Hey guys! As always I love getting reviews, hint hint. Anyways, I hope you all enjoy this chapter, you'll be getting some action soon enough don't you guys worry, and I'm still pretty far ahead writing wise-though I think Titans curse may end up being the longest one so far since it's already over twenty chapters and I've still got loads to go-they haven't even gotten to the Hoover Dam yet and met Rachel, which I'm looking forward to writing.
Percy and Luke immediately stopped messing around, rushing to the front of the boat so that they were stood next to Annabeth.
Up ahead was another blotch of land—a saddle-shaped island with forested hills and white beaches and green meadows.
Percy closed her eyes-and her senses told her that it was right- she'd noticed it before but hadn't thought much of it-she knew exactly where they were on the ocean, and she remembered the coordinates that the Gray Sisters had given them.
30 degrees, 31 minutes north, 75 degrees, 12 minutes west.
They'd reached Polyphemus' Island. Percy let out a slow breath. "We're here. This is Polyphemus' Island, this is where the Gray Sisters told us to go."
"This is where the Fleece is. And Grover." Annabeth let out a breath, "This should be interesting."
They moved towards the shore-and as they did the Island became clearer.
It wasn't what Percy would have expected from an Island where an infamous Cyclops lived-it was beautiful-the sort of thing Percy would expect to see on a postcard or something. It had green fields and tropical fruit trees and white beaches.
It as a tropical paradise-there really was no other way to describe it.
Percy glanced at Annabeth and Luke, and Annabeth gave a tight little nod. "The Golden Fleece. The island is flourishing because of the Fleece being here."
Percy grabbed her hand quickly, squeezing it tightly. "That's good. That means we're nearly there. If we get the Fleece we can save Thalia's tree."
"And we save Camp." Luke nodded. "Percy's right. We're almost there." he laid a hand on Annabeth's shoulder and squeezed gently. "We're gonna do this."
"I know." Annabeth's expression turned determined, "We need a plan though. Luke weren't you going to do a fly over?" she asked as they came to a halt.
"I was." Luke nodded as they all looked at the Island in front of them-the most foreboding thing was the ravine.
It was towards the back of the meadow where several dozen sheep were milling around. They looked peaceful enough, but they were huge—the size of hippos. Just past them was a path that led up into the hills. At the top of the path, near the edge of the canyon, was a massive oak tree.
Something gold glittered in its branches.
"Well we know where the Fleece is." Luke said after a long moment, "That's good right? We don't need to search for it-and you said Grover's in some kind of cave or something."
"Yeah." Percy nodded.
"I could just use my hat so no one sees me and go grab it." Annabeth suggested, "Rather than bother with the fly over for it."
"Doesn't that seem too easy?" Luke grabbed Annabeth's arm before she could move to climb out of the boat, and she faltered.
"Maybe... there was supposed to be a guardian I think actually- a dragon or-"
"Holy crap." Percy's eyes widened in horror and she pointed.
A deer had emerged from the bushes. It trotted into the meadow, probably looking for grass to eat, when the sheep all bleated at once and rushed the animal. It happened so fast that the deer stumbled and was lost in a sea of wool and trampling hooves.
Grass and tufts of fur flew into the air.
A second later the sheep all moved away, back to their regular peaceful wanderings. Where the deer had been was a pile of clean white bones.
"Killer sheep." Luke's voice was monotonous, "He has killer sheep. We're literally dealing with Killer sheep. How is this our lives?"
"Ah Luke." Percy patted his arm consolingly, "This is the life Demigods on quests. There will always be weird crap happening."
"It's like a rule." Annabeth laughed, "Life for Demigods is never normal."
"Ugh." Luke groaned, "So what do we do then?"
"We can't risk using your cap Annabeth-they might hear you or smell you."
"We can use my shoes." Luke suggested, "I mean, I can fly over their heads to grab the fleece-"
"That's a good plan-even if they're high jumpers they can't jump that high." Annabeth said thoughtfully, "And you can just fly right back here."
"We also need to get to Grover." Percy pointed out, "What do you wanna bet that he's up there." Percy nodded towards the cliffs.
"Yeah I'm so not taking that bet." Annabeth pulled a face, "Okay, so Luke you get to the Fleece while Percy and I scale the cliff to go and rescue Grover."
"It's a pretty tall cliff." Luke pointed out wearily, "Do you guys think you can handle it?"
"Yeah." Percy nodded, "We have to after all, to get to Grover."
"I'll fly up and join you after I've got the Fleece." Luke said quickly.
"We have our plan." Percy swung herself over the rails into the water, letting it refresh her as she used it to push herself ashore, Annabeth and Luke following her head-and when she reached the beach she took just a moment to dry them both off-she'd just kept herself dry.
Once that was done they split up, Luke heading towards the meadow as Percy and Annabeth stood on a pillar of water that Percy used to get them to the edge of the cliffs.
And together they climbed it.
Annabeth went first-since she was the better climber of the two of them, and if she fell Percy would be able to grab her so that they could fall into the water together which would minimize the risk of either of them actually dying.
It took them what felt like a lifetime, they nearly fell dozens of times, and by the time they reached the top, Annabeth dragging herself up before reaching down to catch Percy's arm and help her scramble to the top of the cliff.
They both sat there panting for seconds, until Percy met Annabeth's gaze and the blonde let out a weak laugh, "That was..."
"Interesting?"
"I really hope we don't have to climb back down is all."
"Yeah if it comes to it I'm just jumping-there's water I'll be fine."
"You might be." Annabeth rolled her eyes, a fond smile on her lips as she shook her head, "I'm not so sure I would be-"
"Eh I'll hold you real tight."
"How very kind of you."
They looked around, and Percy noticed that the ledge was fairly narrow. The two girls shifted so that they could peer down and see what was beyond it.
