The Mutt, the Duck, and the Angry

"This is stupid." Jackal's voice practically hisses aloud as he just keeps his own backpack tucked by the shoulder straps. He eyes the short blue duck walking a bit more closer to your side than Jackal was, leering at the bird before huffing some smoke to add, "Remind me why we're letting this little squirt walk with us, again? I know you've explained it before, but he tried to kill and eat us, remember Lace?"

It had been a few hours since the troop of you set out from the lake, having gotten your things together and Gold reaffirming that he was now alongside your group now. Going from a duo to a trio, you realize that comes with its own complications as while infected encounters were less dangerous, you would now have to deal with all of the infighting between the Typhlosion and the Golduck now.

You go to shut down the argument attempt with, "Again Jackal, need I remind you how we met?" The Typhlosion was guilty of the same thing.

"That...!" Jackal snarls, ready to excuse it as something different...but it truly wasn't.

Gold on the other hand just sticks his tongue out towards Jackal and grunts, "Yeah, so watch yourself tubby! Don't be givin' me excuses to wash you down and knock ya down a peg."

Fire scorches from between Jackal's teeth. "Tubby...?!"

This was gonna be a long trip... You emit a groan, telling both of them to calm down unless they wanted to get you angry as well. Both men just scoff and look away from each other, as well as away from you, considering you've defeated them both, even in less than ideal circumstances. You simply pull out the map Hex had given you for the trip, looking for this psychic's tent that he was pointing you towards. It was hard to gauge just how long of a trip it would be for the pasture it was on, but considering other notations of previous villages or landmarks, it was closer to the path you were on than others, so perhaps it wouldn't be too **** of a trek. You couldn't help but notice that Redeemer's Grotto was marked on the mountain area of the map, not with a name, but its emblem. Apparently, Hex knew of its location and word of the runners meeting with him held true. It explained better on how that Village Chief knew of Hex still.

To distract the two troublemakers, you explain the directions you'll be headed in.

Gold tries to hop and peek over the parchment you held, huffing, "Oi! Where's the closest beach? We should check one out first!" Clearly he was excited from your offer this morning.

"It sounds nice, but we're meeting that frog we told you about somewhere. I don't want to keep him waiting, let alone with how dangerous it is out here." You reply, rolling the paper up to discourage his eyes as he seems to angrily sulk afterwards.

Gold does mutter to add however, "...Don't see the reason why you even need to meet the guy. You need to talk to some psychic mumbo-jumbo dude, right? Well I'd say you're better off without that fruity frog or whoever this mystery weirdo is. Any psychic stuff you wanna know, I'm your guy~!" The duck flicks a confident thumb towards his forehead gem...only to worryingly tap at it. "...Though no thanks to you, I ain't all too good in the headspace. My ruby's still on the fritz..."

You can't help but twitch your ears as they pick up a grunt from Jackal who was muttering lowly under his breath, "I doubt a lot ever happens in your headspace, duck..."

It didn't seem like Gold heard which you were thankful for. The two butting heads constantly was troublesome and a bit too expected at this point. They'd have to work together on something to finally settle the score between them. But until then, you explain the full rundown to the Golduck. "It's appreciated, but the psychic we're meeting is a Drowzee named Draxius. Apparently he mentored Hex and understands how people's minds work, so if the infection really does take over people's heads or messes with them in some way at least, then he's the guy we need to talk to."

The Golduck seemed to still be tapping at his forehead gem, muttering to himself now, "...Do gemstones grow back?" He didn't seem to be paying much attention to you now after his boasting, but things finally grew a bit more quiet thankfully as Jackal quietly seethes or sulks at your left, while Gold at your right just keeps his attention on whatever he could think about, walking all together. Though occasionally, you do see him dig into his satchel bag to take out that seashell from before as he tries to sneak it up against the side of his head, closing his eyes to try and listen into it...

You keep your eyes open as you travel along a grassy hill, sticking to a path as the map dictates, and looking out at the morning sun beaming on the land.