Chapter two, niggas. 1st chap was just the setup. Let me know about what you think and where this shit is going. If you have complaints, It's a wise idea to not act like a dick so I can at least take some of your helpful suggestions constructively without having to cuss you out and then just ignore you. Oh shit, I almost forgot. Much thanks to Rabid Wolf Demon for his help with revisions, spellchecking, all that crap. My bad I forgot to give you credit earlier. Anyway... on with the show. -BtR


Nightfall. Dusk. Twilight. Whatever the hell you want to call it, it was late, and it was dark. Nailah had left the temporary camp site some ten minutes earlier in order to search for anything edible, or at least that's what she told the guys. She really just wanted a few minutes of alone time, as constantly traveling with the same two men, be they lifelong friends or not, can be taxing. This just left Rafiel, eyes growing heavier with each passing second, and Volug, who laid half-curled in a crescent shape next to the fire he built with his head lying on crossed paws. His eyes were closed, but his ears and nose were wide open. It was a trick he had used multiple times in the past. He would lie down, feigning sleep or death, and after picking up an enemies' scent and approaching footsteps, he would let them approach to lull them into a false sense of security. The second they were close enough, it would already be over before the poor bastard even had a chance to scream. His ears twitched occasionally with the curious sounds of the forest lined mountains, but his eyes remained closed. He was merely here to guard Rafiel, nothing more. A long, tired yawn from the Heron prince caused his ear to perk once more. Feeling the heat of the embers dying down, he lazily picked himself up, stretched out his long, muscular wolf body and shook his head and body quickly for good measure. Trotting slowly over to a small pile of dry logs he had bundled together earlier, he picked one up in his jaws and dropped it sideways into the burning pit. He made sure to keep a fair distance away from the flames; words couldn't describe how much he hated fire, at least in wolf form. The only time he seemed tolerant of it was when it was keeping the bugs away, while it was engulfing an enemy, or while it was cooking his food. There were other small exceptions, but the fact remained the same. He fucking hated that stuff.

Noticing his friend was awake, (or a least not pretending to be asleep) Rafiel wanted to take this opportunity to end the cold silence that seemed to accent the gloomy feeling that often accompanied the darkness. He broke the tension by signaling for the wolf to come sit by him. With a short exhale, he reluctantly marched over to his friends position. After he had laid back down, the prince leaned over and gently scratched Volug's head and back, while gently humming one of his more slow, sorrowful songs. He knew well that Volug didn't have a problem with it, so long as no one was around. Nailah, Rafiel, and during his stay with the Dawn Brigade, Micaiah, were the only individuals he allowed this to do. Even then, he wouldn't let Rafiel do it when anyone was looking. If anyone else had tried that, their severed arm would have made a wonderful chew toy for the next hour or so. Resuming his former position, he shifted slightly as he silently enjoyed the treatment he was receiving. Rafiel was able to sense that the wolf had just dropped his guard for a second, and wanted to take his chance to converse while he still had it. As anyone who has met the Queen's infamous bodyguard will know, engaging in a meaningful conversation with that man was roughly the equivalent of convincing Daein's former Mad King to consider a career change as a peace negotiator, even for someone like Rafiel.

Even after twenty years of friendship and service, he had yet to engage in more than a few emotional conversations, and as sad as it was to admit, he knew little of him beyond what he had seen in the black wolves' soul with his farsight. They were good friends and close allies, of that there was no doubt. But Rafiel desperately wanted to talk with him about deeper things, to get to know him through his eyes. Unfortunately though, constant, unspeakable abuse and forcing himself to enjoy the art of slaughter to hold on to survival and sanity alike since he was just a small pup had caused him to become heavily desensitized to other's suffering as well as emotionally fractured. Even Nailah stayed very far away from the subject of his childhood at all times, knowing the truth that the original purpose for his very birth was to grow up to be the perfect, emotionless homicide machine. And for the most part, it was a success.

But Volug was never one to live in the past, no matter how traumatic it had been. He lived only for the people he cared for, he lived only for the present. As for the future, well... for him, the future came soon enough.

