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The rain lashed down from the sky, the drops splattering on contact with anything. Lightning bolts carved magnificent bright arcs across the darkened sky, followed by the sharp strike of thunder. Below the tempest stood a vast forest, defiant and challenging against the raging winds and rains from above.

The trees swayed in unison waves as the wind blew, their dark green leaves shining with tears of rain. But down in the underbrush, all lay still, soaking up the falling moisture, calmly and silently. The rain, funneled by the leaves above, fell in great splotches instead of drops.

In the middle of the deep woods, one could see the tangled wreckage of what were once two space-worthy ships. Small plumes of smoke rose from the remains, only to be doused by the falling raindrops.

Both pilots had somehow survived the collision; the sounds of rustling through the brush spread out from the area of the rubble, moving farther away from the site. Voices could be heard; one low and frenzied, the other slightly higher and frantic. The rain dampened their shouts that would have echoed around the forest.

One of the creatures burst out into a small clearing, stumbling over an overgrown tree root. His fur was dark red-brown, and a bushy tail stuck out from the back of his suit. His green piloting suit was plastered to his fur, which was soaked down to his skin from the downpour that had yet to let up.

With his ears laid back, and tail fluffed out as best he could, Fox McCloud smelt of fear. He lay where he fell, wide eyes staring back into the forest from where he had came, panting hard.

This is it, he thought. I'm done for! He's finally got me…

The pursuing creature leapt from the brush into the grassy clearing and landed on his feet right over Fox, his blaster at the ready. He wore a black leather piloting suit himself, with a formidable blue chestplate and shoulder guards.

He, too, was panting hard, soaked from his tail-tip to his dark gray ears; but a triumphant fire glowed in his exposed eye, the left one covered by a light blue-green device. His muscles shuddered from excitement.

Wolf O'Donnell had finally caught his prey. He looked Fox up and down, and seeing him shiver in suspense, he narrowed his eye. "So," he growled, shouting over the storm that raged on. Here in the clearing, the wind and rain were fiercer than they were under the canopy. As if on cue, a bolt of lightning struck as Wolf raised his left fist victoriously.

Fox whimpered at his feet, flinching and raising an arm.

Wolf let out a laugh, and steadied his quivering muscles. "So this is the fearsome leader of Team Star Fox! Cringing like a little pup," he sneered.

"Wh-what do you want from me?" he cried at the form before him, still shivering involuntarily.

Wolf flexed his claws around his blaster, still aimed straight at Fox. "What do I want? What do you think I want?" he growled fiercely.

"It's n-not like you're going to kill me! You've had time enough f-for that! Why should this time be any different?" Fox retorted, trying to feign bravery.

Wolf pounced on Fox, tossing his blaster aside and grabbing Fox's jacket with both hands. He pulled him close, and snarled threateningly, "Kill you? Do you think you deserve that much mercy?"

Fox gulped. "Th-then what are you going to do with me?"

Wolf made no reply, snarling down at Fox. The two stared into each other's eyes as the moments stretched out. Bit by bit, the light of rage faded from Wolf's dark purple eye, and he slowly released Fox. The gray lupine stood back up, not looking at him.

Fox stood up shakily, fear beginning to leave him. "That's it?"

Wolf snarled back. "What do you mean, 'that's it'?"

Fox's temper flared. "Oh, come on! You chase me through this forest for two hours, and when you finally catch me, you just…" Fox roared in frustration. "Why? Why chase me, hunt me down for so long if you'll just let me go every time?! I'd much rather for you to end it now!"

Wolf remained silent, and looked at the ground.

"You chase me across the universe to fight me, but whenever I'm in danger you help me! You saved me – and my team – in Corneria, you helped us defeat the Aparoid queen, and you insist it was because you were the one who would finish me off!

And you chase me to this—" Fox gestured around at the soggy, saturated surroundings, "—planet and corner me, and you won't even tell me what you're going to do! But I'm fairly confident you won't kill me now!" Fox stopped and took several deep breaths, one finger pointing accusingly at Wolf.

