Title: Haven: Kitsune
Chapter: 8
Story Notes: Part of my "Haven" series. This is the story focusing around the race of the Kitsune. Fantasy based and takes place in the same world as the rest of the "Haven" stories. BUT they are all completely separate from one another. AU really but in the same world.

Chapter Notes: Things are starting to heat up. OC's are still here, but probably only for one more chapter.


The large brute's face melted from surprise to pain, then colored red in anger, a growl tore itself from his throat. Quatre's perspective on the room blurred together in a horizontal kaleidoscope before bursting pure white, his head connected painfully with the cabinet Trowa's weapons had been put into. When the room came back in to usable focus he was a graceless heap on the knotty floor; triangle ears ringing, a high pitch whine that blocked all natural sound. He shook his head in an attempt to stop the annoying sound but only succeeded in dotting the wood planks with specks of crimson. Ocean colored eyes blinked at them owlishly.

Being one sense down left him automatically adjusting to the loss with his others. The floor boards beneath his palms heaved as a heavy weight stomped closer, and the scent of Wolfsbane became overbearing. The Kitsune pushed himself sideways... hard, away from the wall and the vibration of an incoming threat. His body swam in a sea of vertigo, suddenly regretting the quick movement. He opened his eyes a second time, pinpointing the slower moving human he knew would not give up so easily. Half the room was awash in tones of red. Quatre gritted his teeth.

The ugly man changed his course and came at Quatre again, his face colored the same in both of the Kitsune's eyes. If the bite to his arm was hurting him at all there were no physical signs. Quatre dodged under two hairy arms a second time, knocking over a chair with his hip. The whine in his ears slowly dissipated to a mass of voices, each yelling a different tune. None of them could be made out over the rest.

The door. He rolled beneath a table and out the other side. He just had to get to the door, and for that he only needed his nose to lead the way. The fresh air coming from the outside was a welcome sanctuary from the foul smell of Wolfsbane.

"Do not think you will be getting away that easily Halfling!" The human pulled out a long dagger from a sheath at his hip, right side of his mouth pulling into a happy sneer. He knew the rules of this establishment, but if he happened to get into a fight before his weapons were taken, surely that was only the fault of the lazy workers of the Adventurer's Guild.

Glowing blue-green eyes studied him, barely visible under the large black hood. The blood flowing down the left side of his face was deserved, and nowhere near the ending state for someone who attacked him so childishly. This outsider would learn his lesson, no one messed with the Darren brothers, especially when the four of them were together. Poor boy wasn't even paying attention to the others who had moved from their table as soon as the scuffle started. Three behind and one in front, the brat was done for before he even knew it.

Those same hooded eyes narrowed a moment before Quatre quick-stepped to one side, a fake, then shifted his weight in the opposite direction a second later, using another table as a barrier between them. He had no qualms with staying low and hidden, weaving throughout the furniture in the common room. Only those dumb enough to risk their lives would choose to face their opponent head on instead of using that which was an advantage and live to see another day. Quatre had not suffered through decades of a disoriented life being a prisoner to just let a common vagabond keep him from possible freedom. His feet caught a chair he passed, knocking it on its side just in time to trip up the lumbering human. The knife was dropped, jamming upright in the wood floor a few inches from a tattooed finger.

The Kitsune pushed himself to his feet again, tired muscles straining against the motion. The door was a straight run ahead of him, covered by the younger green-haired worker. Quatre made note of the angered mask his face was twisted into. The man was, however, unarmed and looking passed him to the initiator of the quarrel. Let the humans fight it out, Trowa could apologize for his 'foul mood' companion once again. There was no way he was going to stick around to see the end.

Quatre ran, the warm meal doing well for a fatigued body, but he still knew that would not last forever, years of captivity would not disappear by the grace of the wind's tendrils alone. A bare foot hit the threshold first, then a cuffed hand to the doors frame, he would use it to spin towards the pathway leading back to the ground. From there, he had options to deal with this minor problem. His nose praised the fresh air in front of him a moment before his forward movement was brought to a jarring halt. The hood of his cloak and his hair being grabbed from behind.

