'Uh oh. What on Earth do I do now?'

Warrod and Jura were back. Normally, that wasn't a problem. But today, well, today was one of the days Jellal went on his 'trip'. Ultear wondered why they were back so early. Moreover, she was worried about Jellal. What would she say?

She watched Kinana and Meredy - the younger cubs - sprint towards the big males. They surrounded Warrod and Jura, giggling at the same time.

Ultear was jealous of the smaller cubs. This family... This family made up of cubs and two males, weren't a real family. It felt like a real family but it wasn't. Everyone's parents died one way or the other - with the exception of Jura and Warrod of course. The young cubs were too young to remember but Ultear remembered it clearly.

The fire. The despicable demons had set fire to her parents. She had watched them die in front of her. No matter how hard she tried to forget it, she couldn't. Jellal had seen his parents die too. He never told her how. He didn't know how hers died either. Only Warrod and Jura knew that.

"Where is Jellal?"

The question brought Ultear back to reality. 'Crap.'

"Where is he?" Jura was the one who spoke this time.

"Uh, he went out."

"Out? Out where?"

"Ummm..." Ultear desperately tried to think of an answer.

"He went out with a girl!" Meredy giggled.

Ultear's eyes widened in surprise. Did Jellal tell her? Didn't he know how much of a loudmouth she was?

"A girl?" There was a small smile on Warrod's lips.

"Which girl?" Jura asked, facing Ultear.

Ultear felt the walls caving in. She didn't like being in trouble. She never got in trouble. She bit her lip. 'I'm sorry, Jellal'

And she told them.

Everything.

Jellal was sitting with Erza when it happened.

The clouds started darkening.

That would be fine. Normally. But, Jellal could feel magic through the clouds. Someone was causing this phenomenon.

"Do you feel that?" Erza asked.

"You too?"

Both of them stood up. Jellal had a light yellow glow around him. Erza had a red glow around her. They would fight if necessary.

"Who is it?" Erza's voice thundered.

And a horde of angels swooped down from heaven. Angels wearing armor.

The Heavenly Knights.

Erza's heart hammered in her chest.

'No.'

Everything was going turmoil. They were going to destroy it. Destroy her freedom, her best friend and maybe, even her first love. They were going to destroy her.

Jellal was gaping at the amount of angels that were coming down from Heaven. He couldn't fight all of them. He was strong - he knew that - but he couldn't take down these many angels.

But maybe, Erza and Jellal combined, could.

Jellal turned his head to face Erza. He was opening his mouth to say something when he noticed Erza staring at the angels. It wasn't a hate stare. Or a love stare. It was a hopeless stare.

"Erza," Jellal slipped his hand through hers and squeezed. Erza turned to look at him. "It'll be fine..."

But Erza wasn't listening. She couldn't tell him it was pointless. She couldn't tell him that it was her fault. She couldn't tell him that it was her mother that was leading them.

'No.' Erza thought. 'That is not true. I can still warn him.'

"Go!" Erza shoved Jellal into the dark forest.

"What?" Jellal looked confused. "We can fight together."

"No, no we can't." Erza shook her head. "You need to go, please."

Erza sounded so desperate. Why? Jellal couldn't get his head around it. What was she hiding? She was an angel and she was friends with a werewolf but it shouldn't be this much of a big deal-

And then, it struck him.

'No.' He thought. 'No, no, no, no!'

"You... Who are you?" Jellal's voice came out harsher than he intended. Erza looked at him, her eyes full of hurt.

"I-" She never got to finish it.

"ERZA!"

Both of small heads turned to the source of the voice. There, hovering over in the beautiful sky as the sun set was a woman. Her hair was a striking red. And long. Long, reaching up to her hips. It was thickly braided into three separate braids. Each was tied with a gold bracelet. She was beautiful.

And her name was Irene Belserion.

Also known as Scarlet Despair.

And Erza's mother.

Warrod and Jura smelt it before they saw it.

The forest was on fire.

They ushered every single wolf out. They needed to run away. They could fight - of course they could! - but they wouldn't. Werewolves didn't like fighting unless absolutely necessary. Despite the rumors about them, werewolves were actually really kind. They wouldn't fight unless someone was doing them great harm. Ultear failed to see this.

"IT'S A FIRE!" She yelled. "WE CAN FIGHT! SO WHY AREN'T WE?"

"We don't fight unless they fight us," Warrod replied calmly. He knew how much a fire scared Ultear. He would remain calm, he told himself, so that she wouldn't panic too much.

"Perfect timing, Jellal," Jura muttered under his breath. "Perfect time for you to go meet your girlfriend."

The fire was spreading. Quickly. They needed to get out of here if they didn't want to be dead wolves. Things were chaotic, Meredy and Kinana were crying, Ultear was screaming, Sherry was sleeping? Oh wait, she's unconscious, never mind.

Jura and Warrod were racing through the forest, other wolves hot on their trail. They would soon reach the end of it, and hopefully, they will find another forest to reside in.

'Oh, Jellal,' Jura and Warrod thought. 'Where are you?'

"Get away from my girl!" Irene slashed her hand through the air. In a few seconds, Jellal was thrown back by a huge wind that originated from her hand.

"Mother, I-" Erza tried to intervene.

"Oh my, poor, poor girl!" Irene grabbed Erza and caressed her cheeks. "Alas! This werewolf has tainted you!"

"He did no such thing!" Erza pushed herself away from Irene and rushed to Jellal's side. "Jellal!"

Jellal groaned as Erza helped him up. That's when Jellal saw it.

The forest was on fire.

His forest. His beloved home. His sisters. His 'fathers'.

'No.' Jellal felt tears stinging his eyes. He's only cried once before. That was when he lost everything. And he was going to lose everything again.

"JELLAL!"

That voice. Warrod!

Jellal turned into his wolf form, running towards Warrod. He was happy - so happy, to see every one of them alive.

"Jellal...?" Erza.

He looked between both Erza and his family. He thought of all the fun times he and Erza had together. But then again, it was her fault that his home was gone. So, surely, he must stay by his family's side?

So he did.

Erza watched with tears in her eyes as Jellal's glowing copper eyes disappeared into the midst of the forest. She watched as her freedom slipped away from her fingertips.

She felt her mother's arms cradling her. Trapping her, once again.