Wolf remained silent, not looking up at any of Fox's words.

"Well? Are you or aren't you?"

Wolf looked up slowly. He looked into Fox's eyes, all malice and anger and fire gone from his expression; what was left was just a pitiful frown. "Fox," he began, "if I told you why I've pursued you here, you wouldn't believe me."

Fox was taken aback. He saw no more hatred in his enemy's face, no more aggression, no more malevolence. Fox's eyes widened once more as he stared at what his enemy had been reduced to. "Wh-what?"

"Fox," Wolf said again, "I can't kill you."

"But… but what will you do to me?" Fox managed to say, his confusion beginning to impede his ability to speak.

Wolf drew back his lips in a snarl. "What can I do to you?" he growled. His face softened once more. "What can I do to you, Fox?" he said delicately, half to himself.

Fox just stood there, mouth slightly open, perplexed. He had no idea what Wolf meant by any of this; it was news to him.

Wolf sighed. "I followed you around the universe, helped you when you needed it… And here we are. I've finally caught up to you again. If I'm not going to kill you, then… why else would I follow you around?"

Fox slowly shook his head. "I don't know."

"You were always a little slow, Fox," Wolf teased. He smiled ever so slightly, and a different light began to shine in his eye.

Fox's fur stood on end. It wasn't Wolf's taunt that made him uneasy, it was the way he said it. There was no displeasure, ridicule, or loathing in his voice this time; he was almost playful. What is he trying to do?

"You can't tell?" Wolf said.

Fox shook his head, his mouth falling slightly open.

"Fox…" Wolf moved closer.

Fox's eyes enlarged even more as he realized what Wolf was about to say a moment before he said it.

"You're the last person in the universe I would kill. Fox, I couldn't lay a harmful hand on you if I tried. I don't hate you… I love you…" Wolf said. He looked into Fox's eyes, begging him to return the phrase. At first, he wore a look of hope; but as the silence stretched out, it faded away.

Finally, Fox spoke. "No…" he whispered. He shook his head, and the flame returned to his vibrant green eyes. This was his enemy! Wolf was trying to trick him! "No! You're lying! Just like you always have!" Fox shouted at the lupine. He turned tail and dashed away into the forest, the leaves closing behind him.

Wolf was left alone in the grassy clearing, and the rain poured harder. Another bolt of lightning fizzled and popped above him; the rolling of thunder made him twitch his ears.

He slumped down to his knees, still staring at the spot where Fox had departed. He fell forward on his hands and clenched his teeth. His sight was beginning to blur, and he let the tears come.

He didn't accept me…

Hanging his head low, tail drooping, he began to whimper, rain mixing with his tears. Looking up, he howled at the tempest, a desperate, lonely, mournful howl. The rain, the lightning, the thunder and wind were indifferent to his grief.

He flexed his razor-sharp index claw, and pushed the sleeves of his jacket up, exposing his dark gray forearms. Soon, a darker liquid than the rain had soaked into his fur, and dripped off onto the ground. He roared madly at the storm, his voice cracking with different forms of pain.

Fox stumbled again on a tree root. He fell hard, and lay there for several moments. He growled in frustration and punched the spongy, sloppy ground.

Wolf's woeful howl floated to him, and he jumped. He forced his fur to lie flat and listened to it, sitting up. Tears came to his eyes. He scrambled to get up, dashing away once more, trying to escape his feelings. He stumbled into a small hollow under a large tree, and he curled up in it, arms over his head, whimpering softly.

The roar reverberated to Fox next, and a chill rose up his spine. It was the sort of howl that made Fox sick to his stomach. It sounded like Wolf was being torn in two. Fox felt even more nauseous as he realized he must have caused that painful howl. He curled tighter, squeezing his ears shut with his hands; but it was too late. He had heard the damage he'd done.