Summary/Disclaimer: Time for another chapter of Swordsmen and Thief. Enjoy the 900-word chapter. I do not own any rights to Fairy Tale, Hiro Mashima, Kodansha and a few others that I may write about.
Clell had been around a campfire so many times it no longer really got much reaction from him.
"I could swear those were soldiers." Lucy put in while Clell hummed.
"Even if they were?" Clell asked while warming his hands around the fire. "They probably think we were with the bandits. I wouldn't expect a very warm welcome when we reach there." Clell said while looking at the others.
"Why would bandits just come out of the blue to attack us?" Lucy asked before Clell hummed.
"Their bandits, do you really think they have anything better to do?" Clell questioned Lucy. "The ones me and Erza fought weren't exactly willing to tell us why they were attacking us." Clell stated while Erza hummed.
"Yes, and their tactics showed they planned for us to come through this way." Erza added to the others. "Almost like they knew we were coming." Erza said while the others spoke among themselves.
"Yeah, the traps they set up usually have a lot of prep time involved." Clell said and shook his head. "These attacks aren't random. Someone is hunting us, unless bandits really hate us." Clell muttered as Erza hummed and nodded.
"I think it's a bit early to jump to conclusions like that." Lucy said before Clell shrugged.
"It's a guess more than anything… But I see your point." Clell said and sat down on the log. "At any rate? We should worry about getting the convoy to safety. The longer they're out in the open? The more attacks their going to draw to them. Bandits don't give up. I saw them retreat; I knew for a fact that their regrouping. I've dealt with them before." Clell stated with a hum.
Clell cracked his neck and rubbed at his temples. He didn't want them to get hurt. Clell had dealt with bandits before. He knew for a fact that they'd fight them over and over.
"Clell, can you tell me more about that trap the bandits set up?" Erza questioned while Clell blinked and nodded.
"Sure, their traps meant to box people in." Clell said before drawing his hands apart. "The gunpowder is ignited when the triplane is pulled which ignites and explodes. The gunpowder splinters the tree enough for it to fall. The trees block in the carriage and the pull of the wire is enough to alert the bandits." Clell said while rubbing at his temples.
"Like a spider web." Erza said as Clell hummed.
"That's a way of stating it." Clell said and cracked his wrists with an audible pop. "Bandits are very creative when it comes to ambushes. Trust me, I've dealt with a lot of bandits in the past. All of them are bloodthirsty and only want to kill anyone who wont surrender." Clell stated before letting out a yawn.
"I think it would be best to sleep in shifts." Erza added which got nods from Grey and Natsu. Clell grunted and let out a smaller yawn.
"I'll gladly take next shift then." Clell said and rolled his wrists around. "That fight took a lot out of us. The most exhausted should sleep till later, while the most well rested…" Clell started to say before walking off to go and lay down.
"I'll take first shift with Natsu." Lucy stated as Grey and Lucy nodded to go and sleep. Erza knew a few others would join her.
The thing that bothered Erza the most was how the bandits seemed to instantly know where they were. If they were tracking the group? Then someone had to either be employing them, as Fairy Tale was well known enough for even lowly bandits to know of them.
Or something was wrong. None of the other guilds or such were told of such a mission due to its importance.
Erza didn't suspect anyone in their guild had betrayed them. She would speak to Clell before her shift for guarding the camp ended.
Erza also wondered why they encountered soldiers from the kingdom so far out here. Then again? From what Erza remembered, the kingdom was out in the middle of nowhere. It didn't surprise her that something might be wrong considering how far out there were.
"Erza, you good?" Natsu asked as Erza hummed and turned her gaze away from Clell.
"Yes, I'll be fine." Erza stated while shaking her head to get any thoughts out. "Let's start guarding." Erza said only to hear an annoyingly familiar voice.
"You like him!" Erza turned and punted Happy into the sky before blushing and storming off.
Little did she know the small blue cat like creature wasn't wrong. Erza did care for the thief enough to wish to believe he wasn't behind this attack.
And Clell would be lying if he said he didn't enjoy Erza's company at all.
Author Notes
Phew. Another chapter done! I want to point out that Erza and Clell are slowly bonding more but they're not just going to get together like THAT. Next chapter will be on Thursday, is 900 words, and will show Clell and Erza having a slight talk before Erza goes to bed. It will also show the bad guy's plans. Until then, Lighting Wolf out!