The next few days, on edge and very wary , Natsu and Lucy led their group as quick as they could through towns. Only stopping when they needed food. Due to having only money for an emergency, they kept to the woods to make their food. "Smells good mommy" she said getting a full whiff of the soup cooking. "Well can't say it's much but it will at least get you through. Can't have you starving."
"Yeah your dad's growling stomach is loud enough for all of us" teased Happy making Nashi laugh. Suddenly they heard rustling getting Lucy's attention. Grabbing the dagger out of Natsu's pack, she stood at the ready. "Mmmommy" "Shh Iggy" she hushed as Happy held his paws out to protect her. "Happy.." "I know, I'll get her out of here, just give the signal" The rustling got closer and closer as Lucy ran at them when a fist closed around her fist stopping the dagger. "Not bad Layla..but running blindly at your opponent, stupid thing to move" He let go as she yanked the dagger back to her side.
"Well It didn't help that you didn't say anything dumbass" "Sorry, didn't expect to have a dagger in my face" "I'm not used to doing this so excuuuuusee me!" Narrowing her eyes, he smirked as she flipped her hair at him and walked back to the camp.
"It's alright Happy, just Natsu being an ass" " You could have said something!" Happy ridiculed. "Alright, I get it , I get it, food done yet?"" he asked taking a seat. "You made it in time. And hey who knew the silverware we bought few years ago would ever come in handy. Glad we packed it away, especially for now" she said handing Nashi and Happy a can of soup. "Be careful Nashi, that's very hot" "I know" she said blowing on it taking a spoonful. "Did you see anyone? She asked urgent interrupting him.
"Sorry Natsu" Taking his spoon away from his mouth, he said plainly "yes, They would probably would have been fine had they not stepped on a twig"
"Was it one of them?" "No, another stupid follower but won't be reporting anything now" "We've been reduced to resorting to this now huh. Natsu and Lucy are killing like it's nothing..but they've been through a lot. It's a wonder why they didn't turn to it sooner" Happy thought shaking his head "It doesn't matter. I love them and they are doing what they need to do in order to protect us. I'll stand by them."
"Their close if you found one a couple miles out" "Yep, you know what that means" " Mean's we need to finish this soup up quickly. Eat up baby girl" Lucy ushered eating the soup as fast as she could trying not to burn her tongue. "Where are we going now mommy?" "Not sure right now sweetheart. We just can't stay here" "When do we get to go home?" "We need to find one first Iggy" said Natsu.
"No daddy, home..in Magnolia" she squeaked looking to them for an answer. Deeply sighing, he slurped the rest of his soup and threw the can. Walking over to Nashi, he got down in front of her. "Iggy, baby dragon. I need you to listen to me okay?" he said mildly but direct getting her full attention.
"There are some really bad people after us. In order to protect you and mommy, we needed to leave Magnolia." "So that's why we've been moving?" "Yes Iggy, that's it" he said relieved she seemed to understand. "But nothing's going to happen to us right daddy?"
"No, no. I would never let that happen. Neither would your mother" Damn straight" "We will protect you with our lives alright. Don't worry sweetheart, nothing is going to hurt you" Acknowledging what he said, she shook her head. "Come here baby girl" he called sweetly holding his arms out. Getting up from her seat, she walked a step into his arms and put her arms around his neck laying her head on his shoulder.
Rubbing her back, he looked at the other two signaling them to go. Crushing their soup cans, they threw them and grabbed their packs leaving Natsu and Nashi behind. "I forget how big she's gotten sometimes. She's heavy" he told himself as he attempted to get the ground under him without having to move Nashi. After a few seconds, he found stable ground and stood up holding her.
"Come on Iggy, time to go" he whispered seeing her nod her head in response. Walking quickly, he caught up with the others fast. "Alright Iggy, time to put you down" With a cute smile, she kissed him on the cheek then skipped over to Lucy. "Aww your face" "Nahh, shut it Layla" he sniped embarrassed.
" Ha, okay so where do we go?" she asked when they heard a scream. "What the hell was that?" Lucy questioned. "Forget it, we can't. we need to keep mov" he tried telling them when they heard more screams. "Naatsu." Begged Happy. "Daddy" Turning his head to the side, he saw their pleading faces out of the corner of his eye then eyed Lucy whose face told him what to do. "You sure you want to do this?. This could end badly"
"I know. Let's just go, sounds like those people really need help" she said firmly. Knowing he wouldn't get any further, prepping himself mentally he said "Happy, you ready?" "Aye" "Let's go. Iggy, you stay next to us got it?" "Ye,yes daddy" Swiftly they moved through the woods out into the light. There they saw villagers being attacked by bandits. "Assholes, just wait till they..that's right" she muttered as she realized she was reaching for something that wasn't there.
"Of all times that my keys would be useful.. but oh well. Can't worry about that now" she muttered to herself as her and Natsu eyed each other signaling what to do. Waving the other two away, they charged into the fight. "Hey! Why don't you jerks pick someone else" said Natsu angrily at two of them attacking a woman. "Ha, make us" "You shouldn't have said that" Natsu said boldly.
Jumping into the air he yelled "Lucy! Take care of the others. I got these clowns" Hearing him, she left him to deal with the two while she went to help what she saw were kids being attacked. "You son of a bitch, hey! Leave them alone" she yelled at the men pushing them around and trying to take their stuff. "What are you going to do about it babe" "Oh,..you picked the one word you shouldn't have said" Aggressively she dived for them but wasn't quick enough to dodge one of them. Grabbing her, he hoisted her off the ground slamming her into a wall as the other kicked her in the stomach.
