JASON
Percy sighed. "Merpeople?" Jason said. "But shouldn't they be helping us?"
"From what Bythos told me, it doesn't sound like it. Apparently some opinions have been swayed about Poseidon's dependability. I didn't want to believe him, but I guess this kind of confirms it."
The nymph nodded vigorously. "They do not think the sea god can protect them. They do not think he can win against the Father of the Waters."
"So I guess the tides have been turned," Leo murmured, earning a sideways smirk from Piper and a much more serious look from Percy.
"Yes, they seem to have been. And we're going to turn them back," he said steadily. No one spoke, but the little nymph was watching them all intently, apparently no longer wary of their presence.
"Lady Asteria wishes you to stay one night more. One more night on the island of Delos. One more night for the demigods to learn," she said cheerily.
"What do you mean?" Jason said. "We have to find Oceanus and stop him. We don't have time to hang around here."
But the green eyed nymph shook her head knowingly. "There is always time if that which one has is wisely spent." Jason thought that was about as helpful as had she spoken in Urdu.
"Okay, well what is it we have to learn?" he pressed. "We've already been here for days now; how much more could there be for us here?"
She shrugged and began to walk back away towards the forest. "That is for the island to tell you. I do not know, nor is it for me to know." She left the group staring after her as she disappeared into the foliage, within seconds no trace of her presence remaining.
"Well that was helpful."
"We should resettle the camp," Annabeth said, motioning half-heartedly behind her to where the tents had been prior to Percy's less than strategically placed tidal-wave.
"Good - one problem," Calypso interjected with a slightly scornful expression. When no one responded, she continued, "Our tents seem to have been misplaced."
Indeed, when the others actually turned to examine what remained of their camp, all that could be distinguished along the now seaweed strewn beach were a few poles and some canvas poking out beneath the newly created dunes.
"Super," Piper muttered, no charmspeak required to make the others agree. "Let's get to it then."
They shuffled grudgingly across what once was their campsite, sifting through what they could and divvying up what was still usable. The wet sand clung to their hands and clothing like wallpaper paste and Jason felt the unpleasant sensation of the tiny grains creeping into his shoes.
The dark canvas sheets were painstakingly recovered, dragged out by makeshift tow cables procured by Leo and a little coaxing of the Pegasi by Percy. Soon, more than less of the pieces had been piled up in the center of the beach and Jason, Leo, and Hazel began the arduous task of reassembly. About half way through, they came to realize they were missing a few stray bungees and lengths of rope, but the tents held well enough and no one really cared as long as they didn't collapse.
Annabeth, Piper, and Frank began gathering up firewood from the edges of the forest, hesitant to venture too far into the shrubbery in case some angry nymphs were still keeping an eye on them.
Calypso, accompanied by Leo, and Nico took opposite ends of the beach, scouring the surf for any supplies that may have scattered farther.
The sun seemed to descend on them far too slowly for Jason's liking. He only wanted to get away from this place. It gave him goosebumps to think they were camping out on what once would have been a goddess. Especially if she was trying to communicate with them. That just added a whole other layer of weirdness to their predicament.
"There," he said, hefting the last stake into the ground and collapsing with a sigh, brushing his hands impatiently against his jeans. Unfortunately, both were equally sandy and he was having a hard time believing he'd ever be free of the stuff.
"I guess," Percy said, hardly sounding convinced, as though he was waiting for something else to happen and undo all their work for a second time. "At least the Pegasi are set to leave in the morning. To be honest, I can't wait to find Oceanus and get this thing over with."
Jason nodded. "Hey, where's Leo? I'm starved."
"Leo's right here." The son of Hephaestus was walking, alone, down the beach towards them. No, more like stalking. Jason caught sight of another figure in the distance following briskly behind his friend. Calypso's face was as unreadable as ever, and Leo was uncharacteristically grim as he sank cross legged in the sand next to Jason in angry silence.
Jason and Percy shared a look and Hazel watched on cautiously from her tent. "I'm fine," Leo shot before either boy had the chance to say anything. "What's for dinner?"