Hey guys! It's been awhile since I've last written. Sorry about that. I
spent almost three weeks in Europe, and that's where most of this got
written. It's amazing where you can find the free time to write. Oh well.
This is the longest chapter. I think it's longer than the first two
combined...oops. ^_^ Well hope you like it, I poured my soul into this one,
and if you can't tell by the words that they spout..well then..*raises
finger in the air* ..I don't know. *grins* Read and review please. It
really lets us writers know how much you care!
Disclaimer: I don't own Gundam wing, nor Mercedeys Lackey, but the situations are mine so don't steal them. It don't like finding my stories elsewhere. *glares* you know who you are...
*Wild Hunt chapter3*
Quatre was frustrated.
He had been spending the last few hours running through the catacombs under the forest, but he couldn't sense hide nor hair of the girl. //Not that it matters. Heero.The Rider will find her tonight..that is if she's alive.// Biting his lip the blond elf cringed. Heero never had lost prey before, and he was more irritable than Quatre had seen him in a long time. //I just hope he remembers to keep a tight enough hold on the hell hounds. All we need is to repeat what happened last time, I didn't think Heero ever would forgive himself.I just hope.// Suddenly something snagged his senses. A flash of fear and intense anger. //The Girl?// Stretching out his mind, the blond elf gently mixed auras with the strange quarry. //Still hot, more so than before. That can't be good.// He thought. // She feels strange somehow..I can't quite put my finger on it though. Her body doesn't seem right and it's not from fever. Hmmm.// He strained a bit more. //Seems afraid of something, but it's not the hunt.Not directly anyways, but what?..// He racked his brain for a moment, but nothing seemed to surface. //Am I really that out of touch?//
Then it hit him, A flash of triumph from a painfully familiar mind. The girl had been emitting so strongly that he hadn't caught it right away, which amazed him. Tears filled large aqua eyes and trickled down pale skin. //Trowa, has it been so long that I'm starting to forget how to sense you? // His lover was standing somewhere above him with the girl. He was the cause of her fear. //What are you up to koi?// Quatre thought, as he tried to reach out to his lover, but a horrible pain sent him slamming to his knees, as all breath was stolen from him. A harsh roaring in his ears made him gasp, and tore a scream from his throat.
"N-no." he gasped, falling onto his side as pain overwhelmed him. Curling up into a small ball of pain and misery, the blond sidhe moaned softly.
Footsteps thudded heavily down the passage, coming to stand before the small shaking mass which was Quatre. Strong arms grabbed the slight boy, yanking him sharply to his feet, and shook him jarringly. Squeaking pitifully Quatre managed to make out the hooded form of his master, looming darkly over him. Gloved hands released the boy's bruised arms, and set him unsteadily on his feet. "Wh-what?" The small boy croaked.
"Mind wall." Came the blunt answer.
Head down, staring at his feet Quatre blinked tears out of his eyes. "It's been so long since I've seen him..I-I had forgotten.."
But his master was gone, sweeping down the hall, cape billowing behind him.
Suddenly full of fear for his beloved, Quatre followed. "My Lord, please don't harm him." The boy pleaded, not bothering to wonder if his master had even sensed his lover's presence. The Rider was powerful. If Quatre had sensed him, than Heero definitely had. "My Lord..Rider, please."
No answer.
"Heero, please!"
A heavy backhanded blow to the cheek sent the boy reeling, and Quatre watched from his place on the floor as his master once again headed away.
His beloved was *so* close, it chilled him to the bone to think that the Rider would slay Trowa, and that it would be all Quatre's fault. Anger shot through him. "Just because she didn't love you..you take your hatred out on others. YOU'RE A COWARD HEERO!"
The retreating back halted.
"What did you say?" The Rider's voice was silky. Clenching his fists the blond elf stood. "I said you're a coward." Swallowing the large lump that had appeared in his throat, Quatre steadied himself, even as his Lord turned to face him Dark eyes glinting under a midnight hood. "Ever since you lost her heart to another, ever since *she* died, you've made everyone suffer..suffer for a loss that wasn't theirs."
It was the Rider's turn to stand, with clenched fists. His tall, dark form trembling with barely controlled rage.
Quatre continued.
"People keep dying Heero. All because you believe you failed in a situation that you had no control over. And now others are struck in fear at your very name, because you cause them to lose sisters, children, friends. You won't even let your own subjects get close to you, for fear of them seeing how lonely you really are!"
"So what!..So what if I am." The Rider snarled. "It's all because of those thrice damned mortals. They deserve-."
"They deserve to be left alone. They've paid their dues a hundred fold. Now you are just torturing them..and me" He added as a quiet after thought. It was so quiet, that Heero almost thought he was imagining it. He met his servant's eyes. They glistened with unshed tears, and were full of such emotion that it tore even his cold heart. Heero could only wish he possessed something that could fill him with that love. "I-I miss Trowa." The blond boy said, looking away, his voice cracking with the intensity of his loss. "I want to see him again, to hold him and touch him. Sometimes I even think that I am forgetting his face..and his voice." The boy brought his gaze back to his master. "Heero.If you only knew what it was like to feel someone's arms around you, and feel the safety and comfort their love brings, I'm sure that-."
"I need no one's protection." The Rider snapped.
Undaunted Quatre smiled, wrapping his arms around himself. "When you're in love you feel a safety that wasn't there before. You may feel strong on your own, but even in protecting them you feel more complete." His sea green eyes were turned inward, his mind and body remembering the past days spent basking in the love and comfort that only one's other half could bring. After a brief moment, they turned outward again. "Please Heero..This has to stop." He held out his hands in a pleading gesture. "It's been too long for me..and you need to let go of her."
Stepping back a pace The Rider glared. No one in a thousand years had ever spoken to him, like Quatre had this night. No one in even the whole span of his lifetime had he ever been spoken to this way. He was amazed and shocked at all this little elf had to say. He smirked to himself, but there was no joy in it. "Than what do you suppose I do?" He asked sardonically.
Quatre looked down at his feet, not daring to meet his master's eyes. "You should let the girl go." Was his quiet response.
He snorted "let her go? Let her return to the stupid mortal lands from whence she came? I can't do that."
"Why not?!" Aqua eyes were blazing. "Her family misses her, you're causing them pain."
