The blissful black beckoned him, and he finally understood how tired he was. His feet ached, his joints crackled, and his head – oh, his headache was ruling everything right now – his eyesight, the rising bile and nausea, the ringing in his ears. Tychon – it seems like it was Tychon, but he had barely opened his eyes to check before the light assaulted his senses – was in a rush, and he did the best he could to support Jason's flailing limbs as they trekked through the forest – where, why, or even how, Jason could barely comprehend. He tried to focus on putting one foot in front of the other, but the blackness kept beckoning.

He barely heard Pythagoras shout, and suddenly, he was supported by two sides instead of just one. That seemed better to pass out with, and after a few paces, he let his head loll back, and the darkness rushed in.

Smells came back to Jason first. The burning smell of the fire, the mustiness of Tychon's wrap, and the damp ground he was laying on. His limbs were still screaming with exhaustion, and everything was foggy. In his brain echoed the last thing he remembered hearing – Ariadne screaming his name – and everything seized up as he blinked open his eyes and tried to sit up, thinking – hoping – she would be right there.

"Ariadne" – his voice croaked, and sounded harsher in his ears as it echoed throughout his skull. Tychon and Pythagoras were by his head in an instant, concern written on their faces. Pythagoras bit his lip as Tychon decided to break the news sooner rather than later: "They have taken her; there is nothing you could have done".

Jason's muscles seized up even more as he tried to sit up, trying to put words in the proper order – "No, no, we must go after her, no, no…" Black spots danced in front of his vision, inviting him back into their dark lair. Jason got one foot on the ground before the fogginess finally won out, Pythagoras soothing him back down, "Rest, Jason. You need to rest." Tychon put a hand on his breastplate, and it felt familiar, soothing, even. His breaths came out in short gasps as he battled the black dots for a moment, Pythagoras feeling his forehead for fever, simply repeating, "rest" in soothing tones.

When Jason awoke for the second time, his brain was still really foggy. He knew Ariadne had been taken, and knew that he felt hopeless, but he couldn't figure out how to change that. Why mess with the Fates, when they had been decided?

Pythagoras noticed his drooping head and owlish blinking eyes. He passed a cup that had been sitting by the fire, and the warmth traveled down Jason's spine, activating his senses again. It had seemed as though Tychon and Hercules were bedded down for the night, and Jason was glad for the calm as he tried to work everything out. Pythagoras skirted behind him, allowing him to prop himself up – the black dots were behaving themselves now it seemed, and staying in the shadows of his vision.

Pythagoras had been patiently waiting for him to break the silence, which he did with a sigh as he finally got situated, mildly propped up with the hot cup of – he wrinkled his nose – what was in here, anyway? He bit back a groan as he took a sip, and an acrid, nutty taste filled his mouth.

Pythagoras smiled in sympathy. "It's an infusion of some nuts, dates, berries, and ginger that we could find around the trail. It should help with that feeling of fogginess that you have right now, though it won't replace rest. Jason blinked tiredly. "Thank you" he murmured, taken aback by how much his speech was still slurring. It didn't go unnoticed by Pythagoras either, who simply urged him to take as many small sips as he could, and who caught the cup after Jason fell asleep again, almost mid-sip.

The sun rose quickly through the trees the next morning, and the gentle birdsong of the forest woke Jason up. He still didn't feel 100%, but he felt better, more focused. He joined the group for breakfast, eating the small berries and fruit passed out. Tychon kept throwing glances his way, and he felt embarrassed, ashamed even – he was the only one who was knocked out, the one who wanted to protect Ariadne the most, and the one who spent half the night rambling and sleeping like the town drunk.

After a quick consensus through some pointed glances, they packed up their kit and made to move east. According to Tychon, they would be able to make it back to Atlantis before sundown. In Jason's mind, it was prudent to get there as soon as possible to figure out what Pasiphae was up to, then rescue Ariadne again. He was willing to rescue her for as many times as it took, even if it resulted in his path sewn in metal bars alongside hers.

Jason was more prepared for Tychon's abrupt stop in the forest after almost running into him when he stopped so quickly in the caves the day before. He looked uneasy at bidding them farewell: "I wish you a speedy journey, and a quick recovery" he said in his lilt, the sun bringing out sparks of regret in his eyes. "I must return to my people now". He turned, and with a swish of material, was gone as quickly as he had appeared.

Hercules looked at the spot where he had disappeared from. "Lepers," he grunted, "so quick, can you really trust them?" Jason and Pythagoras shared an amused look as they started the long journey back home.