Ch. 4- A Quick Talk
Fairy Tail © Hiro Mashima
Story and OCs are mine
After a decent amount of time had passed, Team Natsu had found a nice clearing in the forest to set up camp in order to keep a vigil for the monster that had been attacking the village. Once again, everyone had their own jobs: Gray and Erza had finished up the tents while Wendy and Carla went to gather water. Lucy, Haru, Lisanna, and Blue Fang went off to find any edible vegetables while Natsu and Happy got firewood.
"Hey, Natsu, look at this!" Happy called as he held a bundle of sticks in his arms and even had some wrapped up in his tail. "I found a bunch of firewood!"
"Not bad, li'l buddy!" Natsu grinned while holding a pile of logs in his hands. "But check out this haul!"
Not too far away, Haru was busy inspecting some mushrooms that were growing around the base of a tree while Blue Fang and Lisanna stood behind her.
"What do you think, Haru?" Lisanna asked, just as Haru plucked one mushroom from the ground and sniffed it.
"Hmm… yeah, it's fine," she said. "These mushrooms are safe to eat. Not just that, but they're medicinal. They're good for stomach cramps."
"Leave it to Haru to find the difference between an edible mushroom and one that could cause more fungi to grow on our heads," Lucy pointed out as she walked up while holding some wild tubers.
"Wait, what?" Lisanna asked in confusion.
"I'll tell you another day," Lucy replied.
As the girls continued gathering food, Haru glanced over her shoulder at her brother, who was still caught up in his and Happy's firewood collecting competition.
"Psst…!" Haru whispered to Lucy and Lisanna, getting their attention. "While those two are distracted, can I talk to you two, really quick?"
"Sure, what's up?" Lucy asked.
"I'm kinda worried about Natsu," Haru admitted as she furrowed her brow with concern. "He's been acting so weird, today."
"Yeah, I know," Lisanna agreed. "I don't know what's going on with him. He's been acting somewhat like the Natsu I know, but the next thing I know, he acts all overprotective."
"Do you think that maybe we should ask him what's wrong?" Lucy inquired.
"So far, asking him isn't working," Haru replied. "He just seems to clam up and he trips all over his tongue."
"Yeah, that just doesn't sound like him," said Lucy, sounding just as concerned as the others. "Do you think that maybe we should talk to him?"
"I dunno," Lisanna answered. "Natsu never has been one for talking."
"I wouldn't be so sure about that, Lisanna," Haru countered. "Lately, Natsu's been a bit more… vocal. He can talk about things a little more easily now than how he used to."
"Really?" Lisanna inquired in surprise while holding some wild herbs.
"Maybe I'll talk to him," said Haru. "That way, it doesn't feel like he's being ganged upon, you know what I mean?"
"Well, Haru, he's your brother," said Lucy with a confident smile. "I say go for it."
"Thanks, Lucy," Haru said before she walked away with Blue Fang following after her.
"Do you think that she'll be able to get something out of him?" asked Lucy as she turned to the youngest Strauss Sibling, who smiled at her.
"Well, I've known Haru and Natsu since we were kids," Lisanna replied. "She has ways of making him open up that even I don't know about. She is his little sister, even if he adopted her."
"That's true," Lucy concurred.
At the same time, Haru had approached Natsu, who was carrying a large stack of firewood in his hands while giving a boastful grin at Happy.
"Check it out, Happy!" the Fire Dragon Slayer declared. "Looks like I win this one!"
"No way!" Happy argued while holding his own bundle of twigs.
"Ahem!" Haru cleared her throat, getting their attention. "Hey, Natsu, can I talk to you for a minute?"
"Huh?" Natsu muttered. "How come?"
"Just come with me," Haru answered.
Blinking in perplexity but deciding it would be best not to argue, Natsu nodded his head before he unceremoniously dropped all of his firewood (on top of Happy, no less) and followed his sister to a more secluded area.
"What's goin' on, sis?" Natsu asked as he and Haru sat down on a rock together.
"I'm just gonna say it, upfront," Haru answered. "Natsu… I'm kinda worried about you, bro."
"About me?" Natsu repeated while blinking owlishly. "Why?"
"Well, you've been acting kinda weird ever since we left home and came here for this job," Haru stated. "In fact… you've been acting like you don't want Lisanna around."
"N-no, I do!" Natsu stammered. "I mean… I don't- no, I mean, I do! I just… I just…!" He groaned as he grabbed at his head and pulled at his hair. "I… I don't know."
Haru felt her heart sink just a bit at seeing her brother so frustrated. It was easy for him to do because Natsu was someone who often had trouble saying his true feelings. He was always someone who let his actions do the talking for him, so it was no surprise to her that he was struggling with something like this. With a soft smile, the Beast Wizard reached over and placed her hand on the Salamander's shoulder, causing him to drop his hands on his lap and smile at her.
"Thanks, sis," Natsu said.
"It's okay," Haru shrugged. "So… what's up?"
"…I… I just don't know," Natsu answered with a look of rare uncertainty that Haru had hardly ever seen on her brother's face. "I mean, don't get me wrong! I'm glad that Lisanna's back… but… I'm a little worried, I guess."
"Worried?" Haru repeated. "About what?"
"…I… I guess I'm afraid that something might happen to her, again," Natsu admitted.
"Well… I can understand that," Haru sympathized as she turned her gaze skyward. "I mean, we thought she was dead for 2 years."
"Yeah," Natsu nodded.
"You gotta admit, though," Haru said. "You might have gone a little overboard with the whole 'sprained ankle' thing, don't you think?"
Natsu could only chuckle as he scratched the back of his head, sheepishly.
