Chapter 16
The group came to a small clearing in the woods. The fading sunlight broke through the canopy of trees and cast the cabin in a soft glow. Lucy had finally got Garrett to put her down. He had been overly persistent in carrying her the entire trek through the woods. He now had red marks marring his arms where she clawed and scratched at him to put her down.
His earnestness reminded her of another insistent pink headed male. Although when it came to that one she doubted he would come out with so many welts. She would after all be rejoicing inwardly that he was paying her that type of attention.
The cabin itself was a simple built well kept structure. Meredy and Mirajane cooed at it as if it were a doll house only, well, adult size. The logs that made up the cabin were obviously the trunks from the trees in the forest. In fact, Lucy deduced that the only reason the cabin was situated in this beautiful clearing was because they must have used the trees that were on this plot of land to make the cabin.
Natsu heard the pheasants and immediately ran in that direction, kicking up a cloud of dust behind himself. Lucy felt it necessary to follow him just to make sure he didn't get into any trouble.
The pheasants were kept in a large wire enclosure that made Lucy a bit sad. But if they flew away there went Garrett and Dash's food source. So she at least understood the reasoning. Nearby Lucy heard water and found a river flowing in the backyard. She took a deep breath full of longing as she gazed at the beautiful scene. It left her tempted to sit on the riverbank while her toes dipped in the water. She sighed wistfully. We honestly shouldn't dawdle. We need to be proactive about this job. The others are probably starting to plan things out without us.
Lucy grabbed Natsu's ear and pulled him into the cottage. He had been eyeballing the pheasants as if he would eat them right then, feathers and all. The group stood around the small living area. There was only really room for two beds and a kitchen/dining area. But the group tried to make due with the space as much as they could.
Dash looked apologetically at the group. "Sorry, I know it's a tad on the small side."
Erza smiled confidently. "That's all right. The guys can sleep outside tonight. Us girls will take lodging in the cabin." She cast a glance around the group, daring the guys to challenge her. But of course per normal no one was willing to defy Erza.
Garrett and Dash had both already made up their minds to visit the celestial world. They had been locked away from their home for too long and desired to return. Plus it would replenish their energies for when they were needed for the fight. There was this long drawn out argument about how time flows differently there but the two spirits were quick to nullify this concern. "We only have to stay in the celestial spirit world a manner of seconds to fully replenish our energies. That should make it daybreak here when we pass back through the gate."
Lucy held up her key. "You know you don't have to rely on your own time. Yukino and I can always just call you back when we need you."
Garrett smirked. Truthfully he hadn't thought of that. He had been without a key for so long it would take him awhile to reacquaint himself with the ins and outs of having a celestial mage to fight for.
Once they returned to the spirit world Natsu raided the fridge. Turned out the two celestial spirits ate as much as 5 Natsus in one day, and they pre-planned meals accordingly. There was several fish, pheasant, and vegetable dishes already prepared. Only cooking required was reheating them in the old fashioned stove. It wouldn't take long for the food to warm up and be ready for consumption.
The group had to make due with the one small dining room table by squeezing in tightly nearly elbow to elbow. The conversation at the table wasn't as boisterous as the norm for the members of Fairy Tail. In fact, the conversation was quiet and subdued and a certain pink headed male wasn't being his rambunctious jovial self at all. Even the way he was consuming his food was rather lackluster by comparison. It still fell out of his mouth on occasion, and when he did speak he still didn't wait until he was done swallowing before he started talking. Lucy's eyebrows furrowed in concern.
The conversation took an abrupt turn when Jellal announced, "I was thinking that Meredy and myself might do some recon on the guild. See how big the building is and hopefully we can get an estimated number of members that might be inside. It would help us strategize."
Everyone glanced back and forth between each other no one dropping their gaze to Erza's to see how she took this news. Truthfully they should have been discussing tactic all along but it was as if putting food in front of them had placed them all in a different state of mind.
Erza mentally agreed that his decision was sound but didn't completely trust Jellal to keep from actually attacking the guild on his own. "If that's the case then I would like to go with you and see it for myself."
