Normal P.O.V

"Dragon!" one of the townspeople screamed, as they ran through the town called magnolia, every now and then risking glances over their shoulder to the beast that could be seen flying down at a terrifying speed from the mountains.

At the sound of his voice the surrounding townsfolk looked towards where the citizen was running from, and upon seeing the dragon for themselves panic quickly took over the town. People were running all over the place their only thoughts to get to the safe houses that had been built over the years for protection from the very things like the one that was now entering the outskirts of the town.

For in Fiore dragons were fearsome creatures that still roamed the land destroying cities, devouring livestock and terrorising anyone or anything that they came into contact with and they wouldn't stop until they had satisfied their hunger for chaos.

Suddenly now that the threat was fiercely close, the town seemed to snap out of their fear and into action, gathering up all the children and elderly and rushing them as fast as could be done into the nearest shelter, the streets began to clear quickly and it wasn't long before the last of the citizens was safely inside. Silence now reigned over the now deserted town, which only 10 minutes earlier was bustling and lively as people went about their business, beginning their day.

Soft sobs and whimpers echoed around the cold, dimly lit, square stone room, only a few light lacrima were embedded into the walls casting a soft glow onto the shocked and scared faces of the people gathered there, mothers clinging protectively to their children, who were in turn trying to bury themselves into the comforting warmth that surrounded them. Small groups of people were huddled closely together also trying to take comfort from the proximity of the familiar faces that surrounded them. Everyone that was gathered was tense hardly daring to breathe until the beast decided to leave the town.

Lucy P.O.V

The day had begun normally enough for Lucy, the sunlight streaming through her window making her stir and awaken from a restless sleep, for the past few weeks Lucy hadn't been sleeping much, she would be constantly tossing and turning unable to find a way to get warm and comfortable enough to sleep soundly, and every night if she had finally managed a way to sleep it would not be long before she would wake up clutching her comforter close, and curled up into a tight ball shaking from the cold that seemed to slice its way into her bones, and the last few nights a wrenching pain would begin in her chest feeling as though her heart was going a mile a minute but also as if it would stop at any second and Lucy would cease to exist on Earthland. The ache would usually pass after a few minutes of deep breathing, but for some reason today the ache didn't go away, even if it did ease just a little allowing her freedom of movement once again.

This had become a part of Lucy's routine and she had the bags under her eyes to prove it, she had also started to lose weight, worrying her friends to no end, glancing at the clock on her bedside table, which read 06:00, Lucy decided that the chances of her getting any more sleep were slim so she headed to the kitchen to make some coffee in the hopes that it would give her the energy she would need to make it through the day. Once she was done with her coffee she risked a glance in the mirror and sighed as she studied herself, her hair which used to be vibrant and bouncy, was now dull and hung limp around her face, her skin was pale and sickly looking, her clothes which used to be so form fitting they were almost a second skin now hung slightly loose from her frame, sighing again she decided that a long bubble bath might help lift her spirits and get her looking more like herself again before she headed to meet up with her best friend Levy-chan for breakfast.

Feeling much better and much more refreshed, even though the persistent ache in her chest was still there, after her bath Lucy got dressed in her usual attire her white shirt now needing an extra button done up to stop it from slipping off her shoulders and she blue skirt now actually required the use of her belt to hold it up, her favourite knee high boots seemed to be the only thing that still fit, putting her hair up into a pony tail and some light make up on to cover her tired eyes, she checked the time again it was now 07:30 and she would have to leave in soon if she were to be on time to the café that she was going to meet Levy at.

On her walk she heard whisperings among the people of the town, at a glance the place would seem normal, everyone was going about their daily routine but there was a wariness to their steps, glances to the sky, the tug of a child's hand bringing them closer, all the young women that were out were indirectly getting shunned, no one willing to look them in the eye, all of them keeping their distance as if scared.

That was when Lucy remembered 3 days ago dragon mating season started, that meant that the dragons would be on the hunt for their mate and until they found them they would be unstoppable, they would have worse tempers than normal and would not rest until their mate was with them, so for the next month until mating season came to a close all the women had to be extra careful and on their guard but not just to run if a dragon came they had to try to not anger the villagers too lest they be cast away with no place to hide should a dragon come.

Being caught in the beginning of dragon mating season while being unable to sleep leaving her feeling run down and weak, Lucy began to curse under her breath at her bad luck, the ache in her chest souring her mood even more as she made her way to the café.

Levy P.O.V

Levy was already at the café when Lucy arrived and waved as she watched the blonde approach her calling her attention.

"Morning Lu-chan", she smiled at her best friend as she discretely gave her the once over to make sure her condition hadn't gotten any worse.

"Good morning Levy-chan", Lucy yawned back and managed a small smile back at her friend.

Eyeing the blonde she didn't notice any new developments, that was until Lucy looked around the table for the menu and her eyes caught the light flashing an amber colour that didn't match her usual warm brown. 'oh dear', Levy thought, 'its not going to be long now until he comes looking for her, and she wont know why but she will start to look for him too'.

"How are you feeling today Lu-chan, did you get any sleep last night", Levy was aware of what was happening to her best friend even if the blonde did not know what she was going through herself just yet, the rest of the town just as clueless.

Sighing, Lucy told her that she still wasn't sleeping well, and then elaborated telling her best friend about the new development that had her gasping for breath if she did manage sleep and of the awful aching in her chest that started a few nights ago when she woke up, she looked down when she got to the part about the ache not leaving her today, Levy's eyes widened slightly and was glad that Lucy was still looking down and didn't notice. 'It's gone this far already?' Levy thought she looked at a calendar on the wall of the café and was stunned into silence, 'Oh no its already 3 days in! How did this slip my notice? That means … not just would they start looking for each other soon, it should have already begun! He would now be aware of her presence and would be searching for at that very moment, and the closer he got the stronger the pull would be for her to …'.

"Levy-chan? ... Levy-chan? … Levy-chan!"

"Eh?" Levy said, startled from her deep thoughts "Sorry Lu-chan what were you saying?"

Lucy P.O.V

Lucy was just opening her mouth to reply when the screaming began.

"Dragon! Run, Dragon! Its coming this way get to the shelters! A dragon is coming, run!"