Deukalion said, "My mother and their father were both offspring of the Ocean God, and for this reason they treated me with great kindness, giving me some game before I parted. The sons of the river god attend their lord and often appear in the deep forests; your mother's love will surely move them, and even if they have not seen your son, they will know from the gods of the underworld whether your lost son is still alive."
Pandora and her daughter jumped up excitedly, cheering and hugging the old woman, not seeing the twitching of her lips.
Pandora warmly invited the old woman to stay the night at their home. Deukalion's hunting spoils became the main dish for the evening, and cheese and fruit were laid on the table. The kind family warmly hosted the old woman for dinner.
The old woman drank a cup of wine brewed by Pandora and revealed her true form as a goddess before them.
"I am the goddess who brings winter," said Deukalion. "You will escape misfortune because of your kindness, but your neighbors will be punished for their indifference. Son of the sea nymph Pronoia, quickly build a sturdy ship and preserve the spark of life for this world."
After the goddess spoke, she transformed into light and departed, leaving the family in fear and unease.
When Epimetheus returned home, he also heard the news from his wife. The one who knew the past had already received some veiled hints from his brother Prometheus, and the goddess's words made him feel that something ominous was about to happen.
The next day, Epimetheus and Deukalion began building the ark. Pandora and her daughter firmly supported their husbands, going to the forest every day to bring them food.
At this time, the earth was fertile, and humans were not troubled by illness or hardship. The neighbors could not understand why this family was making themselves so busy. They were busy arguing and indulging, secretly making a mockery of this family.
Epimetheus and Deukalion were not mortals. With their hard work, the ark soon took shape. However, another problem arose, leaving the father-in-law and son-in-law in a dilemma; with sturdiness in mind, the ark was built incredibly strong, and with the strength of Epimetheus and Deukalion, it could not be moved. The one who knew the past also discovered that with the ark's own weight, it could not float on the water. The ark became a useless cage, which made the neighbors who were watching the spectacle even more brazen.
Even with Epimetheus's authority to know all past events, he could not find a solution to this problem. Deukalion had no choice but to go to the spring to ask for his mother's help.
The sea nymph Pronoia responded to her son's call. The dark-haired ocean goddess emerged from the tranquil water and gently embraced Deukalion.
"My dear son, what makes you call me so sorrowfully?"
Deukalion recounted the winter goddess's warning and the predicament they were facing. The intelligent ocean goddess immediately thought of a solution.
"Do not grieve, my child," the nymph Pronoia comforted her son and recounted a past event.
"My sister, Tychē, the leader of the Oceanids, once built a chariot for her youngest son in a submarine volcano. This chariot was blessed by all the sea gods and could travel freely on the water; Zeus, the chariot's owner, lost it in his battle with Typhon. As long as that chariot is found, any ship, no matter how large, can float on the water like a leaf."
Deukalion eagerly asked his mother about the chariot's whereabouts, but Pronoia shook her head helplessly. "I only know that this chariot is hidden somewhere in the earth. That battle was too terrifying, and we all went to the embrace of the Oceanus, the river that encircles the world, and the sea goddess to take shelter."
"However, I know which deity can find this chariot."
At her son's repeated urging, Pronoia said, "The wind god who roars across the land must know the chariot's whereabouts. He is Tychē's eldest son, Zeus's elder brother, and the brightest star in the north is his symbol. However, the free-spirited wind god has been unheard of for a long time. The sons of the river god, your cousins, serve this lord, and they will take you to Kannas."
Joyful, Deukalion bid farewell to his mother and returned to the forest to find the sons of the river god whom he had parted with not long ago.
Following the tracks of horses and wolves, Deukalion walked from day to night and finally found his cousins in a forest clearing. By the campfire, the sons of the river god were gathered around a brown-haired deity. A gentle breeze rustled the treetops, bringing Deukalion's call to the resting gods.
The wolves stood up, baring their fangs at the uninvited guest. The sons of the river god quickly restrained the wolves that were about to pounce and reported the visitor's identity to their lord.
The winged Pegasus, drinking by the lake, fluttered its wings and approached Deukalion, curiously sniffing the hunter for a familiar scent. The god of disaster looked at Deukalion with some surprise, his pale eyes filled with amusement.
"Descendant of Okeanos, do not be reserved. Our mothers are sisters of the same origin, and you are welcome to join us in sharing this joy."
The sons of the river god offered Deukalion a portion of roasted meat, and they enjoyed the day's harvest together.
Berries from the bushes and clear spring water were the best accompaniments. Deukalion was flustered, and amidst the good-natured laughter of his cousins, he sat on the ground and enjoyed a sumptuous feast with the gods.
"This is the reward you deserve," Kannas said, leaning against the recumbent wolves. "You generously shared your food with an old woman; such a good deed should be rewarded."
"Tell me, Deukalion. Why did you pursue my tracks through the thorns?"
Deukalion hesitated for a moment and then said, "Please forgive my presumption, but I wish to find the chariot lost by the King of the Gods. It was blessed by the gods of the sea and will never be harmed by the ocean."
"I swear to you, I do not intend to claim it for myself. If the King of the Gods punishes me for this, I am willing to bear it alone and will not implicate anyone."
The god of disaster did not become angry as Deukalion expected. On the contrary, he seemed to recall something that made him happy and said kindly, "My brother, the mighty god of thunder, will not punish you for this. He has not yet repaid you for your generosity."
Saying this, Kannas took out a bow with a budding sprout from behind him and shot an arrow into the distance. The arrow, trailing a rainbow-like arc, landed on a distant mountain peak, pierced a large rock, and disappeared.
Kannas pointed to the arc of light in the sky and said, "Good-hearted Deukalion, follow the trajectory of the arrow and retrieve the chariot."
Deukalion sincerely expressed his gratitude to Kannas and set off to find the chariot, taking with him the food gifted by his cousins.