"Which way now?" I panted, my hand gripping the bark of a tree-trunk. Natsu was by my side, grinding his teeth. He looked up to the sky, where the moon was hanging.

    "I think it's the next turn," he motioned to Lucy to hurry up, who was glancing around the forest with a predatory look in her eyes. Gray, Gajeel, and Levy were in the other group. Mirajane and Gramps had scouted the area and come to conclude that the Werewolves were giving us the benefit of the doubt.

    Well, that's comforting.

    "I hope Master loured away any potential murderers," Erza muttered under her breath, "I'd rather not go around stinking like blood so early on."

    "Says the Vampire Queen herself," Natsu scoffed before licking his lips. I caught a glimpse of his fangs, glittering in the moonlight.

    "If you kill someone that isn't trying to kill you, does that make you the murderer?"

    "If I kill you, EVERYONE here would be pleased," Lucy smirked, saying the sentence very drily. I shot a glare at her.

    We had split up into three groups: Makarov and Mira went ahead to distract the creatures lurking in these Woods; Gray's group attacking the entrance first.

    "Jellal?" Erza piped up, raising a scarlet-hued eyebrow. Her hair looked a shade darker in the shadows, clothes accentuating her curves.

    I gulped, tearing my gaze away from her, and focused on the undergrowth ahead of us. She came up behind me, brushing her ice-cold hand against mine. I laced our fingers together, giving her palm a gentle squeeze, which she then returned.

    Lucy squeaked, imitating a gagging gesture while rolling her eyes at us.

    "D'you think-" Natsu spoke up this time, holding up a drooping branch and letting it go before Erza passed. She recoiled from the leaves before growling at Natsu. The poor pink-head dashed back and bowed and lifted it with shaking arms.

    Ah. Erza.

    "D'you think..." He repeated, his gaze lazily darting over Lucy's eyes, "D'you think..."

    "Oh my, Mavis, just spit it out!" Lucy hissed, smacking his shoulder. He gave her a massive grin before dragging her closer to him and looping an arm around her shoulder.

    Chuckling, I gave Erza a wink before darting up to the duo and smashing their heads together. With the sudden impact, they collided painfully, tripping over the undergrowth and falling in a tangle of limbs.

    "JELLAL FRIGGIN FERNANDES," the furious blonde-headed woman screeched, "What on-" Her face was seething, an angry-blush perched on the bridge of her nose, "Gah, imbecile-"

    Natsu was under her, not daring to breathe while shuffling uncomfortably.

    "Sucks to suck," I smiled before quickening my pace. We had to get to the safehouse before the sun rose, or Acnologia's mafia gang would ambush us in the sunrise.

    Ugh, Purebloods. Couldn't they hunt humans in the night instead?

    Actually, no. No thanks.

    "Which way next?" Lucy retorted, her tone notably frostier after her little 'incident' with Natsu.

    "It should be right up th-" Erza broke off at the sudden crackle of the trees in front of us, motioning with her hand for us to stand still. My heart began to race, anticipated.

    Natsu arched his neck, opening his mouth, and drew in the scent of the forest, eyes slit like a cat. I pursed my lips. Was someone there?

    "It should-" Natsu hesitated before passing his predicament, "I- I think it should be fine?"

    "Say that again with more confidence, will you?"

    "AWOOOOO-!"

    'Looks like we finally get to meet those cute doggos.

    Lucky us.

    I froze, my feet squelching in the thick undergrowth beneath our feet as Erza cursed under her breath.

    "You said it was fine!" I shrieked at Natsu.

    "No," He protested, eyes trying to locate the source of the howl, "I said it was fine! There's a difference-"

    More howls started to join after the first, filling the once-empty night sky with their dulcet tone.

    Erza started scanning the trees and attempting to climb them, ushering us to follow when she found a tall enough one. I gulped for the second time that night, nervous.

    "Uh-" I stammered, shivering as another yet another howl broke out, "I-Is this a bad time to say I've never really climbed a tree before?"