"Bastard still thinks he can run away after attacking a Darren brother!" Quatre choked as he was yanked away from the door. Blond hair ripped painfully from his scalp, used as a anchor to throw his form backwards. A cry was torn from his throat as his back took the brunt of the landing against an over turned chair. Tears sprung to his pupil-less eyes and he blinked hard to repress them and clear the watery haze.

"Get out of my way!" One unknown voice yelled angrily. The accent similar to the rest of the locals though lacking the finesse of the Tavern workers.

Two more, separate octaves, gasped is surprise.

Quatre looked up from his heap on the floor to a similar black cloak swaying in front of him. Trowa stood as close as he could without stepping on the other, arms spread wide and head snapping to look from one threat to another. The three unruly customers formed a semi-circle blocking him from the front, looking to get passed him and to their target behind. The wide viewing angle of the scene and missing itch on his ears swept a chill through the fox's body, panic. He had gotten so use to the restricted view under the large white hood, and after that, the black one. It was the little bit of trust he put into the Kuroi. He trusted them to watch the surrounding area and keep their party safe, and with it, him.

Shackles rattled together as he felt the uncovered silk of his long hair. The hood had been pulled back by whomever grabbed him... which meant...

"Blimey, are those ears?!"

"He's the one with a reward on his head!"

"Grab him!"

The whites became visible around the Kitsune's aquamarine irises, a glance to the bar found the female server, half hidden, peering passed the doorway there. A pale hand to her mouth and eyes echoing the surprised look of the foreign creature in their tavern. The races no longer co-existed, either she knew what he was and the surprise was actually amazement. Or she was fearful of the unknown being in front of her, having never known that humans were not the only creatures to have their feet set to the ground and living on this land.

An abnormal foul word coming out of Trowa's mouth had Quatre's attention back to the danger in front of him. The ranger engaged the man farthest to the right, who led the attack, leaving the left side open for one of the brothers to lunge forward, at Quatre, grabbing a handful of the cloak that had gotten him into trouble.

They knew who he was, yet he did not recognized any of them. They were not part of the Garden Lord's personal guard. He used the thick silver around his wrists as a weapon to bash against the dirty human's head, freeing himself for a second before the man came at him again, this time being stopped before he reached the fox by a well-placed kick from Trowa. Green eyes glared back to the 'gem'.

"Run!" Trowa yelled, low pitched, before tripping up the third of the Darren brothers. The odds were against them, and while he would normally not be bothered too much by a lopsided fight, Trowa could not both be on the offensive and defensive in order to protect their hindered charge. When Quatre did not move at first the Kuroi repeated the order with an authority Heero would be proud of. "Damn it Fox! Get out of here, now!" He'd worry about the damage the name caused their prisoner later. Quatre visibly pulled away from the Kuroi protecting him and whirled around, back in the direction of their table, and the window next to it.

Quatre tasted blood as canines sunk into his lower lip. He could not stop the panic that engulfed his whole body, and shocked him into a motion of flight. Trusting Trowa to keep the rugged human's away from him long enough to escape and find Heero and the others. Or maybe he'd avoid the crowded street altogether and head for the wooded area behind the oldest tree, the male server had mentioned a garden of roses. He could surely pick out the scent of their direction and run that way instead. Who knew what other humans were on the lookout for him in this village.

His thoughts were cut short by a large hairy arm encircling his neck, pulling him straight up and off his feet. Cutting off airway with a last inhale of human blood. The fourth man! Was he one of them too? Just how many siblings were there?!

"The parchment did not mention anything about you having ears like some sort of animal." Quatre struggled wildly as the deep voice boomed far too close to his ears. "But for the amount offered, I'd care less if you were a toad. Me and my brothers will be set for life once we turn you over." The human laughed, grabbing a fist full of long blond hair and keeping the elongated teeth from his forearm. Learning from his first encountered with them.

