Wendy knew something was wrong from the moment she woke up.
Something just felt wrong, but she couldn't quite put her finger on what it was. An odd feeling was rising in her throat, like she was going to either roar or throw up, or maybe both. It hurt, but in the same way that she couldn't tell what was wrong, she couldn't really tell where it hurt either. It just did.
The morning itself, however, was particularly beautiful. The mid-July sun streamed into her dormitory room through the white curtains that covered the window beside her. The room was bathed in a fresh, warm glow that usually would have made Wendy excited to get up and go outside. Not today, though; today she never wanted to leave her comfortable bed.
"But Natsu-san invited me on a job today," Wendy mumbled to herself as she rubbed a hand across her eyes, trying to clear the foggy feeling that overcame her. "I can't be sick. Not today." She shook her head insistently and sat up sharply. "That's right!" she said enthusiastically. "Natsu-san needs me!"
"What are you mumbling about over there?" Carla asked haughtily, sipping gently from a tea cup at the small table in front of the window. She sat on the edge with her legs dangling over the side, her tail swishing lightly back and forth as she studied Wendy. Though Wendy was an early riser herself, Carla was even more so. She was always awake when the sun rose and Wendy usually found her staring out the window when she awoke an hour or so later. But today Carla was giving her a quizzical look, staring at her thoughtfully. "Are you alright? Your aura seems off today."
Wendy brushed her thoughts aside and stretched her arms above her head, yawning as she went. "Nothing's wrong," she replied sleepily. "Just thinking about the mission we're going on today. I'm looking forward to spending time with the team." She smiled a little as she slid out from under the covers and moved towards her wardrobe.
"Are you sick?" Carla persisted, flying in front of Wendy's face and stopping her mid-stride to place a paw on her forehead. "You don't feel warm, but we can stay home today if you don't feel up to a job."
"No!" Wendy said quickly. "No, I feel fine. But I need to get ready-I don't want to be late." She ducked beneath the hovering exceed and opened the wardrobe. Behind her, Carla huffed in exasperation and muttered something under hear breath about irresponsibility. "Dress lightly," she instructed as Wendy pushed around the clothes in the closet. "It's supposed to be very warm today and we're heading south for this mission. But make sure you grab a hat, your skin is light you know!"
"I know!" Wendy growled as a sudden wave of anger rushed through her. A rush of air came forth from her mouth and blew through the clothes in front of her, rattling their hangers. Carla, who had since moved to hover beside her, looked frankly shocked.
"Well I never..!" she exclaimed, quite taken aback. "Young lady, since when do you speak in that tone of voice? I taught you better!" She crossed her arms with an angry harrumph. Wendy stared straight ahead, her unmoving hand grasping the sleeve of a red shirt tightly and her mouth still open as if she would roar again. But she made no sound. Instead, her eyes welled up and tears began to spill down her cheeks.
"I'm so sorry," Wendy cried suddenly, her sobs becoming more audible. "I'm so sorry Carla; I didn't mean to speak to you like that. I don't know what came over me. I just got so angry and annoyed and…" she trailed off as she cried harder.
"Oh Wendy," Carla sighed affectionately, wiping the tears off the girl's face. "You've always been a sensitive little thing. I should've known it was bound to happen someday."
Wendy sniffed a little and dried her cheek with the back of her hand. "That what would happen?" she asked. Carla patted the top of her head lovingly.
"Just that you would grow up. You were bound to start arguing with me at some point." Wendy laughed and hugged Carla gently, which the small cat returned with a smile. "Are you sure you want to go? I can fly to the guild and let Natsu know you're not feeling well if you'd like."
She considered the possibility for a moment since she really was feeling under the weather. But the moment was only fleeting and she shook her head once again. She shuttered as visions of Natsu breaking down the door to check on her filled her head.
"No thanks," she said finally. "I think it'll do me good to get some sun."
"If you're sure," Carla said warily. "Now let's hurry up and get ready. We mustn't keep the others waiting."
Wendy nodded in agreement and quickly changed into a light, comfortable outfit for their long train ride into Hargeon and along the Southern Coast. The unidentifiable pain persisted and she didn't feel like wearing anything that might squeeze her uncomfortably. The white sundress, paired with light brown sandals, fell just above her knees and hung loosely from her narrow shoulders. She had packed her suitcase the night before and it stood waiting by the door, packed full of carefully folded clothes. Carla placed her small white purse atop the suitcase and sat down on the table again, watching Wendy thoughtfully again while she swept her long blue hair into two high pigtails.
"Okay," Wendy said, giving herself one last look in the mirror on the back of the wardrobe door before she shut it. "Ready!" She smiled reassuringly at the concerned cat and grabbed the suitcase handle. "Are you ready?"
"I'm always ready. Are you sure you have everything you need?"
"I'm sure. Now let's get going." She bounced up and down on the balls of her feet as Carla made her way over and perched atop the suitcase beside her purse.
