As soon as the race started the Stoll brothers slammed their chariot straight into the Apollo campers chariot, which shattered their own chariot and sent them flying along with my cousins who were manning Apollo's chariot. My uncle's chariot then veered diagonally off the track, and went straight to the judges table, which was quickly abandoned except for the food Tantalus had asked for to be there.

At the same time the Demeter cabin and Dionysus cabin wisely took their chariots off the track and got off them proclaiming they weren't going to be the ones to die in this death race. And this was probably the smartest move all race, as they were going to get out of this with no injuries guaranteed.

I guess I should explain now since, there's four chariots out before they passed 20 feet, and you know the whole driver and fighter thing. Annabeth and I agreed she would 'drive' the chariot, while in actuality she was making sure the reigns wouldn't fall off and get tangled in the wheels or something, other than that she was going to be using archery to help take out other chariots or keep them distracted at least. Meantime, my job was if the competition was far away to use arrows myself to do the same as Annabeth, or if they were close enough to use my spear to wreak havoc on the other charioteers.

Now having the famed Ceryneian hind, as your power in a chariot race is surprisingly extremely good, as we were already accelerating down the back stretch while the others were just entering the first turn. Where I saw Beckendorf hit some button to launch a net of something at Peter and Tyson, which Tyson blocked, before he said birds, which initially confused me until I remember we had the audience of the Stymphalian Birds for today's race.

I looked up to see that they were already flying in a cyclone following the chariots on the track. I quickly wrote a note that just had a bow pointed at a circle with a line throw it, hoping that they Apollo's cabin can understand what I mean in the images, as I shot it at the base of their section. Though knowing their father and my uncle it's a fifty-fifty chance they get it.

I turned to Annabeth and motion to the birds, which she also just recognized that they started flying in a circle, "Protect my mother's hind" I told her, "and start shooting some of these damned murder pigeons" I added, which got a light chuckle before she started firing the arrows up at the birds, just as they started to make attack runs.

"Young lord, the murder pigeons are attacking the campers" Ceryneia told me

"I'm aware, I just hope they understood my message quick enough" I said, before turning my aim to the birds, only to notice that Beckendorf and Silena are out of their chariot as it is being eaten by the birds, and that the Poseidon chariot was also destroyed which just left Clarisse which we were about 3 chariots up on. That was until, we had to swerve out of the way of Peter who I shot for not learning his lesson from Medusa, before going back to shooting the birds.

"Percy, please tell me they aren't what I think they are" Clarisse shouted, to cover the chariot length of separation between us

"The murder pigeons, yeah they are Stymphalian birds" I said, which just got Clarisse to curse, "well chariot racing is chariot racing" she said and threw a spear with a boxing glove at me.

I caught it before turning it on her and throwing it at the wheel of her chariot, hoping it would break. Which it did damage the wheel just not enough to break it, going into the last turn.

"Clarisse I think dealing with murder pigeons are more important than winning a chariot race I said, going back to shooting the birds, again.

As we came out of the last corner we were half a chariot up on Clarisse, but were accelerating faster than her, so we were going to win, at which point I solely focused on the birds.

After firing the last of the arrows in the chariot I noticed that we were coming back to where the viewers were, whom were either shooting the last of the murder pigeons, or throwing spears at them. Well, except Aphrodite's children who were mostly complaining about their ruined her and or clothes, which was only serving to make Beckendorf chuckle and Silena to facepalm at her siblings antics.

"Thanks Ceryneia, just be safe leaving" I said freeing her from the reigns and harness as our chariot stopped, and she ran off being free and semi wild once again.

Of course, I don't know if Tantalus was pissed off or not as he was coming over. "and we have our first winner" Tantalus said, walking to Clarisse, who he gave the golden laurels too.

Clarisse looked disgusted by the action but held onto them for now. "Now to punish the trouble makers" Tantalus said, looking at Annabeth, myself, Tyson, and Peter. The latter two who had just joined all of us charioteers.

