that power lay in the strands, responding to his presence as a flower turns to the sun. It knew him, wanted him to touch it…

The demi-god took a deep breath and touched the flames to the strands, then leaped back with a yelp as the webbing exploded in a blaze of emerald flames, running up and down the wall in a rush of liquid light.

It wasn't quite what he had meant to happen, but as the flames shot off down the tunnel, brilliantly illuminating the way in a blaze of magical light, he took off at a run to follow it. Sooner or later, he guessed, the fire would lead him to the centre of the labyrinth where the Chaos Spider lay in wait in its lair….

* * *

It was all he could see. The strands that bound his face glued his eyelashes down tight and he longed to be able to rub them free. His muscles ached with the strain of tensing against the web and it took a physical effort to stop himself and lie still, conserving his energy.

Silence was all around him, the rush of his own blood in his ears sounding like the far off sigh of the sea. The beating of his own pulse threatened to drown him in its rhythm.

He couldn't move. His arms and legs were completely trapped by the strands wrapped around him. The webbing was tightening as it dried, holding him immobile and helpless in the spider's web. As it constricted around him, it got harder to breathe. And the harder it was to breathe, the more he yearned to gulp down more air.

He couldn't feel anything except the web, slick now as it cooled and dried. His skin seemed to be going numb under its touch. He had been able to feel vibrations in web itself, feel the touch of the spider's claws as it spun its silken shroud around him, but now there was nothing. No movement. No vibration. Nothing….

The only sensations came from within himself. The pounding beat of his pulse. The faint rush of his breathing. He couldn't even feel his tongue…

He clutched at straws, shards of memories, of pleasure…

Enough! There was only the here and now.

He had to stop thinking about it. Stop thinking at all. Turn inwards, listen to the sound of his own blood pulse….

His side was starting to hurt again, burning painfully as whatever the spider had done to him slowly wore off…

No doubt when it came back it would return to him to feed…

Alone in the darkness, Iolaus started to scream silently inside his own head and once he started, he couldn't stop….

* * *

Hercules could feel an ache building up inside him, a frustrated need to scream and lash out. He was running as fast as he could, pounding along the darkened corridor with his torch streaming flame in a banner of golden light behind him. He had overtaken the burning sensory strands, aware of the green glow of their flames casting eerie shadows ahead of him.

He was close to Iolaus, he knew he was, could feel it as the Chaos energy around him heightened his senses. It was almost as if he could touch his presence in the darkness, feel his terror, sense the panic stricken pounding of his pulse….

Rounding the corner into a large cavern, Hercules had one split second to register there was something lurking in the shadows above him, then he slammed straight into a sticky morass of webbing that dropped from the ceiling and smothered his face and shoulders in a damp clinging mass. With a yell of panic he dropped both sword and torch and lashed out wildly as he felt himself being bodily hoisted off the floor, squirming to free himself of the slick strands that clung to his skin. A moment later the flash of green fire caught up and swept through the net, charring it instantly. Hercules dropped from its silken trap and landed in an ungainly heap on the rocky floor.

Panting for breath, Hercules dragged his arms and legs under him, frantically untangling himself from the rope that had uncurled and entangled his body.

The shadows moved and bunched overhead.

Terrified by what he sensed, Hercules dropped the rope and dived forward, shoulder rolling away from the menace as the Chaos Spider dropped from the roof.

It hissed in disgust as it missed its target, twisting its round head around to study him from its glistening emerald eyes. Its pincer like jaws opened and closed thoughtfully.

Moving slowly in the hopes of not provoking it any further, Hercules climbed warily to his feet and looked around him. He could hear the sound of the sea echoing up from below, the rhythmic surge and suck of waves sending the tiniest of vibrations through the rock. A ridge of rock thrust up to mar the floor, cracking and splintering it as if a Titan had stamped its foot in rage and broken it. A grey green glow was glimmering up from beyond the rocky crest and Hercules could half see, half sense the sensory strands pouring over its edge. The strands were every where in the cave, clinging to the pure white stalactites adorning the ceiling and shimmering with green lustre around the walls. The fire Hercules had started was still burning, but slower now, creeping along the strands as if unwilling to be noticed by the maker of the web. The eventual target of all the strands and therefore the fire too seemed to be the centre of the cave and whatever lay on the other side of the rock ridge. He needed to get over there to see what was going on.

As he took an instinctive step towards the edge, the spider made an odd chittering hiss and bounced towards him on its toes, lifting its front legs in menace as it parted its mandibles.

Hercules retreated warily, in no mood to take any chances. He wasn't sure how intelligent this creature might be and right then he didn't care. If it jumped him, then it got squished.

Firmly crushing the stray thought, Hercules looked round for his weapons. The Spider was between him and his sword and torch. The rope lay where he had dropped it, writhing across the ground like a thin snake and curling amongst the spider's long legs. That held possibilities…

Hercules crept closer in a hunched over crouch, edging towards the rope. With a final quick dash, he grabbed it and jerked, hoping to entangle the arachnid and ensnare it.

The spider leaped elegantly into the air, avoiding the rope as it writhed past its legs with a crack. Hercules promptly dropped the rope again with a curse of frustration; glaring at the creature and rethinking his hastily formed strategy. He should have realised it would be aware of the dangers of being entangled. After all what was a cobweb, but a glorified rope?

Moving stealthily, he sneaked around it, hoping to get closer to his weapons.

The spider seemed to be dancing as it turned, keeping him in view as he sidled around it. As it moved, the light of the torch caught its face and Hercules froze, staring at the bright splash of blood glistening garishly on the fur around its jaws.

Iolaus' blood…He knew it, sensed, felt it…

A moan started to tear its way out of him. The pitter-patter of claws on stone, like rain on the sea. He had been here before, in his nightmare…

The spider sprang; seizing its moment as Hercules was distracted to jump him.

At the very last second, Hercules dropped flat and the spider sailed over him. Landing on the wall behind him, it twisted its head to glare after him as he ran for his weapons. Then it jumped again and this time it hit its target.

Hercules yelped instinctively as the creature slammed into his back, flattening him face first to the rock and splitting his chin with the impact. Its weight held him down as its clawed toes scrabbled for purchase on his body, crouching to bring its mandibles into play on his throat.

Driving his elbow back into the snapping jaws, Hercules felt the skin on his biceps rip on sharp chitin but the spider reared back from the impact, startled by the blow. Seizing his chance, the demi-god arched under its weight, further disrupting its balance as he flung himself sideways against the thin bony legs. They gave way and the spider scrabbled sideways, struggling to right itself. Grabbing for a leg, Hercules twisted and wrenched as savagely as he could and was rewarded with a cracking noise. The spider screeched and jumped, hopping away from him with one leg dangling uselessly. Panting for breath, Hercules scrambled upright, feeling safer on his feet.

The spider was crouching against the wall, front legs raised in menace and the wounded leg kept safe against the rock.

"Not so happy now it's your turn, are you?" Hercules mocked as he eased past it towards his weapons again.

The spider twitched, bunching its long legs under it in preparation for another jump.

The demi-god broke into a run and dived the rest of the way as the arachnid sprang at him; sliding across the rock to grab his weapons as the spider landed. It had calculated its jump with precision, landing beside the torch to block him from reaching it even as he slid across the ground. Hercules settled for snatching up the sword and rolling, slashing backhanded at the spider as it attempted to ensnare him with a jet of sticky webbing. The blade connected with its belly, slicing through emerald fur and drawing a spurt of fiery green gore. The rising wail that escaped the spider made the hairs stand up on the back of Hercules' neck as he scrambled backwards on his hands and knees to get out of reach.

The Spider scuttled towards him abruptly making a vicious lunging move at him that Hercules dodged to escape and ran straight into a skilfully cast web that glued his arms to his sides. Hissing in triumph the spider yanked him off his feet as if he was a landed fish, smacking him into the ground with a bruising thump that knocked the breath out of him. Stepping daintily over him, it started to spread more webbing over him, clearly meaning to cocoon him to make him harmless.

Hercules struggled frantically at first, but realised rapidly that he was only entangling himself even more and changed tactics, exerting the strength that was to become legendary. He snapped the strands binding his arms to his sides as if they were dried twigs and drove the sword upward into the spider's belly for a second time. With a squeal of pain it reared away from him and Hercules rolled into his back, stabbing again and again and squinting his eyes against the rain of steaming green blood that spattered his face and body.

Panic stricken now, the spider fended him off with vicious stabs of its claws that brought fresh blood welling into the cuts it slashed into his skin. It backed away, retreating towards the safety of its web.

Something told Hercules not to let it escape him. He sensed that once back in its web, it could use the Chaos energy the strands channelled to heal itself and return to the battle refreshed and strong, while Hercules would still be exhausted. It turned, scuttling towards the crest of rock hiding the web.

Grabbing up the guttering torch, he sprinted after it. Maybe he could burn out its eyes and slow it down. Sensing him coming the spider reared back to meet him then leapt aside at the last moment to let his own impetus carry him over the edge into the web.

Hercules was ready for those tactics. He braked and twisted with it, straining his thigh muscles in a prodigious leap and back flip that landed him astride the spider's thorax. The spider hissed and bucked then ran for the wall and straight up it. Gritting his teeth, Hercules dropped the torch and wrapped his legs tight around its middle, hanging on to its plush fur with one hand and driving the sword deep into its back with the other. Reaching the ceiling, the spider clawed upside down out onto its sensory strands, desperately striving to scrape its enemy off amongst the stalactites.

Squeezing his legs even tighter and refusing to look down, Hercules bunched his muscles and concentrated on driving the sword ever deeper. He had the blade wedged now, its point somewhere so deep inside the spider that he could feel it grating on something. The creature's movements were becoming weaker and more erratic; its grip on the strands slipping as it lost control.

Hercules felt a crack vibrate along the blade as something gave way inside the spider. Its legs spasmed, clenching in tight around the body as it arched and twisted in agony, sparks of green fire sizzling through its fur as the Chaos energy inside it lost cohesion. A surge of bitter bright triumph shot through the young demi-god as he realised he had won then he let out a yell of sheer panic as the spider fell off the ceiling. Only his reflexes and a belatedly kicking in survival instinct enabled him to grab a sensory strand and cling to it, the jolt as he was torn from the spider's back and his full weight came down on them almost ripping his arms from their sockets. Dangling in mid air, he saw the spider hit the rock below him and explode in a fireball of green energy that sent shards of limbs and fur flying in all directions, even spattering the demi-god where he hung.

Shuddering in disgust, Hercules wiped his face on his arm and shook his long hair out of his eyes, as he looked round for a way down. He was quite a long way out from the cave walls and he could feel the strands of the web shuddering under his weight and the still spreading green fire that he had started.

The thought that he couldn't afford to hang around took him as funny and he hiccuped back a fit of giggles that were half-relieved, half-hysterical. Remembering that he had to find Iolaus and Pericles however sobered him quickly. Speed was vital, so…

Taking a deep breath, Hercules unclenched his hands from their grip and dropped to the cave floor below….

