Disclaimer: I do not own the characters, nor anything else associated with Fairy Tail. I only own the plot of the following story and my OCs who help move the story along. (Of course, some of the ideas for my OCs come from research on certain things, or if I found nothing on that, I created it for the sole purpose of this fanfic.)

Author's Note: I survived the semester from hell! I can finally write again! Yes! Alright. So I have a new chapter for you guys. I have a lot of brainstorming and plot writing to do to fully develop what I have in mind, but I have all break for this! Well, besides the times that I work and am working on cosplays. Otherwise, I will have some posts but I'd rather have quality over quantity so I do apologize for my updates taking so long. I hope you enjoy this chapter. It's short but it's starting to finally take off. (My mind thinks weird things.) Happy Holidays!

Chapter 8

A tall figure stood up covered in dirt. That iron brat will get what's coming to him for this. He dirtied my favorite pair of jeans. His thoughts spread through the air with the dirt that he patted off of himself. I can't believe that Vesper would just leave me… me of all people! How dare he leave me to be treated like that! But then again…. I am the strongest out of all of them.

He stretched, raising his arms to the sky, then Crack! He sighed, rolling out his shoulders. Now I can really get down to business. I wonder where Blondy and Flamehead are. He walked around cautiously, not knowing which direction to go. If I were them, where would I go? Someplace…. someplace safe. Yes. There's caves near here…. Caves that connect to The Chasm.

Crunch! Crunch!

"I heard the sound coming from over here."

"You sure?"

"Well, not entirely sure of where but yeah."

He could see two figures approaching through the brush. Or they come to me. He quickly hid in a bush.

"There's nothing here, Natsu." Blondy burst into the clearing.

"There was. And someone is still around." Flamehead glanced around, his eyes stopping right on him. "There, one of Vesper's minions."

He popped out of the brush, glaring at Natsu and Lucy. Why you! How dare you call Lot a minion! Well, that's what he wanted to do when Blondy walked over and peered into the brush.

"I don't see anything Natsu. There's no one here."

"I'm positive there's someone there Luce…"

"There's no one here."

To Lot's relief, Blondy walked away from the brush towards Flamehead. He watched her lean in towards Flamehead, not able to see the rest. He shut his eyes, not wanting to see anymore. I need to concentrate on where they're going. How to get them to where it will be easy for me to trap them and knock them out. Then I can take them there.

"I don't think anyone's here anymore Natsu. Maybe we should head back to the cave for now and start a fire. I'm getting kinda hungry... and maybe they're not actually after us..."

"I know someone's there. If we don't get them now, they'll get us. It's one of Vesper's men."

"Since when did you start thinking instead of reacting? Hmmm?"

"Lucy please," Flamehead paused.

Lot could hear leaves crunching. The sound stopped for a moment. Then he could hear the sound of footsteps approaching. "Let me look before we head back." The brush around him moved, revealing the spot where he was crouched.

Natsu glared at the ground, looking for a person, someone, something, anything, yet he saw nothing. He smelled someone here. It was one of Vesper's men, yet there was no trace of a person hiding in the brush, nor had someone appeared to hide in the brush. Natsu stood up straight and turned back to Lucy.

"Fine Luce… We'll head back for now, but I'll still be on the lookout for that person."

"That's fine."

The voices started to die away.

"Don't think someone wasn't there."

"Someone fell there, I know. Can you tell where they went?"

"I'm not sure… but I have a hunch that the person can…."

Lot didn't get to hear the rest as the two headed back the way they had come. He opened his eyes. How could they not see me? I'm sitting right here crouched into a ball. Maybe this is why no one was ever able to find me at hide-and-seek as a kid. Maybe that's why I…

"Lot."

He jumped straight up into the air. Sir!

"I have a task for you. And if you succeed, I'll even let them go."

"I can't stand anymore….." Levy and Wendy collapsed onto the floor.

"That took wayyy to long."

"Juvia didn't even get to watch Gray-sama fight for her…."

"I didn't fight for you Juvia! And you helped!"

"But Gray-sama…"

"Enough." Erza cut everyone off. She stood with her sword in hand. "Natsu and Lucy were here. This one…" She dragged Aloin by his hair. "...will lead us to where Vesper plans to take Natsu and Lucy. Won't you?"

Aloin's breathing grew raspy. Erza's glare racked his body. "Y-y-yes… But you don't know what you're getting yourselves into! If you go, I can't promise that anyone will make it out alive…. No one…. has ever come back…. that's why…."

"Enough! We'll go once everyone has rested."

The moon fell quickly towards the horizon. An orange-red light creeped across the early morning sky.