A/N: Howdy guys! So here's another chapter….sorry for the long time…I'm trying to write more often and stop wondering what I'll do with my life-.-….but enough about me and more about the story and thanking my awesome beta reader for her hard work^^

So the time had come? The spirits were all gathered together for once, at least Layla's were. None of them dared to speak, not trusting their own voices. Finally Loke stood up.
"I'm going to check on her."

"Are you sure that's a good idea?" Scorpio understood his friend, but wasn't the wound still open? Why go and sink the knife deeper?

"I have to. Her magic will run out and I need to have a word with Dacia." There was determination in the lion's eyes. Sighing, Aquarius took the lead.

"Then what are you waiting for?" She dismissed him with her hand "Go." Loke nodded and disappeared leaving a warm glow behind.

In the absence of the leader, Aquarius, who was second in command, moved to a place where she could see all 18 spirits present.

"I think we all need to go and face this on our own. You are free to go." Seeing her friends finally drop their I-am-all-right masks the celestial spirit smiled.

"You better find out who's going to anchor Lucy to the ground, Loke."

-Forest with Lucy, Dacia and Layla-

Dacia stoop up examining her work on Layla's wound. It'd have to do. She thought before leaning against a tree. She was sorry for Lucy, after all Layla's death was her fault.

Then, a smell hit her nose. She cursed out loud. How the heck could she fight the intruders and carry the two unconscious mages? Sighing, she unconsciously ran her hand through her hair. A ray of light shone through the cloud. Dacia thought she couldn't be happier to see the leader of the zodiac.

"Loke thank God! Get Lucy and run, I'll explain what's happening later!"

The wolf spirit knew how hard it was for the lion to see Layla, thus leading to her asking Loke to carry Lucy. The best understanding decision of the year, really.
They ran through the never-ending maze of trees, each time taking a random turn. Noticing the chasers did not want to give up, she threw Layla at Loke.

"What? Dacia? What are doing?"

"Saving you ass, now run!"

"Wha? Why?"

"No questions, just run and don't look back, I'll catch up with you."

Nodding, Loke, tightening his grip on both Hearfilias', picked up his pace. Smiling gently, the wolf spirit stopped abruptly and turned towards the direction that their faceless predators were coming from. Quickly, as if she was throwing a lock of hair over her shoulder, Dacia shrugged her human skin, becoming her first inner wolf. She looked like an over-sized wolf. She had a beautiful coppery fur coat, with two yellow burning coals locking their gaze with their pack's eyes. Dacia took a step forward, throwing her head backwards, the pack following their supreme alpha and howled. The cacophony of different voices scared all animals around, their voices travelling with the wind until they reached the over sensitive ears of the Black Midnight's guild top mages. The sound scratched their ears until they were bleeding furiously. Falling to their knees the mages howled in pain, holding onto their ears and screaming incoherently.

Hearing their pain, Dacia nodded and dismissed the pack. She turned around and ran, following Loke's sent. The light yellows and bright orange wasn't hard to miss as a wolf. Soon, she was running beside them. Dacia noticed the group of 20 wolves that ran along side of her, sending images of a small gathering of houses and humans not long ahead. Growling her thanks, she jerked her head in the lion's direction.

Understanding what his friend wanted, he closed the distance and as gently as he could, and he put Layla on Dacia's back, Lucy following. He then returned running, thinking the other celestial spirit only wanted the two celestial mages on her back. When she growled at him again, he understood there was someone needed to hold the blondes on Dacia's back. Nodding once again, he jumped on the wolf, grabbing onto Layla's waist to keep her on the wolf's back.

Dacia nodded, pleased with herself, then concentrated on running and following the pack's instructions. The trees began closing, forming a passage, the canopy above their heads coming together to block the sun's rays.

~Time skip~

They were running though the tree corridor for a while now, when they saw a wooden gate, rising high along with the trees. There was a tiny ray of light shining at the very top. If she could jump, Dacia could get Lucy and Layla to safety and the people could treat her. It didn't matter if she would have to use force, Lucy needed to be treated. She didn't know how the Heartfilia heiress could withstand such torture for 12 years straight. Along the way, the pack dismissed themselves, as the humans didn't like them. Hence, the gate and the pack was not stupid to mess with humans and their wicked weapons. As they neared the gate, Dacia crouched down, her shoulder blades accentuated as she prepared for jumping.

"Dacia, are you thinking what I think you're thinking?" Loke shouted, anticipating the wolf's plans. He didn't like it one bit, but right now, what say did he have in this whole affair?