He landed with a thud, letting his knees bend and drop him to the floor in an ungainly roll. Cursing under his breath as he splattered himself with spider gore, he picked himself up and hurried over to the edge of the drop.

For the first time he got a good look at the eerily glowing web and its gruesome cargo of bone spilling pods. Startled by the nausea that churned through him, Hercules gulped hard, forcing his eyes past the web to look at the sea churning far below until his stomach could settle. Only then could he look back at the web, striving to remain dispassionate as he studied the pods. Most of them were dry shapeless husks, grey with time and splintered where the shells had broken and spilled the contents.

"Iolaus! Pericles! Are you down there? Can you hear me?" Cupping his hands around his mouth, Hercules bellowed into the chasm, praying that one of them at least would answer and hoping against hope that it would be Iolaus.

Only the roar of the sea and a stealthily growing crackling sound answered him. The fire was spreading. No longer controlled by the presence of the Chaos spider absorbing most of the energy, the fire was quickening, devouring the silken strands it fed upon in ravenous hunger.

Belting back across the cave, Hercules grabbed the sputtering torch and waved it a few times to urge the flames back to life. Retrieving the rope, he scurried back to the rift and leaned dangerously out over the edge, holding the torch as far as he could. In the bright glow of the torch, one of the pods took on a new iridescent sheen as if it was still slightly wet.

The chaos fire was slithering down the walls now, gliding deeper into the pit and licking out along the strands of the web.

Hercules wedged the torch into the wall and tied the rope around a spike of rock, testing it for security with several grim yanks before he fastened it around his waist. Then he went back to the edge and once more peered downwards, staring at the iridescent pod. He couldn't be sure it was the right one, but it looked fresher than the others did and he thought he could see a hint of brown beneath the grey webbing. It looked about the right size to contain a body - a live body, he prayed.

The fire hissed and spat and a chunk of web crumbled in a cascade of emerald embers like tiny stars falling into the darkness below.

There was no time left to dither. Looping the rope, Hercules swung out over the lip of rock and started downwards, bracing his feet against the wall as he half hopped, half walked downwards.

He was still several feet short of the web when another chunk gave way and the whole web shuddered, starting to peel away from the wall. The pod was below him and to the right and it slipped with the web, rolling and twisting through the strands.

"No!" Realising that he was going to lose it if he didn't do something, Hercules pushed off from the wall and let out the rope, feeling it sizzle through his hands as he dropped at hazardous speed.

His feet thumped into the web, setting up a secondary vibration that bucked the net against the anchor strands. Ignoring the danger, Hercules dived across the last few feet and grabbed the pod, exerting all his strength to rip it free of the glue like strands and clutch it against him. As soon as he had it in his grasp, the web gave way under his feet and he dropped with a hoarse yell of panic.

The rope saved him, slamming the breath out of him and making his ribs creak with the strain of the sudden drop as it tightened around his midriff. Momentum swung him back against the wall and he yelped again, managing to twist and lift his feet to avoid smashing into solid rock. Wheezing painfully for air, Hercules hugged the pod to him and closed his eyes, waiting for his senses to stop spinning. Around him the fire hissed on, filling the air with smoke now as more of the web started to smoulder and burn.

Gradually, as his senses cleared, Hercules began to realise that the pod was warm against him, alive…. Not like the Chaos fire, but alive with a human warmth. It wriggled very slightly against him, making him loosen his grip.

"Can you hear me?" Hercules whispered to it, wondering whom he had saved. "If you can, please keep still, I don't want to drop you."

It was becoming ever more risky to stay where he was. If the fire caught the rope, it would be all over. He might survive the fall, but he would have to drop the pod and its contents. And he wasn't prepared to do that.

The pod stopped wriggling and Hercules got the distinct impression that the content was holding its breath.

"Okay, I have to climb now. Hold still." Shifting his grip slowly, Hercules transferred the pod from his arms to across his shoulders, glad that the web was still fresh and supple enough to bend. It was a precarious balancing game, but it was the best that Hercules could do. He needed both hands to climb with.

Taking a deep breath, he started to climb upwards, digging his feet into the rock and shoving upwards, using both rope and rock for handgrips.

The slow climb upward seemed to take forever. Several times he had to stop to rest and resettled the pod before it slipped off his shoulder. But finally, he scrambled over the edge of the rock, rolled the pod off his shoulder onto the floor then crawled tiredly after it. Sinking down beside it, he rested his head in his hands for a moment while he caught his breath, shoving his perspiration soaked hair out of his face. Then he turned to the pod and started to methodically crack it open, tearing off great chunks of webbing in his bare hands. Common sense made him start at what he hoped was the top end and ripping off a handful of sticky webbing, he let out a yelp of hope as he found blond strands among the webbing. Ruthlessly restraining the urge to tear the pod apart in berserk eagerness, he kept going, peeling aside the web more delicately now until his fingers met still warm skin. The strands were unravelling more easily now and he stripped them aside rapidly.

Barely aware that he was babbling, Hercules pulled aside the last layers and exposed Iolaus' face to the open air, wiping the web from his eyes and mouth and nose. Iolaus heaved in a great shuddering gasp of air and his eyes snapped open, glazed and wild with complete and utter terror.

"It's me, Iolaus, it's me… It's okay, it's over. I killed the damn thing…" Hercules gabbled as he tore the web from his friend's body, ripping it away from his throat and shoulders, exposing his chest.

Iolaus spat web and twisted frantically, kicking at the pod that still held his legs trapped. The second his arms were free Iolaus started to fight soundlessly, clawing the web off and careless of whether he tore his skin or not. Hercules helped him rip the strands from his legs, then abandoned the struggle as he realised that Iolaus was literally attacking his own bare skin in an efforts to get the last glue like strands off.

"Hey! Enough, stop." Hercules batted his hands aside, catching them in his own. Huge blue eyes stared without recognition into the demi-god's. "Iolaus? Speak to me…It's me, it's Hercules. You’re safe…"

Wrenching his hands free, Iolaus scrubbed wildly at his face, rubbing at the stickiness still cleaning to his cheeks and spitting still more web from his mouth. Abruptly squirming away from Hercules, the hunter rolled over onto his side and started to throw up violently. Only when the spasms had passed did he curl up into a small tense ball and hug his arms around his abused midriff, shivering as if with a chill.

"Iolaus?" Tentatively Hercules gripped his shoulder, stretching to touch his web entangled blond hair, unsure whether his touch would be welcomed or rejected.

Iolaus froze under his touch, staring at him in dazed disbelief and misery as he felt the warmth of his hands. Then something seemed to snap inside him and his face crumpled. Shakily he reached for the demi-god and burrowed against him, his arms winding throttlingly tight around Hercules' neck. He never made a sound as he clung to his friend.

Hercules gingerly wound his own arms around his friend, tightening his grip when he wasn't pushed away and holding on comfortingly. Iolaus wasn't so much trembling in shock as he was literally shaking from head to foot, his whole body vibrating in one terrified quiver of absolute fright that Hercules could feel reverberating through his own soul.

"It's gonna be okay, it's gonna be fine," Hercules whispered over and over again, rocking him awkwardly. But much as he wanted to stay and hold him, one little worry kept nagging at him. "Iolaus, where's Pericles? We've got to find him."

Iolaus shook his head wildly, clutching at him tighter than ever.

"Do you know where he is?"

Another violent shake.

Hercules gritted his teeth, running his fingers soothingly through Iolaus' hair. "Will you talk to me, please?"

Iolaus made a small sound that might have been an attempt at an answer, but came out more like a strangled sob. He shook his head helplessly against Hercules' shoulder.

"Okay," Hercules said patiently. "Did the spider get him?"

Silent shake. No….

"Was he in the web?"

"Did he come into the caves with you?"

A nod. Yes…

"Was he here when you ran into the spider?"

"Was he killed? Or hurt?"

"Then where is he?"

Some of Hercules' frustration somehow got through to Iolaus and he lifted his head, staring at his friend mutely. His eyes were enormous with pain and fear and flickering embers of anger were starting to rise from the dark depths of shock within.

Hercules gazed back into those cerulean eyes and felt an ice-cold rage rise up to meet Iolaus'. "Did he go for help?"

Very, very slowly, Iolaus shook his head, his eyes never leaving Hercules'.

"Did he leave you here?" Hercules whispered in horror. "In the web, for the spider?"

Iolaus jerked his head in one tight nod, fighting the shudders that started to rack him again. This time Hercules needed no prompting to hold him, but grabbed his friend and cuddled him as close as a brother, feeling Iolaus' silent sobs shaking them both.

"The bastard," he whispered into Iolaus' sunbright hair. "The low life, dirty, rotten, stinking bastard, I'm going to kill him for this…"

And Iolaus nodded in silent agreement…

* * *

Shoving his hair back from his face, Jason lifted his head and looked up at the cliff that Hercules had scrambled up like a mountain goat, leaving the captain staring after him. Jason had sent Castor back to the Argo to fetch help, while he, Polydeceus and Lettus remained behind on watch, prepared to follow Hercules immediately if they had to. Half of the Argonauts had joined them; the others - led by Polyphemus - were searching the far side of the island for another way in.

Hearing Polydeceus hail him, Jason looked round to see what the dark haired warrior wanted.

"We're ready," he explained grimly as he reached the captain. He and the others had been searching the village for bodies and bringing them to the Village Square where a pyre had been built. It was a grim task, but there wasn't a man among them who could leave anyone without a pyre to mark their passing and free their souls to travel to Hades' arms.

Jason inclined his head and started to walk back to the village. It wasn't a task he was looking forward to, but it was his place to say the words and give the villagers their freedom. He only hoped he wouldn't be adding any souls from his own crew to Hades' lists.

"Any sign of Lynceus?" He asked rather than think about what awaited them in the village. He had sent the eagle-eyed lookout to search for another way into the caves. The idea of climbing the cliff after Hercules wasn't one he was looking forward to.

"Not yet. You want me to go look for him?"

Jason shook his head. "Lynceus can look after himself."

"So can Hercules and Iolaus."

"I note you didn't include Pericles in that," Jason observed dryly.

"You’re right. I didn't."

Jason exchanged a look with the inscrutable warrior.

"What can I say? I don't trust the bastard."

Jason sighed and lengthened his stride, leaving Polydeceus to follow him or not as he chose. As soon as Lynceus came back, they would enter the caves and find out exactly what was going on one way or another.

* * *

"Come on, it's this way, not much further now." Reaching back to Iolaus, Hercules caught his wrist in a careful grip, guiding him over the rocks. Iolaus had been staying out of arm’s reach since they left the spider's cave, flinching if Hercules came too close.

Iolaus stumbled and almost went down as his ankle turned and Hercules caught him, gliding his arm around his waist and lifting him over the shattered rubble that blocked the path. The tunnels were narrow in this part of the caves and the footing was treacherous from rock falls. Hercules suspected that the rock falls had been caused deliberately in an effort to seal the Chaos Spider into its lair.