The Rider crossed his arms. "What do you think would happen if I let her go? Let me tell you. My little hunt keeps those seven pathetic mortal kingdoms in line. If I didn't do it, than this forest would be crawling with mortal hunters, and more of our kind would fall prey to their arrows just like Aerindel and Wufei."
Quatre took a step back. "You can't keep killing innocent girls like this. It's wrong."
"It's how it is and has been!'
"Not since Aeri died!"
Heero's hand flew, and cracked the blond seleighe across the cheek. "Watch your mouth!"
Quatre cradled his stinging cheek. "I dare you.." He whispered.
"What?"
".I dare you." His voice was louder. "I dare you to bring the girl here, and keep her with you till the next Hunt."
"Why should I?"
"If you can't at least feel something more than you're cold hearted self, because of what you're putting this girl through, than I will.I will."
"Go on."
"I will serve you for the rest of my life span, and never mention Trowa again." Quatre gulped and looked away.
"You think that is a good enough of a bribe to make me hold a mortal brat here till the next Hunt?" The Unseleighe lord said incredulously.
The blond closed his eyes and nodded. "If I have to forget Trowa, it is indeed enough."
Heero scrutinized his servant, watching the boy wait and agonize over his decision. He mulled it over for a moment. It would be interesting..the halls had been empty for awhile, and it would be satisfying to put this scrawny elf back into place, when he found he would no longer ever have the chance to even think about his lover.
"Done then" The Rider smirked beneath his hood
Quatre stared.
Turning his back, the black robed lord moved off. "I'll take your challenge if only to wipe those cow eyes off your face and put you back where you belong..in line."
The blond watched him go. "Oh Heero, you never used to be so cold..."
***
//How the hell do I always manage to stumble into all the life threatening situations.// Duo thought as he gazed across the fire to his captor.
Trowa (for that was what he called himself.) Was actually not so bad. If you overlooked the "You are my prisoner" part, he was actually quite nice. After "capturing" Duo, he had given the braided boy a blanket to wrap about him, and also built a fire. This at first had freaked The Quarry out. "The Rider will know where we are." He had yelled, jumping to his feet, but Trowa had just unsheathed his sword with a glare, and gestured for Duo to sit back down. //This guy is crazy.// Duo thought again. //It's as almost he want's to get us caught.// He shuddered at the thought. Anyone who would want to be captured by the Rider has lost his wits.
"Here."
Duo nearly jumped out of his skin, violet eyes flashing with fear, so deeply entranced he was with his own musings.
With an annoyed sigh, Trowa pushed a small, leaf wrapped parcel into the boy's hands. "Eat." He said.
"You sure are a man of little words Trowa." The violet-eyed boy quipped, as he unwrapped the parcel. "Strong and silent type aren't ya?"
The elf didn't even bother with a glance.
Snorting, Duo turned his attention back to what he was holding. As the last of the leaves came away he found he was holding, a small loaf of bread. Hungry as he was he held it closer for examination. To the eye it looked like any old piece of barley bread, but when broke open, Duo found that it had been baked full of dry fruit and seeds. //To supply energy to hungry travelers I guess.// Looking up he found Trowa watching him with a raised eyebrow. Duo blushed and began to eat. "why?" he asked around a mouthful of food, "..Are you in here anyways? Who are you looking for?"
Trowa gazed at him sadly, while passing the wineskin. "I'm looking for my lover." He said softly. "The rider took him from me long ago, and I have been searching for him ever since."
Duo choked, and thumped his chest to make the food go down. "Him?" He said incredulously. "You mean you're in love with another man.er elf-man.?"
Trowa's emerald eyes narrowed. "Is that so wrong?" he said angrily "For the one I love more deeply that any other, for the one who completes my soul, to be male?" Duo waved his hands "No! No I didn't mean it like that really! It's just I never heard of it before."
"Ahh. They frown upon such things in your society?"
"Yeah something like that.."
They sat in silence.
Duo cleared his throat. "If the Rider took him so long ago..uh.don't you think he'd be dead by now?"
Trowa shot to his feet. "That Unseleighe scum wouldn't dare! Quatre is a prince of his people. To kill him would start a war." A saddened look passed over the elf's face. Yet anyone who comes in here is lost for all eternity. He sank back down to the ground, his face cradled in his hands.
"So you don't know.." Duo's voice was soft. "I'm sorry."
"I don't need your pity!"
"Fine then" Duo huffed. "So why are you keeping me prisoner anyway?"
Trowa looked remorseful. "I intend to hopefully bargain for Quatre with the Rider, in exchange for you."
Duo's eyes widened in fear. "You can't" he gasped. "The Rider won't agree. He'll kill both of us."
"If Quatre is dead as you think. Then I won't really need to be alive will I?"
"But I've never done anything to hurt you! It's not my fault that your lover was taken!"
Trowa smiled sadly. "I know." His voice was soft. "I truly am very sorry." He reached out and wound a strand of Duo's chestnut hair about his finger. "I don't know how your mortal realms can deal with such sorrow all the time. To give up their beautiful children." Trowa's eyes were full of untold emotion. "And he swoops in so fast, he has not the chance to see the creatures he is destroying. To see their beauty."
Duo was blushing furiously. He looked away from the elvin boy's gaze, shaken. "But you'll still allow him to kill me." He said flatly.
It was Trowa's turn to look away. "I've waited so long to hold Quatre in my arms again. I would give anything to see him once more."
And that was the end of the conversation.
The two waited in perpetual silence for night to come. One in dread, and the other with hope, and as the second, minutes, and hours crept by the sinking feeling in the pit of Duo's stomach grew.
//Someone...Help me.//
And then it began...
***
The stallion snorted in annoyance and pawed at the ground. Its large hooves tore great furrows in the leaves and soil beneath. Red eyes rolled in their sockets, as the horse tossed its head, straining for any release on the bit clamped in its teeth.