The mixed red room faded around the edges while the human gloated his accomplishments to his captive. The great tree they were surrounded by quivered, unhappy with the panic it sensed from one of the Kitsune-born. But with the silver around his wrists Quatre had no power to offer the tree so it could come to his aid. Leaves came loose from the almost undetectable movement, falling passed the window just out of arms reach.

The human's laughter to his own, unheard, joke was cut short and the brute hitched forward an inch against the fox he held captive.

"I suggest you put him down and get out of my tavern Bjorn!"

"Taliant!" The human swung around, putting the blond in between him and the sword that had just had its tip to his back.

Weapons were not allowed in the Adventurers' guild, but that did not mean the owner of said guild did not have one himself, in case of emergencies. Quatre's lidded eyes briefly met those of the older brunette whom had remained behind the bar. If this human was surprised by his ears, Quatre could not tell. Nor did he care any longer.

"Come on Taliant, one as you has surely seen the reward parchment making its rounds. You can't tell me that you don't think this is the one they are looking for?! No one around these parts has hair like this." The Kitsune grunted as his hair was pulled again. "I know you have your ears in everything around this town, old habits die hard."

"Reward or no Bjorn, I will not have you threatening my customers. They paid for their evening and that means they are safe if they are here."

"Damn you and your honor Star! We are talking about enough money that, split five ways none of us would have to work another day in our lives. We'll share it with you too, just keep this foreigner..." A sweeping arm indicated the Kuroi across the room. "From bothering us while we finish our business. I doubt he will last long in a five to one fight."

"Filthy human..." Quatre forced out in his limited air supply.

The sword tip held stick straight, tilted and lower to the ground. Bjorn chuckled, lips moving against hair the color of the sun. The fox's movements slowed the longer his was held off the ground by his neck. Head craned backwards to the ceiling painfully. "The only thing filthy here will be the ground when his blood his spilt. Sorry for the mess Taliant. I'm sure we can all enjoy an ale while Derrian cleans it up on her hands and kn- ARGH!"

The blood that coated Quatre, this time, was not his own. The sword was raised from floor to ceiling in the span of a blink, slicing through skin, fat, and muscle of the arm around the Kitsune's neck. Passing a hair's breadth from his own exposed neck. He was released a moment later, the large human yelling and stumbling backwards in shock. Pain blossomed in Quatre's knees as he landed on all fours, coughing violently between large gulps of air.

A strong hand gripped the laboring Kitsune's bicep and almost released him again when very 'un-human' like teeth snarled up at him. Steadfast, Taliant forced the blond to his feet, keeping him steady until he remain upright on his own. Keen eyes not missing a single odd detail of the one he held onto. "I would suggest you leave now, Sir Kitsune." Those bottomless eyes widened just a hair. "I will help your friend, but Bjorn will not stop until he gets what he wants." Calloused hands pushed the foreign being towards the window, his original destination. The Kitsune waited just a moment more, never looking back to the entrance of the Tavern and his companion, before he scrambled onto the table and out the open window. The large tankards remained undisturbed as he left.

Taliant, smiled, intrigued by the one he just let leave in an unconventional manner. But... he had other matters to attend to at the moment.

"Are you sure they went up this one Heero?" Duo shaded his eyes against the slice of sun breaking through the canopy of giant tree limbs. Looking up to the building that would be their destination... So far above them. "Cause I'm not looking forward to climbing each and every one of these damn trees just because you are unwilling to admit you didn't see where they went."

Heero ignored his brother, it was actually a trait he was very proud of. Not that he would ever say so out loud. Instead he continued up the winding path that circled the large tree trunk. With any luck, the rogue would tire, stop, and Heero would keep on walking, putting a bit of pleasant distance between him and the chatter.

Behind Duo, Wufei already stayed back a comfortable distance, though he was happy to see the other voicing a bit of a jab at their leader. It was better than remaining in the silent slump he had been in all morning as they rode.

