章節 27: The edge of the cliff

-Sara's POV-

What's taking him so long? I shook the water out of my fur and just as I started to worry, his head popped out of the surface and he swam to the edge, in front of me. To my disdain, he held my paw and the ground for support and lifted himself up, out of the water.

His hair dripped down in front of his face and the water gave his muscled body a golden shine with the help of the sun. I couldn't help but gawk at his toned skin and his muscles flexing as he lifted himself up. Taking in a large gulp, I prayed that he didn't notice my staring.

He stood next to me, shaking his hair, making the water from his hair flick everywhere and it took all of my focus to not purr. What the hell was wrong with me?! I shook my head feeling red. Picking up his clothes that I dropped when going in to save him, he went behind a tree and I stared back at the water, minding my business.

After a couple minutes he appeared again.

"Come on." he said, patting my head. I followed him through the forest but stopped when I saw a pair holding their flag and running through to the finish line. No words were exchanged but both Zeref and I ran towards them in full speed. They were the Hebrion Academy representatives.

I body slammed the girl with the flag, knocking her off her feet. We both struggled but I was way larger than her, causing her to activate her mana.

Her dark, rich skin turned to stone as she threw her fist into my snout, flying me back into a large tree. I searched for Zeref but could hear him running away with the Hebrion guy hot on his tail. I guess he spotted our flag.

The girls box braids flung around her waist again as she stood up, grabbing the flag. My wolf let out a threatening growl at her, telling her I wasn't done with her.

My canines started to twinkle in the light, showing her I was thirsty for blood. Her eyes widened as she gripped her flag and ran towards the edge of the forest, away from the finish line. I thought it was quite stupid to run from a wolf, honestly.

Her legs failed her as we reached the edge of a rocky cliff. She stumbled to the floor and grunted. Tauntingly, I circled her, snapping my teeth at her. I just had to buy time until Zeref came and we could both rush to the finish line.

I closed in swiftly and striked her body with my paw, she tried to block but her guard broke and her body flailed into a large tree trunk knocking her out.

She was older than me and much more experienced with tactics but I was a royal wolf. I didn't blame her for failing to defeat me. She was quite strong though.

Zeref burst out from the bushes with our flag and I let out a long howl of victory. His smile was wiped off when the Garsonite prep duo made an entrance, the Hebrion boy also emerged, bruised up, behind Zeref.

At first everyone stood still, overwhelmed, but realisation hit us when the big Garsonite girl tackled me to the edge of the cliff. The fight broke out and Zeref looked strained and hesitant on using his full power. What was wrong with him?!

We were getting teamed up on!

My teeth snapped out a chunk of the fat on her stomach and she let out a deep yelp. The Hebrion girl focused on her flag, defending it from the Garsonite boy. I stood up on my feet to be knocked upwards by the jaw.

Continuously throwing rock hard punches, my head bounced against her knuckles, leaving me dazed and unable to get in a breath. I was too distracted and to my surprise, a large hit aimed at my stomach flew me backwards, off of the cliff.

My eyes captured everything in slow motion as I watched the reactions of my peers. They all stopped fighting in shocked faces and, in slow motion, tried to reach for me. The world swirled beneath me as my arms flew in front of me, trying to catch something so I could prevent my fate.

"AHWWWW!!" my howl for help was faded out by the yells of the audience. I felt my stomach drop under me and my breath halted in my throat. The wind rushed angrily in my ear, yelling into my eardrums and pushing my hair into my eyes.

To my relief, a lanky arm gripped my paw and a head popped into view from the rocky cliff. It was the Hebrion boy…

"Sara!!!" Zeref gripped my other paw and they both hoisted me up. My feet failed me and all I could think of was the fact that I was alive. My wolf form was much smaller now due to the mana expenditure so pulling me up didn't seem to be a problem. Zeref fell next to me and pulled me into a tight hug, shaking next to me. The full picture came into my view.

The Hebrion girl was fighting off the Garsonite duo with her mana fully activated. Stinging nettles laced around her hand like special jewellery. She whipped a rope of nettles around like a whip, summer salting around the two bimbos. Her hair was levitating behind her, growing out like hissing snakes, lashing and slashing at their prey.

My eyes drowsed into a blur and my eyelids started to feel heavy.

The pain in my stomach churned and nipped my insides slowly. Zeref held me tight and sighed into my fur. The other guy sitting next to us stared at me, relieved.

"It's okay Sara." I peeked through my eyelashes to see the awfully sharp jawline of Zeref Amara and his annoyingly defiant eyebrows, glaring at the fight. His jaw clenched as his Adam's apple bobbed up and down showing the big gulp took in. I laid my head next to his chest, tired.

