"There's a group of bandits that live in the forest. They haven't been causing much ruckus in the past, but here recently they've been coming into town and terrorizing my citizens. I cannot allow this to continue." After picking up the job, Yanina automatically went to the sender - which was the mayor of Clover. He was a very stoic man, though she could tell he cared about his citizens. "Your job is to try and either run them off, or capture them for the council. Though they don't use magic, they use store-bought magic so they shouldn't be a huge problem." He continued laying down the basics for the young mage, who was nodding her head. "Though with a mage of your structure I'm sure that you'll be able to handle yourself."
Yanina nodded. "Yes sir, it won't be a problem at all. I can guarantee that this will be taken care of swiftly." That was how confident she was in her abilities. She'd practiced and practiced, knowing that she would be able to take care of anything that came her way.
Especially if that meant magicless bandits who were just causing trouble for a town. This wasn't her first bandit round-up and it most certainly won't be her last. Bandits seemed to have taken arise in the last few years, and Yanina was the one who took the call to most of the job postings. The few traveling mages weren't near as qualified and usually didn't take the bandit hunting jobs.
That made the Mayor smirk. "Good, I knew I could count on the Blossom Traveler. I've heard things about you, all good things." He promised when Yanina raised an eyebrow. She was being talked about? Well, she guesses that made since. The mayor of Clover wasn't the first mayor she ever talked to about a job. Yanina wondered if they held a meeting to cover the areas around them. "They are in the deeper part of the forest. Surely a tracker such as yourself can find them?"
With that she was all set. The Mayor told her everything she needed to know, and she made sure that she had sunlight on her side. While she could perform her magic without it, she was much stronger with the sun. It helped her plant magic grow, and be as strong as it needed to be.
Tracking the faint magic through the trees, she noticed a hint of something stronger. It wasn't anything bought from a store. That made her furrow her eyebrows as she continued her trek, noticing the cabin a few trees down. They were in it seemed as the chimney smoked, and she couldn't help but peak inside making sure that the foliage was hiding her form.
Inside the cabin was a white and blue cat, both ties up together. Yanina's face furrowed when she recognized the blue one. Exceed, she reminded herself, and wondered why they were tied up. Did the bandits plan on selling them? Yanina guesses she could see why, Exceeds were rare. The blue one was the first one she's ever seen.
"Who are you?" Yanina gasped, whirling around to see the group of teens she saw earlier - plus two new girls she didn't see with them.
Natsu grinned at her, showing a full array of teeth. "Shes cool Erza, we met her at the park earlier!"
The blonds eyes widened with recognition when Yanina stepped out of her hiding place. Two new people she hadn't met before stood on either side of Natsu and Lucy. A bright red-headed woman, and a cute blue-haired little girl who was giving her a look of curiosity. Gray stood on the other side of her, his arms crossed over his chest as he raised an eyebrow in question. "What are you doing here?" He asked, curiosity seeping through his voice. He wasn't judging her by any means. Just curious.
Yanina licked her lips anxiously, butterflies bubbling inside her stomach. She'd never expected to see the kids from the park again, though with the blue cat - Exceed - being held captive she guesses she should've put two and two together. "I had a job to take out bandits," she decided that being truthful would be the best way to go.
Natsu's eyes lit up at that prospect. "You're a mage?!" He grinned, showing some fangs that made her wonder just exactly what he was. "What magic do you use?!" He was excited and Yanina couldn't help but grin at the boy.
Though the excitement didn't last as he got slapped on the back of his head. "Flame-brain, we don't have time for that! Do you want Happy and Carla to be sold?" Gray snapped, making Natsu growl at the insinuation.
"Boys," Erza warned, making them both shrink back. Yanina smirked at that, wondering how strong the red-head was if she had both boys afraid of her. "I am curious though," Erza turned to look at her again, causing Yanina to clear her throat. "Are you affiliated with any guilds? I do not see a guild mark on you."
"I'm a wondering mage," Yanina admitted, biting her lip. "Uh, you might know me as the Blossoming Traveler." Erza's eyes widened in recognition and Yanina could say yes, she did recognize that name. Though the others seemed a little clueless. "We should be able to take out these bandits easily. The Mayor informed me that they don't use any magic, just store-bought magic that is pretty weak."
Erza nodded her head, deciding not to say anything - which Yanina was thankful for. Not that she was a super famous mage or anything, but she wanted to show off her power. Though she wasn't sure how much she'd be showing off with these puny bandits. "We need a way to get in without being noticed. Which means Natsu, you can't go in." Lucy stated, making the pink haired boy whine.