"Geezes this is high." The long braid swung in a half circle as Duo looked out passed the railing of the pathway. "I bet Trowa is drinking with some local and just chatting away, while we did all the shopping."

Heero, mentally, corrected that statement to exclude the one who cuddled with his horse the entire time. It was only when he and Wufei returned that Duo helped load up the animal's packs with their newly bought supplies. Enough to last them the remaining trip to the river crossing. The giant river would become a wall of safety for their journey. Too large to see across by human eye and the ferry crossing it stopped at many ports. They would not be getting off that the most logical point of course, just in case the identity of their employee became known to the Lord they stole from. A couple extra days to finish up the job was well worth the measure of security it brought to him and his brothers.

Above them, in the direction of the building they headed towards, a door slammed. An angry yell cut the air. Heero narrowed his gaze suspiciously, he didn't recognize the voice, but he did not want to get caught up in the petty disputes of the locals. He would not stick around to answer any questions, even if the local guards were the ones questioning him. It was none of his concern

Someone was running back down the path, the wooden planks vibrated in rhythm and soon enough choppy breaths took over the sounds of the nature. A calloused hand found the hilt of Heero's sword, even with the restricted location he could have it free and in a useful position quicker than one would think possible. But the attention drawn to a brandished weapon was one the Kuroi leader was not going to chance unless absolutely needed.

The fleeing figure rounded the last apex of the trunk, looking behind before tripping, yellow and black mixing together as the person flailed to stay upright. The extra speed gained from the downhill slant now becoming a hindrance and the figure eventually lost his fight with gravity and landed in a heap at Heero's feet.

The Kuroi leader was shocked at first. Blond hair shone brightly in the sun's rays, uncovered and contrasting against the white patches of fur covered ears. The Kitsune's head was bowed and his back expanded in great gulps for precious air. "Quatre!?" Heero squatted down and grabbed the front of the 'gem's' clothing, forcing eyes with no reflection to meet his own dark blue ones. "What the hell are you doing?! Where is Trowa?!"

He was not expecting the yellow and white to be outshone by bright red. Splattered over Quatre's face, neck, and hair. An unnatural strip split his face into the three colored sections. Heero scrunched his nose, the smell of blood was unmistakable. The Kitsune did not snap at him, like he was used to, instead his head snapped back the way he had come, following the path his ears had taken just a moment before.

With Quatre's footsteps halted, more could be heard, also fast paced and coming down the tree path. The muscles under Heero's hand bunched, silently waiting and listening for the opportune time to flee again. The Kitsune even forced his frantic breathing to a halt, every bit like the animal his race took after. Observing before making the next, most logical, move to escape any danger that might threaten him.

Using his free hand, Heero pulled Quatre's hood up and over his ears, the action much gentler then his previous. Once again hiding the young man from prying eyes, if lucky, they were too far up for anyone to have noticed the odd appendages on the Kitsune's bright head. "It's okay." He voiced gruffly, drawing his sword as he stood back up, putting himself between predator and prey. Ignoring any further activity behind him to focus solely on the obvious threat from above.

Another body took up residence on Heero's left side, remaining a step back. Well out of the way he needed to use his black sword properly. Duo held his twin tanto swords confidently in front of his body, ready. The shorter blades gave him the leisure to be more mindful of his companion's needs during a possible confrontation in a narrow area.

"Bryan if you let him get away it'll be your head. Move faster!"

That voice was also not Trowa's. The two dark haired locals who rounded the tree bend next pulled up short with much more control then the Kitsune. Eying the similarly dressed group and the weapons they brandished, particularly an unusual black blade held unmoving, tip at eye level. The shorter one elbowed his brother before tipping his head to the figure half hidden by the wall of black, his back to them, kneeling on the wood.

Trusting Heero to take care of situation. Wufei knelt in front of Quatre. "Are you hurt?" He prodded gently, reaching to peek under the hood. The Kitsune tilted backwards, away from questing hands, eyes flicking between it and the healer's face. Wufei waited a moment before finishing the move and carefully shifting stained blond hair to inspect the gash on the other's temple.

