Ice spread across the silent wastes, unforgiving, desolate and lifeless. the air was almost solid with the chill, like a haze that made my heartbeat slow and my energy fade away. The sky was black. Not the dark of night but it was as if the sun had burnt out, leaving only frozen tundra. There was no life. Only me, dragging my feet through snow so cold that it sent buzzes of pain rushing up my body. Looking out at the terrifying frozen hell, I could only muster up a tiny ounce of emotion.

Guilt.

Had I done this?

"STRIPPER!"

I may have screamed like a little girl. I'm not saying I did, but it's a distinct possibility. I jumped about a foot into the air and toppled backwards off the stool and crashed onto the floor. I heard laughter. I growled and tried to force myself back up, but I did it too fast and my head spun as I crunched back down onto the guild hall floor.

Natsu cackled and leaned down to face me. I glared up at him.

"Bastard," I muttered under my breath, taking a hand offered by the onlooking Mirajane and struggling onto two feet. Had I dozed off? That wasn't usually something I did, which I found slightly odd. I put aside my curiosity and faced down the dragon-slayer.

"The hell was that for?! You could have woken me up like a normal person, rosy haired asshole."

Natsu looked surprised. I took a little more notice of my surroundings and saw the usual crowd, all looking at me and Natsu.

"Someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed today," sneered the fire mage, his glare pointed. I sighed, deciding that it required way too much effort to start an argument with Natsu.

"What Natsu was going to say," said Lucy, who was standing to my right, "Was that we were all going down to the hot springs if you wanted to join us.?" The last was a question and the busty blonde finished it with a sharp glare at Natsu. His expression read: He started it

I shook my head. What the hell was wrong with me? I could remember being in a relatively good mood earlier that day, despite being sore from a long mission the previous day. Then I had dozed off and…

Something was wrong. I felt off.

"Sorry Luce, I'm not feeling it. I might go home. Got bills and shit to do," I gave her an apologetic smile and went to grab my shirt, which I must've taken off at some point. Man, I gotta stop doing that.

"Well, if Grumpy isn't coming, then lets go!" Natsu said cheerfully, playfully punching me on the shoulder. I didn't offer him a response. The group, consisting of Lucy, Natsu, Happy, Erza, Wendy, Juvia, Carla, Gajeel, Levy and a sullen looking Pantherlily, all began to file out of the guild hall. I saw a few onlookers glance away, as they had obviously been interested in the short confrontation between Natsu and I. Nosy bastards.

Juvia gazed at me as she idly collected her things and began to leave with the others. I looked away from her. The less I thought about that situation, the longer I could go without facing it. I didn't know how to feel about the water mage. Sure, she was attractive and she was nice and… I had never been good with relationships. It made me feel uncomfortable how she was so taken with me. It wasn't that I disliked it or anything but…
It kind of made me wonder why. I was nothing special.

I glared at nothing. What was wrong with me? Had I suddenly taken to daydreaming and engaging in confusing internal monologues? I freaking hoped not. Life was complicated enough.

"Gray."
I turned and saw Wendy standing there, frowning at me thoughtfully.

"You should go Wendy. They'll leave you behind." I said, buttoning my shirt absently.

"Are you okay?" she asked me, totally ignoring my comment. I pondered the question for a moment.

"No," I said shortly, slingling my small backpack over my now clothed shoulder.
"What's wrong?"

"I…" I suddenly thought about it and realized what was wrong.

"I'm cold." I said.
"It is Winter," Wendy said.
"I don't get cold. Not since I started using Ice magic. It's a feeling I haven't felt in…" I paused. "I can't remember how long now."
"Maybe…" Wendy muttered, thinking.

"I'll be fine. If it's still cold tomorrow, I'll talk to the Master or Levy or someone. They'll know if there's something up with mojo,"

Wendy nodded, still gazing at me thoughtfully. She came up with nothing obviously because she bade me farewell and rushed off to join the others.
I was cold. I snapped my fingers and in a second they were coated with Ice. So my magic was still working and, even stranger, the ice on my hands wasn't particularly cold. But there was this nasty chill that seemed to creep up my spine, something almost malevolent.

I noticed something. I watched as a man I didn't recognise approached the bar and ordered a drink from Mira. She smiled at him and obliged. I noticed also, shockingly, he had the mark of Fairy Tail on his shoulder.

Huh.

He was tall, with very bright blonde hair and wearing a black leather duster that fell to his knees. It covered a dark blue shirt and black jeans. He wasn't particularly handsome or striking, just a regular looking guy with brown eyes. He was just… normal. Boring almost. I felt like falling asleep just looking at him.

When he left the bar, I approached it.
"Mira-chan, who was that guy?" Mira looked surprised.

"That's Daro," she said, "He's a mage here. You don't know him?"

I didn't.

"How long's he been here?"

"Maybe a month? You of all people should know who he is, Gray,"

I frowned. "Why's that?"

"He's an Ice mage."

Another chill went right up my spine, making me physically shiver. I nodded and politely thanked Mira, before leaving.

Daro huh? Mira was right. If he was an Ice mage, I should have met him at some point. So why hadn't I? Also, was it just paranoia, or did he seem off somehow? He put my teeth on edge. He wasn't the most interesting guy to look at, but the mere sight of him made me cautious. As if he was an enemy. No one at Fairy Tail was my enemy.

Well, maybe Natsu. When he was being an ass.

Frowning and pulling my coat tighter around me, I left the Guild and pulled my hood up, guarding my face from the heavy rainfall that was now pounding on the ground.

I was just being suspicious. I had had a bad day and all I had done was get worked up over nothing.
Screw bills. I was going home and I was going to sleep. Maybe the next day would herald a slightly happier Gray Fullbuster.

A pair of eyes watched as the Ice mage left the guild hall. They were hungry, lapping up the way he moved and the way the wind and rain buffeted him as he left. Hunger.
Hunger and the desire to kill.