I do not own Percy Jackson or any of the characters.


Chariots

The next few days are long. Tantalus quickly proves to be grueling to deal with, especially since he refuses to allow border patrol to continue, so I choose to remain on the border with my bow and magic backpack, seated beside Thalia's tree in silence. Will signed me up as his chariot partner, and then offered to take Charles' chores to have Charles help build us a chariot once his own is finished. I trust them both. I don't need to help, and they understand that. I'm doing a more important job than giving Tantalus what he wants. I'm protecting the camp.

The few times I see Percy, I try to make him understand that he doesn't need to be ashamed of having Tyson as a half-brother. There's no reason to. Tyson's young, but he's not a bad brother. There are a few of my own siblings, actually more than a few, that I'd rather not be related to. But, Percy still feels ashamed, and I still remain on guard all day every day, not leaving the barrier, whatever's left of it, except to eat and to sleep four hours a night. Some of the other campers cycle through guard with me, keeping the job up despite Tantalus telling us not to, but They split their time with the other activities and preparing for the races.

The last night before the race, I sleep for about seven hours. And I have a very vivid dream. I'm sailing across the ocean. And then I'm fighting something, though I can't see what. And then, there's a girl. She's got shoulder-length, spikey black hair, electric blue eyes, and a splash of freckles across the bridge of her nose. And then I'm awake. I roll out of bed, barely feeling rested at all, and head to the track. It's new, paved by the one bull that can still move, which apparently became completely tame once its head was crushed in, and is a massive oval between the archery range and the woods. We all gather before the stone stands as Tantalus tells us the rules. Weapons are fine, dirty tricks are fine, two horses per chariot, twice around to finish, and no killing, or else all s'mores privileges would be revoked.

"You ready for this?" Will asks as we climb into our chariot and I sling my quiver of trick arrows.

"Not really, but what's the worst that could happen?" I ask, then reconsider. "Actually, never mind. I take that back." I reach back, feeling the arrows. I've got five boxing glove arrows, two tasers, three instant cement, and three stink bombs. After that, I'll be down to my endless supply of pointy, poisonous arrows.

I glance down at our chariot. It's got bronze plating, a few extras, courtesy of Charles, and we had a pair of work horses to pull us. They wouldn't be fast like some of the others, but they could pull our chariot's weight easily. Plus, there was less of a chance of me having to put them down from a broken bone. I glance at the other chariots. Percy and Tyson are in a blue one with wave designs. Clarisse is in a blood red one and armed with javelins, spiked ball-and-chains, caltrops, and a long list of other goodies. Charles is in a fully bronze one with a pair of mechanical horses. The Hermes chariot looked like it may have been used in the last races, given the aged look, and didn't look too special, but was manned by the Travis and Connor Stoll, the new heads of the Hermes Cabin, now that Luke was gone.

Will pulls us up between the silver Athena chariot and Charles' chariot. Annabeth smirks at us from her chariot just as Percy walks over. We all turn to him as he describes a dream. One in which Grover's in a wedding dress, claims to have made an empathy link with Percy, and says that something filled with Nature Magic is in the Sea of Monsters, guarded by a cyclops by the name of Polyphemus.

"You're trying to distract me," Annabeth says.

"What? No I'm not!" Percy scoffs.

"Oh right!" Annabeth snorts. "Like Grover would just happen to stumble across the one thing that could save the camp."

"The what?" I ask. "How? What do we do?"

"Forget it," Annabeth says.

"Annabeth, I'm not making this up," Percy says. "He's in trouble."

"Percy, an empathy link is so hard to do," Annabeth says. "I mean, it's more likely that you really were dreaming."

"We could ask the Oracle," Percy says.

Annabeth falls silent. She knows how deeply disturbed by the oracle Percy was after the last time he visited it. I only knew because I overheard them talking about it. Personally, I didn't have many nightmares about it. Only one or two. But they were usually washed out by the torture, which I still dream of sometimes.

"Annabeth, how do we save the camp?" I ask. "What do we need to find?"

