An interesting war speech

                                    

                                          



Rhea's stirring speech,
Annabeth's laughter rings free,
To the river, Rhea goes.
***
Mrs. O'Leary was the only one happy about the sleeping city.
They found her pigging out at an overturned hot dog stand while the owner was curled up on the sidewalk, sucking his thumb.
Argus was waiting for them with his hundred eyes wide open. He didn't say anything. He never does since he has an eyeball on his tongue,  his face made it clear he was freaking out.
Rhea told him the news and Argus rolled his eyes in disgust, which looked pretty psychedelic since it made his whole body swirl.
"You'd better get back to camp," Rhea told him. "Guard it as best you can."
He pointed at me and raised his eyebrow quizzically.
"I'm staying,"
Argus nodded as this answer satisfied him. He looked at Annabeth and drew a circle in the air with his finger.
"Yes," Annabeth agreed. "I think it's time."
Argus rummaged around in the back of his van. He brought out a bronze shield and passed it to Annabeth. It looked pretty much a standard issue—the same kind of round shield they always used in Capture the Flag. But when Annabeth set it on the ground, the reflection on the polished metal changed from sky and buildings to the Statue of Liberty—which wasn't anywhere close to them.
"Now this is awesome."
"One of Daedalus's ideas," Annabeth said. "I had Beckendorf make this before—" She glanced at Silena then side-eyed Rhea. "Um, anyway, the shield bends sunlight or moonlight from anywhere in the world to create a reflection. You can literally see any target under the sun or moon, as long as natural light is touching it. Look."
They crowded around as Annabeth concentrated. The image zoomed and spun at first, sickness just watching it. They were in the Central Park Zoo, then zooming down East 60th, past Bloomingdale's, then turning on Third Avenue.
"Whoa," Connor Stoll said. "Back up. Zoom in right there."
"What?" Annabeth said nervously. "You see invaders?"
"No, right there—Dylan's Candy Bar." Connor grinned at his brother. "Dude, it's open. And everyone is asleep. Are you thinking what I'm thinking?"
Rhea slammed the flat side of her trident blades on his head making the boy see stars. "Focus!"
"Oh thank you!" Katie Gardner said to Rhea. -She sounded like her mother, Demeter-, she then turned to Connor. "This is serious. You are not going to loot a candy store in the middle of a war!"
"Sorry," Connor muttered while massaging his head, but he didn't sound very ashamed.
Annabeth passed her hand in front of the shield, and another scene popped up: FDR Drive, looking across the river at Lighthouse Park.
"This will let us see what's going on across the city," she said. "Thank you, Argus. Hopefully, we'll see you back at camp... someday."
Argus grunted. He gave Rhea a look that clearly meant Good luck; you'll need it, then climbed into his van. He and the two harpy drivers swerved away, weaving around clusters of idle cars that littered the road.