"I'm f-fine." Quatre croaked, voice rough was his early manhandling. He rubbed a blood crusted eye, attempting to clear out the shade of crimson he was seeing with it. "It's not all mine."

"I'm not afraid of going through you to get what I want, foreigner." The larger of the two locals was the only one armed, an uncared for dagger was waved threateningly at the two Kuroi in front of him. Blood dripped down from a clean slash on his dominant arm, coloring the wood they stood on. "I know you are not from around here, but a bit of advice. The Darren brothers." He gestured to himself and the shorter one next to him. "Are not the people you should be upsetting around here? It's common knowledge in this town. I can give you a pass this one time however. Now..." His already deep voice lowered an octave. "Let me through. The money for that animal is not worth the loss of your life, is it?"

The rusty dagger blocked the dark sword's jab, parrying it to one side. The hulking man grinned, flashing yellowed teeth to the puny man who had attacked him. One so small, he was literally lost in the native's shadow.

But, his was not the only face with a grin splashed across it. Duo ducked under his companion's weapon to sweep the legs out from under the shorter of the two brothers, knocking him to his backside, before pushing himself up on the palms of his hands, booted feet rising in the air to plant both in the broad chest of the one Heero faced. The much larger man was easily tripped up by his fallen comrade and both were starring, surprised, to the leafy sky.

Bjorn's view was cut off by inverted violet eyes, speaking murder if he tried to move again. When had the long haired one had a chance to get behind his head?

"We will not be the ones dying today, my friend." The double fisted swords glistened brighter as they were brought, at different angles in to his line of sight, one to his neck, the other pointed straight at an eye. His dark pupils crossed in an attempt to see the tip of it clearly. The one with the black sword he had been facing, was emotionlessly holding a sword to center mass on his younger brother's chest.

"I wouldn't chance it." Duo warned, straight teeth bared. His feet were set wide apart, painfully so to an outsiders view, stance so he could keep his balance and have his upper body horizontal with the walkway, hands free to man his weapons, and posture low enough to stay under Heero's normal pattern of sword skills. "My grip's not so steady, see?" The sword closest to the brute's eyes twitched. "I'd hate to slip and 'accidentally', you know... stab you in the eye."

"You'll regret crossing me little man."

Wufei looked up from his charge to the wild laughter bubbling out of Duo, the rogue being a bit of a loose cannon at times, the sound filling the air now tended to be the precursor to those times. Not to mention the state of mind he had been in since that evening. He'd rather Duo not maim the man, but he knew it would only be done if the punishment was fitting.

A familiar figure finally showed, looking far less worse for the wear then the Kitsune. He was followed by one more also brandishing a weapon. But if Trowa's back was to the older man, then he must at least be on the Kuroi's side for the time being. Their place on the side of tree was becoming a bit too crowded for the healer. They were going to start attracting attention by pointing weapons at one another.

"Don't kill him Duo." Trowa said in monotone, his eyes quickly passed throughout the scene, finally landing on Quatre's back and Wufel kneeling towards him. The healer gave him a nod that the 'gem' was well enough for now.

Never taking his eyes off his prey, Duo whined loudly. "You take the fun out of my job Tro." The tanto lowered a fingers-breath more. "Don't stab that Duo... Don't cut that tongue out Duo... Don't kill that Duo." His voice lowered with each sentence. "Maybe my ears are filled with dirt today, we have been traveling for a long time. I don't think I heard you clearly. What did you say again? "DO kill him Duo?" The twin sword echoed its brother, aiming for the other eye.

Wufei held his breath.

"Duo." Heero's deep voice forced the rogue to stop the weighing of scales in the back of his mind.

The last remaining local took in the scene, rather calmly, before saying. "I suggest we move this indoors. Unless you plan to attract more attention."

