Chapter 17

Percy POV

After I finally wrapped the last of the chains around Thalia's pine I moved back to where chiton was standing. I had arrived back at camp early that morning and rushed into the big house and banged on Chiron's door in the hopes he could enhance the magic somehow. Needless to say he was extremely cranky when he woke up but he calmed down once I explained why I woke him.

Thankfully I was right and Chiron did know a fairly weak spell the would increase the chains healing ability. We rushed out to Thalia's pine where Chiron helped me attach the chains so that their magic would actually work. Now that we were finished I was happy to see the color beginning to return to the leaves, the branches were wilting a little less, and the green goo oozing from the tree like sap slowed down. And...that was it, all that all in all it barely looked better than before, Chiron seemed to notice and put a hand on my shoulder. "You should be proud Percy." he said "Not many have seen Feron and lived to tell about it and you actually bested him".

"But Thalia's pine is still going to die." I said. "You've given Thalia another day or two of life, I'm sure she'd thank you if she could". Chiron reminded me a lot of my dad, he even had the same scruffy beard. "Come on move it you two" Clarisse shouted as she ran up the hill. In her hands was the golden fleece...I think, I've never actually seen it before. Annabeth and Chris were right behind her and they looked horrible. Chris was missing his shirt, Annabeth was cover in this pink yes pink goo, and Clarisse….well she actually looked the best out of the three just a few minor cuts and bruises.

Clarisse hung the fleece on Thalia's pine and immediately the sickness disappeared and I could literally see the barrier restore itself. The one real surprise was when the chains moved on their own clipping into the fleece and chaining it to the tree. "Well that was interesting" I said. Annabeth and the others just stood there panting "Where did the chains come from?" She asked after a moment. "Chiron had them" I said, the old Centaur gave me a confused look but moved on.

Eventually we headed down to camp where Tantalus was attempting to catch his breakfast which was literally running from him. I couldn't even contain my laughter at the sight because it was a bowl of gingerbread cookies shaped like men. "Oh Chiron what are you doing back" Mr.D said lazily. "I actually just came back to get some a few of my things that I left behind" Chiron said. "Well just hurry your banishment is still in effect" Mr.D said staring at his coke probably hoping it would be turn into wine.

"Chiron didn't poison the tree Luke" Annabeth shakily. Everyone in the pavilion was shocked Annabeth and Luke were close friends and had been one of the main supporters that he had been framed some how. "He did it so we would retrieve the fleece for him." She continued "He had a golden sarcophagus and said the fleece was the quickest way to revive whatever was inside",

"Would you be will to swear on styx that that is the truth" Mr. D asked, Annabeth nodded. Mr. D sighed "Guess we won't be needing you now that Chiron's been proven innocent" he said to Tantalus. Tantalus looked up from his handful of cookies having apparently managed to grab some "huh, wait just ahhh!" he screamed as Mr. D sent him away with a snap of his fingers.

The next few days just flew by, Chiron announced that there would be chariot races at the end of the week and I was miffed I missed the first race. Annabeth and I teamed up thinking since her mother and my dad made the first working chariot we should be an unbeatable team. Finally the day of the races came and we all lined up in the starting positioned "Hero's I expect to see a nice clean game from all of you. Now begin!". My chariot took off riding like a dream, the Stolls were out in the first two seconds after Clarisse buried a spear in their left wheel. The real one to fear was the Hephaestus cabin chariot. Beckendorf had clear went all out on the chariot, there were spears that fired on proximity. A cannon for all intents and purposes grew out the front and shot acid taking the Apollo cabin out of the race.

By the time we reached the second lap there were only three chariots left mine and Annabeth, Beckendorf and his brother Shane, and finally Clarisse and Chris from the Hermes cabin. "Sorry about guys but I've got a date if I win this" Beckendorf said tossing a brown sack in our chariot. Annabeth glanced at the bag which had begun smoking. "Percy, it's greek fire, get it out now" she said, I shoved the tip of my sword under it and flipped it back between Shane's feet. "Abandon ship bro" Shane shout jumping out, Beckendorf didn't even hesitate and followed his brother.

I nearly lost my lunch as Annabeth swerved to dodge cabin nine's now riderless chariot "That's it Annabeth said "we win". "Not so fast wise girl" Clarisse said cutting the leather tether our horses. I gripped the sides as our our chariot went spinning out of control 'We're gonna die' I mentally screamed and Annabeth started muttering an apology to Hades. What for I don't know, it was kinda drowned out by the voice screaming "I'm coming boss lady."

All I saw a blur of black before the chariot was jerked so hard I nearly fell off the back. When I righted myself I saw a black Pegasus biting into the tether and frantically flapping its wings to gain speed. We shot past a stunned Clarisse and over the finish line "We did it!" I shouted leaping off. Meanwhile the horse was neighing and nuzzling Annabeth "What does he want Percy" she asked. "A hug" I laughed "donuts if you're feeling generous also why does he keep calling you boss."

