Chapter 5
The Almond and Raisin Gate
After a heartfelt farewell between the two girls, Gajeel was finally able to pry Levy away from the grove of trees and resume their trek across the candied meadow. Thankfully, Blondie remembered which direction the flame mage and his rat-cat friend headed, so Gajeel turned on his heel and stomped away from the trees. Levy darted after him, calling goodbyes to her friend over her shoulder, and they traveled in silence across the snow covered landscape.
Gajeel judged they had been walking for over an hour when he stepped onto a paved road peeking out beneath patches of snow. The orange and red stones seemed to shimmer underneath the bright sun and a sharp scent filled the air with every step Gajeel took. The road widened and twisted along the meadow. With a shrug to Levy, he followed the road across the meadow. More and more bushes popped up through the snow and groves of trees huddled in small groups. Gajeel rounded a tree with a trunk large enough that even he couldn't wrap his arms around it and froze. Levy bumped into his back, a small squeak coming out of her mouth.
"Shh," he whispered, pulling her back behind the tree.
"What is it?" she asked, peeking around the tree in the direction he pointed.
A thick, brown wall crossed the meadow. Nearly double his height, the wall spread as far as he could see. Swirls made from a darker colored stone spread across the surface and black rocks lay on the snow near the base of the wall. The colorful road he and Levy traveled on rounded another tree and passed beneath a large gate in the middle of the wall. Three figures dressed in green and red paced in front of the opening.
"Who are they?" Gajeel whispered, glancing down at the tiny mage next to him.
Levy squinted, "I'm not sure. If we can get closer…"
Gajeel scanned the trees around them and pulled Levy along the pathway. He hurried behind another wide tree, glancing around the trunk to make sure the figures hadn't seen them.
"Wait…I think…when's the last time I saw them–"
"Use yer words, Shrimp."
To her credit, she only huffed and glared at him. "I think they're the Thunder God Tribe."
When she didn't give any more details he tapped her shoulder.
"Right, you haven't been a part of Fairy Tail for very long. Um…" She studied the trio, who's laughter drifted over to their hiding spot. "They're a group formed by Laxus, Master Makarov's grandson."
"That old geezer has kids!?" He flinched at the sound of his voice and Levy shushed him.
"Yes. Well…at least he did. But anyway, those three are a part of Laxus' group."
If they're part of the guild, then why's she still hidin'?
"So…" he ventured, "Why aren't ya sayin' hi to yer friends then? If they're part of the guild, I mean."
"Part of the guild…technically. Friends…not really." Her eyes scanned the wall for a moment before she nodded. "We should be able to climb over from there."
"I still think we should just say hi…" Gajeel managed to grunt before Levy darted away.
He quickly followed, keeping an eye on the trio as they paced in front of the only opening in the wall. A breeze tickled his ear, bringing with it the soft sounds of a melody. He shook his head, shaking off another urge to dance.
"Come on!" Came a soft hiss.
Gajeel hurried ahead and ducked behind a pile of dark brown rocks. Levy peered over the rocks, ducking back out of sight when the trio turned. A small frown furrowed her brow as she took her hand off the rocks. She rubbed her fingers together, then stared at the wall a few feet from them.
"So what's the plan now, huh Shorty?"
"Is it just me," she asked, pointing to the wall with a small frown, "but does this wall look like raisin bread?"
Gajeel barely managed to hold back his snort. He glanced over the rocks to the trio then back at the tiny mage.
"Did all that candy finally get to ya?"
She smacked his arm and pointed to the wall, still whispering. "No really, look!"
Ignoring the way her touch made his heart pound, he followed her pointed finger.
"See? These dark stones could be raisins, or even almonds. The swirls in the stone…"
"Bread," he smirked, earning another smack.
"Could be cinnamon. But what's the gate made out of? It looked more sturdy than–"
"It's the crust," he said without thinking, staring up at the wall to see the best way to get over.
"I think you're right!"
He could feel her stare and his ears warmed. "Well, better be gettin' over before those yahoos catch us."
Her small giggle surprised him, as did the lack of fear in her eyes. "That would probably be best."