"Agreed." Heero brought the butt of his sword to his opponents head, easily rendering him unconscious. The bigger man was kept at the tip of several weapons and led back up to the Tavern. No way were they going to carry him the remaining distance. Heero had no issues carrying the smaller brother to their destination. Wufei brought up the rear, keeping a healthy distance between them, watching their backs, the ground, and the Kitsune that warily trudged alongside of him.

Wufei was not surprised by the sight of two more unconscious men when they got indoors. Trowa would have to be outnumbered to leave the side of his charge. Their steps indoors were carefully watched by two people carrying the same face, and odd occurrence given one was male, while the other female. It was not the only thing identical between them. Hair, height, posture when holding a sword. It was uncommon for a weapons master to take a female as a student.

"Adrian, close and lock the door. Derrian, the windows. We can't stay locked up all evening mind you, but for a bit still. Until the normal dinner rush begins." The older man tipped the weapon he was holding to Bjorn's throat. His posture was the same as the younger two, the level of experience was echoed with the refinement that spoke of many years of sword handling. "Have a seat M'lord Darren. I'm sure you'll find our accommodations to your liking mate."

The girl saw to binding the large man's wrists. Skillfully tying a complicated knot while her two male companions made sure the man kept still.

"I thought we had a deal Taliant. Money speaks in these situations."

"I heard no agreement come from my lips Bjorn, by lowering my sword I knew you'd lower your guard and open yourself up for an attack. You have been that way since we were young. I have told you of that flaw many, many times, but, as when we were younger, you do not listen." The older man eyed up the captive for another moment before turning to the mass of strangers in his building. "My name is Taliant Star. Owner of the Adventurer's Guild, this fine building you stand in." He waved his arms out to his sides. Then indicated to the green haired youths. "This is Adrian and Derrian, my children. I apologize that your companions were attacked while in my tavern. We confiscate weapons at the door, but that does not mean brawls are completely stopped by such a rule. Especially when one's weapons are his teeth..."

Quatre's hood dipped lower, hiding away from the wide eyed gaze the female, Derrian, had trained on him. Just because he wore his cloak's hood now, did not mean she would forget the pointed ears she had seen on top of his head before.

The Kuroi's also moved after hearing the statement, three sets of weapons pointing to the owner, while the final kept itself trained on the conscious attacker just in case he decided this was an opportunity to act. Adrian, standing next to his father, raised his own weapon to defend his family. Unhappy green eyes skipping between the group before him, weighing the odds in his mind. Taliant's hand on his sword arm, confused him, and he let the older man know with a pointed look, but still his arm was pushed, weapon and all, down and out of an aggressive manner.

"If I was your enemy, I would have agreed to split the reward money with the Darren brothers when offered just moments ago. The amount being offered for your... Friend?... Prisoner perhaps? Is quite substantial." Taliant, lowered his own weapon, setting it lovingly on the marble bar behind him. Showing his level of sincerity by turning his back while doing so.

"You won't be the first to speak pretty words to us and turn on us a moment later." Duo voiced, his weapons being the only ones pointed to the tied brute. He still had a bone to pick with him.

Taliant nodded, knowingly. He leaned back against the bar, visibly relaxing no matter the high state of tension that filled the common room. "I bet not mate. You're all young, yet I can see the healed scars and callouses from skilled handling of a weapon for many, many years. Probably far more then you all should have, given your apparent age..."

"So says a man not old enough to have children the age these two are." Duo nodded to the twins, still holding their own weapons.

The man smiled, it was one a proud father would give when complimented on his children. "Sharing blood does not make one a father. I'm sure you understand this as well as I do. Who am I to turn away two babes left to die in the forest when I'm barely old enough to call myself a man by society's standards?"

"This is not about us!" Adrian did not set aside his blade as his father, but he kept it pointing down, exactly where it was put. "Whatever trouble you bring is not our own, yet we are offering you a place to stay for the moment. Any longer and I have no issue calling the guards, I will not have you threatening my family when we were the ones who helped you!"