The Rider steadied his anxious mount, and shifted his weight in the saddle. His great hounds milled around and behind him, testing the ground for any trace of the scent of their prey. Standing beside the great horse, as well as his master, was a nervous Quatre. He had come, as was customary, to once again supply the Rider with the weapons needed for the Hunt. He reached up to the dark cloaked man. His fair hair was tousled by the wind tearing through the forest, and his skin was pale with worry. In the elf's delicate hands rested a long bow, that was painstakingly labeled with runes of strength and protection. He winced as Heero took it from him, biting his lip to keep himself from yelling out against the weapon. Next came a large quiver made from dragon's hide. It bore it's own runes as well. Inside the quiver were seven arrows, each with fletchings of deep crimson, as was the color of the court. The arrows themselves were the immediate cause of Quatre's fear. Each arrow was made of the darkest ebony, and tipped with silver. On the shafts themselves were runes so powerful, that the young sidhe had to use gloves to handle them every time it needed to be filled. The blond swallowed, almost choking on the bile that was threatening to clog his throat. The quiver usually only need to have one arrow replaced.for the runes that covered the shafts ensured that Heero never missed..
The Rider shouldered the bow and the quiver, giving one last look to his servant. The smaller boy squeaked, and looked around. //The last rays of light are failing.it has to be now to remind him. He knows that I would never interrupt a hunt.//
"Heero!" The boy called, stepping back a little. The Rider growled in his throat at the use of his name. "Remember your promise." Quatre glared at the Rider, his blue-green gaze surprisingly clear and defiant.
"Hn." Came the usual grunt, but it was accompanied by a slow nod. Feeling a little better Quatre backed off a few more paces. Putting as much space as he dared between himself and the snarling, slavering, hellish hounds that his master kept.
It was at that moment, the last of the light disappeared..
Quatre pulled the last of the articles of the hunt out of a small silk wrapped sack. The hounds watched him, knowing that it was this fair-haired boy who set them free each year. Their red eyes seemed to glow with excitement. Lifting the small ivory hunting horn to his lips, Quatre gave it a short sound. It's rich voice echoed through the dark bodies of the trees, and lingered like a presence over the land, but it was short lived. Six deep-baying voices added chorus to the horn, as if paying homage to their master before streaking off into the night, and becoming one with the shadows.
The Rider sat a moment, letting his eyes rove the forest, and just waited. It wasn't long before a howl of discovery out rang the howls of its fellows. Tightening his grasp on the reigns, the Rider through one last glance at his servant. "If he provokes me.I may not leave him alive." With that he wheeled his horse, leaving his little blond servant sputtering, with anger and fear, and galloped off after the sound.
It took a minute for his master's words to completely register in the little blond's mind, but the words left him cold. // "If he provokes me..I may not leave him alive." // Tears welled up in his aqua eyes, as he shuddered and fell to the ground.
"TROWA!"
***
The scent.
The scent was much closer.
It was strong..
The hound raised it's head to the breeze, tongue lolling as if almost tasting the scent of its prey on the wind. It could smell fire.or the remains of it. Wood smoke was in the air.as well as blood. blood and prey. On silent paws the hound stepped closer, and into an empty clearing. The scent was there, all around. The hasty remains of a fire were covered with handfuls of dirt, but not enough to distort the fact that it had been there. A few wisps of gray smoke still rose off the charred remnants, and the hound could still catch the smells of the missing ones, and one of them was the prey.. In the distance he could hear his brothers howls, and they were coming closer. Sniffing around in the dirt some more the hound picked up many trails led by the two-legged ones into the forest. When his brothers arrived they would have to comb the area.. There! What was that? A small sound startled the Dog. It raised it's head, its ears perked up, head cocked slightly to the side listening. Yes! There it was again. Creeping off to the side, the Hound spotted some stones. He sniffed the air. The was a vague scent..he had to get closer. Softly, slowly he approached, keen eyes glowing with anticipation of prey. So engrossed was the Dog that it didn't notice the shadow moving up on it from behind, until it stepped on a stick.. The animal's head snapped around, snarling.
The startled shadow murmered a soft " Oh shit." Before leaping forward. The Hound lunged as well howling a battle cry. Neither of the two noticed a pair of violet eyes peering from behind the rock. One being too busy and the other still hadn't realized the other was there in the first place. The hound fell to the ground in a heap, the tall shadow stood over it for a moment poking the carcass with his sword until falling back with a sigh of relief.
"It's dead right?" A soft voice quivered.
"No, I can just poke it with my sword and it won't move."
"Geez, no need to be so mean about it."
"Shhhh! Move this way."
Grabbing the longhaired boy's hand Trowa dragged him backwards, heading farther into the shelter of the trees. It was just in time too, for right as they hid anew, two more of the hounds entered the clearing, and made their way to their fallen brother. They sniffed around for seconds before loudly beginning to gorge themselves on the carcass. Clamping a hand over his own mouth, Duo sat and shuddered in disgust. He had taken in the state of Trowa's clothes in the slight bit of moonlight in the clearing. They were darkened with the blood of the fallen hound, and now there was no way for him to hide. He was covered with the scent of the dead dog, and any moment, when the dogs finished feeding, they would smell the blood and come for a look. Trowa seemed to know this as well, for he made his sword ready, as well as pulled another blade out from beneath his clothing. It was a long dagger. Leaping from behind the tree he rushed the still feeding forms of the Hounds. They raised their heads, also caught by surprise like their brother before them. Trowa fell upon them easily, the hounds crying out in surprise with frightened yelps, then falling silent, as their large bodies fell to the ground. One beheaded, the other disemboweled. Straightening up, Trowa looked about him, then to the place where Duo lay hidden. It was strange that he could no longer hear the sounds of the other dogs, and it was even stranger that the Rider had yet to make an appearance. He wanted to go check on Duo, but at this stage in the game it would be unwise to give any indication, that he knew where the boy was. Especially when he was so drenched in blood.
Peering out from behind his tree, Duo watched as Trowa looked around. The boy's form was darkened with blood but where the light caught his skin, it seemed to glow, ivory pale in the moonlight. He caught his breath as he admired the elf. He only hoped that he could soon be reunited with the lover he craved so much. Duo smiled sadly to himself. //No one that beautiful should ever be alone.// A movement behind the elf caught the violet-eyed boy's attention. He gasped as he recognized the manic red gleam from the eyes of one of those savage dogs. //He doesn't even know it's there!// Scrounging at his feet for the first heavy thing that came into hand, he grabbed a large stick. He saw the dog preparing to jump, and he jumped to his feet and rushed unsteadily forward. The dog pounced, teeth bared to kill the one who was not prey. Duo cried out as he rushed forward to help his captor, his feet were unsteady with fever, but he managed to knock Trowa out of the way of the rushing dog. Trowa fell to the ground but managed to scramble back to his feet just in time to see Duo waving his stick around at not one, but three snarling Hounds. The hounds seemed to be eyeing the strange boy warily, as if not sure what to do. They circled Duo heads down and teeth bared. Grabbing his own weapons Trowa prepared to run forward to help fight of the large beasts, but a black arrow impaled itself in the tree in front of him, just barely missing his head. Whipping around, the seleighe sidhe found himself face to face with the Rider, who was delicately fitting another arrow to his bow. His horse shifted, cautiously eyeing the strange scene before it. Trowa's eyes narrowed angrily at the captor of his long lost love. "Where's Quatre?" He snarled, advancing a step.
