Everything was quiet, except for the whimpering of Rojin. It is too quiet. I stand up and away from Rojin and look around. There was the natural murmur of the villagers behind us. The noise of metal beating metal, the sing song voices of traders trying to seduce their customers. The crunch of boots on snow as a group of men patrolled their borders for anything un-dead. Even the distant noise of a woodsman splitting logs for the spears they make to defend themselves.
"Rojin, be quiet for a second" I mutter, my hand placed on his head. He sniffled twice more and then was silent. I look around and try to listen for them, listen for the sounds of animals. The snort of a cow. The songs of the birds. Ugly ruffled his feathers and cawed angrily before taking off for the sky and far away from the village. Chills crept down my back, and I swallow thickly. The Draugr weren't on the beach, or they were far out at sea. But even so there should be some there?
Maybe I'm jumping too soon to conclusions...But the evidence was unmistakable. No life around the village, no animals or anything? And everything was too quiet. Surely the Draugr can't be here. In the village, not with the protective runes up. But still, despite people dying and children like Rojin's sister being taken...The village is far too relaxed, and maybe their runes too. I've noticed it when we arrived here, and I'm noticing it now. Hell even Rojin's father has done nothing, despite his youngest daughter has been taken and made into the horrors that plague this island.
"What is it?" Rojin mumbled and rubbed his nose roughly. Snow crunched around the ally, and I ignore the boy.
"Hmm..." grunting, I turn around and see probably one of the last people I want to see today.
"What the fuck do you think you are doing boy?" Flynn growled, his piggy eyes gleaming like two burning lights.
"Da?!" Rojin gasped and backed away rapidly. "I-I thought you were off in the snows?" Rojin stammered, his face pale.
"I was" Flynn stepped forward, his teeth bared like a snarling dog. "Back in time to hear your bitchin'. And this fucking traitor talk about leaving. You are sounding a lot like your cunt mother-".
"Oi!" I snap. "Don't talk crap like that in front of him!".
"Fuck off!" Flynn's nose went red and he snorted like a bull. "You're the freak that put the ideas in his soft head".
"If you think his head is soft then that makes yours a puddle of piss!" I stride over to Flynn and glower down at him. "Or I could make it just that if you want!" purple glowed on my arm and a scaled, hooked and clawed hand prodded his fat wobbly chin.
Flynn's face paled for a moment, and the tats on his ears spun and rolled in random patterns. Seconds rolled by, and the eerie and all too threatening silence seemed to squash me. Something must've clicked in Flynn's dull mind because suddenly his eyes glinted and he swatted my dangerous hand away.
"You can't hurt me!".
"Wanna bet on that?!" I drag my talons across the house to the right and draw deep grooves into the side.
"Yeah I might" Flynn hissed and spat at my feet. "See you are here to 'protect us'. Attacking and beating us up isn't in that job description".
Dammit...Flynn is right. He maybe an unmanly asshole and scum, but I can't attack a villager when I should be protecting them. Makarov has told (or rather yelled at) me of my reputation I'm getting of molesting my employers if they irritate me.
"But the boy" Flynn nodded to Rojin who was cowering by the trees. "Na, he is staying here with his dad".
"His dad huh?" I lean down and thrust my face into his. My real da is dead! Rojin's words spoke to me again.
"Apparently his real dad is dead?" I whisper.
Flynn's confident face went plum purple in his rage. "What filthy shit have you told him, boy?!" Flynn raised a fist threateningly. "You spreading them lies! I will beat you bloody and blacken that other eye for you!".
"You won't touch him!" I snarl. "He is under my protection, and the protection of Fairy Tail! Try hurting him now!". Flynn seem to falter at that and he stepped forwards until he was as much in my face as he could get.
"You can't take him! I'm his father!" Flynn bellowed and villagers were stopping outside the alley to watch the commotion.
"Boys and girls younger than him have come to Fairy tail" I whisper. "It is his choice".
"You have no right-"
"He does!" I yell in his face, pointing at Rojin. I hear muttering in front of me and I look angrily at the crowd. "Don't you just mutter! How can you people stand around and let this happen to him?!".
"Everybody gets roughhoused at that age..." a quiet and small man spoke up.
