Chapter 7: Kibble

Erza stared up at the tree house. It was firmly built between two thick branches, the roof made out of thick, wide leaves and small and held up by pillar-like structures covered in thin vines.

Evia glanced up at her home with a smile and hopped up to one of the branches closest to the ground and scaled up the tree and made it to the tree house in no time. Erza gawked at her.

"What are you waiting for, Erza? Climb up!" Evia called out.

"Right right, coming!" Erza quickly replied and walked over to the tree. She placed one foot on the branch slowly, then pushed herself up. She carefully climbed up, brach after branch, steadily as to not lose her footing.

"That took you a while," Evia said as Erza struggled to get on her feet. Erza looked around. The view was amazing. The sun was high in the air and everything was glinting; the leaves, the puddles, the ripples from a nearby lake. She stomped the floorboards. They were sturdy enough.

"You made this yourself?" Erza asked in awe.

"Yup," Evia. "My own handiwork. Pretty cool, huh?"

Erza nodded.

"Kibble, here boy!" Evia called out, her voice slightly higher than normal. She whisteled out a peculiar tune and not long after, small rustling noises were heard and a series of chatters and squeaks responded.

"There you are, I've been looking for you!" Evia exclaimed happily as she cupped a furry little animal in her hands. The squeaks got louder and more cheerful.

"Is that Kibble?" Erza asked.

"Yeah!" Evia said excitedly and showed her hands to Erza. "Kibble, this is Erza. Erza, Kibble."

Erza peered at the animal. Kibble turned out to be nothing than a mere flying squirrel.

"He's your only friend here?" Erza asked.

"Well, there are other woodland animals but they don't come in these parts. This place is kind of hidden, I like it," Evia replied.

"Well, if this place is so secret, why not build a rope ladder?" Erza inqured.

"As if woodland animals is going to bother my sleep," Evia answered. "I can't be too laid back, thieves all around. They prowl during the day and hide in the night. I can't risk them finding this," Evia said, waving her arms about.

"Well, you certainly haven't think thing through carefully. How do you expect the thieves not to find this?" Erza asked, pointing at the tree house.

Evia was starting to get irritated again. "I told you, this place is hidden. I just can't risk anyone finding out. In fact, you're the first person that came here, with my permission of course. And you saw how those branches were? Don't try lying, I saw you struggle! That takes practice."

Erza was silenced.

"Now, for some food supplies," Evia mumbled to herself. Kibble chirped a squirelly chirp and bounded off into the trees. A few minutes later, he came back with lumpy cheeks.

Erza looked a little horrified. "What with his cheeks?"

"His food supply," Evia simply said.

Erza blinked. Evia sighed.

"Alright, we can go back now," she said and placed her footing onto the edges of the window. She righted herself and leapt down. Erza couldn't help but let out a small yelp but quickly clamped her mouth shut and looked down.

"Oi, are you crazy?" Erza yelled.

Evia looked up. "Why not? It's a whole lot faster. You try it!"

"No thanks, I don't intend on dying!" Erza called back and rushed down the tree. It was fairly easier than climbiing up, but it still took a while.

Evia rolled her eyes. "What did I tell you?"

They walked out of the clearing and unto the narrow path. This time, they're walk was silent. Kibble was peched on Evia's head and continued to chirp softly. Erza noticed Evia's hand as she brushed against some berry bushes, picked the fruit and popped them into her mouth while keeping a straight gaze.

It was either she was doing it unconciously or she was hypotized all of a sudden.

Evia noticed Erza staring and decided to offer her some. "Want them?"

Erza wrinkled her nose. "You expect to eat those? What if they're poisonous?" she asked stupidly.

Evia gave her a look.

Erza realized what she said a second later and slapped herself on the forehead. "I'm sorry, that was very stupid of me. Yes, I'll have one." She picked one of the berries in Evia's hand and inspected it. It was purplish-blue and had smooth surface, like most berries. She popped it into her mouth and tasted the sweet juice all arond her mouth.

"It's good," Erza commented. "You've seroiusly been living on this for five years?"

"I told you, I hunt once in a while," Evia said.

Erza nodded, and the walk back was silent again.

As well as the train ride back home to Magnolia. Evia had fallen asleep halfway across the trip, with Kibble nestled comfortably on her hair. Erza looked at them. They looked so peaceful. So was their talk in the woods.

Erza looked away. Maybe it was wrong for her to force her into the guild. But she didn't exactly forced her, didn't she? Evia did agree on joining, right? She slapped her forehead once more.

They made their way back to the guild and was greeted by everyone. Mirajane was especially the most happy and immediately dragged Evia into Makarov's office.

"So, how did it go?" asked a curious Natsu.

"Not bad. Not bad at all, I suppose," Erza replied.

"So what's her story then?"

Erza debated with herself whether she should tell them the whole thing, but then Evia's words rang in her head.

Well, I did say you are all going to find out sooner or later...

So Erza told them everything, or at least, what she can remember, from start to finish.

"Some history that girl's got," Natsu commented.

"That's what I thought too," Erza said. "Now all she's making me feel is guilty."

"Hey, don't blame yourself, Erza," comforted Lucy. "You didn't know."

"But that's the point!" Erza said. "I didn't know, so I pushed her."

Gray nodded. "Yeah, you were a little too hard on her."

Erza nodded and shook her shoulders back. "Alright then, from now on, I promise not to be hard on newcomers."

The others looked at her skeptically. Erza sighed and crossed her heart.

"Alright then," Gray said with a doubtful tone. "Just remember we're watching you. Don't try anything funny."

"Gosh Gray, of course I won't!" Erza said. "Besides, I bet it'll take a while for another newcomer to join us!"