At this point, Gray didn't know what to do. He mucked around until he found a log that he could rest on for a while. With nothing better to do, he sat. Sometimes he looked at the clouds, trying to guess how soon the next rainfall would come. But mostly, he sat. And waited. He watched the sun dip below the horizon, and the moon take her serene stroll across the sky. He saw a constellation and wondered if Lucy's spirits lived somewhere out there.
It was after a few hours of stargazing that Gray thought to check his rations to figure out how long he could wait here before having to move. He again felt his way through his bag, finding a second compartment built into the side. He had a bag of nuts, dried meat, bread, and some berries he found before the rains hit. Not bad. His water was more concerning, however. He shook his silver canteen, listening to the amount within. By his estimate, Gray could stick around for another day before he absolutely had to find more water.
Gray huffed and fell back onto the log, looking up at the sky once again. This sucked. He had swallowed his pride enough to ask for help, and now he had to sit with the knowledge that Natsu and Happy were oh-so-slowly heading to rescue him, likely laughing the whole way. Whatever. He didn't want to think about it anymore. Gray hit his hands together and created a spire of ice so the two could see where he was easier. Pleased, he shifted on the log until he was comfortable, closed his eyes and drifted off to sleep.
Gray awoke to a loud creaking noise. He opened his eyes for a split second before the log he had slept on split, rolled, and promptly deposited Gray into the mud. His sleepy curses bubbled in the dirt.
"Oh my god, you look like a bog monster," laughed a too-familiar voice. To Gray's relief and resentment, it was Natsu. He looked up to see Natsu, with Happy on one shoulder and Lily on the other, suspiciously right behind where the log was.
"Did you push me, you asshole?"
"I don't remember pushing you, just this log that happened to be in my way."
"I'm gonna kill– Wait, why is Lily here?"
"Happy can't carry both of us, duh." Replied Natsu, rolling his eyes.
"My day was free due to Gajeel being on a mission with Levy." Explained Lily.
"Alone?"
"Yes. I asked to join them, but Gajeel insisted it just be them for some reason." Happy snickered at this, aware of the obvious truth that Lily wasn't privy to. "Nonetheless, I offered my services to assist you home."
Gray didn't know if Lily had ever carried him before, and imagined it was going to be a very awkward experience.
"Well, thanks. We should probably get going now, then."
"That would be best."
Gray allowed the black cat to grab his midsection, as he wasn't wearing a shirt and had zero clues as to where it might be, and shook off the odd feeling of leaving the earth. He wondered if the dragon slayers ever got used to that feeling.
As Gray rose into the sky, so too did Natsu and Happy. The group sped off in the direction of Magnolia, conversation already brewing about the trip home.