Jellal's face remained impartial even though he was a bit annoyed by her decision. In truth he had considered covertly attacking the guild if he could keep to the shadows and equally co-manage the numbers with Meredy backing him up.
A couple hours later once the trio left Natsu excused himself from the cabin and went outside. Lucy tracked his movements with her eyes. He was so quiet during supper. Is something wrong?
She got up and followed him out of the cabin. She paused here for a moment and watched as he trekked behind the house. She hoped that he wasn't still hungry and attacked the pheasants. She wouldn't put it past him to attempt to do so. There was barely any leftovers remaining in the fridge after the group tackled the food with gusto. When she did find Natsu he was by the river bank holding a fishing pole. Where he got the fishing pole she had no clue but she wasn't surprised by his resourcefulness. At least they wouldn't have to worry about breakfast in the morning if he was fishing now.
Of course he caught her scent before he saw her. Strawberries, she forever smelled like strawberries and that smell would always stir him up and make him smile. He half grinned at her as she sat down beside him.
"Where'd you find the fishing pole?"
He didn't turn her way but answered her regardless. "There's a shed beside the pheasant coop. I found it inside the door there."
"You don't really seem yourself. Are you okay?" Her hand touched his shoulder in comfort.
It took him a minute before he found himself shrugging. "I'm never that rambunctious when fishing. I don't wanna scare my lunch away."
Lucy mildly giggled at that. Her laughter didn't quite fit the situation though. It didn't fit the unease she currently felt. Why am I feeling uneasy? Is it because he isn't being himself? He seems...sad? Depressed? I honestly am not sure what he is feeling.
"That's not the reason though. I think I know you better than that, Natsu. You kind of, I don't know, seem sad right now."
"Honestly, this trip has already been long and we have barely scratched the surface. I know you want to become more powerful in your own right, Luce. But, you don't have to always feel like you need to prove yourself. You are strong, but like everyone you also have limitations. I kind of wish you would realize that."
Lucy was taken aback by this. He sounded intelligent and while she knew he wasn't dumb she didn't realize he could be so serious before. "Natsu, I do realize that. But, is it wrong for me to be the best celestial spirit mage I can be? I feel like it's human nature for me to want to improve myself. But, I also feel like finding these keys is part of a legacy quest that should fall upon Yukino and I. Between the two of us we have all of the gold zodiac keys. I feel it is only right we should end up with all the platinum keys also."
"Did you think about who would get what key?"
Natsu's question caught her off guard. Truth be told the thought never occurred to her. She bit her lip in concentration.
Natsu sighed. He didn't mean to get her upset.
"Luce, I'm sorry. I don't know what has me all riled up. Happy, fell asleep the minute he got here so maybe I am just missing out spending time with my fishing buddy."
Lucy patted Natsu's back. "Don't feel bad. You gave me a lot to think about. Things I should probably discuss with Yukino and consider for myself."
Natsu felt like a jerk for lecturing her. But he believed in her and he just wanted her to believe in herself.
oOo
Hours later Freed, Hibiki, and Elfman had all easily fell asleep under the night sky but Natsu was having trouble. He stared up at the stars and tried to recall the patterns that made up the constellations Lucy told him about. He didn't pay too much attention at the time to why the constellations were named the same as celestial spirits. He questioned to himself if the constellations were there first and the celestial spirits were named after them or vice versa. He wished he had played closer attention to Lucy when she had this lecture in the past. He regretted losing out on those quiet moments scattered here and there.
"Happy, which do you think was named first the constellations or the celestial spirits?"
"How should I know?" The exceed yawned and turned on his side. "I'm just a cat."
Natsu shifted on his bedroll so he was on his side facing the cabin. He smirked at the window. If Happy isn't going to stay up and talk to me then maybe I should go spend time with my other best friend. He grinned mischievously as he climbed in the window and managed to tuck himself in the bed that Lucy claimed as her own without waking her. It didn't really dawn on him that he originally climbed in bed with her to talk to her and ended up cuddling with her instead.