How is this for a treat? I got two chapters done so fast. I feel so proud of myself; now let's just hope this pace keeps up. I am going to be doing Duo's POV for a few chapters, then switching back to Heero and will keep it as Heero for a while. I might go back to Duo much later on, maybe not at all.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~DUO'S POV~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I kept running long past the point that I felt any pain from my wounds or the burn in my muscles. My lungs had stopped protesting, I felt nothing, only the pain in my mind, and heart. My body collapsed on me though, I was heaving deep breaths of air against my will, collapsed against a large tree somewhere in the jungle. The forest was on the opposite side of town from our... Odin's dwelling. It was closer to the river that separated the field clan from us. I just kept running, even when I didn't hear anyone following me. The jungle was to the South east of the river, and the field clan was too the south west. I had run along the borders of the field clan to get here. No wolf packs were known to reside deep in the heart of the jungle, it was considered too dangerous. It was the safest place I could think to go.

I don't know how long I lay there, panting, until the darkness crept up and took me hostage. But when I awoke, I heard a voice calling my name. I kept absolutely still, it sounded like Noventa. Had he been sent to finish me off? I concentrated on what he was saying.

"Duo, please, if you are here come out. I know you didn't do it, we found the person who did. Please, I promise I will not harm you. Odin's mate is completely distressed at your disappearance. She is a little banged up but fine. She told us everything; she wants you to come back."

Was he lying? It was so hard to tell. I wanted, with every fiber of my being, to believe he was telling the truth. Hadn't mom died? I didn't actually know she was dead, I had just assumed. What if it was a trick and Noventa just wanted to lure me out to kill me? It didn't seem like a tactic anyone of Odin's pack would use... but they could be very desperate to find me.

I just lay there for a short while contemplating my options. Noventa's voice was growing stronger and then weaker, as he moved around the area. What were my options if he was lying and I didn't come out? I would probably die out here, or he could find me and kill me. If I turned myself in and he was lying I would also die. But if I turned myself in, maybe they would make it quick, and maybe I would get to say goodbye to Heero, even if he didn't believe me.

I finally found enough strength to stand up and give out a small, quiet bark. Noventa was on me like a hawk. "Oh thank goodness, Duo, I was worried we would never find you or that you were dead... You look horrible, you need medical attention; follow me I will take you back to the village as fast as I can."

All seemed to be going well, he kept quiet for the most part, and so did I. He finally spoke, after giving me a few side glances "There is a wall coming up, you might want to change into your half form for us to get over, it's much faster than going around."

I nodded and felt the transition wash over me. I was left stumbling and felt Noventa clasp onto my arm to steady me. That was when I realized, Noventa didn't know I had a half-form. I managed to speak, trying to keep the fear from my voice. "H-how did you know, I had a half form? No one knows."

He gave a creepy chuckle. "Don't worry Duo, I saw you change on accident before, I knew about it. I can only assume you were afraid because of the longer hair along your head and neck. But by now you should have realized that all packs are different, and have different characteristics and features. Your hair could be normal for whatever pack you came from. In fact letting the others see it might have helped to show that you were not a member of the forest pack, as they don't have those features."

I accepted his response, too tired to try and contemplate things any further. We approached the borders of the land as night fell. I didn't know how long I slept in the jungle; I didn't know how many days, if any, I had been gone. I was very disoriented, and tired, which is probably why I didn't notice that we were walking along the border for a long time, instead of going into the village. I started to notice it when we came into the beginning of the forest, which was on the opposite side of town. I crunched my features together in confusion and turned to Noventa.

He got a smug smile and spoke in low tones. "Oh come now, I can't believe how easily you bought my little speech back there in the jungle. Do you honestly think that Odin's wife survived that? It's laughable, and that the pack was just going to let you back like that? Truly this is very amusing."

I could feel him grab my arms and hold me in place. I was too exhausted to fight back. But I imagine the look on my face resonated sheer terror. But none of it made sense, the stuff he said back there, in the jungle, how would he have known to say those things. Unless, he knew I wasn't the traitor... he knew who it was. I looked him straight in the eye and saw the gleam of victory, it was him, and he was the one who betrayed us. I felt myself struggle weakly against him as he laughed.

"Figured it out have you little pup? Well you are smarter than the others of the pack, but not smart enough I am afraid."