Underneath his hood the Rider raised an eyebrow. "Planning to bargain for your love?" He questioned, his voice soft, lilting, and slightly mocking.
Trowa blushed in embarrassed fury. "You have no reason to keep holding him. Let him go."
The Rider seemed to ignore this and moved to where Duo stood surrounded by dogs. Letting Trowa remain where he was sputtering with rage. Bringing his mount close to where Duo stood he watched the boy, who was either ignoring his presence, or still had not noticed it, what with trying to fend off the snapping jaws of the Hell Hounds. His back was to the Rider, and so he was very surprised when the Dogs moved back from around him. The long-haired boy had missed the Rider's gesture to the mutts.
"Duo!" Trowa croaked, his throat dry with sudden fear. The human boy looked dwarfed in comparison to the mighty stallion and it's Rider.
The boy backed away from the hounds, trying to move toward the sound of Trowa's voice. His eyes were on the hounds, who sat unmoving by the edge of the clearing. He wasn't about to turn his back on the huge beasts, and he wasn't sure why they suddenly moved off instead of killing him. His rear connected with something warm, and a loud snort issued from above him. No longer caring about the dogs, the boy quickly turned around, staring first into the eyes of the stallion, then into the cloaked face of the Rider. Duo eeped and stepped back a few paces, before brandishing his stick before him like a sword. His eyes flashed angrily at the Rider, who in turn was momentarily taken back by the fact that his quarry was male, and obviously so. The boy's rich rags were so torn that they couldn't possibly hide the beautifully sculpted chest of pale skin, not to mention the tell tale signs of malnutrition. He couldn't help the way his eyes roved over the boy's body, taking in the long gleaming hair billowing around a slight frame, and the way the most exotic violet eyes flashed defiance from in an almost elvin, heart-shaped face. The boy was so beautiful, that Heero almost forgot to be angry that the Kingdoms didn't honor the promise..almost.
Spurring his horse forward, The Rider reached down and plucked the boy from the ground. The long-haired beauty thrashed in his grasp, but passed out from the exertion. A small rake over the boys senses proved that he was indeed suffering from a high fever just as his servant had said. He wouldn't last long in this climate. Pulling the boy to lie against him, the Rider turned to face the elf of the seleighe court. The boy was covered head to toe in blood, but his emerald eyes were glinting dangerously. //It's these type that always cause trouble.// The Rider thought to himself. Lifting his bow, he fitted an arrow to it. "You killed three of my Hounds." His tone was silky and dangerous. He drew the bow-string back. "I can't allow someone like you to wander my forest. You'll just cause more trouble." He let the black arrow fly.
*True as before, the Rider's arrows seek blood, and almost always find it. Only a strong will can bend its flight, or a special spell break it. Sadly here, the arrow flew true and indeed it took blood, but sadly for Trowa, the poor fool, it was not his own..*
A slight form flew from the brush Flying forward with inhuman speed, as the Rider let fly his arrow. "Nooo!" came its cry, as for a second time that night Trowa was knocked aside. The cinnamon-haired boy fell backwards, landing with a heavy thud on the ground. He groaned softly, trying to shift under the weight that held him down. Opening his eyes, he caught a glimpse of flaxen hair, and his eyes widened even more. Soft blue-green eyes opened to meet his, and a painfully familiar smile graced delicate lips, even as a trickle of blood ran from between them. Trowa's whole body shook as he took in the sight of his long lost love, robed in black, with an arrow protruding from his body. "..Quatre?" he whispered softly, touching the boy's face, and running his fingers over his lips.
"Sorry.. Trowa..Couldn't let .him hurt you." The boy's face fell as he gasped. "My..fault."
"No! It's not!" Trowa glanced past his loves head to the form of the Rider, who had stayed frozen in place since he realized what he had done. "Please! Help him! You can't leave him like this!" The young sidhe's face and eyes were desperate and pleading. The Rider reined in his mount, turning to leave. "You can't do this! You can't just let him die!"
The Rider stared at the spot where the two lay, taking in the sight of the Brown-haired boy's desperate tears, and his fallen lover. He watched Quatre as he clung weakly to his lover. Smiling, even though his body was laying broken like that of a dead wren. Beautiful, and extremely delicate. Then slowly, the scene seemed to change. Taking Heero's mind to another time and place. Quatre's bloody body, was slowly replaced with that of another, though this person was definitely dead. Instead of short white-blond hair, it was longer and black, pulled back into two short pigtails. Her body was curled in on itself, and covered in it's own blood. Seven arrows each bearing feathers denoting each of the seven human kingdoms, protruded painfully from her body, like a strange pincushion. Dark eyes were open and staring, and her clothing was torn. Another person was leaning over her crying, tears streaming down his noble features. He too had dark hair. His was pulled back into a soft tail at the back of his head. His cries of anguish filled the forest, as suddenly there was a flash of silver, as the boy shoved his dagger straight into his heart. Heero cried out as the boy's dying, dark eyes met his own, they were filled with absolute agony. The memory faded, and the Rider once again found himself staring into emerald eyes, not ebony ones. The Rider raised his hands, and with a quick gesture, the two lovers were gone, leaving only, a memory and a pool of blood in their place. Heero only could hope that The Green-eyed boy would be able to find what he needed to heal his beloved in Heero's castle. Finding himself shaking with the wave of ancient memories, Heero turned his attention back to the wild beauty in his arms. He hadn't even realized that with his remembrance, he had been clutching the boy to him with a strength that seemed as if Heero had been trying to seek comfort by holding him. He blinked in surprise, gazing down into the young human's face. Before gathering his reins and his strength, and moving off into the forest. This was definitely the most he had been stirred up in a long while, and with two new "guests" in his castle, he could only guess at what was to come. ***
Whoa! I've finished a chapter! *gazes back up the pages* Wow! And it's a long one too! Oh well. Sorry it was so long in coming. You have a fan named Shadow to thank for it. Thanx for the E-mails shadow! Hope you guys like this chapter!
