She was running next to her master, tongue wagging out as she panted. She cocked her head to the side and playfully nipped his leg, earning her a warning look. She knew what that look meant, so she lowered her head, ears flattened to her head as she continued to run. She didn't see the point in running around in circles, but it was what her master was doing, so she would do it too. She loved it when she did something good, because then he would pat her on the head, or ruffle her fur and give her a treat.

The same bend came around again. The one they had run around a lot of times now, and her playfulness overtook her once again as she nipped his leg.

"Jaz, stop! This is not the time to play!" Her master yelled, and she whined slightly at the tone of his voice. She didn't understand what he was saying yet, but she did understand play, so she perked up her ears, tail beginning to wag excitedly. She yipped, and took off faster then what he was running, going halfway down the track before she turned to him, lowering the front of her body as she growled playfully.

"No Jaz! Running, not playing!" he commanded, exasperation and humor in his voice. She barked, butt wriggling with the force of her tail. She lifted her nose as the wind shifted, and was only able to give one warning bark before pain blinded her, and blackness took over.

"Jaz!" Cloud screamed, putting on speed and running over to the wolf when she collapsed. As he neared her, he saw the rock that had hit her and began growling, very reminiscent of the canine. He knelt next to her, sighing in relief when he felt her steady heartbeat and breathing. Stiffening when footsteps sounded over the material of the track, he looked over his shoulder, and fear slithered through him as five of his fellow cadets walked up, smug smirks on all their faces.

"Well well well, lookie what we have here," the first one drawled, a burly man of 17 with shaggy, dirty blond hair, and not much intelligence in his green eyes. Cloud stood, standing protectively in front of his wolf as he scowled at them. His thoughts were running frantically. It was 3 in the morning, and no one was even around. The patrol went by about a half hour ago, and he would be on the other side of the building by now. The training grounds he was at were on the plate, so there was no way someone in the Tower would hear him if he yelled. He could grab Jaz and run, but she was getting big, and he only had one mako enhancement so far. He wasn't near strong enough to carry her, and outrun five bullies at the same time.

"What do you want?" he asked coldly, in his best Sephiroth impression. It was pretty good too, considering he had been living with the man for six months or so now.

They noticed too, but only smirked. If Cloud had long silver hair and feline eyes, it may have made them pause.

He had an idea, and stuck his hands in his pockets, feeling for his phone in his right. He was only hoping he hadn't forgotten it. He almost breathed a sigh of relief when he felt it, and slid it open inside his pocket, hitting the 1 speed dial. He knew Sephiroth would wake up when his phone rang, the man always did. Especially when the caller i.d. would say it was Cloud. He could faintly hear it ringing, and then silence which meant someone had picked up. He smirked, lowering his lids dangerously as he looked at the group of five. Jaz was stirring behind him, and one of the boys on the right picked up another rock.

"Don't fucking think about it," Cloud said softly, shifting his body so he would be able to grab the rock if it came flying. The leader laughed, pulling out a small switchblade from his pocket, the others following suit. Now the one had a rock, and a knife.

"You'll be dead anyway, so what does it matter if we kill the wolf first or not?" he said, and Cloud's blood ran cold. Normally he wouldn't believe a threat from his fellow cadets, but he could tell by the calculating look in those muddy green eyes that he was serious.

"Do I even need to ask why you'd want to kill me?" Cloud said, raising an eyebrow as he mentally checked himself for any weapons. Cursing, because he had forgotten all of them, even the one he normally carried in his boot, he set his feet. He didn't need to ask. He knew how jealous and envious everyone was of him. First, for being with Sephiroth, and neither of them making any effort to hide their relationship, and second, for always getting the special training. Zack, Sephiroth, even Angeal and Genesis when they weren't on a mission in Wutai. As expected, the leader shook his head, still smirking.

"Nope. That's a dumb question," he said. They all began advancing as Jaz tried to get to her feet, but he gently pushed her back down with one of his, never taking his eyes off those in front of him. Before they could get to him, he pulled his phone out, and indeed saw that the call had connected, and was still going.

"Seph, training yard," was all he managed to whisper before the phone was knocked out of his hand, pain searing through the palm. He couldn't pay attention to it though, as blows began raining down on him. Try as he might, he couldn't keep them all away, and his undoing was when the one with the rock tried going after Jaz again.