"Like this?!", Rojin cowered slightly before the crowd and then seemed to find some courage. He straightened his head and showed the crowd his black eye. The villagers shuffled, their faces down in shame. Flynn is practically foaming in the mouth, his face a disturbing shade of puce, and I was the center of noise.
"Look, Rojin, has already agreed to come with me and Evergreen to Fairy tail. He isn't yours now!" I turn and look at Rojin who was staring at me with moon eyes. I don't know what I was expecting. Him to back out and say that he is staying because of all the attention. What I didn't expect was a ghastly ear piercing scream to break the silent tension.
"FUCKING HELL, FUCK, FUCK, FUCKFUCKFUCKFUCK!" a voice deformed by pain screamed a couple of houses away. "DAT FUCKING CUNT! DAT LITTLE FUCKING WHORE!". The villager's face burbled their worries. Some running away from the voice in fear of the Draugr, others running towards it in curiosity.
Oh shit... I go pale when I recognize that voice through the pain. No, no, no ,Ever!
"Shit!" I curse and run through the thick snow.
"Wait up!" Rojin's high pitched voice squeaked and he raced after me.
"Come on we gotta haul ass, kid!" I grab Rojin by the scruff of his parka and run to the back of the house and towards the screaming. I nearly slipped on the snow because of how fast I was moving, no doubt, Rojin, is being knocked around. I slide around the corner and shove past people. I expected the worst. The Draugr eating her or ,Ever, being hurt or attacked. All the worst things happening to her. But the first thing I see is the blood standing stark on the snow, and an obvious body print next to a tree. And then Logan screaming into his hands as he lurches around in the white waste.
"AGH. AGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH" his voice was thick and muffled and had a clogged sound to it.
"What's happened to Mr. Logan?!" Rojin gasped as he dangled from my grip. His outcry was one of many as other villagers like the smith walked closer and exclaimed their own concern and distress.
"Was it the bone men?!" the metal worker growled and looked around the snow. "Look! There is a set of prints!".
I look to the snow and true enough a pure print of small feet walked away from Logan's blood and body print. But they were no skeleton's feet. These prints were of a person wearing snow boots...
Ever what has happened?!
"This isn't Draugr" I say and walk forward with a nasty feeling in my gut. "Logan?". Logan did nothing but groaned into his hands. "Logan?!" I shake his shoulders and he staggers forward. "What the fuck has happened?!".
Logan did nothing but groan for what felt like hours but I tuned it out. Where is Ever?! She has clearly left and by the look of her foot prints, she was calm enough and in no pain. But what happened here? Why didn't she come to me?
She said she is going to talk to Gnash. But still, she should've come to me to explain things!
The more I thought the more the anger in me built up from smoking to burning intensely.
"LOGAN!" I yell and shake him roughly.
To hell with not harming him! I glare at the mental image of Makarov.
"What happened".
Another long moment passed and finally and thick shaky voice emerged between his hands.
"What happened? Your green blitch is what happened...".
I grit my teeth knowing that whatever happened was oh most definitely Logan's fault.
"Fuck that!" I rasp and dig my fingers into his shoulders. "What did you do?!" I whisper so the other villagers couldn't hear.
"What did I do?!" Logan opened his dark eyes and they glinted with hatred. "No. Look what dat blitch did!". He removed his hands from his face and blood spurted and dripped every where, like a horrible firework display.
"Shit!" I gasp and drop Logan's shoulders. His face was a complete mess! His nose was no more than a crater and part of his top lip was smashed into gristly lumps ruining his once handsome face.
"Sshit. Yeah, dis is sshit alright" speaking through his marred lip his voice sounded sloppy and had a strong lisp.
"What happened?!" Flynn roared and marched up to Logan.
"Dat green Fairy Tail cunt-"
"Don't call her that!" I roar at his face my hands balled to fists.
"-Dat bitch did dis 'cause I asked if I could trust you!" Logan snarled and moaned into his hands once more.
I physically felt my face pale and I swallowed tightly. She did this because Logan doubted me? I look at the blood in the snow as the body print by the tree. That's not like her at all! I walk to the tree and on one knee pressed my fingers into the indent. No. Ever isn't like me, she is rational. She wouldn't permanently deform a person's face for simply doubting her partner. I grit my teeth and turn to Logan.
