A/N: Nothing like good ol' inspiration to keep my stories going.
Lost Hope
Bisca Connell was more than happy when she stepped foot into her training pen. She was brimming with excitement and it probably showed on her face in the form of an uncontrollable smile. However, she had to stay under self-control to avoid startling or frightening her new pet wolf that was now wide awake and staring.
Dragonfly was a handsome, young fellow with gorgeous blue eyes that were the same shade as the clear sky above and with a shiny coat that was greenish gray and marked with white. Larger than an average dog, the beast sitting tall by the steel cage in the center of the enclosure watched the human intently as she carefully made her way over.
When ignoring the twittering birds in the distant trees, there was an odd silence that hung around them as if every watching creature were holding their breath; neither of Bisca's animal friends made a sound and neither did the wolf. The quiet rustling of grass from each of Bisca's footfalls seemed like the only audible noise.
He was surprisingly calm and patient, showing no signs of fear, tension, or aggression in spite of his current situation. Being surrounded by a number of strange foreign animals in an unfamiliar setting with a human drawing closer usually sets off an animal's fight-or-flight instincts. But Dragonfly displayed none of that and he had just woken up from being tranquilized too. It was an extraordinary behavior the sharpshooter had never witnessed or read about before in a canine predator. But it was a good indication that he wasn't an animal solely trained to fight and kill as Bisca had first thought when she saw his scars and the shackle around his foot.
Bisca gave some credit to whoever had previously owned the animal for managing to make him so docile. Like an obedient, trained animal, the wolf remained sitting in his spot, looking more curious than frightened. There was a great sense of intellect behind those beautiful blue eyes that Bisca could detect the longer she stared into them.
She had a strange feeling at the back of her mind that this wolf was more than just a well-trained beast.
"Hello there, Dragonfly," the green-haired mage greeted with a kind smile and a tip of her hat, not bothering to reach for the handle of her training whip clasped by her hip since her furry friend was far from dangerous.
At the sound of her voice, the wolf tilted his head slightly and flicked one of his pierced ears, broadening the woman's smile at the cute display.
Standing around on the other side of the fence behind her was a handful of her pets, each one closely observing along with her daughter, Asuka. Riding atop Arber the elephant, the little girl was watching with excitement, staying quiet upon her mother's command. It was hard for her to stay still, however. Bisca could hear her daughter squirming about on Arber's back.
Not wanting to intimidate her new pet, Bisca stopped an arm's length away and slowly offered a hand for the animal to recognize her scent. "The name's Bisca. Don't worry. I won't hurt you. I'm here to help you," she said softly.
Dragonfly nodded as if he understood, making the sharpshooter blink in surprise. She took a small step forward, followed by another, her hand still held out in a friendly gesture.
He didn't move away from her close presence. He didn't even try to sniff her hand like how dogs would usually do when identifying a complete stranger. He simply sat and stared, glancing from her hand and up to her face. The wolf was studying her, making Bisca realize just how intelligent he really was. The woman couldn't help but adore him more and more. Inside, she was as giddy as a teenager, overwhelmed with happiness to have gained not only a wolf, but one that was smart and well-behaved.
"You really are something different," she murmured quietly as she slowly reached out, wanting to give him a little pat on the head.
Dragonfly shifted his head away from her hand, signifying he didn't want to be touched. Behind Bisca, Nene the tigress suddenly growled and Arber grunted loudly. Oddly after that, Dragonfly snorted, flattened his ears, and pressed his forehead against the woman's hand before she could withdraw.
Changed your mind now, have you? Bisca thought with a little giggle. She wondered if her pets were the main reason. It seemed like her animal friends had already gotten acquainted with Dragonfly and vice versa. This was truly out of the ordinary for Bisca for it was the very first time a new pet got along with the other animals in such a short amount of time.
The sharpshooter's fingers lightly brushed against the wolf's soft fur, stroking down to his thick mane. In response to her touch, Dragonfly made a grunting sound, his throat rumbling. He was obviously displeased, but otherwise didn't pull away again in discomfort or even try to bite her. Impressed, the mage kneeled before the beast so she was at his eye-level.
