Ah, there was the fighting spark she'd been searching for. Tragos may not have had any use for metaphor, but he had a sharp eye and he refused to let himself be cowed. Athena appreciated such things, so she offered him an honest answer in return.
"It would have to be a stiff gale. A war between Ares and Apollo would have a terrible toll. Dozens of mortals would suffer for it. Many would die. But," she let the word hang in the air for a brief moment, "if circumstances were to change, and I judged it the lesser evil, then yes, I would throw today's truce to the wind. War is under my patronage, just as it is Ares'."