Erza had taken Sting to Grandmother Hilda's glen, so that they can talk to each other in private. Meanwhile, Millianna was inside a tree hole at a long branch with the stuff she swiped from the Sabertooth settlement, eating some bone biscuits while glancing at a map of the world.
Millianna remarked, "Whoever draw this picture, he's must've been a rosy genius with big smarts." She ate the last bone biscuit when she saw Erza and Sting coming in.
"This place is incredible," Sting remarked at his surroundings. "And to think we came all this way just to dig it up for gold."
"Gold?" Erza asked, as Millianna slid down the branch near Sting.
Sting greeted, "Hey, Milli."
Millianna greeted back, "Long time no see, Mr. Biscuit Man."
Sting chuckled, "Biscuit Man? And here, I thought I came up with the coolest nicknames for Shô."
"What's gold?" Erza asked Sting curiously, as the two sat on the stump.
Sting explained, "You know, it's yellow." He gave a few descriptions of gold, gesturing with his hands. "It's yellow, and when it comes out of the ground, it's really rare and valuable."
Erza smiled, "Oh! Here, we have lots of it." She searched her bag and took out a piece of corn. "Gold."
Sting shook his head, "No, no, that's corn. Gold is this." He took out a gold coin from his pocket and showed it to her.
Erza looked at the coin oddly, "Hmm. There's nothing like that around here."
As she was about to hold it, Millianna grabbed it. "Another biscuit, with a new color? Rosy!" she cheered, before she took a bite. Millianna was disgusted; that coin was hard to bite, and it almost broke her teeth. "Yuck! Another broken biscuit! It's not worth eating!" She then tossed the coin away.
"No gold?" Sting asked, surprised. It appears the Magnolia Company's journey to the New World was just a bust after all.
Erza shrugged, "Not that I've seen."
Sting laid down on the stump, laughing to himself, "Man, we came all this way for nothing. No gold, just corn. Are those guys in for a big surprise."
"Will they leave?" Erza asked.
"Some of them might," Sting replied. "They only came here to settle for a new life."
"Will you go home?" As she asked this, Erza's face showed a hint of worry.
"Well, it's not like I have much of a home to go back to," Sting shrugged. "I never really belonged anywhere."
"You could belong here," Erza smiled.
The two looked at each other for a while, when the wind chorused a familiar tune, catching their attention. Sting turned around, and was startled when he saw a face slightly appearing from the tree, grinning at him.
"What was that?" Sting asked Erza, hoping that he's not going crazy.
"Did you see something?" Erza asked.
Sting shook his head, looking tired, "No, no. I just, uh… I… I didn't see anything, did I?"
Erza held back a laugh, "Look again."
Just then, the face of Grandmother Hilda appeared on the willow's bark, much to Sting's surprise and disbelief.
Grandmother Hilda: Let it break upon you
Like a wave upon the sand
"Hello, Sting Eucliffe," Grandmother Hilda greeted. Sting was incredibly stunned that a tree was actually talking to him. How did this happen?
"Erza…" Sting whispered. "That tree is talking to me."
"Then you should talk back," Erza whispered back.
"Don't be frightened, young man. My bark is worse than my bite," Grandmother Hilda assured. Two owls exchanged doubtful looks.
"Say something," Erza urged him.
"What do you say to a tree?" Sting asked, confused.
"Anything you want," Erza replied, pushing him in front of the tree.
Sting scratched his head awkwardly, "So, uh…"
"Come closer, Sting Eucliffe," Grandmother Hilda said, using her vines to draw him closer. She peered closely with a smile, "He has a good soul. And he's handsome, too."
Sting grinned, "I'd like to give this tree some credit; she's got good taste. I like her."
Erza grinned back, "I knew you would."
Suddenly, the two turned and gasped when they saw two figures entering the glen: Lector and Orga. Minerva must've sent them to look for the White Dragon Slayer, and had found this place by accident. If they were to find Sting with Erza, they'd be in serious trouble.
"Sting! Sting!" Lector called out. "Where are you, buddy? Sting!"
"Sting, where are you?" Orga looked around. "Sting!"
"We can't let them see us," Sting said.
"Quick! Over here," Grandmother Hilda motioned them behind the willow, hiding from sight.
"This place gives me the creeps, Orga," Lector shivered. "Fairyndians could be hiding anywhere."
Orga assured, "Leave the Fairyndians to me, Lector. You know the drill: if we spot one, don't ask questions. Just shoot."
Grandmother Hilda smirked. She raised one of her roots off the ground, tripping Orga over.
"Oof!" Orga groaned. He then glared at Lector, "Hey, watch your feet, you furball! No wonder Exceeds are too small to trip people over!"
Lector defended himself, "It wasn't me! It was the tree!"
Orga rolled his eyes, refusing to believe that excuse from Lector. "Oh, sure. The tree just decided to have fun with us by lifting its roots and—"
But as Lector and Orga took another look, Grandmother Hilda lifted her roots again, right in front of their very eyes. The two then exchanged terrified looks; they think the tree was haunted.
Orga gulped, "Let's get outta here."
Before they'd make a break, Grandmother Hilda smirked again and slashed their butts with her vines, causing the two to yelp in pain.
"RUN FOR IT!" Orga screamed, taking Lector in his arms and running off.
"But what about Sting?" Lector asked.
"He's a tough guy. He can take care of himself!" Orga replied.
Orga and Lector were now out of the glen. Erza and Sting came out of hiding with sighs of relief. "Wow, glad you're on our side," Sting remarked.
"There's still some snap in these old vines," Grandmother Hilda said proudly, looking at her vines.
Sting turned to Erza, "Erza, I'd better get back before they'd send the whole camp out after me. Trust me, you don't wanna face 'em all."
"When will I see you again?" Erza asked.
"Meet me tonight. Right here," Sting suggested, caressing her face. He then left the area on his way back to Sabertooth.
Grandmother Hilda said happily, "Well, I haven't had this much excitement in 200 years!"
Erza paced around and said in confusion, "What am I doing? I shouldn't be seeing him again. I mean, I want to see him again…"
"Who wouldn't?" Grandmother Hilda smiled, looking at the path Sting left. "I want to see him again."
Erza replied, "But still, something inside me is telling me that it's the right thing."
"Wow, your hair could use a little dressing," Millianna came up to Erza, braiding her hair up a bit. "It's funny, because I'm a cat, and not a hairdresser."
Grandmother Hilda suggested, "Perhaps it has something to do with your dream."
"My dream?" Erza asked hopefully. "Do you think Sting could be the one the spinning arrow was pointing to?"
"Hmm," Grandmother Hilda nodded. Perhaps Erza's dream was leading her to Sting. If that is so, there might be a way to see him again and prevent any further conflicts with the settlers.