Day One: Part 1

[Erza Scarlet]

Erza was dropped less-than-gracefully out of the helicopter, landing with a resounding *thud* on her back in the center of a moonlit clearing of soft, green grass in the middle of what seemed to be a jungle. Ow. THAT was a back-ache that wouldn't go away any time soon. It didn't help that with her magic hampered by this cold-ass metal color, she couldn't use her powers of flight to float gracefully down to the ground. It seemed the collar was inhibiting her access to her innate magic. Well, Desco hadn't been lying, at least. It was not a comfortable feeling. Oh well. No use wasting time thinking about it too much. I'm certainly not the only one.

She allowed herself a moment's respite, taking comfort in the soft grass padding she could feel gently caressing her calves and the back of her head. Using the opportunity to look side to side, taking in her environment, she again noticed the dark-grey duffel bag that had before been on her bed. Right. Weapon, or something. She grabbed the closest handle with her outstretched arm, and tugged. The bag stayed in place.

Well, that was certainly odd. Erza was used to handling gigantic buster swords and impractically large warhammers, and yet, without her magic and from this vulnerable position, she couldn't move her bag at all. She sat up, leaning on her hands for a moment as her aching back again called for a pause. Her head again turned to face the bag. It certainly hadn't been THAT heavy back in the room. Her curiosity, however, would have to wait yet another moment for her to scoot to the bag and sit normally, unzipping it gleefully like a child on Christmas morning who'd already been awake for three hours but had had to wait for their parents to come downstairs first.

The sight before her was... Satisfactory. It wasn't her style of weapon by any means, but she knew someone who would have had quite a fun time with it were she here. In her honor, Erza thought with a smirk, I shall have to do the same. There was a list of instructions attached...

Taking a second cursory look around her, there seemed to be a path of some sort, perhaps a road? Visible through the trees, and relatively nearby. She sauntered down the very mild incline and onwards toward the road in her headlights, her shadow a distorted silhouette of the young S-class wizard with a duffel bag on one shoulder and a very large hunk of metal on the other.

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It seemed at least a good half-hour had passed as she sauntered down the coastal drive, a light, salty breeze flowing through the cracks in her armor and bringing a welcome respite from the sweat that had begun to build as she walked. This thing is heavier than it looks... Though I knew that already. It was then that she heard a rustling in the grass up ahead. Immediately, she allowed the thing to fall forwards, the other end resting in her left hand while she kept it ready to use with her right. Crouching and quickly hopping out of the center of the road, she did her best to sneak towards the source of the sound. Her armor, clanking moderately obnoxiously, made this task less than possible, but that wasn't something that Erza was particularly capable of noticing.

From the tree cover beyond came a somewhat-frightened squeak as a short creature made his way forwards, hands in the air. "Golly, I didn't think I'd run into anyone just yet!"

Erza let down her weapon, keeping one hand ready for a quick recovery but freeing the other. The critter didn't look frightening to her. In fact, it was borderline cute. "Look, I don't think I'm going to kill you right now. I don't like to attack first." She let her weapon slide to the ground, leaning on it for support. "Actually, why don't we move together for now? I sure could use some company."

He nodded emphatically, his giant hands moving to his tiny hips and face lighting up like Dora's when you pick the right answer. "Well, gee, that sounds fine to me, ha-ha!"