PHILOXENIA ➸ Percy Jackson¹

δέκα

TEN—Wedding Crashers

─── ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽☼☾.* :☆ﾟ｡ ───

If Lux didn't know any better, she would think they had sailed right back to Circe's island. 

The place looked like it was lifted straight out of a Caribbean postcard. The white sand beaches looked picturesque and seemed to stretch on forever, eventually tapering off into endless green fields dotted with tropical fruit trees. The sweet scent in the air could be attributed to the abundance of fruits hanging heavily on the branches,  but Annabeth was quick to point out the source.

"The Fleece."

Lux could feel the power of the Fleece rooted deep inside the making of the island itself. At that moment, she was convinced more than ever that not only could it heal Thalia's tree, but it could heal anything.

"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."

Lux didn't feel that bad about taking the Fleece away now. And besides, Camp Half-Blood desperately needed help.

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 a massive oak tree, with something gold glittering on its branches.

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

Annabeth's eyes narrowed. "There's supposed to be a guardian. A dragon or..."

There was rustling in the bushes, where a deer then emerged. It trotted into the meadow, probably looking to graze the grass, when the sheep all bleated at once and rushed at the animal. It happened so fast that the deer was soon lost in the sea of wool and hooves. Grass and tufts of hair flew into the air.

A second later the sheep all moved away, returning to their peaceful wanderings. What was left in their wake was a pile of clean bones.

Lux nearly gagged. "Forget dragons. They're better than any guardian."

"They're like piranhas," Annabeth said.

"Piranhas with wool. How will we—"

"Guys! Look!" Annabeth directed their attention down the beach, just below the sheep meadow, where a small boat had been run aground. The name of the CSS Birmingham was engraved on the side. Someone else had survived the wreck.

(Lux wondered if it was futile to hope that it would be Tyson.)

They decided that there was no way they could get past the man-eating sheep. Annabeth wanted to sneak up the path invisibly and grab the Fleece, but Lux and Percy convinced her otherwise. Something was always bound to go wrong and there was no ensuring that the sheep wouldn't smell her. Whatever they do, they do together.

They moored the Queen Anne's Revenge on the back side of the island where the cliffs rose straight up a good two hundred feet.

Lux blanched at the sight, all hint of blood rushing from her face. "Please don't tell me we have to climb that."

"We'll attract less attention this way."

"Maybe I'll try my luck with the sheep." But before she could walk back to the carnivorous sheep, her shirt was held back by Annabeth.

"Oh no, you don't. I'm not taking responsibility for you getting eaten."

"But..." Lux mumbled, her breath coming out short. "It's so high."