Percy is unable to fight off the Manticore, and he and the di Angela siblings get taken captive. Thorn leads them away from the school and into the woods. He explains that something called the Great Stirring has been waking up powerful monsters such as himself. He tells Percy that he intends to take him and the siblings to see someone known as the General. While this is going on, Percy uses his empathetic bond with Grover to call for help. Percy stalls Thorn and keeps him talking, giving Grover and his friends the chance to show up and rescue him.
The three manage to save Percy and the siblings, but before they can defeat the Manticore his backup arrives in the form of an attack helicopter. The group doesn’t know what to do, but before Thorn and his backup can act.