HighPriestessOfTheDreamWorld- Thank you for your review! I promise, gang awesomeness is coming up very soon!

LadyArcherFan- Thank you! I think we need a "Treat Much Right" fan club. There is too much Much injustice in the world! :-)

Here is a very quick second chapter. More is written and will be soon posted. Thank you for reading.

Robin aimed carefully at the deer in the clearing. His arrow was strung taut against the string and he knew his shot would land true. Venison for all would certainly raise morale. He took a breath and--

There was a thrashing in the brush off to his left and the deer looked up. For a moment, the buck's startled brown eyes connected with Robin's green ones and then creature sprinted away as silently as it came.

"Damn," Robin murmured and turned his armed bow to where the errant noise had come from. "Whose there? Show yourself!"

"Mas-Master?"

Robin did not detect the note of relief in the voice of his friend. His mind was still on the escaped venison and he sighed.

"Much? What is the matter with you? I have been tracking that deer for two hours! Now, what are we going to.--"

His former manservant finally emerged from the brush and Robin nearly started to laugh.

"You are covered in mud," he chastised and Much looked at him dully under a clump of dripping hair. The confusion in those large blue eyes drew the smile off of Robin's face. He noticed that Much was shivering, his lips quivering.

"What happened?" Robin worked quickly, unclasping Much's filfthy soaking cloak. Much watched distractedly as the heavy cloak slid off his shoulders and hit the ground at his feet.

"F-fell in," he managed, between chattering teeth.

Robin took off his green jacket and helped Much into it.

"Y-you don't have to--" Robin cut off Much's protest with a firm glance. He took the former manservant's elbow and started to lead him the direction of camp. He did not express his worry aloud but kept his grip tight and his pace quick. Much paused a moment, looking as though he were wieghing some great and awful secret. With a sigh, he decided to confess.

"Master, I," Much swallowed, his lips pale with cold, "I am afraid I lost the bucket."

Robin fought a grin and failed as he gently pushed his friend back into motion.

"S'alright, Much," he said, "We will steal you a new one, I promise."