:PC: No More Running

No More Running

++ A oneshot of Faune (Kaizoku-no-Yume's OC) and Pantherlily ++

Bare feet ran swiftly through a deep forest, trying to escape the shadow that was closing in swiftly from behind her. Faune's long blonde hair flew in the wind behind her, and her black lined cat ears twitched sensitively to every sound around her…

He was so close. Her outfit allowed for her to move swiftly through the dense forest, and she expertly dodged underneath every branch, over any bush, and managed not to trip over the many logs and branches scattered on the ground.

She had to get away from him. If he caught up with her…he'd kill her.

"FAUNE! YOU CAN'T ESCAPE FROM ME!" a deep voice echoed through the forest.

Faune could feel her heart beating out of her chest; she was panting heavily, her legs about to give out, but she had to keep going. Her sword was hanging over her shoulder, and she could grab it within a second, but…she couldn't use it. Not against him.

He was her brother.

She heard Kriss snarl from behind and turned around, her golden feline eyes frantic, her breath hitched in her throat. No!

Ever since she had deserted the clan, her brother began hunting her down with the intent to kill her. It wasn't for the simple fact that she left, but Kriss new of her abilities to manipulate light, and saw it as a threat to the clan, so she had to be eliminated.

Tears stung at her eyes as she continued to run. Why did it have to be like this…? She couldn't attack her brother, even though he was bloodthirsty and only thought about killing everyone…he was still family. It hurt…it hurt so much, more than any wound she's gotten in battle.

Finally, much to her dismay, Faune let out a yelp as she tripped over a branch, and landed roughly on the ground. There were probably bruises and cuts everywhere, but she couldn't think about the pain, she just spit out some dirt and got up again, preparing to spring off once again.

"K-Kriss!" she gasped, when she looked up to see her saber tooth brother standing over her. His muscular arms were crossed over his chest and he had a malicious grin and glint his eye.

"You thought you could run, eh?" he chuckled darkly. He kneeled down and took her chin between his fingers. She tried to pull away, though his grip became tighter, and his smile faded, no longer amused.

"Kriss, stop…" she whimpered. "You're hurting me…"

"You haven't felt anything yet," Kriss hissed.

"NO!" she shrieked, about to be killed by her own brother. She closed her eyes, waiting for the inevitable end, hoping it wouldn't hurt so much. Though, after a few moments…there was nothing. She slowly opened her eyes and heard a growl, and her eyes widened in surprise.

"Gajeel!" The iron slayer dragon had pulled her brother off of him and was now fighting with him. She…she didn't think she would be saved.

Though she was grateful, it hurt to see her brother beaten.

"Damn it, where are you going, coward?" Gajeel barked, when the saber tooth cat fled before the battle was over.

"Oh, Gajeel, you're hurt!" she cried, tears streaming down her cheeks. She ran to the large man, who fell to his knees, blood dripping from the large gashes along his arms and across his stomach.

"It's nothing," he muttered under his breath. Faune shook her head, smiling through her tears. It was just like him to be so stubborn.

"You saved me…thank you," she whispered.

"Yeah…" he panted, before falling on his face, knocked out.

---

Faune sat on a boulder outside, her knees pulled up to her chest with her chin resting upon them. She hadn't seen her brother since that day…but she thought about him all the time. As she sat quietly reminiscing, she looked up to see Gajeel walk by, with Levy, the blue-haired bookworm, bouncing behind him.

"Gajeel-kun, where are you going?"

"Leave me alone, stupid woman!"

Faune couldn't help but smile at their exchange; though he always pushed the small girl away, she could tell he held feelings for the petite bookworm. He protected her countless times after he joined Fairy Tail, and it was easy to see that Levy also held feelings for the brooding iron dragon slayer.

She let out a small sigh, if only she could find love so easily…

"What are you, just sitting there, all glum?"

Faune lifted her head at the sound of the deep voice, and looked to right to see the small black cat, Pantherlily.

"Oh," she sighed. "Hey Lily. I'm just, thinking…about memories."

"About your brother?" he asked quietly, crossing her arms.

She blinked in surprise. "H-How do you know about that?"

"Gajeel told me the story."

"Oh…well, he protected me that day. Now I always feel bad when I see him, for getting him hurt so badly. But…" Her face then brightened, and she pulled the small black cat into her arms for a tight hug. "I don't have to tell you these depressing thoughts!" she laughed. She then placed him on the ground and waved him away. "You should be doing something more positive, I'll get out of this gloomy mood soon."

Idiot. Thought Lily. He transformed into his large panther form, and Faune's eyes bulged out in seeing his muscular form, a slight blush spreading across her cheeks.

"A-ah, Lily!" she squeaked in surprise, when he took her chin between his fingers.

"Don't try to keep all your troubles bottled up inside," he growled. "I can protect you as well. You shouldn't feel bad, who wouldn't jump to save you?"

"P-Pantherlily…" she whispered, touched.

He took her hand, skimming his lips across her knuckles. "We can face him together."

Faune felt her strength increase from this simple touch, though it meant so much more than that… Yes, they'd face this problem together. She didn't have to feel alone anymore.

She was done with running.

THE END