"Why not!" He pouted adorably, making the raven haired boy roll his eyes at his childish ways. "I want to help Happy and Carla!"
"Flame-brain you destroy everything you touch!" Gray scoffed, though there was an amused smirk on his face. Yanina wondered how close these mages were to each other if they could joke around like this.
"You'll have to be in the background for a bit," Erza conceded, making the boy pout. Though Gray smirked at that, amused by the entire situation. "Our job here is to free Happy and Carla. Though we are more than willing to help out a fellow mage." The red-head turned to Yanina, making the girl blink in surprise.
"You don't have to!" Though Yanina smiled at the offer. It was rare when she got offered help, not that she needed it. "I'm well experienced in this area. Capturing bandits is my forte!" And it was. Whenever there was a bandit job posted she took it without hesitation. That was how she made most of her jewel, after all. "However if you guys could just flush the bandits inside outside, that could be loads of help." That way she'd be able to capture them easily.
The red-head raised an eyebrow but nodded. "In that case looks like Natsu is going in after all. He has a knack for element of surprise." The pink haired boy grinned at being praised.
"You mean going in without a plan then yeah..." Lucy mumbled with a shake of her head. "I don't know if we introduced you to each other. Yanina, this is Erza and Wendy. Guys, this is Yanina. We met her at the park."
Wendy's eyes lit up. "Happy told me that you watched a little girl. He really liked her," she admitted sheepishly, making Yanina chuckle. Crystal would have a field day with that confession.
"I'm sure she'd love the visit," Yanina chuckled with a shake of her head. After that the mages got into position. It didn't take long for the bandits to freak out seeing the Fairy Tail mages, making Yanina chuckle. She seemed to be doing that a lot around these wizards, and it made her heart hum. She couldn't remember the last time she laughed this much.
Once the bandits were flushed out that was her cue. Cracking her knuckles, she crouched on the ground, mumbling a few incoherent things. Vines grew out of the undergrowth quickly and made their way towards the runaway bandits. Shrieking the bandits were in the air, dangling by their ankles by the vines. That was her favorite trick. There was three, and she had to wonder how three measly bandits were causing such a ruckus in Clover.
"Selling Exceeds is illegal, you know?" Yanina raised an eyebrow as she walked over to the bandits who were struggling. "Ah, ah, ah. If you struggle too much those vines will continue to hurt." The three cried out in pain the moment she said that and she smirked. Mission accomplished.
"So are you an Earth mage?" Blinking she turned to see the other mages appearing, looking at her in awe.
"I'm a Plant mage," she corrected with a wince. While she could perform some Earth spells, she preferred Plant based magic. "Anyway thank you for flushing them out. Don't know how I would have done that by myself," she chuckled awkwardly, scratching the back of her neck. If the Exceeds wouldn't have been there she would have just screamed to get their attention.
Happy's eyes brightened in recognition. "Oh, you're that girl from the park!" He yelled, flying over to her. Yanina's eyes widened as she caught the Exceed, who was giving her a hug. After a few seconds the Exceed glanced up at her with big, kitty cat eyes. "Do you have a guild?"
Before she could say anything Natsu was at her side, looping is arm around her shoulders. "Yeah! You should join Fairy Tail! You'll love it there!" He grinned that boyish grin, though there was something pinging in his heart that he didn't want her to go.
Lucy glanced between the two before nodding her head. "Yeah, I got my fresh start at Fairy Tail..." She trailed off with a blush. "If it weren't for them I don't know where I would be." She admitted, rubbing her left arm anxiously.
Yanina frowned. "I don't know, guys." While it was an interesting prospect, she enjoyed the life of a solo mage. Though she couldn't help but wonder what it would be like to settle somewhere and not have to find a place to crash for a couple of days every time she finished a job. Or camp in the woods.
"You showed great fighting instincts," Erza concluded, she was agreeing with them it seemed. "I would love to see what else you can do with your Plant magic." That made her blush. She'd never been asked that before.
Glancing around the group, they were all giving her an expectant look. Carla seemed confused, not knowing who the mage was. Though she did know she was an intricate help to setting them free.
With a sigh, she turned to Natsu who was still beaming at her. Happy had settled into her arms, purring when she scratched behind his ears. "Okay, I'll join Fairy Tail."