Chapter 33. Conflict at Camp.
Erza stayed up the entire night as she kept watch over Gavin's prone form. He tossed and turned in their bed and moaned nonsensical things as his body was wrought with a high fever that Erza struggled to keep down with medicine from their first aid kit.
She lost count of how many pots of coffee she went through by the time dawns early rays of sunshine began to spill over the campsite. Aria and Lyla both tried to stay up with her to keep her company with conversation, but both faded off and fell asleep eventually.
Only Tessa matched Erza's vigil. Erza looked over at Tessa as she sat on the other edge of the tent flap sipping on a fresh cup of coffee. Her voice broke the silence; it was flat, worn out, dangerous. Not angry, but just short of it. "You can stop glaring at me."
Tessa looked over at her and took another drink. "You must be bad luck or something for him." Her voice was quiet, but cold and she spoke boldly.
Erza lifted one tired brow as she asked, "How so?"
Tessa looked back inside the tent. "That's twice he's been around you and ended up in this condition." Tessa's voice wasn't angry, but it was low and carried weight as she pointed to Gavin's sleeping form.
Erza's left eye twitched as she glared at Tessa. She took a moment to collect herself before she snapped at her. "You can't blame me for either time. I didn't ask him to come with me to the studio. I didn't attack him or whatever out on that trail." She paused for a moment, anger slipping into her voice as her mana flared out around her in hues of soft browns. "Honestly as strong as he is, and as much control over his shifter form and magical skills as he currently has, there shouldn't be anything in these woods that would have been able to hurt him like this!"
Erza stood up, her body trembled as she clenched her fists by her side. "I don't know what weird jealousy thing you have going on Tessa. But grow the fuck up. Gavin wanted me, he asked me out, confessed to me. If you can't accept that, then I guess that makes you a pretty lousy friend." Erza's voice shook as tears slid down her cheeks.
"You are not the center of his universe! The last thing I need is some teenage girl acting like she is the only important person in his life!" Erza snapped as her mana expanded farther, growing thicker in Erza's anger.
Tessa sat there and her body shook with rage and embarrassment "I… I don't know what you're talking about Red. I'm not jealous, I'm just concerned that he keeps getting hurt around you!" She denied as she stood up and knocked over the chair.
Erza scoffed. "Oh sure. If that was the case, you wouldn't have gotten so angry over him soaking you with that spell." Erza pointed out.
"That was different, and you know it." Tessa said as she blushed from the memory and refused to back down.
"Sure, it was. Just like you attacked me at the hospital, trying to blame me. I consider myself pretty patient most days, but there are only so many times I can be attacked by someone, especially when I didn't do anything." Erza's snarl came low and cat-like as her eyes began to glow and she took a step forward, her hand forming a clawed shape as a small fireball appeared in her palm.
"ENOUGH!" Aria walked up behind Tessa before she could respond. Erza's shouting and mana flare happened to wake her up and she came to investigate. "Are you both out of your damn minds?!" She stepped in between them, green hues of mana energy floated around as the wind picked up.
She looked at Erza, "Really sis? You're gonna use magic on her?" Aria's tone was filled with disappointment, but she didn't lower her mana.
Tessa backed up a step at Aria's intervention. Her own eyes glowed black from the pent up anger and mana that surged to the surface at the sight of Erza's fireball.
"Stay out of this Aria. I'm tired of her attitude and attacking me all the time." Erza snapped as she refused to back down to Aria. She kept her gaze on Tessa who hadn't moved more than a step back.
Aria's features softened slightly as she walked over, the wind followed her every step, gentle, calming. "You are just upset and worried over Gavin. We all are. But fighting each other is not going to magically wake him up, or make either of you feel any better, will it?" Her words were gentle and soothing as she looked between both women.
Erza finally calmed down to a degree as she heard Aria. She dropped the mana and ended the fireball in her palm. She clenched her fist as she glared at Tessa. "No, it's not going to solve anything." She growled out as she turned her back on Tessa and walked over to check on Gavin, her hair ruffling in the wind created by Aria's magic.
Tessa, who had remained silent, let out a shaky breath. She said nothing as she stormed off, letting her own mana go. I didn't expect her to react like that. She… She was really about to attack me. Tessa retreated off to her own tent in silence.
Erza checked Gavin's forehead with the back of her hand, and let out a relieved sigh. "His fever finally broke, I think." Her words were tired as she looked at the brunette.
Aria hesitated as the tension left her body. She walked over to kneel down beside her. "See, told you he would be alright by morning." Her voice was filled with relief.
Erza nodded, her hair fell loose over her shoulder, and created a curtain to hide her face. "I'm sorry," her whispered words were barely heard by Aria.
Aria shook her head. "It's not me you have to apologize to sis. This is between you and Tessa." Aria's words were gentle but stern as she spoke.
Erza's shoulders sagged as she let out an annoyed sigh. "Yeah, I know. I shouldn't have shouted at her like that. She's as worried about him as I am." Her tone was laced with reluctance. "I acted as bad as she did."
Aria said nothing as she offered her quiet company. "Why don't you get some rest? I'll stay and keep watch for a while." She offered as Erza yawned again.
Erza shook her head. "No, I'm alright. I wouldn't be able to sleep right now if I tried." She looked at Aria, and Aria noticed the bloodshot eyes that were barely open.
Aria chuckled as she pushed Erza to the bed. "Go, lay down. If you sleep great, if not then at least you can stretch your back some." She suggested as she pulled back the blankets on the air mattress.
Erza grumbled as she complied and climbed into the bed and fought back another yawn. "If he wakes up, or something happens wake me up right away."
Aria smiled at her as she nodded. "You know I will sis."