Ch. 3- The Situation
Fairy Tail © Hiro Mashima
Story and OCs are mine
Sayuri Village was undoubtedly a beautiful town, its architecture not unlike that of Balsam Village. People were all dressed in yukata and kimonos, and some men even wore their hair up in topknots. Dogs with square heads and curled tails wandered the streets, lined with various statues of different creatures. One that particularly stood out looked like a fox with multiple tails while holding a crystal orb under its paw.
Unlike Balsam Village, settlers from the Oriental lands came here many years ago to start a new life in Fiore. It started as a small village with only about 10 people, but over the years, it grew into a bustling town with a population of over 200 and growing. The people raised all sorts of livestock from cows to chickens and even pigs while their crops consisted of rice, peach trees, and other various fruits and vegetables, which were often traded at the market.
At the house of the village headmaster, Moriyama Shizuo, Team Natsu sat inside on some nice, comfortable cushions on their knees, enjoying the meal provided to them by Shizuo and his granddaughter, Nagisa.
"Mm!" Lucy exclaimed while holding a bowl of simmered beans in one hand and a pair of chopsticks in the other. "These beans are delicious!"
"This stuff ain't bad," Gray agreed as he ate some soba noodles.
"OH, MAN, THIS STUFF IS GOOD!" Natsu exclaimed while he devoured some grilled beef, steamed pork dumplings, some fried eggs, and anything else he could grab while also sending crumbs and sauce flying all over.
"Try not to eat it all, Natsu!" Wendy advised while holding her bowl of rice in one hand.
"Hey! That's my salt-grilled fish, Natsu!" Happy shouted as he noticed Natsu grab his fish off his plate.
"You're actually eating cooked fish, for once, Happy?" Haru asked in surprise.
"That's a surprise!" Lisanna added.
"Hey, I can open my palette when I want to!" Happy countered.
"If only you'd brush up on your table manners," Carla added.
"I have to agree with Carla," said Erza while holding a bowl of rice in her hand. "Can't you show a little decorum, Natsu? We are in someone's house, after all."
As for Blue Fang, he was happily chomping on a mix of rice, beef, eggs, and some diced vegetables (all healthy for wolves, of course). As Gray prepared to take a bite of his grilled beef, Natsu snatched it with his chopsticks and shoved it in his own maw, to the Ice-Make Wizard's shock.
"HEY!" Gray shouted as he grabbed Natsu by his scarf and viciously shook him. "NATSU, YOU JACKASS, THAT WAS MINE!"
"You snooze, you lose, man!" Natsu boasted with a cackle.
"Will you two settle down?!" asked Lucy. "Seriously, you're starting to embarrass me!"
"They certainly are lively, aren't they, Grandfather?" asked Nagisa with an amused smile, while Shizuo merely chuckled sheepishly. After a while, Erza finally managed to get the boys to stop their little spat after she threatened to hit both of them. Needless to say, both Haru and Happy snickered at the sight of the two of them getting a scolding, although Gray grumbled in indignation, muttering how it wasn't his fault. Of course, that was until Erza soon pointed out that in the brief scuffle, he had shed his jacket and shirt, leaving him topless, once again, and immediately made him put the clothing back on.
"So then, Headman," said Erza as she acknowledged Shizuo, "tell us about this monster that's been plaguing your town."
"It's certainly caused a disturbance, I can say that much," said Shizuo as his wrinkled face turned serious. "When it first attacked, it was at least a few months ago, and it only happened in the forest that surrounds the village. Two young men were killed out there, and then, about 2 weeks after, the monster struck, again, this time getting closer to the village. That time, it was just a child with her pet dog." He sighed. "The girl escaped with her life… but her poor pet wasn't so fortunate."
"Oh…" Haru whispered as she put a hand to her heart, and even Blue Fang whimpered sadly.
"It's getting to be that we can't even go outside at night," said Nagisa. "For all we know, that beast could be lurking about, waiting to pounce on us while our guard is down!"
"We understand," Erza replied. "People's lives are at risk, after all."
"So, basically," Natsu said as he polished off some salt-grilled fish, "you want us to go out there, find this monster, and then roast it to Kingdom Come, right? Easy-peasy!"
"We've dealt with monsters before," Gray added. "Why's this any different?"
"Before we go out to do any monster hunting," said Haru, "do you have any description of it, Headman?"
"Well, the truth is," Shizuo began, "the monster only attacks at night. It's so dark that we can never get a good look at it."
"Although those who have managed to escape it and live describe that it has glowing red eyes," Nagisa pointed out, "and whatever it is, it's quite big, and it's also quite fast!"
"Big and fast?" Lucy repeated. "That actually worries me."
