Athena and Friends (Book 1)

Odysseus took us, the men of Ithaca, to war with the Trojans. The war is over nothing but a woman, Helen of Troy. None of us were eager to go on this journey but we followed our king none the less. Luckily Athena, the goddess of war helped us on our victory. Also Poseidon, god the sea, helped us to trick the Trojans and stopped any one from spoiling our plans. We tricked them into thinking we had surrendered and left a wooden horse as our gift. But actually snuck into the city and slaughtered them all. It was a clever trick by Odysseus, we all knew he was full of guile but is also faulted in his hubris.

The gods did not only help Odysseus he helped me as well. Leonidas, a man I had become friends with, and I prayed to the Hephaestus so our weapons would be strong in what would hopefully be our last battle and to Zeus for all the other luck we would need to survive. We sacrificed our food to the gods and they heard our call for help. Leonidas told me how he'd been fighting three men at once and how his sword did extraordinary things. Similar things happened to me and the morning before battle I found an arrow, I didn't know where it had come from but I used it to save my life. I loved the gods more than ever in that moment.

Captured by the Cyclopes (Book 9)

We finally got away from Calypso's island, good thing that didn't take seven years! We really didn't do much, I think Odysseus had more fun than any of us. Then we got to the Island of the Lotus Eaters. The lotus looked delicious and despite what Odysseus said I was tempted to try it. Luckily I didn't because those who did lost all hope to return to Ithaca. Odysseus was able to tie them to our ship and we all escaped the terrible fate, but just barely.

We hit storms and washed up on a mysterious island. We were hungry and desperate needing a plan. Odysseus as our captain was smart to look for livestock somewhere on the island. But of course, he made his bad decisions too. We came to a cave, an eerie feeling washed over me knowing we shouldn't be here and whoever inhabited this cave was a danger to us. I knew the other felt the same way by the looks that crossed their faces as we walked up to the cave. But as any good soldier should we followed our captain.

We waited in the cave for many hours and were able to fill our stomachs for the first time in a while. But soon night came and I was becoming tired and absent minded. Many things were happening amongst the other men. What I did notice was a loud thumping in the distant, I could not guess what it may be but fear washed through me. For what if this creature was vicious and cruel I thought to myself.

It was only a few minutes more until the monster arrived in the door way. It towered over us and stared with it one giant eye. I gasped when I noticed it, hideous and dirty and an overpowering smell. My first reaction, like all the others', was to hide and at least attempted to avoid the fury of this cyclops. It spotted us all the same, even if it only had one eye that eye worked well. He slammed a bolder in front of the door and I knew no one would be able to open the door. We felt trapped and helpless, unsure of what we should do next.

The horror really began when he swept up my friend, Leonidas, a man I'd fought beside through all the hardships of war and he had survived this long only to be seen shoved into the grotesque mouth of a savage cyclops. I held back my scream as he reached for another. I watched them being squished between his rotted teeth and looked to Odysseus for advice or help or anything, but he too was in shock.

We spent three more nights there and I watched as others died grieving for the lost but also fearing the fate I was sure I would face. To my surprise Odysseus had us carve a giant spear out of log. I wasn't sure what use it could be, maybe he hoped to pry the door open. I knew that wouldn't work but to occupy my mind I helped carve. I couldn't stand waiting until the cyclopes returned.

The plan was morphing, I could see his guile was showing through and I thanked the gods he was gifted with such cleverness. He told the cyclops his name was Nohbdy and at first I was quite confused but then he started tempting him with a delicious wine. If I'd been him I know I would have taken that fine wine and be drunk in no time. And he was and I rejoicing following the orders of my genius captain.

I waited with anticipation for the night to come and when it finally did the cyclops was fast asleep, like a baby. He signaled for us to grab the carved spear and we quietly approached the cyclops. With all out force we jammed into his single disgusting eye! He screamed and swung his arm around but we were all prepared for his and moved out of the way. The others must of heard his agonizing screams and came to see the problem. They called in asking what was wrong. And for a second my heart stopped and I doubted my captains plans. But the cyclops boomed "Nohbdy's tricked me! Nodbdy's ruined me!" and I smiled. We would escape. I was sure.

I held back a laugh when heard them saying "Ah well if nobody had played you foul.." And i was gleeful right up into the morning. But that's when a new trouble was in our way but I trusted Odysseus more than ever before. We held on to the belly of the sheep which he would let out and we would run back to the ship and leave this island once and for all. The plan worked and nothing was standing in our way but then Odysseus called to the cyclops and told him the truth. I wished he would stop, we were safe now and it had all ended. But then the cyclops cursed us, screaming that he was the son of Poseidon and Odysseus would fail to bring us home to Ithaca.