Iolaus' fingers dug into the back of his arm as he leaned into the demi-god's side, clinging to him for support before he pushed feebly away. Hercules tightened his grip, not wanting to let him go.

Iolaus squeaked a pained protest, but it was more than Hercules had managed to get out of the warrior in a while. "Iolaus?" With a surge of relief, Hercules let go of him and cupped a hand under his chin, tipping his face up so he could see him. In the flickering light of the torch, Iolaus' eyes were dark pools in his ashen face. Hercules noted something else too, his hand was bloody where he had touched him. "What the…where's this coming from?" Gripping Iolaus' shoulder as the hunter attempted to struggle past him towards the faint shimmer of light coming down the tunnel, he tugged at his torn tunic, peeling it away from his side and discovering the finger sized hole in his side. The wound was bleeding sluggishly, the dried crust of blood on it broken by exertion as Iolaus moved, but there was no sign of inflammation. "Why didn't you tell me you were hurt?" Hercules demanded impatiently. "Look, sit down and rest a minute." Wishing he had thought to bring his battle kit so he could patch him up, Hercules attempted to push Iolaus down to sit on a rock.

With a flash of energy Iolaus slapped his hands away, stumbled a few more feet on his own and then went down on his knees with a thump.

"There you are. See? You need to rest, idiot." Striding after him, Hercules crouched to lift him back to his feet.

Iolaus flashed a look from him to the daylight ahead and then back again. Gripping Hercules' tunic, he pulled at him, his eyes pleading for understanding.

"I don't…" Hercules began in confusion, then paused as Iolaus pointed frantically towards the opening. "Uh, you want to get out of here first?" he guessed.

Iolaus nodded desperately and gestured mutely at the walls, miming them closing in on him. His face crumpled as he fought the tears from escaping him again and he scrubbed his web-matted hair from his face with a moan, hiding his expression from his friend.

"Closing in on you, huh? Okay. No problem." Looping his arm around him, Hercules lifted him back to his feet, steadied him and then drew him against his side. Iolaus tensed, as cold and aloof as any statue. "Yeah, I know. You don't want to be touched. Well, tough. You’re exhausted. Lean on me. Come on…watch your step here…"

Hercules could feel Iolaus staring at him indignantly as he guided him towards the daylight. It wasn't far, but he could imagine that it felt like forever to Iolaus. And he felt something else as they walked. Iolaus' tension was thawing as he melted against Hercules' side, warmth and trust defeating his fears.

"Last few steps," Hercules said cheerfully though his voice sounded false to him. He was worried about Iolaus, not only because of the wound he had discovered, but by his friend's unnatural silence. Helping him over the rubble in the tunnel mouth, Hercules released Iolaus and forged ahead, forcing his way through the tangle of undergrowth that had swamped the entrance. Holding back a great armful of brush, Hercules let Iolaus slip past him and then followed him, emerging onto the hillside to find that they were near the pool he and Lettus had discovered.

Hercules made a hasty grab at his friend as the hunter swayed and subsided to the ground. Rubbing his arms furiously, Iolaus held his face up the sun as if he wanted to bathe in its light and baking heat.

"You’re shaking again," Hercules said gently as he settled him on the sunbaked earth. "You’d better stay here and rest. I'm going to find some herbs. And the others shouldn't be far from here. Don't move, okay?"

Iolaus gave him a cool look and a nod, then curled up on the warm ground and closed his eyes. His face was drawn with exhaustion.

"I'll be right back." Hercules told him, patting his shoulder. With a final worried look, he then took off down the hillside. He was sure he had seen the herbs he needed on the way up to the pool. Once he had tended Iolaus' wound, he would get him down to the pool where he could rest in safety while he found Jason and the others.

Sleep wouldn't come for Iolaus. It took him only a couple of minutes to realise that. Sleep was a place of suffocating darkness where nightmares lay in wait to entangle him in silken snares. Sitting bolt upright, Iolaus looked around him wildly, his breath coming in wild heaving gasps of panic as he stared at his hands. Web still clung to his fingernails, to his hair, his clothes…

His terror increasing rather than lessening Iolaus scrambled to his feet, clawing at his hair where he could feel the web matting the curls.

The scream for his friend was silent, but as he looked around for him desperation he spotted the silvery gleam of the pool.

Iolaus started to run without thinking, tearing down the hillside with the speed that had won him footraces. Roots snatched at his feet, branches tore at him, but every time he went down he rolled and got up, running on as if his life or his sanity depended on it.

"Iolaus! What are you doing?! Slow down!"

He heard Hercules' voice but the words meant nothing. All he could see was the water.

Hercules heard the crackle of the undergrowth and looked round instinctively, grabbing for a tree branch to protect himself. He wasn't sure what kind of wild animals might be lurking on the island. The Chaos Spider would have been likely to kill any other predators. But he supposed there was always the chance there were more of its kind. A mate perhaps?

A second later, Iolaus flashed past him.

Startled, Hercules didn't move for a second, then yelled after him. When Iolaus didn't respond but continued his helter-skelter flight downhill, Hercules tore after him. He was still out of reach when Iolaus hit the rocks at the edge of the pool and took a racing dive into the cool deep water.

"Iolaus!" Panic-stricken, Hercules skidded to a halt at the pool's edge, searching the water for any sign of his friend. All he could see were silvery bubbles popping up from the depths. Swearing, Hercules waded in and ducked under the surface, holding his breath as he looked for the hunter. To his relief, Iolaus came up a few feet away, floundering onto the lip of rock that marked the pool's shallows. Hercules waded towards him, his expression grim with annoyance. "What are you doing?" he demanded irritably. "You want to kill yourself? You didn't even know how deep this pool was!"

Iolaus looked at him wild eyed, scrubbing at his face and body, rubbing the water desperately into his skin and clawing over and over at his hair.

"Iolaus! Stop it! You’re going to hurt yourself!" Hercules bellowed at him, grabbing him by the shoulders and giving him a hard shake.

"I can't get clean!" Iolaus screamed in his face, ripping at his clothes. "Don't you understand? I can't get it off!"

"Iolaus, it's okay…" Hercules stammered in bewilderment.

"No, no, no, it's isn't! It won't come off! I can't get clean!" Iolaus was sobbing hysterically now, gasping for breath between the tears. "Please, Herc, get it off me. Get it off!"

"Okay, okay…" Not knowing what else to do, Hercules tugged at his jerkin, peeling Iolaus out of the web stained suede and running his own hands over his bruised body, rubbing the cool water into his shivering skin. Iolaus trembled under his touch, clawing at his knotted hair as small distressed whimpers squeezed out of him. "Talk to me, Iolaus. Tell me what happened. Let it out…"

Iolaus moaned, but the words came, spilling out of him in a torrent of fear and terror. He spat Pericles' name like poison, screaming at the sky for vengeance for his betrayal. Anger turned to harsh tearing sobs as with the release the pain of treachery eased, exhaustion swamping him.

Slowly, under Hercules' touch, he gradually started to calm down, as if where his hands passed the demi-god left warmth and healing. Finally he allowed Hercules to draw him close enough to hug.

"I can't get clean…" Iolaus whimpered as he clung to him in misery.

"You're okay, it's gone, it's all gone…" Hercules soothed, running his hands up and down his back in reassurance.

Iolaus tugged at his hair again, his face scrunching up in despair. "Not…Get it out of my hair…"

"I don't think I can…." Iolaus flashed a horrified look at him. "Unless I cut it…." The hunter stared at him, his mouth trembling before he nodded and huddled against his chest Hercules winced, knowing how distressed Iolaus must be if he was willing to make that sacrifice.

"Well, well, well, what do we have here?" Lynceus' teasing voice floated across the water to them, ripe with a deep chuckle of amusement. "Is there something you two want to tell me, or am I interrupting something?"

Hercules felt Iolaus jump in fright and hugged him instinctively. "That isn't funny," the demi-god snapped irritably at the lookout. Iolaus turned his head away, still pulling at his hair. "You got a knife?"

"Naturally. What's going on? Are you two all right?"

"I am, but Iolaus isn't." Hercules retorted, smoothing his hand over the top of his friend's head. He could feel the web among the normally soft curls, stiffening them. Swearing softly, he steered Iolaus towards the pool edge. The hunter moved mechanically, going where Hercules pushed him.

Lynceus came to help him, but Iolaus avoided his hand, refusing to look at him. Sitting him down on a rock, Hercules held out a hand for the lookout's knife.

"What are you planning on doing?" Lynceus asked warily as he handed it over.

"I'm going to cut his hair before he goes crazy," Hercules answered softly.

"Are you kidding? He won't let you do that!"

"Yes, he will. He wants me to."

"He'll kill you later."

"I doubt it. Can you find me some soapwort? He wants to get clean."

"He's practically sparkling now."

"Lynceus, please don't argue. Pericles pushed him into the Chaos spider's web. He got covered with the stuff and nearly eaten by the damn thing. Get the soapwort."

Lynceus looked from one to the other of them, then nodded and disappeared into the trees to look for the herb.

Hercules shot a quick look at Iolaus as the hunter tugged at the knife. Reluctantly, letting him take it, he watched sadly as he bunched his hair up and cut off a chunk of golden strands. "I'm sorry, Iolaus," he whispered, kneeling beside him.

Iolaus looked at him without recognition, his eyes blank of anything. Turning the knife over in his hands, he focused slowly on the shining blade then rested it gently against his arm, skimming it along his skin like a strygil.

"No!" With a yip of alarm, Hercules snatched the weapon off him before he could peel off his skin and threw the knife at the nearest tree. The blade embedded itself in the trunk with a dull chunk. Even if Hercules had let Iolaus go after it, he couldn’t have removed it.

The hunter stared blankly after the weapon, his expression torn between confusion and disappointment. He looked slowly back at Hercules. "My skin doesn't fit…" he mumbled vaguely. A second later, he doubled over and started to throw up again. Hercules rested his hands on his shoulder, offering his comfort until the retching stopped. Then he gently pulled him upright.

Cupping his friend's face between his hands, he held his eyes for a long, long moment, wishing Iolaus could read what lay in his soul. Iolaus blinked and focused on him, then leaned forward into his embrace and stayed there, clinging to Hercules in shivering, shocked, misery.

* * *

By the time Lynceus had fetched Jason and the others, Iolaus was sitting stark naked in the shallow water at the edge of the pool. He was shivering, arms and legs folded up tight as he hunched in on himself in shock. His hair had been thoroughly soaped and washed and was a fair bit shorter where he had cut it. Hercules was crouched beside him, pushing the wet curls away from his face and talking to him softly.

"How is he?" Jason waded out into the pool to join them. He had got an edited version of events from a worried Lynceus, as told to him by Hercules as they helped Iolaus scrub his himself with soapwort.

"He's stopped talking again," Hercules answered, giving the older man a worried look.

