So I took a little break for a bit. It's the end of the vacation, I can chill a bit if I want to!. So let's see what happens this chapter. I've been getting a few questions and you gotta understand that I improvise all, nothing is planned. Also have been told that maybe I should try to go about Natsu's POV as well, I don't know for sure yet. I might do it, be sure to give me your opinion on the matter. That being said, let's start improvising!


He didn't catch too much sleep, but it doesn't seem to bother Natsu all that much. Right now they're all just making their way past this mountain. This morning, they decided it'd be best for the Lucy girl to get the male wizard back to the guild. Before she got out of sight though, she took another glance at Natsu. She must've been thinking about yesterday. Natsu's been tinkering all morning, and even though I'm in his mind, I can't tell what about. Seems like his companions have caught on as well.

"Yo, what's up?" I guess he couldn't be any more casual about it.

"Hm? Oh, sorry. I just got lost in thought." That's not the answer we're hoping for, Natsu.

"Yeah, so much we noticed. So what was it you were thinking about?"

"Nothing you should be bothered with." So he really doesn't wanna let it out. If it's that serious, it might be that he knew about the girl from yesterday. After all, he's got pretty sensitive hearing and all that. Gray's gritting his teeth in frustration, quite the sight to behold. Oh wait, he's calming down...

"Hey, we're partners right now. What bothers you, bothers me too." Holy... I didn't know something mature could actually come out of that hold in his face. The rest seems surprised as well.

"He's right, Natsu. We can't afford to have you distracted during a mission." And there she was with the reasoning.

"Ugh, I guess I can't leave it at that. I'll might tell you guys later, but I really can't right now... Thanks, by the way." And so he pats Gray's shoulder, that step he just made is actually a really big deal. And of course, Natsu's willing to go in on it. They might even... be friends? Holy crap, who would've thought? As time passes on, they finally made it to the next mountain.

"So we gotta be around here for this ore, right?" If I remember correctly, they're looking for Tenebrium. It's a very useful ore that can be used to create arcane tools, but very dangerous to craft with. It's only any good to the people that specialize in it.

"Affirmative." When will that woman learn that this isn't the god damned military?

"The client told us that it's usually found near the top. I say we walk this path until a decent altitude to look around for the ore before we head downwards to the bottom of the mountain for the herbs." The herbs were in the middle of this mountain area. Looking from here, there were a lot of trees and many small ponds down there. Good thing it was only this cold up here.

"Alright, let's go then." And then they walked. The snow storm got heavier the higher they went, it's when they felt like the storm got too heavy that the dicision was made to start looking for the ore.

"So what exactly are we looking for?"

"Tenebrium is a very dark purple in color, and extremely solid as well. It tends to grow right on top of surfaces, so that's why there's no professional required to really go get the stuff. Most miners can't come up here because of the nature of this area, so that's why we're here." Good thing Natsu took note of what that request giver told them.

"And by nature you mean the temperature?"

"The temperature's not all, there's also a lo-" ... A lot of stuff that howls like that? What's coming from the mountain peak? It's a human? A wolf? Both?

"What the..."

"A Fenrir, father of all wolves." You're telling me that giant wolf-thing is a Fenrir? Those things are too rare for these parts!

"Na-" You're a tad late, Erza. Natsu's already gone.

"Gray, I want you to follow up on me. This thing's used to the cold environment so I want to see how well it can deal with physical attacks before you do anything at all. Make sure to adapt!" So her plan is to charge into the thing? It can literally chomp her sword down to the hilt! There she goes, I guess she doesn't care. She swings, it's opening it's mouth. I told you the blade fits entirely in there! Wait, what's she doing? Just before the beast closed it's mouth, she ex-quipped her sword into her other hand and punctured it's right eye! Damn, that's a neat skill. After that, the beast obviously wants to back. Gray's ice wall wouldn't let it, though. It's closing it's eyes, probably trying to focus on scent rather than sight. Wow, it was pretty fast to turn around and deliver a really heavy blow to Natsu. She I guess we can't really stay hidden from it. Natsu's looking pretty bad too, surely must've shaken him up a bit too bad.

"Natsu, can you still fight?"

"I'm fine, just get me an opening!" As long as we get close, Natsu can get the thing down.

"Gray, I'm counting on you to keep it down!" And there she goes again. This time, the beast seems to avoid the blade at all cost. Ducking down and butting his head into her chest did knock Erza backwards a lot. The wolf was diving on top of her, luckily Gray managed to protect her with an ice shield. The wolf clashes with the wall of ice until Natsu interrupts. He punches the beast aside.

"Ice Make: Saucer!" Gray send this sharp ice disc flying at the giant wolf. The thing noticed it and leapt aside into Natsu's fist once more. They wouldn't give it a break, Erza jumps at it again. I'm guessing the Fenrir realized he couldn't win, so he fled by jumping over the ice wall that Gray's own saucer had cut down.