As Rafiel reached the chorus of his melody, he snaked his fingers around his ear and scratched at his sweet spot, causing him to grumble while twisting his head. He didn't know what it was about that spot, but whenever Nailah wanted Volug to do something 'special' for her, or when she would simply get bored, she would go straight for his ear, and then his belly. He couldn't describe how his Queen could get him to do almost anything, nobody in his position would. It was just indescribable... the way her hand would teasingly run up and down his fur lined stomach muscles, gently caressing his figure with soft fingertips while knowingly brushing so closely to forbidden areas, well... frankly... it would make a Rabbi eat pork. At that point, Volug realized he should halt his thought process right there before he accidentally got a hard-on while his friend was petting him. That one would be difficult to explain.

Rafiel looked down at his dear protector, noticing he was deep in his thoughts. He was able to tell that he was thinking about Nailah, as his aura always grew warm and forlorn when he was lost in thought of his beloved Queen. Aside from that, he rarely thought of anyone else as often he did of the white wolf in her absence. If Rafiel was ever going to have an emotional man to man talk with his guardian, it had to be now.

"My friend..." Volug's ear perked at his mention.

"I never seem to thank you enough for all the things you have done for me, all the times you have risked your life to save mine..."

"Her Majesty is the only one you need to thank. She does it because she cares for you. I do it because it's my job."

The Heron shook his head slowly.

"Even when you are genuinely infuriated with me, it disguises the fact that you care deeply for my safety." He smiled warmly at his own comment, knowing it to be true. Exasperated, Volug stepped away from his friend and and circled the fire, knowing that he was subtly referring to his earlier outburst.

"Rafiel... for the LAST GODDAMNED TIME... stop looking into my soul. It's very rude."

"I am sorry. I cannot help it sometimes." he apologized, but his smile didn't fade. With a sigh, the wolf lied down in his original spot.

"Should've known better than to think I could hide shit from you..." defeated, he transformed and took one last look around to make sure nobody else was around. He shifted because it is easier to speak in human form.

"Alright, fine. -sigh- Look, sometimes when I get pissed at you, It's because I think you're being too soft. That much is obvious." Rafiel sat, listening intently.

"But I don't want to be the one that has to watch you die because you don't know how to take a hit. As you have already probably figured out, it gets a little tiring having to dart back and forth between you and the front lines to take all the steel aimed at the both of us."

"I-"

"DON'T... apologize. That actually is something that gets on my nerves. If it wasn't your intent to harm in the first place, you don't have to say your sorry. At least not to me."

"...Alright. That is fair."

"Besides, your very valuable on the battlefield. Even if you are sometimes a liability, your Galdr easily makes up for it. Honestly, I would have much rather had you at my side than some of the assholes I had to fight along side with while I was in Daein."

They both shared a laugh. It felt good knowing you could joke lightheartedly when danger could literally be around every corner. The flames of the bonfire roared as the smoldering wood crackled. They let the silence sit for a short moment as Volug whipped out his trusty smoking device.

"Do me a favor, Rafiel."

"Hm?"

"Promise me you won't get yourself killed on my watch. Iv'e got enough on my plate without having to worry about Nailah trying to castrate me because I couldn't jump in front of an arrow on time."

"...Alright. And in return, you promise me you won't let the same thing happen to you while you are defending me."

Volug stepped up and approached the White Prince, and grabbed his hand into a quick shake.

"That's a man promise right there. Don't break it, friend." Rafiel smiled contently. It was good to know he could have one true friend in the world that he could always count on. Sure, he trusted and loved his Queen and siblings very much, but he couldn't necessarily put them under the 'friend' category.

"So, what else did you see while you were in there?" He referred to the Heron's reading of his emotions.

"What? Oh, that. I really didn't see much other than what we had talked-"

"Bullshit, Rafiel. I know for a fact it's much more than you're comfortable with telling me." Rafiel shifted uneasily at being found out so quickly. Looks like Volug wasn't the only one that couldn't hide from the truth. He leaned back on the soft bed of foliage that lined the tall tree he sat against, adjusting his crooked wings into a more comfortable position.

"Okay. I will be completely honest now. I was able to tell you were thinking quite fond thoughts about our dear Queen for a moment there."

Volug's eyes widened slightly, not expecting to hear what Rafiel had just said. He opened his mouth, almost dropping his pipe to say something, not sure of what he was going to say as long as it diverted from the subject, but Rafiel spoke up first, as he could feel the wolf's aura growing a little flustered.

"If your feelings for her are supposed to be a secret, I am sorry. It is safe with me."