After quickly whispering his plan, and waiting for Levy to nod, Gajeel waited for the trio to turn before leaping out from behind the rocks…raisins. He positioned himself at the bottom of the wall and clasped his hands together. Levy ran out from their hiding spot and placed her small foot in his cupped hands. Gajeel pushed upwards, easily launching Levy to the top of the wall. She scrambled for a hold and pulled herself over the ledge.
A shout rang out behind him. Gajeel gave himself enough room for a small running jump and scrambled up the side of the wall. His fingers pressed into the soft rocks…raisins, and his booted feet scrambled for a hold. A bolt of green magic cracked against the wall next to him.
A murmur drifted from the top of the wall and a shimmering rope made from letters fell next to his head. Gajeel grabbed hold of the rope and quickly pulled himself up and over the wall.
Levy panted on the opposite side of the wall, the rope wrapped tightly around her wrist. She shook her chafed hands, making the rope disappear. Another blast of magic shot over the wall. Without thinking, Gajeel grabbed Levy by the waist and tucked her under his arm. He sprinted down the pathway, ignoring the way Levy screeched and pounded on his arm.
He continued his relentless sprint until the wall was well behind them and the pathway veered into another grove of trees. He settled Levy back onto her feet, backing away a few steps when she shook out her skirt and glared at him.
He scratched his head, willing his ears not to turn warm. "S-sorry 'bout that."
"It's fine."
Her tone told him the opposite, but during his short time at Fairy Tail, he had quickly learned to not argue with an angry female Fairy.
With a grunt he continued walking down the pathway, peeking over his shoulder to make sure the tiny mage followed close behind. She stayed several feet away from him, glancing around the forest as they went. The tightness returned around her eyes and Gajeel bit back a sigh as he turned forward.
Shouldn't have gotten my hopes up…
He sighed deeply again, his nostrils twitching. He lifted his head, turning every direction to capture the scent.
"Smell that?" He asked over his shoulder.
"Yeah, I do…I can't quite place the smell though," came the confused answer.
Gajeel frowned and stared at the rocks beneath their feet. Memories flashed in his mind; lungs tight and aching, his surrogate father's scaly face wrinkled in concern, and the disgusting candies he brought back to the cave. Gajeel's cough ended after taking the candies which had the same, sharp scent as the flattened stones he and Levy currently walked across.
"I dare ya to lick them," Gajeel muttered, his feet slowing until they stopped next to a small pile of snow on the ground.
He didn't realize Levy actually heard him, until he saw the raised eyebrow and a twinkle in her eye.
"What?"
Gajeel's lips twitched. He pointed to the stones near the snow. "I dare ya to lick them and see what they taste like."
Levy hummed and pursed her lips, her pale arms crossing over her chest as she stared him up and down. He scratched the back of his leg with his boot. Finally, Levy gave a firm nod.
"Fine," she tucked her skirt behind her knees and carefully bent down. "But only if you do it too."
She winked, her smirk turning positively impish. Gajeel's skin tingled and he shrugged off the strange sensation.
"Deal," he grinned, kneeling opposite of the tiny mage.
"Wait! How do I know you'll actually do it?"
Levy tilted her head at him, a piece of blue hair wisping across her face.
"I'm many things, Shorty, but a liar ain't one of them."
Using a handful of fresh snow, he and Levy cleaned off a patch of red rock. They both hovered over the stone, eyeing one another as they inched closer to the ground.
"On three?" Levy raised a brow.
Gajeel nodded, ducking his head.
"Ok then…one, two, three!"
Gajeel stuck out his tongue and gave the red stone a large lick. He saw Levy watch him for a split second before following suit. Gajeel cringed and swallowed the awful cherry flavor from his tongue. Levy gagged and shook her head, her nose scrunched in disgust.
"Ugg, I hate cherry cough drops!"
She continued to shake her head and complained about her dissatisfaction over modern medicine. Gajeel sat back on his heels and watched her with a smile. She ranted about never following his advice again and threw harmless threats in his direction. Her white dress spun around her, her small hands waving wildly in the air. Gajeel chuckled at her tirade, a warmth slowly trickling within his chest.
She's as scary as a kitten…
Gajeel startled and jerked to his feet, turning his back to the tiny, adorable mage.
I think…I think I need to wake up from this dream now…