Levy slipped out of there camp into the evening night air. She didn't mind hanging out with Ezra and Jarall but she needed a quiet escape.
especially with all the moaning going on.
(Earlier That Evening)
Levy woke up in a stuffy wagon. She was soar but never felt so, full of energy, was the best way to put it. She looked around and saw the others laying in their own blankets. The red auras still surrounding them from the second origin release. She looked down at her self and didn't see them, Guess I'm was the first one done.
When she stepped out of the wagon and to the fire she could tell by Ezra and the Ultears gaping looks that they hadn't expected her to be awake.
"What are you doing up?" Ultear asked her as Levy sat down at the fire.
"Eh am I not suppose to be?"
Ultear shook her head. "It's just, this was suppose to be a four day ordeal it's only been two and a half days.
"Oh." Levy said unsure of what that meant. "Guess I didn't have as much power to unlock?"
Ultear nodded deep in thought. "Perhaps."
Meredy handed her a plate and she ate not realizing until then how hungry she was. Afterwards she excused herself telling them she needed some air and to stretch her legs.
"Okay, don't get lost. We leave in the morning." Ezra said. Levy waved promising she would be back before they left and jogged off into the forest.
Ezra P.O.V.
When Levy left from the camp Ezra turned to Ultear. "What are you thinking?" she asked knowing that the gears in her head where turning vigorously.
Ultear shook her head. "Nothing, just, when I was opening her second origin, something happened and I'm not sure what."
"What are you saying then?"Jerall asked.
"I'm saying is that either Levy woke up early because she was weak, or that I woke up something very strong inside her. But I can't tell you which one."
"Levy?" Ezra wondered but shook her head. She loved levy and new she was a great mage but could Levy posses such strength Ultear was talking about.
Jarall spoke up. "Whatever it is we don't have to worry about her. We have other things that are more important." Exra nodded in agreement. If it was Levy she wouldn't have to worry.
Levy P.O.V
She jogged into the forest a little ways before pulling out her pen and writing Point A on a tree and then Point B on her arm. That way, when the time comes to return, she could write the word connect and she could find her way back.
She looked up at the sky and grinned. It was dark and even with the moonlight had trouble seeing in the thick forest. A perfect chance to try the script magic she had learned from the book she got from the stellar spirit world. Carefully, but with ease, she wrote the word night on one eye and the word vision on the other.
She opened her eyes and laughed.
Everything looks green! She could see every detail except everything was sort of a green tinge.
Excited she took off running. She sprinted with ease through the branches and brush jumping over roots and swinging from branches. She was already a good runner in forests but with her new strength she felt she could run like this for hours. She laughed out loud at the freedom of running. I should do this more often.
She took a left down an old deer trail and slowed to a walk, letting in the quiet night air around her.
She loved the night. Her dad always called her a night owl, sneaking to the library rooftop to read in the middle of the night. She didn't understand but there was something captivating about it, at night the world was completely different, shadows created new images, the moon changed trees into living creatures. It was like a strange nocturne animal awakening.
Then of course there were the stars.
She glanced and could make out Taurus the bull in a gap in the over hanging foliage. She could name every constellation, her dad had taught her.
An owl hooted in a tree near by bringer her thoughts back to earth. She walked along the path for awhile when a deer and her foal suddenly stopped on the path in front of her.
She stopped catching her breath at the sight of them, then smiled at the two. Slowly she walked forward reaching a hand up slowly. The mothers ears twitched a little but she didn't move. Levy stepped a little closer nearly a foot away when a loud bang sounded through the quiet forest and the deer, startled, took off running.
"what the?" she exclaimed and walked off the trail in the direction of the sound curious. She heard it again and a muffled yell. .Sounds like someone's fighting.
Taking persuasions she placed spells over herself in order to hide her scent and sounds. Jet and Droy always called it her "spying mode".
