Adrift Without a Life Vest

Mercury always found his way to a beach. It seemed a given in his life, and much of his exploring was based on shorelines. It was a rueful admittance, since his ship was long gone and he didn’t think it likely he’d return to a life at sea. The Shimmering shore was blessedly close to the Hallows, and he was already beginning a routine of making his way down there in the mornings. Early enough to catch the last wisps of light from the fluorescent shore. Today, he had been held up in the palace and it was already late into the morning before he could break out into a trott. Stretching his legs across the sand as he tasted the bitter wind. Drawing the cool, salty air into his lungs.

It was Solar who noticed something amiss first. The bird let out a sharp caw and banked suddenly. Catching an updraft that sailed him out towards a floating… something. He squinted against the bright light and caught movement. Movement!

He didn’t hesitate, nor think twice. He plunged into the ocean. Gasping at the sudden cold that enveloped him. The winter air did nothing to warm the water, and he could feel it leeching the heat from his fur. As he swam against the tide, Solar started a descent, and landed on the wood the wolf hung to for dear life. The bird caws gently at the wolf, as if to offer encouragement as Mercury’s powerful strokes brought him closer.

He arrived, panting more from the cold then the excursion as he lined himself up behind the wood, and latched on with his teeth. Towing raft and wolf in the direction of the shore. With his mouth occupied, he wasted little time with speeches. He didn’t know how hurt she was, and it was likely the cold was hiding any injuries.


"Speech"