The kids watched in horror. "Gggett ooutt off hhere kkidds" she strained . Crying, they obeyed and ran away. "Thank goodness" she thought happily then grunted as she felt her head slammed into the rock wall again. " Make this more fun" one of them teased. Snickering, he threw Lucy to the ground and pulled out a whip. Slashing it across her body, she gritted her teeth grunting. "Why don't you scream. Oh it looks like someone's already gotten to you before. That's a nasty burn you got there" Whipping her again , she grunted again. "Come on, tell me what happened to the one who gave you that"
Unexpected to them, she turned and smiled with no fear leaving the guys puzzled. "You stupid bastards are about to find out" "LUUUCY!" The ferocity scared them as Natsu landed. "You two are go.." Rage filled within him seeing Lucy's back. Rearing his head back, he roared at them and before they could blink he was on them. "You're going to pay for hurting her" " ..just ffinish them" she directed as she tried to move an inch sending pain shooting up her back. "You don't have to tell me twice"
He jumped on one of them wrapping his legs around the man's neck. Grabbing the man's arms, he unmercifully brought them straight back breaking them. Crying out, Natsu hit his jugular sending the man crashing to the ground. "Your next" he said with full intent on what he was doing.
Turning he ran when he felt himself yanked back. Looking into Natsu's eyes, he saw the unforgiving rage in them ."Yeah, you shouldn't have attacked my wife" Twisting his hands, he completely turned the man's head hearing the bones crack then let him drop lifeless. Not wasting a second, he carefully scooped Lucy into his arms. "Lucy, Luce, can you hear me baby?" "Ye..yesss..wwhat hhhappened..too to using Laylla..and Iggneel?"
"Ah hell, really.. Layla?" he ridiculed rolling his eyes. "We need to get you healed up, come on." "Bbbut..wwheree..are wwe ggoing to go..ahhh" she yelled in overwhelming pain. "Igneel, Layla!" Natsu ran as he saw Happy signaling them over to a house where a lady was standing with him and Nashi. "This is probably a bad idea but what choice do I have right now" Struggling, he went against his instincts and ran over as Happy looked with fear.
"Igneel, what happened!" "Stupid jerks attacked her when we separated. "MOMMY!" " Iggy, cover your eyes!" he ordered running past her into the house and kicked open the nearest door. Laying her down, he turned her on her back. "Happy! Grab my bag now!" Frantic, he threw the bag tripping. Catching it, he dug his hand in pulling out medical wrap, and alcohol. "Layla..I am really sorry for what I'm about to do"
"Jjjusst..dddo ittt" Taking the cap off, he poured the alcohol on her back as she shrieked into the pillow muffling it. Feeling every bit as pain as she did, he quickly stuck the cap back on it and kissed her head everywhere. "I am so, so sorry" he repeated. Slowly she lifted her face off the pillow and turned it so she could see him. "Didd youuu ffinnishh them?" "Yes Layla, they are dead and gone" he answered with a coldness. "Good"
"Now, try not to move as much as you can. I'm going to wrap your back.. Damn it, you should have been wearing your jacket" "Dddon't wworry Iggneel. We've both received worse scars then this" she said softly. Once he finished wrapping her back, Happy came in with Nashi. "Is mommy going to be okay?" she asked trembling. "She'll be fine Iggy. I promise. Hey Happy, how did you get here?" he asked remembering he didn't say so much as a word when they got there.
"She saw me and Iggy running. Said we could wait for you guys when I told her we weren't alone." He explained then wished he hadn't by the untrusting look on Natsu's face. "I have a bad feeling about this. You should've just ran to the woods"
"What's wrong Na" he started then shut his mouth quickly realizing what he was about to say. "Watch it Happy." He growled warningly looking around the room. "Two windows, door, front door. Enough exits in case we need to make a run for it." "I know that look, your strategizing aren't you?"
"Yes Happy I am. I understand why she wanted to come here but I don't think we should have. We are still far too known here. My choice, I would've had us ignore it and keep going" Nashi silently listened to every word he said taking Lucy's hand and putting it over hers and was happy when Lucy squeezed. "Daddy and mommy have become different people now but if these people really want to hurt us..then they didn't have a choice."
"Well It seems like its good here though" Happy said reasonably "We'll see." Sitting on the bed, he closed his eyes but was very much alert. An hour went by when he heard "Igneel, Igneel!". Opening his eyes, he saw Happy yelling jumping frantically up and down."Happy , what's wrong?" he asked when his nose picked up on something. "Smoke ,Happy, grab Iggy, we need to leave NOW!" he shouted grabbing Lucy who was struggling to get up.
"I gotcha Layla" Covering her face, he smashed a window and jumped out with Happy and Nashi following behind. Once they had gotten a safe distance, he turned and saw the house was on fire with the woman who had helped Happy glaring at them.
"We were told you murdered someone, and I heard you in the room. I don't want anything to do with a murderer!" The other villagers raised their hands protesting against them. "Murder? They were attacking my wife!" "No" the woman said mysteriously lifting her hand.
Natsu squinted to get a look and growled when he saw the dragon emblem. " You lying bastards, you didn't want to help.. First word you hear, you accuse me of murder and try to burn my family with it. Come on Happy, Iggy, we need to go" he said with disappointment.
Angry, they gave the woman an icy stare and walked away with Natsu deep into the forest. "Damn it!. We can't trust anyone" Lucy yelled as her heart shattered inside. "No..we can't. From now on, the only ones we trust are us. Nobody else" he declared.
With a firm nod, they agreed. "Natsu..where do we go from here?" "We're too well known here. If not by the guild, then by that damn cult and we can't afford to keep knocking people out and leaving bodies. So, we have to go where nobody knows our names" "What does that mean?" Lucy asked for everyone. "It means we are leaving Fiore"