"Me, too," Lisanna agreed. "Whatever this is, it might not be your run-of-the-mill monster."
"If you're worried, Lisanna," Natsu began, "you can just stay in the village. The rest of us can handle it!"
"No way!" Lisanna replied with a determined expression. "I told you, I'm helping! I'm not going to leave, just because it sounds scary!"
Natsu sighed and rolled his eyes. "Suit yourself, I guess…"
"Jeez, Natsu, what's with you?" Happy asked with a look of worry. "You really act like you don't want Lisanna to be here."
"Yeah, Natsu, what is up with that?" Haru asked as she looked at her brother. "For real."
"Look, I'm just saying that Lisanna could stay here and maybe help out around the village, instead!" Natsu suggested, only for the others to give him an incredulous glare. Even Blue Fang didn't look very amused, given his lowered ears and his hunched eyebrow. This only caused Natsu to roll his eyes as he looked away and crossed his arms.
"Fine, whatever…" he grumbled.
"Hey, Haru," Lucy whispered, prompting the Beast Wizard to glance back at her. "Natsu sure has been acting weird, hasn't he?"
"Tell me about it," Haru whispered.
"Come to think of it, hasn't he done this before?" Wendy asked, joining in on the conversation.
"Has he?" Gray asked as he also leaned in.
"You know I can hear you guys, right?!" Natsu questioned.
"Enough," Erza said. "Now that we've gotten the information we need, let's head out and hunt this beast before it does even more serious harm than it already has.
"Yeah," Natsu agreed, "but first, can I finish eating?"
"NO!" the others shouted.
"Okay, okay!" Natsu cried. "Jeez, just asking!"
Soon, after everyone had their meal, it was time to set out in search of the monster that was plaguing the town. Shizuo brought Team Natsu to the forest entrance, where the monster was claimed to have been spotted. The thick canopy of leaves and branches blocked out most of the sunlight, leaving the forest dark and shadowed. Lucy gulped nervously as she peered behind Gray, as did Wendy, who hid behind Erza, who retained her stoic and steadfast expression.
"I guess this is it," Gray said as he stood with the others.
"We're seriously going in there?" Lucy asked.
"We can handle this, Lucy," Haru assured as she sat on Blue Fang's back. "It's just one monster, right?"
"The sooner we finish, the sooner I can get back and eat!" Natsu added.
"Aye!" Happy agreed.
"Can't you two ever stop thinking with your stomachs, for once?" asked Carla.
"You know Natsu," Haru said with a shrug. "All that's on his mind eating, fighting, and sleeping."
"I'm ready!" Lisanna exclaimed. "Let's do this!"
"Good luck to you all," Shizuo said as he stood with Nagisa. "We will pray for your safe return."
"Rest assured, we'll be back once we have disposed of the monster," Erza replied before she turned to the others. "Let's move!"
With that said, the heroes entered the forest to fulfill their mission while Shizuo, Nagisa, and several villagers watched on, some with awe and others with worry.
"Grandfather, do you really think that they'll be all right?" asked Nagisa while Shizuo deeply exhaled through his nose.
"Hopefully, they will be," he answered as he watched the group leave. "After all… if it hasn't defeated that monster, then maybe they can in its stead."
Nagisa's shoulder sagged and her eyes softened sadly before she glanced at the fox statue, which sat elegantly in the light of the sun, still holding the crystal orb underneath its paw.
"…Maybe…" she whispered.
XXX
The forest was quiet and very little sunlight shone through the dense trees. The wind blew softly, causing the branches to creak and the bamboo trees to gently sway. Squirrels chattered as they leapt across the branches and birds chirped as they sat on their perches. A single doe and her fawn grazed on whatever green grass before they were suddenly alerted to the presence of humans, then turned and fled deeper into the woods as Team Natsu entered.
"Wow…!" Haru whispered in awe as she looked around. "This place is beautiful! I wish I had brought my sketchbook with me!"
"Sketchbook?" Natsu repeated while rubbing his stomach. "I wish we'd brought more of that food!"
"Is it always about food with you, man?" Gray asked as he glared at the Fire Dragon Slayer.
"You haven't changed at all, huh, Natsu?" Lisanna asked with an amused smile.
"What are you talkin' about?" Natsu asked. "Sure, I've changed! For one thing, I'm a hell of a lot stronger!" He then pointed his thumb at Gray. "I could kick Gray's ass, no problem!"
"Yeah, right!" Gray barked as he got in the Salamander's face. "What makes you think you can actually win against me, Dragonbreath?! I could kick your ass from here all the way to the far ends of Ishgar!"
"Oh, you wish, Streaker!" Natsu shouted as he bared his fangs at the Ice Wizard.