"No!" he screamed, falling onto his knees next to the wolf, and hugging her furry body to him. He glared up at the men, absently licking the blood that was seeping from his split lip. "Do what you want to me, but don't touch her."

The leader shrugged, and smirked. "Fine by me."

-x-x-x-x-x-

Sephiroth barreled down the stairs, forgetting caution as the unknown emotion of panic roared through his brain. All he could think of was getting to his lover. He knew that Cloud had been bullied quite a bit before they had gotten together, and it had only worsened afterwards. It was the main reason he had Cloud move in with him so quickly after starting their relationship. He could protect the blond much easier in their apartment then in the cadet barracks. Now the stupid idiot went and trained at 3 in the morning, with no one but his wolf as protection, and didn't tell anyone.

He slammed through the door that would take him outside, eyes flicking back and forth as he ran. He caught glimpses of four teenagers slipping into the trees and bushes outside the fenced training yard, and narrowed his eyes as he slowed down. It was far after curfew, and none of the ones he saw were SOLDIER. Then he smelled blood, and his eyes widened as he nearly flew over to the prone blond.

He was sprawled out on the ground next to the wolf, both of them bloody. With the animal though, he couldn't tell if it was her blood, or just Clouds. He picked Cloud up, and was getting ready to run back to the Tower and its medical facility, but Cloud coughed, turning his head and opening his eyes to look down at the animal.

"Don't forget her," he whispered hoarsely. Growling, Sephiroth picked up the wolf as well, laying her gently on Cloud. He wrapped his arms around her, and she feebly licked his face as Sephiroth ran for the building, both teen and wolf cradled in his arms.

-x-x-x-x-x-

"He has thirteen stab wounds. Four in his legs, six in his back, and another three in his arms," the nurse said, flipping over the page on her clipboard, ignoring the thunderous look of rage on the Generals face. "He was very lucky, since none of the wounds hit anything vital. He lost quite a bit of blood, but now that we have his wounds stitched that will be easy to take care of. The depth of the wounds suggest the standard issue switchblade, approximately three inches long." She finally looked up at the General, and smiled slightly. "Don't worry Sir, he will be fine. He should even be recovered enough to take his SOLDIER exams in a few days."

"What of the wolf?" he asked, and she sighed.

"Well, we aren't a veterinary clinic, but her wounds were easy enough to treat. She had a nasty head wound, which we have called a vet to come look at, but other then that, she sported one cut to her right hip, and another to her right shoulder. We sedated her, stitched her up, but now she won't get out of Cadet Strife's bed." Her voice was amused, and even Sephiroth had to grin slightly at the loyalty of the canine. He turned his head as the doors to the ward slammed open, raising an eyebrow when a panicked Zack came flying in, skidding to a stop by his side.

"Where's Cloud? Is he ok? Is the wolf ok? What happened? Did you get the guys who-?"

"Zack!" Sephiroth snapped, making the 1st swallow hard and snap to attention. "Both of them will be fine. All I can assume is that some of his fellow cadets decided to act on their jealousy." He blinked when Zack's violet eyes took on a feral look, and the mako made his eyes glow even brighter. He still wasn't used to seeing the dark haired man angry enough to make the mako glow in his eyes. The last time had been in Wutai, when a ninja had managed to get past everyone and poison their supplies. Most of the troop had died. He put his hand on the mans shoulder, causing Zack to blink and look over, the glow diminishing.

"Let's go see him, shall we?"

"That's bullshit Cloud! You damn well know who did this to you!" Zack said in a fierce whisper, backing away from the bed when the wolf raised her head, growling fiercely at him. Sephiroth was the only one she had let even close to the bed. Cloud sighed, and absently ran his fingers through her soft white fur, eyes glittering dangerously.

"You're damn right I know who did this to me, Zackary Fair," Cloud said coldly, raising his eyes and not flinching away from the hurt that flared in the others eyes. "This is not something for ShinRa, its General, or any of its SOLDIER's to worry about. This is personal." Zack went to open his mouth again, frowning, but Sephiroth only placed a hand on his shoulder, giving him a warning look. His mouth snapped shut with a click, and the two watched as Zack painfully reigned in his emotions.