Jason crouched on Iolaus' other side and rubbed his shoulder. "Iolaus? How you doing?" he prompted gently, brushing a curl back behind his ear.

Iolaus hunched tighter and hid his face, rocking himself in misery.

"He can't stay here," Jason decided grimly, feeling the chill creeping through him. "Come on, Iolaus. We're going back to Argo."

Iolaus shook his head, refusing to move.

"You can't stay here, suntop," Jason told him kindly. "You’re cold and you need looking after. Aren't you hungry?"

Iolaus lifted his head a fraction, one eye peeking out from the froth of curls as he peered at Jason from behind the safety of his arms.

"Lettus, get that blanket ready." Putting his arm around Iolaus, Jason half lifted, half coaxed the hunter to his feet. With Hercules supporting him on the other side, they walked him back to the shelving rocks where Lettus waited with the blanket.

Iolaus balked as he saw the Argonauts crowding the edge of the pool. Feeling his breathing quickening in panic, Hercules folded his arms around him, giving the hunter somewhere safe to hide from their eyes.

"Fade, guys! You’re crowding him!" Jason ordered sharply and the Argonauts retreated, melting back into the trees with anxious, worried looks back at their friends.

Lettus refused to budge and stepped forward, draping the long blue blanket around Iolaus' shoulders like a cloak. "It's your colour," he teased and won a weak, shaky smile from the hunter.

Jason crouched beside him, peeling aside the herbal poultice Hercules had applied to examine the wound in his side. Iolaus watched him with distant curiosity, pulling the blanket around his hips with a flicker of shyness.

"The wound looks clean," Jason muttered as he straightened up.

"The number of times he's washed himself, it should be," Lynceus snorted.

Hercules adjusted the blanket, tucking it around his friend for some much needed warmth. "He can't help it," he told the lookout curtly. "How would you feel? Alone, trapped in a web with a spider coming after you to eat you alive…"

"Shut up," Iolaus hissed, startling them all. "Shut up, shut up, shut up!" He choked off his rising scream, gulped a breath of air and clutched at Hercules' arm. "I'm s'sorry….Please, don't make me t'think about it….Don't let me…"

Hercules swore softly and hugged him tight. "Shhh, I'm sorry. I should have kept my mouth shut." He shot a worried look at Jason as Iolaus clung to him shakily.

"It was Pericles' fault…" Iolaus whispered, turning his head against Hercules' shoulder so he could see Jason. "He pushed me into the web and left me there. He ran…" He groaned at the stunned expression on the captain's face. "You don't believe me, none of you believe me! I'm going to kill him!" Wrenching out of Hercules' arms, Iolaus got three steps before he subsided weakly to the ground. Hercules hurried forward to retrieve him, appalled to find him sobbing softly. "This isn't fair," he whimpered, looking up at Hercules in despair. "It isn't fair, Herc."

"I know," Hercules agreed. "But I believe you…"

Iolaus gulped. "My skin's going numb…And I'm so cold, Herc."

"We'll get you back to Argo and a nice warm fire," Jason promised, coming up behind them. "We'll carry you…"

"I don't need…."

"I said, we'll carry you. Captain's prerogative, Iolaus. Hush up." Ignoring the sullen pout Iolaus shot at him, Jason turned back to the others. "Lynceus, you go round up the others."

"They won't have gone far." Lynceus pointed out, inclining his head towards Iolaus.

"No," Jason agreed grimly. "But find them and start a search party for Pericles. I don't want him hurt, but I do want him found and brought to me."

"Don't you believe Iolaus?" Lettus demanded.

Jason gave him a sharp look. "I believe Iolaus believes it, even if I don't want to believe Pericles is that much of a coward," he answered evasively. "You go find Polyphemus and let him know what's happening. Now move it. I want everyone back at the beach before dark. We don't know what else is on this island and I'm not taking any more chances."

* * *

Hercules shifted restlessly in the sand where he sat beside Iolaus. Dried and clean with a change of clothes, a bowl of mutton stew and a fair amount of wine inside him, Iolaus had curled up beside the blazing fire they had built on the beach and fallen asleep. An effort to get him to shelter inside the cave where some of the Argonauts had slept the night before resulted in a burst of terror so acute he was almost hysterical. It only subsided when Jason shooed the others off from their attempts to calm him while Hercules cuddled him. Eventually the hunter had fallen asleep, but it was hardly peaceful from the way he twitched and whimpered. He also seemed to be starting a fever.

"Here, you look like you could do with a drop of this," Archivus offered quietly, interrupting Hercules' dark thoughts. He was holding out a wineskin to him and Hercules took it gratefully, taking a deep pull. The bard settled cross-legged on the sand, his ever present scroll in his lap. "How's he doing?"

"About the same. Any sign of the others? It'll be dark soon." Hercules spoke absently, his eyes drawn to Iolaus as the hunter moaned and hunched tighter in his sleep.

Archivus shook his shaggy head. "What are you going to do if they find Pericles?" he asked carefully.

Hercules blinked, refusing to look at the bard. His anger burned sometimes hot, sometimes implacably cold. But it burned for vengeance. "I don't know," he admitted. "Turn him over to Iolaus maybe? I suppose it’ll be up to Jason."

"Hmmh," Archivus glanced at Iolaus, his brown eyes sympathetic. "Why don't you go and talk to him? I’ll watch Iolaus for a while."

Hercules hesitated, torn between staying and joining the search. Finally he nodded and got up. "Call me if he wakes up?"

"No problem," Archivus said easily. "And you should help yourself to some of the stew. You look like you could do with something to eat."

* * *

The others drifted in, in twos and threes as darkness crept in a cross the island. Most of them gave Jason shifty, sheepish looks at their late return, but the captain said nothing other than to question them on the success of their search and direct them to the fire to eat.

It was a subdued crew that found their way to their blankets after their meal. The usual good humour of talk and laughter was missing, replaced by hushed companionship. Hercules returned to take up the watch from Archivus again, hovering anxiously over a deeply sleeping Iolaus for a while before he stretched out on his own blankets beside him and settled down with his arms folded behind his head.

Archivus stayed where he was, catching up on events in his journal. He noted that every single one of the Argonauts stopped by the fire to check on Iolaus; some to simply look and walk quietly away, others to question how he was or linger in concern according to their own personal way. But they all came to reassure themselves that the hunter was safe. Pericles' treachery to one had hurt all of them and it showed in the respectful hush that filled the camp.

A soft footstep made him glance up at Jason as the dark haired captain circled the fire and crouched, touching his hand lightly to Iolaus' forehead to check his fever. Iolaus snuffled and curled up tighter, protesting the touch. With a faint smile, Jason tugged the edge of the blanket up over his bare shoulder and moved away again to settle in the sand beside the bard. He picked up a small branch, toasting it in the flames.

"Do you think he'll be okay?" Archivus asked softly.

"The wound is deep, but it's clean and through flesh rather than anything else. He can do without getting into any fights for a while, but he'll be fine."

"Hmmh."

"You don't sound so sure."

"Lettus told me what happened at the pool," Archivus said slowly.

"He wanted to wash the web off. That's not surprising."

"You don't think it was anything more than that?"

Jason prodded the branch deeper into the fire. "I've seen men react like that after their first kill. They want to wash the blood off," he said slowly. "Sometimes they get over it, sometimes they don't. Sometimes the blood never comes off and they can never touch a sword again." He tilted his head towards the bard without looking at him. "I think Iolaus will survive, but I'm not sure how he's going to feel about spiders after this."

"Spiders or webs?"

Jason did look at him this time. "Maybe both. I don't know…" Across the fire Iolaus whimpered and thrashed in his sleep, flailing at some unseen restraint. Hercules turned over with a low sleepy mumble and put an arm around his friend, pulling him closer. Iolaus squirmed and wriggled desperately at being held and Jason started to get up, then sank back as the hunter settled and burrowed into Hercules' side for comfort in his nightmares.

"He knows it's Hercules," Archivus said softly.

Jason nodded and smiled ruefully. "Our suntop has had a rough time," he said quietly. "Can't blame him if he's a little restless. Why don't you get some sleep, Archivus? I'll watch him."

"You sure?"

"Yeah. I won't sleep."

"Too busy worrying?"

"Too busy planning what I'm going to do to Pericles when we find him. I think something inventive is called for."

* * *

The following morning Jason organised Argo's entire crew into a search party. The more he thought about it, the more convinced he was that Iolaus was telling the truth and the angrier he got. The hunter had been too distraught to make up any lies and Jason felt like kicking himself for allowing the guide to fool him so easily. Plus he had Hercules and the rest of his men to placate. They wanted blood and revenge for what had happened to Iolaus and if he didn't give them a way to release their anger, there was going to be serious trouble.

As it was, Hercules had already been off on his own for one search as soon as it was light enough and Jason didn't want the demi-god to find Pericles on his own. There was no telling what Hercules might do to the man if he was pushed far enough, but Jason was pretty sure that the demi-god wouldn't be able to cope with the burden on his conscience if he killed the guide in sheer rage.

Standing on the beach, Jason watched the last of the Argonauts vanish inland into the trees and then turned to look at the camp. A few of the men had lingered to protect Argo and guard the beach on the off chance of trouble and were continuing the ship's overhaul. Archivus was sitting next to Iolaus. The hunter was still in his blankets, lying quietly while the bard read his journal to him. With a final glance towards the trees, Jason ambled over to join them. He would have liked to go with his men, but he had a responsibility to watch over Iolaus until the hunter was back on his feet.

Iolaus had his head propped up on Hercules' rolled blanket and was lying on his back, looking ash pale. He raised his eyes to Jason when the captain knelt beside him.

"How are you feeling, Iolaus?" Jason asked lightly as he touched his forehead and smiled at him.

"Lousy," Iolaus answered huskily.

"You're a little cold. Did you eat yet?"

"He wasn't hungry," Archivus commented.

"I'm still not."

"You have to eat something." Jason scolded as he carefully peeled the blanket back from Iolaus' waist. With deft fingers he unknotted the poultice secured around Iolaus' trim midriff and examined the wound beneath, pleased to see that there was no swelling or inflammation.

"Jase?" Iolaus prompted.

"It looks fine. Don't worry."

"It sucked on me like I was soup," Iolaus whispered however.

"That's what they do to flies…" Archivus commented.

"Somehow I don't think he wants to know that," Jason said dryly, patting Iolaus' leg comfortingly before he refastened the bandage.

Iolaus watched the captain with huge blue eyes and finally reached shakily for his arm.

"What's the matter?" Jason asked kindly, taking his hand and giving it a quick squeeze. Iolaus squeezed back, but while his fingers moved there was no strength in his grip.

"I've gone numb," Iolaus told him slowly, staring at their linked hands. "And my legs won't move…"

"Won't move?" Jason stared back at him for a moment. "See if you can move them now…"

"I already did," Iolaus interrupted woodenly. "It's like I can feel something creeping through me and where ever it goes, I can't feel anything afterwards…"

Jason shot a quick look at the distant expression on Iolaus' young face and caught his breath in alarm. Hysteria he could have understood, but this was like the strange lethargy from the pool; shock…

"You let me sit here reading to you and you didn't tell me that?" Archivus said with anxious indignity.

