The next day the two set off in the late morning, after the dew had dried from the heat of the sun and the smell of rain was almost gone from the forest. Gajeel led the way, using his nose to guide them through the pines. It wasn't long into the afternoon when they found what they were looking for.
"Footprints," Gajeel motioned Laxus over to what had looked to be a well-trodden game path, but instead of the prints of some animal there were the clear traces of human traffic, "And not too old by the looks of it."
"So we're close, then," Laxus stepped forward onto the path.
"The hell do you think you're doing?" Gajeel hissed, grabbing him by the arm. Laxus gave him a venomous look but Gajeel held his gaze, "You can't just go tromping in there. You don't know who or what is there,"
"I think I can handle it," Laxus growled.
"This isn't something you can just blast your way through. If this really does involve the boys in the neighboring towns you'll get them caught in the crossfire," Gajeel growled up at him, "Or did you forget that?"
Laxus let out a huff, annoyance clear on his face, "Then what do you suggest?"
Suddenly, voices began making their way down the trail from up ahead. Gajeel gritted his teeth, "Follow me,"
They both barely made it into the cover of some evergreen bushes before the source of the voices made it to their spot.
"I'm very sorry, ma'am, it won't happen again,"
"Be sure it doesn't. It's ridiculous that I have to clean up after you," a female voice snapped. Gajeel immediately realized he'd heard it before and could clearly see the recognition in Laxus's eyes as well.
"I understand. Security has been upped since the occurrence. I can assure…"
"Did you know he told two mages he'd been kidnapped?" the female voice sounded back coldly, "And wouldn't you know that they've been hired to snoop around after the strange occurrences that have been happening lately?"
"I-I'm very sorry ma'am…"
"Of course you are," she sneered. There was the sound of a slap and a tense silence followed, "If it happens again you'll be part of the next shipment. Understood?"
"Yes ma'am."
"Good. I'll be back tonight. Think you're competent enough to handle things while I'm gone?"
"Yes ma'am."
"Get back to it, then. Oh and I'm so glad we've had this little chat,"
"Same, ma'am,"
The two waited until long after the footsteps had retreated in opposite directions before Gajeel peeked his head over the cover and walked out onto the trail. Laxus stood behind him with crossed arms.
"We could have easily taken those two and gotten to the bottom of this already," Laxus growled tensely.
"Not with organized crime," Gajeel countered, sniffing the air and looking in the direction that the woman had departed. He knew he'd smelled this before, "They'd keep their mouths shut, especially if they're the head of the operation. Then they'd have someone lower take the blame for it and get off free. We'd be nowhere then,"
"And how do you know so much about this shit?" Laxus steamed, his impatience causing electricity to fill the air.
Gajeel cast a devilish grin back over his shoulder at him, "I learned a lot in Phantom Lord,"
"That would be it," Laxus turned and started heading the opposite way and disappeared through the foliage.
"Laxus!" Gajeel hissed after him, "Are you fucking serious?!"
There was no response, only the sound of his heavy footfalls going deeper into the undergrowth.
"Laxus! I just said you can't go tromping in there!" Gajeel growled, following after him, "Fucking hardheaded sparky-eyed god damned ass-hat…"
"I can hear you," Laxus sighed with annoyance from up ahead.
"Good!" Gajeel barked back, keeping care to step on the pine needles to help silence his approach. The breeze turned, then, and he caught the scent of several men along with Laxus's. He froze, eyes widening as his mind began to process what was going on.
"Finally you shut the hell up…" he heard Laxus's voice from ahead.
"Laxus…" Gajeel hissed silently, hurrying to try and catch him, "Laxus wait…"
An ambush!
Suddenly, there was a burst of activity in the forest ahead. He heard Laxus growl and stumbled backwards when a bolt of lightning came down from the sky, stray currents flickering into the wood and dancing past him. Gajeel rushed into the fray, activating his iron scales before bursting into the foliage and using his talons to strike down the first enemy he saw. Laxus's eyes were sparking yellow as he fired streams of electricity towards some mages that were still in the bushes.
"You just couldn't listen, could you?" Gajeel sneered at Laxus while using his Iron Spears to take down two opponents.
"If you're scared of a little fight you can always go hide, Redfox," Laxus smirked, electricity dancing from his fingers, "I'll be sure to come and get you when its all over,"
"Fuck off, Sparky,"
Gajeel jumped backwards as a volley of arrow-like projectiles was thrown from the trees. His red eyes focused on a dark figure in the branches. It didn't take much for Gajeel to see this mage was stronger than the rest. The ones they had been fighting were nothing more than hired hands; low-level mages that needed some change and could be bought over in bulk. Gajeel brought his armored arms up to shield his face as another wave ensued, but his defense held perfectly and not even a scratch hit him.
A smile made its way across the mage's face as he readied another charge. Gajeel growled, not liking the cool look on his face. Gajeel stormed forward, making a sprint for the tree to send the mage off balance. He aimed his shot anyway, not even caring about Gajeel's approach. Gajeel slid to a halt as he suddenly realized the mage had no intentions of hitting him with the next shot.
"Laxus!" Gajeel yelled, turning and going for the Lightning Mage as fast as he could, "Get down, dammit!"
"Eh?" Laxus turned just as the mage fired and Gajeel collided bodily into him, sending them both cursing towards the ground. Gajeel could feel the magic ricocheting off of his skin, although it couldn't puncture through. He quickly jumped to his feet and growled at the mage in the tree, his fists clenched as he glared up at him.
"Fucking playing dirty?" Gajeel growled, he tilted his head back towards Laxus who was still lying on the ground, "Oi, you ok?"
"Shit…" Laxus gasped.
Gajeel chanced a look at him. His nose wrinkled at the smell of blood and he noticed a gash running across Laxus's side. It looked deep and red was quickly covering the forest floor.
"Dammit," Gajeel huffed, casting his eyes around him. Some of the mages had recovered and were getting back on their feet, readying attacks as they began to close in.
"Surrender, Fairy Tail Mages," the mage in the tree dropped down, his voice the same as the one they'd heard earlier in the forest, "I'd hate to waste any more of your blood. Besides, you're much more useful alive,"
"Like hell," Gajeel roared back, taking a step back defensively. He was almost standing over Laxus, his stance wide and protective. He never thought the day would come when he'd have to save Laxus.
"Can you run?" Gajeel's voice was so low Laxus almost thought he didn't hear it.
"I'll try," Laxus managed, gripping his side against the pain, "But I won't say for how long,"
"Two minutes, that's all I need," Gajeel growled, sucking in a deep breath, "Get ready,"
"Aye,"
"IRON DRAGON'S ROAR!"