Ignoring the lion Dacia took a few steps then jumped sideways, propelling herself off the strong trunk and into another one, opposite and then another one and then a few more until she felt ready and gave one strong push (gee, that sounds so wrong) straightening her body for height getting higher and higher. It wasn't enough, she realised in mid flight. Cursing in her mind, she growled and shook her head; she still had an ace up her sleeve.

Her lean legs came in touch with the wood and, wasting no milliseconds, she began running up, speeding with each step. As long as she did not decrease in speed she could make it on the other side. But the wolf overlooked a tiny detail, the gate was made out of giant sharp spikes and they were guarded. By now, the humans probably knew of their arrival. She cursed yet again. What was wrong with her today?

Out of the corner of her eye she saw a strong looking branch and formed a little plan in her mind. She kept running and then, at the last moment, she jumped, arching backwards, flipping over, her hind legs making contact with the branch, Bending her knees, making sure all her passengers were all right, she straightened, but her legs barely made it over the sharp teeth. Okay now that was one problem solved. Landing? Not really, but judging the height she could make alright if only she could flip a few times. Growling to alarm Loke to keep tight onto the celestial's mages and her fur, she twisted her body forward two times, sort of lunging towards the ground, preparing for the impact, when a shout grabbed her attention.

"FIRE DRAGON'S ROAR!"

Barely, but just barely, Dacia avoided the column of fire directed her way, managing to land. The earth shuddered under her weight, as the impact travelled, raising dust in the mid-day light. Crouching down low, while the dust was still clouding their enemies vision, Loke got down taking Lucy and Layla with him, gently laying them down to rest. The dust was shimmering in the light as onyx eyes locked with moonlight yellow ones. Growling short and low, Layla started running towards the salmon haired teenager, wanting to give him a piece of her mind. The boy took it as a challenge, blazing up his own fists, and running towards Dacia, yelling his attack.

Stupid thing really, if you ask me. Thought Dacia. At the last moment; as soon as she became a wolf she retook her human form, jumping on the pink haired mage.

Natsu didn't expect this and came tumbling down under the girl's weight. She was kinda pretty, until she started yelling in his face, hurting his goddamn ears.

"Didn't you see I had two unconscious people on my back? Are you blind? You could've hurt them. Do you have any idea how much they mean to me?! Do you-"

"Calm your horses lady, my ears are ringing!"

"Do you think I give a flip about your ears?!"

"Dacia! Lucy is waking up." The copper-haired girl snapped her head towards her friend, standing next to two unmoving bodies. Natsu could hear that one of them was dead and the other barely alive by the slow thump-thump of her heart.

Dacia ran towards Loke, not a care in the world, they could kill her, at least Lucy was awake. A great weight lifted of her shoulders as she saw the teenager, twitch and furrow her brows. But she never saw the yellow glow surrounding her own feet until too late.

"TAKE CARE OF THEM! PLEA-"She screamed the magic cutting her words, but thank God Loke's disappearance took longer.

"SEEEEEE!" He finished bowing as best as he could, until he too vanished in thin air. The villagers stood there, gaping, wondering just what in the Hades name did they just witness. However, the chief soon came to realization of their pleas as the information sank in. She could read their souls. They were no bad people, just a little frustrated.

"Natsu, Ayame, get the mages. The rest you prepare the healing house." She commanded.

Natsu nodded towards his friend as they both went to where the two girls lay on the cold ground. He took the one closest him, the girl that was alive and slightly moving. In his arms, she opened her eyes and looked at him. His breath as knocked out of his lungs instantly as the warm brown eyes made contact with his onyx ones. She was…she…was… He had no word to describe her.

His eyes travelled slowly down her face and body, taking in her appearance as she did the same, though she was dazed– soft tresses tickling his arm, plump, light pink lips, cute, thin eyebrows, pretty nose and a strong sweet scent coming in waves from her neck. His eyes went down lower to take in the curves of her body. He was mesmerized until he saw thin ghostly white lines and angry red gashes covering the exposed skin. His body temperature rose along with his anger. He was going to find the one responsible for this and kick the living daylights out of him, no, that was too light for what he did to this girl. Natsu would burn the guy to ashes and see his skin burn and boil, peel of his muscles and bones and hear his scream. (Here comes my dark mind and imagination). The reeking smell of one of his own disgusted him.

Lucy on the other hand, was slightly dizzy, her vision fuzzy around the corners. However, when it came to seeing him, everything was crystal clear. She was entranced by his beauty, even with pink, spiky locks such as his. He had an angular face, sharp onyx eyes and dry, cracked, yet perfectly kissable lips in her opinion. Even though she could only see his face, she could feel the strong muscular arms holding her bridal style. Little did she know this was only the beginning.

A/N: Hope you liked this chappie and I'll try to write faster…because I really want to tell you guys this story.

R&E&R!

BYE BYE!XD