The Purple Moon • A Fairy Tail Fanfiction

Chapter 9 • Gray's Stand

Wow. It's been so long since I've updated this. Here's the ninth chapter! I'm so sorry it took so long, and I'll try my best to continue to update. However, I'll need you guys' support! Your comments really do mean a lot and they give me inspiration to write more. So if you like this chapter, please vote and comment! Thank you!

Chapter 9 • Gray's Stand

I try my best to stand by myself without the support of the trees, but to no avail. Each time I let go of the strong bark, my legs collapse under me and I'm close to falling onto the ground. The village is so close, but so far at the same time. I try to scream for help, but my jaw is still so disfigured that only a whisper is able to come out. I look around and set my eyes on a thick, long branch swinging above me. I reach out my shaky arm, trying to touch the branch with my pointer finger. I finally grab the branch and pull it off the tree with all my might, and bring it down to my level. I hold it as a cane and I take a deep breath. I let go of the tree bark once again, and balance myself on the branch as my feet try their hardest to bring me down. I victoriously stand straight up and move along to the village, warily making my way down the small hill. After a few stumbles, I finally arrive on the dark soil, my arm aching from the tension I put on it as I was descending.

"Ack!" I screech as the pain gets worse. Dozens of the civilians look my way and gasp at the sight. The mothers hold their children's hands and move them away from their peripheral vision. Others only stare, not sure of how else to react. I put the cane in my other hand and balance myself once again. I then proceed, every step catching the attention of another villager. Then, a young, teenage girl with dark hair comes running to me, and I stand there in surprise. She stands right in front of me, and she gasps, terrified.

"Are you okay? What happened?" she questions. She clutches my arm and assists me to the infirmary.

"A large bear attacked me," I lie, speaking with all that audacity I can collect. She looks into my eyes suspiciously, at my wounds, and then nods. We arrive and she directs me to the bed.

I sit down and she lifts my legs up onto the bed. A small, old women with gray hair tied up in a bun greets me. She wears traditional clothing and no shoes.

"Now, what's wrong mage?" she asks.

I look around at all the patched up wounds on my body. "Too many things."

She begins to untie the cloth to see my wounds, which are still stained with blood and the remaining dirt I couldn't get of. Some of the gashes begin bleeding once again. She shakes her head. "Oh my, wizard. If you kept these wounds in this condition for any longer, they would have severely contaminated your bloodstream." She walks to one of the wooden desks behind her and takes out a glass with clear liquid and a tool made of clean, white wood. "This will sting, but clean out your wounds and let them heal faster."

I nod and she opens the bottle, a strong herbal odor released into the air. She dips the tool in and the jelly substance is smothered on my right arm wound first, causing me to groan in pain. The stinging is worse than a swarm of bees and I close my eyes as my face squints. The substance begins to bubble and then cool down, the same process for all of my wounds. I start to get used to the pain.

"How bad is it? The curse of the purple moon?" I ask her, not realizing the horrifying memories that dawn upon her because of my question.

"It's terrible," she speaks truthfully. "My family and friends have all been turned into beasts because of it." Tears surrounded the borders of her eyelids. "My grandchild... he was cursed by the moon."

I feel my heart break into pieces. "I'm sorry," I say, but no other words escape my lips. I can relate to her experience; the disbelief one feels when someone they love and care about becomes something evil. Something they've never seen in their loved one before.