"You must be thirsty. Hungry too, I bet," she said with a wink. It wasn't just weapons and ammunition she stored in her pocket dimension; Bisca had her pet supplies too for easy access. She pulled out a yellow, plastic water dish and a bottle of water seemingly out of thin air.
Dragonfly blinked and stared at the items in her hands, noticeably surprised. After she filled the bowl with water, she placed it in front of him and kindly gestured for him to drink. He sniffed the rim of the dish and once he deemed the contents safe, he started to lap up the clear liquid.
"Welcome to your new home," she said quietly, smiling.
The wolf suddenly stopped drinking, straightened, and looked at her.
Bisca's smile faltered when she saw the sadness reflecting in his bright blue eyes.
"Mama! Can I play with him now?" Asuka interrupted.
The mother turned her head around and placed a finger over her lips to silently tell her daughter to hush. Asuka slapped a hand over her mouth and nodded.
Facing Dragonfly, Bisca frowned and asked, "What's the matter, little guy? You don't like it here? You want to go back home?"
The wolf nodded, making the woman gasp.
"You understand everything I say?" she inquired.
The wolf nodded again.
Bisca was elated by that. Sometimes it took years for her other pets to understand her spoken language so it was truly astonishing that Dragonfly had already learned how to listen to the human tongue. However, she was also extremely disappointed to find that Dragonfly didn't want to stay.
She couldn't hide her dismay. "Is it the forest you want to go back to? Is that where your home is?"
Dragonfly shook his head before raising his black nose to look skyward. He let out a short whine as he stared longingly at the stray clouds above.
Following his gaze, Bisca didn't quite understand when she saw nothing but sky. She pursed her red lips and brought a hand to her chin as she pondered over what Dragonfly wanted to tell her. To no avail could she figure it out. She gently brushed her knuckles against his furry cheek, drawing his attention back on her. His eyes were pleading now.
Bisca tried her best. "Is it close to that forest?"
He shook his head.
"From somewhere… far away?"
For a moment, the wolf stared, seemingly thinking about it, and then slowly half-nodded as if unsure if he was right or wrong.
The sharpshooter frowned in deep thought. "Is it in a different forest?"
Dragonfly answered with a 'no'.
"Close to a forest?"
No.
"In the mountains?"
No.
"In a town, city, or village?"
No.
"Plains? Desert? By the ocean?"
No. No. And no.
There was one other option left. She craned her head upwards and hesitated. "The… sky?"
Yes.
Bisca's frown turned into a confused one. "You… came from the sky?" she asked tentatively, pointing at the blue space high above their heads.
Dragonfly nodded, making the woman even more perplexed. She raised an eyebrow, wondering if the tranquilizer was still affecting the animal's train of thought. "The sky… the sky…" she murmured under her breath, trying to wrap her head around how such a thing could possibly be.
She had never heard of land animals falling from the sky. Could it be that a floating island perhaps existed somewhere beyond the clouds? A magical, hidden land full of never-before seen creatures and people… The mage's imagination was running wild. But when she spoke of her assumption, she got another partial nod.
"Some sort of floating island…" Bisca whispered in awe, eyes wide. Incredible. She never would have expected this. It was just as surprising as the time she had learned of the parallel world of Edolas. The theory did explain why Dragonfly, a rare and non-native species of wolf, was suddenly found wandering in Fiore. She then wondered about his injuries; was it a large creature that may have wounded him and thrown him off the edge? And how did he survive such a fall?
When she voiced her concerns, she got a nod for him being knocked off by some sort of monster. How he had managed to break his fall without breaking his bones was something that couldn't be answered with a simple yes or no. Nevertheless, he was still alive and in pretty decent shape. "You really are something special," she said again, giving the animal a gentle pat and an assuring smile. "I will find a way to get you back home. I promise you. In the meantime, I will take good care of you, Dragonfly."
His eyes brightened and he nodded in appreciation, but then he grunted and snapped his jaws as if irked by something she said.
"What is it, Dragonfly?"
Pointing his nose at the mage, the beast grunted again and slightly narrowed his gaze.
Bisca laughed when she finally realized what bothered her new friend. "Oh! You don't like 'Dragonfly', do you?"