"I was doing my best not to think about it. And anyway…" Iolaus' eyes flickered towards the trees.

"You didn't want Hercules to know?" Jason guessed.

Iolaus managed a small nod and closed his eyes.

"You should eat, maybe it'll help."

"It'll make me sick and I don't want to be sick again." Iolaus' swallowed nervously, licking dry lips. Feeling Jason's hand caressing his curls, he opened his eyes and looked up at him pleadingly. "Do something, Jase?"

Jason nodded, forcing a reassuring smile onto his face. "I'll get Talaus to stay with you. You lie still and get some sleep. I'll be right back. Come on Archivus."

The bard unfolded himself and scurried after Jason as the captain strode across the beach, bellowing for Talaus. Explaining to the aghast warrior what was happening once he sprinted up, Jason sent him back to keep Iolaus company and then headed for Argo's gangplank.

"What are we going to do?" Archivus asked anxiously.

"I'm hoping all those healer's scrolls I paid out for will have an answer." Jason answered curtly. He had been buying medical scrolls from healers in every port they stopped at and Archivus had been cataloguing them. Jason hoped they would be useful when he claimed his throne or as a trade for the Golden Fleece. In the meantime, they had already proved their value once or twice in helping the crew.

"You think it's some kind of poison."

"Chaos energy is a poison to mortals."

"I thought it incinerated mortals."

"In its direct energy form, yes. But fed to one in the form of a spider bite? What do spider's normally do to flies?"

Archivus swallowed and glanced back at the beach. "They paralyse them and dissolve…Ye Gods, Jason, poor Iolaus."

"Ye Gods indeed," Jason muttered. "Because I don't think it'll stop when it paralyses him. Chaos energy kills."

* * *

Hercules came to a halt, feeling a wash of cold air ripple over his body although there was no breeze.

"Hercules? You okay?" Polydeceus was ahead of him with the others, but had spotted that the demi-god had stopped. He loped back to him, giving him a critical once over. Jason had told him to keep an eye on the younger man, concerned about his emotional equilibrium.

"I felt something," Hercules admitted reluctantly.

"Like before? Another Chaos Spider?" Polydeceus looked around him nervously, half expecting a monster to leap out at them from the undergrowth.

Hercules shook his head slowly. "No, no, not like that. Different but….Chaos Energy. Somewhere…" Puzzled by what he was feeling Hercules looked around him and shook himself, focusing on Polydeceus with an effort. "It's gone now. Have you found anything?"

"Not yet. But come on. We’d better catch up with the others before they miss us and start a search party for us too."

* * *

"Come on, Iolaus, a little more…" Jason coaxed, his voice firm but cajoling in an effort to get the hunter to finish the last mouthful of the herbal potion he had concocted to fight the Chaos Energy rampaging through his system. The largest proportion of it was from his store of dried Moly, but he wasn't sure that there would be enough of the magical herb. It depended on how much Chaos Energy was involved. He had sent Archivus searching for more, knowing that it was rumoured to grow in the presence of Chaos Energy.

Iolaus moaned softly, barely conscious enough to register the words. He was half leaning, half-lying in the captain's arms, propped up against his chest so he wouldn't drown on the potion. As Jason held the cup to his lips again, he opened his mouth and gurgled down a few more sips. It was all he could manage as his throat started to close.

"You’re doing fine," Jason soothed, brushing back his perspiration damp hair as he held Iolaus' head gently to his shoulder. His early chills had been replaced by the fever that burned through him with a vengeance now, causing him to shudder violently as the poison entrenched itself in his muscles.

"Ah, Jase, kill me now…" Iolaus groaned, the words blurring into each other as he lost control of his tongue.

"You’re not going to give up without a fight, kid," Jason said sharply.

"But …it…hurts…"

"I know it does, I know," Jason softened in sympathy, feeling the uncontrollable spasms running through Iolaus in a non-stop shiver of pain. "Drink the rest now, finish it…" Iolaus turned his face away from the cup, burrowing into Jason's tunic. Relentless, Jason drew him back and ruthlessly pressed the cup to his lips. "You have to drink it, Iolaus, it's important. I know how bad it tastes. But you need this. Only a little more now….Come on…." Iolaus groaned but opened his mouth and swallowed the last few dregs, choking for breath as he closed his eyes and slumped against Jason in exhaustion.

"No more…Jase…please? I can't…." he begged as Jason eased him back down into his blankets. "S'burning…me…"

"It's okay, it's all gone. You can rest now…" Jason soothed. Retrieving the damp cloth Talaus had been using to cool him down, he dipped it back into a bowl of water and gently patted the hunter's perspiring face with it. Since Iolaus was still refusing to go into the cave, Jason had ordered a lean to shelter to be built on the beach to keep him out of the sun. Jason was as grateful for its deep shade as Iolaus was.

Sand scrunched as Talaus crept up and crouched beside them, his expression worried. "How's he doing?"

Jason shook his head mutely, gently brushing the damp cloth down Iolaus' throat and chest. The hunter lifted his chin a trusting fraction to accept its coolness.

"Do you want me to get the others?"

Jason didn't answer, his gaze resting on Iolaus' strained young face. "There's nothing they can do…" he said finally. "But yes, find them. Bring Hercules back here…"

"Jase?" Iolaus' blue eyes flared wide open, unfocused and terrified.

"I'm here…." Jason leaned over him so he could see him but Iolaus looked right through him.

"…I can't…f’feel…" Iolaus stammered and choked on the words. His eyes rolled back in his head, his body snapping into a taut line of agony before the first convulsion hit.

"Don't touch him!" Jason blocked Talaus' instinctive grab to restrain the hunter as he thrashed wildly.

"Jason!"

"You'll only hurt him or hurt yourself. Get back…" Waving Talaus aside, Jason concentrated on steadying Iolaus' head, preventing him from damaging himself and talking to him as soothingly as he could through his own panic. "You'll be okay, Iolaus, you'll be fine. Let it happen, let it go…"

The convulsion ended as suddenly as it had started and Iolaus flopped back into the blankets, his eyes open but unseeing and glazed. His limbs unfolded, the tension flowing out of him as he sighed faintly and was still.

"Iolaus?" The panic turned to fear in Jason's belly, knowledge rising up cold and fast and sharp as a knife. "Oh, Gods, Iolaus?!" Scrambling around to the hunter's side, Jason tipped his head back and pressed his ear to his mouth,

"Jason?!" Talaus' questioned in alarm and was ignored as Jason shifted, resting his head on Iolaus' bare unmoving chest. The captain stayed there for a long minute, his lips moving silently. When he finally sat back, his face was drained of all colour.

"Oh Gods," Jason whispered again and covered his face with his hands.

Grabbing his arm, Talaus shook him frantically. "Jason! What is it?"

Jason blinked and focused on him slowly. "He's gone."

"What?"

"He's gone," the captain repeated woodenly. "I've lost him."

Bewildered and disbelieving, Talaus looked from Jason to Iolaus and back again. "But he…he can't be…" He couldn't say it aloud and looked at his captain again, pleading silently for it all to be a ghastly mistake and that Iolaus would be okay. He and Iolaus had been good friends.

Jason touched his shoulder and dazedly looked round. The sudden commotion had drawn the others and they stood in a loose half circle around the shelter, their faces full of shock and disbelief.

"He can't be…" Talaus repeated again.

Jason squeezed his shoulder, wishing the burning in his eyes would stop. Pulling away from him, Talaus shuffled forward, pressing his own head to Iolaus' chest. Jason let him do it, hoping that he would hear what he had not. Life and breath…

Polyphemus pushed forward and knelt, touching Iolaus' throat and leaning over him to press his ear to his lips. His expression grew grimmer and grimmer and he finally sat back, putting his arm around Talaus and pulling the young man away. "There's nothing we can do," he told him gently as he tugged him to his feet and walked him away down the beach. Talaus seemed too shocked to do anything but follow the bigger man, but a few yards down the beach he crumpled to the sand and started to cry. Polyphemus knelt beside him, his broad arms holding him as he sobbed.

"Jason?" Aseus said softly. "Can we do anything?"

Tearing his eyes away from Talaus, Jason shook his head. "He's gone. All we can do is wish him an easy crossing." He took a deep breath, forcing the warm air down deep inside him. It did nothing to warm the icy chill in his belly. Much as it hurt him, he needed to be captain for his crew's sake now. "We'll prepare the pyre for him. Acastus, go and find the others. Finding Pericles can wait now. Tell Hercules and Lettus first. They…were closest to him." Acastus nodded, speeding away across the beach into the trees.

Aseus crouched beside Jason, watching his captain in concern as the others moved away to gather wood. He put his hand on the other man's shoulder. "It wasn't your fault," he said gently. "It was the Chaos energy."

Jason looked into the fisherman's brown eyes and sighed heavily. "I know, but that doesn't make it any easier. I failed him. Hercules is…" He shook his head, words failing him.

"He'll understand."

"Eventually maybe. But not right now he won't. And I don't blame him. I blame myself."

"Jason…" Aseus reproached.

"I'm the captain, Aseus. I should have known about Pericles…"

"How could you? He was clever…."

"You knew. So did Iolaus." Jason took a deep breath and shook his head. "I'll be fine. Go help the others with the pyre."

"You’re sure?"

"Yeah. Go."

After a long moment Aseus sighed, reached to lay one hand gently on Iolaus' still arm and then pushed to his feet. Jason watched him go then turned his own gaze reluctantly back to Iolaus. He looked no different somehow. Younger perhaps. Smaller…

Jason closed his eyes on swelling tears, forced down the pain and leaned forward. Closing the empty blue eyes, he rearranged the sprawled limbs until Iolaus at least looked comfortable and brushed the blond curls into place. "Goodbye, Iolaus, sweet dreams on your crossing," he whispered softly as he pressed a gently affectionate kiss to his forehead. "Sleep well, little brother…."

* * *

Hercules ran as if his life depended on it, crashing through the undergrowth regardless of the tears inflicted on his skin by thorns and branches alike. He had never moved so fast as he did to reach Iolaus, even knowing it was too late. But when he burst onto the beach and saw the pyre that the others built the knowledge hit him like an axe in the heart. Scalding tears filled his eyes as he sprinted up the beach, screaming Iolaus' name in his agony.

Images imprinted themselves on his mind's eye…

Hercules screamed, throwing himself against the silent ward of the crew. It was Polyphemus and Otus who caught him, the two big men having to struggle to restrain the demi-god as he fought wildly to break through and reach his friend.

"He can't be dead! He can't be dead!" Hercules could hear his voice going hoarse as he cried the words over and over, their very repetition driving the words deeper and deeper like stakes into his breaking heart. Pain drove him to his knees, sobbing in grief.