"Johan... thank you. Let's finish the line together." Zeref spoke to the Hebrion guy; his chest vibrating next to my ears as he spoke, making me feel fuzzy in the head. My cheeks felt warm and I could feel the fur on my ears frizz.

Johan, the guy who saved me, picked up ours and his flag and led the way, after nodding. I cautiously followed, making sure to walk near Zeref. I noticed his partner was trailing right behind us.

"Ciara, hold our flag." Johan said, handing his flag to his partner. I frowned as the pain dissipated in my stomach.

Zeref's pace sped up and the trees stopped standing in front of us like a barrier and revealed us the glory of the finish line. As if we had the most time in the world, all four of us crossed the finish line and into the arena in a slow pace.

Instantly, the loud cheers of the audience shook my drowsy eyes awake, making me gasp in surprise. Ciara, the pretty Hebrion girl, placed her hand on Zeref's shoulder while waving the Hebrion flag, proudly.

By her side was her partner, Johan, who waved our flag, smirking to himself in content. Scanning the audience for Naz, Jace and Malia, I jumped up and down in joy, howling in victory to the cheering people. Pants escaped my lips as I flipped around to look at Zeref who was smiling at me through his mask. I barked and turned back to the endless crowds of people.

"WE DID IT! WE DREW FIRST!" Johan said.

"Ah!" I flinched back at the touch of the cold liquid. The nurse sighed, glancing up at me.

"Be careful!" Naz scowled at the nurse. "You're killing her." Naz crossed her arms, leaning back in the chair next to me.

"Calm down. She's just doing her job." Malia laughed slightly. I gripped onto Malia's hand, squeezing it slightly as the nurse wiped the millions of grazes littered around my arms, legs and stomach. The cold rings on her fingers cooled my nerves, sending shivers up my spine slightly. The cool engraved patterns grazed my skin, making me jitter at the tickly sensation.

"She nearly died out there!" Naz reprimanded as her eyes widened. She exaggerated her hand movements; flinging her arm to the direction of the forest. Malia and I laughed lightly at her drama.

"I'm fine." I sighed, laying my head back on the pillow, providing my neck comfort.

Right now, we were behind the arena, in the nurse's room. The nurse had given me spare clothing which was just a plain white T-shirt and grey jogging bottoms.

The door swung open and Jace walked in, followed by Zeref, Johan and Ciara. I smiled at the delectable scent of cake. Jace held up a bag and smiled at me, placing it on my lap.

"I got you cake." he said and sat in the seat next to Malia. I didn't hesitate to flash him a teethy, gummy smile before unwrapping the plastic and digging the plastic fork in.

"Ugh, thanks. I'm gonna really need the sugar." I half chewed and half spoke.

"I'm glad you're ok," Zeref smiled, leaning against the cabinet, hands in his pockets. Damn. I fluttered my eyes back onto my cake, trying to keep my racing heart in control.

"Yeah, I was super worried you were gonna die." Ciara smiled at me, sitting at the edge of my bed, making the edge sink down slightly.

"Thanks for helping me." I smiled, shyly.

"Yeah. I saw what you did out there. Pretty cool power." Malia gave Ciara a lopsided smile, tilting her head and leaning forwards in her seat with her elbows resting above her knees. Strings of her hair effortlessly fell to the side of her temples, from her ponytail.

Ciara's eyes widened and her dark toned cheeks flashed a tint of hot red. "Th-Thanks…?". Ciara gestured for Malia's name.

"Malia Stronghold. This guy is Jace and that's Naz," she pointed at the two; Malia gave her a genuine smile, making her eyes shrink a little and her cheeks puff. I turned my head to thank Johan but he was too preoccupied gazing at Malia so I just left him. I turned to Zeref but he was also busy glaring at the floor, deep in his thoughts.

"You had us so worried-" Naz spoke but was interrupted by the sound of the door.

"Sara!" Mr Xanxus frantically stumbled in. "Are you okay?! Can you still compete?!" he ran to me, his hair messy as ever.

"She's fine." Naz rolled her eyes at his interruption.

"Just a few scratches." I reassured him with the 'don't worry' eyes.

Johan laughed at something Jace had said and they both left with Malia and Ciara, giving me space. I looked at Naz and she hugged me again before leaving too. "Don't die Sara." she threatened, glaring daggers at me. I gulped. "I love you" her eyes softened and she turned to leave before I could say anything.

My head hung low as I took a bite of the Victoria sponge cake. "Nazzzzz!" I cried out with the cake filling my mouth. Tears rushed out of my eyes as I tried to swallow my bite.

"Oh calm down Sara…" Mr Xanxus said in a panic, looking lost.

"Xanxus, you should go to your seat. Round 2 is starting. I'll handle it." Zeref finally spoke, kicking the cabinet to his feet and standing up straight.

"Well then. Good luck." Mr Xanxus nodded at my sobbing self and Zeref before leaving.