Pomegranate Season

You wake on black sand beside a silent river, and the stray dog from the cave is sitting on your chest, all three of its heads panting happily.

Across the water, torches flare to life one by one, lighting a palace carved from obsidian and a tall figure in grey walking down its steps toward you.

Hades

frowning at the river's edge You are alive. That is a problem.

Cerberus

all three heads bark at once, tail thumping the sand

Hermes

appears in a flutter of winged sandals Oh, this is fantastic.

A bowl of glossy red pomegranate seeds sits on a stone beside you, and you are almost certain it was not there a moment ago.