He shook his head.
"Aww, but it's such a cute name," she said with a playful pout, only to receive an unhappy glower from the wolf.
"Can we call him 'Froggy' then?" Asuka called out.
"Froggy?" the mage relayed the suggestion. The wolf was not amused. Bisca turned to her daughter, chuckling. "I'm sorry, sweetheart, but he doesn't like that one either. He already has a name, am I right?"
The beast nodded.
"Hmm, any clues to what it could be?"
He raised his shackled right paw and shook it to make the short chain noisily clink. Then he dropped it to the ground and nudged the metal links with his nose.
Ah, charades. Bisca wasn't a fan or an expert so this was going to be a fun challenge.
She raised her brow, thought for a moment, and made a wild guess. "Iron… wolf?"
Her furry friend flattened his ears, slowly blinked, and slightly tilted his head as if he couldn't believe how absurd she sounded. He bit the chain and made them rattle.
Over the next ten or so minutes, Bisca listed a number of different names related to the iron fetter the wolf kept referring to. Asuka, still mounted atop of Arber, happily threw in some of her suggestions into the mix as well. Every single one was rejected since most sounded ridiculous to begin with; 'Clink-clink', 'Chainy', 'Gray Fang', 'Loopy', 'Ironfoot', and 'Metal Doggy Wolf King' were some of the odd names both mother and daughter could come up with.
Ready to give up, Bisca tossed in one last suggestion only to have the wolf spring up on all fours, nodding. She grinned in satisfaction. "'Links', is it?" She reached out and playfully ruffled his mane with both hands. "That's a good name."
He snorted in response to her touch before shaking his whole body to straighten his mussed up fur.
The sharpshooter stood up and stretched out her cramping legs.
"Mama! Can I play with him now? Please?" Asuka cried, fidgeting on her perch.
The mother glanced between her eager child and the wolf. "Only if Links is willing to." The beast seemed hesitant, however when Mula the mare neighed and stomped her two front feet excitedly, Links grudgingly nodded. "Looks like he wants to play. But be nice, Asuka, he's still hurt and recovering."
Asuka cried out in glee and promised to be nice. With the help of Arber's trunk, she was lowered to the ground where she rushed to the closed chain-link gate. There she waited for Bisca to unlock it, hopping up and down on her toes.
Smiling in amusement, Bisca leaned over the disgruntled wolf, lightly stroked the top of his head and whispered in his ear. "Don't worry. My daughter is kind and gentle." As she strode to the fence she added, "I'll bring you something good to eat, Links. No more having to steal from smelly fat pigs."
The half-moon was bright in the dark night sky, accompanied by many stars of silver, blue, and red. Crickets sang their thrilling tunes late into the evening, marking the end of another day gone. Night meant sleep for many of Bisca's animals. Only a few prowled the shadows and Link was one of them.
He couldn't wait around and do nothing for another moment longer. With each passing hour, he grew more restless, his mind wrought with worry for his dear friend he had left back in the Twilight Realm. Too much time had passed since then and he couldn't waste another minute more. But what could he possibly do? Trapped as a wolf, there was little he could accomplish on his own. Especially when the world around him was a new and unfamiliar place.
The mistress Bisca had promised to help him and she stayed true to her word. Shortly before evening, she and her family had left to join up with the rest of her guild, Fairy Tail. Link had overheard her talking to her dark-haired husband about asking someone named 'Levy' for information on secret floating islands and sky wolves.
It was only half true, but having Bisca believe he came from the sky was the best he could get her to understand that he did not originate from another ordinary land. The Twilight Palace… that is where he must promptly return to in order to fulfill what he had promised.
With the family of three gone, the house was guarded by Taper, the small but very sociable dog with a tan and white coat and a curled tail that constantly wagged. The little canine was super ecstatic to meet Link earlier that day, running circles around the bigger beast, always yapping and playfully nipping at the end of the wolf's tail and nose. Taper was the first warning to alert the other animals of any thief who would dare intrude on the mistress's home. Only a fool would try to steal from this house protected by various creatures armed with teeth, quills, claws, horns, hooves, fangs, and tusks.