Disclaimer: I don't own Gundam wing, nor Mercedeys Lackey, but the situations are mine so don't steal them. It don't like finding my stories elsewhere. *glares* you know who you are...
*Wild Hunt chapter3*
Quatre was frustrated.
He had been spending the last few hours running through the catacombs under the forest, but he couldn't sense hide nor hair of the girl. //Not that it matters. Heero.The Rider will find her tonight..that is if she's alive.// Biting his lip the blond elf cringed. Heero never had lost prey before, and he was more irritable than Quatre had seen him in a long time. //I just hope he remembers to keep a tight enough hold on the hell hounds. All we need is to repeat what happened last time, I didn't think Heero ever would forgive himself.I just hope.// Suddenly something snagged his senses. A flash of fear and intense anger. //The Girl?// Stretching out his mind, the blond elf gently mixed auras with the strange quarry. //Still hot, more so than before. That can't be good.// He thought. // She feels strange somehow..I can't quite put my finger on it though. Her body doesn't seem right and it's not from fever. Hmmm.// He strained a bit more. //Seems afraid of something, but it's not the hunt.Not directly anyways, but what?..// He racked his brain for a moment, but nothing seemed to surface. //Am I really that out of touch?//
Then it hit him, A flash of triumph from a painfully familiar mind. The girl had been emitting so strongly that he hadn't caught it right away, which amazed him. Tears filled large aqua eyes and trickled down pale skin. //Trowa, has it been so long that I'm starting to forget how to sense you? // His lover was standing somewhere above him with the girl. He was the cause of her fear. //What are you up to koi?// Quatre thought, as he tried to reach out to his lover, but a horrible pain sent him slamming to his knees, as all breath was stolen from him. A harsh roaring in his ears made him gasp, and tore a scream from his throat.
"N-no." he gasped, falling onto his side as pain overwhelmed him. Curling up into a small ball of pain and misery, the blond sidhe moaned softly.
Footsteps thudded heavily down the passage, coming to stand before the small shaking mass which was Quatre. Strong arms grabbed the slight boy, yanking him sharply to his feet, and shook him jarringly. Squeaking pitifully Quatre managed to make out the hooded form of his master, looming darkly over him. Gloved hands released the boy's bruised arms, and set him unsteadily on his feet. "Wh-what?" The small boy croaked.
"Mind wall." Came the blunt answer.
Head down, staring at his feet Quatre blinked tears out of his eyes. "It's been so long since I've seen him..I-I had forgotten.."
But his master was gone, sweeping down the hall, cape billowing behind him.
Suddenly full of fear for his beloved, Quatre followed. "My Lord, please don't harm him." The boy pleaded, not bothering to wonder if his master had even sensed his lover's presence. The Rider was powerful. If Quatre had sensed him, than Heero definitely had. "My Lord..Rider, please."
No answer.
"Heero, please!"
A heavy backhanded blow to the cheek sent the boy reeling, and Quatre watched from his place on the floor as his master once again headed away.
His beloved was *so* close, it chilled him to the bone to think that the Rider would slay Trowa, and that it would be all Quatre's fault. Anger shot through him. "Just because she didn't love you..you take your hatred out on others. YOU'RE A COWARD HEERO!"
The retreating back halted.
"What did you say?" The Rider's voice was silky. Clenching his fists the blond elf stood. "I said you're a coward." Swallowing the large lump that had appeared in his throat, Quatre steadied himself, even as his Lord turned to face him Dark eyes glinting under a midnight hood. "Ever since you lost her heart to another, ever since *she* died, you've made everyone suffer..suffer for a loss that wasn't theirs."
It was the Rider's turn to stand, with clenched fists. His tall, dark form trembling with barely controlled rage.
Quatre continued.
"People keep dying Heero. All because you believe you failed in a situation that you had no control over. And now others are struck in fear at your very name, because you cause them to lose sisters, children, friends. You won't even let your own subjects get close to you, for fear of them seeing how lonely you really are!"
"So what!..So what if I am." The Rider snarled. "It's all because of those thrice damned mortals. They deserve-."
"They deserve to be left alone. They've paid their dues a hundred fold. Now you are just torturing them..and me" He added as a quiet after thought. It was so quiet, that Heero almost thought he was imagining it. He met his servant's eyes. They glistened with unshed tears, and were full of such emotion that it tore even his cold heart. Heero could only wish he possessed something that could fill him with that love. "I-I miss Trowa." The blond boy said, looking away, his voice cracking with the intensity of his loss. "I want to see him again, to hold him and touch him. Sometimes I even think that I am forgetting his face..and his voice." The boy brought his gaze back to his master. "Heero.If you only knew what it was like to feel someone's arms around you, and feel the safety and comfort their love brings, I'm sure that-."
"I need no one's protection." The Rider snapped.
Undaunted Quatre smiled, wrapping his arms around himself. "When you're in love you feel a safety that wasn't there before. You may feel strong on your own, but even in protecting them you feel more complete." His sea green eyes were turned inward, his mind and body remembering the past days spent basking in the love and comfort that only one's other half could bring. After a brief moment, they turned outward again. "Please Heero..This has to stop." He held out his hands in a pleading gesture. "It's been too long for me..and you need to let go of her."
Stepping back a pace The Rider glared. No one in a thousand years had ever spoken to him, like Quatre had this night. No one in even the whole span of his lifetime had he ever been spoken to this way. He was amazed and shocked at all this little elf had to say. He smirked to himself, but there was no joy in it. "Than what do you suppose I do?" He asked sardonically.
Quatre looked down at his feet, not daring to meet his master's eyes. "You should let the girl go." Was his quiet response.
He snorted "let her go? Let her return to the stupid mortal lands from whence she came? I can't do that."
"Why not?!" Aqua eyes were blazing. "Her family misses her, you're causing them pain."
The Rider crossed his arms. "What do you think would happen if I let her go? Let me tell you. My little hunt keeps those seven pathetic mortal kingdoms in line. If I didn't do it, than this forest would be crawling with mortal hunters, and more of our kind would fall prey to their arrows just like Aerindel and Wufei."
