Heya!
I'm sorry the updates are coming so late, but I get home around ten.
Big thanks to reviewers divergent demigod 1234, Juvia, Guest, little-flame1, Phiafairy, Guest, PalmerBaller18, KkMarie9005, FlameDragonHime, HeavensSetFire, Helenezahl, yucie, sthokatrina, Dark Shining Light, and !
There won't be a Reviewer's Corner today. Sorry!
See ya'll next week, and let me know how I did!
Cheers, ~BrennaCoris~
The morning greeted them with a fresh wave of icy air. Thick clouds covered the horizon and frost turned the grass a shade of dead grey. Lucy stood with her back to the harsh wind, watching the woods. No prey dared showed itself, as if sensing her intention.
"Lucy, I'm hungry," Natsu whined, limping out of the building to join her. She rolled her eyes.
"I told you, four shifts was pushing it. Now you're tired and hungry and there's no food," she said. Shifting combined with Wendy's efforts healed his cracked ribs, but the shoulder had been shattered by Sting's blow. Wendy guessed at least ten shifts would be needed for the pain to dull on its own, and then more shifting to restore strength and mobility. Lucy was more worried about Porlyusica – no one had contradicted Natsu when he said the healer would skin him alive.
"Porlyusica will kill me!"
"She'll be angrier if you don't make it back because you were too tired."
"I'll make it," Natsu muttered. He set his injured paw on the ground and winced.
"Natsu, don't push the leg," Erza said, joining the conversation. The beta turned to Lucy, "No luck?"
Lucy shook her head. "Nothing."
"Let's hope the wind softens up. It'll be easier to hunt and some prey should come out." Erza twisted to glance at the building. "They're almost ready to go."
The rest of the Concourse group emerged from the building, with Wendy between Jellal and Bickslow. She was the weakest of the group, with the least training, and incredibly valuable as a healer. Her safety, as the alpha had stressed, was their highest priority in the face of Mermaid Heel's and Lamia Scale's war threats until they were back at camp.
"Stay alert until we pass the training ground," Makarov said, "Freed and Levy, watch the first commander."
"I don't need a guard," Natsu protested. Lucy cuffed his ear.
"You," She poked his muzzle with her nose. "can barely walk, and if we get attacked, you're stubborn enough to be a problems. Shut up and let Levy and Freed do their job."
Natsu lost their silent contest of dominance.
"Fine," he muttered, and leaned closer, "But you owe me two kisses."
Warmth curled in her stomach as she recalled their previous two kisses, the way she burned up when he asked for entry, his tongue tracing the seam of her lips. She wouldn't mind giving him as many kisses as he wanted, but she would never admit it.
"Maybe," she replied instead. Natsu growled softly, a challenge to oppose him, and a shock ran through her. It was like the chase all over again, but on different ground.
"Hurry up," Erza said, "We're already slow as it is. If we want to make it back before dark, we must leave now."
Lucy padded along beside her bonded mate, watching him carefully for signs of pain. She hated it when his features were twisted in a grimace that she could do nothing about. Aside from that, her shoulder was uncomfortable, like an echo of Natsu's injury. She didn't know how to explain the ache or occasional throb, which concerned her.
They entered the woods, quickly passing the border, and the tension that Lucy barely noticed any more slowly faded away, replaced by familiarity as the pack wolves took comfort in being in their territory. Lucy ran between Natsu and Levy, moving closer to the she-wolf as she remembered their conversation before the Concourse.
"You said you had a full mating bond, right?" she asked, keeping her voice low. Shifters didn't eavesdrop on nearby conversations on purpose; they just couldn't lessen the range of their hearing.
"Yeah. Something bothering you?" Levy matched her tone.
"I'm getting an ache in my shoulder, same place as Natsu. Could that be—"
"Because of the bond?" Levy interrupted, grinning teasingly when Lucy growled in irritation. "Probably. Full bonds are rare, and their effects are different. Only the increased attraction is guaranteed."
"But wouldn't this have shown up earlier? Why now?"