Link had met most if not all of Bisca's pets. They ranged in all sizes and shapes from an extremely tall and long-necked yellow, brown-spotted creature known as a giraffe to the huge and colourful ten-meter long python with beautiful shiny scales that glinted like gold. It was an odd, fascinating assortment of reptiles, birds, and beasts and each one had their own unique personalities and quirks. (There was even a bird that looked and sounded exactly like a cucco, but in this land it was called a 'chicken'. Whether or not it can summon its fellow kin when in danger, Link had yet to find out.) Most were friendly and sympathetic towards Link, others, like the old grizzly bear named Boras, were either indifferent or didn't care about his situation or the fact that he was actually a man. Nevertheless, they were an interesting, (and often loud), bunch and all respected lady Bisca and her family.
Bisca was indeed a person with a kind heart who truly cared for her animals and that fact was evident by the affection each pet had for her. Her young daughter inherited the same kindness as well. A curious and gentle little girl, Asuka stayed by Link's side nearly all afternoon, keeping him company and constantly running her tiny hands all over his fur, being mindful of his bandaged wounds. The wolf was annoyed and grumpy at first, because he didn't like being treated as an actual pet, but after much teasing and persuasion from Nene, Arber, and the rest of the animals, Link had to accept the fact that human hands were attracted to his soft fur.
Being stroked was a sensation that eventually grew on him. Especially when it was followed by a good scratching behind the ears.
Sniffing the cool night air, Link caught the lingering scents of his animal companions but saw no one under the pale light of the moon. He carefully slipped past the gate of the pen left open for him and entered the wide, grassy field that served as Bisca's enormous backyard. The shackle around his foot clinked with every other step but he was certain it wasn't loud enough to awaken the slumbering animals in the nearby barn. Since Bisca had yet to establish a sleeping area for him inside the building, she suggested for him to use the steel cage as a temporary bed in the meantime.
He headed for the border of trees, hoping to find his way to the town of Magnolia while under the cover of the forest. The instant he entered the shadows, he heard a familiar voice that made him freeze in his tracks.
"Where do you think you're going, pup?" Nene demanded, her words a low growl, coming from above.
Link craned his head upwards, finding the tigress perched atop one of the branches of the closest tree, hunched in the form that was ready to pounce. Her eyes shone wickedly under the moon, boring right into the wolf on the ground.
"You promised our mistress you would not leave. Do you dare defy her?" she continued. She was a night hunter and Link didn't doubt her skill and efficiency to hunt prey in the dark. Unlike some of the other carnivores that were often hand-fed, the tigress always hunted her own food. Larger and stronger than Link, she had massive paws nearly the size of the wolf's head and large claws that could tear anything to shreds within seconds. Right now those deadly claws of hers were sunken right into the bark of the branch she rested on.
Arguing with her would be a big mistake on his part.
The wolf chose his answer carefully; "I will return before the morning will rise."
"Return from where?" She narrowed her sharp eyes inquisitively, the end of her long tail twitching from side to side as it hung over the branch.
"The town nearby. I wish to investigate and search for any possible clues as to where my sword may have ended up." Getting Bisca to understand he came from a different realm was semi-easy, but trying to tell her that he was a man transformed into a wolf by the power of Twilight was impossible. Only he would be able to search for his lost blade.
Nene snorted angrily. "Our mistress has promised to help you. Don't you trust her?"
Link bowed his head slightly to gaze upon the shadowed ground covered in weeds. "I trust her. I know she will do whatever she can to help me. However," he returned his stare on the feline, and hardened his expression, "there is much she still does not know. She cannot help me find what I truly need. I must do that part alone."
"Alone?" The tigress huffed at that. "Didn't you try that already? Look how successful that ended up." She suddenly leapt off her perch, jostling the branch and making the leaves of the tree noisily rustle. With a dull thud, she landed gracefully before the wolf. Rising to her full height, she was half a head taller than Link and twice as intimidating when she wore a scowl on her striped face. "You're still wet behind the ears. There is not much you can do on your own when you're lost. Every cub knows that."
Link frowned at the truth, feeling frustrated. "I have no choice but to act on my own given the circumstances."
