On another day at the Dragon Fang Village.
The villagers went around their home while doing their daily tasks for the day. By a hut, Natsu came out of the home while wearing a red waist coat and shorts with hand sewn dragon symbols that represented the Dragon Fang Village. The young boy coming out and looking around then made a noise when he spotted Mako talking to some villagers just a few feet away from the hut.
"Gramps!" Natsu went to Mako who saw him coming before he nodded to the villagers who went off.
"Doing well today, Natsu?" the elder asks the young boy who nodded. "and are you planning to go out?"
"yeah." Natsu said before he looks to the side and made a very annoyed looking face. "got to go and apologize to that girl for slapping me…"
"don't make such a face if you're planning to do such a thing." Mako scolded Natsu while knocking his staff on the young boy's head. "be more sincere, kinder, and more thoughtful. If you don't, Éclair-kun will just think that you're someone annoying and should be avoided."
"fine…" Natsu grumbles while rubbing a hand to his knocked head.
"now then, off you go." Mako said while waving his staff to the village's gate. "get to the forest and try to not jump at her again."
"I got it." Natsu said as he started to make his way straight for the gate. "all of this because I jumped and scared that one girl.."
Mako watches Natsu leave, the old man smiling while chuckling before he begins walking away.
"Now then. to wait and see the results…" Mako said as he walks into the village's center area where most villagers are gathered.
At the forest a few miles from the Dragon Fang Village, Natsu came walking through some bushes and trees as he looked around the area.
"because of that girl, I'm now here going around searching for her…" Natsu grumbles as he looks around before he crouches and started sniffing the ground for a person's scent. "why do I have to apologize after she slapped me? sure I jumped at her, but why did I get slapped so much?"
Natsu sniffs the ground as he is tracking the scent that belongs to Éclair. The young boy having the keen smell of a Dragon and having the memory of the girl's smell from their previous encounter.
"so much smell of other animals and plants…I can barely sniff out her…" Natsu keeps on moving while sniffing the ground like a dog. The young boy keeps on following any scent his nose can pick up and this actually worked in his favor when he caught scent of something. "herbs…" he looks up and then looks around. "Gramps said that she always goes here to collect herbs, right?"
Natsu looks around the area for a moment before he sniffs the ground a few more times and then looks at one direction.
"There!" Natsu went to that one direction as he picked up the smell of herbs which is growing stronger when he keeps on going on the approach.
Natsu went through some bushes before he popped his head out on the other side but quickly hides when he sees that he found Éclair in the middle of picking up herbs and such yet had stopped when she heard some commotion in the bush where he was.
Éclair was looking around as she had her attention at high after hearing Natsu's commotion by the bushes. The young girl being worried that whoever made the noise could be a wild and dangerous animal.
After a minute of watching her surroundings and making sure that she was safe, Éclair refocus her attention on finding and collecting medicinal herbs.
Natsu continues to hide in his bush but while watching Éclair collecting her herbs into a straw basket.
"there she is…" Natsu whispers as he keeps an eye on her. "picking herbs like gramps said.." he watches her collect herbs after some inspection of which one to take. "now that I found her.." he then made a confused expression on his face. "now that I found her? what should I do next?"
Natsu never thought about how he should apologize to Éclair, he only knows that he has to do it because of Mako and that's it. he scratches his head as he couldn't think of what he should be doing now.
As Natsu continues on thinking, Éclair was still picking and collecting herbs when she heard more racket by some bushes.
"just who is there?" Éclair asks as she wondered what is making those noises and bothering her. she looks around as she spotted one bush just shaking and rattling. "hey! Who is there!? Whoever you are, come out!"
As Éclair was trying to see on who or what is making the noise, the young girl quickly gasps when she sees that a large hog came out of the bushes. The pig like animal snorting before it sees the young girl and then let out a squeal at her.
"aaahh!" Éclair screams as she grabs her straw basket and quickly started to run.
When Éclair ran, the boar took it as a sign for it to chase after her.
"Oh crap!" Natsu exclaimed as he got out of hiding and watches the boar chasing after Éclair. "that boar is damn pissed!" he then started to run after them. "Why the hell did she run and got it to chase after her!?"
Éclair rushes through some bushes and pass some trees, the young girl running as fast as she could to get away from the boar that is chasing after her. The young gasps as she huffs her breathing while running, she tried to get some more distance between her and the animal by zigzagging or running behind trees or large objects that could help protect her.
The boar squeals loudly as it just rushes through and keeps on following her no matter where she go.
"stop chasing me!" Éclair cried out as she runs faster as she could, but because of her fear, she didn't notice an outgrown tree root that she stumbled upon and instantly resulted in her falling to the ground face first. "ow!"
