A day later and we were finally leaving the healers hut, a few brief inquires revealed team JNPR was now in front of us. We would need to move fast to catch up, although hopefully with Qrow having already passed through there would be less grim. So off we went, the village was left behind and we were once again in the middle of the woods, with a horrendous storm raging. Although I wasn't attempting to fly in it this time, thank god.
Flopping down onto a dry-ish patch of ground next to Mercury I was about to speak, when a piercing shriek cut through the howling wind. "What was that?"
"Don't know."
Chancing a glance at the others I could see they were all content to ignore the sound, "come on aren't we going to investigate?"
"No"
"Well why not?"
"Because its none of our business!"
"The hell it isn't, what if it is Ruby's lot? They could be in trouble and we are supposed to be helping them."
Groaning Mercury rolled to his feet, muttering under his breath about 'stubborn, irritating girls who don't know when to mind their own business.' "Come on lets go then." Grinning I leapt to my feet glancing back down at Emerald and Neo to see if they were going to come.
Emerald waved me off saying "we will watch the camp, shout if you need us." shrugging I turned and followed after Mercury, jogging a bit to catch up.
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"Bloody hell!"
The words were distant sounding barely penetrating the fog that surrounded my mind, the voice was familiar but at the moment I couldn't place it. Something was calling to me in this storm and I needed to find it. Gliding forwards again I could feel someone trying to hold onto me, hands griping my biceps however nothing could get in my way. I was blind to anything but the faint shimmer in the air that told me I was going the right way. finally coming to a halt I blinked and looked around, I was standing in a smallish clearing apparently in the eye of the storm. A startled gasp tore from me when I finally took note of what my first search of the clearing had missed. The tall Amazonian like woman currently floating in the air with a pulsing pink aura around her. Shaking of my shock I approached slowly, that was when I felt that weird 'pull' again. Frowning I drifted closer and just as I went to touch arm, I felt a sharp shock run through me. Yelping I rubbed my finger tips together trying to sooth the stinging. After a moment I looked up and found my self staring into a pair of incredibly bright purple eyes. "Uh hi?"
The girl frowned and slowly lowered to the ground as she stopped floating, as she did the fierce wind dropped to barely a whisper. "Who are you? And how did you get past the storm?"
Raising an eyebrow I said "I'm Dove, and I'm not really sure how I got past the storm I just felt like I needed to get here and then I was here I don't really remember much of the journey."
"Why?"
"Uh, I don't know I think...are you a maiden?" The woman flushed and lifted her arm like she was about to attack, "whoa,whoa, whoa im sorry I didn't mean to imply anything. it just im looking for summer and winter."
"the woman still looked enraged and when she spoke you could hear the rage too "and why would you be looking for summer and winter but not the other two seasons?"
"Oh well the fall maiden is Cinder fall and she is working for Salem to try and destroy the world, so we need to gather the other maidens to stop her."
"you didn't answer the other part of my question, why not spring?"
"Well one doesn't often need to go find themselves do they?"
the woman relaxed a fraction "your the spring maiden?"
"Yeah I know unimpressive looking, but I've got a showy side too." Flashing her a grin I unfurled my wings spreading them as far and they would go, before channelling some of my maiden powers, just enough for a gentle spring breeze to pick up and the brilliant green glow to form around my self.
When my vision cleared of the green fog my powers brought on I could see the woman smiling widely and completely relaxed, "okay I believe you know sister season no need to show off too much."
"Sister season?"
"Well yeah, spring and summer go together quite well even if I do say so my self."
Smiling even wider I nodded and said "yeah they do don't they, sister season."
Laughter rang around the clearing before the faint clashing of metal caught my attention, turning slowly I frowned "come on lets go check it out"
"What why? its none of our business."
Rolling my eyes at the de'ja'vu moment, Mercury had said the exact same thing. Mercury! "Ah shit my friend is out there somewhere, if that is him it most definitely is our business, come on!"
The storm was conspicuously absent as we raced through the forest, ducking branches and weaving around trees. Not pausing I bounded straight into the clearing in time to see a black shadow lunge towards Mercury. Throwing my arms forwards I sent vines exploding out of the ground to contain the writhing form of one Blake Belladonna. Scanning the clearing I made sure there were no other threats before I relaxed letting out a soft whoosh of air from my nose. Padding over to Mercury I said "so chere, you all right down there?"
Twin pools of irritated magenta scowled at me before Mercury vaulted to his feet, sniffing pompously he said "I think you should know it is much harder to defend ones self when they are trying not to hurt their opponent."
Smiling I said "so are you okay?"
"Yeah D.." he shot a wary look at Blake "..yeah darlin' I'm fine"
"Im glad" stretching up I pressed a swift kiss to his lips before retreating to check on Blake. "Miss Belladonna?"
Jerking Blake looked startled "w..what?...Who are you? How do you know my name?"
Smiling I said "I know your friends Blake they were quite worried about you, we can take you to them if you would like, or you can find your way on your own if you don't wish for our company. I'm spring by the way."
"Spring as in the spring maiden?"
huffing in amusement I responded "yes the spring maiden, did you want us to show you to your friends or did you just want to go. However if i let you go you have to promise to not attack my friends."
"Your friends?" she looked confused and then her gaze flickered to Mercury. When she spoke with more venom than I had ever heard from Blake, "they are not your friends, they're just using you for your power. You shouldn't stay with them, they aunt good people."
Sighing softly at her stubbornness I said "they are my friends and I will not doubt them until I have irrefutable proof as a reason to doubt them, maybe not even then. Spring is a loyal season and we always see the best in people." Memories flitted past from my time 'away', when I was learning how to use my powers and finding things out about my season. Not seeing a flicker of emotion change on her face I turned and spoke to Mercury "Go back to camp, tell Em and Neo about this and I will guide Blake back to her friends." Finally remembering the summer maiden I turned to face my new friend and said "what about you? You can either go hang out with my friends till I come back, or you can come with me, it up to you."
"I guess I will come with you sister season."
"Okay lets go."