"My best guess is that you've started to willingly explore the relationship. I mean, you technically fought for Natsu when Evergreen challenged you, and then he fought for you against Sting. You guys kissed, probably more than that one time by now. You're constantly laying claims on each other, and the bond is trying to…" Levy paused for a short moment, her ears flicking, "help you along."
"Lovely," Lucy grumbled. "Next time the idiot gets into a fight, I'll be getting part of the payback."
"Who're you callin' an idiot?" Natsu demanded indignantly, limping closer.
Lucy sighed. "Most definitely not you, because there's no way you'd get into a fight with an injury like that."
"Even if I did—"
"Which you will," Levy put in.
"—I'd still win," Natsu finished, baring his teeth in a grin.
"No. No fighting for you, or you won't get your—" Lucy cut herself off before she could prove the point Levy had just made, but judging by Levy's snickers, the she-wolf already knew what she was about to say. Natsu's pleading stare only made it harder to remain composed.
"I mean it, Natsu," Lucy said. He obviously knew what was at stake, and it made her happy to know he enjoyed the kisses at least as much as she did. They kept moving for some time in comfortable silence.
The wind died down and subtly shifted, bringing with it the smell of rabbit. Lucy knew she wasn't the only one to pause and stare in the direction of the scent, but Wakaba was the one tasked with hunting. Natsu let out a longing whine and Lucy swore she heard his stomach growl.
A pale yellow blur shot out of the brush, its powerful hind legs propelling it straight into Lucy's striking range. Wakaba crashed through the underbrush and barreled into Bickslow, knocking them both over. Lucy lunged forward and snapped at the small body, her teeth ripping into its side. The rabbit's momentum carried it off the ground and she slammed it against the dirt, biting its neck. A ominously familiar smell, slightly bitter, rose up from the body.
"Nice catch, Lucy," Freed commented. The alpha nodded in agreement.
"Natsu, eat. You need it for a shift," Erza said.
"Wait." Lucy sniffed the rabbit, her chest tightening in worry and instinctual fear.
"Is it poisoned?" Makarov asked. Lucy shook her head, following Wakaba's trail or trampled undergrowth. Dread rose up and lodged in her throat.
"Wolfsbane," she spat. When the pack wolves gave her blank stares, she elaborated, "It's a chemical my father developed that disguises scent. He used it to hide my shapeshifter abilities from other shifters. There's a ton of it here."
"Ugh," Levy grimaced. "It smells terrible."
"Where does it lead?" the alpha demanded. Lucy circled the dump site, coming up with a fainter trail leading into the deeper woods.
"There's a trail here, heading into the wood." She indicated with a jerk of her head. Understanding came a bit late, but it was accompanied by a wave of cold worry. "Isn't that where the camp is?"
A wolf howl rang out, long and desperate. The alpha snarled, "Natsu, eat and shift. You'll run. The camp's under attack."
Natsu swallowed the rabbit and quickly shifted, slipping into a pair of baggy pants that Nab threw him before taking off at a run. Lucy stayed close, using his presence to keep her emotions under check. The discomfort in her shoulder grew into a dull ache. Did her father find her? It was too soon, it had to be, but she had nothing to prove that it wasn't him.
No one payed attention to the undergrowth tugging at their fur. The alpha and beta ran in front, Wendy and her guards directly behind them. Another howl cut across their ragged breathing and they picked up pace.
The clearing with the entrance to the camp came into view and Lucy's worst suspicions were confirmed. Two men and one woman, all in dark red uniforms, formed a small half-circle around the entrance to the camp. As soon as the shifters came into view, the woman hefted a thick club. One of the men swore. Both pulled out two long knives, gripping the hilts with some skill. They paused at the sight of Natsu and wasted precious seconds staring as the first commander shifted into his wolf form, completely ignoring his shoulder. Barks, snarls, and human shouts came from the camp.
"Holy shit! Did he just—" one of the men began, only to be cut off as Bickslow flattened him. The other was attacked by Freed while Nab charge the woman. The rest of the Concourse group weaved around the humans and slipped into camp. A snarl tore from Lucy's throat as she quickly surveyed the battleground she could have almost called home.
