BY fates design

Polyphemus

Just as Cassiopeia reached the top deck, a blotch of land came into view on the horizon - a saddle shaped island with forested hills and white beaches and green meadows. She didn't need Percy's nautical sense to confirm it. They had reached the home of the cyclops.

The island itself didn't look evil, in fact, it was rather beautiful with green fields, tropical fruit trees and white beaches. As they sailed towards the shore, Annabeth breathed in the sweet air. "The Fleece," she said.

This Fleece had to be incredibly powerful to feel its magic from so far away. Malicious thoughts of overwhelming power flooded Dumbledore's mind as his eyes bore into the screen. If he could get his hands on that Fleece...

Percy nodded. They couldn't see the Fleece yet, but they could feel its power, Cassiopeia felt the burning in her veins dull to a mere ache, her energy rushing back. "If we take it away, will the island die?" He asked.

Annabeth shook her head. "It will fade. Go back to what it would normally be, whatever that is." Percy felt a little guilty for ruining the paradise, but he remained himself what he was doing this for.

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 a hippopotamus. Just past them, was a path that led up the hill. At the top of the path, near the edge of the canyon, was a massive oak tree. Something gold glittering in its branches.

"That's too easy," Percy said. "I could just hike up there and take it."

Annabeth's eyes narrowed. "There's supposed to be a guardian. 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 bleated at once and rushed for the animal. It happened so fast that the deer stumbled and was lost in a sea of wool and trampling hooves.

A second later the sheep all moved away, back to their regular peaceful wandering. Where the deer had been was now a pile of clean white bones.

Sirius stared horrified, his wide blue eyes jumping between the screen and James as he babbled incoherently.

"They're like piranhas." Annabeth muttered, clearly uneasy.

"Piranhas with wool. How will we-" Percy didn't get to finish before Annabeth had grabbed his arm and forced his attention elsewhere.

"Percy!" She gasped, "look." She pointed down the beach to just below the sheep meadow, where a small had been run around... the lifeboat from the CSS Birmingham. Cassiopeia smiled to herself, glad to know that her dear friend and court member had made it to the island.

"Always good to know I would be missed should I die." Clarisse reached out, past the Prewetts and Stolls, to ruffle Cassiopeia's hair slightly.

They decided there was no way to get past the monstrous sheep. Annabeth wanted to sneak up the path invisibly and grab the Fleece, but in the end Percy and Cassiopeia convinced her that something would go wrong. The sheep would smell her. Another guardian would appear. Something. And if that happened, they would be too far away to help.

Besides, their first job was to find Grover and whoever had come ashore in the lifeboat - assuming they made it past the sheep.

The cliffs looked climbable, barely - about as difficult as the lava wall back at camp. At least it was free of sheep. They rowed a lifeboat to the edge of the rocks and made their way up, very slowly. Cassiopeia went first because she was the best climber, holding the record for fastest speed up the lava wall in camp.

At some point, Annabeth had accidentally kicked Percy in the face while trying to find a good footing. Finally, they hauled themselves over the top of the cliff, where Cassiopeia was waiting, and collapsed.