"Yeah, that was a little dumb of me, huh?" he asked.
"Can I ask you something else?" Haru asked, causing Natsu to nod in response. "Natsu… this is gonna sound a little… out of the blue… but could it be that maybe another reason why you've been acting so crazy is because maybe- just maybe- you might have some… lingering feelings for Lisanna?"
Natsu's eyes widened as he glanced at his sister, who stared at him expectantly, causing him to bite his lip as he rubbed at his arm.
"Well… I… I dunno," he answered. "Maybe…?"
"Well, Natsu, you and Lisanna were pretty close," Haru recalled. "Remember two years ago, when we thought she died? You were getting ready to tell her you liked her when she got home."
"I remember," Natsu admitted. "It's… it's weird. I thought that maybe I forgot about them… especially when Lucy came around. I mean, when I'm with Lucy… it feels like how I was when I was with Lisanna, but different." He smiled a bit as his cheeks turned a light shade of pink. "It was… exciting… and I felt warm."
"Are you saying that you like Lucy?" asked Haru with wide eyes.
"I… I dunno," Natsu answered as he scratched at his cheek. "That's why… that's why I'm struggling so much with this."
"I see…" Haru said.
"Haru… what do you think I should do?" Natsu asked.
"Well… maybe you ought to talk to Lisanna about this, then talk to Lucy," Haru suggested. "Not now, of course."
"Thank Mavis…!" Natsu whispered in relief as he looked heavenward.
"Come on," Haru said as she stood up. "We better get back to camp."
"Hello…?!"
Natsu and Haru both tensed before they turned to the pile of sticks and logs that Happy was buried under while Blue Fang just sat nearby.
"A little help if you don't mind?!" Happy questioned.
"Ah, crap! Sorry, Happy!" Natsu cried as he ran to help his Exceed friend while Haru just laughed, but went to go assist, regardless.
It was just a little while later that everyone gathered around for dinner: wild vegetable soup with mushrooms (that were thankfully safe to eat). Natsu didn't really complain about the lack of meat as long as he had something to satiate him. Plus, as a precautionary measure, Lucy had packed him a small box of matches, one of which she lit and handed to Natsu.
"Thanks, Luce!" the Salamander said as he dropped the match in his mouth.
"No problem," Lucy replied as she began to eat her own soup.
"So, how are we gonna go about catching this monster, Erza?" Haru asked as she gave Blue Fang a bowl of broth.
"We'll take up a watch," Erza answered. "That way, whatever is plaguing Sayuri Village won't catch us off guard."
"Erza and I already agreed to take the first watch while the rest of us sleep," Gray added. "Wendy, Carla, and Haru can take up the next watch, and then Natsu, Happy, Lucy, and Lisanna can go after them."
"And if any of us fall asleep, Blue Fang will be sure to alert us," Erza added with the silver wolf barked in agreement.
"That's my good boy," Haru praised as she cuddled with her big furry friend, who whined happily as he wagged his tail.
"I just hope it's not a problem for Natsu," Lisanna said as she gave the Fire Dragon Slayer a side glance. "I'd hate to sprain an ankle or something."
"Eh, it's fine," Natsu shrugged, catching the Animal Soul Wizard completely off-guard. "It's not like she's breaking a hip or something, right?"
Everyone- except for Haru- just blinked at Natsu in surprise at his sudden change in mood.
"…Well, that was weird," Gray said.
"First you act like you don't want Lisanna on the job with us," Lucy began, "and now, you're acting cool with it?"
"Well… I kinda overreacted, a little," Natsu admitted as he looked at Lisanna. "Sorry about that, Lisanna. I should learn to trust you a bit more, y'know?"
Lisanna blinked in surprise at this, but then she smiled and nodded. "Apology accepted."
"So does that mean you're gonna stop acting weird?" Gray asked with a smirk. "And I mean more than usual, Dragonbreath?"
"Watch it, Frosty," Natsu sniped back.
"Well, I'm glad things are okay," Happy said. "I was worried for a while!"
"Well, at least things are back to normal," Lucy said. "Natsu was actually starting to scare me for a bit, there." She looked at Haru, who quietly sipped her broth. "Hey, Haru, what did you say to him, anyway?"
"Oh, you know," Haru answered with a wink. "Just had the usual brother and sister talk with him."
Even Blue Fang snickered at that, but then his ears twitched as he picked up the sound of twigs snapping. The silver wolf soon became alert, his golden eyes wide open and his ears straightened as he turned to the direction of the sound, alerting the rest of the team that something was nearby. Almost instantly, Erza, Natsu, Haru, Gray, and Lucy stood up, readying their weapons and magic. Wendy and Lisanna also stood up while Happy and Carla activated their wings, ready to help their respective partners at a moment's notice. Blue Fang growled, his hackles rising while Haru gently placed a hand on his neck to calm him down, not wanting him to leap out without thinking, first.
As the team steeled themselves, that's when a large shadow appeared from behind the trees. It was definitely bigger than Blue Fang and it had these icy blue eyes that gave off this almost haunting glow. Behind it, the group could make out 9 long tails, lashing about like sinister whips.
"You think that's it?" asked Lucy.
"Must be," Erza said. "Get ready, everyone! Here it comes!"
"Heh!" Natsu grinned as the flames in his fists began to grow even hotter. "I'm fired up, now!"
The creature growled, showing rows of glinting fangs… before it charged out of the shadows faster than anyone could blink. That's when Natsu gasped as he realized that this creature was charging right at him!
"NATSU, WATCH OUT!" Lucy cried, just as the monster pounced on him, followed by a scream of pain from the Salamander.
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