"Oh so protecting my mom's prized hind is punishable" I questioned, which just served to piss off Tantalus because well I like Ceryneia, she's a friend, "or was it firing at the birds who were attacking camp" I questioned again, which got a bunch of ohhh's and burn's from my cousins, and Hermes's children.

"You are such a trouble maker, Jackson" Tantalus taunted

"Last I checked I haven't been the one sentenced to the fields of punishment" I countered, which even Athena's and Ares's kids recognized that burn, as I started walking away from the track. "Ohh and before I forget" I said taking out an arrow from one of the dead birds, "Here's your reward" I finished and fired an arrow in between Tantalus's eyes, which only seemed too upset Dionysus.

"No fair I wanted to do that" The wine god whined, "albeit later but still"

"Choose someone I won't kill next time Mr. D" I said to him, who just nodded and probably left to Olympus, likely to tell them I sent Tantalus back to the underworld.

"Alright, since we have so many birds, and need to get rid of them, I purpose we exact our revenge by cooking and then consuming them" I suggested because it's been a week since I've had any sort of wild game.

"What about the beaks" someone asked.

"Cut them off and put them in the scarp pile for the forge, at least then we have some more material to work with" I said, which seemed to make the Hephaestus campers happy.

So as many of you may know,I leant him the Ceryneian Hind, or as he calls her Ceryneia, so he could destroy the competition in that chariot race that Tantalus reinstated. Now, you may be wondering why not kill Tantalus or turn him into some woodland creature, after all he falls into the males, that I despise list. Well, two reasons really, one father says I'm not allowed too, which sucks, and the other he's 'helping' the demigods at camp.

Now, whoever is arguing that he's helping, well I'm signing them up for my brother's mental institution. As just based off my son's prayers alone this year, I can tell he's probably going to kill him, if Dionysus doesn't get rid of the male first.

Anyways, besides the whole Tantalus is probably going to die, chariot race, and all that other stuff, Ceryneia just got back to me and the hunt. Yes I call her Ceryneia too, apparently she likes it because the young lord came up with it...he did that when he was five.

"Lady Artemis, do you wish to hear how thew race went" Ceryneia asked

"Yes, and I'm sure the hunters would like to know as well" I said, too which most of my hunt jumped out of the trees or emerged from the bushes. "well I guess we won't have to wait for them" I said

"Good, so we won, but that jerk, what's his face, Tarantula...no Tantalus" Ceryneia said, only to get most of my hunters to groan in annoyance as they hate Tantalus as well, " gave the wreaths to the daughter of Ares, who looked disgusted upon receiving them, so I think she ended up giving them to the young lord, and his lady friend" she continued only to get many chuckles from the hunt, saying, we new they were dating.

"Actually, they are just really good friends, who agree they are too young to date" Ceryneia defended, which drew a sigh from most of the hunters, but I had to agree with Ceryneia on this. Although I have nothing against the daughter of Athena they are just both too young to start dating.

"Well as I was running away, after I got board of spying on the young lord from the forest, I was pretty sure I heard him kill Tantalus." She finished, and I and most of the hunt sighed, me because of a pending council meeting and the hunt because they didn't get to kill him

"Oh he also asked if defending me was punishable, but Tantalus didn't answer that" she added lastly

"no it's not punishable, that action should be rewarded but defending from what" I asked

"These murder pigeons, but I heard a few call them the Stymphalian birds" she answered, which only got most of the hunt pissed, because not only was their brother, likely, facing punishment, but doing so for a noble and just action.

Of course, I didn't get to talk longer as surprise surprise the council was summoned. "Girls you know I have to go, Zoë is in charge" I said, flashing off to Olympus, only to see a slightly angry looking father, an amused Hades, which I'm wondering why he's here, a depressed Dionysus, and the rest of the council just looking confused or angry, but the anger is at Dionysus instead of just general anger.

"So to start, who is watching over the campers right now" Zeus said looking at Dionysus who shrunk into his throne.