Men and women in red uniforms were locked in battle with wolves, their weapons leaving their marks. At least half used long, rough clubs like the woman at the entrance, but many had knives. Two men stood on the alpha's ledge, overlooking the battle, and the guns in their hands made Lucy's blood run cold. A long distance weapon put the shifters at a large disadvantage while the ledge was difficult to take by surprise.
"Lucy! Guard the mothers' den!" Erza ordered, leaping into the battle. Lucy sprinted around the edges of camp, snapping violently at any who tried to stop her. A wail came from the den, followed by a faint trace of blood. Half the lichen was torn away and Lucy could easily make out Porlyusica's form. Another wolf lay on the ground, convulsions gripping their limbs. Gray stood guard outside. His fur was bloody and his sides heaved, but he leaped at anyone who came too close and nearly tore them apart.
Juvia had to be giving birth.
Lucy snarled at a woman that tried to slip a knife between her ribs and bit down on her wrist, dislocating the arm with a harsh tug. Metal sliced through her scruff, leaving behind a trail of agonizing pain. She recognized the touch of silver and crouched, pulling on the arm. The woman screamed and Lucy leaped at her chest, pushing her flat on her back. Lucy's claws tore into the woman's skin. It didn't take long for her to pass out.
"About time you got back here," Gray said, spitting out blood. His left eye was swollen shut and his cheek puffed out.
"How long?" she asked.
"Not that long. Took us by surprise." He cast a worried glance at the mothers' den as Juvia let out a wail.
"Is she alright?" Lucy bared her teeth at a man who came too close and he flinched away. His shirt was gone and his stomach was a bloody mess.
"Yeah. Worst time to give birth, though," Gray said. He tried to sound relaxed, by Lucy could easily hear the panic in his voice. A million things could go wrong, and if Juvia didn't survive the attack, he would never forgive himself.
"She'll be fine, Gray. Protect her, and she'll be fine," Lucy said. Gray nodded and snarled at the next unfortunate idiot who dared to challenge him. Lucy swiped at the nearest human, ripping through their thigh. Her scruff burned, accompanied by a dull throb in the shoulder and ribs. A tiny click, barely heard over the noise of the battle, had ice running through her veins. She would know that quiet sound anywhere. It meant certain pain, possible death, and always posed a danger.
The safety of a gun being released.
Her gaze swiveled towards the two men on the ledge. One was layered in muscle, solidly built, with a square face and close-cropped hair. His partner had a more tailored air to him, reminding her of the people her father associated with. She couldn't see his face, but the jaw was softer and his hair fell to his shoulders in loose curls. His posture was straighter and more dignified. He moved leisurely, as if watching a bloodbath was something he did as a pastime, but his movement lacked the grace of a trained fighter. If Lucy had to guess, the gun was his only line of defense.
The fighter raised his gun and aimed at the mothers' den. His face was impassive; he wouldn't blink twice at murdering a mother and her nearly-born children. He shifted the gun, as if following a moving target, and suddenly Lucy realized who he was aiming for. Gray was a far bigger threat than two occupied she-wolves hiding in a den. He carved through his opponents with complete disregard for his own injuries. If he was taken out by the gunshot, the pack would lose a valuable fighter, and the attackers still outnumbered the wolves two to one.
A pile of russet tumbled into the way. Lucy instantly recognized Natsu and snarled at him to move, but if he had heard, he didn't do as she asked. Instead, he flattened his opponent and bit down on their shoulder. The skin over his ribs was deeply torn, but he didn't notice. She realized that, for whatever reason, she was feeling his pain. Did he feel hers?
Lucy ran towards her idiot of a mate, the bond pushing her to keep him safe. He raked his opponent's stomach and looked up at her questioningly, yelping in surprise when she shoved him aside. The shot echoed in the hollow. Fire spread through her gut and her legs gave out as she curled in on herself, softly whining from the pain.
"Lucy!" Natsu roared, slamming his paw into his opponent's face to ensure his win and desperately nudging her side. "Shift! Lucy, shift!"
