Chapter 1: Wolf Hunt.
Gray's dark eyes took to a serious scan over the forest, the team was embarking down into it as his eyes watched over them, the purple-orange hues that streaked across the sky casting a brilliant sun set upon the landscape, which would have proved some sort of romantic, or even beautiful, if of course it hadn't been for the nature of their mission here. The surface of rich purple hues that took to the forests canopy in the dying light complimented the celestial glow as the full moon rose from the mountains that dominated the plains behind him, their white peaks almost blending with that of the moons glow . The wizards dark her ruffled in the wind, his stone expression singled on that of the group and yet ahead as he watched them venture into the forest, he didn't like this, not one bit. Why had he been the one picked to hang back in lookout? why not Natsu, Gray was clearly superior as a wizard, and he was one of the most powerful in the guild, why did Erza just single him out, what had he done? the anger harshened his usual deep scowl as his eyes now began to adjust to the dimmer lighting, still the brilliant light of the moon illuminating the surroundings. another gust of wind shook the canopy of the valley as the team was lost into the trees, now all he could do was wait, and hope, that contact would not be so harsh, restless at the concept that not only was he missing the hunt, but that Gray was also only able to wait, unable to be able to help if his friends where attacked, what if they were being ripped apart right now, and all he was doing was hanging back on the hill, only in the morning to discover their mangled and broken bodies. No , the moment he heard anything, he wouldn't just hang back, he would charge in there. As he waited his shirt seemingly disappeared from his chest, hours passing bye before a sudden, shrill howl rang out. Where? His ears perk up as he seeks to divulge its location as a second shrill howl rings out. His expression changes as he realizes now that the howl was much closer then he originally thought, not just that, but it wasn't originating from the forest, no Grays expression changes to that of confusion, changing the face of his body, he seeks to pick out the creature as he turns, his hands already sprung into action as he prepares himself, but as he turns he finds himself seeing the werewolf in full form, its demonic red eyes sprout out with dangerous intent, now less than 100 meters away Gray began to prepare his magic, a daring smile reaches his lips "Game on." he challenges, dark eyes narrow as he begins his summons,
"ICE FLOOR" he chants as he presses his palm to the ground, creating a narrow strip of ice heading straight toward the creature, a smug grin crosses his lips as the creature begins to slip across, losing its grip against the surface it slips and slides for a moment, but this only seems to anger it, as its barb hook-like claws sink into the ice, griping as it bounds forward in furious speed, Gray's expression changes as his lips pull back, teeth gritting in frustration as he performs another, as he summons his shield of ice, putting what he thought was an effective block in its path, yet the creature did not seem fazed, leaping over the creation as if it were a race horse, now moments from the ice wizard he summoned a shock wave of ice, the creature stuck with the shards that emerged from under it, the attack seems to block the werewolf's advance as it seems to be pushed back by the torrent of ice. A cautious smile bears across his features "Yea don't like a bit of-" a sudden roar rings out as pain spikes through his body,
"Argghhh!" warmth touches the senses of his right arm, looking upon it, blood trickles from his shoulder , staining the dirt at his feet, his right palm takes to the bleeding shoulder, gripping it tightly as he flips from his current position, away from the battering assault that the wolf brings down just as he escapes, eyes narrow on its position. Gritting back the pain Gray begins again, summoning the ice to his will as he attempts to strike at it, sanding a wall of ice at the creature, the full kinetic force smashing into it, sending it tumbling back, he follows it up with a hammer, smashing the frost against the creatures sprawled out form, but again it rises, summoning another roar. Meanwhile in the forest below, Erza took wind of the fighting.