"They are in the capable hands of the cabin counselors" He said stuttering knowing he's likely going to be in more trouble now.

"And what of the new activities director" Zeus said, and I have a feeling I'm going to have to defend my son today.

"Well he was shot...with an arrow...in the face...between the eyes" Dionysus said on and on as most of the council wanted to hear more, but he wasn't giving all at first.

"So who shot my son" Zeus said, which got the whole council to do a 180.

"Wait I thought you disowned Tantalus because of his horrendous actions" Hera said

"well...I...well I did but he was still my son, even if I don't accept him as such anymore" Zeus stuttered out

"Are you forgetting he tried feeding us his own son" father's 5 siblings shouted at the same time.

"Well no"

"He should have never been allowed to leave the fields of punishment in the first place" Hades mumbled, but it was clear enough for all to hear.

"So we need another new activities director" Hestia said kindly, trying to keep the peace in the family.

"Yes it appears so" Father said, "any suggestions"

"Heroes Perseus won't kill to start" Hades stated annoyed, likely because he was going to have to do paperwork and bring the souls to camp, "Then farther limit that to the Greeks"

"Wait Perseus killed Tantalus,..." father started only to be interrupted by Dionysus

"In all fairness Tantalus had it coming, a week of weakening boarder patrol, and then trying to punish Percy for the Stymphalian bird attack, and miss judging the race, and giving the victory to second place, the only other finisher at that. Well I'm actually surprised Clarisse, daughter of Ares, didn't kill him first because of the boarder patrol thing and giving her false praises" Dionysus defended my son, which I and Apollo gave a curt nod of thanks.

I looked over to Athena and saw that she was pissed, because it means her daughter loss the race, all because Tantalus weighed the scale against her daughter.

"Really" Zeus asked, to which Dionysus, Apollo and myself nodded.

I got a questioning glare from my father, before saying, "The Ceryneian Hind was pulling my son's and the daughter of Athena's chariot" which got a nod of okay, as they knew I could speak with wildlife.

"Fine, but still start naming names of possible replacements"

"The original Perseus, Achilles, Odysseus, Theseus, and Jason" I suggested mostly the last one to appease Hera as Jason was her favorite Hero, even though he was a bit of a man whore in my opinion, like Odysseus. But Odysseus was the best for teaching them Archery, as I know any of my hunters, past or present, would be vetoed by those with son's.

"Alright then Perseus it is" father said, with out giving a vote.

"I said and as in all five" I said back to my father before he dismissed the council

"but why the five" father and Hades complained.

Surprisingly Athena answered, for me, which freaked me out a little, "Original Perseus for swords, Achilles for spears, Odysseus for bows, Theseus for wrestling, and Jason is probably to appease Hera, as he was her favorite Hero from back then...well until he cheated on Medea, but that's an entirely different story" she explained

"why not any of the hunters to teach archery" Father said

"because they would be immediately vetoed due to their hatred of males" I said, not even wanting to try and get one of my hunters at camp, because that job would be torture for them.

"fine" Zeus said, "may those 5 serve better than their predecessor, but Perseus is in charge. The other's are there to assist" he said, ending the discussion, and dismissing everyone.

"I'm surprised with your picks, and your seemingly logical and reasonable mode of choosing them" Athena said, only for Hades to interrupt her.

"She choose them because he trained with them, mainly using his knives, sword, or a bow" Hades explained, "he also trained with Hector and other Roman heroes and figures, as well as fallen huntresses"

Athena started gapping like a fish, "that last one is also why he's banned from returning to my realm unless by means of invite, or he's dead" Hades finished flashing off to go complete his duties.

"You let him goto the underworld to train" Athena whispered in shock

"Yes, and he always brought his two favorite sisters with him those times, though they were there to watch over him and protect him" I responded. "But, I have to go as my hunters need me and don't tell father about the whole training in the underworld business" I finished which only got a head nod from my sister, to which I gave her my thanks before leaving.