Juvia's Pov
"What took them so long?" Levy asked, worriedly while looking carefully for Gray, Lucy, and, Mira to pass by.
We were hiding behind this huge barrels for quite some time now while waiting for them. I have a huge trust on Gray and I really hope nothing bad happens to them.
"Should we go back?" Levy suggested but I looked at her in disbelief.
"Are you crazy, Levy? It's too dangerous!" I whisper yell. I was too coward to go back. I don't know why I felt this way but I'm afraid to risk my life.
Although part of me wanted to go back to help my beloved Gray and the others but some part of me also wanted to be safe.
Why am I such a scaredy cat!?
I closed my eyes, debating.
"Juvia?" Levy called me in concern.
I open my eyes with determination. I should take the risk.
"Levy, I changed my mind, let's —
Just when I was about to finish my statement, we heard footsteps. Levy and I immediately stayed quiet as we carefully look to who it was.
"Gajeel!" Levy called in relief as she stood up and run to them.
It was Natsu and Gajeel.
"Levy!" Gajeel hugs Levy as soon he saw her approaching them.
"Juvia!" Gajeel also saw me as I left our hiding place.
"What happened? Where are the others?" Natsu asked worriedly once he noticed that it was just the two of us.
"Jura's shop is useless. Erza, Jellal, and Laxus went back to Haris' place to get our things, especially Mavis' journal. We waited for you guys until some men saw us and we ran." I explained, trying not to stutter.
"Where's Lucy, Gray, and Mira!?" Natsu asked, now getting impatient.
"Gray went back to help Lucy and Mira but they never came back up until now." Levy finishes sadly.
Natsu stayed blank for a while. "Where did it happen?"
I pointed at the left corner. "That way."
And with that answer, Natsu instantly run to the direction I pointed out.
"Natsu!" Gajeel called.
"Let's follow him." Levy said and we agreed.
We run and followed Natsu until we arrived at a messy street. Some villagers were occupying the area with curiosity. We decided to check it out.
"I heard yelling!"
"They were fighting here but I was too scared to help so I just watched."
"I wonder what they're fighing for?"
"Probably jewels."
We heard some gossips and I already knew this is where they were.
"Tell me, what happened?" Natsu asked a villager who was near him.
"Well, it happened so fast, I think? There were five men against three teens! one is a boy and two girls. The teens were winning not until someone got hurt. They were kidnapped."
I gasped in terror. Someone got hurt? I was starting to get worried for Gray and also for Lucy and Mira. There were five men, muscular men to be exact. I was so close to tears thinking of what had happened to Gray.
"We were too coward to help, the men have weapons, a knife to be exact. We don't want to get hurt or get involved." A villager said.
Natsu thanked the villager for the information.
They have a knife!? Someone got hurt!? Don't tell me someone got stabbed!?
"Gray!" I felt my knees starting to weak as I sat down and let out my emotions.
"Juvia." Levy approached and comforted me.
"We should've come back! I was too coward to go back." I cried, covering my face with my hands.
"No, it's not your fault Juvia." Levy says as she hugs me.
"Are they your friends?" I heard a villager asked.
"Yes." Gajeel answered.
"Then follow me." A villager said. I instantly look to who it was.
I noticed Natsu glaring at him. He then charged at him which surprised us. Gajeel tried to stop him but he was too mad to care.
"Why do we need to follow you!? Do you knew where they are!? How can we trust you, huh!?" Natsu exclaims at the villager.
"Stop it Natsu!" Gajeel manage to pulled him away.
The villager look terrified. "I was just trying to help." He stutter.
"How!?" Natsu asked, angrily.
"My friends followed them after and we helped them. They're in the hut, follow me." He answered, avoiding eye contact with Natsu.
We have our hopes high as we followed him. We arrived at a hut beside the beach. There were villagers with weapons specifically with spears, arrows, and sticks.
"They're inside, healing." The villager who helped us said.
Natsu immediately went inside. The three of us were still hesitating to go inside. Who knows, what will happen. But once I heard Natsu saying Lucy's name, I also quickly run inside.
There I saw Gray sleeping with bandages around his arm and in his chest. He also got bruises on his face. Mira and Lucy was already awake. Mira had a bandage on her right hand while Lucy had a bruise on her lip and her shoulder.
"Oh my! What happened? Are you alright!?" Levy asked as soon she enters the hut.
Mira giggled. "I'm fine, I just hurt my fist for punching too hard."
"How about you Lu-chan?" Levy asked, worriedly seeing her bruises.
"I got hit by a log on my shoulder and I landed on the ground, maybe I got my bruise there in my lips." She replied, very weak but trying to be strong.
"How about Gray, is he alright?" I asked, as I sat beside him.
Once a caressed his cheek, his eyes opens.
"Gray did everything he could do to protect us. He's badly injured but he said he fine, he just needs to sleep." Mira answered. "Oh, I guess he's awake now."
Gray smiled as soon he sees me. "I'm glad you're okay."
I playfully smack his shoulder which he yelp in pain. "I'm okay but you're not! Don't ever scare me like that! Did you get stabbed!? A villager said someone got hurt badly?"
Gray chuckled as he sat up. "I was not stabbed, we got hurt but what's important is we're fine and alive."
"Yeah, good thing these villagers helped us." Lucy said with a smile. "Without their bravery, we wouldn't be here."
I saw Natsu caressed her hand softly as he smiled at her in relief.
"Say, what happened to those men?" Gajeel asked.
"Yeah, I wanna know." Natsu added.
"I think I saw them being tied outside beside a huge tree. They said they will hand them to the authority." Mira answered.
"Luce, tell me, who hit you with a log? What does he looks like?" Natsu asked Lucy.
"Hmm, they all wear the same outfit but I did remember out of the five, he's the only one with a mustache." Lucy answered. Natsu stood up but Lucy held to stop him.
"Don't, I know what you're thinking." Lucy said to him.
"Let him be Lucy," Gray spoke. "That guy deserves a good beating, after all, he's also the one responsible for this bruise." He pointed out his bruise beside his left eye.
"Really?" I said in realization as I also stood up. I was too coward back then but I have this urge to avenge my Gray.
"Natsu, let's go." I blurted out.
"Hey, hey, Juvia don't!"
"I'm all fired up."
"Let her be, Gray." Lucy mocked him back.