"Let him go," Jason said softly and Polyphemus and Otus released him. On hands and knees Hercules crawled forward and knelt beside Iolaus' body.

"Iolaus? Oh, Iolaus…"

Jason made no move to stop the demi-god as he touched the hunter's bare shoulder, watching his fingers seeking life that wasn't there, travelling up to his throat, to caress his face and brush back the shaggy curls. Finally Hercules sat back on his heels and covered his own face with his hands as he wept.

Jason put his arm around his shoulder and hugged him. "We're going to wait for the others, Hercules," he said softly.

"What happened?" Hercules choked out as he lifted his head, his eyes red rimmed with tears. "He was all right when I left him. He was going to be okay…"

"You know how dangerous Chaos Energy is. There was too much of it in him…"

"Nooo…." Hercules moaned the denial. "He can’t be…"

"I'm sorry, Hercules," Jason said gently as he put his arms around him and gave him someone to lean on. "I know how much you loved him. We all did. But there was nothing any of us could do. Not even you."

Hercules shook his head, resting his face on Jason's shoulder as grief shook him with tears and one by one the others knelt in silent commiseration with him.

* * *

Thump…

Somewhere far, far away he could hear his own pulse. It hummed softly to him in an eternal soothing lullaby.

It was all there was. His pulse. Infinitely slow. Infinitely soothing. His own small world where he controlled everything; where he was the centre of everything and everything was him.

Darkness, all was darkness…Sweet warm darkness, where warmth was a cradle and blood was his life singing in the silence…

Somewhere someone touched him, fingers light and gentle as they smoothed something cool and scented on his skin.

He didn't want to be touched, not when he couldn't move. Not when he was helpless…

The memories flooded in, sharp and cold and blue white with the pain of remembered fear and pain.

He wanted to run. But his blood ran too slow. Too cold.

The Chaos Spider…

It was coming and he strained to hear it. Heard the rush of the sea…

Sound surged in with a roar, engulfing the sound of his own blood beating through him.

Movement, pressure…

He was being lifted, carried…

It was going to eat him.

Jason's voice? And the words….He knew the words. But they were muffled, everything was muffled as if lay inside the cocoon again. Swathed in coarse cotton darkness…

Other voices answered Jason's, a husky chorus of support.

He knew the scents flooding his nose, tasting the faint bitterness of herbs on his lips. But he couldn't think. Why wouldn't the memory come? It was a puzzle. But they were talking about Hades and mentioning Hades meant…

Was this the Other Side then? It didn't feel like the Other Side somehow. He still hurt for one thing and he couldn't move. And he was afraid, terribly, terribly afraid without knowing why….

Suddenly he wanted to open his eyes, wanted to look and see and forget the darkness.

Knowledge poured in, drowning out everything else in sheer raw panic. He couldn't move. Couldn't scream. Couldn't do anything and they were going to burn him. They were going to burn him alive…

He could feel the heat of the fire licking his skin with tongues of flame…

* * *

Hercules shoved his hair back from his face, aware that he must look awful from the expression on his friends' faces. He didn't care. Nothing mattered any more. He had spent the afternoon in silent vigil beside Iolaus, never taking his eyes off his body even when tears blurred his vision. Dimly he was aware of the others coming and going, of someone asking him to eat something, drink something, respond…

He had stopped them covering the body completely, making them leave Iolaus’ face bare so he could memorise it, remember every curve and angle of shadow and sunlight.

But nothing got through the cold dark veil he had drawn around himself. Nothing could get through the pain or take it away. He sat, his body numb, his mind empty. His soul was full of hurt and a horrible loneliness that he knew would never go away again. No one could ever replace Iolaus.

"Hercules, it's time…" Jason's voice made him twitch and look up at him blankly.

"No," Hercules was surprised by how rusty his voice sounded. "Don't take him away from me, Jason, please?"

Jason crouched, resting his hand on the younger man's shoulder. He looked tired, Hercules noted distantly, and his eyes were probably as red as his own were. "We have to give him the rites…"

"No, not yet."

"You want him to be trapped here? Let us give him the rites and set him free."

"I can't let him go…"

"Don't do this to him, Hercules. Don't do it to yourself," Jason said sadly. "You have to accept it."

"A little longer?"

Jason shook his head at his pleading tone and punched his jaw very lightly. "I'm sorry, but it'll change nothing. It should be done now." He paused and pushed to his feet, clasping Hercules' muscled upper arm and drawing him to his feet. Holding him beside him, he nodded to the others to remove the covers and lift Iolaus gently onto the flower-strewn litter. Archivus tucked his sword under his hands and stepped back, glancing at Hercules.

"I can't…" Hercules half sobbed, half whispered.

Jason inclined his head and Polydeceus stepped in, helping Archivus, Lettus and Talaus lift the litter and carry the litter down the beach to where the pyre stood ready. Nudging Hercules into a walk, Jason followed them through the softly gathering darkness. "We call on you Hades to make our brother welcome. He was young and brave and a warrior," he started the ritual, speaking as clearly as he could through the pain that choked him.

"We call on you, Hades, welcome him. Shelter him. Give him a new home…"

The Argonauts gave the reply.

Hercules shook his head, stopping as he watched his friends lift the litter onto the top of the pyre. He shut out the words, his eyes blurring as one by one the others placed their gifts around the body, whispered their own personal goodbye to their friend and comrade.

He could see the torches burning, catch the scent of sage and other herbs as Jason lifted the one with which he would light the fires.

"Hercules?" Lynceus prompted him gently, giving him a sympathetic look as he nudged him forward.

I am stone. I am empty. I am cold without you. I need you…You’re part of my soul…. The words rang through his mind as he stared at the body, but he couldn't speak them. For all the agony chilling him, he still couldn't believe it. Couldn't feel that he was gone. "Don't leave me alone, Iolaus. Don't leave me…"

The butterfly drifted out of nowhere, fluttering aimlessly, lost in the warm dusk. It touched down on Iolaus' hair, perhaps attracted by the colour of his curls, lingering there before tiptoeing down his forehead, blessing his face with the brilliant iridescent blue of its wings.

Hercules stared at it, remembering the legends of wandering souls contained in a butterfly as it spread its wings and flittered away...

Iolaus' eyelashes fluttered as if at the breath of its wings….

Hercules stared hard, concentrating so hard he shut out everything else.

Jason glanced at him and sighed, seeing the blankness of the younger man's expression. Keeping Hercules sane was going to be a challenge for all of them.

"As we light the fire so let it guide his way…" he intoned the words, plunging the torch deep into the wood.

Iolaus' eyelashes fluttered again and his lips moved a tiny fraction….

Hercules blinked as flames roared up between them.

"No!" Screaming, Hercules lunged forward, plunging into the fire in a wild leap. Flames crackled around his feet, wood crunching as he dived at his friend. Tripping, he landed on top of the hunter, feeling the coolness of his body against his own, the dampness of perspiration that should have been long dried.

"He's gone berserk!" Lettus yelled in panic.

"Get him out of there!" Jason roared. "Put the fire out…" He wasn't going to let Hercules burn himself to ashes with his friend in his pain.

Shoving back up on his knees, Hercules scooped his arms under Iolaus and lifted him. The hunter had never been that heavy anyway, but to the demi-god in his adrenaline spurred strength he weighed nothing at all.

Hercules leaped from the fire, oblivious to the fact that his clothes were smouldering as he stumbled and went to his knees. Dimly he was aware of someone batting out the flames, but his attention was all on Iolaus' pale face.

He had seen movement, hadn't he? He hadn't imagined it in his pain?

Someone, Polydeceus he thought, attempted to tug him away from Iolaus and free the limp body from his arms. Without even looking up, Hercules flung him aside then he focused every bit of his soul on Iolaus and tuned everyone and everything out.

There was nothing. No movement. Nothing.

Feeling a sob threaten to choke him, Hercules very gently laid his friend down on the sand and rested his head on his chest, closing his eyes in pain. I'm sorry, I was wrong, so wrong…

Hercules' eyes shot open and he held his breath, straining all his senses to listen.

"Iolaus!" Seizing his friend by the shoulders, Hercules shook him wildly, the desperate words escaping him in a raw scream. "Wake up, Iolaus! WAKE UP!"

"Hercules, stop it…" Hands caught hold of him and attempted to pull him off. Hercules elbowed them away, hearing the whumpf as someone doubled up behind him.

"Iolaus! Wake up. WAKE UP! I need you!" Shaking him violently, Hercules heard the faint gasp, felt the shudder and knew the second life jarred back into place and Iolaus came back to him. Sucking in a huge shuddering gasp of air, Iolaus' eyes opened and he clutched convulsively at Hercules' wrists, clinging to him weakly as Hercules automatically stopped shaking him and started hugging him instead. Iolaus wasn't focusing, wasn't doing anything except breathing and hanging on to the bigger man, his chin supported by Hercules' broad shoulder.

Standing over them and clutching his abused middle, Jason stared at the blank expression in Iolaus' eyes and shivered, very much afraid of what he was seeing. Hercules was a demi-god, who knew what he might have brought into existence in his anguish.

Iolaus' hands twitched, moving from Hercules' arms to catch at his shoulders then slide around him until he was hugging him back. As he moved, so life flooded back into his eyes and he was suddenly crying. "Please, I'm alive, Herc, don't let them burn me, don't let them, don't let them, don't let them…"

"Ssssh, it's okay, we won't." Jason dropped to his own knees, touching the bright curls, pushing them away from Iolaus' perspiration soaked face and finally taking his wrist to feel his blood beating through him. He could hear his breathing, feel the unsteadiness of his blood beat.

Iolaus hiccuped on a shocked sob, focused on him and then burrowed into Hercules' broad shoulder as Hercules eased back a fraction, holding him rather than crushing him. Hercules' pale blue eyes bored into Jason's own in possessively righteous defiance. "You’re not touching him, Jason," he said flatly as he moved his own hand to pet Iolaus' curls.

Sitting back on his heels and meeting his eyes understandingly, Jason took a deep breath. "Archivus?"

"Yeah?" The bard sounded shaky.

"How much of that Moly did you find?"

"Not much."

"Bring me what you have." As the bard rushed off, Jason looked round at the other Argonauts, seeing the shock and awe and relief in all their faces. "Archivus will show you what Moly looks like. Spread out and find as much of it as you can."

"You think we'll find it here?" Lynceus questioned.

"It grows wherever you find Chaos Energy. It counteracts its effects. Iolaus needs as much of it as we can get down him. Now move it. He needs it now."

Lynceus loped off, heading for Archivus as the bard hurried back to them and directing the others to form foraging parties. Jason turned back to Hercules. He had drawn Iolaus comfortably into his lap and was rocking him, soothing him as Iolaus cried silently in shock.

"He's been poisoned," the captain said flatly.

"You nearly killed him." Hercules' eyes were as cold as flint and every bit as forgiving.

