Work Text:
In the midst of a zombie apocalypse, Grian finds himself not running for his life, but mourning the dead.
It’s Mumbo’s birthday. He’d be 28 today. Neither of them really had plans, just to spend time together like they always do.
Like they always did.
In a way, this is partially Grian’s own fault. He should’ve just hit the fail button on his task and taken the heart penalty, but both the Watchers and Etho wouldn’t have been happy about that.
He still doesn’t know why Mumbo was around the Secret Keeper when it all went down. He should’ve been getting away , especially after Grian had basically caused his first death, too.
Grian wraps his wings around himself, placing down a Lily of the Valley on his fallen friend’s grave.
His mind goes over the million ways he could’ve prevented this. Grian could’ve done anything , anything to get him away from the Secret Keeper, to keep him from falling off that Strider, to- to-
The avian chokes on a sob, trembling with the effort of keeping himself quiet. He at least knows he has Cleo keeping watch for any zombies, but... they still can’t afford to attract attention towards them. Footsteps make their way towards him.
“Pearl’s coming,” Cleo murmurs, grabbing Grian’s arm and pulling him onto his feet. “We should move on.”
He stares for just a moment longer at Mumbo’s grave before nodding. He doesn’t want to be next.