So I wonder what this other reason that the group are famous for is, Lady Red is very secretive. So it's a week or two away from the end of the harvest and the autumn equinox... I wonder... Shall we find out soon? This is in the point of view of nobody...
"Now let's go. If we don't get them today we have to go back up tomorrow." Malory shook the snow from her shoulders and pulled up the hood on her over shoulder cloak so it covered the area directly around her face. She smiled lightly at the older man who was still glaring at the new people, mainly Erza, Rufus and Pantherlily who were still standing there. "Jim." The older man looked at her, she shook her head at him. "They are our friends, treat them wisely." His eyes widened like saucers and he smiled tightly at the group.
"Very well." He picked up a bag and turned to his men, "Alright people, the new ones are friends of Shadow, Vile, Lulu, Machine and Flash. You know what that means," The men all nodded, "Right, move out!" They all picked up multiple bags and weapons before moving on along the snowy path. Jim turned to face them. "New people, you go with them one way, and make sure you don't screw up. We will go another way." With that he followed his own group.
Lucy tightened the strap on her coat then started to walk on piece of snow that looked slightly indented into the ground under some of the snow clad trees, Rowen carefully matched her steps so it looked like there was only one set of footprints. "Well c'mon!" Kelly said as she jumped after them, again in step. "Don't make any other foot marks!" She giggled then put her fingers to her lips, "And remember to speak quietly. The animals may hear."
After a while of walking they came to a hundred or so foot wall of snow, there were animals prints up the sides where the creatures that they were following had climbed it. There were two tall pine trees slightly across from each other were pressed up against the side. The group fanned out to the sides, not caring about tracks anymore. "Well, how are we supposed to get all the way up there?" Sting said, arching his head back to look at the top.
"Easy." Sean pulled a long coil of rope from himself and passed it to Malory who tucked it over her head, one side on her shoulder the other under the opposite arm. Malory took two big steps backwards then sprinted forward then used Bixlow and Laxus to propel herself halfway up one tree, quickly after she bounced to the second and jumped over the top of the snow bank. Seconds later the rope was let down, two strands of it dangled around the base of the glacier. "We get up like that." Lucy tied both rope ends to a plank and stood on it, "I go up first, then only a few at a time until we're all up. Cause Shadow and I are only so strong." He stood on the board and Lucy stepped off, "See you all in a minute." He tugged the rope and the whole contraption sped to the top.
When it finally came down Lucy and Kelly made them all get on at the same time then pulled the ropes which caused it to lurch upwards again, when it got to the top it showed another place just like down below, near the edge was a rock and there by that rock were Malory and Sean, pulling on the rope that was pulling them all upwards. "I thought you said you couldn't get us all up here." Lyon commented before they released the rope that let it fall to the ground for the other few.
"We're not all up here." Sean said as they both tugged on the rope again and shuffled backwards in the snow, when Lucy, Rowen and Kelly stepped off the platform they started to take it apart. "Now we are." He grinned at them which caused Natsu to flame out, and start shouting about him being mean but was hit with the butt of a sword as Malory walked past him.
"What was that for!?" He screamed, Malory looked back at him then grabbed his scarf and used it to tie his arms behind his back and to gag him. He started to squirm and sprout fire to try and get free but was buried under a pile of snow when Lucy pushed him down into the deep snow beneath their feet. He managed to drag himself out and spout more fire. He stopped when he saw Lucy standing above him with a glowing yellow hand, she touched his forehead and he passed out.
"He talks too much." Lucy said as she walked after Malory who was crouching by a tree, "What you got there Shadow?" Malory traced her fingers along three diagonal slash marks, Lucy did the same as her. "There's a Draag'n following the Leoks?" She sat back on her heel before standing up, "Well this mission just got harder." She spun on her foot sending up a spray of snow to face the confused people before pointed a finger at them and putting the other hand on her hip. "Listen up, Leoks are our prey. They are large creatures about twice the size of cows, they are extremely fluffy and good for making clothes in the winter. The meat on them is very good as well as it lasts a long time. Leoks are stupid, but they are fast, and they are strong. They attack and travel in herds so it makes it harder to catch more than one. It is easier when the order is for only one because we can pick on the weakest who will have fallen behind. Unfortunately our order is for three. Jim and his group should be able to catch one. So we have to get two." She pointed at the marks on the tree, "This will be harder as we have to kill two Leoks and a Draag'n. Draag'n's are a little like wolves in looks and size. They are vicious and exceedingly strong. Unlike what they usually prey on, Draag'n's are smart and adapt fast. So it you were to kill it, kill it fast. Nasty creatures who prey on anything, we need to kill it. Should get a good price in the market, and with it Professor should cut your debt to us in half. That is if you think you can handle it."
Gray snorted, "Of course we ca-" He was cut of by a loud roar and they turned to see a scaled dog that was growling, it had a large spoon shaped tail and long teeth and claws. "Nani!?" He shouted as it charged forward.
Lucy grabbed the sword from Malory's back, Malory was still crouched beside the tree. Lucy jumped forward and slashed its legs as it tried to pass, causing it to shrink backwards. "It's the Draag'n!" She jumped back so she was touching the ground beside Jura and Rufus, "And it's about five years old, that's the stage they are most powerful."
The Draag'n dug its tail into the snow then threw it at the group, the snow dissipated and turned into steam before it hit them. Another few piles of snow were thrown their way all turning to steam, "Is that you Gray? Lyon? Natsu? Any of ya?" Sting said as he leaned against a tree in panic. The Draag'n let out another scream then dug into the snow and disappeared just as fast. The snow suddenly became clear ice and they could see the Draag'n under the ice struggling. "Seriously! How is this happening!?"
Sting was suddenly frozen himself, "I thought we told you all to be quite." Came a soft voice from near the tree line, "It disturbs the animals." Malory looked at the Draag'n, "It'll get out soon. Remember, no magic." She put her hand on the ground and it turned to water. She jumped up into the tree and released Sting from the ice prison. She giggled slightly then lay back against the tree, and closed her eyes. "And make it quick, the Leoks are getting farther away each second." She clicked her fingers and they were all standing on snow again. Sean, Lucy and Kelly followed her lead and jumped into the trees.
Erza pointed at the Draag'n which was walking back and forth, its breathe leaving mist in the air. "You expect us to kill that without magic?" Malory smiled and nodded without opening her eyes. Lucy tossed the sword to Erza and smiled. "I may be able to do more, now that I have a sword." She swung it behind her and charged at the Draag'n, she managed to slice off its tail, but it just grew back. "Eh?" She managed to jump back before it hit her.
"Regeneration." Kelly said, "It's one of the ways King keeps people under the impression that magic is evil. He gave some creatures who didn't take to us well powers like instant regeneration to help them you know... Ruin peoples faith." She shuddered, "It does not always go the best... It can end up with some funky looking creatures. But the Draag'n always took well to it. There were many other things given to them... Draag'n's got regeneration and strength." She grinned at them, "Good luck!"
Gajeel pointed at it, "You want us to do that by ourselves!?"
Lucy looked at him, she was lying on her front with her arms dangling either side of the tree branch, "Problem?"
Laxus put his hand on Gajeel's shoulder. "Just think of it as a test, can't be too hard, can it?"
Sean laughed, "Yes it can!"
The Draag'n jumped on Sting and Rouge, causing them to pass out, then he did the same to Lyon, Rufus, Erza and Pantherlily. The others all scarpered back to nearer the edge of the snow bank, Gray pushed them forward a bit. "Don't do much good to fall to our deaths."