Jason flinched. "Do you think I don't know that now?" he asked bitterly. "But you know I'm right about the Moly. He may be awake now, but we have to keep him awake. Moly is the answer."

Hercules glanced uncertainly down at the top of Iolaus' blond head and nodded slowly.

"If you stand a better chance of finding Moly than the others…" Jason went on.

"I guess…"

Iolaus moaned, winding his fists weakly into Hercules' tear stained jerkin. "Ah, Herc, don't leave me…please?"

Hercules glanced at him, tightened his grip and shot a defiant look at Jason. He wasn't going to leave him for anything. Not even for an entire cohort of Titans marching through.

Jason swore succinctly. "Then I’ll go. Get him back to shelter, keep him warm and get some water into him. I'll be back as soon as I can."

Hercules opened his mouth to argue, but the captain was already gone, racing away into the darkness with the torch he had lit the fires with to meet Archivus. Taking a grateful breath of the sea scented air, Hercules turned to gather Iolaus closer against him as he got to his feet.

"I can walk…" Iolaus protested, pushing feebly at his chest.

"Hush up and put your arms around me," Hercules retorted.

"Are you supposed to talk to me like that?" Iolaus complained wearily even as he complied, too tired to argue about it for long.

"I'm glad I can talk to you at all." Hercules chuckled, burrowed his nose in amongst Iolaus' curls and kissed him with affectionate gratitude on the temple.

"Hercules?!!"

"Now will you be quiet?" Hercules said dryly, hugging him fiercely and amused to find that he had finally found a way to keep Iolaus silent for a while when the hunter obediently closed his mouth and settled for watching him in wary silence as he carried him back up the beach to the ship.

* * *

Seated cross-legged in the sand, Hercules watched Iolaus sleep while Jason finished applying an herbal salve to the last of his scratches.

When they reached the makeshift shelter near the ship, Iolaus had wriggled out of his arms, insistent that he could walk on his own. That proved to be wrong when his knees buckled under him and Hercules had to retrieve him from the sand and carry him back to settle into the blankets. Embarrassed and unhappy, Iolaus had curled up miserably, accepting the water Hercules offered him, but refusing anything to eat. Archivus had prepared a Moly potion from Jason's instructions and between him and Hercules they had managed to firmly but kindly bully the hunter into drinking it.

By the time Jason and the others returned a couple of hours later all Iolaus wanted to do was sleep, but Archivus and Hercules were taking turns to wake him, worried about him slipping back into coma and pressing more of the Moly potion on him every time he woke. The hunter was getting quite inventive with his insults when Jason arrived. He allowed the captain to examine him, downed yet another potion and promptly went back to sleep, much to the alarm of his guardians; especially when Jason refused to allow them to wake him again.

As Jason turned to put away his salve, Hercules twitched forward to touch Iolaus and gently shake him awake. The captain caught his arm before he could disturb him. "No, let him sleep. He's all right."

"But…" Hercules gave him an anguished look.

"You'll only make him angry if you disturb him. He's exhausted. Rest is the best thing for him right now."

Hercules hunched in on himself, watching Iolaus closely until the hunter sighed and turned over in his sleep, stiffly drawing his legs up as he snuggled down in a comfortable ball.

"See?" Jason said mildly, feeling his own surge of relief at the hunter's movement.

Hercules nodded. Pulling his legs up and wrapping his arms around them, he rested his chin on the top as he studied his friend, cataloguing every bruise and scrape to take out of Pericles' hide when they met. "I'm sorry…" he said finally.

Jason jumped, having been thinking how young Hercules looked. "Sorry for what? Iolaus isn't going to blame you for anything."

Hercules turned his head enough to look at the captain. "No, I mean I'm sorry I turned on you. You couldn't know he was alive. I didn't know and I sat there watching him."

Jason shuddered. "Best if you don't think about it," he said firmly, closing up the leather satchel he kept the medical supplies in. "I know I'm doing my best not to."

"I can't help it. I’d heard of such things but I never thought…."

"Hercules, go to sleep. I’ll watch Iolaus. If you'll let me…"

Hercules' eyes widened slightly and he sat up, nodding his agreement. Leaning closely over Iolaus for a long moment simply to reassure himself, he finally crawled over to his own blankets and flopped down amongst them on his stomach with a sigh of weariness. He was instantly asleep, spread out like a starfish on the sand.

With a tired smile of his own, Jason picked up his cup of wine and gave them both a silent toast. Resting his back comfortably against the side of the shelter, he settled down to keep watch for the rest of the night. He could see Argo stirring slightly in the waves, never entirely still but seeming to breathe in the hush of the night.

Iolaus’ soft yip as he sat bolt uptight made Jason jump in alarm and reach for his sword, then release it as he realised the hunter was awake and no monster threatened them. He moved closer, putting his arms around the younger man and giving him a hug.

"Hey, Iolaus, take it easy…"

Iolaus pressed closer to him instinctively, then turned his head to look at him, staring at Jason blankly for a second before recognition seeped in. Jason gave him another squeeze, then let go as Iolaus took a shaky breath. Letting his elbows give under him, Iolaus sank back into his bedding and wrapped his arms around himself with a shiver.

"Bad dream?" Jason asked as he picked up the Moly potion and poured out a fresh cupful.

"Yeah…I was trapped in all this webbing in a cobweb and the cobweb was on fire and the spider was coming for me and I couldn't move and…" Iolaus broke off shakily and looked up at Jason as the captain ruffled his hair. He swore softly and closed his eyes.

"You’re safe now, sunshine. Hercules killed the spider. Every single one of the Argonauts is armed and ready to protect you. There isn't anywhere where you could be safer," Jason assured him, offering him the Moly.

Iolaus stared at it, grimaced but took the cup and swallowed it down reluctantly. "Do I have to drink much more of this?"

"Yes," Jason said firmly, rinsing and refilling the cup with fresh water. "Do you feel up to eating yet?"

"No," Iolaus retorted, accepting the water gratefully.

Jason steadied the cup for him as his hands shook; absently brushing the curls out of his eyes while Iolaus drank. "You'll be fine," he told him steadily. "It was only a bad dream. Only to be expected after what you've been through."

Iolaus looked up at him shyly. "Was I dead?"

Jason froze for a second, then forced a smile. "No, you weren't dead. But we didn't know that…"

"You were going to burn me."

"I know," Jason admitted reluctantly. "Don't you think I've been beating myself up about that?"

"Couldn't you have maybe stabbed me to make sure?"

"Er, if I’d done that you wouldn't be here now…"

"No, but I don't ever want to burn alive….I was so scared…" Iolaus stopped and swallowed, pushing the cup away as he sank onto his back and stared up at the velvet night sky. The stars were huge and brilliant tonight, glittering drops of fresh water on black satin.

"What do you remember?" Jason asked softly.

Iolaus closed his eyes and took a deep breath. "I remember you calling me little brother," he whispered. "Then nothing…mostly. Voices, distant sounds, scents, being touched…" He stopped and swallowed, shivering hard. "You….preparing me…for…" He opened his eyes, gazing up at the captain as he leant over him.

"Be glad I'm not into necrophillia," Jason told him solemnly. "I missed the perfect opportunity to grope you…"

Iolaus stared at him for a long second of stunned disbelief, then his lips twitched into a curve and a giggle burst out of him, followed by an explosion of gleeful laughter that had him curling up in his blankets.

Jason grinned at him in relief, glad to see the barriers shattering. Laughter would be good for him; it would chase away the shadows and bring air and life back into his body faster than anything.

"What? What's going on?" Scrubbing his eyes, Hercules sat up and peered at them groggily.

"It's okay, Hercules," Jason assured him.

"Necrophillia! Hah!" Iolaus gasped out and went off into another burst of giggling.

"Why's he laughing like that?" Hercules asked in bewilderment.

"Better that he's laughing than crying," Jason said in satisfaction.

"But why?" Hercules demanded in exasperation.

"You kind of had to be there," Jason told him.

Iolaus hiccuped, pressing both hands to his mouth as he struggled to control himself. His eyes were shining as he looked up at them. "I never knew you were a pervert, Jase," he giggled.

Jason grinned at him and ruffled his hair with one hand. "You don't know everything about me, little brother," he said deliberately. "Now, go back to sleep before I make you drink some more Moly…"

* * *

Stretched out on the rocks, Iolaus let the sun bake his body in delight. The ice deep chill that seemed to have frozen his soul had finally thawed and he felt much better. Jason seemed to be of the same opinion because he had let the hunter off the leash on his own as long as he stayed in sight. Iolaus had seized the opportunity to take a swim, refusing to be put off by the way Ialmenus stood guard at the edge of the beach; ready to pull him out if necessary.

"Iolaus?"

Reluctantly, Iolaus opened his eyes and put up one hand to shade his face as he made out Archivus standing over him. "Ah no, not again."

Grinning, the bard crouched beside him and offered him a sandwich and a cup.

Iolaus eyed both suspiciously as he sat up. "Let me guess, a Moly sandwich?"

"How'd you guess?"

"I think the only thing I've had over the last couple of days that hasn't had Moly in it was the fish last night." Iolaus grumbled as he waved the sandwich away and took the cup. Sure enough, it was more of Jason's Moly potion.

"You mean you didn't eat the stuffing?" Archivus exclaimed, shocked.

"Oh very funny." Iolaus retorted then shot a plaintive look at him. "How much more of this is there?"

"This is the last of it."

"Jason's said that the last three times. And he's lied."

Archivus grinned. "Put it this way, he hasn't sent me out to get any more and this is the last of the fresh stuff."

"Oh joy," Iolaus muttered as he gulped down the potion and grimaced. "You’d have thought he could find a way to make it taste better by now."

"Then he'd have the rest of the crew wanting to drink it. And this is especially for you."

"I think I can do without the favour."

"You can now anyway," Archivus said soberly.

Iolaus flicked a glance at him and smiled faintly. "Once the nightmares stop, I’ll be fine."

Archivus nodded and patted his shoulder as he settled back to his seat. He took a bite out of the sandwich himself and smiled. "This doesn't taste so bad you know."

"Taste it when it's in one of Jason's brews and you'll change your mind," Iolaus snorted.

The bard laughed. "Maybe. Don't sit out here too long. Lettus has nearly finished lunch."

"No Moly?"

"No Moly. Roast lamb."

"I'll be there." Iolaus promised happily. He watched the bard pick his way back across the blue black rocks, pausing to talk to Jason as the captain came towards them.

Iolaus settled back on his elbows, watching the waves crash onto the rocks in a burst of sea spray while he waited. They were running high and fast after the storm of the night before. They had been forced to beach Argo and take shelter. It had been the first time Iolaus had been inside a cave since Hercules rescued him and he hadn't enjoyed the experience. The fact that the others had made a party of it to distract him didn't take away the fact that he had stayed as close to the entrance as he could get and clung to Hercules for security. He hadn't slept at all and he knew Hercules hadn't either.

Sure enough Jason joined him after a few minutes.

"You going to lecture me for swimming?" Iolaus asked warily.