I felt something slam into the base of my head and everything just ended for a while. I woke a few times to see myself being carried in a tunnel of some sort. But I couldn't hold onto wakefulness for more than a few moments. The next time I could stay awake for more than a second, I was in a dwelling. It was chilly, well my arms were anyways. But my head felt on fire. I groaned and clutched at my head, then felt a hand on my chin forcing me to look in the direction of a blurry face.

"Well hello there my pretty, decided to finally wake did you? Welcome to your home for the next few weeks. I obviously can't have you spoiling my plans, so when Odin said you had to be retrieved I got you myself. I snuck you in through my secret tunnel, the same one I use to get back and forth to the forest packs borders without anyone realizing. It leads to this secret room in my dwelling. Very few come to my place anyway, so it's not likely you will be found. I think I will keep up the rouse of not being able to find you for a little while. Then if they get suspicious I will bring back the bones of one of the dead wolves from the battle and say it was you. Not that they will care, they still think you did this."

It was Noventa's voice, and it took me a few moments to process all that he was saying through the thick layer of fuzz in my mind. I licked my dry lips, wanting something to quench my thirst. But I had no reprieve.

"I know you are unwell my pet, but there is unfortunately nothing I can do without giving myself away. At first I had planned to make Odin's wife my mate over his dying body. But since the forest pack seems incapable of following orders I will do the next best thing. I know you think he does not care for you, but he does. Not as much as his own wife, or son, but more than the rest of us. Not to mention it would crush his son if I were to take you as my own, while he rots away as a slave under me."

I felt his hand rest upon my chest, and then it began to run down my side. I whimpered and tried to shy away from the touch; regretting ever changing into my half form.

"I will try and hurry things along as best I can, to try and ensure your survival. But I will not compromise in my wants to make sure you live. Remember that pretty."

The next time I woke I was slightly more coherent. I was tied to a wall, laying on a soft pad, with a small fur over my over heated body. It was thin and did little to keep the chill of winter at bay. My wounds burned with fire and throbbed, my head felt like it was being squeezed in an inferno. I could see Noventa across the room, working on something. I really needed a drink, I groaned, hoping to get his attention. If he wanted to keep me alive, maybe I could get him to allow me some water.

He looked up and then came over. "Welcome back pet, you seem to have a high fever, and you are burning up, so no blankets for you aside from this, it will keep your wounds covered and safe from infection."

I felt like smacking the guy, was he insane? He obviously knew nothing about medical knowledge, but I barely had the strength to lift my arm, much less say all of that. I managed to grumble 'Water' a couple times before he caught on. The liquid felt like pure bliss going down my throat. I nearly choked on it because I was gulping it down so fast.

I lay there for a few moments, thoughts running over and over in my head. I wanted to ask him so many questions, I wanted to shout at him, I wanted to kill him. But the best I could manage was a scratchy "Why?"

I could see his eyes light up, he enjoyed bragging and this was his opportunity to gloat for an audience.

"Why, you say, because Odin is a fool. You don't allow your rivals to survive. You kill them, for exactly this reason. He let us live and made us do what? Take an oath? How are a few words going to stop me from killing him while his back is turned? The man is truly stupid. Strong, but stupid, and soon he will be neither, as he will be dead, and everything he worked so hard to create, will be mine."

I couldn't picture him as a leader, a person with no honor or compassion would only lead to the death and destruction of our... Odin's entire clan. I no longer considered myself part of it, I knew I wasn't welcome. I was kicked out, a loner. I didn't want to be a part of Noventa's pack. I would rather be alone.

It took me a few minutes to realize that Noventa was still talking. He was revealing everything to me. I had missed a lot of the beginning, but I listened to the rest anyways, in case I could use it to my advantage.

"From there it wasn't hard for me to build this tunnel, with the help of the forest pack it was done in a few days. They also dug out this wonderful room for me to hide everything in. Odin of course has just kept me close as ever; I was his most 'loyal' soldier, so to speak. He never saw my sneers of disgust or the hatred in my eyes as I watched him.

