"Someone, or something, has entered the forest everyone. They're slowly coming closer to breaching our established perimeter."
There was a collective gasp from the other participants of the group meeting, a natural reaction. An uncomfortable shift in the air meant the five participants had truly realized just what a security breach meant at this point. There had not been another visitor besides themselves to the forest for at least fifteen years, only the strength of their fearless leader had driven out the anger and hatred of humans before. Of course, she always had help, a single child could not scare away a mob without backup no matter how powerful or frightening. But every member could still recall a time when they were not able not live in peace just being themselves.
"But that means they would have to survive the gas I've set around the immediate perimeter and no mere human could ever possibly live through that!" exclaimed one of the group, Levy McGarden.
"I am aware, however we still must send a patrol out in the possibility that there are still survivors." the leader decided.
"Erza! You don't mean bringing whoever or whatever it is back here?!" scoffed the beautiful Lucy Heartfilia, "That's absolute madness! Our safety could be at risk!"
"That is true, but if whoever it is manages to survive Levy's fog then we need to interrogate them and find out why after so long they've ventured back into the forest," Erza Scarlet explained, "Whether they have reinforcements or not could be very useful to know."
"Juvia thinks that Erza has a point," the bluenette murmured, "Our safety has always been her priority, we should trust her."
"Thank you, Juvia." smiled Erza.
"Right. Well if we are going out there then we need a plan first." Lucy reluctantly agreed, though her face held an expression of defiance.
"Here's the plan, girls. Lucy, Levy, Wendy, and I will go out to collect the bodies. Juvia, you must stay and conserve your magic for later," Erza commanded, "Wendy, this will be your first time meeting outsiders, am I correct?"
"Oh.. yes ma'am, that's right." confirmed Wendy Marvell, in her shy, trilling voice.
"Well, Wendy, only your healing magic will confirm if our visitors are alive or not," explained Erza, "Though.. I am nervous about letting you out so early, humans are a cruel race…"
"It's okay, Erza! I can do it!" Wendy exclaimed excitedly.
"I brought her with me as an infant when you found us Erza, she can do it." Lucy cooed.
"Lucy, you were hardly more than a toddler then! How could you remember the cruelty of humanity?" Erza demanded, though her face betrayed the warmth she felt from Lucy's loving comment.
Lucy's only response was to stick her tongue out at her elder.
"Now then, let's head out." Ezra returned to her serious mood.
The four selected individuals headed out for the perimeter of their beautiful safe-haven. Carefully they trudged through the trees until they reached Levy's smoke wall. Knowing that it would not harm them because of Levy's specific instructions in creating the spell, the group moved into the fog so that Levy could direct them towards the breach. Moving forward with caution it was quickly evident that the chance of survival for the intruders would have to be slim to none. How could a mortal survive such thick poison?
"Over here!" called Levy, pointing towards small heaps on the ground.
They moved towards the shapeless, dark mounds on the forest floor until shapeless became the outlines of four humanoid figures.
"Oh wow…. he looks like… me.." gasped Wendy as she approached one of the boys.
"Come, quickly now. We must gather them and take them back to our base." Erza ordered, a little shakily, as she realized these people were less like humans and more like her and the girls than she originally thought.
"On it!" giggled Lucy, giddy at the prospect of a new adventure and, possibly if she wished hard enough, new friends.
The girls each struggled to pick up one of the strangers, well actually, Erza picked up two with ease, one blue-haired man and one shirtless guy, while Lucy struggled to pick up the one with the strange pink hair and Wendy helped Levy drag the huge, long-haired man haphazardly along the floor.
"Oh Erza, fairies aren't known to be so strong! How do you do it?" Lucy gasped, struggling to pull the surprisingly heavy young man forward with her.
"Well, I'm not sure… I suppose practice and bloodline? Maybe a little bit of stubborn personality..." Erza shrugged it off.
The girls made their way slowly but surely back to their home. They dragged the intruders to a special area of the camp to begin their examination and determine which would be the most threatening of the four. Not to mention deciding what their next plan of action would be.
"Okay, Wendy, I need you to do a thorough medical examination of each them after Lucy finishes reading the intentions of their souls," demanded Erza, "Levy can you please create an area of soft grass here for them while I construct metal shackles?"
"Of course!" each of the girls exclaimed.
Erza went to work constructing steel shackles for each trespasser, weaving magic into them that prevented the use of any and every supernatural power. Lucy began to read the souls of each aloud:
"Hmm… well, let's see, the pink-haired boy is definitely powerful, in tune with fire itself, but his soul speaks of kindness and boyish charm," murmured Lucy, "The man with the strange face marking has an old soul full of worries and seriousness but holds no malicious intent. Piercings over there is quite loving perhaps a bit spiteful and grumpy, his soul speaks of old hardships and pains that make him wary of others but has a fondness for his family. And this one…" she paused with a pained look on her face.
"What's wrong Lucy?" asked Wendy, fretting over her friend's well-being.
"This poor boy, he's been through so much, his soul sings of infinite sadness and regret," sighed Lucy with a furrowed brow, "He will be very anxious when he awakes, I can feel the ice in his heart."
"Does that make him a threat? Or any of them?" demanded Erza.
"No.. I think they will be quick to try to protect each other but after awhile it shouldn't be a danger." Lucy decided.
"Okay then, Wendy proceed with your examination before I put on these bonds," Erza spoke curtly, "And Levy, once I have finished tying them up please put their moods at ease."
Wendy went to work performing thorough medical examinations on each of them. Discovering that most of them were starving and dehydrated. She healed every injury they possessed, even bruises and small cuts, while restoring some of their magic with her own.
"They need food and water. Badly. Besides that they're all in good health now!" beamed Wendy, quite exhausted.
"Thank you, Wendy. Please go and rest now." Erza smiled softly at her little friend.
"I think.. I will definitely do that.." yawned Wendy, tottering off to a nice spot of shade under her favorite lemon tree that Erza had created for her.
"Juvia!" Erza called, "Can you please prepare food and drinks for our… guests."
"Juvia can do that!" the girl beamed, eyeing the handsome boy with the lovely silver cross necklace.
Each girl went to do their specific chores, letting little Wendy nap to recover her strength, and tidying up the place they called home. The intruder's were left in a shady spot of comfy grass, chained up, and resting in a comfortable mood that Levy had magically provided. Erza tended to the heavy lifting that needed to be done , and made sure that everyone knew what they were supposed to be doing while Levy grew the fresh produce that Juvia needed to prepare the night's meal and tended to the garden. Lucy began to clean the little cottages that each of the girls had worked so hard to build and did some laundry in the nearby stream that Juvia had made for them. They worked in comfortable silence while the sounds of nature filled their hearts with warmth and content at the simplicity of their lives.