Quatre took a step back. "You can't keep killing innocent girls like this. It's wrong."
"It's how it is and has been!'
"Not since Aeri died!"
Heero's hand flew, and cracked the blond seleighe across the cheek. "Watch your mouth!"
Quatre cradled his stinging cheek. "I dare you.." He whispered.
"What?"
".I dare you." His voice was louder. "I dare you to bring the girl here, and keep her with you till the next Hunt."
"Why should I?"
"If you can't at least feel something more than you're cold hearted self, because of what you're putting this girl through, than I will.I will."
"Go on."
"I will serve you for the rest of my life span, and never mention Trowa again." Quatre gulped and looked away.
"You think that is a good enough of a bribe to make me hold a mortal brat here till the next Hunt?" The Unseleighe lord said incredulously.
The blond closed his eyes and nodded. "If I have to forget Trowa, it is indeed enough."
Heero scrutinized his servant, watching the boy wait and agonize over his decision. He mulled it over for a moment. It would be interesting..the halls had been empty for awhile, and it would be satisfying to put this scrawny elf back into place, when he found he would no longer ever have the chance to even think about his lover.
"Done then" The Rider smirked beneath his hood
Quatre stared.
Turning his back, the black robed lord moved off. "I'll take your challenge if only to wipe those cow eyes off your face and put you back where you belong..in line."
The blond watched him go. "Oh Heero, you never used to be so cold..."
***
//How the hell do I always manage to stumble into all the life threatening situations.// Duo thought as he gazed across the fire to his captor.
Trowa (for that was what he called himself.) Was actually not so bad. If you overlooked the "You are my prisoner" part, he was actually quite nice. After "capturing" Duo, he had given the braided boy a blanket to wrap about him, and also built a fire. This at first had freaked The Quarry out. "The Rider will know where we are." He had yelled, jumping to his feet, but Trowa had just unsheathed his sword with a glare, and gestured for Duo to sit back down. //This guy is crazy.// Duo thought again. //It's as almost he want's to get us caught.// He shuddered at the thought. Anyone who would want to be captured by the Rider has lost his wits.
"Here."
Duo nearly jumped out of his skin, violet eyes flashing with fear, so deeply entranced he was with his own musings.
With an annoyed sigh, Trowa pushed a small, leaf wrapped parcel into the boy's hands. "Eat." He said.
"You sure are a man of little words Trowa." The violet-eyed boy quipped, as he unwrapped the parcel. "Strong and silent type aren't ya?"
The elf didn't even bother with a glance.
Snorting, Duo turned his attention back to what he was holding. As the last of the leaves came away he found he was holding, a small loaf of bread. Hungry as he was he held it closer for examination. To the eye it looked like any old piece of barley bread, but when broke open, Duo found that it had been baked full of dry fruit and seeds. //To supply energy to hungry travelers I guess.// Looking up he found Trowa watching him with a raised eyebrow. Duo blushed and began to eat. "why?" he asked around a mouthful of food, "..Are you in here anyways? Who are you looking for?"
Trowa gazed at him sadly, while passing the wineskin. "I'm looking for my lover." He said softly. "The rider took him from me long ago, and I have been searching for him ever since."
Duo choked, and thumped his chest to make the food go down. "Him?" He said incredulously. "You mean you're in love with another man.er elf-man.?"
Trowa's emerald eyes narrowed. "Is that so wrong?" he said angrily "For the one I love more deeply that any other, for the one who completes my soul, to be male?" Duo waved his hands "No! No I didn't mean it like that really! It's just I never heard of it before."
"Ahh. They frown upon such things in your society?"
"Yeah something like that.."
They sat in silence.
Duo cleared his throat. "If the Rider took him so long ago..uh.don't you think he'd be dead by now?"
Trowa shot to his feet. "That Unseleighe scum wouldn't dare! Quatre is a prince of his people. To kill him would start a war." A saddened look passed over the elf's face. Yet anyone who comes in here is lost for all eternity. He sank back down to the ground, his face cradled in his hands.
"So you don't know.." Duo's voice was soft. "I'm sorry."
"I don't need your pity!"
"Fine then" Duo huffed. "So why are you keeping me prisoner anyway?"
Trowa looked remorseful. "I intend to hopefully bargain for Quatre with the Rider, in exchange for you."
Duo's eyes widened in fear. "You can't" he gasped. "The Rider won't agree. He'll kill both of us."
"If Quatre is dead as you think. Then I won't really need to be alive will I?"
"But I've never done anything to hurt you! It's not my fault that your lover was taken!"
Trowa smiled sadly. "I know." His voice was soft. "I truly am very sorry." He reached out and wound a strand of Duo's chestnut hair about his finger. "I don't know how your mortal realms can deal with such sorrow all the time. To give up their beautiful children." Trowa's eyes were full of untold emotion. "And he swoops in so fast, he has not the chance to see the creatures he is destroying. To see their beauty."
Duo was blushing furiously. He looked away from the elvin boy's gaze, shaken. "But you'll still allow him to kill me." He said flatly.
It was Trowa's turn to look away. "I've waited so long to hold Quatre in my arms again. I would give anything to see him once more."
And that was the end of the conversation.
The two waited in perpetual silence for night to come. One in dread, and the other with hope, and as the second, minutes, and hours crept by the sinking feeling in the pit of Duo's stomach grew.
//Someone...Help me.//
And then it began...
***
The stallion snorted in annoyance and pawed at the ground. Its large hooves tore great furrows in the leaves and soil beneath. Red eyes rolled in their sockets, as the horse tossed its head, straining for any release on the bit clamped in its teeth.
The Rider steadied his anxious mount, and shifted his weight in the saddle. His great hounds milled around and behind him, testing the ground for any trace of the scent of their prey. Standing beside the great horse, as well as his master, was a nervous Quatre. He had come, as was customary, to once again supply the Rider with the weapons needed for the Hunt. He reached up to the dark cloaked man. His fair hair was tousled by the wind tearing through the forest, and his skin was pale with worry. In the elf's delicate hands rested a long bow, that was painstakingly labeled with runes of strength and protection. He winced as Heero took it from him, biting his lip to keep himself from yelling out against the weapon. Next came a large quiver made from dragon's hide. It bore it's own runes as well. Inside the quiver were seven arrows, each with fletchings of deep crimson, as was the color of the court. The arrows themselves were the immediate cause of Quatre's fear. Each arrow was made of the darkest ebony, and tipped with silver. On the shafts themselves were runes so powerful, that the young sidhe had to use gloves to handle them every time it needed to be filled. The blond swallowed, almost choking on the bile that was threatening to clog his throat. The quiver usually only need to have one arrow replaced.for the runes that covered the shafts ensured that Heero never missed..