"Stop! all of you be quiet!" she commanded with her steel voice, Natsu and harpy's conversing about food silenced by their fear of the Redheaded woman. They wait for seconds, what's seems like hours to Erza as deep in the background she hears it, the muffled agony, the werewolf's call "Damn it Gray! All of you, back, the Werewolf isn't here, it seems Gray got a bit over Zealous with his position, I knew I couldn't count on him" she would huff, turning as she takes off with great speed, she could hear the trouble worsen as she grew near, she might seem angry but worry clouded her thoughts "Hang on Gray, I'm on my way"
Grey's dark gaze hardened as the creature came at him again, summoning another shield as it clattered through, allowing him to step aside, avoiding the oncoming assault, hitting it with another blast of ice shards, but the creature hide was thick, Grey only managing minimal damage to its thick hide as splinters stuck in its thick back. The creature let out another guttural roar, before another bombardment of vicious swipes with those meat hook-like claws. before he could doge them all he feels the barbs rake across his back as he jumps away, the warm trickle of blood now slowly mapping down his back, staining the belt around his cargo pants. His teeth grit as agony sinks in, yet his resolve doubles. turning on point he summons a blast of shards, pelting the creature again, as he does so he uses it to blind it for a moment as he changes position, maneuvering around the creatures side to surprise it.
"GRAY!" The woman's voice cries out in a harsh tone let out, yet it could be second guessed with one of worry, maybe even desperation. Erza was now leaving everyone in the dust she had to get there, she had to save Gray before he was lost.
Gray's resolve was doubled, he had to make every move count, as he through an ice spear toward the wolf, the side of the creatures chest, a low guttural yelp lets out as it turns to its side, swiping at the wizard, its hooks catching him before he could escape its reach, the talons tearing down through his chest as he fell back, another yell as he tries to scramble up, but the wolf is more irritated than ever, slamming down upon his hips with a sickening crunch as Gray's bones shatter beneath the force of it all. The pain tearing through his nervous system, Gray couldn't utter another yelp as the creature leered in on his throat, as he prepared himself for the end of it all, the final scene the jaws of the creature descending on him before a sudden pause in it movements, the eyes dim as it falls way from Gray, the figure of an armored woman with fiery hair, sword held in one hand the other diving for Grey's shoulder was the last he saw.
"Gray, stay with us, can you hear me Gray? Gray? GRAY!"...
"Erza you really need to take it easy on yourself, seriously he's in the best hands for this, and it's not like it's your fault "Lucy spoke, a hand nervously running through her own golden hair, even her nerves where a little frayed.
"It's my fault, he shouldn't have been there by himself, I shouldn't have left him alone, it's all my fault" she said as she remained on her knees, as if praying to some god for sins she wasn't accountable for. "I wasn't fast enough to save him, I wasn't good enough, strong enough!" there was a movement at the foot of the door leading into the room where Gray was currently resting, 3 days had passed since the incident and Erza hadn't managed to gain any sleep, worked up with worry and fearing for the worst for him
"It's all my fault, I shouldn't have left him there by himself" she continued to tell herself as she perked up, holding herself with dignity as she rose to stand, awaiting the prognosis, as the physician stepped out of the room, a glum look on his face, sweat perspired on his brow, mopping it with the sleeve of his coat, taking a moment to rest against the side of the doors oak frame. Erza could barley hold together, hazel eyes watch eagerly as she seems unable to contain her voice.
"Is he okay? how is he? are his wounds healed?...Will...will ...he...live?" she asks finally after all, her voice quivers as she speaks. Lucy rushing to the scarlet haired woman's side, she could so the pain in her composure, what was supposed to be an easy mission had turned into a terrible disaster.
"He will live, not to worry, though he lost a substantial amount of blood. He's sleeping now, the damage to him has repaired, though there will be scarring to his arm, chest and back, you're lucky he didn't get-"
"Bitten." Erza finishes, the doctor nods toward her, the fire haired woman begins to walk into the room, only to find Natsu already there roasting marshmallows, sitting in a chair next to him.
"Oh yea, the boy wouldn't leave his side, no matter what I told him he wouldn't budge." Natsu turned, his look was less then glum, his eyes where dim.
