𝒎𝒊𝒓𝒓𝒐𝒓𝒃𝒂𝒍𝒍 - 𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒄𝒚 𝒋𝒂𝒄𝒌𝒔𝒐𝒏 𝒙 𝒐𝒄

✯¸.•'*¨'*• 𝑺𝑰𝑿 •*'¨*'•.¸✯

The way Tantalus saw it, the Stymphalian birds had simply been minding their own business inthe woods and would not have attacked if Annabeth, Tyson, and Percy hadn't disturbed them with their badchariot driving. And since Clarisse and Phoenix were friends, Clarisse managed to convince Tantalus to get Phoenix of out thee punishment.

This was so completely unfair, Percy told Tantalus to go chase a doughnut, which didn't help hismood. He sentenced Percy, Annabeth, and Tyson to kitchen patrol-scrubbing pots and platters all afternoon in the undergroundkitchen with the cleaning harpies. The harpies washed with lava instead of water, to get that extra clean sparkle and kill ninety-nine point nine percent of all germs, so Annabeth and Percy had to wearasbestos gloves and aprons.Tyson didn't mind. He plunged his bare hands right in and started scrubbing, but Annabeth and Percy had to suffer through hours of hot, dangerous work, especially since there were tons of extra plates. 

Tantalus had ordered a special luncheon banquet to celebrate Clarisse's chariot victory-a full-coursemeal featuring country-fried Stymphalian death-bird.

 That night at the campfire, Phoenix's cabin led the sing-along. They tried to get everybody's spiritsup, but it wasn't easy after that afternoon's bird attack. 

They all sat around a semicircle of stone steps,singing halfheartedly and watching the bonfire blaze while the Apollo kids strummed their guitars andpicked their lyres.They did all the standard camp numbers: "Down by the Aegean," "I Am My Own Great-Great-Great-Great-Grandpa," "This Land is Minos's Land." 

The bonfire was enchanted, so the louder yousang, the higher it rose, changing color and heat with the mood of the crowd. On a good night, it had been twenty feet high, bright purple, and so hot the whole front row's marshmallows burst into theflames. Tonight, the fire was only five feet high, barely warm, and the flames were the color of lint. 

Dionysus left early. After suffering through a few songs, he muttered something about how evenpinochle with Chiron had been more exciting than this. Then he gave Tantalus a distasteful look andheaded back toward the Big House. 

When the last song was over, Tantalus said, "Well, that was lovely!"He came forward with a toasted marshmallow on a stick and tried to pluck it off, real casual-like.But before he could touch it, the marshmallow flew off the stick. Tantalus made a wild grab, but themarshmallow committed suicide, diving into the flames. 

Tantalus turned back toward us, smiling coldly. "Now then! Some announcements abouttomorrow's schedule." 

"Sir," Percy said. 

Tantalus's eye twitched. "Our kitchen boy has something to say?" 

Some of the Ares campers snickered, but Percy wasn't going to let anybody embarrass him into silence. He looked at Phoenix, who paid him no attention, she was instead talking to Travis Stoll. Percy stood and looked at Annabeth, she stood up with him. 

Percy said, "We have an idea to save the camp." 

Dead silence, but Percy could tell he'd gotten everybody's interest, because the campfire flared brightyellow. Even Phoenix paid attention over her conversation.

"Indeed," Tantalus said blandly. "Well, if it has anything to do with chariots-" 

"The Golden Fleece," Percy said. "We know where it is." 

The flames burned orange. Phoenix and Travis looked up at him also. 

Before Tantalus could stop Percy, he blurted out his dream about Groverand Polyphemus's island. Annabeth stepped in and reminded everybody what the Fleece could do. 

Itsounded more convincing coming from her."The Fleece can save the camp," she concluded. "I'm certain of it." 

"Nonsense," said Tantalus. "We don't need saving."  Everybody stared at him until Tantalus started looking uncomfortable."Besides," he added quickly, "the Sea of Monsters? That's hardly an exact location. Youwouldn't even know where to look."