Hiya, everyone! I apologize for being a couple days late uploading this, but here's the fifth chapter of Fairy Felines. Enjoy!
Several weeks have gone by and the members of the Fairy Tail Guild have made slow but steady progress to learn the ways of the Clans. Natsu, Lucy, Gray, Erza, Gajeel, and Lily have been observed many times over to take to life as cats the easiest and are deemed the best of their guild. But troublesome habits to be destructive still linger...
Natsu and Lucy are training with Jayfoot and Skyrunner to improve their hunting skills. Natsu smirks and pounces too soon, allowing Jayfoot to pin the fire-colored tom down.
"Again, you didn't listen to my lesson, I see," Jayfoot says sternly, his apprentice writhing under his paws. "You have to learn to be patient, Natsu, or things won't work out for you the way you want." Jayfoot gets off of Natsu and the ginger tom scrambles to his paws.
Natsu growls quietly and begins pacing, his hackles raised and his tail lashing. "I can't do it," he replies, frustration radiating through his skin. "I'm really trying, but I just ... can't seem to get the timing right. And every time I do it either too soon or too late, I can't help but get upset because I feel like a failure," he adds, sitting down angrily and letting the tip of his tail continuously tap the ground.
Jayfoot sits down across from his irritated apprentice. "I understand how you feel, Natsu," he says, his blue eyes gentle as he watches the ginger tom sit all angry. "I reacted very similar when I was an apprentice myself. My mentor, Crookedjaw, had to constantly correct my stance when I was learning to fight. It wasn't until I nearly lost a battle against my litter-sister that I finally realized what I had to change."
Natsu looks up, intrigued, his body now lacking any anger and frustration. "What do you mean?" he asks, his ears perked forward now.
Jayfoot chuckles, shaking his head. 'I knew he'd ask.' He looks back up at the ginger tom. "I had to rely on my instincts and focus my easily-distracted mind to work in sync with my body," he replies, getting to his paws again. "If that worked for me, I'm pretty sure that it'll work for you. Think about what holds you back from progressing and then block that from clouding your mind."
Natsu nods and closes his eyes, concentrating on the source of his repeated failings. "My urge to be destructive is what's keeping me from continuing to progress," he says after a few moments and opens his eyes, a small smile on his face.
Jayfoot nods. "Then focus on nothing else except what you're going to do," he instructs, moving to show Natsu how to do it. Natsu copies what Jayfoot does and Jayfoot rises to his paws. "Much better, but you have to keep your tail straight." He corrects the error and Natsu rises to his paws again.
"What's so important about keeping my tail straight?" Natsu asks, sitting down to regard his mentor and listen to his answer.
Jayfoot chuckles. "Your tail is your source of balance," he explains. "If you don't have your tail straight, you could end up losing the prey you were hunting. Even the slightest tail movement can have bad consequences."
Natsu cocks his head, curious. "So, to perfect my hunting skills, I just need to keep my tail straight?" he asks, awestruck.
Jayfoot nods. "That's all there is to it," he replies, smiling. "Your crouch is good and body language tensed for striking; the only thing you need to fix is your tail, keeping it straight."
Natsu gives Jayfoot his signature grin. "Well, no use of me just sitting here doing nothing," he says, standing tall with his tail curled.
Jayfoot laughs heartily and gets to his paws. "Very well," he says. "Since you seem so enthusiastic, why don't you try again?"
Natsu frowns, now focused, and nods. He crouches once again and remembers to keep his tail straight.
Jayfoot watches, pleased with how quickly Natsu corrected his mistake. "Nicely done, Natsu," he says. "There's a red leaf over in the direction of the Giant Oak Stump. Make your way over there and pounce on it."
Natsu's ear flicks in response and he creeps forward, his shoulders tensing when he stops. He allows his back legs to move up a little and he pounces on the leaf, sliding a little on the slippery grass.
Jayfoot pads up to the triumphant tom. "Well done," he says. "I'm rather proud of how much you're progressing in the short amount of time you've been learning the ways of the Clans."
Natsu smiles as he gets to his paws. "Thanks," he replies his excitement rolling off him in waves.
Jayfoot chuckles and turns around, beckoning Natsu to follow him. "Let's leave your training at that high note and head back to camp," he says, the ginger tom following closely.
