Esper's Journey

Even on a brisk morning like today, the ancient dirt forest path was strangely silent. The only activity Esper could see on the long walk ahead of him was the occasional swaying tree and softly blowing reeds, as well as the slowly bobbing head of his majestic alicorn, Twilight, under him and the churning river in the corner hia my left eye. It was either another monster scaring the masses away from the forest, or farmer Pippascoochibob's hodras had gotten loose again, and he'd rounded up half Magnolia Town to help get them back. Despite his new wall, Esper suspected the hodras were not roaming the forest paths. Suddenly Esper shuddered, and it wasn't from the cool wind blowing in over the river nearby or the fact winter was starting to settle in.

A feeling pierced the air, followed by the dull thud of Esper collapsing. Esper and Twilight needed to relax, and here was as good a place as any. Despite the fact that he had been riding all day, he slept poorly on the chilly dirt ground. In his sleep, he was haunted by hazy dreams. His nightmares were tormented by visions of all his king being slain. They were expecting him in the afterlife he thought to himself, assuming the nightmare was real or just a way for him to cope with the loss of family he didn't even remember.

He awoke with a yawn, the rising sun giving him his first decent glimpse at where the two had slept so fitfully. Well only one slept poorly, Twilight slept perfectly. They had made camp through a rocky clearing, largely grass with the occasional cluster of trees or sharp stones that night. With the fear of the nightmare waning the two would eat on the bounty of the forest, getting their fill before starting another day of travel.

Fear, it's remarkable how such a simple word can signify so many different things to so many different individuals. Esper had spent most of his life trying to figure out his past, but he had never completely comprehended it and that gave him fear. Because Esper was beginning to more powerful for the first time in his life, he was starting to gain hope again that he may actually find answers one day. Esper felt an ice numbness in the pit of his stomach, and he knew it wasn't because he was hungry since they just ate. No, it was something far worse, and it made him feel confused. He had killed so many throughout the years, such as poachers. He'd had so many that he'd given up counting, but he'd never felt anything like this. Had their families felt like he did? Did they yearn to know the truth or count the days until they could get their revenge? The feeling would go away when he convinced himself it didn't matter, he defended himself after all and they had been bad people.

As he cautiously climbed to his paws, the chilly morning air pierced deeply into his bones despite having fur. He jerked his tail into the air, straining as far as his muscles would allow as he extended his body in a stretch. He felt stabs of pain all throughout his body, but he ignored them. If he was to get attached, he wanted to be in good shape. The pain faded slowly, lingering in the various places like his joints. Twilight would stare at him before vanishing in the poof of smoke. She had only been summoned the night before to heal a wound and they talked as he rode her. Now that her job was done there was no need for her to remain when she could be back home with her kind.

He made his way over to the forest river. He sat back on his back paws and dunked his face into the water to wash it, then started to drink from it. The motion had two purposes: it removed some of the filth from his face and it helped him focus his mind more clearly for the upcoming traveling. He paused to admire his adorable features as the extremely cold water trickled down his furry face. It was no wonder why humans wanted to hunt him sometimes, a pelt as fine as his would be fit for a king's room.

Looking up rain drops would start to fall on Esper. First it'd start off light and then begin to become heavier. That feeling he first had would start to creep up as he heard a noise and smelt a familiar and dangerous scent. Darting to a hiding spot under some brush near the water he'd lay in wait to confirm what was coming. He dared not to move or make a sound. Despite the rain, he was afraid that any noise or movement might alert his hunters. The creatures were fierce, skilled predators. If he was caught, he'd be ripped up and eaten. Their thick coats kept them warm in the cold weather, and their carnivorous nature meant that, no matter what they'd never stop looking for him. They seemed to be swarming all about him in the forest that stretched out all around him. His only chance was to sneak past and make it to Magnolia, where he wouldn't be pursued.

He could feel the terror mounting within him, and he urgently sought to quiet his senses. The last thing he needed was a panic attack. He needed to be wiser than the hunters. He didn't come all this way to join a guild just to die right after. Esper stared out into the forest after using his evolution magic to turn into Umbreon. As Umbreon he didn't emit any smell or magic, really the only way to sense him was through vision or some other spectacular sense. Creeping forward, the soaking wet earth started to sink beneath him from the rain and being near the river. He crept under the brush and out into the hiding spot, clinging to the tree nearby as tightly as he could.