This was one of her secret specialties. Being so much weaker then others in her guild she had to come up with a different advantage, so she learned to hide herself with solid script and move quietly in the shadows.
Silently she walked a good distance before she heard more banging and smashing along with muffled grunts and yells.
She walked farther quickening her pace, hoping no one was hurt.
Then she could hear the voices clearly.
"Come and get me you fur ball! Ahah-oof!" There was a whack and a the sound of a body hitting the ground.
"How's that you thick headed dragon?". Another, yet familiar voice yelled.
Levy smiled and felt her body relax. It was Gajeel and Lilly! They hadn't returned yet to the guild yet from there training.
Guess they stopped here for the night getting some last minute training.
She crept over to their sounds of fighting and peered around a huge tree into a large clearing. A fire was lit with what smelled like fish cooking to the side of the clearing while in the middle the two where busy in a grapple. levy took this time to climb up the tree next to her for a better spot and more coverage from the branches and leaves. A good ways up she paused and stood grabbing the trunk beside her and holding a separate beach for support. She looked at the scene below.
Gajeel and Lilly where standing in a large clearing. And with the moon, her seat in the tree, and her night vision she saw every detail easily.
Lilly was in full form and covered in dust and sweat from their fighting. His claws where out along with his sword. His body looked ready to kill but when she saw the look in her eyes she couldn't help but smile at the mischievous and calculating look in his eyes.
He really was the perfect companion for Gajeel, his moves where skilled and precise, whited showed his intelligence and cunningness, which was a good balance to Gajeels own brute strength and forwardness.
Levys eyes moved to focused on Gajeel. He was roughed up from the resent tussle with Lilly but she could tell he was enjoying every minute of it. He had taken off his shirt and exposed his very physic body, his arms where covered in their metal scales. He had a few smudges of dirt from the recent tackle into the ground but otherwise in perfect shape. Levy had trouble keeping her eyes off him. She had to admit, she admired his body. His body was very well built, his muscles weren't bulky like elfmans (though he did have them) but his were leaner, built to allow speed and movement. And it didn't help he had a layer of sweat on him defining them even more.
I'm turning into juvia, she thought from her spot in the tree.
Lilly grappled at Gajeel and threw him in her direction.
She froze holding her breath as he landed not ten feet from the huge tree.
She was thankfully the wind was blowing away from them and her defenses where up so he couldn't smell her.
She watched as he jumped up, roll his neck and laughed deeply, punching his hands together. "That all you got lilly? I thought you where finally getting better!"
She heard Lilly laugh. "I was going easy on you, you hopeless dragon."
"Wah? Say that to my face!" Gajeel yelled.
"I did." she heard Lilly mock and Gajeel swear.
She giggled before she could think. She clasped her hand to her mouth and in doing so lost her balance. Turning her head away from the scene in the clearing to catch herself in a branch behind her. She pushed herself back up into her standing position and turned before nearly falling out of the tree again.
Gajeel had somehow in those 5 seconds silently climbed the tree and perched on the thick branch in front of her, formed his arm into a sharp blade holding it to her neck. Levy had nearly slit her throat her with it.
"Woah!" she yelled jumping back onto a brach behind her in surprise falling into a flighting stance.
"Watch where you point that Gajeel!"
_
Gajeel POV
"Shrimp?" Gajeel asked surprised at her. He hadn't except to see any of the guild before tomorrow, and especially out here in the middle of nowhere. And now after three months of solitude the first person he meets was her. Part of him couldn't believe his luck while another part was slightly annoyed that she had snuck up on him. All he could say was. "What are you doing in this tree?"
"I was out enjoying the night air when I heard you to going at it with Lilly." she said relaxing and crossing her arms.
He noticed impressed how she was balancing with ease on the slim branch. He took this chance to look the girl over. She was wearing a black bikini top with a camo jacket with jean shorts. Her hair was wild and wind blown barely keeping in her headband but fit her perfectly. And it was either because he hadn't seen her in three months, or the moonlight and his dragon sight giving her a slightly silverly pale look, but she looked damn sexy. Or sexier then usual.
