The next morning Juvia carefully slipped out of her house without being stopped by her brother because she knew he'd never allow her to go into the jungle with just Gray. She was halfway out the door when she accidentally bumped into Levy, the housekeeper. A very lovely young woman who not only served as the housekeeper but also as Juvia's occasional confidant.
"Oh excuse me Levy." Juvia said.
"That's quite alright Miss. But where are you off to in such a hurry?" Levy asked.
"No where important. I'm just going on a little walk."
"This early in the morning? Why the captain's not even awake yet."
"Oh really? I didn't know that." Juvia fibbed.
"I think you did." Levy said giving her a knowing look. "What are you up to?"
"Nothing."
"Then you wouldn't mind if I woke the captain a little earlier than usual for breakfast?"
"No." She said before confessing. "Alright I'm going to meet with Gray."
"Where?"
"In the jungle."
"You know you're not allowed to go in there alone."
"Technically I'm not going to be alone. I'm going to be with Gray."
"Would the captain approve?"
"I don't think he would so please don't tell him. I won't be in any danger. I'll be perfectly safe."
"I won't lie to him Miss."
"I thought you would say that." She sighed.
"But I won't say anything if I don't need to." She said with a smile. "Now you better hurry before the captain's stomach wakes him up."
"Thank you Levy."
Juvia then left her house and met with Gray who led her into the jungle to show her all it's wonders.
"Where are we going?" She asked him.
"I'm going to show you one of my favorite spots." He led her over to a very large and thick trunked tree. "It's right up here."
"You mean we're going to climb?" She said looking up at the great distance. "All the way up there?"
"Sure. No other way to get there."
"Uh..." She said nervously. "I'm not really a good climber. I haven't had much experience in that department."
"Well if you can't climb then I'll carry you up." He said turning his back to her. "Put your arms around my neck and your legs around my waist."
"I don't know." She said unsure. "Is it safe?"
"Yep."
"Okay..."
He helped her on to his back, she kept her arms at his neck and her legs at his waist.
"Hold on tight and don't look down." He told her.
"I'll try." She said.
He then proceeded to climb up the tree with an impressive amount of strength, at least from Juvia's perspective. She didn't think even her brother would have the strength to climb a tree this massive and he was the strongest man she knew. However despite how impressed she was with the wild man's abilities, she couldn't help but be a little anxious at how high they were going. She clung to Gray tightly and did her best to ignore the temptation to look down below.
"Have you done this before?" She asked him.
"Climb a tree?"
"No, climb a tree with someone on your back?"
"No." He said nonchalantly.
"What?!" She cried nervously.
"Relax I know what I'm doing."
"I hope so and I...I neglected to inform you earlier that I have a small fear of heights."
"Don't worry I got you."
Finally they reached the top and he placed her on a sturdy branch. At first she was afraid at how high she was but then she found herself marveling at how being at this height allowed her to see the entire jungle.
"I come up here all the time to do my thinking." He said.
"I can see why, it's beautiful up here. You can see everything."
"Yeah and no other animals come up here so it's quiet and peaceful. Perfect for clearing my head."
"I wonder why no animals come here. This tree would make an excellent home for monkeys and birds."
"True but they're too afraid of my mother to live here."
"Your mother?"
"Yes. She comes up here to think too. In fact I think she should be here. She believes morning is the best time to clear your thoughts because then you're ready for the day. Wait here, I'll go see if she's around."
Gray left the branch and climbed over a few others to search for his mother. While he was gone, Juvia made herself look presentable the best way she could. She was very eager to meet his mother and to see just who or what she was. Naturally her first thought was that his mother was human but then again if she was he probably wouldn't have been so feral and unused to other human beings. So her second guess was that his mother was some peaceful, non-violent animal like a sloth or a chimp.
"Here she is." Gray said returning.
When Juvia saw the tiger with him her first reaction was to move as far away from it as possible and cling to the branch in fear.
"That's a tiger." She said looking almost paralyzed with fear.
"Yes." He confirmed.
"Your mother...Your mother is a tiger?"
"Again yes."
"Oh...How unexpected. Definitely not what I had in mind."
"Are you okay?"
"Me? Oh I'm fine I'm just a little uncomfortable around tigers because they're man eaters and prone to kill on sight."