"That isn't what I'm implying."
The wolf blinked and tilted his head slightly. "You're not? Then what are you are saying?"
There was a sneer evident in the reflection of her eyes. "You're going the wrong way, that's what I'm trying to say. I'll show you the way to the human town."
The wolf perked up and internally smiled. "You would do this?" he asked as Nene started to calmly stroll past him.
The tigress gave him a sideways glance. "I like you, pup. You amuse me. And the mistress and her young are quite fond of you. Although I'm disappointed that you did not accept Metal Doggy Wolf King as your name. Shame on you for that."
Link padded up beside the striped feline and shortly growled as he stayed in pace. "Ludicrous. That is not a suitable name! It makes absolutely no sense!" he barked irritably. It was the child who had suggested such a ridiculous title. 'Links' was hardly any better but it was much closer to his actual name so he hadn't bothered trying to correct Bisca.
Grinning, Nene showed her vicious fangs, each pointed tooth twice the size of Link's. Together they left the shadows and entered the moonlit field filled with singing crickets. "It doesn't have to make sense because it has a nice ring to it," she purred teasingly. "Metal Doggy Wolf King. That's what I will call you from now on, pup. Now, follow me." She quickened her pace, breaking out into a slow run.
Link grumbled and rolled his eyes, a little annoyed that another stupid name was tacked onto him. Nevertheless, he was grateful to have Nene's help. He chased after her long tail and caught up with her stride, his injuries barely hurting. They rounded the house and instead of taking the worn dirt path, they stepped into the tall grass alongside the road that grew high above their heads. Many insects buzzed away as the pair broke through and disturbed each blade. There were a few vermin that Link could smell that immediately bolted away the instant they heard the larger animals' approach.
Not before long, the wolf and tigress emerged from the overgrowth and onto a muddy, stony riverside bordered by young and small trees. They quietly followed the flow of the small river, leaving tracks in the soft mud. It was a peaceful stroll, hearing only the gentle waters, the songs of insects, and the soft clinks of Link's chains.
Through the gaps of the trees, Link could see the yellow glow of lights coming from the numerous houses built near the embankment. The farther they went, the brighter the glow of lights became as the town came into view on the other side of the river.
Nene stopped for a drink and Link joined her, liking the fresh taste of the river.
"Do you see that hill?" the feline asked once she finished, craning her head up to stare beyond the tops of the closest trees.
Licking his wet nose, Link followed her gaze and found the distant mound silhouetted against the starry sky. It was a large hill with a visible path that curved to the top that was covered in pointed trees.
"Up there is where the mistress, her mate, and her young like to gather with other humans in what they call 'Fairy Tail'."
"You mean that is where her guild is located?" the wolf inquired.
"Yes. It is a strange, noisy building where humans are constantly displaying dominant behavior. Would you like to see?" she asked, sounding rather excited as if eager to show him a neat secret.
Link contemplated for a moment before nodding. The guild was a good start in gathering what little information he could find. He was anxious to know if Bisca was able to obtain an answer to solve his dilemma with her companions.
Up the muddy embankment the pair of animals went. They squeezed between the skinny trees and quickly made their way across the wide open, unlit road made of stone, careful not to be seen in fear of startling any unwary townsfolk. Nene had accidentally done that once, she had said, and it resulted in her being scolded by Bisca after the person reported the incident to the mistress. There was only one tiger around these parts and that was Nene, so the townsfolk were often quick to recognize who she belonged to. Since then, Nene had to wear a small gold band engraved with some sort of runes around the base of her tail that allowed Bisca to magically track her location. The feline didn't mind the accessory however, for she considered it as a gift from her mistress.
The pair climbed the path and was fortunate not to encounter anyone descending the hill. Waiting at the flat top was a fairly large building surrounded by evergreen trees and cast in the silvery glow of the moon. Constructed from wood and stone, it sported a tall windmill tower with blades that slowly rotated in the breeze. Above the double doors was an arced, run-down sign with foreign letters Link couldn't read. Placed above that on the front of the tower was a crimson banner adorned with a white sigil that likely represented the symbol of Bisca's guild.