There was something else of from her usual self but he couldn't figure it out.
She continued talking, seeming to not notice his staring. "I decided to climb the tree so I could get a good view to watch the show."
Despite how she looked he was definitely still annoyed that she had snuck up on him.
Lilly flew up in his small form and rested on the brach beside him smiling at Levy. "Hello levy I didn't realize you would be out this far or I would have cooked more fish."
Gajeel rolled his eyes at the cat but Levy smiled. "I've already eaten thank you." she looked at over at him who's arm what's still a blade. "And change your arm back before you cut this tree down with us in it."
Gajeel glared at her but still turned his arm to normal.
"but why where you sneaking around like an assassin this deep in the forest in the first place? This ain't nowhere near the Guild." he asked.
She shrugged. "We are on our way to Corunus, and I wanted to get some piece and quiet from all the, uh, ruckus, so I went for a run."
Gajeel grunted. "Weird bookworm."
She gave him a scowl but he could only laugh. It was hard to think if her as mad.
Lilies ears perked and he sniffed. "The fish seems done, since your here would you care to sit with us levy?"
"Happy too." she smiled
Lilly took off and coasted to the ground.
Levy looked up at him. "Shall we?" and suddenly stepped backwards of the brach and dropped down.
His heart skipped a beat. "Levy!" his hand automatically tried to catch her but missed. He looked down and saw her catch a branch then another laughing. She landed on the ground with a flip and hands stretched out like some gymnastic.
"Show off." he muttered and jumped straight down and landed next to her making her jump a little. he grinned and went first to the fire.
"Show off!" Levy yelled running after him.
He sat and grabbed the frying pan and took a big bite out of it.
"That was our last one." Lilly grumbled into his fish but Gajeel ignored him. He was hungry for some metal.
Levy POV.
As they got near the fire Levy swept away her night vision for the fire was making it to bright to see.
They sat down at the fire and she watched Lilly chewing on a fish and Gajeel grab the Pan and take abight out of it.
"So shrimp." he said after a bite. "When did you become an expert at sneaking around in the forest like some kind of bandit?"
Levy pushed and strand of her wind swept hair out of her face. "I'll take that as a complement."
Gajeel grunted and she couldn't tell if he was agreeing or thought it was rubbish.
She looked around the forest. "I've always been good when it come to stealth in forests. When I was younger, Because of my size and physical strength, I could never attack the others head on when we were practicing or played. So I learned to use these surroundings and my solid script to hide me and move without others knowing. Because I'm light I can tread ground quietly, hide easier, and climb the thinner trees. It allows me to catch my opponent of guard. I was even able to sneak up on Ezra once." she said proudly, then she scratched the back of her head. "But once I get my opponent gets did of me it's pretty much useless because my attacks aren't very strong."
"That is still very impressive levy, I knew you where clever but that is very tactical." Lilly praised. She smiled and looked at Gajeel then frowned. He was sitting there is chin in his hand, a half finished pan in the other studying her. He looked a little mad or annoyed, it was hard to tell sometimes.
"Huh." was all he said.
"What is it?" she asked feeling nervous under his stare.
He did say anything and Lilly cleared his throat. "I think I'm going to go catch some more fish in the nearby stream. Do you want any levy?"
"What?" She said only half paying attention. "Oh! No Im fine thank you."
He nodded politely to Levy and gave Gajeel a "behave" look that he didn't notice before flying off.
After a few moments of silence with the exes epsilon of the fire crackle levy had had enough.
"What are you thinking?" She asked again.
"That explains why it was hard to find you on fairy island. It had been bugging me that I couldn't trace your sent easily."
Levy blushed slightly and chuckled nervously. "Ahaha, yeah I guess I had cast the words out of habit before we entered the forest. I don't think I even realized what I was doing."