Just then, the conch horn sounds and Annabeth sighs.

"We'll talk later," Annabeth says. "After I win."

"Charioteers, to your marks!" Tantalus calls out.

I hear a piercing screech, seeing Percy staring at something, and turn to look, staring at the hundreds of large, grey and white pigeons filling the trees. But something seems off about them. Their beaks are shiny, and their eyes catch the light. I turn back to the front as the race begins. I take the initiative instantly, placing an instant cement arrow on the center of the Hermes cabin's wheel, flipping it without hurting the Stoll brothers, then do the same for the Hermes chariot. I look around in time to slash a spiked ball away from our wheel, returning fire with a boxing glove arrow, missing Clarisse's driver but hitting the driver of the Aphrodite chariot, sending them crashing into the Demeter chariot.

"How'd you miss?" Will asks.

"Boxing Glove arrows fly weird," I say.

Then, I look back at the trees to see the birds rising. I squint, watching the birds begin to spiral into a tornado. They're not normal. I draw a pointed arrow and send it into the tornado. Two birds explode into dust. I swear. They're monsters. The birds seem to be jarred into action by the arrow, because they flood outward instantly, toward the track. I fire several more arrows, but there's no way I can kill them all. There are hundreds. within seconds they reach the track and people begin to scream as the birds swarm. I slash anything I can with my bow, but the birds are everywhere. The peck and claw at us, and claw at our bodies, attacking the horses. However, the Ares chariot is being pulled by skeletal horses that are ignoring the birds, and unlike the Hephaestus chariot, which crashed through the strawberry field from the birds distracting the driver, Clarisse and the other Ares kid have a camouflage net over them to hold the birds out. Will finally stops, grabbing a pair of knives and jumping out of the chariot, beginning to slash the birds around himself, me doing the same with my bow and a knife from inside the chariot. And I could tell more birds had arrived. And more would still, probably.

Finally I shout in annoyance, putting my knife away just as Annabeth and Percy's chariots pass me toward the stands. I follow, leaving Will behind. However, it's hard to slash and steer together, and the closer to the stands I get, the thicker the birds become. However, as soon as we reach the stands, Annabeth jumps to Percy's chariot and they ride away. I jump out of my own, rolling to a stop and allowing my chariot to draw some of the birds away, however briefly. Then, I grab a handful of arrows and aim up into the air, releasing the arrows and allowing them to fly up through the birds, killing a dozen each before stabbing into the ground around me. Before I can do it again, Will reaches me, apparently believing I fell over, and pulls me up. I try not to get annoyed, and continue slashing, both of us covering opposite sides.

Finally, as I'm beginning to struggle to slash my bow anymore, music begins to play. The god awful eighties music that Chiron loved to listen to while he was still here. The birds lose their minds, crashing into each other, breaking their necks, before they all take off. Instantly, Annabeth calls for archers and me and my siblings begin to fire, most of us firing five or six arrows at a time. Birds begin to burst into dust and fall rapidly, and before long, whatever's left getting out of range quickly. Finally, I sigh, lowering my bow and inspect my injuries. I'm covered in cuts and gashes, though the spectators fared worse.

"Well done!" Tantalus exclaims, rushing forward and awarding the gold laurels to Clarisse, who finished the race while we were dealing with the birds.

I glare at him. I fucking hate him. And so won't everyone else.

"Now, to punish the troublemakers who disrupted the race," Tantalus says, turning on Percy and Annabeth."

"The birds already left," I say. "There are no troublemakers left."

"Not true," Tantalus says. "You see, the birds only attacked because of Percy, Annabeth, and the monster's horrible racing."

"What?" Percy gaped.

"Excuse me?" Annabeth asked.

"What kind of bullshit nonsense is that!?" I snap. "They don't control monsters! The reason we were attacked is that you ordered us to stop protecting the camp's borders! Hell, even more than that, we shouldn't be protecting the campo! We should be looking for a way to save it!"

"And what do you suggest we do to save it?" Tantalus asks.

"Uh...well..." I stare at the ground in silence.