The Boar squeals as it keeps on running after Éclair who got up wincing in pain before she turns and gasps to see the animal just a few more feet closer to her.
"aaahhh!" Éclair screams as the boar came charging in before Natsu appears above the air with a flaming right fist.
"Karyu no!" Natsu came down upon the boar as he delivered a powerful flaming right punch on the hog's head and crashed it to the ground. "Tekken!"
Éclair gasps in surprise when she saw Natsu pounding his fist on the hog's head. The animal knocked out in an instant as its head was charred from the young boy's flames.
Natsu huffs his breathing a bit as he slowly stood up on the hog's back, the young man wiping off some sweat on his forehead because of him running in chasing after the animal before he looks at Éclair.
"You okay?" Natsu asks her.
Éclair looks at him all surprised at first before her expression turned angry and the girl grabs her basket of herbs which she threw at Natsu whose vision is blurred by the many collected vegetation.
The basket was on Natsu's face before it fall and revealed the young boy's face covered with herbs while there were some that were in his mouth too before being spit out.
"What the heck was that for!?" Natsu exclaimed at Éclair who looks at him all angrily. "I just saved you from this pig!" he pointed a finger at the downed boar. "The heck you threw that basket at me for!?"
Éclair didn't reply as she just look at Natsu all angry before she gets up and then runs off.
"hey!" Natsu shouted out as he watched Éclair just run off to the inner parts of the forest and just disappear into the green. The young boy growls in annoyance before he clicked his tongue. "the heck is wrong with that girl!? I saved her and she throws a basket of herbs at my face for no reason!"
Natsu looks very frustrated and angry as he couldn't understand what made Éclair throw the basket at him.
"just what the heck is wrong with that girl?" Natsu said.
Time passes as Natsu returned to the Dragon Fang Village, the young boy brought back the boar he knocked out as a result of an unexpected hunt. Currently, he is at a hut with Mako who is just laughing after hearing how was everything after the salmon haired boy had left to go and apologize to Éclair.
"so! she threw the basket at your face?! Hahahaha! Boy! You sure made a fool of yourself!" Mako laughs as he slaps his knees a few times while Natsu who is sitting while facing the old man just looks all annoyed while biting on a piece of cooked meat from the boar he hunted. "you even still have some herbs in your hair! Ahahahahaha!"
"Shut up, gramps!" Natsu growls angrily at the elder. "it was your fault that I got herbs in my hair and my tongue! It's damn bitter every time I tried to eat something!"
"hahahahaha, a bitter taste for a bitter defeat!" Mako continues to laugh before coughing as he was laughing non stop.
After some more laughing from the old man, Mako stops and then coughs into a fist a few times before taking a drink from a bamboo made canister.
"now then…" Mako sighs as he patted his back and then looks at Natsu who had finished his boar meat and had thrown away the meatless bone. "back to the main point of our conversation."
"I'm never going to forgive that girl!" Natsu growls angrily. "I saved her from the boar! And she thanked me by throwing the basket of herbs at me!? I am never going to forgive her!"
"now, now. Don't be so hasteful." Mako said while holding his staff that he placed to the side. "perhaps you did something to her that would've made her do so?"
"like what?! I just saved her from a boar chasing after her! I saved her with my flaming fist!" Natsu exclaimed while holding up his right fist that ignited in flames.
"and that would be what leads to that little debacle…" Mako said while scratching his chin. "perhaps I had forgotten to mention to you that Éclair-kun has a peculiar dislike towards magic users."
"huh? What do you mean?" Natsu asks while raising an eyebrow.
"a year before you came and settled into our village…" Mako spoke out as he begins to explain a story about how Éclair lost her mother to a disease leading to her only having a father in her life. The young girl also has hatred to magic users because the Fire Village's healers who uses magic said that they would heal her mother with their magic, but when she passed away, she started to hate magic users who nothing but liars to her. "ever since her mother's passing, she started doing her best to overcome them by learning a lot about medicine and herbs. Which is why she has been collecting herbs and learning all she can collect about medicine." He sighs before he took another gulping chug of his water from his bamboo canister. "so do you now understand her personality a bit?"
Natsu looks at Mako for a moment before he looks down and thought about Éclair's life compared with his own life. The young man thinking on how he only has his father when he was growing up and no mother like Éclair who lost hers to a disease.
"she's…kinda like me….in a way.." Natsu said with a slight frown, thinking on how sad Éclair must be without her mother. "well…I have Igneel with me and she still has her dad and all."