The Rider shouldered the bow and the quiver, giving one last look to his servant. The smaller boy squeaked, and looked around. //The last rays of light are failing.it has to be now to remind him. He knows that I would never interrupt a hunt.//
"Heero!" The boy called, stepping back a little. The Rider growled in his throat at the use of his name. "Remember your promise." Quatre glared at the Rider, his blue-green gaze surprisingly clear and defiant.
"Hn." Came the usual grunt, but it was accompanied by a slow nod. Feeling a little better Quatre backed off a few more paces. Putting as much space as he dared between himself and the snarling, slavering, hellish hounds that his master kept.
It was at that moment, the last of the light disappeared..
Quatre pulled the last of the articles of the hunt out of a small silk wrapped sack. The hounds watched him, knowing that it was this fair-haired boy who set them free each year. Their red eyes seemed to glow with excitement. Lifting the small ivory hunting horn to his lips, Quatre gave it a short sound. It's rich voice echoed through the dark bodies of the trees, and lingered like a presence over the land, but it was short lived. Six deep-baying voices added chorus to the horn, as if paying homage to their master before streaking off into the night, and becoming one with the shadows.
The Rider sat a moment, letting his eyes rove the forest, and just waited. It wasn't long before a howl of discovery out rang the howls of its fellows. Tightening his grasp on the reigns, the Rider through one last glance at his servant. "If he provokes me.I may not leave him alive." With that he wheeled his horse, leaving his little blond servant sputtering, with anger and fear, and galloped off after the sound.
It took a minute for his master's words to completely register in the little blond's mind, but the words left him cold. // "If he provokes me..I may not leave him alive." // Tears welled up in his aqua eyes, as he shuddered and fell to the ground.
"TROWA!"
***
The scent.
The scent was much closer.
It was strong..
The hound raised it's head to the breeze, tongue lolling as if almost tasting the scent of its prey on the wind. It could smell fire.or the remains of it. Wood smoke was in the air.as well as blood. blood and prey. On silent paws the hound stepped closer, and into an empty clearing. The scent was there, all around. The hasty remains of a fire were covered with handfuls of dirt, but not enough to distort the fact that it had been there. A few wisps of gray smoke still rose off the charred remnants, and the hound could still catch the smells of the missing ones, and one of them was the prey.. In the distance he could hear his brothers howls, and they were coming closer. Sniffing around in the dirt some more the hound picked up many trails led by the two-legged ones into the forest. When his brothers arrived they would have to comb the area.. There! What was that? A small sound startled the Dog. It raised it's head, its ears perked up, head cocked slightly to the side listening. Yes! There it was again. Creeping off to the side, the Hound spotted some stones. He sniffed the air. The was a vague scent..he had to get closer. Softly, slowly he approached, keen eyes glowing with anticipation of prey. So engrossed was the Dog that it didn't notice the shadow moving up on it from behind, until it stepped on a stick.. The animal's head snapped around, snarling.
The startled shadow murmered a soft " Oh shit." Before leaping forward. The Hound lunged as well howling a battle cry. Neither of the two noticed a pair of violet eyes peering from behind the rock. One being too busy and the other still hadn't realized the other was there in the first place. The hound fell to the ground in a heap, the tall shadow stood over it for a moment poking the carcass with his sword until falling back with a sigh of relief.
"It's dead right?" A soft voice quivered.
"No, I can just poke it with my sword and it won't move."
"Geez, no need to be so mean about it."
"Shhhh! Move this way."
Grabbing the longhaired boy's hand Trowa dragged him backwards, heading farther into the shelter of the trees. It was just in time too, for right as they hid anew, two more of the hounds entered the clearing, and made their way to their fallen brother. They sniffed around for seconds before loudly beginning to gorge themselves on the carcass. Clamping a hand over his own mouth, Duo sat and shuddered in disgust. He had taken in the state of Trowa's clothes in the slight bit of moonlight in the clearing. They were darkened with the blood of the fallen hound, and now there was no way for him to hide. He was covered with the scent of the dead dog, and any moment, when the dogs finished feeding, they would smell the blood and come for a look. Trowa seemed to know this as well, for he made his sword ready, as well as pulled another blade out from beneath his clothing. It was a long dagger. Leaping from behind the tree he rushed the still feeding forms of the Hounds. They raised their heads, also caught by surprise like their brother before them. Trowa fell upon them easily, the hounds crying out in surprise with frightened yelps, then falling silent, as their large bodies fell to the ground. One beheaded, the other disemboweled. Straightening up, Trowa looked about him, then to the place where Duo lay hidden. It was strange that he could no longer hear the sounds of the other dogs, and it was even stranger that the Rider had yet to make an appearance. He wanted to go check on Duo, but at this stage in the game it would be unwise to give any indication, that he knew where the boy was. Especially when he was so drenched in blood.
Peering out from behind his tree, Duo watched as Trowa looked around. The boy's form was darkened with blood but where the light caught his skin, it seemed to glow, ivory pale in the moonlight. He caught his breath as he admired the elf. He only hoped that he could soon be reunited with the lover he craved so much. Duo smiled sadly to himself. //No one that beautiful should ever be alone.// A movement behind the elf caught the violet-eyed boy's attention. He gasped as he recognized the manic red gleam from the eyes of one of those savage dogs. //He doesn't even know it's there!// Scrounging at his feet for the first heavy thing that came into hand, he grabbed a large stick. He saw the dog preparing to jump, and he jumped to his feet and rushed unsteadily forward. The dog pounced, teeth bared to kill the one who was not prey. Duo cried out as he rushed forward to help his captor, his feet were unsteady with fever, but he managed to knock Trowa out of the way of the rushing dog. Trowa fell to the ground but managed to scramble back to his feet just in time to see Duo waving his stick around at not one, but three snarling Hounds. The hounds seemed to be eyeing the strange boy warily, as if not sure what to do. They circled Duo heads down and teeth bared. Grabbing his own weapons Trowa prepared to run forward to help fight of the large beasts, but a black arrow impaled itself in the tree in front of him, just barely missing his head. Whipping around, the seleighe sidhe found himself face to face with the Rider, who was delicately fitting another arrow to his bow. His horse shifted, cautiously eyeing the strange scene before it. Trowa's eyes narrowed angrily at the captor of his long lost love. "Where's Quatre?" He snarled, advancing a step.
