Nephele | Fairy Tail

Chapter 1

"Mom?" Rei called out into the empty forest, confusion and fear filling the 12-year-old girl. She had woken up to the absence of the storm dragon who had raised her, Nephele. Rei had thought she had just temporarily left to get food or whatever else a storm dragon did whenever she wasn't taking care of her foster child. But after waiting in the forest that seemed slightly unfamiliar for at least half of the day, Rei wasn't sure if Nephele was coming back.

But Rei was sure she had heard something in the forest, not too far from where she was. Though, the idea that a large white dragon was able to hide from her behind the trees in front of her seemed impossible.

"Hello?" Rei called out again, her voice shaking. She was desperate for anyone to be there.

A sudden breeze caused Rei to look up, hope filling her heart as she saw grey storm clouds slowly start to cover the sun. But no matter how much she squinted, Rei couldn't catch a glimpse of the dragon she thought was above her.

"Lucas, look over here," Rei heard a woman say from past the treeline. She could tell they weren't very far from where she was, but she couldn't tell if they would try to help her or not.

"I am, Vik!" A man, Lucas, retorted, irritation in his voice. "There's no one here. Are you sure your magic didn't just bug out?"

Rei narrow her eyes at a figure she could just barely see as the woman, Vik, spoke, "Yes I'm sure! Magic doesn't just..."

Rei tensed as her electric blue eyes locked with bright green ones. A feeling of uncertainty kept her usual recklessness under control as Rei just stared at the dark-haired woman standing just a few feet from her.

"A child?" Vik mumbled under her breath. The two stared at each other for a minute before Vik spoke up, "What are you doing out here all on your own?"

Rei opened her mouth to speak, but no sound came out. Her mind whirled as the words Vik had said replayed in her mind a few times before a flood of tears Rei didn't realize she had been holding in since that morning pricked her eyes. Rei let out a sob and sank to the floor as more tears fell from her eyes.

"Vik, I already told you-" Lucas stopped at the sight of the small blond-haired girl crying. He looked at his wife for an explanation, but she ignored him and stepped forward.

"Hey, what's wrong?" Vik asked with a patient tone of a mother. She crouched down in front of Rei. "Are you lost out here? Is that why you're crying?"

Rei sniffled, "I- I can't find my mom. She was with me last night, but when I woke up this morning she... she was gone."

"Oh, I'm so sorry to hear that," Vik said with a small frown. Then, after a second, she offered, "Would you like us to help you find her?"

"Really?" Rei questioned a spark of hope flickering inside her.

"Yeah. Why don't we take you back to our village?" Vik suggested. "Maybe your mother will be there."

"Wait, hold on, Vik. We're just gonna take this random girl back to town?" Lucas questioned, eyeing Rei skeptically. "What if she's, like, related to that dark guild that sprang up recently?"

Vik stared at Lucas, an annoyed look on her face, "Really Lucas? You think this girl, who got separated from her mother, is related to a dark guild?"

"You never know! This could be a trap or... something." Lucas replied, looking unsure of himself. "Just... you heard what happened to that guy who just moved in a little while ago, with the ice magic, uh..."

"Derius," Vik reminded.

"Yeah, Derius," Lucas said with a huff. "He was nearly killed after he fell for a trap those dark wizards set! I just... I don't want that to happen to us."