"yes." Mako nodded. "and even though they are still together, Éclair-kun has been giving a brave front to her father whenever he asks her of her wellbeing." He sighs while closing her eyes. "she has her mother's fire. That is for sure." He nodded his head twice and then looks at Natsu. "well then..what shall you do now? Will you still be angry at her for throwing that basket of herbs at you? Will you still not forgive her?"
Natsu thought about it for a moment before he looks to the side while mumbling. "no…I'll forgive her." in a very low voice but Mako could tell what he was saying and just nodded with a smile.
"That child will possibly come back to the forest to collect the herbs she had thrown upon you." Mako said as he looks at the straw basket filled with herbs that Éclair had thrown at Natsu. "perhaps you should go back and wait for her in order to return the basket." He looks back at the young boy with a smile. "And also, you should try to greet her in a bit more friendly way in order for her to not be angry and hateful against you."
Natsu nodded before he gets up and then started walking away from Mako.
"I'm going to bed now." Natsu said and Mako nodded.
"Rest well." Mako said as Natsu leaves the elder to stay at his hut. The old man chuckles as he grabs his bamboo canister and drinks up before sighing. "Seems that fate has laid a path for your son, Igneel." He drinks up again and smiles. "a path that may or may not intertwine with that of Éclair-kun's future."
On the next day, Natsu went into the forest once again as he's carrying the straw basket with him.
"Should I try to sniff out her scent again?" Natsu asks himself as he is walking passed some trees. He sniffs the air and then picked up the scent of Éclair. "ah, she's near." He looks around and then went to one direction as he is actually walking on the same path he took the day before.
Natsu ventured into the forest as he soon came to an opening where he soon hides because he finds Éclair who is walking around and seemingly looking for something.
"Where is it?" Éclair asks while going through some bushes. "I know that I threw it at him around here and…" as she was looking around, she heard some bushes shaking and she turns to see Natsu appearing which surprised her. "you…"
Natsu looks at Éclair for a moment before he holds up the straw basket that she once had thrown at him.
"here." Natsu said as he got out of the bushes and walks a few steps forward before setting the basket down on the ground before backing away. "I kept it with me until I came today to find you." He got a few feet away from Éclair whose wary eyes were watching him. "I didn't do anything to the herbs inside it. I just picked them up after you threw them at me and then stashed them in the basket." He then turns and begins walking away but stops when he turns and then did a head bow. "I'm sorry for bothering you and making you angry. I'll be leaving."
Natsu then went to the bushes and disappeared as he left Éclair at her place. The girl looking at where the boy disappeared before she looks at the basket of herbs that he left behind.
Éclair stares at the basket for a moment before she looks a bit annoyed as she went and picked it up then leaves.
"Who does he think he is?" Éclair spoke out in a frustrated voice. "Like I needed his help.."
This is how it began, the days that come and pass between Natsu and Éclair who would come and encounter each other every time they would go to the forest either to collect herbs, or hunt food for their respective villages. Both didn't speak to each other for a minute long and they would only share eye contact when they encountered each other by accident.
No matter how much they would encounter with one another, they would only spare a moment for one another.
On a wonderful spring season, Éclair is collecting herbs as usual to her task and she would encounter Natsu who is passing by while carrying a group of hunted rabbits that he held by the ear.
On a warm summer, Natsu would go running for the forest's inner river side as he came splashing in because he plans to catch some fishes but as he was doing so, he encountered Éclair who is on the edge of the river and had just gotten splashed by him. the young girl then went and threw some river herbs that she had collected at him.
On the Autumn, Natsu along with some hunters from the Dragon Fang Village have gone and collected some firewood for the upcoming winter. The group currently on their way back to the village as they had collected enough wood that would last for the entire winter. The Son of Igneel walking with the hunters before they came walking pass Éclair who just went passed them not batting an eye at one another but the moment the young boy and girl came walking pass, they glanced at one another before they went pass each other and goes their separate ways.
Each season came to pass and Natsu and Éclair would constantly encounter one another at the forest. But their meeting came to a more growing relationship during one coming winter.
During the wintertime, snow had come and covered the land as white dust came falling from the slightly cloudy skies.
One day during winter at the forest, Natsu who is only wearing a coat made of deer skin, is currently scavenging any food he could find. The young boy goes around bushes and trees as he digs out berries, edible vegetation, or hunt any hibernating animals that he could find.
"only finding damn berries nowadays." Natsu said as he carries a small animal skin made pouch that is filled with berries. "Where does every animal go and hibernate?" he growls in irritation as he goes around and keeps on searching for food.
Natsu goes around the entire part of the forest as he tries to follow any scent of animals or berries or anything that he could find on the usual area where he could hunt.
In one opening, Natsu came out of the bushes as he arrives to one area of the vegetation that leads to a large tree that grows in the center of the very forest.
