Chapter Text
The sky was blue and clear, the sun shining down over the lush green island. It was a vast difference to the thunder and rain from the night before. Two animals emerged from a cave near the shore, looking out at the damage.
"What a storm!" The small black cat exclaimed, looking at the fallen trees and washed up debris.
The blue cat beside him stretched, stiff from lying in the cave all night.
"You could say that again!"
The two winged cats made their way down the shoreline, trying to assess the extent of the damage.
"Look! Fish!" The blue cat ran off excitedly, spotting some dead fish that had washed ashore. The other animal continued past the fish, spotting something unusual in the distance.
"Happy!" He called to his blue friend.
"Hold on Patherlily, I'm busy." Happy replied through a fully stuffed mouth.
"Hurry!" At his friend's frantic voice, Happy looked up from his meal and sped over to him.
Before them was a young girl, with pale skin and long blue hair. She wore a torn dress and looked disheveled, like she had been tossed around in the sea.
"She's alive," Patherlily said, watching the girl's short, shallow breathing.
"What do we do?" Happy asked.
"We need to help her." The black cat told him. He frowned, taking pity on the poor girl who was obviously a long way from home.
——
Ten years passed and the girl became a beautiful young woman, graceful and agile and fully at home as she manoeuvred through trees and wildlife. She felt especially at home swimming in the small ponds and hidden shorelines. Her long blue hair was adorned with a purple flower and an old sail had been fashioned into a dress for her. She ran through the jungle on her bare feet, a small green cat running beside her.
"Come on Frosch!" She exclaimed.
"Wait up Juvia!" The cat replied, trying to keep up.
Juvia ran towards the beach, laughing joyously. She stopped just as she hit the water and wriggled her toes in the sand.
"Is it cold?" Frosch asked. He carefully stuck a paw in the water. Juvia splashed the cat and he jumped back onto the shore.
"Juvia!" He whined.
"Sorry, I couldn't resist." She giggled. She moved a few steps further into the sea, enjoying the water caressing her skin.
"What are you two up to?" The black cat came out of the trees.
"Nothing, Lily," Juvia smiled. "Just enjoying some sun."
"Well, we should find Happy before he eats all food we've collected," Lily told them. Juvia sighed and took one last moment to enjoy the water before leaving, running past the two cats.
"Last one there's a rotten fish!" She yelled over her shoulder. The cats scrambled after her, their small legs no match for her long ones.
——
That night, Juvia was asleep in her bed of leaves when she was awoken by a sudden cry. She shot up quickly and spotted Frosch looking very distressed in his sleep beside her.
"Frosch," she gently shook the small creature awake. His eyes shot open and welled up with tears.
"Juvia?"
"It's alright. Juvia's right here."
Frosch sniffed, rubbing his eyes.
"I don't think I can go back to sleep." He said sheepishly.
"That's okay, Juvia will stay up with you."
——
After moving away from their sleeping friends, Juvia and Frosch sat on the on a ledge overlooking the island and looked at the stars.
"Could you sing?" Frosch asked tearfully.
"Sure,"
The cat settled his head on her lap as she sang the only song she knew.
"Sun goes down and we are here together
Fireflies glow like a thousand charms
Stay with me and you can dream forever
Right here in my arms,"
"How did you learn that song again?" Frosch asked sleepily.
"Juvia's not sure. She's just always known it." She looked off to the sea and continued singing, stroking the cat's head.
"It's magic when you are here beside me
Close your eyes and let me hold you tight
Everything that I could ever need is
Right here in my arms tonight,"
"And the other part?" Frosch yawned.
"Alright, but Juvia doesn't remember the words,"
She hummed the rest of the song quietly, only realising afterwards that her friend had fallen asleep.
"Goodnight Frosch." She kissed the cat's head and shuffled them into a more comfortable sleeping position
——
It was early the next morning when Happy woke her up in a panic.
"Juvia! Something's coming!"
The girl looked out to the horizon where he was gesturing. There was a large wooden ship floating towards the island, white sails flying in the wind. Her heart jumped into her throat.