Gray and Erza were hot on the trail of Lucy and Natsu. At least they figured they were. They had followed the trail as far as the road. But tracking them would not be easy now since the road was paved. There was no way of telling which way they went.
"Maybe we should wait for the others now," Gray suggested.
"Maybe," Erza said slowly, "Or, I could go one way and you could go the other."
"I don't like that idea," Gray stooped down, tracing Natsu's sandal mark that did not point either way on the road, "I don't like the idea of being separated any more than we are. We have a minimum of 3 groups out here already. When these demons attack, we'll stand a better chance if we're together."
"Truth," Erza admitted, "I wish we knew how far behind the others are."
The 'others' were not far behind. Laxus and Gajeel were using their dragon senses and closing in fast. Juvia and Levy trailed behind, not talking since it apparently high offended the dragon slayers' concentration. They had learned that the hard way.
"They're just up ahead," Gajeel noted. He turned, pulling Levy onto his back.
"What are you doing?" she demanded.
"Going faster!" he yelled, breaking into a full run. Laxus grinned at Juvia and they both took off after Gajeel.
They were louder than vulcans surrounding women in the forest, and by the time they neared the road, Erza and Gray were in full defensive mode.
"WHAT THE HELL?" Gray demanded, relaxing his stance once he realized who it was.
Juvia flew into Gray's arms, "My darling - are you unhurt? I've missed you so much!"
"I'm fine," Gray muttered, stroking the top of her head and giving her a quick kiss.
"We lost the track here," Erza told Laxus and Gajeel.
Levy leapt off Gajeel's back.
Gajeel sniffed, "They were here. Recently."
"Which way?" Levy asked.
"Both ways," Laxus answered, sniffing the air.
"They went that way first," Gajeel pointed to the right, "The scent is less strong that way."
"But coming back this way," Gajeel pointed left, "There is another smell. Only going left. They're following Natsu and Lucy."
"Who is?" Juvia asked, edging closer to Gray.
"Demons," Laxus stated, "And a lot of demons too."
"We were just debating splitting up to check it out," Erza informed.
"We might still do that," Laxus acknowledged, "If we split, maybe someone saw something that way or at least we'll find a clue as to why they turned and came this way."
"I'll go to the right," Erza said authoritatively, "Levy and Gajeel, come with me. Laxus, you take Gray and Juvia left. You're more likely to find Natsu and Lucy first, so keep in touch with the lacrima."
Laxus nodded, much to the relief of everyone. Erza and Laxus often butted heads since they both thought they were in charge, "Let's go. We check in every 2 hours. If you don't check in, we assume you've been attacked."
Without another word, the groups separated.
Lucy and Natsu were walking again, holding hands.
"I'm getting so tired of walking," Lucy complained, "My body is so sore."
Natsu's eyes flashing, grinning proudly, "Mine too. Wonder why?"
She smacked him playfully, "We must be close."
"I'd say so," Natsu stopped and sniffed the air, "Too close. Oh shit."
He grabbed her, backing into the forest silently. She took the hint and remained quiet.
"What's wrong?" she whispered after a few minutes.
He paused, listening, watching. She didn't ask again.
Suddenly, he flew out of the bushes, hands ablaze.
Demons! She realized too late. One grabbed a hold of her, pulling back into the bushes.
She twisted her body wildly, managing to turn around and Lucy-kick the demon in the groin (Do demons have groins?). Pulling out her whip, she snapped it around the demon's arm and smashed it into a tree. Natsu had effectively knocked out the two in front of him as well.
"Only 3?" she breathed heavily, glancing around for more.
"Nuh uh," Natsu answered in alarm, pointing to the sky where a winged demon screeched into the air, well out of range for Natsu's fire, "They're scouters."
"He's alarming the others!" Lucy realized, her face paling in her fear.
"Luce, whatever happens, you run...do you hear me? Protect that egg no matter what!"
"I won't!" she protested, "I won't leave you! There's nowhere I can run anyway. Even if I make it to the next city, the demons will just tear it apart to find me. Innocent people will die."
He nodded, "Okay then. Let's gain some ground while we can."
He grabbed her wrist, pulling her into the forest to find a hill. Finding one, he yanked her upward, "We need the higher ground," he explained.
Shadows started twisting around them.
Lucy stood her ground, waiting for Natsu's signal. Dozens of demons started creeping toward them, scowling. Saliva dripped from their mouths. She wished for her keys, but wishing would do no good for her now. Whip it was!
Gajeel, Levy and Erza entered the village, stone-faced at the status of it. Wood buildings still burned. The blood of the locals stained the streets. Levy's stomach lurched and she bent over to hurl.
"They're all dead," Gajeel whispered, "I can't hear any heartbeats."
"My God," Erza's hands shook as she inspected the absolute damage, "Why? Why was this necessary?"
"Because they were here," Gajeel said quietly, sniffing the air. He pointed, "They were over this way."
The three of them waded through the destruction to where the smell was strongest.
"He's alive!" Gajeel rushed over to the gentleman wedged between several pieces of concrete.
"Sir," Levy said softly, taking her place beside Gajeel, "We're Fairy Tail mages...can you tell us what happened?"
Henre was gasping for air. They checked his body to see how bad his injuries were, but helping him was futile and Henre knew it. He was paralyzed and he could feel the fluid in his lungs. As if on cue, he coughed up blood.
"Demons," he whispered, his voice gurgling with the blood in his throat, "They want the young couple. They turned the village upside down looking for them."
"How long ago did they leave?" Gajeel asked.
"Two hours ago. At least. I've been lying here ever since, so I may have lost track of time. My wife...my daughter...they're both dead."
Levy held the man's hand, "We're so sorry, mister."
Erza was pissed, requipping into her Morning Star armour.
"You...you look like an angel!" the man gasped for air, as Erza finished her transformation, "Please, madam...bless me and my family so that we might be together in the afterlife."
Erza stooped beside the man's head on the other side of Gajeel and Levy, pressing her hand to his forehead. A tear rolled down her cheek as she caressed it, "May the Almighty receive you and this entire village into His kingdom. You are truly brave, sir. Be at peace."
With that, the man closed his eyes and gave the death sigh.
"AAAAAAGGGGGGGHHHHHH!" Erza screamed her utter despair and frustration, "None of these people deserved this! This is so wrong!"
"It's also imminent that the demons are on Natsu and Lucy's trail," Gajeel stood up, trying to keep Erza focused, "We need to get there ASAP."
"Right," Levy stood up, wiping tears from her face, "Sleep well, old man," she whispered. Gajeel took her hand and squeezed it.
"Let's go!" Erza started to run.
Gajeel swung Levy onto his back and followed Erza, full speed ahead.