A/N: Second chapter for today, as promised!

Standard Disclaimer applies.

~With Lucy and the guild~

It had been three days since Lucy had chased off her childhood friend. The entire time, she had been in a sour mood, not to go unnoticed by her friends. She would snap at anyone attempting a conversation with her, even Wendy and Levy. The news that she had been claimed by the Dhiren had soon made it's way to all the people that knew she was a half-breed. Now, she sat alone at a table, her head on the rough surface and her eyes glaring at nowhere in particular. Her mind was filled with thoughts of what had happened in the forest three days ago, and she couldn't shake them away.

Without warning, she shot from her seat, her eyes focused on the closed doors of the guild. "He's here," she growled, her pupils narrowing to slits and a faint golden shimmer coating her body.

"Lucy? What's wrong?" Erza asked, coming over to where the blonde stood.

"It's Dhiren. He's here with the most skilled fighters of the clan." Lucy's voice was slightly guttural, her body trembling in anger. "No... No, it can't be... They even brought him..." she muttered, her face paling significantly.

"Why are they here? Who's 'him'?" Erza asked, getting in a fighting stance. By this time, Gray, Natsu, Happy and Levy had come to see what was happening.

"Ramnarine. Nobody's beaten him in a fight. Ever. He took on all twenty of the first battle squad at once and nearly killed them," Lucy explained, her eyes distant. "No... Even Kishan? And Nova?"

"They're here for a fight? I'm all fired up!" Natsu exclaimed, grinning.

"Don't take this lightly, Natsu! They could kill you and they won't hesitate to!" Lucy growled, loud enough for the whole guild to hear.

"Who?" Gajeel asked gruffly from where he sat a few tables away.

"The clan," Lucy said through gritted teeth. She made her way to the center of the guild, her eyes narrowed as she expectantly gazed at the door. She dully noted her friends taking their places beside her.

Within a few minutes, the guild doors swung open to reveal seventeen figures, with Dhiren (in his human form, of course) at the front.

A pink-haired girl that looked no older than ten began to jump up and down. "Hihi Lucy-sama~" she giggled, only to be shushed by a red-haired man with a solemn look on his handsome face. "But Nova!" she then whined.

"Be quiet, Ririn," Nova muttered, putting a hand on the girl's head. His eyes focused on Lucy, standing in front of a group gathered with angry looks on their faces. But Dhiren said Lucy-sama was being tortured... It must be a look-alike. he thought.

"We're here for Lucy," Dhiren said confidently.

"Like hell you are," Lucy sneered, charging. In less than a minute, Dhiren and Lucy had changed into their respective tiger forms, and the rest of the group took that as the go ahead to attack. They all morphed, and were replaced by a horde of tigers that lashed their tails and snarled.

Ramnarine stepped forward in his stripe-less form and said loudly for all to hear, "I am Ramnarine Mirtis. Who here is brave enough to fight me?"
Natsu and Gray exchanged glances as they charged the cat, Natsu's fists flaming and Gray's hands in the Ice make stance.

And so, the battle between tigers and mages began.