Chapter 9

That night, Cascadia dreamt of Glacona. She dreamt of the night before he disappeared. She had curled up under his large wing as she did every night. She didn't really need the warmth, but she felt a strange comfort when cuddling with her father. There had been a snow storm that night. These storms weren't all that uncommon, however this one was severe. Glacona had warned her to be careful. To rely on her ears and nose instead of her eyes. By this point, the cold even from these storms were barely even a chill to her. Her body had built up a sort of immunity to the cold, living with her father for all those years.

She had woken up the next day to find Glacona gone without a trace. How she didn't notice his departure was beyond her. She was usually a light sleeper, but she somehow missed it. She had gone outside to search for him. She spent 3 days, crying for him to come back. But he never came. He left her to fend for herself. She spent many nights after that crying, swearing she would never have family or friends again so she wouldn't be left behind again.

"Cascadia." Cascadia awoke to someone gently shaking her shoulders. It was Erza. "Are you alright? You were calling out in your sleep, and you're crying."

Cascadia hastily wiped the tears away, "I'm fine. Just a bad dream."

Erza looked at her sympathetically, but asked her nothing. Instead, she said, "Come on. Let's head on over to the guild and see what jobs are available." Cascadia took one final look around the women's dormitory before following Erza down the corridor and out to the guild hall.

When they arrived, there was a huge commotion in the common's area of the hall.

"What's going on?" Erza asked.

"There's some rumors about a new dark guild on the rise." A girl with short blue hair said.

"Levy, what do the rumors say?" Erza asked.

She shrugged, "Just that some wizards have been doing the dirty work that no official guild would dream of doing. Things like assassinations and such."

Cascadia paled, "Have these rumors given a name to this guild?"

This time, MiraJane answered, "Not from what we've heard, but the Council of Magic has been alerted and are investigating the matter."

"That's all?" Cascadia asked, "Just rumors? Has anyone from Fairy Tail seen these people?"

"Not that I've heard." MiraJane replied, "Why? Do you think you may know something?"

Cascadia shook her head, "Not really. Just asking."

"Any good jobs?" Erza asked.

"Not real—" MiraJane stopped when someone came running in, panting, speaking with a thick French accent.

"We've got trouble."

"Reedus, what is it?" Erza asked.

"There's an attack in town!"

"From whom?"

"I don't know! All we can tell is that they're wizards."

"Show us to them." Erza demanded, then looked around, "Those who can come, come with me now."

Cascadia, Gray, Erza, Levy, and a few others ran through the door. As they ran, Cascadia asked, "Where's Natsu and Gajeel?"

"With those two?" Levy answered, "Who knows. They'll show up when they feel like it."

"Which means when fighting breaks out." Erza cut in, "They'll be there if things get nasty, you won't have to worry about that."

"Good to know," Cascadia said uneasily.

The group continued on into town, just as an explosion set off.