Chapter 4
Thalia's POV
About 30 minutes later we arrived in Washington D.C. We had Christi tell the Pegasi to find a place to hide and rest. Then we walked to a coffee shop and grabbed a map. "Oh that's great, we have to go all the way across town to get to The Battlefield." I said. "But what about the Pegasi, if we take them around town, they won't be seen as Pegasi, but people aren't aloud to ride horses in the streets." Hunter asked. Then Christi gasped "I've got the perfect idea! We dress ourselves and the horses up as policemen!" She said. Then Hunter said "it's a great idea Chris, but where are we gonna get police costumes?". We thought for a minute. Then I looked out the window and saw a costume shop across the street. "Guys, I think I know how we can get the costumes" I said. (Five minutes later) We walked out of the costume shop wearing the police outfits and walked to the alley where the Pegasi were hiding. When we got there we groomed and fed them and disguised the Pegasi's armor. Then we mounted the Pegasi and walked out on the sidewalk. Everyone thought we were real police officers so far.
I started to get the feeling something was wrong. "Guys, I think something's watching us" I said nervously. Then Christi said " W-what do you mean?" Then I saw it. "It's a manticore! Ready your weapons!" I yelled. Then it leaped out of nowhere. It scared the Pegasi and they threw us off, and they flew up so they would be safe, but stayed near us. Then the monster tried to attack Christi. Then I took charge and said "Christi, you distract him!" Then she screamed "Does it look like I have a choice?!" She blocked the manticore's strikes with her club. "Hunter, you shoot at its head and stinger!" I yelled, hoping my plan would work.
The beast started closing in on Christi. Then, when the manticore was about to strike, Hunter shot an arrow at the monster's stinger, pinning it to the ground. Then I took my sword an cut off the stinger, making the monster lose its hair, turn to stone and crumble into nothing. "We did it!" Christi cheered. Then the Pegasi flew back down and whinnied. "Aw, we forgive you!" Christi said to the Pegasi. "Translation: we're sorry" Christi added. Then we each cuddled our Pegasi and gave them kisses. "Now we better get to the Civil War Battlefield before sundown, that's when a lot of monsters come out" Hunter said.
The rest of the way there was quiet. We reached the Battlegrounds by sundown, and easily found the hunters' temporary camp. I told Annabeth what happened the night the fleece and Percy were stolen. At the end of the story, Annabeth looked like she was thinking of something. "Well, it was either someone who's holding a grudge, or someone who needed it but stole it because they are evil. Either way the camp is in danger" she said. "Anyway, why would Chiron send you three to do something so important?" she added. "Well someone's grumpy" Hunter said. Christi and I cracked up a bit. "Ha-ha very funny" Annabeth said sarcastically. "So anyway, how are we supposed to track the fleece?" I asked. Then Christi gasped and said "I remember something about the thief! Whoever it was had short black hair". We all thought for a minute. "What if it's Alabaster, Hecate's son?" I asked. "But what does he have against you?" Hunter asked. Then I said "good point". We thought harder. "What if it's Leo, he's probably trying to get Hunter's attention?" Christi said. "Trust me, if he was trying to get my attention, he would build a machine to bring me chocolates and flowers" Hunter said. "What if we have Christi contact, P-Percy through the water?" Annabeth asked. "Y'know, that actually could work" Christi said. "Okay, you'll leave for the reflection pond in the morning, and I made sure your Pegasi are safe" Annabeth said, glad that we were gonna leave tomorrow. Then she directed us to our tent, and we went to bed. "Um, Thalia, you awake?" Christi asked me. "Yea, what's the problem?" I asked. Then she sighed. "I can't sleep, I'm really worried about Percy and the Golden Fleece" she said sadly. Then I thought for a moment. "How about I sing you that song that I use to sing to Jason when he was little?" I replied. "Yes, thanks Thalia" she said. "Okay, here goes… constant as the stars above, always know that you are loved, and my love shining in you, will have your dreams, come true" I finished. And with that she was asleep, and we had a big day ahead of us.