"That's enough Adrian. Come get some drinks for our guests, you as well Der. I'm sure Sir Darren will play nice for a bit." Taliant looked to the blond who started the whole commotion. Kept apart from them and his attackers by his four companions. "And let your 'friend' sit down. He took quite a hit to the head. Bjorn is no light weight in his strength. All muscles, no brains really."

The foreigners did not fully relax. But their guard was lowered enough by Taliant's offer. Trowa was the first to move, having been part of the exchange. The older gentleman had stopped an attack to his legs that would have slowed down everything, his victory in that scuffle, his rush out the door to find Quatre again, and their journey beyond Safe Haven. It was all after he helped Quatre escape out the window, though he was unaware of the terms Bjorn had offered before that point.

"Here." Quatre's far away gaze at the knotty floor focused before he looked, up slightly, to the full tankard being offered in his direction by delicate hands. Aquamarine eyes looked up farther still to meet Derrian's own blue ones. They were still filled with an uncertain wonder, but she smiled to him without fear, and pushed the mug closer. "You seemed to like the rose wine. I have a towel as well, it's warm. You can wipe your face off."

Chained hands hesitated, Adrian could be seen over his sister's shoulder, watching the exchange carefully as he, also, obeyed his father figure and carried out four tankards at one time. No doubt ideas tumbling throughout his head about the situation they had become, momentarily apart of. Quatre took the offered drink in both hands, dipping his head slightly in thanks. The girl's smile widened and she handed off the wet towel to Wufei's out stretched hand. He verbally thanked her in the Kitsune's stead.

The smell of roses was a welcome change to the Wolfsbane the room still reeked of.

"While we have a much needed drink." Taliant pulled a rolled up parchment off the floor and spread it on a nearby table, in between the two groups. "I believe this is the reason for this lots attacking of your companions. I had heard the chatter on this yesterday, but had not actually seen the flyer with my own eyes." He read the pages contents carefully, never raising an eye as Heero stepped up to the opposite end of the table to do similar. "They leave out some 'key' features I would say, but around here, any male with long blond hair is going to get noticed, for evil or good. And there is no way to cover up that amount of tattoos easily without attracting an eye as well." His own brown eyes looked up to the object of the reward. Black etchings were to his very finger tips, they could be seen simply by him eating, drinking, or reaching casually for something. The cloak drowning him did its job to hide most of it, but any traveler hiding behind that much fabric at high noon would be looked at for simply the oddity of the sight.

"You say you had not seen this announcement yourself?" Trowa joined them at the table. The tavern owner nodded. "Do you think it is being kept in secrecy Heero? Surely news should not have gotten this far yet. Even with us delaying a couple of days."

Humming. "So you have not captured him to claim the gold for yourself." Taliant put a thoughtful finger to his chin, pursing lips in thought. "So then why bind his wrists by chains mate?"

"It is of no concern of yours... 'mate'!" Duo cut in, slamming his own mug down on the table, eyeing the older man dangerously as he placed both palms flat on the table and leaned over his drink. "Too many questions will not end well for you or any others involved. I'll thank you for the helping Quat out..." The Kitsune started slightly, the hand wiping off the blood halting at the shortening of his real name. "And the drinks, and perhaps any hot food we might be able to pay you for, because I'm, frankly starving... But let's leave it at that. Not just for our safety, but for yours and your families later on. We are not the only ones you need to be worried about when too much information is known. The same thing we are looking to avoid, should be something you avoid as well."

Taliant thought a bit more, digesting the information gathered, and the request made. It was close enough to a truce. "Four secretive companions transporting a Kitsune away from the location a lifetime of gold is being offered to see that same creature returned to. A bit of silenced exchanged for a meal. I guess that is a fair enough deal."

"Are you serious?!" The girl gapped, standing once again near Wufei, hands full of herbs, ointments and bandages to treat the object of her outburst. Her blue eyes trained on the young man who refused to remove his hood even though they had all seen what was underneath. "A Kitsune?!"

