Chapter VIII | Burn Them Out

"Lars, lovely, please listen to meh. This is not a good idea. Yer still really hurt!" He objected to his mate, who decided they needed to move. But there was no way. He knew his brother and because he hurt and possible killed Francis, they were going to pay the price. "Alli. We cannot stay here. You are going to freeze to death. We need something to keep you warm and dry. I have fur, you don't have anything. Please, listen to me." Alli frowned and looked at him and then out of the cave. He sighed and nodded to him. "Okay… Ah'll come wit' ya. But Ah'm tellin' ye now, we're surrounded. They're waitin' fer us…" Lars nodded and moved out of the cave. "Duly noted." He grumbled and moved slowly out of the cave. Alli followed after him out of the cave and into the open. He held his sword handle tightly as they walked, Lars had to wrap an arms around his shoulder so he had a little support. He still wasn't sure about this. He didn't like being out in the open. But maybe Lars was right. Move to a different cave before they caught their scent. They walked for a long time. Or at least to him, tired, freezing and starving it seemed like a really long time. Finally they found a deeper cave.

Lars shifted and let out a pained whined. "Wotcha doin' lovely?" Alli asked as he started working on a small fire. "I'm going to go hunt. You and I both need something to eat." Alli frowned and looked down at the fire. He didn't like the sound of this. But Lars was right. They needed to eat. Reluctantly he nodded in agreement to him. "Jist… Hurry back love." He said softly to the other who smiled at him and nodded again. Before leaving he went over to Alli and pressed his wet nose against his cheek, making the redhead laugh a little. "Alrigh' Alrigh, ya great lug. Git befer Ah change me mind." He chuckled shoving the wolf away from himself playfully. Lars chuckled inwardly. Alli could hear it through their connection. "Stay here. I'll be back soon." Alli nodded and curled up close to the fire. Rubbing his side as he watched Lars vanish from the cave. Stupid rain. He thought to himself and he tried hard to get warm. He needed clothes, or a blanket. Something to keep him warm. He had sacrificed his shirt to cover Lars' wound, which was now healing. The red head moved and curled up on the other side of the fire so he could watch the cave entrance, even though they were in pretty far. He had to be careful. He didn't have a lot of ways to protect himself. Just his sword that he could barely use with his one arm. He held the sword tightly and watched the entrance. The warmth from the fire slowly made his green eyes close and caused him to drift off to sleep.

Lars was quiet as he looked over the elk, slowly staking his way up. He couldn't be too loud otherwise the thing would bolt on him, then they would be starving and freezing. Plus if he ran after it, it would probably end badly for him. He didn't need the wolves that were surrounding the woods now to find his scent. Slowly crouching up, the wolf lunged at the elk and took it down without a second though. It didn't even have time to cry out in alarm before Lars had it to the ground and snapped it's neck. But he paused. His ears yanked back and he looked around. Shit. He cursed, taking hold of the elk and pulling it away and hiding in some brush. He watched the men move in. A little ways away they set up camp. Lars frowned and moved around them and pulled the elk with him back to the cave. Maybe he could go back later and steal a shirt or a blanket for Alli. Later though. He couldn't do it now. Dragging the deer back to the cave he went inside looking around to make sure his mate was still there. He sighed a little when he saw him curled next to the fire. He must be freezing. Lars sighed and dropped the elk, he would cut it up later. He needed to get the redhead warm. Lest lost him to the cold. That would not be good. He moved over and curled up behind him, pulling him close so he couldn't feel any cold. He made a soft noise and turned snuggling tightly into his fur, letting the fire warm his back. After a little while he moved his head and looked up at the wolf. "Did ye catch somethin'?" Lars nodded to him and then pointed his nose toward the elk that needed to be cut up. "There are also men in the woods. I'm going to try and steal a shirt or a blanket for you." The Scot usually would have fought with him. He didn't like stealing, but right now they were desperate. "Lars…" He said his name softly making the wolf look down at him. "Yes, love?" He said nuzzling his snout against the other's cheek. "Dun let 'em hurt ye. If they try…kill 'em." The Dutchman was almost thrown for a loop, but he understood why Alli would say that. "Ja. Alright." He muttered nuzzling close to him and watching as the Scot closed his eyes.

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Arthur sat on top of a horse. Francis was still at home healing. It had been five days now since the other two had vanished into the woods. Arthur had sent in men to see if they could find them, but they were coming up empty handed. Lars was able to take out a couple teams. It seemed that he was taking things to help them survive. He knew by now that Alli had been without a shirt at all to keep him warm. Maybe they would get lucky. The soft sound of a wolf walking up made him turn on his horse. "Heh, Francis. Decided to join the living then?" He said softly as he looked at the white wolf. Francis panted happily, glad to be out of bed and back in the battle field with his mate. Arthur dismounted the horse and move over to the paled colored canine. Gently taking hold of his muzzle, he nuzzled his forehead against the wolf's. He panted happily at his mate and nudged his chin with his nose, making Arthur chuckles. "I'm glad your back." The wolf nodded and looked at the woods carefully eyes it. "Anything yet? Arthur shook his head. "No, we think they're in a cave somewhere. Lars has been able to kill a few of the men and take their supplies." Francis growled and nudged his mate. "Get on. If they're going to play dirty and hide then so will we." Arthur looked down at the wolf and tilted his head. "What do you mean Francis?" He asked quietly. Francis looked up at him and smirked inwardly. He shifted with a groan and held his chest as he yanked a torch from another man's hand. He walked up and toss it only a pile of leaves, watching the flame sore upwards. "We'll burn them out."

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Alli woke up to the smell of smoke. He coughed and covered his mouth with the blanket that Lars had gotten him. He sat up and shook the dark colored wolf. "L-Lars!" He coughed and tried to breath into the blanket. "Lars, somethin's on fire!" He yelled, finally rousing the wolf. He got up and nodded for Alli to get on his back. "Cover up with the blanket and stay low on my back. I'll get us out of here." He said running out of the cave and looking around. The whole forest was on fire. "Dirty trick!" He growled as he ran out trying to find his way out of the inferno. There had to be a way. He panted and looked around, running on direction and rearing up when a flame covered log thudded down, it knocked the redhead off with a yelp. Lars let out a worried whine and moved over to nudge his mate. "Alli? Are you okay?" He asked worriedly. The red head nodded and moved slowly to get up. He tried to climb back up but couldn't get up. He was almost passing out from the smoke. "L-Lars… Ah cannae breath…" He muttered to his mate. Lars was beginning to panic. He grabbed Alli gently and tossed him onto his back, running as fast as he could through wood and flame. Until finally he was out. He tried to skid to a stop, only to roll, sending his now unconscious partner and him to the ground. He panted and shook his head getting up. He looked around and saw Francis and Arthur about five miles from where he had come out. They were running around searching for them. Quickly, he grabbed Alli and tugged him away to a nearby creek. He had to try and wake him up. He just hoped he wasn't too late.