"Just write a book" they said. "It'll be easy," they said, "Everyone gets published these days." Yeah, well, it's a little harder when your editors are gods that will turn you into a gecko and use you as a ping pong ball if you don't write them exac...
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IT WAS CREEPY HOW SIMILAR THE ISLAND LOOKED TO MY DREAM. There was same wide beach, green fields, and tropical trees. The air smelled sweet, like I was surrounded by fields of fruits. There was even the chasm and bridge that I had seen. I squinted in the distance, but I couldn't see the tree or the rug–thing that had been folded on it.
So, maybe my dream had taken some liberties.
"The Fleece," Annabeth said.
I nodded. "That must have been what I saw."
I explained the dream to them. Not that it was needed (aside from the look of relief Veerle gave me when I mentioned Clarisse and Pat had reached the island.) Even without the coordinate senses and my dream, I knew that this was right place. I could feel the Fleece's power. An energy thrummed throughout entire island, making it thrive.
"If we take it away, will the island die?" Percy asked.
Annabeth shook her head. "It'll fade. Go back to what it would be normally, whatever that is."
"It was fine before," Veerle said. "According to stories and...well, look at it. The Fleece would need somewhere to start."
I think she was just trying to make us feel better about ruining the island. Still, I decided to believe her. We couldn't turn back now. Clarisse and Pat were somewhere on the island – they wouldn't be able to leave with their damaged boat – and the camp still needed us. And Tyson...and Tyson hadn't been with them. He was gone...he couldn't have died for nothing.
Soon enough we arrived at a meadow. It was filled with sheep, except I knew for a fact that they weren't just sheep. They were massive. Giant cotton balls the size of hippos.
Past that was a path that led up into the hills. At the top, right next to the canyon, was a massive oak tree, the one Pat had pointed out in my dream. In person I could see that rug was a sheet of glittering gold wool. The Fleece.
"We need to be careful," Veerle said. She pulled out her switch blade, but kept it in its normal form. "Something that important isn't just going to be left unguarded.
I checked my ring. Black. "Something's here."
"Yeah, the cyclops," Percy said.
I shook my head. Of course there was the cyclops, but the meadow was wide and open, and I imaged this guy was massive. If he was close enough to trigger the ring, he would also be close enough to see.
Annabeth's eyes narrowed. "There's supposed to be a guardian. A dragon or..."
A deer emerged from the bushes. It trotted into the meadow like something out of a Disney movie. Except instead of breaking into song, it was promptly rushed by a swarm of bleating sheep. They came upon the deer so fast it stumbled. It collapsed. For a moment all I could see was wool, grass, and fur flying everywhere.
