Makarov, Natsu, Happy, Gajeel and Pantherlily arrived at the basecamp, both wizards and exceeds were rather bandaged and exhausted when they got there. The other wizards waved and greeted them.

Makarov raised Natsu's hand in the air and said, "and this year's winner of the s-class promotion trial is Natsu Dragneel!"

The wizards cheered from their bandages.

"So, who did everyone lose to?" Natsu said smugly.

"Laxus" muttered Juvia and Lisanna

"Mirajane" added Bixlow and Romeo

"Gildarts" chimed in a very defeated Gray and Max.

"Jeez, I thought he was going to let you pass like he did with me" Natsu said in dull amazement.

"You, flame for brains" muttered Elfman

"We met up with Erza" Lucy added, Natsu shuttered.

"Better you than me" he responded.

"We beat up that earth make girl and Cana" Gajeel said, proudly. Much to the annoyance of the rest of the field.

"Who does that leave?" Natsu pondered dumbfounded.

Mira responded, "I think Freed and Zeldris, and Wendy and Carla are the ones that haven't made it back".

Lucy then asked in a concerned tone "should we maybe go find them? They should be able to find their way back but still".

"I have to agree with Lucy on this" Mira added.

Makarov rubbed his chin and pondered, "then that's settled, Natsu, Gajeel, Erza, Mira, I want you to come with me, we will split into groups to look, anyone else want to volunteer?"

Bixlow, Laxus, Romeo, and Terra Mere all volunteered as well. The group of wizards and exceeds then followed Makarov to the split, where he said "my portable communication lacrima said that Wendy and Carla took route A, and Freed and Zeldris took route J, so I want Laxus, Bixlow, Gajeel, Pantherlily, Romeo, and Terra Mere to take route J, the rest of you take route A.

The wizards went down their respective paths, worried but unconcerned it was the cause of a malevolent force.

"Let's hope a dark guild hasn't' decided to attack again" Gajeel muttered, the rest of the wizards minus Romeo and Terra Mere glared at him.

"Alright, alright, I'll be quiet, I think I can smell them" Gajeel responded.

"Good, good" Terra Mere muttered, ready to get this over with as she held Romeo's hand.

Gajeel sniffed noticeably, "something smells off, he said" and started running down the cave.

Laxus then asked, "well what is it metal head?"

"I don't smell Zeldris!" he snapped back.

Then, everything happened at once. The two groups raced to the scene of the event. Both could see their injured comrades.

Laxus and Bixlow both rushed to Freed. Happy and Pantherlily rushed to Carla's aid. Finally, Natsu, Gajeel, Erza, and Mira rushed to Wendy's aid, while Makarov, Romeo, and Terra Mere looked on in shock. All of them were trying to get the unconscious wizards to get up.

Makarov then spoke, attempting to get some order, "let's get the three of them back to base camp quickly".

The group of wizards rushed their injured friends back, still dismayed about everything that happened. The joy that had filled Natsu had now turned to rage.

When they arrived at the base camp, everyone scrambled to get their injured friends to a comfortable location to rest and to bandage everyone.

"They are definitely still alive" Natsu said, "I can hear their faint breathing" he finished.

"That's a positive, thankfully the protection that our first master placed on this island still works" Makarov said grimly.

"You really think the three of them would have kicked the bucket after that?" Laxus asked, referring to the many injuries.

"And where the hell is Zeldris?" Bixlow grumbled.

"Counter boy! Counter boy!" his doll added.

"Well, I think we should start searching the island beyond the routes" Erza said, "I fear that something attacked the four of them and Zeldris was the only ones to survive, maybe Zeldris regained consciousness and went looking for us" she finished, a worried look on her eyes.

"Alright then, everyone except Mira and Lisanna, let's go search the island, we will meet back at sunset" Makarov said.

Everyone fanned out, eager to find Zeldris. Time slowly ticked forward by as the sun got lower and lower in the sky.

Carla was the first to wake, and even then, it was not very awake, the white exceed muttered "light? Where am I?"

Lisanna who heard her faint words gasped and shouted, "Mira! Mira! Come quick!" Mirajane quickly followed Lisanna to where the white exceed laid.

"Carla, what happened?" Lisanna asked, very concerned.

The white exceed then said, feebly "Zel, Zeldris, he went" she paused catching her breath, "went berserk and attacked".

Lisanna and Mira looked at each in disguised horror.

Then Carla said "he was like a demon, black, and fast, too fast" she finished and passed back out.

Freed then opened his eyes long enough to mutter "Zeldris, escaped, like a black dart in the air" and then Freed went and passed back out.

Mira solemnly raised her hand and unleashed the red signal flare. Everyone on the island saw it, and began heading back to the base camp. Everyone feared the worst.

When Makarov arrived, Mira explained the situation to him, and he prepared a plan of action. He stood on a crate of supplied and addressed the worried wizards.

"Children, from what we have gathered, Zeldris is no longer on the island. We do not know exactly what caused the attack on Freed, Zeldris, Wendy, and Carla" he said.

"With that, we will spend the night here tending to the wounds of our comrades. We have sent messages via communication lacrimas to Porlyusica and Chelia of Lamia Scale. They will meet us in Hargeon tomorrow afternoon to help heal them. In the meantime, we will form search teams to look for Zeldris across Fiore. A message is also being sent out to the guild to form search parties there. We will not give up until we can find him. He is a member of our family, and we will bring him back to the guild!" Makarov finished, to a cheer of the crowd in agreement.

Mira and Lisanna looked at each other with a worried expression, not saying a word. They had told Makarov everything they knew.

Makarov stepped down from the crate and walked back to the ladies and the injured trio.

"I hope we find Zeldris, because I hope what you told me is because of a foreign possession and not his own choice" Makarov said gravely, barely audible to the ladies. However, Natsu and Gajeel picked up on it, but didn't say anything. Looking and nodding at each other with unease, as they're silence spoke volumes.