"Your lying".
"Lying?! You dink I'm lying 'bout dis?!" Logan gestured to his ruin of a face.
"No, she definitely did that" I look down at Rojin who trundled up to my side and looked at the snow print.
"But I know ,Ever. And she wouldn't do that to someone unless they deserve it. And I'm sure you doubting me isn't enough to deserve it. No" I shake my head and glared at Logan. "No you did something else". I looked for the guilt in his eyes and I just saw a flicker of that poison in his eyes.
"What did you do?!" I growl and walk away from Rojin.
"I did nothin'" Logan insisted and lurched against a house's wall. Villagers walked nervously up to him and gave him rags to press to his face.
"In fact you an' your blitch are da ones doin' nothin' too!".
"What?!" I step closer. "Me and Ever are trying everything to help-".
"Like butcherin' my face" Logan howled through the cloths and tears of pain streamed down his face.
"That's not the only thing!" Flynn stepped forward.
Oh shit...I look around and already the villagers were riling up with Logan and Flynn. Something close to my heart stirred as my unease grew and grew. I felt it knocking against my chest ready to leap out and into the world.
"This freak here is taking my boy!" Flynn crowed like Ugly.
"I'm going because I want too!" Rojin howled in protest. "Your a mean ugly bastard dat hits me and my Ma when she was here!".
"You piece of lying shit!" Flynn raced towards the boy and I stepped between them.
"Back the fuck off now!" I roar and let my beast change come upon me. I felt my nails itch almost painfully as my claws grew out and my scalp felt as if thousands of tiny bugs were running across it as my hair grew out too.
"See what he did!" Rojin stepped out from behind me and showed Logan his black eye. "He did this!".
"I didn't do that!" Flynn objected his face red again. "It was this fuckin' monster here!" that fat slob gestured rudely to me.
"What?!" Rojin and me said at the same time. The village muttered to themselves and glared at me angrily. Logan fixed me with a nasty glare and another evil light sparked in his eyes as he thought of something. Blood pooled through the cloths ominously and I felt even greater unease than before. There was still no animals, and the villagers were growing more and more agitated with mine and Ever's presence.
"He didn't touch me!" Rojin protested.
"Well I didn't touch him" Flynn turned back to Logan and the crowd. "If that green girl from Fairy Tail did that to you; what's stopping him from beating my son?!".
"It wasn't him!" Rojin rushed forward and waved his arms to get attention. "And you just said before you will beat me up because I told him!"
"No I said I'ma gonna beat you 'cause of all them lies you spreading about me and your Mother!" father growled at his son.
"STOP LYING!" the boy screamed and ran back towards me. "I'm going with him!".
"Boy..." Flynn glared down hatefully. "You're gonna regret this soon".
"He will regret nothing" I challenge. "So leave him alone" I grasp Rojin's wrist and turn to the bloody demented man in front of me. "Now where is, Ever?".
"Da cow said she was goin' to 'Nash's. Where da fuck else?" Logan rumbled.
"Logan, you need to speak to your brother about this" the black smith approached and lay a huge hand on his shoulder. "They can't get away with this".
"Look I'm sure, Ever, did what she did for a good reason" I walk away from Rojin and appeal to the crowd. "She part of the Raijinshuu for gods sake!". The crowd murmured uneasily and my heart leaped as I had them on the fence. "You have all heard of the Raijinshuu? They are one of the most famous wizard groups in Fiore! She has been through many a tough situation, and I can personally assure you she will not do this unless she was attacked or put in a situation where she needed to do this.
"That must be some situation to do this" the black smith ran his hand through his salt and pepper hair.
"That doesn't explain you hittin' my lad" Flynn sneered and I groan.
"I. Never. Hit. Him!" with each word I set closer and closer to Flynn. "That was you" I snarl my fangs at the man and glare at him with my red eyes.
"I was the one hit! I would know!" Rojin stepped forward bravely up and before his supposed father.
"And this guy isn't even my Da-".
"BOY SHUT THE FUCK UP-" Flynn roared.