"That hasn't changed, either!" Lisanna added with a laugh.
"It sure hasn't…" Haru muttered in annoyance.
"Enough!" Erza snapped, causing Natsu and Gray to stand at attention with frightened expressions.
"And of course, neither has that," Haru said with a smirk.
"Aye," Happy agreed.
"Of course, that would be familiar to you, Lisanna," Lucy mused as she walked alongside her. "You and Natsu do go way back, after all."
"Are you kidding?" Lisanna asked. "I know Natsu like the back of my ha- AAAH!" Suddenly, in her distraction, the Animal Soul Wizard slipped and fell off a slope, causing her to shriek as she hit hard dirt. Thankfully, it wasn't a high drop, but it was still rather painful. Even so, Natsu quickly snapped out of his terrified state as he noticed Lisanna fall down and immediately rushed to her side, along with the others.
"Lisanna!" he cried as he ran over to her. "You okay?!"
"Ugh… yeah, I think so," Lisanna answered as she carefully stood up, only to yelp as she dropped down and held her left ankle. "Ow!"
"Oh, no! Did you hurt yourself?" Wendy asked.
"Let me look, Lisanna," Erza said as she carefully slipped Lisanna's shoe off her foot and inspected her ankle. "Hmm… I don't see a bruise and nothing looks broken." As she felt around the affected joint, Lisanna immediately winced.
"Oh, no, does it hurt?" Lucy asked in concern.
"I think I twisted it," Lisanna answered.
"Oh, no!" Happy cried in worry. "Are you gonna be okay, Lisanna?"
"See, Lisanna?!" Natsu questioned as he put his hand on her shoulder. "I told you that you shouldn't have gone with us! Now look what happened!"
"Bro, what are you freaking about?!" Haru asked in annoyance. "She only twisted her ankle! It's not like her whole leg got chopped off or something! Sheesh!"
Natsu frowned as the others tended to Lisanna, who had sat down on a rock while Wendy held her hands over her ankle. As soon as that teal glow appeared, Lisanna heaved a sigh of relief as she felt the swelling go down and the pain begin to ebb away. As the Sky Maiden stepped back, Lisanna slipped her shoe back on and carefully stood up before she smiled and nodded her head.
"Good as new!" she said. "Thanks, Wendy!"
"It's no problem," Wendy replied. "I'm glad to help!"
"Are you sure you're really okay, Lisanna?" Natsu inquired. "Because if you're not, I can take ya back to the village-"
"Natsu, I'm fine," Lisanna reassured. "Seriously, I just hurt my ankle. That's all. Will you stop being such a worrywart? That's so not like you!"
"Yeah, Natsu, seriously," Lucy added, growing a bit concerned, herself. "What's gotten into you?"
Natsu opened his mouth to speak, only to fall short and scratch the back of his head while he looked off into the distance, to the others' confusion. They had never known the Salamander to act this way before. Sure, he was protective, but not to this extent. In fact, he hardly ever worried about anything except for when his next meal would be (and that was pretty much constantly).
"Alright, let's settle down, everyone," Erza spoke.
"She's right," Carla agreed. "We do have a job to finish, after all."
"So far," Erza began, "all we know is that this beast only attacks at night, so we need to track it down and take care of it before it decides to strike again."
"But this forest is about as dense as Gajeel's iron," Gray noted as he looked around. "Where do we even start?"
"Not to mention we don't even know what it looks like," Lucy pointed out.
"Yeah," Haru agreed. "All we know about from the headman is that it's big and fast. No descriptive details like horns or huge fangs or scales or anything else like that."
"Well, I say we just kick the butt of anything that looks weird enough to be a monster!" Natsu added while punching a fist in his palm.
"That's your answer to everything, isn't it?" asked Carla with a comical deadpan expression.
"Anyone else have any other ideas?" asked Haru as she put a hand on her hip. "Believe me, I'd love to hear them."
"Well, since the monster comes out at night," Lucy began, "maybe we should find a place to make camp and keep a lookout for it."
"Perhaps that's the best course of action," Erza concurred. "Night will be here before we know it, so we'd better find a place to make camp, right away."
"Sounds good, Erza," Lisanna agreed.
With that, the group headed off deeper into the forest to make camp. However, as they walked along, Natsu was walking rather close behind Lisanna, who glanced over his shoulder.
"Is something the matter?" Lisanna asked.
"Well, since you're so clumsy," Natsu began, "I figured someone has to look after you."
Lisanna only sighed and shook her head. "I really don't know what's going on with you, Natsu."
As the team continued on their way, they didn't seem to notice that something was following them from the shadows.
This one took me a while, but at least I finally managed to get it finished.
Review, please!