This drew a small glimmer of interest to Athena's eyes. "Not all demigods, no," she said. "But you are a daughter of Ares. His power lies in the red mist of battle and the clash of arms. It does not surprise me that, when your life was threatened, you found that same warrior's spirit. I suppose you could think of it as a defence mechanism."
Or perhaps, she mused, it had nothing to do with Ares at all. Gods were self-centred creatures by nature; they had a tendency to claim credit for every remarkable quality in their offspring, to blame every weakness on the mortal bloodline. But Marcie had amply proven her determination and courage already, and in a life-or-death situation, with adrenaline surging, many mortals found themselves capable of pushing far past their physical limitations.
It was an intriguing question. It bothered her that it was now likely to go forever unanswered.