"My real Da is Sebastian" Rojin appealed to the crowed. Gasps filled the air woman looked between each other with shock in their eyes. "You all remember the baker?" the boy took another step from my side excitedly. "He baked the fresh breads, and he always gave me Ma the cinnamon rolls fresh from the oven. He gave me poppy seed rolls for free too".
"Rojin?" I whisper and look at Flynn whose face was going dark purple.
"Sebastian always looked at 'Bell differently" one lady whispered.
"Little Rojin even has Sebastian's, eyes!" another exclaimed.
"Yes!" Rojin shouted excitedly. "I remember Ma telling me when I was little who he really is! She told me that Da was the kind man who lives across the road in the bakery. The one with the blue eyes that gives me poppy buns for free-".
"Isabelle is my fucking wife!" Flynn roared unable to take this anymore. "She died tragically making me a widower, and on her grave I promise you that Rojin. Is. My. SON!" Flynn screamed the last word so loudly that snow slid off the roof.
"Flynn..." I growl and step forward. "Don't. How did they die? The baker and Rojin's mother".
If I can solve this matter, then I can win this village over again and sort out what happened with Ever and Logan...
"We don't know 'bout how da two died" Logan mumbled and bound his face with strips of rags.
"Yes we found Sebastian's body by a lake with a fishing rod. Drowned he did" The smith frowned. "But Izzy's body...".
"No one found my wife's body" Flynn looked to the ground. Something glinted in his eyes and rage boiled in me. He's lying!.
"That's wrong" Rojin whispered. I turned and looked at him expectantly and Flynn suddenly froze in place. "My Ma died in an avalanche...".
The crowds around me gasped and even Logan looked surprised and eyed Flynn. Flynn's face went from dark red, to purple and finally to pale white.
"Flynn, you are the avalanche man. You would've known if an avalanche was to happen-" The smith growled.
"YOU PIECE OF SHIT!" Flynn screamed and moved so suddenly that even I couldn't catch him. He lunged over and grabbed Rojin by his scruff and threw him against the trees so violently that snow fell off the branches. As soon as Rojin's body passed over, the runes protecting the village glowed blue.
"Wait! STOP!" I yell. I wasn't afraid of what Flynn would do, I could stop him. I was afraid of what is out there. The trees rustled around us and my face paled as flaming green eyes began to peer down at Rojin.
"No, NO!" I yell and run after Flynn and Rojin. Flynn lumbered over to Rojin, and the gasps and outcries of the crowd were lost in my panic. As soon as he crossed the border it was over in seconds. Harsh rattling shrieks like nails on a black board pierced through the air, and the trees rocked and rattled in a flurry of movement like they were existing in a storm. Four black bodies slammed to the snow. Rojin barely had time to scream, they were on him in seconds.
"Elfman!-" Rojin screamed. But then huge black hands grabbed him by his face and hauled him up to the face of a huge Draugr.
"Arghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh" it screamed at him and began to run away with Rojin bouncing in its terrifying grip.
"AHH" Flynn howled as the remaining three ripped into him then and there. Blood gushed everywhere as one bit its teeth deep into his gray fleshy arms. Another plunged its hand deep into his leg and ripped out chunks of flesh to drop down it's gullets. Blood washed over the dark bones covered in a thin black veil of skin. I could almost see chunks of meat slowly making its way down it's body. I scramble forwards as fast as I could but if I could say anything about the Draugr. They hunt like a pack of Lions. They make the kill quick and efficient and if the prey is small enough they take their kill to their patch. As soon as I crossed the border, the things must've been to happy with their fat prey to bother with me. The largest one plunged its hand deep into Flynn's belly and ran off into the woods with Flynn's dying body bouncing against the large roots, and impaling him against the sharp branches. They moved so fast that I couldn't see Rojin's floppy red hair in the gloom.
"ROJIN!" I scream and run into the woods. "ROJINNNNNNN" I yell. I run after them. I won't give Rojin up, I promised to take him to Fairy Tail.
I won't let you die! I thunder through the forest. And for once Evergreen wasn't on my mind.
Yes this chapter is very very very very very late. ONE THOUSAND PARDONS! But yes this chapter is kinda dark and rated mature for the very bad language.(Sorry if it offended). But look forward to the next chapter because things are gonna get intense ;)
Love San-of-the-forest.