With Lucy and Skyrunner...
Lucy pants as she watches her opponent, a pretty very light-gray she-cat with burnt orange eyes.
Skyrunner stands up straight and pads up to Lucy, the pale yellow long-haired she-cat panting heavy. "Very good," she says, sitting down across from Lucy. "I see you've been putting your newfound skills to good use."
Lucy nods, her breathing evening out, and sits down, her tail curling around her paws. "Yeah, I have," she replies, her tail quirking up at the tip.
Skyrunner chuckles and gets to her paws, motioning for Lucy to follow her. "There's hope for you yet," she says, the two she-cats walking side-by-side. An awkward silence settles between them and Skyrunner clears her throat. "So, how are things going with you and Natsu?" she asks, looking at her long-haired apprentice from the corner of her eye.
Lucy stops abruptly and cocks her head, confused. "Things are fine between me and Natsu," she replies. "Why do you ask?"
Skyrunner shakes her head and chuckles. "You both seem rather close," she comments nonchalantly.
Lucy shakes herself and gets to her paws. "I assure you there's nothing going on between Natsu and I," she replies curtly, stalking forward to end the conversation.
Skyrunner shakes her head and follows after her stubborn apprentice.
At Hawkclan's camp...
Redstar watches from near his den and takes note of how his cats interact with the cats of the Fairy Tail Guild, still amazed at how these newcomers have fit in during the little amount of time that they've been training. 'There's still much that they need to learn,' he thinks, getting to his paws. 'But there's also even more things for them to learn on the go when they become their own Clan.' He saunters over to the kill pile and grabs a sparrow, moving back to his spot while he eats.
"Hey, Lev," Gajeel calls, sauntering over to the small blue-gray she-cat. "Wanna spar with me?"
Redstar watches this interaction closely and hears the she-cat sigh before she gets up. "You're going to be the death of me one day?" he hears her ask the big brown tom.
Gajeel gives her his signature laugh. "And ya love me for it," he replies smugly, causing the blue-gray she-cat stumble over her words.
"Wh- What?" Levy stutters, embarrassed. "That's not it at all. I meant that as a joke."
Gajeel chuckles and licks her ear. "I know what'cha meant, Shrimp," he replies, his voice soft. "I just like ta tease ya."
Redstar takes notice of how these two cats who are nothing alike interact with each other, realizing that they're so into each other but try to keep their love on a low profile. 'I ought to keep an eye on those two,' he thinks, depositing the remains of his meal a good distance outside the camp. 'I should call for the Fairy Tail Guild to each have their final assessments.'
A few days later...
Gajeel is with Lily, his mentor Lionstorm, and Lily's mentor Stormleap. They're currently out hunting and Gajeel and Lily have their skills put to the test.
The two toms pace forward after being given their assignment: Gajeel is to catch a grouse and a fish while Lily is to catch a large field rat. They break off, Gajeel going left and Lily going right.
With Lucy and Skyrunner...
Lucy paces forward through some long grass and stops before pouncing on the unsuspecting rabbit, swiftly ending it. She picks the limp body in her mouth and carries it back to where her mentor sits waiting.
Skyrunner has her back facing Lucy and her ear twitches, signaling the return of her apprentice. "I trust your hunt went well?" she asks Lucy, not turning around yet.
Lucy lays her kill on the spongy moss-covered ground and sits down to groom herself. "I got a big rabbit using the hunting tips you gave me," she says between licks. "I also have to go get a squirrel I got while in a tree."
Skyrunner rises to her paws and finally turns around, her eyes all glassy. "It's still such a shock to me that you've progressed so much in such a short time," she says, willing herself to move her paws. Before she knows it, she's giving her apprentice a cat's hug. "I'm so proud of you."
At Hawkclan's camp...
Redstar sits in front of his den, watching intently as a large group enters the camp. Jayfoot stalks towards the huge dark-ginger tom and sits next to him, avoiding eye contact by watching the daily activities of their Clan.
"How did it go?" Redstar asks, glancing at the silver tabby tom from the corner of his eye.
Jayfoot chuckles softly, a smile creeping onto his face. "Natsu shows enormous potential," he replies, his tail tapping lightly on the dirt. "He caught a couple large birds and came out the victor against Ivyshine."