"Please keep your voice down M'lady Star." Wufei scolded the green haired girl, taking the medical items from her when she froze in her help. "While your father speaks casually on the matter, hundreds have died because of this Kitsune." Quatre ignored everything around him at that point, stubborn nature surfacing again. His interest focused solely on the flowery smelling drink in his hands, even when the healer tugged his black hood off of the very objects that screamed 'not human'. It was in the way and from the direction the conversation was going, everyone in the room had seen the ears that they worked so hard to hide.

"You knew what he was Taliant." Bjorn spoke up from his spot tied to a chair, unable to turn to face the group around the table. "Your knowledge never ceases to amaze me. I figured he was just an abomination." The man laughed deep in his throat. "A monster sired by a human mounting a mongrel perhaps?"

The tankard Quatre once held exploded against the back of the large man's head. He grunted with pain, the alcoholic beverage drenching his hair and streaming down his face to drip off his nose. He chuckled none-the-less. "Human or abomination, you are nothing but a king's ransom to me and to several other bands around these parts. Good luck in your journey mutt. Enjoy your brief moment of freedom." Eyes strained to look over his shoulder, just barely able to see the blond man standing, bristled and facing his direction, bound hands clenched in front of him. "I suppose you are not even free now huh? So much for my sentiment."

Quatre took two steps towards the filthy human, ignoring Wufei trying to talk him down. He was going to rip the human's throat out slowly and painfully, smiling at the pained expression as he slowly bled dry on the knotty floors of that very room. The hands that stopped his movement, were not ones that carried callouses of a sword, instead the scars Derrian carried on her hands were small, almost un-noticeable. Pricks she must have gotten while tending the rose bushes she used to make that wine.

She flinched slightly to the deadly glare she received for stopping him, touching him. But he made no move against her. She was the human woman, one who would eventually become a mother. Even if the humans lacked the issues the Kitsune faced to keep their race alive and thriving. He couldn't bring himself to raise a claw against her because of her future duty. He pulled his arm out of her reach sharply instead, spinning on the ball of his foot to face the Kuroi instead. His anger finding another outlet to escape.

"Heero release me from this silver!" He shook his wrists as he stalked to the dark haired leader, coming closer than he had felt comfortable doing ever since his gut wrenching dreams the night before.

The answer was simple. "No." Heero met his sharp gaze for only a moment before going back to the parchment on the table.

Quatre was not done however. His insides were boiling. The sleepless nights full of unwanted memories. The merchant hoping to make a sale off of an object he should have never laid eyes on. The bound human who had threatened his very existence, called him names, and shoved the hopeless situation he had gotten so good at ignoring... right back into his face. The farther away from the Garden Lord's manor they travel, the more a suffocating weight lifted off of him. Every step they took, every landmark they passed that signaled they had traveled farther away than 'this other band of thieves'.

Safe Haven... it was the first time he had been taken this far away. The first time he had the chance to see a city that his people would have marveled over... It was the first time his hopeless prediction was becoming a doubt in his own mind. Maybe he would finally be free because of this band of Kuroi.

But for what?

They were in it for the gold as well. A much larger amount, he was sure, then the paper they all gathered around. He was going from one master to the next, always chained, never free. His bound hands gripped the wool of Heero's cloak. Forcing the slightly taller man to face his direction, canine teeth clenched tightly and on show. "Release me human! My lord's men already know our path of travel. These pieces of paper are no mere coincidence!"

He couldn't even defend himself properly with the closely linked chains of silver locking away his people's powers over nature.

"They all reek of Wolfsbane! Objects in 'this' town are saturated with the smell! A plant that is the Master of the manor's favorite. He loves the smell, he loves the different shades the flowers bloom into, and he loves the look on people's faces when they die from it! Painfully! Slowly! He had me grow it to its most potent before it is picked to become a poison that only his most trusted of guards are allowed to use. The very same men that kill every lucky group of thieves that successfully steal me away from that forsaken tower of windows!"

"You and your 'brothers' are just going to be the next number in the line of hundreds I have seen die before this story ends. As it always does... You are 'dead' and I am locked back away!"


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