"Not my mother. She doesn't kill on sight, that's too impulsive for her. She thinks about her kill before she strikes."
Juvia gripped the branch tighter.
"Don't be scared she won't hurt you. You she doesn't even eat humans."
"Are you sure?"
"Do you trust me?"
"I...I...Yes I...I think I do."
"Then believe me when I say she's not going to hurt you."
He then spoke to Erza in a language Juvia did not understand. When he finished speaking the large feline started to make her way toward the human woman.
"Hold on what is she doing? What did you tell her?"
"I told her to say hello."
Juvia went completely stiff once Erza got close but to her surprise the tiger gently nuzzled her to let her know that she meant her no harm. Juvia eased up and cautiously moved her hand to stroke her fine coat. Erza purred in approval, soon Juvia's fear of her vanished entirely.
"Well this is quite a discovery. A tiger who's gentle and affectionate."
"Not all the time." Gray said remembering the moments she had scolded or punished him.
"She's very beautiful and her red fur is just magnificent." Juvia complimented. "I've never seen a tiger breed like her. She's probably the loveliest animal in this whole jungle."
Gray spoke to Erza in his first known language again and this time she responded.
"What did she say?" Juvia asked.
"I told her what you just said and she said thank you." Gray translated.
"It really astounds me that she's the one who raised you. I always thought tigers were supposed to be ruthless."
"Oh she's ruthless alright but she does love me. Very much."
Erza moved away from Juvia and to her son. She said something to him.
"Would you excuse us for a moment?" Gray asked Juvia.
"Of course."
Erza had asked Gray to let her have a quick talk with him in private. Once they were alone she took on her more human like appearance.
"Yes Mom?" Gray asked her.
"You brought a human here." She said calmly.
"Yes I did. She's my friend and I wanted her to meet you."
"Was that wise of you?"
"What do you mean?"
"You know humans aren't welcome in this part of the jungle. They're dangerous."
"But she's not dangerous. You didn't sense any danger from her did you?"
"Judging by her scent I know she's kind. A little frightened but kind and that she poses no threat to us."
"Then what's the problem?"
"Jellal is the problem. You know how he feels about humans. The minute he sees one he automatically suspects danger and evil."
"So? Who cares how he feels?"
"I do. Don't forget I'm his mate."
"I didn't forget but what you see in him I'll never know."
"Jellal has good reason to be suspicious. I'm not saying he's right for always seeing the worst in man but he's not wrong for being afraid of them."
"Why? Why is he so afraid? What made him hate them so much?"
"Now is not the time to tell you. We'll talk about it later. For now I'll leave you to occupy your friend and I won't tell him about her but please be careful about where you take her in the jungle. Because if Jellal sees her his first thought won't be to sniff her and see if she's good inside, his first thought will be to drive her away no matter what. Even if he has to harm her."
A fierce look appeared on Gray's face when she said.
"He'll harm her over my dead body."
"Don't talk crazy, you know you can't fight him."
"I'm not talking crazy. I'm not scared of him anymore Mom! I'm not going to let him just put me down all the time! And I sure as hell won't let him hurt Juvia! If he so much as scratches her I swear I'll-"
"Gray!" She interrupted before he could finish that sentence. Looking aghast at what he was implying.
Gray's anger subsided when he saw her fearful shock. Gray had never been fond of Jellal and saw him as a bully who needed to be stood up to. And if there was ever a time where Gray would have no choice to...Do the unthinkable to the mean-spirited dragon he probably wouldn't regret it. But his mother loved Jellal. Loved him just as much as she loved him and Natsu, so for her sake Gray would do his best not to resort to fighting her mate.
"I'm sorry Mom. I wouldn't want to do that to him but...But if he were to ever attack someone I cared for, you can't honestly expect me to just stand by and let him do it, do you?"
"No." She sighed. "I wouldn't expect you to let him do it and I wouldn't blame you for fighting him but...But you have no idea how much I dread something like that happening. You, Jellal, and Natsu, you're all I have ever loved and if God forbid any of you tried to destroy each other I...I don't know what I would do."
"I understand. Alright Mom I'll be careful about where I take Juvia."
"Thank you."
