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STRENGTH ✷ act two, chapter ten, ━━━━━ sneaking into the cyclops' lair. PUBLISHED. . . April 19th, 2024 EDITED . . . To Be Determined REPUBLISHED . . . August 25th, 2025
"𝕷OOK, UP AHEAD," PERCY SAID, "WE'VE REACHED POLYPHEMUS' ISLAND."
Nabi didn't have to have Percy's nautical senses to realise that he was right — she expected the island to be super dreary and dark, but it was far from it. Well, apart from a rope bridge across a scary chasm. But except for that, the place had pretty, green fields, tropical fruit trees and white beaches.
"The Fleece," Nabi murmured, inhaling the sweet air, "that's its power, right?"
The other two nodded. Just the raw aura from the island alone had been enough to convince Nabi that the Golden Fleece could save the camp; it was so powerful. Percy asked, "If we take it away, will the island die?"
Annabeth shook her head. "It'll fade. Go back to what it would be normally... whatever that is."
Nabi felt a little guilty about ruining the paradise, but she had to remind herself that they had no choice. Camp Half-Blood was in trouble.
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, and near the edge of the canyon was a massive oak tree.
Something gold glittered in its branches.
"This is too easy." Percy said, "We could just hike up there and take it?"
Annabeth's eyes narrowed. "There's supposed be a guardian, maybe a dragon or..."
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 towards the animal. It happened so fast that the deer stumbled, 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. Those sheep were so fast that Nabi was afraid that they would be able to rip her to shreds mid-flight, if she tried. The Fleece was on a branch that might have been too low.
Too risky. They all exchanged looks. Annabeth muttered, "They're like piranhas."
"Piranhas with wool." Percy nodded.
"Piranhas with wool that could kill us." Nabi added on, nodding too, "How are we—"
"Guys!" Annabeth gasped, "Look."
She pointed down the beach, to just below the sheep meadow, where a small boat had been washed ashore... it was the other lifeboat from the CSS Birmingham.