Underneath his hood the Rider raised an eyebrow. "Planning to bargain for your love?" He questioned, his voice soft, lilting, and slightly mocking.
Trowa blushed in embarrassed fury. "You have no reason to keep holding him. Let him go."
The Rider seemed to ignore this and moved to where Duo stood surrounded by dogs. Letting Trowa remain where he was sputtering with rage. Bringing his mount close to where Duo stood he watched the boy, who was either ignoring his presence, or still had not noticed it, what with trying to fend off the snapping jaws of the Hell Hounds. His back was to the Rider, and so he was very surprised when the Dogs moved back from around him. The long-haired boy had missed the Rider's gesture to the mutts.
"Duo!" Trowa croaked, his throat dry with sudden fear. The human boy looked dwarfed in comparison to the mighty stallion and it's Rider.
The boy backed away from the hounds, trying to move toward the sound of Trowa's voice. His eyes were on the hounds, who sat unmoving by the edge of the clearing. He wasn't about to turn his back on the huge beasts, and he wasn't sure why they suddenly moved off instead of killing him. His rear connected with something warm, and a loud snort issued from above him. No longer caring about the dogs, the boy quickly turned around, staring first into the eyes of the stallion, then into the cloaked face of the Rider. Duo eeped and stepped back a few paces, before brandishing his stick before him like a sword. His eyes flashed angrily at the Rider, who in turn was momentarily taken back by the fact that his quarry was male, and obviously so. The boy's rich rags were so torn that they couldn't possibly hide the beautifully sculpted chest of pale skin, not to mention the tell tale signs of malnutrition. He couldn't help the way his eyes roved over the boy's body, taking in the long gleaming hair billowing around a slight frame, and the way the most exotic violet eyes flashed defiance from in an almost elvin, heart-shaped face. The boy was so beautiful, that Heero almost forgot to be angry that the Kingdoms didn't honor the promise..almost.
Spurring his horse forward, The Rider reached down and plucked the boy from the ground. The long-haired beauty thrashed in his grasp, but passed out from the exertion. A small rake over the boys senses proved that he was indeed suffering from a high fever just as his servant had said. He wouldn't last long in this climate. Pulling the boy to lie against him, the Rider turned to face the elf of the seleighe court. The boy was covered head to toe in blood, but his emerald eyes were glinting dangerously. //It's these type that always cause trouble.// The Rider thought to himself. Lifting his bow, he fitted an arrow to it. "You killed three of my Hounds." His tone was silky and dangerous. He drew the bow-string back. "I can't allow someone like you to wander my forest. You'll just cause more trouble." He let the black arrow fly.
*True as before, the Rider's arrows seek blood, and almost always find it. Only a strong will can bend its flight, or a special spell break it. Sadly here, the arrow flew true and indeed it took blood, but sadly for Trowa, the poor fool, it was not his own..*
A slight form flew from the brush Flying forward with inhuman speed, as the Rider let fly his arrow. "Nooo!" came its cry, as for a second time that night Trowa was knocked aside. The cinnamon-haired boy fell backwards, landing with a heavy thud on the ground. He groaned softly, trying to shift under the weight that held him down. Opening his eyes, he caught a glimpse of flaxen hair, and his eyes widened even more. Soft blue-green eyes opened to meet his, and a painfully familiar smile graced delicate lips, even as a trickle of blood ran from between them. Trowa's whole body shook as he took in the sight of his long lost love, robed in black, with an arrow protruding from his body. "..Quatre?" he whispered softly, touching the boy's face, and running his fingers over his lips.
"Sorry.. Trowa..Couldn't let .him hurt you." The boy's face fell as he gasped. "My..fault."
"No! It's not!" Trowa glanced past his loves head to the form of the Rider, who had stayed frozen in place since he realized what he had done. "Please! Help him! You can't leave him like this!" The young sidhe's face and eyes were desperate and pleading. The Rider reined in his mount, turning to leave. "You can't do this! You can't just let him die!"
The Rider stared at the spot where the two lay, taking in the sight of the Brown-haired boy's desperate tears, and his fallen lover. He watched Quatre as he clung weakly to his lover. Smiling, even though his body was laying broken like that of a dead wren. Beautiful, and extremely delicate. Then slowly, the scene seemed to change. Taking Heero's mind to another time and place. Quatre's bloody body, was slowly replaced with that of another, though this person was definitely dead. Instead of short white-blond hair, it was longer and black, pulled back into two short pigtails. Her body was curled in on itself, and covered in it's own blood. Seven arrows each bearing feathers denoting each of the seven human kingdoms, protruded painfully from her body, like a strange pincushion. Dark eyes were open and staring, and her clothing was torn. Another person was leaning over her crying, tears streaming down his noble features. He too had dark hair. His was pulled back into a soft tail at the back of his head. His cries of anguish filled the forest, as suddenly there was a flash of silver, as the boy shoved his dagger straight into his heart. Heero cried out as the boy's dying, dark eyes met his own, they were filled with absolute agony. The memory faded, and the Rider once again found himself staring into emerald eyes, not ebony ones. The Rider raised his hands, and with a quick gesture, the two lovers were gone, leaving only, a memory and a pool of blood in their place. Heero only could hope that The Green-eyed boy would be able to find what he needed to heal his beloved in Heero's castle. Finding himself shaking with the wave of ancient memories, Heero turned his attention back to the wild beauty in his arms. He hadn't even realized that with his remembrance, he had been clutching the boy to him with a strength that seemed as if Heero had been trying to seek comfort by holding him. He blinked in surprise, gazing down into the young human's face. Before gathering his reins and his strength, and moving off into the forest. This was definitely the most he had been stirred up in a long while, and with two new "guests" in his castle, he could only guess at what was to come. ***
Whoa! I've finished a chapter! *gazes back up the pages* Wow! And it's a long one too! Oh well. Sorry it was so long in coming. You have a fan named Shadow to thank for it. Thanx for the E-mails shadow! Hope you guys like this chapter!