It was very easy to realize that they were right above the entrance to Polyphemus' cave.
Below them were Grover and the Cyclops.
Grover was still clad in the wedding dress, and the giant Cyclops was scowling. "Why is it taking so long? I am tired of waiting I want to be married."
"I'm sorry dear!" Grover's voice was high pitched, slightly panicked, "I want the veil to be perfect."
"Finish it today." Polyphemus demanded, "We get married tomorrow."
Percy winced s she watched her half brother loom over her best friend.
He was hideous, dressed in his wedding outfit—a crude kilt and shoulder-wrap, stitched together from baby-blue tuxedoes, as if the he'd skinned an entire wedding party, and she could smell the rancid rotting stench of him even from where they were.
"But it's not done yet dear-"
"Today!" the Cyclops roared the words, "Now I will go get food!"
"No." Annabeth hissed the word, "He'll block the cave with a boulder to trap Grover inside-"
"We need to get inside." Percy hissed back, a slightly panicked look on her face.
"We'll never get down there in time, not without being noticed."
And sure enough moment late the Cyclops whistled, and a mixed flock of goats and sheep—smaller than the man-eaters—flooded out of the cave and past their master. As they went to pasture, Polyphemus patted some on the back and called them by name—Beltbuster, Tammany, Lockhart, etc.
When the last sheep had waddled out, Polyphemus rolled a boulder in front of the doorway as if it was as light as a normal door.
"Gods no." Percy groaned as they watched the Cyclops lead the sheep way before they headed down to try and find way into the cave-but it was hopeless, there would be no way inside that much became painfully clear very quickly.
Soon they were back sat on the ridge, Percy flopping down onto the cold stone as Annabeth watched for Polythemus in the distance, "What do we do now? We can't get in there to bust Grover out without him-and what about Luke what if he gets spotted."
"Luke's smart and quick, he should be able to hide." Annabeth pointed out as comfortingly as she could. "We'll think of something.
Percy snorted, "It doesn't feel like it." she turned her head and watched the distant baby-blue shape of the Cyclops as he moved among his flocks.
He had wisely divided his regular animals from his man-eating sheep, putting each group on either side of the huge crevice that divided the island.
The only way across was the rope bridge, and the planks were much too far apart for sheep hooves.
She watched as Polyphemus visited his carnivorous flock on the far side. Unfortunately, they didn't eat him. In fact, they didn't seem to bother him at all. He fed them chunks of mystery meat from a great wicker basket that made Percy pull a face, her nose scrunching up.
"That's just gross. Almost makes me wanna turn veggie."
"You'd miss burgers." Annabeth pointed out with roll of her eyes. "And focus-"
"Ugh. I know. So have you thought of some genius plan to save the day Wise Girl?"
"Well we both know I can get in with my cap." Annabeth pointed out, "When he comes back."
"Yeah, but you only have one cap and you're so not going in on your own."
"Hm-" Annabeth paused, devilish smile playing across her lips, "Oh you're not going to like this."
"I already hate it and I dunno what you're gonna say." Percy let out a groan, shaking her head, "Go on then Wise Girl. Tell me the plan."
"Sheep."
"What about them?"
"How long do you think you can hold on to the underside of one of them."
Percy blinked, staring at Annabeth for a moment before speaking, "Uh-you're not about to go 'Hah! I was joking' are you?"
"Nope." Annabeth shook her head, "You can get inside by clinging to the underbelly of one of them-I think that was how Odysseus did it."
"That isn't reassuring or comforting Wise Girl." Percy groaned, but even as she did she was getting up and making her way down while Annabeth explained her plan to stop the Cyclops from closing the entrance to the cave while they were inside.
Soon enough Percy was underneath one of the huge sheep-which didn't seem to care at all as she grabbed onto it, hooking her hands into the thick wall and hooking her feet against the sheep's thigh bones.
The most annoying thing was the way she had to keep her face turned to the side, and even then it didn't keep all of the stale smelling wool out of her face.
She knew Annabeth was somewhere next to the sheep she was clinging to wearing her cap-and they'd timed it perfectly before perhaps five minutes after Percy had gotten in position the Cyclops was roaring "Oy! Goaties! Sheepies!"
The flock dutifully began trudging back up the slopes toward the cave-it was surprisingly smooth all things considered. Not the best ride Percy had ever had but she'd also had worse.
Admittedly her arms started to ache after a little while of it but she just held on tighter, screwing her eyes shut and praying to her father for more strength-for the strength to hold on until they were inside of the cave. "Hasenpfeffer!" the Cyclops said, patting one of the sheep in front of me.
"Einstein! Widget—eh there, Widget!"
Polyphemus patted Percy's sheep and nearly knocked her to the ground. "Putting on some extra mutton there?" that made Percy suck in a sharp breath, forcing down the wave of panic as the Cyclops spoke again. But Polyphemus just laughed and swatted the sheep's rear end, propelling us forward. "Go on, fatty! Soon Polyphemus will eat you for breakfast!"
And just like that, Percy was in the cave.
Percy could see the last of the sheep coming inside. If Annabeth didn't pull off her distraction soon…
But Percy should have never doubted her best friend because then Annabeth called out;
"Hello, ugly!"
Polyphemus stiffened. "Who said that?"
"Nobody!" Annabeth yelled.
That got exactly the reaction she'd been hoping for. The monster's face turned red with rage.
"Nobody!" Polyphemus yelled back. "I remember you!"
And Percy let herself drop from the belly of the sheep, rolling as she did-Polythemus was too distracted by Annabeth to notice her-a fact that she intended to take full advantage of.
She just hoped that Annabeth could keep it up and avoid the Cyclops' wrath for long enough.