A World of Enemies

Chapter 5

"What do you mean she's gone?!" Happy exclaimed.

"I-I don't know.." Erza answered, still shaken up about what she discovered this morning. "I had sent her to sleep but when I woke up in the morning, she was gone..."

The older members of the guild were currently gathered around a table in the main hall, discussing the matter at hand. One of their guildmates was currently missing, a small one at that. It was no laughing matter, and everyone was extremely worried.

"Are those jerks still locked up?" Cana turned to Laxus, who shook his head.

"No, from the looks of it they just found out themselves, so I doubt they've told their council buddies yet.."

"We have to find her!" Happy said frantically. "I... I can't lose her too!"

His guildmates frowned, knowing all too well about the exceed's close relations with the Dragneel family. He'd been with Natsu since the dragon-slayer was a kid, and had basically raised Nashi as well.

"Did she take the keys?" Mira asked Erza, knowing that most of the belongings recovered had been taken to her house as that was where Nashi was staying.

"No.." Erza finally got out, taking the ring of keys from her bag. "I just thought it would be too soon, with everything going on..."

"It's fine, Erza..." Mira rubbed her comrade's back in an attempt to comfort the redhead.

"No, it's not." Erza closed her eyes, trying to reign in her emotions. "I was careless, letting her out of my sight. It was stupid of me to have let her out of my sight in the first place, we wouldn't have been in this situation in the first place."

"I said it's fine, Erza.." Mira repeated more firmly. "Don't beat yourself up over it, you were sleeping. Anyone in that situation would've done the same things, there was little you could've done."

"But what if she was kidnapped?" Erza retaliated anxiously, raising her voice a tad. "What if she was taken against her will or is even harmed? I'll never forgive myself if that happens."

"Come on," Cana rolled her eyes. "Judging from who her parents are, she probably just ran away. You're probably worrying over nothing."

"That's true." Gray finally entered the conversation. "Maybe she just needs some fresh air, she did almost lose her mom. Plus, she couldn't have gone too far, I'm sure the exceeds could find her in no time."

"Yes, but we don't know which direction she ran in, or if she even ran in the first place." Laki adjusted her glasses.

"Could you possibly smell where she went?" Levy turned to her husband.

"Me and Wendy had looked on the morning that she disappeared, but we couldn't find much." Gajeel grunted. "Maybe if Salamander was here we could've found where she went since he has a stronger nose, but..."

Gajeel didn't have to finish his sentence, they all knew what he meant to say.

"I'm sure she'll be fine. She's a fierce little runt, smart too." Gajeel directed this at his wife, who he knew was extremely worried. Nashi was like a second daughter to them.

"But she's not familiar with anything outside of Magnolia.." Levy brought up. "She doesn't know why she has to hide, and she's a little girl. She could put herself in harm's way unintentionally."

"I just wish she had taken the keys..." Erza murmured, completely drained.

"I may be able to handle that..." A bright flash appeared behind the table, causing the group to look up and turn their heads.