"...Nah, don't worry about it. Not like it was supposed to be a big secret anyway... It's just that I've been with her for so long... the tension is getting harder and I sure as hell am not getting any more comfortable."

Rafiel sat with a hand to his chin, letting his friends words sink in.

"But what really doesn't help, is knowing that you feel the exact same way."

Rafiel blushed, but not out of embarrassment. His not-so-subtle undying devotion to his Queen was a dead giveaway, anyway.

"It is true, I love our Queen with all my heart. We were all already aware of this." Volug leaned over, resting his enormous forearms on his thighs as he sat, staring his competition dead in the eyes.

"So, how are we going to do this, then? Rock paper scissors?" Rafiel shook his head with a smile.

"I would follow Nailah to the gates of hell if I had to. She knows how much I care for her. But... we have already talked about this. We don't love each other in that way." Volug raised an eyebrow, trying to decipher the meaning behind his words.

"My love for that woman transcends that of earthly meanings, I care for her beyond that of a physical relationship. If she is happiest with someone else, that is the path I will gladly choose." Volug knew he was telling the truth. "I just want her to be happy."

Yet for some reason, the wolf was still unsatisfied.

"No, no... I can't accept that. It's too easy."

"Too easy?" Rafiel was confused.

"You probably aren't aware. When two males of a pack want the hand of the same woman, you know how we're supposed to settle it?" the Prince shook his head curiously.

"Pretty simple actually. The one who dies loses." Rafiel's eyes widened as he took a step back. Volug chuckled.

"Heh, I'm not saying I want to fight you, dipshit. I'm just saying that is how I am used to doing these kind of things. I've put a lot of good men in the dirt for this very reason... but I was just young and horny back then. I didn't know anything about real love."

"I see." Rafiel began to understand his angle. Volug sighed, recollecting his long past.

"I used to be a real prick, you know? I didn't give a fuck who's heart I was ripping out as long as it brought me closer to my own ends. I screwed over friends and enemies alike... I'm going straight to hell, of that I have no doubt." He exhaled three thick smoke rings.

"I just don't deserve her. She's always been wise and graceful, she had a great upbringing, and she is absolutely invaluable to our country. I just haven't earned the right to love her the way I truly want to. I doubt I ever will." Rafiel placed a hand on his large shoulder.

"You give yourself too little credit. Nobody is perfect. I know you, and you are much wiser than even some of the Herons I used to know in Serenes. Even if you had a troubled past, it does not matter. All that matters is that you are who you are now, and nothing is going to change that. Both me and Nailah are truly blessed to have you. From the bottom of my heart." Volug cracked a smile, and then pulled his friend into a headlock.

"Ahhh, come here, ya big bleeding-heart."

"Ow... ow, you're welc-ah, hey..." he knew it was a gesture of gratitude, but it still hurt like hell. After a few seconds, he released his friend who sat in his original spot rubbing his head.

"Thanks, man. I was in a real shit pit there for a second. Coming from you, I'll take your word for it." He looked down and jabbed at the dying embers with a sharp stick. About two minutes later, after the silence had re-established itself, Volug sniffed the air a couple times as he sensed the same thing Rafiel did. He looked at the bushes behind him.

"Catch anything nice?" He asked the woman emerging from the forest.

"You tell me. I was gone for about twenty minutes." She raised a large bagful of various assorted nuts and berries in one hand and tossed them to Rafiel. He opened it to find it full of ripe and delicious fruits that he had mentioned to her that he liked. Plums, pears, peaches, strawberries, cherries, all of that good stuff.

"The eastern border is just the perfect climate and humidity for growing the ripest fruits. I decided to take my time and grab a lot since we still have a ways to go."

"Thank you very much. They all look delectable." She turned to Volug.

"Here, you can throw these on the fire if you want. Or eat them raw. I know you're not picky." She tossed him a couple of pheasants with slit throats. He stood and looked up at the sky. Noting the position of the moon, he was able to tell that it was about half-past one. He looked at the dead bird in his hand.

"No time to cook. It's getting too late." His enormous fangs tore into the soft stomach of the bird, ripping through muscle and bone. Entrails spilled from the creature freely as his ivory razors glistened in the moonlight with a ruby tint. Very little was left of the carcass when he finished moments later. He turned his heavily tattooed back to the fire.

It was time.