Hey guys. I'm so glad you like this story. Thanks Wahyah, Lothaire, vero1092 and the Guest who reviewed. Seeing those four reviews felt like Christmas came early. I really appreciate any help or advice anyone will give me. But on an even more exciting note for you guys, I am updating early than expected for this chapter. Yes, it was not planned. Ideas for this story have been bouncing around my head like cackling little demons. And they are NOT happy until all of them have been written down, even when you are trying to study for an exam.

So without further ado (and maybe my piece of mind until exams are over … hahaha wishful thinking) here is Chapter 2. Hope you enjoy it!

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto

...SilverMoon...

Chapter 2

Sakura was sitting down beside the large pot of rabbit stew, continuously stirring it. Three other girls chopped up vegetables and herbs that they had been given by the hunters to put into the stew. One would think that the hunters would be smart enough to not let them anywhere near the food, but instead they did the exact opposite.

I guess they believe they have beaten us to submission. Sakura thought darkly.

Which was the case for most of the girls.

The hunters' only saving grace was one hunter who watched all six of the girls chopping dinner. Unfortunately, that hunter tonight was Yellow Teeth. But the hunters' overconfidence would work perfectly.

One after the other, the girls rose and pushed their chopped vegetables and herbs into the pot. When the time came for her friend to place her vegetables and herbs in the pot, Sakura nearly tensed and held her breath from the sight of the widow's love leaves in her herbs. Calmly, Sakura continued to stir the pot as the purple eyed girl slipped her bounty in. It made a satisfying splash, before it was whirled away a hidden within the stew.

Neither of the girls made eye contact as the purple eyed girl went back to sit down. However, the hardest part was yet to come. Sakura would have to taste the food. Since the amount of widow's love was quite substantial but not enough to kill, she would be asleep within about fifteen minutes after ingesting a small sip of the stew. Of course, Sakura had taken this into account which was why she had sneakily manoeuvred herself into the position of stirring the pot. The antidote sat safely tucked into the folds of her torn skirt. Ironically enough, the antidote to the leaves on widow's love were the berries that grew on that exact same bush.

Another hunter approached Yellow Teeth and began to talk about reaching the village soon and what they would do with the girls. Using the hunters' distraction, Sakura began to cough deeply, so deep it felt like the coughs were being ripped from her soul. The sheer force of them drove her over her knees. She was now hidden behind the large stirring pot. Sakura quickly shoved some berries down her throat barely chewing them before swallowing.

Angry footsteps sounded and the smell of Yellow Teeth and the other hunter drew closer. Quickly, Sakura began the hacking coughs again still doubled over.

A hand grabbed her hair and roughly pulled her up mercilessly.

Sakura whimpered, playing the submissive dog. Praying there was no juice from the berries on her face.

"Stop coughing, devil creature" Yellow Teeth snarled, "I know what you are doing."

Panic flared deep within her and her wolf growled like a cornered animal.

He hadn't seen.

He couldn't have seen.

Could he?

Well, if she was going down, she was going down fighting. Sakura prepared herself.

"You think that you can get out of making dinner just because you are weak and dying? Stupid animal, know your place. Finish off dinner now or there will be none for you and the rest of you demons tonight." He taunted, finishing with a slap to her face.

Dropping her, he kicked her towards the pot.

"Taste it."

With a shaky hand, Sakura grabbed the stirring spoon within the pot put it to her lips and tasted it. Out of the corner of her eyes she saw her friend freeze; however, her face gave nothing away.

Good.

Placing the spoon back in the pot, she gave a nod.

"You're not so stupid after all", he said with a wicked grin that sent shivers down her spine. She needed to leave. She needed to leave now, before he or any other hunter tried to place his hands on her again.

The other hunters soon ambled over after Yellow Teeth called out that the food was ready. Everyone ate greedily, except Sakura and the purple eyed girl who snuck their two mouthfuls of stew into the ground around them and covered it with dirt, grass and dead leaves.

Sakura's wolf howled triumphantly and she allowed a smirk to cross her face as she pretended to wipe her face.

Who's the stupid one now?

Any minute now. Then they would be free.

Bending over she scraped at the bowl trying to get what was morsels were left. She could eat it since she had taken the antidote. But she wasn't stupid enough to chance just in cases she hadn't had enough berries to counteract it.

Glancing up through her greasy pink bangs, she saw more than a few hunters blinking sleepily. Some were even yawning. One girl was slumped to the side on a tree stump snoring away.

Perfect.

However, there were a few hunters still completely awake. Soon they would work out what had happened to them. And while Sakura and her purple eyed friend did have the strength to take on those still awake now, she didn't think it would be worth it.

Don't get her wrong she would relish tearing out the throats of all of the depraved bastards. But that wasn't the problem. After they fought them, she wasn't entirely sure her friend or her could escape after that. Their silver poisoning was too great. Sure, they could slit the other hunters' throats in their sleep after they had killed those awake but, she had seen a few of them had gone of scouting and would return in half an hour if they stuck to their usual routine. And they wouldn't stand a chance against them. So escape quietly it was.

Yawning loudly, she pretended to blink tiredly, keeping her sleepy gaze in the direction of her friend.

Purple eyes widened and then panicked.

Sakura slowly lowered herself to the ground and closed her eyes for two seconds. Then she opened them quickly and winked at her, before closing her eyes to slits so she could look around. Nearly half of the hunters were asleep now and the other half were on the way.

Thirteen minutes gone.

Sakura looked back at her friend.

Come on. Put it together.

Her panicked expression lasted for three more seconds. Dark, long, mud covered hair fell forward with a soft whoosh as her friend's head performed a sleepy nod. Then she too lowered her exhausted body to the ground. Her bony hand resting in Sakura's outstretched one. She gave it a comforting squeeze, as if to say nearly there. Sakura returned the gesture even though the movement caused the silver manacles to sear he wrists.

"Bloody bitch"

The hatred that was filled in those two single words almost seemed to eclipse the hatred she felt towards the hunters. Almost being the key word.

Apparently, Yellow Teeth wasn't so stupid after all. He had witnessed their silent exchange. The disgusting hunter glared as maliciously as he could across at her before his eyes involuntarily closed as well. He slumped to the ground with the rest of the hunters and joined them in the realm of unconsciousness. Everyone was now asleep.

Shaking 'awake' her friend, they both crawled over to Yellow Teeth and grabbed the key for the silver manacles that dangled from his belt.

Quickly, they undid the hated contraptions and let them fall uselessly to the cold ground. They would have to hurry; it had taken about seventeen minutes for all of the hunters to fall asleep. That meant they had thirteen minutes or less to escape before the scouting party returned.

But it wouldn't make a difference if they lingered for the few seconds it would take for Sakura to slit Yellow Teeth's throat with his own dagger. After all she did have to pay him back for all the horror he had caused. She never used to be this bloodthirsty … but he had hurt her kind and her friends. They needed to be avenged. Naïve, innocent Sakura was gone.

Perhaps she would get revenge by killing a hunter after all.

The flickering light from the fire created ominous shadows on Sakura's still, bent form.

Her wolf let lose a bloodcurdling howl in her head that would have sent shivers down the spine of any who heard it … but Sakura …

Sakura just smiled.

...SilverMoon...

Hope you liked it. Please review