"That's what I thought," Tantalus says. "Now, I feel like celebrating Brave Clarisse's incredible victory in the race. Tonight we feast! And the troublemakers that ruined the race," he looks back at Percy and the others, "will be cleaning the dishes with the Harpies after."

We all quietly get healed by the rest of the Apollo cabin, since I'm too shy to sing to heal anyone, then go about our usual routines until dinner, meaning I go to Half-Blood Hill to guard the border. After dinner, we head to the camp fire and I go as well, feeling like I should be there. After about thirty minutes, Percy, Annabeth, and Tyson all show up, apparently having finished with their dishes.

"Annabeth, please tell me there's a way to save the camp," I say. "Anything."

"There is," Annabeth nods. "The Golden Fleece. Grover may have found it in the Sea of Monsters. If we can get it and bring it back, it can heal Thalia's tree and will strengthen the border as well."

"Then what are we waiting for?" I ask. "Let's go right now."

"No," Annabeth says. "We have to get a quest. We're going to ask Tantalus for permission in front of everyone, that way they'll pressure him into it."

"Good," I nod. "Let's hurry. We can't have long left."

Annabeth nods and we wait until the last of the songs end and Tantalus turns to try and speak.

"Well, that was lovely," Tantalus says, trying to grab a marshmallow he's just finished roasting, only for it to fly off the stick into the fire. "Now, some updates to the camp schedule."

"Sir," Percy interrupts, standing with Annabeth.

"Our dish boy has something to say," Tantalus taunts, a few members of the Ares cabin snickering.

"We have an idea to save the camp," Percy pushes on, glancing at Annabeth.

The entire area flares bright yellow, the flame magical to change heat, color, and size with the mood of the crowd, previously having been the color of lint and barely five feet.

"Indeed," Tantalus says. "Well, if it has anything to do with chariots-"

"The Golden Fleece," Percy interrupts. "We know where it is."

The flames flare orange instantly and Percy instantly launches into describing a dream about Grover and Polyphemus, the worst cyclops alive. However, I can tell the campers are losing interest. Annabeth steps in as the flames start to shrink and reminds everyone what the fleece can do, getting the flames to grow back up a bit.

"The fleece can save the camp," Annabeth says. "I'm certain of it!"

"Nonsense," Tantalus says. "We don't need saving."

Everyone stares at him like he's stupid, which he is, and he grows uncomfortable quickly.

"Uh, besides, the Sea of Monsters?" Tantalus continues. "That's hardly an exact location. You wouldn't even need to look."

"Yes I would," Percy says, Annabeth whispering something to him, Percy nodding. "Thirty, thirty one, seventy five, twelve."

"Ooookay," Tantalus says. "Thank you for sharing those meaningless numbers."

"They're sailing coordinates," Percy says. "Latitude and Longitude. I...uh...learned about it in Social Studies."

"Thirty degrees thirty one minutes north, seventy five degrees twelve minutes west. He's right! The Gray Sisters gave us those coordinates. That'd be somewhere in the Atlantic, off the coast of Florida. The Sea of Monsters. We need a quest!"

"I volunteer!" I say instantly, standing. "I'll retrieve the fleece."

"Hardly!" Tantalus snorts. "You may be a good shot with that fancy bow of yours, but if I recall correctly, your last quest was pretty far from a success. If I recall correctly, the word torture came up, didn't it? I believe I recall you being no help at all on that quest."

"That's not true!" Annabeth snapped. "He was a great help! He was tortured because he sacrificed himself so that we could continue our quest!"

"No, I think we'll give the quest to someone a bit more trust worthy," Tantalus says. "Someone who proved themselves resourceful in the chariot race and instrumental in the defense of the camp. You shall lead the quest, Clarisse."

Ares' cabin began to cheer and stomp their feet, chanting her name. I glance at her and she give me a knowing and. shockingly, sympathetic look, before standing.

"I accept the quest!" Clarisse says.

"Wait!" Percy says. "Grover's my friend! The dream came to me!"

