Mercury is starting to feel like his life is the butt of some long-funning joke.
Sure, he's not too broken up about Cinder's death—really, she was never anything more than a means to an end, despite Emerald's attempts to make it seem like they were some sort of little family. Heck, they weren't even really friends.
But now that he's stuck traveling with Tyrian and Watts, of all people, it's enough to almost make him miss her and wish she was still here. She might have been annoying and bossy, but she wasn't nearly as obnoxious as these two idiots that he's here with now.
He hopes that Emerald doesn't do anything stupid while he's gone. Not that he particularly cares if she gets herself in trouble, but if she does, he knows that he'll end up getting yelled at too. As if he has any control over what Emerald does, anyway.
So far, they haven't had much luck on their search. They're looking for the Branwen Tribe, since it seems likely that the power of the Spring Maiden would have remained among the tribe after Cinder's failed attempt to claim it for herself. It gives them a place to start looking, at least.
Unfortunately, it's not that simple. The Branwen Tribe seems to have vanished without a trace after their last encounter. None of the people they interrogate have seen them, and there hasn't been an attack on a village that can be traced back to the tribe since before the attack on Haven Academy. It's a lot less to work with than the last time they tracked them down.
It's looking like this is going to be a long, mostly pointless, trip, and Mercury isn't looking forwards to spending even more time with two of his least favorite people in Remnant. Out of those still, living, anyway. His father reigns supreme in that category, but he's long dead and gone at this point.
His companions don't seem to share his lack of enthusiasm, however, when he joins them this particular morning. In fact, they're both far too chipper for how early in the day it still is. Mercury grunts. "Do we have a lead to follow for today?"
"In a sense," Watts answers cryptically. He seems smug. Well, more smug than usual. Mercury rolls his eyes.
"You should show more respect," Tyrian chides him. "After all, not everyone is so lucky as we are to receive such a blessing from Salem herself."
He's making even less sense than usual. Reluctantly, Mercury turns back to Watts, raising an eyebrow. "Did you really think that Salem was going to leave us to wander around on a wild goose chase through Mistral for weeks on end?" he scoffs. "No, while that might be acceptable for the likes of Cinder, those who are desperate to prove themselves, but not for the rest of us. No, for those of us who are worthy, Salem will provide the resources we need to accomplish our mission. We're just waiting for our gift to arrive."
As usual, he's talking complete nonsense. But both he and Tyrian do seem to be waiting for something as they peer into the woods on the edge of the small that they've been staying in. He listens hard to the sounds of the forest, since attempting to see anything among the thick trees is a waste of effort.
And then suddenly, along with the birdsong and the rustling of leaves, he hears unfamiliar footsteps, like no animal he's ever heard. Clearly both Tyrian and Watts can hear them too, as they both seem to perk up, excitement obvious on their faces. "Here it is!" Tyrian murmurs, almost reverently.
A few more minutes and a dark shape enters the clearing. It turns to face them, and Mercury stifles a gasp. Unsurprisingly for a gift sent from Salem, it's a Grimm.
But still, it's not like any Grimm that Mercury has ever seen before. "With this on our side," Watts says triumphantly. "We'll find our Spring Maiden in no time."
The Grimm opens its mouth with a loud croaking sound. "Find?"