Athena would ask her big sister how she wanted her to act, but . . . but that didn’t feel right either. Big Sister Emily was the best, the greatest person ever, and no doubt a Villain who would terrify the world, but Athena . . . Athena wanted to make Emily proud for who Athena was.

So she’d find out. She’d learn how to be the best Athena there was, and Big Sister Emily, who was the best, would accept her with open arms, and hugs, and pats on the head. Unless new-Athena wasn’t into that (which sounded highly doubtful).

Her current plan didn’t have much to do with finding herself, though. No, Big Sister Emily had given her a mission! A sort of optional mission, if Athena was reading her correctly. She wanted Athena to be there when the Heroes went out and about, as backup.

Searching online had revealed that a bunch of people thought maybe the Heroes would be going around that afternoon. But then a leak came out that it would be tomorrow instead, so people were doubting it. Athena knew better, though.

All she needed to do was get to the center of the city, then follow after the Heroes. There would probably be a crowd, and even if there wasn’t, she could just make everyone around her more suspicious than she was to the eyes of the Heroes.

Simplicity itself.

A plan so simple couldn’t fail, of course. That’s why Athena grew increasingly confused as she kept walking through the city at a nice, brisk pace, without ever actually seeing the center of the city.

In fact, the houses and shops she was passing looked increasingly dilapidated, and she was beginning to have the impression she might, maybe, have perhaps gotten herself a tiny bit lost.

But that wasn’t possible. She was an owl! A mighty predator of the air! Able to hunt down even the smallest rat through feet of snow!

She swallowed and looked around. Her feet were getting tired, and her legs were achy. There were some people on the street, but they looked rather intimidating to approach.

Athena didn’t want to give up, not so soon after leaving.

She considered going back, and then she came to a terrible realization.

She had no idea which way her home was.

Balling her hands into fists, Athena continued onward. Eventually, she reasoned, she’d find the middle of the city. All she had to do was keep moving. Maybe she could find a phone to call Emily with?

But then Emily would cancel all her plans, and she’d be really disappointed in Athena, and she’d think Athena was dumb. That was not an option.