𝐒𝐎𝐋𝐄𝐈𝐋¹ || 𝐏𝐄𝐑𝐂𝐘 𝐉𝐀𝐂𝐊𝐒𝐎𝐍

𝐗𝐗𝐗𝐕𝐈𝐈

✦ 𝐇𝐎𝐌𝐄 𝐒𝐖𝐄𝐄𝐓 𝐇𝐎𝐌𝐄 ✦

THEY ARRIVED IN LONG ISLAND JUST AFTER CLARISSE, thanks to the centaurs' travel powers. Percy and Aurora rode on Chiron's back, but they didn't talk much, especially not about Kronos. Percy knew it had been difficult for Chiron to tell him. Percy didn't want to push him with more questions.

Percy has met plenty of embarrassing parents, but Kronos, the evil titan lord who wanted to destroy Western Civilization? Not the kind of dad you invited to school for career day. Percy didn't ask Aurora either about the vision she had, he could see how the silver-haired girl was just as confused as him.

When they got to Camp, the centaurs were anxious to meet Dionysus. They'd heard he threw some really wild parties, but they were disappointed. The wine god was in no mood to celebrate as the whole Camp gathered at the top of Half-Blood Hill. The Camp had been through a hard two weeks.

The arts and crafts cabin had burned to the ground from an attack by a Draco Aionius (which as near as Percy could figure was Latin for 'really-big-lizard-with-breath-that-blows-stuff-up').

The Big House's rooms were overflowing with wounded. The kids in the Apollo Cabin, who were the best healers, had been working overtime performing first aid. Everybody looked weary and battered as they crowded around Thalia's tree.

The moment Clarisse draped the Golden Fleece over the lowest bough, the moonlight seemed to brighten, turning from grey to liquid silver. A cool breeze rustled in the branches and rippled through the grass, all the way into the valley. Everything came into sharper focus – the glow of the fireflies down in the woods, the smell of the strawberry fields, the sound of the waves on the beach.

Gradually, the needles on the pine tree started turning from brown to green. Everybody cheered. It was happening slowly, but there could be no doubt – the Fleece's magic was seeping into the tree, filling it with new power and expelling the poison.

Chiron ordered a twenty-four/seven guard duty on the hilltop, at least until he could find an appropriate monster to protect the Fleece. He said he'd place an ad in Olympus Weekly right away. In the meantime, Clarisse was carried on her cabin mates' shoulders down to the amphitheater, where she was honored with a laurel wreath and a lot of celebrating around the campfire.

Nobody gave Aurora, Annabeth, or Percy a second look. It was as. if they'd never left. In a way, Percy guessed that was the best thank-you anyone could give them because if they admitted they'd snuck out of Camp to do the quest, they'd have to expel them.

And, really, Percy didn't want any more attention. It felt good to be just one of the campers for once.

After the party ponies headed back to Florida, Chiron made a surprise announcement: the chariot races would go ahead as scheduled. They'd all figured they were history now that Tantalus was gone, but completing them did feel like the right thing to do, especially now that Chiron was back and the Camp was safe.