Lucy, Gray, and Erza managed to escape Natsu's flaming inferno. A tree collapsed behind them which struck fear in everyone, but Erza who was wearing Flame Empress Armor.
"Natsu!" Gray shouted, "You could've killed us! What were you thinking!"
"Where's Kireba?" Lucy asked, "Wasn't she here?"
"She was his main goal." Natsu growled.
"His?" Erza questioned.
"Yea, this guy with red hair captured Kireba in a shadow. Just like me!" Happy explained "His name was Sole."
"I don't think he would be named after a fish." Gray said.
"It sounded tasty."
"Well at least we know who were up against." Erza interrupted their conversation on whether the red haired person's name was Soul or Sole. "Do you know where she is though?"
"No idea, he just fled into the shadows." Natsu said.
"I think I know where his hideout is." Happy said shuddering at the thought. "I was asleep most of the time, but when I woke up, we were at a cave in the mountain."
"Do you remember it's exact location?" Erza questioned. Her voice even more serious than before.
"No, but if my nose is right, it should smell like something died."
"Lead the way! We have a lead and that's good enough for now." Lucy said.
Happy flew into the air trying to catch the scent of death. While he was in the air, he saw something else in the air. Carla was flying towards them.
"Carla!" Happy shouted, "Have you seen a cave anywhere?"
"Yea," Carla replied, "Just over that way." She pointed south of Happy's position. "Why do you need to find it?"
"Go to the cave and we'll meet you there."
Happy went back to the others and told them that the cave was south of them. It didn't take long for everyone to make it to the cave. Carla and Wendy made it to the after them. As they entered the cave, Happy explained to Wendy and Carla what was going on. Soon they got to a very deep into the cave where it got darker. Natsu half a flame in is hand while the others followed him. After a short while, they encounter a three-way fork in the path.
"Alright, which way do we go?" Lucy asked.
"I can't smell anything down here." Natsu replied, "Too wet and earthy. Actually everything smells earthy. I can't even find her scent."
"I can't either." Happy said.
"Well then, where does it leak out he most?" Gray asked not understanding Natsu's strong sense of smell.
"This way." He pointed down the path in the middle which branched off to even more tunnels and more. Eventually they made it to a dead end.
"Now what?" Gray said.
"Turn back and go down another tunnel." Erza said.
"This place is like a big maze. We could get lost in here." Lucy argued.
"Well what other option do we have?"
"Wait." Natsu said putting his hand on the wall. Heat emitted from his hand melting a brown colored ice. "This is Kireba's ice."
"How do you know? She hasn't used any magic in front of us yet." Lucy questioned.
"Her scent's all over it. The only difference is that it's mix with dirt."
"That's probably why you couldn't sense her clearly." Erza said.
"She's down here. She must have done this to lead us to her."
As they got deeper, they found more walls of ice and dirt, but soon they got smaller and smaller until they were only, but little piles of snow. Finally, a giant cavern appeared in front of them. It was well lit with torches. It seemed to be the main hall of a castle and if there was a castle, there must be many other rooms With one to hold prisoners.
"We're coming Kireba!" Natsu shouted, "Soul! Show you face, bastard!"