"sure hope that there's at least some animals here." Natsu said as he goes to the large tree which he had come and visit numerous times, the large wooden structure being a place where he could find fruits and animals. "a rabbit or two or even a deer if I'm lucky."
Natsu goes around the tree as he went to one part of the tree which is hollow and is known to be a spot for animals to come and go. But when he came to the spot, he didn't find an animal, but a person and that person is none other than Éclair. The young girl wearing a winter coat and holding a basket filled with fruits and herbs.
"You again?" Natsu said while raising an eyebrow at Éclair who looks rather annoyed to see him. "you're collecting herbs in this cold season as well?"
"it's none of your business." Éclair said as she went and stood up while carrying her basket of herbs. "just get away from me."
"fine." Natsu said as he went passed her. the young boy walking to the hollow spot of the tree but Éclair went and grabbed his arm that made him turn to look at her. "what?"
"that's my line." Éclair said while looking a bit angry. "what do you think you're doing there?"
"There's usually fruits, nuts, berries, or an animal in the hollow part of the tree." Natsu said while pulling his arm back. "I'm going to get them."
"leave!" Éclair shouted. "That place isn't for you to go and scavenge! Leave them be!"
"what's your problem!?" Natsu said as he took a step back and looks a bit angry at Éclair. "I need to get them and get back to the village! They're not just for me!"
"just leave them be!" Éclair shouted. "it's winter and all the animals are hibernating! Leave them alone! Don't you just go and hunt them all you want! You're going to disrupt nature!"
"huh?" Natsu raise an eyebrow in confusion. "what the heck are you even talking about?"
"if you don't understand, then leave!" Éclair exclaimed as she drops her basket and then pushes Natsu till he falls into the snow. "you're nothing but a hunter and a mage! You don't understand a thing about nature! You don't love nature at all!"
"Why you little!" Natsu growls as he grabs some snow and then throws it at Éclair. "eat this!"
Éclair shielded herself from the snow with a hand before she looked angrily at Natsu as she grabs some snow and then threw it at him.
"Why do you have to be here!? leave!" Éclair shouted. "This place is my special place! Leave!"
"Says who! Gramps and the others told me that this tree is no one's! so don't say some bullshit!" Natsu shouted as he started throwing snow at Éclair who retaliated.
"you're the one saying such nonsense!" Éclair shouted while constantly throwing lots and lots of snow at Natsu. "This place is a special place for me and my mother! Don't just go and come here all you want!"
This began a snowball fight for no reason as the two keeps on throwing snow at each other for at least an hour long.
By the time they were done, Natsu and Éclair were puffing out white smoke from their lips. the two seemingly tired after constantly throwing snow at one another.
"Just! leave!" Éclair shouted through gasping breaths. "This place! is my! Special place! Leave!"
"fine! By! me!" Natsu replied gasping while wiping off some snow on the shoulder before he turns and begins walking away. "can't believe I wanted to apologize to you!"
As Natsu leaves, Éclair gasps her breathing before she begins coughing while falling to her knees.
The sound of her coughing caught Natsu's attention as he turns and sees her struggling to breath while her face is looking rather red.
"h-hey! Are you alright!?" Natsu exclaimed as he quickly turns and went to Éclair who is just coughing. "hey!"
"d-don't touch me!" Éclair shouted while slapping away Natsu's hand that was about to hold her shoulder. The young girl looking angry at the young boy but she started to look a bit weary and tired because of a fever going through her body. "d-don't you…don't you dare!"
"hey!" Natsu grabs hold of Éclair as the young girl had passed out from the fever. "why the heck?" he checked her forehead and feels that she is burning up. "was she sick the whole time!?" he then thought about their snowball fight. "was this my fault?"
Natsu looks around as he tried to think of what to do.
"I should go back and get her to the village." Natsu said. "maybe Gramps can help her and.." he carried Éclair on his back as he was about to head back to the village when he sees that the sky turned dark and snow is falling even more heavier. "god damnit! Now of all times?!"
Natsu thought if he hastened his speed, he could go and get back to the village in time, but considering he got a sick passenger with him, he decided to think otherwise.
"if I can't make it back to the village.." Natsu whispers before he looks at the hollow part of the tree that is slightly covered in a pile of snow. "then.." he looks back at Éclair, the girl breathing a bit heavily because of her fever. He nods once before he goes and kicks his right leg into the snow and then uses his magic to heat his leg up to the point it melts the snow.
After melting the snow, Natsu went inside as he carefully entered with Éclair before pulling in some snow to make a barrier for the heavy snow that came as a blizzard upon the forest.
That's a wrap!
Bye bye