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When the heroes 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 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 gray 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 Annabeth, Bronte or Percy a second look. It was as if they'd never left. Although, Bronte could have sworn she saw Clarisse send a small smile her way.
⋆｡ﾟ☁︎｡⋆｡ ﾟ☾ ﾟ｡⋆
The next morning, after the party ponies headed back to Florida, Chiron made a surprise announcement: the chariot races would go ahead as scheduled.
Everyone 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.
Tyson wasn't too keen on the idea of getting back in a chariot after his first experience, but he was happy.
Bronte and Annabeth declared they would team up together. Percy was a little upset that Bronte wouldn't be teaming up with him, but he saw how excited she was to be with Annabeth, and didn't want to ruin that.
It was decided. Annabeth would drive and Bronte would defend.
The four kids walked by each other on the way to the starting line.
"Ready to eat our dust?" Percy asked, raising a brow.
Bronte scoffed. "Please. Have you met us? You'll be the one left in the dust, Sharkboy."