Nene wasn't wrong when she had mentioned the noise of the place. Link could hear the ruckus coming from inside through the partially opened windows on either side of the double doors. There was laughter, cussing, yelling, and the constant buzz of chatter.
The feline led the way, staying low as she approached the first window. Link followed suit. Nene was tall enough to peer through the glass while the wolf needed to rise onto his hind legs and rest his front paws on the outer windowsill to take a peek inside.
Link was stunned at what he saw. Behind the double doors, it was more akin to a pub than anything else. It was rowdy and full of all sorts of people, a number of them drunk and fighting. It wasn't just simple fist-fights either; there was magic being exchanged in the form of ice and fire between two young men. One of them was completely naked and throwing frozen spears at the other who was swallowed in blazing flames. Ice pierced into the wooden rafters of the roof when the fire-user dodged each icy point. Following that was the smashing of a table when a burning fist missed its naked target. All around, the other patrons didn't seem fazed by the destruction going on between the battling pair. It was truly a perplexing sight.
"Look! Look! They're fighting over territory again! And over there," Nene turned to the nearest corner where a muscular man with silver-white hair was dangerously swaying back and forth on his own two feet. He stood before a table covered in empty beer glasses and wine bottles where a dark-haired young woman was laughing hysterically at him. He was singing at the top of his lungs, his words horribly slurred, while holding onto a half-full mug of beer that sloshed from side to side, spilling all over the floor. "That one's performing some odd mating dance for that female. Very intriguing, don't you think? Listen to that mating call!"
"That is not actually a mating dance… or a mating call. He is… just plain drunk," Link tried to explain. The strong scent of alcohol wafted through the crack of the window.
"'Drunk'?" The word was unfamiliar to the tigress. She flicked her rounded ears when another wooden object was soundly destroyed. She glanced at him from the side and quietly snorted. "I forgot you are a man. I suppose you've seen these odd human behaviours then. Now where is the mistress? She must be further inside."
Link looked around, actually fearing for Bisca and her daughter's safety amongst the chaos. He wouldn't have believed that Bisca was a part of this crazy guild if Nene hadn't told him. For a moment longer, he watched the magical battle unfold between the two young men. But then, someone else intruded, a woman with long scarlet hair and dressed in silvery armour and a skirt. She skillfully moved in and angrily knocked the two boys over the head with metal fists, sending them both crashing into the floor where each made a small crater with their faces in solid stone. Neither of them moved or even twitched right after that.
"That is the alpha female of these humans," said Nene. "Every male abides to her wishes."
"Frightening…" the wolf murmured, shocked at the incredible physical strength the woman possessed. Everyone noticeably edged away from the armoured woman, even the ones who were stumbling drunk. Just then a small blue and white cat that somehow walked on two legs came running over to one of the unconscious males, its face contorted with horror, and started to move its mouth as if speaking. Link's eyes widened and he leaned forward, pressing his nose against the glass. Although he couldn't pick out what was spoken over the burly man's horrible singing, he was still sure the blue cat was talking in the human tongue when he noticed the scarlet-haired woman responding. "That cat! It can communicate with them!" he exclaimed in surprise.
Nene cocked her head slightly. "It can? I've never paid attention to that. I've never met him either but I know he belongs to the male with the pink hair lying on the floor."
Link dropped to the ground and headed to the double doors. "I must have a word with him. I will ask him to convey my situation to your mistress so she will understand my plight."
"You want to risk going in there?" the tigress asked in bewilderment, padding over.
"Yes. He is the only hope I have to get my message across." The wolf examined the handles on the double doors, finding that they were knobs that needed to be turned. He growled in disappointment for he had no hands to use. He placed his front paws on the wooden doors and tried to push them open but neither of them budged. "There has to be another way in…"
"There is. This way." Nene led the canine to the side of the building where a bunch of old crates and barrels were stacked on top of each other to form a makeshift mountain of wood. The tigress easily climbed up the pile and leapt onto the shingled roof. She looked down at the waiting wolf.
Link copied the tigress, though he was not as graceful as the feline. He accidentally kicked a barrel off the top after he jumped onto the roof. The barrel landed with a loud thump and rolled away to bump into the trunk of a tree, but the noise went unnoticed by the people inside.
