Chapter 1, Lucy POV
It was damp, the smell of fresh earth just after it rained assaulting my nose. My boots sunk into the muddy ground with every step I took. There was a slight fog rolling through the green trees, giving the forest an eerie feeling, as if something was going to attack you at any moment. There was an oppressing silence hanging over my head along with tree branches.
'Why did I have to choose this mission?' I mentally whined. 'I guess that's what I get for choosing a mission without looking.' I had chosen the first mission I had seen that had a long mission time. This particular one was four weeks straight in a forest three days away from the village. The job was to take out a wyvern that lived in a cave nearby, and after help rebuild the village it had been attacking and stealing from for the past month. It probably wasn't in my best interests to take it solo, but it wasn't like anyone would go with me, seeing as Juvia was out on a mission already. But, hey, I had accepted this mission, and I was going to get it done.
I heard a slight rustle after hours of silence. I turned my head towards the brush in the direction of the sound and I saw nothing. I dismissed it as a trick of mind. I turned away, but then I heard heavy breathing. I froze in my steps, my feet squelching in my boots. I slowly shifted my head backwards, and what I saw almost made me scream.
There was a white wolf, his fur glistening like the moon itself. His eyes were a beautiful ice blue, and there were elongated fangs protruding from his bottom lip. His nose was a black color, greatly contrasting with the rest of his fur. His eyes seemed to sparkle with a wisdom and intelligence of an old god. His face was larger than my head, and his back was up to my rib cage. I could see corded muscles rippling with each movement he made. His body frame was very broad, showcasing his strength over his speed. He could probably run ten times faster than me, though. His frame was large enough and he looked strong enough to carry me.
I looked into his icy eyes, and was instantly puzzled. He looked... almost panicked. I looked around for something that could have spooked him, but there didn't seem to be anything. Naturally, being a brilliant person, I decided to ask the animal.
"Is there something wrong?" I asked. I instantly regretted it. If anyone had seen me talking to an animal, they'd have thought I was insane. To my amazement, the wolf nodded his head and lowered himself to the ground, his silver coat staining brown. I stood there in shock, not believing what I'd just seen. The wolf barked and added a slight growl, tossing his head towards his back. I jumped, and then realized what he was asking. I slowly, still in disbelief, climbed onto his back and gripped his fur.
It felt like satin, so soft and smooth, which was odd as he was a wolf who lived in the forest. I giggled as the fur tickled my arms and I felt a rumble go through him, almost as if he were laughing. I huffed, then turned my head to study our surroundings. He was taking me to a parting in the trees, and I could see his past tracks in the mud. We reached the part. I slid off and looked around.
There was a grassy nook by a small waterfall that looked to be the only shelter from rain in the whole clearing. There was a small pond below the waterfall, and there was something laying beside it. I heard whimpers of agony and I knew it was an animal. I stepped towards the mass of black fur, only to get warned off by a growl from the wolf. I slowly put my hands out in front of me.
"Please let me help. I only want to help." I said, hoping my point would get across and the wolf would understand me. "Please."
I let him put his nose to my palm and give a sniff. I made sure my body language was still relaxed and I didn't tense up when he lightly bit my palm. He lowered his head and moved out of the way. I breathed a quick sigh of relief. I made sure to keep moving slowly, trying to make no sudden movements. I knelt down next to the inky mass. I saw a slash on his back and briefly, I wondered how anyone could be so cruel to an animal.
I called out Virgo for some bandages, thanking my lucky stars that Wendy had seen it fit to teach me some first aid before... well. I gently sterilized the wound with alcohol, almost crying from the whimpers he made. The sounds made me feel like an awful person, like I had been the one to hurt him. I turned him over onto his side and saw, for the first time, what species he was.
He was a beautiful black fox.
'How could someone ever want to harm such an animal?'
"Beautiful," I whispered. I saw a small slit of his golden colored eyes. "Absolutely beautiful."
I looked up to check the time, and saw that the day had passed me by. The stars twinkled like tiny galaxies in the clear night sky. the moon was reflected in the pond, full and brighter than anything I'd seen in a long time. I felt the adrenaline I hadn't known was present drain away at the sight.
No longer did the forest seem oppressive. I listened, and heard the sounds of crickets playing their nightly tune. I felt the soft grass underneath my fingertips. I looked at the trees, which had once seemed to be hanging over my head like a thought I couldn't shake off. Now, I saw them blow gently in the soft breeze and wondered how I hadn't noticed the pattern they had formed. It seemed like they were holding onto each other, strong supports that kept each other standing on stormy nights.
I glanced over at the wolf, and saw that he was looking at me. Well, more like at the fox next to me. His coat gleamed in the moonlight, no longer muddy from the forest floor. His eyes had an unearthly glow, as if he held galaxies in his pools of ice. I felt like my soul was up for judgement when they flickered over to me.
"He's fine. He'll be fine." I assured, my voice barely heard on the breeze.
I saw him lower his head in acknowledgement. I heard the soft rustling of paws on grass, and I felt a soft mass lay next to me. I was surrounded on both sides by otherworldly animals. A wolf, and a fox. My eyelids drooped, and I allowed myself to relax into the heat that was touching me from all sides. I felt safe. There was just an aura that the two exuded that made me feel not like I was laying next to two beasts, but intelligent beings that were mythical creatures from another planet.
Comfort, something I hadn't felt in a long time, gently washed over me. I closed my eyes fully, listening to the beautiful tune of the trees, the crickets, and the rushing water. The tune of nature. The moon gently shined overhead, watching over the earth as I drifted to sleep.
I'm sorry it took so long. To be honest, I just lost passion. It's okay, though, because I have it back now and I'm going to be trying my hardest to write more. I honestly looked back, and my writing was so underdeveloped, and I'll probably look back at this in 5 years and think it's crap, but who's to say. I will be rewriting this though, so give it time and patience please.