    Natsu rolled his eyes despite the situation, before shoving me hard with his elbow. I glared daggers at him before placing a foot on the thick bark of the plant.

    "Natsu Dragneel."

    I gasped, the wind rushing out of my chest at the deep voice. During my little anxiety attack at being asked to climb a tree, I had stopped listening to the howls.

    It was dead silent again.

    Something even more horrible than the chorus of imminent doom.

    Oh boy.

    Natsu stiffened as if he recognized the voice, and turned on his heels. He moved, covering the remaining three of us so that we could continue climbing.

    "Forgotten me so fast, dear Brother?"

    "Grrr, where are you, you stinky-" Natsu growled, gnashing his teeth together angrily. His eyes were like feline slits on his face as he glared at the darkness.

    "Hand!" Erza hissed under her breath, wildly waving her hand to pull me up. Dazed, I stared back at the red-head and blonde that were already up a couple of branches.

    "How-"

    "I'm not as athletically challenged as you, runt!" Lucy rolled her eyes, but her face was pale and worried, eyes darting over to where Natsu was buying us time.

    "Right, of course," I wheezed, grabbing Erza's sweaty palms as she roughly pulled me up next to her. She urged me to climb higher the minute I had all hands and feet safely on the precarious piece of wood.

    "I still don't get how we're 'related'," Natsu crossed his arms, complaining like a young child, "You're nothing but another one of his scum!"

    "My, those aren't nice words to say to your elder brother," the unnamed voice tsked before the steady-beat of crackling leaves indicated that they were walking closer.

    Thud. Thud. Thud.

    "Fernandes, you're going to have to move that butt up or I-"

    "Ok! Ok!" I looked worriedly at the back at Natsu's head before quickly considering our surroundings. If he wasn't able to take on the Werewolves, uhh.

    I could chuck a twig at them?

   No, no. Don't forget, you have powers too. Use them wisely.

    I huffed, convinced everything would be fine. Well, half-convinced.

    "Natsu, would you please listen to me once?" The voice sounded tired, holding the same tone as an infuriated, yet patient, parent. My eyes widened as a dark silhouette emerged.

    "Y-You-" Erza stuttered, evidently shocked. I couldn't blame her.

    The man stepped fully into the moonlit clearing, dressed in coal clothes with sophisticated gold embroidering. He had a simple sash diagonally across his body which seemed to glow silver in the twilight sky.

    "Zeref..." I muttered before my eyebrow twitched in confusion. Erza appeared to not know who it was, but... didn't all Vampires have super-smelling or something?

    What's going on?

    I gingerly attempted to extend my hand, aiming to caress hers in mine with a look of great passion.

    Oh, but no.

   Jellal flipping Fernandes is just too much of a klutz to be able to do something so emotional in these circumstances.

    "Er-" I screeched, my nails digging into the thin, soft bark of the tree as a few leaves streamed past my lips. Lucy tried to grab the hood of my shirt, but gravity had already taken me into its arms.

    With a crash, I fell butt-first into the thicket underneath, directly facing the two reunited brothers.

    But- I didn't.

    "What the-" my eye pulsed, as I drew a hand through my azure hair. Some invisible force was stopping my butt from contacting the sharp spiny-debris that was laden across the ground.

    "Huh?" Natsu's green eyes formed two, large ovals, pupils small dots at the centre.

    "Will you finally listen?!" Zeref seemed exasperated to the point that he almost rolled his eyes.

    Almost.

    "Why would you- YAAA-!" I broke off as I plummetted two feet to the ground, frowning at the black-haired alpha werewolf as he lightly smirked in my direction.

    "I'd rather not waste my magic on you, Fernandes." He stated simply, his attention now focused completely on his brother, with a hint of affection lingering in his onyx gaze.

    "Now..." I shivered as he lifted both his palms up, as if beckoning Natsu to hug him, but it was a gesture that meant something else. A gesture that brought a battalion of wolves streaming to his side, all equipped in armour.

    "We'd like to help you, Natsu. Lady Belserion," They all bowed in unison.

    "Like the old times." 

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