"Sit down!" An Ares cabin member shouts. "You had your chance last summer!"

"He just wants to be in the spotlight again!" someone else shouts.

Percy looks to me and I shake my head. He sighs, sitting down and I look back to Clarisse, who glances at me again, nodding slightly. I smile. Maybe I can convince her to take me. Annabeth begins to argue for Percy to be allowed to go, but the Ares cabin argue against her. Athena's cabin joins Annabeth. Then other cabins begin to join in on both sides. Finally I stand, extending my bow and driving it into the stone seat beside my foot with a deafening crack, impressing myself as I actually embed it in the stone.

"That's enough!" I say. "We shouldn't be arguing about this! We're not doing this for fame, or for popularity! We're doing this for the camp! Clarisse was chosen to take the quest, so she'll take it! And if she'll allow me, I'll be joining her."

"Yes," Clarisse nods. "Your skills with a bow will come in handy."

"Thank you," I nod, looking to Percy, willing him to let this go so I can tell him my plan later. "This isn't your quest, Percy. Let us handle this."

Percy sighs and nods, sitting down, the rest of the campers falling silent, also sitting down. Clarisse quickly leaves, heading for the Big House. As she does, Tantalus stands, turning to us.

"Now, allow me to make this clear," Tantalus says. "Anyone who leaves the camp without permission, assuming they survive the attempt, will be expelled forever. They will, never be allowed to return. However, it won't come to that. The Harpies will be enforcing curfew from now on, and they are always hungry."

Everyone remains silent and Tantalus waves his hand, the fire going out on the spot. "Now everyone go to bed."

Everyone files out of the stands quickly and I catch up to Percy and Annabeth.

"You need to go on your own," I say. "We're going to need more than three, but we are only allowed three. You need to meet us after we leave. Quickly."

"We will," Percy nods. "Good luck dealing with Clarisse."

"Thanks," I say.

"Adam," Charles says, stepping up beside me. "I have a couple things for you. Those ideas you gave me when I got back."

"Sweet," I grin, following him.

I stop outside his cabin and he brings me several items. A chest plate, a set of cargo shorts and a black Tee-shirt, a pair of converse all star high-tops, and a three inch thick black leather strap that he fastened around my right wrist for me.

"What is it?" I ask.

"It's a wrist strap," Charles says.

"Okay," I say. "What's it do?"

"Covers your wrist," Charles says. "And it also has a sword magically concealed in it. You know, just in case something happens to your bow, or you run out of arrows somehow."

"Thanks," I smile. "Good luck defending the camp."

"Be fast," Charles says. "You need to get back before Thalia's tree dies, or else you'll need a new girlfriend."

"Fuck you Charles," I chuckle. "I gotta go. I've still got to pack."

"Aren't you going to ask about the clothes?" Charles asks.

"Well I assume they're fireproof," I say. "Since that's what I asked for."

Charles chuckles, nodding. "Go pack. I'll see you when you get back."

I nod and head back to my cabin, grabbing my magic back pack and shoving spare clothes into it before changing into my fireproof clothes. Once I'm packed, I pull my new armor on and step out of the cabin. I find Clarisse waiting and she looks unhappy.

"What's wrong?" I ask.

"I hate dealing with the Oracle," she says. "It's creepy."

"And?" I ask.

"We have our quest," she says. "Are you packed?"

"Yes," I nod. "Who else is coming?"

"No one," Clarisse says. "We don't need anyone else."

"Just us?" I ask.

"Don't make me regret allowing you to come," Clarisse growls. "I know you want to save Thalia's tree enough that you'll come anyway, and your archery will come in handy. If not for that, you'd be staying here just like Jackson and Annabeth."

"Alright," I nod. "Let's get going."

Clarisse nods and we head to the water. For a moment, we simply stand there. Then, the water begins to boil and a massive ship, the kind I saw in history class from the civil war bursts up from the water, confederate soldier zombies walking around the deck, making everything ready to travel. Clarisse and I board the ship and it pulls away from shore, quickly leaving Camp Half-Blood behind.


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