The Steep Climb

Chapter 6

Gajeel hiked up the hill with Levy on his back. Smoke had begun to crawl out of the chimney and hang over their destination like a halo. Gajeel had begun to stumble from exhaustion. Levy offered to use her solidscript magic and give him some iron, but he refused.

"You can't make your own food right? It's unfair if Im the only one who gets to eat."

The rest of the trek was spent in silence other than the occasional far off cry of a Vulcan. They were several feet from the house when Gajeel finally collapsed. Levy lept off when he started to fall, landing on her injured foot again.

"Ow! Ow! Ow!" Levy fell into the snow.

She looked over at Gajeel who was lying unconscious.

"You should've just eaten the iron. Stupid Gajeel!"

Levy tried to move him with his arm but with her injury and his heavy body it was impossible. Levy frantically looked around, trying to figure out what to do. She zeroed on the house. Taking a deep breath, she began to limp over to the entry. It felt like the door was mocking her and her lack of speed.

She finally reached the house and its covered windows. She slammed herself against the door before grabbing the doorknob and shoving the entrance open. It burst open and Levy froze in her tracks.

"Lu-chan?"

Lucy pushed away from Natsu, who was making out with her on the couch.

"Levy-chan? What are you doing here?"

"I was looking for you! You guys went missing!"

Lucy's eyes grew wide.

"All by yourself!?"

Levy remembered why she'd barged in.

"Crap, we'll talk later. Natsu-san help me, Gajeel collapsed!"

"Eh? Gajeel's here? Wait, what happened to your ankle Levy-chan!?"

"I'll explain later! Natsu, help Gajeel!"

Levy stumbled outside so Natsu could run over to Gajeel and angrily drag him into the house.

After Gajeel was lying on the couch Natsu and Lucy had previously been making out on, the rest sat down across from each other. Levy crossed her arms,

"Now, explain."