Camazotz yawned, studying the tapestry idly. The Fates were silent, threading their giant loom with the lightning-speed of millennia of practice.

"That was a twist," he commented after a moment. "Having the chicken eat the people instead of the other way around. Whose idea was that?"

Ours.

He sighed heavily, eying the arena again. "You're no fun. Well, at least Sterculius and Athena are down for the count. Do you think they'll give Tweety down there diarrhea?"

Your questions are inappropriate and irrelevant, bat-god. Much like yourself.

His lips pursed together, but Camazotz said nothing. In front of him, the tapestry shifted and rearranged itself. Buildings collapsed or faded away to nothing, and trees sprang up in their place, tall and verdant. The city ruins were gone in seconds; in their place, the ancient forest once again reigned supreme. As one, the Fates stood, walking silently over a side table in the hall. One picked up a clay pitcher and walked smoothly onto the tapestry. The others approached Camazotz.

Have you gathered that which we told you to find?

He nodded curtly, reaching behind him and pulling out a small glass case. Inside, two flowers rested gently, one with bell-like purple blossoms and dark berries, the other a pure white with elegant, symmetrical petals.

"Having me fetch these was definitely better than that barrel from earlier. I have to confess, I'm curious. Why send me to fetch nightshade flowers and a lotus? They weren't magical, or they would have put up more of a fight when I picked them."

They have no power of their own, bat-god. However, they are needed for the consecration. The springs must be in place soon.

One Fate took the nightshade from the glass box; the other took the lotus. They turned and moved smoothly to the tapestry to stand beside their sister. With almost reverent poise, the Fate with the pitcher poured a shining stream of clear water onto the tapestry. Shifteing her weight, she did the same on a different spot. All three Fates began murmuring in Greek, the two with the flowers kneeling beside the spots where the water had fallen. Camazotz watched warily. The same sense of shaped, purposeful Power was beginning to thrum throughout the room once again, deep as the ocean and inexorable as time itself. The Fates released the flowers to fall gently onto the water, and with a soft rushing sensation, the sense of power discharged. Both water and flowers sank silently into the tapestry. Camazotz blinked, unsure of what had just come to pass.

"Mind telling me what that was all about?" The Fates left the tapestry, returning to their loom.

Eating the egg of the roc has only partially restored their divine strength. They are left fragile; endowed with a god's power, but not a god's life. They now face a crossroads. They can choose to carry on and hope to win the competition as empowered mortals.

"Ooh, yeah, I can totally see them doing that," he replied snarkily. "They're gods, Your Supreme Ineffabilities. They're not stupid."

Or they can risk the springs. Should they drink of the Spring of Rebirth, they will regain their immortality.

"I sense a "but" coming..."

Should they drink of the Spring of Morpheus, they shall surely die.

Camazotz smiled. It strongly resembled a skeleton's grin.

"Now that's more like it."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The Arena: Lachesis’s Forest Primeval (see Task Two for details)
The Task: The roc’s egg may have restored godly power, but there’s one thing it didn’t return, something utterly integral to being a deity- immortality. Because of this, the tributes are left strong, but fragile- without life eternal, one is barely more than a mortal, no matter what control one exerts on the world.

Hidden away in the Forest Primeval, Lachesis has placed two springs. Drink from the Spring of Rebirth, and the basilisk venom will be completely purged, restoring immortality. However, drinking from the Spring of Morpheus is hazardous to one’s health- the drinker falls into a stupor of blissful oblivion from which they can never wake.

The only way of differentiating the springs is thus: in, near, or on the Spring of Rebirth is a lotus or the image of one as a symbol of restoration and rebirth. Similarly, the Spring of Morpheus has a nightshade flower or the image of one to represent poison and deception. Your tribute may be aware of this symbolism, but not that the Fates are using these flowers.

Thus, the tributes are presented with a choice- continue as they are and hope they survive the Games like mortals, or risk the springs to reclaim their godhood.
Kills: 1 in your entry and 1 ballot death. 2 total, for those who don’t math. Four people will go up for votes. Two will be eliminated.
+1 point for best quote
+1 point for best description of the spring(s)

Due Date: Tuesday, March 17, at 5 PM EST