When Zechs came along and that deal to send the youths out went down, I knew it was my time to strike. I made many trips to the forest clan, using this tunnel. With the youths gone the pack was already weakened. When Odin sent me out with the guards to fetch them, I... disposed of the guards. It was too easy. I pretended to hear something and had one of them come along with me, leaving him vulnerable. Then the other just sat there waiting, while I got him from behind. I buried the bodies, and then went through my tunnel back into my home. I was waiting for the next troop to be sent. I didn't expect Odin to go in the next group, perhaps it's because he was foolish, or maybe because his son was in the pack, either way, that was the perfect time to strike. I informed the forest pack of everything and we struck after nightfall. When Odin and Heero returned early I pretended to have been attacked by them, stumbling back into the village. The idiots bought it, not even looking twice since I had a few wounds from fighting the guards."

The pack is weak now, some are dead, others injured. The forest pack is gaining in strength, and once the moonless night appears, we will strike. I will kill Odin in his dwelling, pretending to come and fetch him, and the forest pack will do the rest of my work for me..."

I faded out after that, I could hear his voice droning on about his plans, but I didn't want to hear those parts, and I was tired. I gave into sleep.

The next time I woke fully coherent it was because of my fever. I know Noventa had fed me every now and then and given me something to drink. I know he had drug me to the bathroom at least once. I felt like I was being baked alive my fur was rubbing against me every movement felt like someone scraping me. I finally gave in and changed into my human form, hoping to cool down some. I didn't care if Noventa saw me like this, if he won he would probably find out, if not, no one else would know. Heck no one else probably knew I was here. If Noventa lost I would probably just die here, from this fever, or dehydration.

I heard the door open and saw Noventa come in with a large tray of food and a pitcher of water. He set them by the pad I was laying on.

"Everything will go through tomorrow night, this food should last you a few days, as well as the water. I don't know how long I will be so you will need to care for yourself during that time."

He didn't seem at all shocked to see my human form and I couldn't help but wonder why. I felt his cool hand run along my ribs and shivered. He was in his half-form. At my reaction he let out a chuckle.

"I was wondering when you would use this form. I saw you change into it once before, on accident, when you were learning to control your transformations. I was shocked at your beauty, and amazed at this gift. I began wondering if I could do the same, and after some practice, I could."

I felt his grin against my neck and felt him shift. I looked up into his eyes, they were blue, his skin slightly tan and his hair white as snow. He chuckled at the look of shock in my face. I wasn't the only one who could change into a human looking form.

"You discovered something that's probably been long lost to our species pet, this makes you quite special. It makes you an even better trophy for me..."

I could see him hesitate, battling something.

"I was going to wait until after killing Odin before taking this farther, but seeing you now like this, I can't wait."

I felt him press his mouth over mine, his tongue snaking into my mouth while his hands ran all over my body. I whimpered and tried to push him away; finally trying to bite his tongue. He reeled back, slapping me with the back of his hand. I saw stars for a few seconds before I heard the banging on the door, and heard Odin's voice. I knew it wasn't the door to this room, but the dwelling in general. I could feel Noventa tense up over me, anger radiating off him.

"Curse that Odin, always ruining everything. He will be done in a few days then I can give up this façade."

I felt him rise off the pad and move away from me, winking back at me.

"Take care my pet, I will be right back."

But he wasn't in fact he didn't come back at all. I heard shouting and fighting, something was happening. Then it was all quiet. I was thankful to Noventa for one thing, the food and water were lasting me. It had been three days since Noventa left the dwelling, and the food was almost gone. I had been careful about rationing the water, but my fever had been all over the place. I woke up burning last night, at least I think it was night. I still had no clue how time was moving. I tried to get a drink but my hand was shaking horribly and I dropped the pitcher. I think I may have cried a little. I woke up this morning, feeling the worst I had thus far. I couldn't even get my throat to make a groan of pain. I knew this was probably my last day. The day drug on, me spinning in and out of consciousness. I would give anything for a drink of water. I started hallucinating as well, hearing voices and slamming in the dwelling, but I knew no one was there. I heard one final loud crash and was drug into the darkness with it, even as a tendril of light filtered in from the door to try and grab me.

I woke up to a voice prodding me, I figured it to be another hallucination. A voice kept telling me to transform, a desperate tone to the voice. I just groaned and tried to go back to the blissfull nothingness. But it kept bugging me, I finally just changed, to get away from the voice that was bugging me. If you asked, I couldn't tell you what form I took on, but it seemed to stop the annoying hallucination.

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Two cliffhangers! I know I am just oh so evil. But I finished two chapters relatively fast so I think I can avoid getting veggies thrown at me for this. These two pages were about 15 pages in Microsoft word.