The Huntress

■Chapter One-Into the Forest■

"I hate you! You're ruining my life!" that was Natsu, a sixteen year old boy. He was just in an argument with his parents, but, you already knew that. Anyway, back to the story.
  
Natsu ran outside his house, slamming the back door as he went. He stormed into the forest, too mad to think rationally and realize that he was heading straight for a danger zone. He also didn't stop to think about how the forest was probably manifested with wild wolves and other dangerous animals.
  
He started punching a random tree, raging. He felt so much negative emotion and he couldn't stand it! He couldn't stand feeling anything but happiness, excitement, hype, or anything positive.
  
He was an optimistic person, always looking for the benefit of the doubt, or the diamond in the rough. However he just couldn't see how he could optimize his way through this one.    
  
Somehow, he found himself lost. (Oxymoron!) He growled at his bad luck and scurried around for a place to hide out until he could get his bearings together.
  
Finally after a long day of searching, he passed out. He hadn't eaten or drank anything lately. There wasn't anything wrong, he just didn't wanna get up to get anything. He woke up to the smell of smoke, a warm pulse radiating through his blood. He quickly jolted up, bringing his body into a sitting position.
  
He turned his head in the direction of a beautiful girl, sitting next to him. He gulped when she noticed her stare and squirmed in his spot. He'd never been so close to a girl before, having been homeschooled his whole life he never had the luxury of female friends. Just cousins and family friends from business.
  
The girl narrowed her blazing brown eyes at him before breaking the silence. "Don't come into the forest. It's not safe." her voice was cold, but he could sense some concern in it.
  
"You're here." he pointed out, giving her a look.
  
"I practically live here. I can take care of myself. You're just a kid." she shot back, closing her eyes in what he deemed to be annoyance.
  
He quirked his eyebrow at her. "You don't look that much older than me." She turned her head to him, an impassive expression etched on her pale face. Her eyes bore into his, her hallow gaze searching deep into his soul it seemed.
  
"You're that transfer student aren't you?" she asked, completely changing the topic.
  
Natsu's eyes widened in surprise and he slowly nodded. Having not seen her before, he wondered how she had obtained such information. Had she seen him before? Was she a worker at the school or something? Maybe she somehow read his mind? At this point he didn't know. There seemed to be no logical answer.
  
"You'll see me at the school. If you're lucky." she said, not hinting at anything.
  
Natsu frowned. "Then you can't be much older than me since you go to FairyTail Academy."
  
The girl simply ignored him and handed him a flask. He reluctantly accepted it, it's cool texture gliding against the rigid surface of his large hands. He looked up at the girl, giving her a catious look. She didn't react much, just stared expectantly at him and gestured towards the metal container.
  
He rolled his eyes before taking a small sip, the cool water burning against his dry throat. He took another sip and then another until he realized that he had downed the whole thing. He panicked realizing that the girl might get mad considering that was her only thing of water. He swiftly faced her and went to bow to her to apologize when he saw her face.  

The wind blew her hair back, revealing more of her angel like mien, and the sunlight poured through the cracks in the sky the large pine trees made, illuminating her eyes. She looked so calm and serene, just sitting there while nature did it's thing.
  
Natsu couldn't help but stare, not being able to take his eyes off of her. And to be completely honest, he didn't really dislike it. For some reason he liked the feeling he got in his chest at her expression. It made him feel all giddy inside.
  
"Let's go, kid." she said, pushing her hands on her knees and hoisting herself up. She turned her back to Natsu and bent down to grab her bow and quiver. She had previously put them down, not wanting to alarm Natsu when he would eventually awaken.
  
She turned back around and gave him a bored expression before walking. Natsu scrambled to his feet and jogged to catch up to her. Her steps were so much bigger than his, it was like she was striding. Which was weird since he was taller than her.
  
He noticed how silent and nimble her movements were, like she was trying to be an inaudible presence. Her soundless steps were even more soundless compared to Natsu's, which were cruching every dead leaf into confetti.
  
He stared at her quiver that hung over her shoulder. It was so ancient looking. All the carvings and old patterns really made him wonder about the mysterious blonde. Just who was she?
  
"Kid, hurry up."
  
"Oi! I am a sixteen year old! I am not a kid!"
  
"To me you are."
  
"Oh really? Are you secretly a thirty year old or something?!"
  
"No."
  
Her short answers were really bugging him. Especially her tone when she said them. Couldn't she be at least a little more expressive? Why did everything have to sound so monotone and blank? How could she maintain such an unmoved perspective of everything around her? The forest may have had dangers at night but boy was it beautiful. How could she just pass by everything without so much as a second glance?
  
He felt his forehead come in contact with something small and soft. He looked up and saw that it was the girl's hand. Confused as to why she would do that he sent her a look. She only narrowed her eyes at him and grabbed his scarf, using the cloth like a leash.
  
"Slow, very slow." she muttered.
  
Natsu felt like he should be offended but he was too distracted by how close her hand was to his chest. He could feel his heart pounding wildly, as if trying to tell him something. He directed his gaze to the backside of the blonde hunter and noticed a long scar trailing down the small of her back. He thought of it as a battle wound, a symbol of a victory.
  
He wondered how she had gotten that scar. A fight with wolves? A gash from an unforgiving tree? From an arrow falling from her quiver? He could keep guessing but deep down he knew it was probably something more than a mere acidental injury. It likely meant something to her.
  
Finally they made it out of the forest an hour later. During that time the girl only said a few things. Natsu wanted her to say more but it wasn't like he knew what to say either. He knew he couldn't ask her anything personal, like about how she got her scar, or why she hunts. Perhaps everything about her was private since she was so shut off and devoid of expressions. He would say something but he knew the only reaction he'd get was an unruffled one.
  
She escorted him to his house, which kinda freaked him out since she didn't need directions. He nervously bit the inside of his cheek, dreading the conversation he was gonna be thrown into once he stepped foot inside. He turned to thank the girl for protecting him but by the time he faced her she was long gone. He felt a small smile inch onto his face.
  
"How quaint." he whispered.

  
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Heyo! It's Jake here! I am the author of this book! Honestly I already have like eleven other publisbed books but this idea kinda stuck with me and I thought, why not? Just put it on your joint account! So here it is! Hope you enjoyed it! If you wanna check out some of my other stories like Behind the Guitar or Be Careful what you Wish for then look up my personal account Kangatail Also, don't forget to read my sister's work!
Bye!