Word Count: 1017

He was immediately pelted by the chilly, pelting rain leaving the protecting of the bush and tree. Sprinting as fast as his four little paws could take him he swooped down through the forest and weaved in and out of the trees. Because it was so dark from the setting storm, most of his movement was dictated solely by the night vision of his new form. He dodge tree trunks trying to keep to them as closely as possible to offer protection and block view, taking care not to crash with shrubs or low-lying foliage. Esper sprinted through forest as the incessant deluge showed no sign of abating. He could feel a weakness developing, and he was anxious to get some rest. He'd been pursued for a good hour now and was still a hour away from town. How could these things be permitted to be so close to the town to start with. They must have just recently arrived or Fairy Tail would have gotten rid of them already.

There was a continual sense that something was following him. It felt as the creatures were about to reach out and grab him, yanking him down into their webs. The howls from their toothy maws pierced through the forest and rain. The chill of weather had wrapped around his core, slowing his motions. Esper began to feel hopeful as time passed and nothing caught up to kill him off. He might be able to make it out after all. Then he noticed something ahead of him. It was hard to see even with his vision but by the time he saw what was happening it was too late. He had been caught in a web spread out between the trees. Smacking into it Esper became stuck. No matter how much he moved it wasn't enough, it only made the situation worse. Was he about to die to these wolf spider hybrids that he didn't even know the name of? Was his journey over before it really started? Esper's life was starting to flash before his eyes.

No. He was a member of Fairy Tail and not as weak as he used to be. He had the ability to become the hunter, to defend himself unlike before. A strong wind blasted through the woods, rattling the webbing. The howl of the creatures were getting ever closer. Esper moved his body as best as he could and swiftly as he could. He fought desperately to make sure he was facing the creatures fast approaching. Then it was time. Transforming he'd use his new spell Gigantamax to become massive, or at least as massive as the forest would allow him. His great bulk and size broke the webbing that he was trapped in and gave he spider wolves pause as they started to approach. While still huge he'd cast another take-over at such speed that would impress anyone and become Glaceon. Still casting his magic with such speed and fluidity he'd then cast his new forms magic, Icy Wind. Given that it was already cold, the magic would simply make it colder, causing the spider wolves to freeze and incur damage from the magic. It hit them a good blow and gave them further pause, but the struggle was far from done. Esper was up against a swarm of them, far more than he might be able handle.

Word Count: 565

Well, he’d be damned…

He was quickly notified by the guild that a pack of ‘spider-wolves’ had, against all odds, made it all the way from the Cursed Woods to the East Forest here in Magnolia Town. Now, Mura wasn’t having any of that, so he decided to charge towards the woods himself. These beasts were a threat and a danger to Magnolia’s citizens and the ecosystem, so he’d have to eradicate them before any casualties would pop up.

But here he stood, at the top of a tree crown – a fairly slim dude with his hair tied into a bushy ponytail, donning his black gi and his two priced weapons – eyeing a gigantic creature that towered over the tree crowns further away. It had a smooth, light-blue surface and breathed an ice-cold wind across the woods, worrying the shaman that it… it… wait a second-

This required immediate action. If Esper was to glare at the arachno-wolves, then his vision would clearly make up the blur of a humanoid entity carrying an ethereal blade standing by many of the hostile creatures. The blurs would then disappear, followed by sudden, bloody cuts and crying howls in the blink of an eye.

Kyuken-Style, River Stream

Among the dead corpses, Mura held out his white katana Harusame and his red stone dagger. His fighting spirit was on display, and it covered the entire forest in his heavy aura, and yet… he held back. Two voices spoke at once when he opened his mouth: “I take it that you’re our newest member, Esper?”

WC: 260
TWC: 1842

The form and grace that was displayed in front of Esper was something he couldn't put into words. Not just that but the power was so palpable that he could feel it weighing him down like a warm blanket. His animal instincts kicked in a moment as the fur on his nap stuck up. If that aura had malice behind it then that feeling a warmth would turn into such oppressive dread that it would lock Esper in place from the sheer fear and weight of it. He'd think to himself, this is why this man is the guild master. Now freeded he'd shake off like a canine and use Mimic to turn into a humanoids version of himself. He normally didn't do this but he wanted to have a hand to extend this time.

"Yes, sir. I am Esper. I joined recently. It's a pleasure but I am sorry that we had to meet like this. I didn't think it would be to save my tail, literally!"

Giving a polite bow Esper would walk forward and extend a hand of greeting. His guild maker was now on his hand in this form as it shifted places, noting he was in fact a member of fairy tail.

"I regret I'm not strong enough to fight these wolf spiders. I didn't even know they'd be here. I do know of them. They typically have a nest but with so many destroyed it will take a while for them to rebuild and grow up as only the young and babies remain back at the lair. The rest hunt in packs like real wolves. If you'll permit me to make up for my failings, I will be back to dispatch of them once I'm stronger and rid the forest of them."

Esper would leave it at that. He was nervous and it shown on his face but his pride kept his voice strong and resolute.

WC: 323
TWC: 2165 @Mura Kensho