Chapter 6: The scarlet-haired little girl (2)
Finally, overcome by curiosity, Natsu could not resist the temptation to take one of the other's smooth, soft locks between his fingers. It was then, that under his touch, the little girl finally woke up. She moved and stretched a little, and sensing his movements, Natsu suddenly withdrew his hand. For a few moments the two children found themselves staring into each other's eyes before Natsu mustered up enough courage to speak.
" Hello!" He tried with a smile, " I am Natsu Dragneel! What is your name?"
" Erza ... " Whispered the little girl.
" Just Erza? Even dragons have last names! Like me, Natsu Dragneel, son of Igneel Dragneel! "
The little girl remained a few more moments in silence, as if in reflection, before adding " Scarlet ... "
" Okay, that's better! " Natsu nodded with a satisfied air " Yours sounds like a good name, even if it is shorter than mine. "
Erza, however, was not at all interested in the length of names at that moment. She had just woken up in an unfamiliar place and although Natsu did not seem to have any bad intentions, that did not mean she could let her guard down. " Where am I?"
Natsu noticed only then that the other was looking around suspiciously. Her eyes also had a beautiful color, although Natsu could only see one; they were the same as the chestnuts she gathered in the fall.
" You are in Grandeeney's lair! " The child explained to her, spreading his arms wide to better indicate the cave around them. " It was she who healed you, but it was I who found you on the beach. Me and Igneel."
" What about the others? "
" Who others? "
" There was no one else on the beach? Did you find no one? " As she cried out Erza had settled down on her bed, despite the pain of her wounds. She looked so worried and her eyes so shiny that Natsu hesitated to answer. He scratched his head for a while, knowing that he would not give her good news, and then finally decided to confess to her that she was the only one they had found. Little Erza then bowed her head and a couple of big tears began to roll down her cheek.
" No, no! You must not cry now! " Not only had Natsu never spoken to another child before, he also had no idea what to do with one in tears. " You are not alone! " was the first thing that came to his mind " There's me! There is Igneel and there is Grandeeney too! You don't have to be afraid of anything! "
" Ah - ah - ah ... Natsu but what have you been up to? This beautiful young lady has just woken up and already you have upset her? "
" I didn't do anything! " Bringing the child out of his embarrassment was done by Igneel himself, coming out from behind the rocks that sheltered that corner of the cave. The dragon man went and sat down next to his son as well, but Grandeeney remained a few steps behind, standing in his feet.
" Did you lose someone you loved in that shipwreck? " Igneel stroked the child on the head trying to calm her sobs " I am so sorry, but my son is right: you have nothing to be afraid of, here with us you are safe. "
" I don't know to what extent that is true. " Grandeeney sighed " Especially when someone like Natsu is around. Didn't I recommend that you let her sleep, all you had to do was be still and silent! "
" You only told me to be quiet ... "
" OUT! Leave her alone! " At that point the dragoness's patience had reached its limit again: Grandeeney grabbed Natsu and Igneel by the scruff of the neck and began to push them away toward the exit. It took a while for both of them to break free from the hold and the child wasted no more time in hiding behind his father's legs.
" What is it that you do not understand if I tell you that you must let her rest? Scram! "
" When can I come back to say goodbye to Erza? "
Grandeeney cast such a fiery glance at Natsu that for a few moments the child thought he would be reduced to ashes. " At least in a week. " A week was too long, and Natsu was not very happy with the answer, but at those words Igneel's expression softened into a smile " Do you want to keep her that long? Don't tell me you have decided to house her forever? "
" I'm not the one to decide who stays and who doesn't. " The dragoness reprimanded him, pointing to the exit " But I know for a fact that you two are leaving now. " And Igneel nearly burst out laughing, hoisting his son in his arms and clutching true to the outside " Did you hear that Natsu? We'll be back in a week. "
" But... Let go of me! Ah! Erza! " Natsu managed to turn around just in time to wave a hand and greet the other little girl who was staring at the scene in wonder " See you next time! Don't be afraid of Grandeeney: she's an obnoxious dragon but she doesn't bite! " Igneel lengthened her stride to leave the cave before her son added some more nonsense and the dragoness instead stomped a foot on the ground in irritation. The long tongue was of the many reasons she hated humans.
" Dragon? " Little Erza meanwhile had been sitting on her bed, wiping away her tears with one hand, and she was not sure she understood everything properly. Grandeeney turned to her with a sigh, he had thought of telling her the truth at another time so as not to upset her and let her rest in peace, but apparently thanks to Natsu he could no longer back down.
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