Lucy stared in the direction the bear and man had ran in, unsure of what to do. Her body screamed from the violence it just endured and thinking of it now, caused a soft whimper to leave her lips. The blonde figured every moment she made would hurt like hell, so she figured might as well get up now. Bit by little bit, Lucy moved her hands beside her shoulders and pushed, sitting herself up to lean against the tree. She fought back the cry that was lumped in her throat, not wanting to call attention to anything anymore.

Off in the trees, a bloodcurdling, scream like growl echoed back to her ears and, she remembered the bear and the man who saved her.

'Maybe he wasn't saving you, just keeping the bear away. Wouldn't want a bear hurting the girl he kidnapped, now would he?' her rational mind argued. 'Maybe you should get your pathetic ass up and leave while you have the chance!'

Yet, it seemed the more she struggled to get up, the harder it got for her limbs to gather themselves. Eventually, she gave up and just leaned against the sturdy tree to study her wounds, curious to what hurt so much. Timidly, she lifted the hem of her pink blouse and gasped when she saw the large purple and black splotch running the entire length of her side. What shocked her was there wasn't a single claw mark on her, making guess she was just backhanded by the animal. Next, she examined her leg thoroughly to make sure nothing was on them, yet there was a scrap place on her knee. Probably from a couple of sticks or rocks.

"We'll need to get that cleaned up." a deep voice stated, as the man returned.

Lucy looked up from her knee to see he had snuck up on her and was standing two feet from her. Instantly the girl drug her legs close to her chest, hugging them with her arms as if trying to hide into the background. Fear clawed deep in her heart as millions of possible thoughts ran through her mind.

Seeing her reaction, the man took a step back and raised his hands in front of him in a form of surrender. " It's okay. I won't hurt you."

The scared girl took this opportunity to take in the stranger, deciding if she should trust him or not. His body language shouted defense, his muscles shifting back and forth as if awaiting a sudden movement. The hair on his head stood straight up in soft bubblegum pink spikes, while his features were slacked, trying not to put her on edge. He wore no shirt, showing off his light bronze skin and well sculpted chest, and he wore a pair of jeans that had probably seen better days being as they were dirty to the seams and holes decorated his knees.

" Where are we?" she spoke in a small voice, shaking from uncertainty.

" I haven't got a clue." he responded.

" Who are you?"

" Natsu. Natsu Dragneel."

" Could you help me?" She mumbled, almost positive she could trust him and put a trembling hand out.

Natsu lowered his hands and stepped forward, crouching down to help her out of the dirt. His hands braced themselves accordingly on her waist. Lucy winced at the contact on her bruise but refused to complain. There was nothing he could do.

"Sooo, Princess. How did you end up here?" Natsu asked when she was standing.

He didn't get it. Why would his captures, whoever they are, get someone as frail and delicate as the blonde beside him? She was obvious she was useless and couldn't hold her on, so what were they thinking.

'Perhaps they want someone to die?'

" What do you mean?" Now she stared at the pink-haired man beside her, wondering why he asked that.

" What I mean is what were you doing when you got jumped. Right before you woke up here." Natsu explained.

" Oh, um. I was walking home." She muttered before looking down at her feet.

Something in her eyes caught his attention. For the brief moment he saw them, regret and shame filled the brown orbs.

" So, you know I was kidnapped."

" It happens to the best of us too." Natsu grumbled, feeling pretty pathetic for allowing it to happen to him.

" You too?!" Lucy was surprised. This Natsu had just taken down a bear, but managed to be captured. She watched a grimace land on his face to find the discovery true. "Why?"

" A game it seems." Natsu responded, pulling a piece of paper from his pocket.

It was worn, like it had been folded once too many times. Yet the blonde carefully pulled it apart to see why it was handed to her. Her eyes skimmed the few short sentences and they enlarged to the size of saucers.

" Welcome to the Game, Princess" Natsu uttered darkly.