Wendy moved noticeably more slowly on the walk down to the guild hall. The rocky path jostled the suitcase around, consequently jerking her body with it. Her aching muscles complained at the unexpected movements and the headache rising inside her head wasn't helped by the vibrations and noise of the bouncing wheels. She tried to pass her slower walking as simply enjoying the beautiful weather, but Carla continued to watch her skeptically. It seemed she saw through the façade, although Wendy kept it up anyway in an effort to make herself feel better.
When she arrived at the guild hall, none of the rest of the team was there yet. It was only 7:30 anyway and they had agreed to meet at 8, so she wasn't all that surprised. Both Natsu and Lucy loved to sleep and wouldn't waste a minute getting to the hall early. And Erza, well, took her time packing her bags.
As usual, Cana sat on a table nursing a half-full beer, Gildarts passed out on the bench beside her. Various other guild members were scattered throughout the hall, either asleep or eating quickly before heading out on a job. Mirajane stood behind the bar, smiling pleasantly down at the glass she was drying.
"Good morning Mira-san," Wendy said with a slight bow before sliding onto one of the barstools.
"Good morning Mirajane," Carla echoed.
"Good morning!" she said cheerily, putting down the glass and bowing to each of them. "You're here early," she noted.
"We're leaving early for a job on the Southern Coast," Wendy explained, propping her chin on her hand. "I didn't want to be late, but it seems I go here a bit too early."
"Big job, huh?" Mirajane asked, eyes sparkling. "Well you can't leave hungry! Breakfast is on me." She disappeared into the kitchen before Carla could protest. Wendy rubbed her temple absentmindedly as her thoughts wandered to the job they were about to take on.
Natsu had picked up the request a few days ago, but only after fighting off half the guild to snatch it. A baron in the south was offering a handsome reward to anyone who could find the treasure he had somehow misplaced in his massive mansion. With their team of five wizards plus two exceeds, it was sure to be both fun and easy, not to mention one heck of a payday. She could use some help paying her Fairy Hills rent.
She was pulled out of her daze by the sound of Mirajane placing a heaping plate of food in front of her. She had included all of Wendy's favorites- scrambled eggs, bacon, and sweet cereal, accompanied by a glass of her favorite juice. For Carla she had prepared delicately sliced fish on a bed of light seasoned rice, which Carla accepted graciously and dug ravenously into, momentarily forgetting her classical mannerisms.
"Thank you!" Wendy said, licking her lips with anticipation. Mirajane smiled and went back to drying the glasses.
"Not a problem. Just a bit of good luck for you no your mission."
The pair was interrupted midway through their meal by the entrance of a certain groaning dragon slayer. He came into guild hall with Lucy at his side, waving a piece of paper around in the air with his wild gestures.
"How could he pull this crap?" he yelled angrily. "Now what am I going to do today?" Happy, who was seated on Natsu's head, agreed with a disheartened "Aye."
"How am I going to pay my rent?" Lucy cried, ripping the burning paper from Natsu's grasp. "Man, I really needed that cash."
"Natsu-san! Lucy-san!" Wendy called, waving them over. They both looked at her with sadness in their eyes.
"Sorry kid," Natsu said, "but it looks like we aren't going on a mission today after all. It seems that guy didn't need our help finding his treasure." He handed Wendy the piece of paper, a letter from the baron detailing the discovery of the treasure in his sock drawer. Lucy slammed her head down on the countertop.
"I'm gonna get evicted," she moaned.
"Poor Lucy!" Mirajane interjected. "Her, let me pour you a drink on the house."
"There isn't going to be a house left if you keep giving things away for free!" Carla exclaimed. Mirajane ignored her.
"Anyway," Natsu continued, "I guess we have to find another way to spend the day. Maybe I can find another request to take." He started to get up but was blocked by a figure that appeared suddenly in front of him.
"Nonsense," Erza said, her face deadly serious. "We're getting on that train."
"But we have no job to go to!" Natsu protested. He tried to push her out of the way but she remained solidly in place.
"I know," she said, stills serious but her eyes lighting up. "That's why I bought these!" Her face finally broke into a smile as she held up five tickets to a resort. "We're going on vacation!"
Lucy jerked up and squealed as she saw the tickets in Erza's hand. "Is that that totally amazing five-star resort on the beach?"
"Only the best for us."
Lucy couldn't contain herself; she jumped up and hugged Erza, eyes watering as she proclaimed her many thanks. Both Mira and Carla were staring in utter shock, while Natsu stood looking on with nothing more than dumb confusion on his face.
"What's going on?" he asked.
"Gray's meeting us at the station for the 8:30 train. Go home and pack your bags for a beach vacation, and don't be late," Erza instructed.
Before she really even comprehended what had just happened, Wendy was leaving the guild with Carla at her side, marching back up the path to Fairy Hills.