"No." She struggled to get the word out. "I can't…"
"Please! Just shift!" He barked out the order and she followed it despite herself, pulling through as fast as her body would allow. She knew it was a bad idea, because it left her vulnerable. As a human, she was weak. She couldn't fight beyond basic, instinctive responses. Two more cracks slapped her ears and she cringed. The shift hurt far more than it should have. Lucy curled tighter, shielding her naked body from the people around her. Pain swirled around inside, jumping from her shoulders to her hips and shooting into her paws.
"Into the den, Lucy. Now." Wendy's voice barely reached her through the cloud of pain. A cover was thrown over her and she blindly reached for Wendy, using the wolf for support as she rose and stumbled out of direct danger.
"It hurts," she whimpered. Her hip hadn't gotten hit, so she didn't understand why it hurt so much. Suddenly, the pain flared and she crumpled to the floor next to a shuddering Juvia, letting out a quiet moan. She was answered by an enraged snarl from the outside.
"Lucy, the bullet is silver. I'm going to need you to push it out, okay? Focus on forcing it out," Wendy directed. Paws stretched the skin on her stomach. "Alright. Push!"
Lucy clenched her muscles and heaved, the fire moving just slightly. Wendy continued to sooth her with soft words while she forced the toxic bullet out. It clattered to the floor, followed by a stream of grey blood that steadily turned back to its normal red.
"It still burns," she said. Wendy looked at her sharply.
"Natsu… he must've taken a hit," Wendy murmured. "Stup— Lucy! Don't shift!"
Lucy scrambled to her feet, whimpering as more fire shot through her body, and shook out her fur. The fire wasn't even close to the heat she experienced when Natsu was around, or the warmth the mating bond gave her. The pain burned her alive. But if Natsu was hurt, she needed to be there to knock some sense into his head.
The battle had taken a massive turn. More than half of the humans had either fled or lay on the ground, unmoving. Only one man stood on the alpha's ledge, the softer one, and he was wildly swinging his gun between Erza and Mira as they approached him from different sides. Gray still blocked the mothers' den, while Natsu took up the center of the clearing. He was in his more humanoid half-form, wrestling with the muscled man that had shot her. Unconscious humans littered the ground around them in a ragged circle. Natsu's eyes were furious and slightly unfocused. It was clear that he wasn't in control of his instincts anymore. The human would be lucky to stay in one piece.
The man on the ledge turned and Lucy saw his face. For the third time during the battle, dread spread through her. She would know the man's face anywhere. Once upon a time, he had been her fiancé at her father's request.
Swarre Junelle, heir to the Junelle Railroad Company.
Her father had found her, and he was making a statement. The battle and the pain it caused were all her fault. If she left with the humans, the pack would most likely be left alone. Not for long, but long enough to gather their strength. Then they would be wiped out.
Swarre shot at Erza, who leaped out of the way, and ran off the ledge in a mad rush for the camp entrance. More than a few humans followed him. Natsu headbutted the gunman and Lucy could hear his neck snap. The remaining humans noticed the absence of a leader and fled, throwing their weapons at the few shifters who chased them.
Makarov tipped his head back and howled, announcing the pack's victory. Those who could, joined. Unmoving bodies of wolves lay in puddles of blood, too still, while Wendy raced between them to find the survivors. A high-pitched wail came from the mothers' den, joined by another one that Lucy couldn't recognize. Gray vanished into the den. Natsu swayed and crumpled to the ground, his half-form fading. Lucy sprinted to him, terror eating away at her.
"Natsu?" She nudged his side. "Natsu, get up."
He didn't stir and panic began to take over, forcing another shift. The world swam in her eyes as her energy reached a new low.
"No, Natsu. Wake up," she whispered. HIs breaths were shallow. Not caring that she was naked, she ran her fingers through his fur, searching for injuries. They came away slick with blood. She felt a gunshot wound in his hip, the skin tight and swelling. Her heart froze as her fingers touched a bullet wound in his chest. There were some things shifts couldn't cure, and a silver bullet to the heart was one of them.
"No. No, no no no no no no. No, Natsu, please wake up. Please!"
Someone draped a cloth over her shoulders. Pain from the silver shots curled in her body, and even though she knew it wasn't hers, she hung onto it like a lifeline. If he was still in pain, he was alive. He convulsed once, his limbs jerking, and sharply relaxed.
He was too still.