"I guess we won't have to worry about him anymore. Erza, Natsu, you ok?"

"Yeah, we're not that hurt, just took a few blows to the chest. It'll pass in a bit."

"Alright, so we better start looking."

"I'm on it." Natsu sounds quite confident whenever he says that, usually he earns that confidence. Right now he sits down in a meditating position to reserve as much magic energy as he can. Out of every one of his sides are bursting flame copies of himself, running off to scout the area.

"We should find some of that ore pretty fast with this." Yeah, having like five times yourself looking around usually helps a lot in those situations. So, of course, it doesn't take too long before some of the ore's found. Gray could create some solid pickaxes for all of them. The mining wasn't too difficult, the ore was really close to the surface. There was more than the client requested, but they took it nonetheless. So, now it was time to go fetch those herbs down the mountain.

"What kind of stuff is it that we need now?" Natsu took out his small notes again.

"Apparently, it's Nightshade. As the name suggests, it's pitch black. So it blends in at night, but stands out during the day."

"I guess we better move before the sun sets then." Natsu seems to pick up some sound and checks behind them as they exit the cave.

"Uhm, guys..."

"What?" Erza and Gray turn around and see the dozen of Fenrirs staring them down.

"I-uh... I think it's time to run."

"Last one down's dead meat!" Natsu leaps off the path, sliding down the snow. You'd think he'd be scared to death of what he just saw, but he seems to be enjoying this. Strange boy, he is. Erza and Gray can't exactly stick around so they follow him down. The decent itself looks quite fun, to be honest. I can see why they're screaming that loud, but they might wanna watch it... Nevermind, too late. There's already a giant avalanche chasing them down. They seem to notice it as they stand up. Natsu's now using fire as thrusters, while Gray is surfing on the ice that he creates before his feet. Erza's now in a skimpier armor set that definitely improves her speed. It took quite a while, but they finally reached the bottom of the mountain and managed to outrun the avalanche. Good thing the town is on the other side of the other mountain, otherwise we might've been in trouble.

"That was a lot more fun than I thought it'd be." And so it seemed, Natsu.

"Yeah, but we should really move. That plant isn't gonna be that visible after dusk. Think you can pull your trick again?" Gray turns towards a shaking Natsu. I guess he was kinda dry after all that.

"I'm out, man. it's gonna be regular searching from here on out." Ah, doing some effort isn't bad for you, now is it?

"Let's get going then." Miss Cut-to-the-chase said so! It took an hour before the sun started dropping, they grouped up again around a pond.

"I guess we're not finding it today... Let's set up camp around here." We're finally settling down? Phew.


Even tonight, I couldn't sleep. Right now, I'm sittting next to the pond. Talking to Violet, as I always do..

"You're sure you're not hurt, right?"

"Yes, I've told you many times by now, I'm fine."

"That blow looked pretty heavy though."

"It's just the kind that dazes you for a bit, but nothing more." There were these times where she'd worry too much, though I didn't mind that much.

"At least this area looks a bit safer, I hope we won't have to fight the same kind of thing, if anything at all."

"I wouldn't mind seeing those kind of creatures, they're pretty interesting."

"So you wanna see those things again?"

"Not exactly, there's little I really want to see."

"Like?"

"You." She silently laughs. I don't know why, but her laughing makes me happier than usual. It kinda fills me up inside with a warmth. It's not the usual warmth that I'm used to, it's different.

"Bend over, make sure to stretch out forward as much as you can."

"Huh? Why?"

"Just do it." I guess I'm not gonna question her, so I do it. My head's now above the water surface.

"Look down." I lower my gaze, and was met by a pair of Violet eyes. It surprised me a lot, but I'm guessing that's a reflection of what Violet looks like.

"You can stop staring now." Damn it. Oughta watch what I do.

"Sorry, you look far better than I imagined." Now she's looking away, is that blushing? I was only being honest. I had known what she sort of looked like, but now I knew her exact face and hairstyle, her eyes, everything.

"Thanks, I'm really happy to hear that." I've never seen her like this, is she shy?

"Am I the first one who gets to see you like this?"

"The first human, yes."

"Oh, right. So no other ever got that far with you?"

"What do you mean by that?" Oh, crap. She seems offended, what'd I say? Better clear it up.

"Did no one ever keep you around long enough for that?" Phew, she seems to relax now, but a bit sad as well.

"No, I never wanted any of them to know what I looked like. But you're different from them, and I'm happy that you are."

"My pleasure!" I'm grinning down at her. Whenever I really smile at her, she seems to lighten up immediatly. She chuckled as well, this time I could actually see her do it. Her smile felt good to me, it felt like I did something good, something I want to do. Something, I want to keep doing.


So I ended up adding a little bit of Natsu POV at the end right there. I used it only to get some of his emotions out there. Tell me if it was good like this, or maybe you'd like to have it more back and forth during the actual chapter? Be sure to inform me!