"I don't know, I've only met him once before" she said. "She saved my life bro I owe her big time" the horse said "BTW the names Blackjack". "Well first his name is Blackjack and he's sworn himself to serve you because you saved his life."

"That has to be cheating" Chris shouted as he pulled up with Clarisse "the pegasus wasn't even there at the start of the race". "So what?" Annabeth shouted back "there's no rule against it". "I must admit this is a bit odd" Chiron said as he galloped towards us "but Annabeth is right, as there is no rule against it she and Percy are the winners. However I'm adding two new rules first you can only use the team of horses you entered with at the start of the race to compete and Pegasus are not allowed".

Clarisse was angry but kept her cool, we had a small party consisting of me and the Athena cabin for winning. The next day I was heading down half blood hill when the hunters showed up "Percy" Zoe shouted. "Hey how ya doing" I asked. "I'm fine but Lady Artemis would like to speak with you."

Zoe POV

I nearly lost it when I saw Percy turn white as a ghost "girls please continue to my cabin, Zoe and I can continue from here" Artemis said. The girls nodded and left "Percy Zoe told me what you said and I….would like to thank you." she said "Because of my father none have ever dared say such a thing to me or my hunter, not even my siblings. Because of you I've made several permanent changes to the hunters in an attempt to fix the problem and save a few family bonds."

Percy smiled "That's great just don't mention my part in it" he said. "why not" Artemis asked. "Because you should be the one getting the credit" He replied "I may have brought it to your attention but you made the changes. Besides it'll help people see you trying to fix your mistake, if you mention my name the might see it differently" and with that he went down to his cab and hopped in.

"You weren't kidding when you said he was strange" Artemis said. "He's either incredibly stupid or incredibly selfless" I added. "Still I'm in his debt, thanks to him my hunters will be happy even if their leaving."

Tiana POV

"Hey Zack" I said walking into the Aphrodite cabin "where's Cole?". "He's in his bunk" Zack said "Selina grounded him after a bunch of models in the Athena cabin. Not that you care, you abandoned him."

"I may have but not any more." I said heading over to Cole. "Sup little bro" I said plopping down on his bed. Much as I expected he ignored me "Look I know you mad I left but I'm here now and I'm not going to leave again. I even left the hunters." I said. Cole looked up at me with tears in his eyes "I'm here to stay, I promise."

Lee fletcher POV

"-So that's when I said you forgot the ginger." I said. Camila laughed "well I had a nice time this morning. See you after lunch?" she asked. "Absolutely" I said. "So this is what you've be up to" a girl said behind me after Camila left. "Atlanta I know it's you and as I said before go bother someone else."

"I'm not going to do that" Atlanta said "I want my brother back and I'm not leaving till that happens". "Yes you will the hunters only stay for five days max." I said. "Then it's a good thing I'm not a hunter any more" She said. "What?" I half shouted. "Don't act too surprised there little bro there's seven other hunters who chose to leave today. Lady Artemis was actually the one who encouraged us to leave saying we needed to things with our old family". Atlanta said "She even admits she didn't try hard enough to hold up to her promises that we would see you guy's often".

"So she kicked you out" I exclaimed. "No everyone who left wanted to." Atlanta said calmly "Technically we can still rejoin the hunt if we remain maidens. She even added in a bunch of new rules, the hunt will be visiting once a month from now on for six days. Girls will be able to go on trial runs with the hunt for a month twice a year to get a feeling for what it's like. There's a bunch of other ones, you'll see them in the brochure, but those are the big one's."

Percy POV

"Mom I'm home" I called. "Percy Jackson!" My mother shouted as she ran into the living room and hug me. "Mom you're crushing me" I wheezed. She pulled back wiping tears from her eyes "You never leave this apartment without telling me, understand!" She shouted, I nodded furiously "Do you have any idea how worried I was when you just left. You pull a stunt like that again and you'll be spending the next hundred years in your father's dungen".

My mom to a few deep breaths to calm herself "Now as for your punishment" She said. Before I knew it my legs had been ducttaped together and same with my arms, it almost felt like the tape just appeared there, then she stuck a toilet brush in my hand "go clean the bathroom" she said "all the tools you'll need are already in there and don't even think about taking off that tape". "But I can barely move with my legs like this." I whined.

"You should have thought of that before you ran away and count your blessings I was originally going to tape your arms to your sides and stick the handle in your mouth but your dad talked me out of it" She said before yawning. "I need a nap" she said before collapsing on the couch. "And now you know why dad say's never to make her mad" Triton said from the corner "you know that whole saying about Hades hath no fury like a woman scorned, it was made for her". "When did you get here?" I asked.