Goodnight Moon ↣ P. Jackson + A. Chase

1.09

When people spoke of Kassandra in the future to come, she hoped that they mentioned the crap show that was this quest, hoped that they spoke of the fourteen-year-olds that had everything and nothing to lose as they went to face a legendary cyclops in order to retrieve the golden fleece.

She hoped that they didn't forget the demigod that she was from the beginning in replacement of the demigod that she was going to become -- because Kassandra was going to be one of the best, spoken of for years to come like both Shakespear and Achilles alike, by mortal, god, and everything in between.

That, or she was going to disappear off the face of the earth on purpose or by accident and they were going to wonder what happened to her, what could have been, and mourn her gods-damned loss

That, however, had nothing to say about the anxious sort of antsy feeling that came over her as they got to the island. (They were at the right island for sure, Percy had confirmed, sharing with her his ability to know these things while at sea and the details of dreams that he was able to tell her. It had proven insightful as she began to create a mental image in her mind of what they would be up against.)

In the meadow at the base of the ravine, 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 the massive oak tree Percy had described from his dreams. Something gold glittered in its branches.

Her breath caught at the sight of the Fleece.

"This is too easy," Percy said. "We could just hike up there and take it?"

That's when a deer 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.

"You jinxed it," Kass muttered bitterly, trying to calculate the odds of getting there and grabbing it before she was caught. "You think they'll make much noise if I just pick them off one at a time?"

"I think there would be some kind of warning," Annabeth said thoughtfully. "I wouldn't risk it or waste the arrows."

"Oh, the arrows come back after a bit. Chiron told me that it just belongs to the Apollo cabin for whoever needs it most."

"I've seen it displayed at the Big House," Annabeth comments, nodding to the weapon appreciatively. "I'm not surprised that he would sneak it out and bring it to you."

Kass blinks. "How did he sneak it out?" she questions.

Annabeth freezes.

"Not the time to ask questions. Let's go," Percy says, motioning to the lifeboat.

Together, they collect themselves and climb aboard, rowing to the cliff face that was about the same difficulty as the lava wall.

They went one at a time, Kassandra pulling up the rear with ease, knowing that she had the upper body strength to hold on for as long as she needed to.

They only died nearly six or seven times, more if you counted each individual moment when one would slip and cause a trickle effect like Percy nearly falling and kicking her off the cliff face (or when Annabeth caught him in the face and he slipped soon after bringing her nearly fall down).