"Oh hey Erza, Lucy, what's going on?" he tried to be cheerful but it was clear, even after all their fighting and arguing, he was still worried for his childhood friends health. She then turned to the main feature of room.
Gray
Erza saw the teen lying there, a cold sweat took his brow, bandages wrapped him, as if he were already being prepared for a burial, his lids shut, the slow breaths echoing eerily through the room. he looked worn, damaged, the very look of him was hurting Erza, her heart pounded against her chest as she crossed the room to sit at the chair by Gray's other side, a hand reaching out to take his, he was cold, as per usual. Fighting back tears she stared at the handsome face of the man, her red hair falling over her face as her armored fingers link with his.
"I'm so...sorry Gray." she whispers, her lids clenching together, tears welling at her lids
"I-I wasn't strong enough...I was not strong enough to beat it...to save you from hurt..." tears begin to stream from her cheeks. All that responded was a hail of slow breaths, as the sleeping teen lay there, recovering, and she was powerless to help
"Erza?" Lucy crept in, her hand reaching out for the wizards shoulder, but stops as she shakes her head
"What's up Erza?" Natsu exclaimed, a mouthful of marshmallows as he looked at his friend "What's wrong here, Erza, are you-" Natsu question was cut short as Lucy seemed to get the picture, taking Natsu by the ear as she drags him from his chair.
"Ow, ow, ow, ow! What do you want Lucy, what's the deeeeaaaallll!" he demanded as he was dragged from the room "Come on Natsu let's go eat!" she commands as the salmon haired boy is dragged in tow, leaving Erza there at Gray's side.
"I'm sorry for everything Gray, I should have known, I'm and S-class wizard after all. I should've saved you" her tired eyes remained shut as she continued, but somehow Grays slow breaths began to act as a lullaby "You need to be strong, fight Gray, like you always have, and come back to the guild, come back again, for your team...for me.." she sighed finally before passing out, her ear pressed to his chest as she slumped over his body, falling asleep.
"Well well, look what we have here" said a familiar cocky voice, Erza felt the sudden erg to aim a fist in the general direction of someone's gut. As she began to awake she felt the pace of a fast beating heart against her ear, suddenly awkwardly aware of her position, feeling some warmth from Grays chest the final part of the equation to realize just who had said that and why she had felt that sudden urge to punch him "GRAY!?" she yelled with ferocity that she might shake the room, suddenly springing into an overbearing hug, the dark haired, dark eyed wizard suddenly caught in her hold as her arm loops around his neck, her head bearing into his shoulder.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa!" Gray exclaimed as he wasn't sure what to say "When did you become so...not scary?" he seemed surprised, his mouth hanging open before suddenly taking the moment to let his lips split into a smug grin.
"Well well, now I've even got the great Erza falling over me!" suddenly she recoils, from her position, slashing tears from her eyes.
"Don't count yourself so charming Gray!" she glares daggers at him as she slams a palm against the side of his face, trying to raze her other to give him a double whammy when she realizes that her hand is still intertwined with his. Feeling of his hand gripping hers tightly seemed to suddenly remind her why she was here.
"You look drained Erza, you sure you aren't the one who needs this bed?" the ice wizard chuckled as his freehand slowly raises, flinching as he did, gritting through the pain in his arm as he wrapped it around her armored back back, rubbing it as he took heavy breaths.
"You need a shower, you stink like that wolf" she chuckled as she lent against him more so whilst his face retorted. dark eyes singling on her as he had never seen her so happy to be around him before.
"What's gotten into you, it's like a whole new Erza here, I mean what the hell happened to the girl who kicked my butt in a heartbeat and yelled at me nonstop?" he queried as he nervously began to pat her armored back. Soon enough there she was asleep again, Gray in an almost comfortable position, if Erza hadn't been wearing her armor and laying against him that was. Man was this out of the blue, Gray thought to himself but soon he found himself in need of rest, and eventually found himself drifting to sleep.