"Personal, huh?" Zack asked softly, sighing when Cloud nodded. "Fine then." He turned on his heel, and walked out of the room. Jaz huffed, watching the man go, and lay her head back down on Cloud's lap. Wincing, Cloud shifted, hating the flat, uncomfortable medical beds.

"I want to go home," he muttered, earning him a sympathetic noise from Sephiroth. He helped Cloud get adjusted, getting the blond a few more pillows, before Cloud finally said he was semi-comfortable. Sephiroth perched on the side of the bed, obligingly stroking Jaz's massive head when she whined at him.

"You could have taken them," the General said quietly, sighing when Cloud only looked away.

"I could have," the blond agreed quietly, and opened his mouth to say more, but then the vet for the wolf walked around the cloth curtain, smiling at them. The smile disappeared as he took in the wolf, and he swallowed as Jaz raised her head, watching him curiously.

"I was told there was a dog I needed to examine for a head wound?" he asked in a squeaky voice, and Sephiroth and Cloud shared an amused look. The examination went smoothly, despite the fear that was radiating from the vet. He had not been expecting to find a Nibel Wolf when they called him to examine Jaz. Then again, not many people really knew what a Nibel Wolf looked like, since they were very private creatures. Cloud was yawning by the time the vet left, and Sephiroth leaned over to give him a soft kiss on the forehead as his blue eyes slipped close.

"Sleep well, love. You only have a few days to get better," he whispered, smiling slightly when Cloud only nodded, and rolled slowly onto his side. Jaz moved so she was laying with her back to his front, and he wrapped his arms around her, hugging her furry body to him. Sephiroth waited until they were both asleep, before slipping out of the ward. He found Zack, and of all people Angeal, leaning against the wall a few feet down from the door. They both walked up to him, but Sephiroth motioned for them to walk, and they didn't speak until they reached the elevator.

"I didn't think you were due back until tomorrow morning?" Sephiroth asked, fighting back a yawn. He blinked when they both began to laugh softly, and sighed as the realization hit him. It was tomorrow morning. They all piled into the elevator, and Sephiroth leaned his head tiredly against the wall.

"So what's the plan?" Zack asked, and Sephiroth glanced over to the two of them, sighing.

"I know who did this," he said softly, earning himself a startled glance from both of them.

"Did Cloud tell you?" Angeal asked quietly, leaning against the opposite side of the box. He had gotten quite attached to the small blond over the past couple months, when he was actually in Midgar. It had been nice to see someone get Sephiroth out of his shell, finally. Speaking of, the man shook his head, stuffing another yawn back into his body.

"No. I just know who it is, from the previous attacks on Cloud," he muttered, trying to fight the closing of his eyes. "I'm not doing anything to them though. Not unless Cloud asks me to."

"Why not?" Zack asked heatedly, as always the overly emotional one. "He obviously couldn't take on all five of them at once! He'll die if he tried to do it again!"

"He only lost because he was protecting the wolf," Angeal said, giving Zack an ever patient look. "You've trained with him Zack. We all have. Do you really think he wouldn't be able to beat five of his fellow cadets considering the level he's at right now?" Zack blinked, opening his mouth again, and then closed it. A fine blush went across his cheekbones, and he looked away.

"Ok, fine. So he wouldn't have lost if he hadn't been protecting that damn wolf," he muttered, and Sephiroth found the energy to smirk slightly as the doors dinged open, leading them into the hallway that contained all their apartments.

"Just wait until that wolf is full grown. She's completely loyal to Cloud, and she'll be very formidable once she reaches her full potential." Much like Cloud, was the unspoken thought.

"How big is she going to get?" Angeal asked, curious. This was the first time he had actually seen the wolf, and he had assumed she was full grown, since she was the size of a large dog, like a German shepherd. Sephiroth shrugged as he slid his keycard through his lock, pushing the door open when it beeped.

"From what I've read, the smallest ever recorded Nibel Wolf was four feet at the shoulder. The largest was almost six." He went into the apartment, and shut the door, leaving them both staring open mouthed at the closed door.

"Six feet?" Angeal whispered.

"General for the day?" Zack uttered in a chocked whisper. "Ah fuck."