Redstar's ear twitches. "I assigned one of his fellow guildmates to Ivyshine," he says thoughtfully, his tailtip twitching slightly. "I believe that the cat's name is Erza."
Jayfoot nods. "I've heard from Strikestorm, Skyrunner, Stormleap, Thunderfoot, and Lionstorm that their apprentices are all making fine progress," he says, smoothing his chest fur down with a few licks.
Redstar smiles. "That's good to hear," he replies, his green eyes filled with determination. "They're ready."
Jayfoot nods and they both fall into silence once more, the silver tabby tom oblivious to his leader's decision to make his apprentice a warrior.
At sunset...
Natsu and Lucy are busy grooming each other for their ceremony that will make them official warriors. Lucy licks the top of Natsu's head and behind his ears, cleaning up any spots her friend might have missed.
"What do you think our warrior names will be?" Natsu asks after Lucy finishes.
Lucy shakes her head, just as clueless as he is. "I'm not the one to ask because I don't know," she replies, getting to her paws and stretching.
Natsu gets to his paws as well and both of them walk next to each other. "How do you think the others feel?" he asks, glancing at her from the corner of his eye.
Lucy opens her mouth to answer, but is interrupted.
"Cats of Hawkclan, a clan meeting has been called," Redstar yowls from in front of his den. The two friends lope forward and sit down on either side of Erza. After all clan members have been accounted for, the big dark-ginger tom continues. "Two moon cycles ago, our way of life was changed when we met the Fairy Tail Guild. Unknown to us, they came from another place and we were wary of them, but we agreed to help them." He looks at each of the cats in front of him with a look of pride. "I had my doubts that they'd even be able to become Clan cats, but they surpassed all my expectations and then some to stand here, ready to begin this next chapter in their new lives."
The speech goes on and Redstar presents Natsu, Lucy, Gray, Erza, Gajeel, and Lily with their warrior names: Natsu becomes Fireflame - named after his tendency to burn things, Lucy becomes Lightmist - for the bright light shining from her keys as she summons her spirits, Gray becomes Grayfrost - for his ice magic, Erza becomes Redbird - named after her scarlet-colored hair, Gajeel becomes Nightstrike - named for his near-black fur, and Lily becomes Pantherfur - named for his fur color.
Redstar looks at the newly-named warriors. "As is part of our way of life, you six will sit in silence and watch over everyone in this camp," he instructs sternly before letting out a loud yowl. "This clan meeting is over."
The cats of Hawkclan crowd around the new members of their Clan, congratulating them.
Happy runs up and nuzzles Lightmist. "I'm so proud of you both," he says, nearly crying.
Fireflame and Lightmist look at each other, knowing that they are forbidden to speak during their vigil, and both nuzzle Happy that's their new version of a group hug.
Grayfrost races up to Juvia and nuzzles her, both of them purring loudly. They don't say anything because they don't need to.
Redbird sits down next to Jellal and they both just watch.
Levy nearly knocks Nightstrike over trying to get to him and they nuzzle each other, Pantherfur quickly joining in. "I'm so proud of my boys," she whispers into Nightstrike's neck.
The rest of their guild congratulates them, but one hangs back content to just watch from a distance. Laxus' fur moves gently in the soft breeze blowing through the hollow and Redstar sits next to him. "You still miss the place you truly belong in, don't you?" the huge dark-ginger tom asks. Laxus looks over at him.
"Yes," the long-haired golden tabby tom replies.
"You worry too much," Redstar chides, getting to his paws. "Let go of the enemies you've made back home and embrace the friends you have in this new home." The big tom saunters away, leaving Laxus alone with his thoughts once again.
'Am I really that predictable?' he asks himself, looking up when Mira sits down quietly next to him.
"You alright, Laxus?" she asks, looking at him.
Laxus doesn't respond and Mira takes his que of not speaking. She turns away and looks at her paws, her ears pinned back, wondering if Laxus will ever be the same again.
Hiya, everyone! Hope you enjoyed this chapter. I wanted to give a big thank you to FireShifter, who's stuck with this story since I began it back in November of 2019. You rock, FireShifter, and I really appreciate all the input you've given me. Thanks and I'll see ya all in the next chapter! (I may need some input on what to call the next chapter.)