Fate Decides

Chapter 22

Laxus narrowed his eyes on the map Freed was holding up, looking around at the peaks he could see that weren't shrouded in clouds.

It was nearly May and it had to be in the 50s at mid day. Glancing back he saw Lucy in her fur linked cloak and boots that Gajeel had apparently bought for her before their trip to Overlook a while back. The woman actually did have suitable clothes for the weather, but Laxus could still tease her about them since Gajeel had been the one who had bought them for her.

Cana was standing near the blonde, looking beautiful as always, her dark hair pulled up into the fur lined hat she had on, a warm purple scarf around her neck and a heavy fur lined cloak in dark purple wrapped around her. Laxus had given her Bickslows favorite stores number and she'd gotten in the winter gear he'd asked her to buy when he'd first thought about doing this just in time. Elluris specialized usually in mens clothes, but they tailored their cloaks to anyone, and Bickslow wore nothing but Elluris with his work clothes because the cloaks and over skirts and such they made held up like none other.

Even Laxus owned a couple now, the first a gift from Bickslow a few years ago he had with him on this trip, when the temps really dropped he knew wearing it over his own coat would keep him warm and comfortable no matter how bad the weather got.

Freed was wearing one, also a gift from Bickslow, the Seith had given one to each member of the team that year because they had all been miserable on a job up in the mountains except for Bix, who had been comfortable, warm and dry wrapped up in his cloak, which he'd ended up giving to Evergreen on that trip because the poor woman just couldn't get warm.

So the following Christmas each member of the Raijinshuu had gotten an Elluris Cloak from Bickslow.

The damn things were expensive, but worth every penny once you had them on in bad weather, or went through a fight in one and everyone else was left in tattered clothes but you were standing there looking just fine. Laxus' favorite black coat was an Elluris, the first nice thing he'd bought for himself after he had finished his first S-class mission.

He'd had it for years and it still, in spite of all it had been through, looked brand new.

Laxus glanced around again, almost snickering when he realized everyone except Nola and Cobra was wearing Elluris outer wear, even fucking Gajeel. It made sense though, Gajeel said Bickslow had shown him a store in Crocus and that was where he had bought the cloaks he and Lucy were wearing now. Narrowing his eyes he saw the distinct "E" on the clasps.

Well, it was a good thing, it meant they would be dressed to handle the weather. Nola and Erik weren't poorly dressed, maybe not in an expensive brand name, but Nola was in lined pants a thick sweater, scarf and coat and Cobra was never underdressed.

"This trail looks like the best option, we just need to find the trail head." Laxus was saying, pointing at the map. Nola came over then, peering between the two men at the map.

"I can find it, head in that direction, I'll go ahead and find the trail head." She said. Laxus and freed blinked at her and Laxus was about to ask how a little woman was going to find something faster than three Dragon Slayers when she flashed down and suddenly he was facing her golden eyed fox form.

Waving her luxuriant tail she bounded off ahead of them and was out of sight in seconds. Laxus smirked "Ok, so we head after the fucking fox."

Nola found the trail opening in some heavier trees within an hour and led them to it, remaining in her fox form so she could continue to scout ahead of them. Cobra was able to keep track of her and even relay things she found without her having to return and tell them.