The tigress nodded at the round window built into the side of the windmill tower. It was left wide open and it was big enough for them to squeeze through. "Sometimes I like to sit up here and watch the humans below on nights like this. It's quite entertaining," said the feline, showing her wicked teeth in a wide grin.
Link took one step only to stop when he noticed someone standing at the top of the tower in the periphery of his vision. When he looked up, the person was gone. "Did you see that?" he asked his companion.
"See what?" Nene narrowed her sharp eyes at the roof of the windmill and shook her head. "I don't see anything, pup."
The other blinked and frowned in slight confusion. He focused his senses, hoping to detect the mysterious person, but to no avail. It was only his imagination. "Never mind. I thought I saw someone watching us…"
Nene gave him an odd look before gesturing to the open window with her paw. "If you're still planning to go in, by all means. I'll be staying here."
Link nodded. The window wasn't very high off the building's main roof. He could sit and look through it if he wanted to. On the other side were the wooden rafters that made up the roof he stood upon and down below was the chaos known as Fairy Tail. Crystal lights were mounted on the walls and wooden posts, setting a warm atmosphere inside. Even though it was loud and rowdy and rather violent, the people were visibly enjoying each other's company.
He spotted the familiar hat that belonged to Bisca as she sat around one of the tables farthest away from the damaged section, conversing with a young teenage girl with blue-hair. Not far from them was little Asuka, playing with another strange, small cat that could walk on two legs, but this one was black, obviously grumpy, wearing shorts, and carried what looked like a miniature sword on its back.
Link wondered if the black feline could talk to the humans as well. Curious and hopeful, the beast hopped onto the window's ledge and carefully dropped onto the nearest plank of wood that was part of the rafters. The board was wide enough for him to slowly walk across without having to worry about slipping and falling off. And it was free of ice spears unlike the other unfortunate pieces of wood around him.
Inside, the noises and smells were amplified by at least tenfold. He was deafened by the jolly cheers, boisterous laughter, and awful singing. The pungent stench of smoke coming from someone's cigar overwhelmed the odour of liquor and food, stinging the wolf's sensitive nose. He sneezed, making the chain around his foot rattle against wood.
The voice of a young girl suddenly yelled over the ruckus; "There's a monster in the ceiling!"
Link froze and glanced down at the floor, seeing a girl with long navy-blue hair tied in pigtails pointing at him. All noises and activities immediately stopped. Silence fell over the crowd as every head, both drunk and sober, followed her finger to find the wolf lurking in the rafters.
"What? A monster?!" someone exclaimed.
"Wait, that's–" Link heard Bisca began to say, but she was interrupted by someone shouting out;
"Iron Dragon's Club!"
"No! Stop, Gajeel!" Bisca shouted.
There was a flash of silvery-black in the corner of Link's eye as something shot out at him from down below. Panicking, he jumped forward to avoid what looked like a long, giant rod of iron that seemed to grow upwards in length. It smashed through the rafters and through the roof, leaving a gaping hole in both.
Unfortunate for Link, the plank of wood he stood on could no longer support his weight and snapped apart, sending him tumbling to the ground. There were startled shrieks when he landed ungracefully on top of a table, knocked it over, and fell along with it. Empty dishes and glasses noisily shattered by his head while pieces of broken wood clattered all around him.
Link was sore and aching, but he was quick to ignore the throbbing pain in his side when he felt the people of the guild surround him. Up on all four feet, he warily scanned the many intimidating faces staring down at him and instinctively snarled a warning in defense. Every muscle was tense and his fur bristled for he never liked the feeling of being surrounded as both a beast and as a man.
Suddenly, Asuka burst through the crowd and happily cried out; "It's not a monster! It's Links!" The wolf stopped baring his fangs when she ran up to him, draped her little arms around his neck, and patted him atop the head to prove that there was nothing to fear.
"Eh? The hell's a 'Links'? It looks more like a dog," grumbled a tall, muscular man with long, spiky black hair and metal-studded piercings on his face. His eyes were fierce and red and they were glaring at the wolf.