Gajeel finished of the pan and grabbed a few stones of the ground and played with them in his hand. "You should have told me when we where training."
"But you were making me a better fighter. I can sneak around but when it comes to a real fight I've always been weak. My sneaking around abilities are pretty much useless when it comes to a head on fight."
"Shows how much you know about fighting." He looked pissed for some reason. "That wasn't smart thinking shrimp, Because of that habit you could have died. Next time let your partner know."
Levy lifted her head up. "It was a laps of judgement, everyone in the Guild knows my skill, I forgot you where new. And you still found me so it doesn't matter."
He flicked a rock at her forehead.
"Ow!" she hisses and rubbed where it hit. She picked up the rock.
"Thinking like that just proves your not ready to fight me shrimp. You can use those abilities to strengthen your attacks. It ain't all about muscle, hell you should know. You would be deadly with sneak attacks. You need to think smarter then that to become a S class Mage."
Now she was mad, he always had a way of sparking her nerves. She stood up her hands clenched. "I can take you on Gajeel Redfox!"
He laughed. "You and what army?"
She chucked the rock and it hit his cheek catching him by surprise. "How was that for a sneak attack?"
He laughed and she grew red and furious.
"I'm stronger then I last faced you!" She bursted then covered her mouth appalled at herself. That was to far. She saw she had hit a nerve with him by brining up that incident by the way he tensed up. That was a bad memory for both of them.
"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have said that. I wasn't thinking." She said her anger gone.
He grunted an didn't look up at her. "It's fine."
So much for a nice evening. Why did she always mess it up with him?
"See you at the games Gajeel." She said before running back into the forest.
Gajeel P.O.V
"Levy." He had said just as she took off running.
"fucking Idiot." Gajeel said whacking his forehead and falling back on the ground. He shouldn't have aggravated her like that. Hell he didn't mean to, he just got really mad at the thought of what almost happened to her back on the island. If he had known about her abilities he would have found her, maybe before she ran into those two weirdos.
"Yes, you are." Said a voice and he looked up to see Lilly there a line of fish in his hand.
"How much did you hear?" he asked.
Lilly laid the fish near the fire and sat. "Enough. I thought I would give you guys some privacy but I didn't think you two could screw that up so badly." he took out a knife and grabbed a fish. "You know she is crazy about you right? And that you're the same."
Gajeel grunted not really wanting to admit anything, specially to that damn cat.
"Why do you always push her away?" Lilly asked him. "Was it because if the incident?"
Gajeel looked at him. "Who told you?"
"Lucy. But don't change the subject."
Gajeel growled. "She deserves someone better then me."
"Who would you suggest then? Droy or Jet?" he laughed.
Gajeel gave him a nasty look and laughed. "deffinetly not those two shit heads. Someone who could actually protect her and make her happy."
"And you can't do that?" Lilly asked sticking the clean fish on a stick by the fire. "if what I heard from Lucy, didn't you tell Levy never to leave your side?" He teased slightly and Gajeel had the urge to bash his face into the ground.
That damn bookworm, can keep her trap shut, he thought. "Only said it cause she gets into trouble so easy. She needs someone to look out for her."
"And who better then then the strong guy who is in love with her." Lilly morphed into his fighting body and kicked Gajeel hard rolling him over.
Gajeel cracked. He stood up and punched Lilly. "So I'm fucking in love with her! Is that what you want me to say? The one guy who shouldn't have her and yet can't bare to give her to anyone else." He put his foot down on Lilly's chest. "Happy?"
Lilly laughed wiping his chin. "Yes. But one question then."
"Huh?" Gajeel asked then realized what he had done. This cat-
"Why are you wasting your time telling me this when you should be chasing after her?"
Gajeel growled and sprinted towards the forest. "Dammit Lilly!"
Lilly watched him go, now back in his small form and laughed. "Stubborn those two are."
He turned the fish and then settled in against the log. If those two kids don't get together I'll kill them out of sheer annoyance.