"I don't think I need to. You seem okay to me." Jason answered as he sat down beside him. They watched the sea in companionable silence for a few moments then Jason took a deep breath. "We still haven't found Pericles."

"I know. Herc told me." Iolaus studied his bare toes thoughtfully. "Do you think I killed him?"

Jason gave him a startled look. "Why would I think that?"

"He's missing."

"If you'd killed him, you’d have said the spider had eaten him."

"I didn't exactly have all my oars in the water at the time. I don't really remember what I said. Maybe I did kill him…"

"Iolaus, you did not kill anyone," Jason interrupted sharply. "Lynceus found his tracks near the village. He recognised the imprint of the way he walks. But we couldn't find him. Castor says one of the sailing boats is missing from the village as well."

Iolaus gestured at the waves and the memory of the storm. "Could have been washed away…"

Jason sighed. "Let it go, Iolaus. We'd have found him by now if we were going too. And we have other things to think about. I want to sail tomorrow."

"Tomorrow?" Iolaus flashed a dismayed look at him.

"You think you can handle being on board Argo?"

"Argo isn't the problem." Iolaus had been aboard the ship that morning and been fine. In the way, but fine. Ascalaphus had chased him out from underfoot in the end with threats of tying him to the mast if he didn't behave himself.

"No, but you know what is. And you know what I think you should do."

Iolaus swallowed and sat up, hugging his knees. "I'm not sure if I can."

"If you don't face it, you’re always going to be afraid."

Iolaus nodded and looked out to sea, breathing deep of the sea scented breeze that tousled his hair. "Are you going to make me go back there?"

"No, not if you can't do it." Jason answered calmly.

"Let me think about it."

Jason nodded and squeezed his shoulder. "Don't think too long. It'll only make it harder…"

* * *

Loping into camp, Hercules slowed to a halt and looked around uneasily, wondering where Iolaus had gotten to. There was no sign of his bright haired partner amongst the Argonauts.

"Don't look so stressed," Lettus commented as he ambled up.

"Where is he?"

"Who? Iolaus? He's fine. He went up to the caves."

"The caves? On his own?"

"Yeah, he wouldn't let me go with him. He said…Hey, Hercules? Wait up! Don't you want lunch?"

Ignoring the red head, Hercules tore back across the beach and into the woods, hurtling through the trees until they were a green brown blur. He slowed when he reached the pool, quartering the ground until he found the way into the caves and then stampeding through the undergrowth.

"Iolaus!" Not bothering to slow down, Hercules belted into the tunnel, skidded around the corner and nearly trampled Iolaus into the ground.

Leaping aside in panic, Iolaus plastered himself against the wall and lifted the torch he held high. "What are you doing, you cretin?!" he yelped. "You want to scare the life out of me?"

"What are you doing coming back in here on your own?! Anything could happen…"

"Jason says you've searched the caves. There are no…monsters left and no sign of Pericles. It should be safe enough."

"Safe enough for me, yeah, but you…you’re…." Hercules broke off, aware of Iolaus' blue eyes boring into him defiantly. "You can't want to do this on your own!"

"No," Iolaus admitted softly. "But then I don't really want to do it at all. I have to though."

"Who says so? Jason?"

"No one's making me do it, except me, Herc," Iolaus told the demi-god steadily. "Why don't you go back and wait for me at the pool?"

"I’ll come with you."

"No, you won't…"

"Iolaus…" Hercules protested.

The hunter patted him lightly on the chest. "You mean well, big guy. But I have to do this on my own. Don't make it any harder."

Hercules gazed down at him for a long moment, then smiled weakly. "Okay. Whatever you want. But if you’re not out in an hour, I'm coming after you."

"I have no intention of being that long," Iolaus assured him. "Go on, scram."

Hercules pursed his lips doubtfully, then nodded. "You be careful."

"I promise," Iolaus said solemnly and set off down the tunnel alone, holding the torch up to see the footing.

To Hercules, he looked very small and very lonely as he gazed after him. Taking a deep breath, he turned away and walked back the way he had come, determined to give his friend the space he needed.

Outside in the fresh air, he walked disconsolately down to the pool, wishing he could do more to help the hunter. He didn't like feeling so helpless.

"Hercules?"

Jason's soft hail made him look up in astonishment to find the captain sitting on the rocks by the water's edge. "How long have you been here?" he exclaimed.

"Long enough. I followed Iolaus."

"And you didn't go in with him?" Hercules growled.

"I would have if he needed me. But he needs to do this alone. Has he gone in deeper yet?"

"Yes…" Hercules slumped down on the rock beside him.

"Then we’ll give him a few minutes and then follow him."

"I said I’d give him an hour."

"If he runs into trouble, he won't last that long. We'll let him get a lead on us. I don't want to be too far away if he can't handle it…"

* * *

It took all Iolaus' courage to walk into The Maw again and lift the torch high to see the stalactites glinting eerily in the flames. Every step he had taken down to the tunnel to bring him closer to this moment had seemed to be harder and harder and take longer and longer until he felt like he was wading through deep water. He was shivering and not entirely with the chill in the air after the heat outside. But he was here. And alone.

Forcing himself to breathe slowly and evenly, Iolaus paced slowly across the cave to the ridge of rock where Pericles had pushed him over. Once he got there he had to stop and fight for control, battling against the urge to run.

Finally he lifted the torch and looked over the edge. Below roared the sea, hungry as ever as it relentlessly beat against the rocks. Strands of charred webbing lay across the gap, burnt remnants flaking off every now and then with a creepy rustle.

Iolaus shuddered and stepped back. "So far so good," he whispered to himself and looked at the torch. There was only one more thing he had to do to prove to himself that he could handle this. Taking out his flint, Iolaus curled his fingers around its coolness and, without giving himself any more time to think about it, doused the torch in the sand at his feet.

Thick darkness closed in around him instantly, making him gasp in fright as the panic- sticken urge to flight welled up again. He forced it down again, quelling the fear until it lay quiet and submissive where it belonged under his control. Realising he had closed his eyes, Iolaus opened them again and stared into the velvety darkness.

No night was ever as complete as the eternal one inside a cave deep within the world. He could almost hear the darkness breathing, feet it like the touch of a friend on his skin. Darkness was a companion, a friend to a hunter, not an enemy…

Iolaus scrabbled at the flint, aware of the faintest of green glows to his right among the rocks. The torch flared to light first time, spilling gold light into the darkness and chasing back the shadows.

A miniature version of the Chaos Spider was sitting on the top of the rocks, its emerald eyes glinting in the light of the torch as it stared up at him. It was easily a foot long, its legs too long for its body as it bobbed up and down. Then it sprang without warning…

Iolaus knew instinctively that it was aiming at his throat and jumped backwards, tripping as a stone turned under his ankle. As he hit the ground, the spider missed its target and skittered around, preparing for another leap.

Without thinking, Iolaus swung the torch in front of him, stabbing at the creature as it sprang. Mistiming its jump, the Chaos Spider leapt into the flames and dropped back with a hiss and squeal. Iolaus lunged after it, jabbing furiously and pinning the creature to the ground until it sizzled. Legs flailed and crackled, chitin bursting as it was toasted and the smell of burning fur and flaring Chaos Energy filled the air.

Revolted, Iolaus crawled backwards, staring at the smouldering remains as they crumbled to ashes. As he watched, the rock under it started to split and give way, tiny hairline fractures widening into gaping cracks through which sparks of green light appeared. Chunks of rock started to heave up as the floor of the cave started to give way.

"Iolaus!" Hercules voice broke Iolaus out of his trance and he rolled over, dragging his eyes away from the crumbling floor. Focusing on Jason and Hercules as they appeared in the cave entrance, Iolaus scrambled to his feet and ran to them, flinging himself bodily at the pair of them.

"It was another Chaos Spider! I killed it!" he yelled, unsure if he was proud of himself or terrified.

Hercules caught him and hugged him tight instinctively even as he peered over the top of his head at the cave floor. A huge slab of rock cracked free and slid over the edge into The Maw, sending cracks splintering through the floor like melting ice.

"I think it would be a very good idea if we got out of here, right now," Jason commented dryly.

Agreeing with him, Hercules grabbed Iolaus and bundled him out of the cave ahead of him, dragging him into a run and aware of Jason pounding along on their heels as they tore down the tunnel. Behind them there was a tremendous roar of sound as the cave floor gave way, weakening the walls as the cracks sped upwards. The first of the stalactites boomed like the tide on the rocks as it fell and shattered, then the ceiling gave way with an earth-shattering torrent of noise.

Hercules didn't stop running until he reached the way out. Lunging out of the entrance, he hauled Iolaus out behind him and sent him on ahead with a shove then turned back to help a panting Jason out.

"I didn't know you…two were so fast…." Jason gasped as he tottered after Iolaus and sank down on the rocks by the pool.

Iolaus knelt at his feet, catching his own ragged breath. "Depends how scared I am…"

Behind them a boom rolled out of the cave and the entire entrance gave way, rocks tumbling down to fill it in as the ground subsided beneath the weight.

Silently the three of them stared at it, shaken by the close call.

"Must have been the Chaos Energy holding it together," Hercules observed finally as he perched on the rock beside Jason and ran his hands through his perspiration damp hair.

"But the Spider…" Iolaus protested faintly.

Hercules glanced down at his friend. "There must have been enough cohesion left for it to start to reform. Once you destroyed it, the whole pattern was shattered and….instant cave in."

"Oh…you could have told me that before."

"I didn't know before. I'm theorising."

"Theorising," Iolaus repeated sardonically, glaring up at him. "I could have been killed!"

"We all could have been killed," Jason corrected.

Iolaus glanced from one to the other of them, then exuberantly sprang to his feet and hugged them both fiercely.

"What was that for?" Jason asked in surprise as the hunter finally released them.

"You came after me. You didn't have to, but thank you anyway." Iolaus smiled at them both, the shine back in his eyes. "I don't think I'm ever going to look at a cobweb the same way again, but at least I know I can do it now."

Sliding to his feet, Jason chuckled and slung an arm around his shoulders, giving the hunter an affectionate hug. Bouncing upright, Hercules draped his arm around him too.

"You could start with playing with little webs and spiders to get used to them," he suggested cheerfully as the three of them started to walk back down hill.

"What?!" Iolaus yelped.

"It was only an idea," Hercules protested.

"You sadist! Let me at him!" Iolaus screamed in mock outrage and lunged as Hercules took off at a sprint.

Jason let go with a grin as Iolaus pulled free and raced after the demi-god. He watched the pair of them tearing down hill, noting that Hercules was holding back to give Iolaus a chance of catching him. The pair of them were laughing in sheer joy at being alive and safe as they chased each other.

A surge of fierce pride in his crew ran through him as he followed. It took courage to face a fear and Jason was glad to see that Iolaus' hadn't failed him. He only hoped that his own courage would stand him in as good a stead when it was time for them to face the dragon and capture the Golden Fleece.