"He's my new… temporary pet," Bisca answered as she came into view, nudging through the gathered group. Link eased up at the sight of her.
"That's your new pet, Bisca? It's already a trouble maker," someone commented with a little chuckle. It was a short elderly man, only a little taller than young Asuka, with a white moustache and balding head.
"He's much cooler now that he's awake," said a boy with dark hair and wearing a yellow scarf, his eyes wide and full of admiration.
Bisca smirked. "Indeed he is. Though I really wish I can keep him. I unfortunately have to return him," she replied as she strolled towards the wolf and girl, the heel of her boots soundly clacking against the stone floor. She gave the animal a stern but worried look as she kneeled before him. "Are you hurt?" she quietly asked, looking him over and dusting off his back.
Link shook his head.
"What are you doing here and how did you get on the roof, Links? Is something wrong?"
He wasn't sure how to respond to that. The wolf searched for the strange two-legged cats and found the black one just standing off to the side, watching him intently just like most of the guild. To the feline, he said; "Cat! Can you understand me? Please tell me you can."
The black cat raised his brow but said nothing in return.
"He's snarling at you, Pantherlily! I think he wants to eat you!" shouted the blue one in terror, clearly speaking in the human tongue. When Link glanced over, it cowered behind the legs of a young blonde-haired woman.
"No… I don't believe so..." the dark feline replied, able to communicate with the other people as well. He narrowed his gaze inquisitively and crossed his arms over his chest.
Link was extremely disheartened. Neither of the talking cats understood his speech, casting away the only hope he had. His head drooped to the floor only to have a hand gently lift his chin so his saddened gaze fell on Bisca. Lightly, she brushed her fingers through his mane and said, "Don't look so sad, little guy. I know you're desperate to go home. I promised I will help you and I will, cross my heart. However, it won't be today, and it likely won't be tomorrow, but I will find a way to get you back." Her smile was genuine as were her words.
Link could only nod in understanding.
She gave him a little scratch behind his ears. "Had enough adventure yet? Come on, let's go back to my place," she said, standing up.
After exchanging good-byes and good-nights, the crowd gradually returned to their drunken festivities, not caring that there was a new hole in the roof, broken dishes and glasses, smashed up tables, and two unconscious bodies lying prone on the floor with one of them stripped naked. These people were truly abnormal (or too drunk with most of them not really showing it).
Smiling, Asuka gestured for Link to follow her as she was first to sprint to the double doors. In a slower, downtrodden pace, he went after her, dragging the short chain bound to his foot across the floor. Behind him were the child's parents. He glanced at the unmoving young men as he passed them by, a little surprised and a little relieved they were still alive after having their faces buried into the stone.
Link could breathe freely the instant he stepped into the fresh night air. He stopped to peer up at the roof, unable to find Nene. The tigress was likely hiding somewhere nearby.
Bisca patted him atop the head, prompting him to keep moving.
It was a quiet stroll to Bisca's home. Asuka wanted to play with the wolf while on route, but Link was in no mood to oblige. He kept in pace alongside the married couple, paying no heed to his surroundings.
Once they had reached their home, Link went straight to his temporary bed within the steel cage left inside the pen and dropped like a rock on the soft blanket cover. He heaved a deep, weary sigh and closed his eyes.
It wasn't long before he caught the familiar scent of a tigress as she trotted up to his cage.
"That didn't go well, did it?" Nene asked, amused.
Link said nothing, keeping his eyes shut.
The feline was quiet for a moment. She soundly moved to lie beside his cage, her head right by his. "Cheer up, pup. You will get home eventually… The mistress will not fail you," she tried to reassure, speaking as soft as a carnivorous feline could.
The wolf grunted and muttered under his breath; "By then… it might be too late…"
"Too late for what?"
Too late to save her and her realm… was his answer but he kept his mouth shut; too frustrated and disappointed at how his current situation was turning out. "It is late… I wish to sleep."
Nene quietly snorted. "All right." She stayed by his side for the rest of the night.
A/N: Updates for this story will take very, very long since I still have no concrete idea as to where I will be taking this story. I will warn you now. The next chapter will come when inspiration strikes again.
I do hope you have enjoyed this chapter. Thanks for reading!