"Are you sure that I can't send anything else with you?" Cathy asked as Sally and Noin gathered at the door to leave.

"No, you've been most generous. We'll be back within a week if we're able. I'm almost positive the horses went home; they've gone down this route so many times, they know their way. If you don't see us in two weeks… worry," she chuckled.

"We'll come out looking for you if it takes that long," Cathy said. "And don't worry about Duo and Heero; we'll take good care of them! I promise!"

"Thank you so much for everything," Sally said as she pulled her cowl up. "I think winter is going to let go soon, just you watch, it'll be warm before you know it!"

The goodbyes were said for a few moments longer, and Quatre, sitting up with his back against the headboard, simply sighed. He was bored, he was restless and he wanted nothing more than to either sit with Duo and talk with him face to face, or to kiss Trowa. Truth be told, as much as he loved his best friend, he would rather be kissing Trowa.

When the door to the den was shut, Quatre immediately turned his eyes to the flap, anticipating the very man he was longing for to enter. He did.

"Why didn't you let me meet the new people?"

"They're none of your concern," Trowa said as he sat down at his desk and pulled out his leather bound ledger. He opened it and turned to the last page he had written.

"Well, I don't see where that's for you to decide," Quatre reasoned. "And what are you doing?"

"I'm writing."

"What is writing?"

Trowa made a soft sound deep in his throat. It was common for people to be illiterate, but to not know what writing was? He shook his head at that and lifted a quill out of a small jar before pulling his ink to him. "I'm getting low," he murmured to himself.

"What is writing?" Quatre asked again, gently.

"Putting thought into written word."

"Could you teach me?"

Trowa paused the quill tip before it could reach the ink. "I don't see why not. Once you've healed."

"I'm feeling better now, though," Quatre complained gently.

"Not now," Trowa said firmly.

"What do you write about?"

"My life, the interesting things that happen day by day. My dreams. Thoughts that I don't want to forget."

Speaking of dreams… Quatre folded his hands onto his lap as he studied Trowa for a long moment. "Kiss me again."

Trowa's shoulders rose, and then stiffened as he turned his stricken face to Quatre. "I beg your pardon?"

"I want you to kiss me again."

"I spoke that aloud?"

"No," Quatre said as he shook his head gently. "You were having a bad dream when I found you; I took you back to the safe place. We had fun; we raced, and I said if I won, you shouldn't kick me. You said if you won, then you'd get a kiss. I didn't understand what they were at first, but you showed me. The ones for soothing and comfort were nice," in turn, he touched his forehead and cheek. "But I liked the one for love much better."

"It can't be true," Trowa whispered, the quill falling from his numb fingers. "It can't be…"

"You believed me in your dream."

"How… I don't understand."

"You also showed me how to unlatch the door," Quatre said with a sheepish grin. "I misled you there, and for that, I am sorry, but I've never worked a door before, I didn't know what to do! I had to have help…"

Trowa turned his upper body in the chair and gazed at Quatre for a long time, a flurry of emotions crossing his face. "Your friend… said the wagon tripped and fell, he didn't say he had a wreck, he said it… tripped… and fell," Trowa's voice went into a soft and contemplative tone as his mind worked overtime, clicking things into place.

"We don't have words for wreck in our language."

"What are you?"

"I told you what I am, Trowa. He is the same. The one lying injured is what is called a Keeper. Though, like us, they can be killed, otherwise, they are as immortal as we are. They protect us and keep us safe from Hunters. Safe from ourselves sometimes," he murmured a chuckle at that. "I'm glad Duo finally got one, he's so reckless, but, like I told him, it's nice not to have to worry so much about him now." He rubbed his chin in thought. "However… I think I should start worrying about Heero from this point on."

Trowa simply shook his head slowly as he worked to process the information. Finally, he was able to form a coherent thought. "It was you in my dreams, you-you…"

"Yes. Don't mind the legends about us. We can't bring people back from the dead, we can't grant wishes, and you can't spin our manes and tails into gold." He reached back and brushed his fingers through the shorn locks on the back of his head. "We can purify water, we can speak to nature, and we can go into dreams. We can switch forms. In fact, our Keeper's King, Wufei, has decreed that we all should be in human form right now, because of Baron Khushrenada's personal hunter. The Baron killed my mother when I was a newborn; I… heard she was his last kill. This isn't the first time the decree to be human has gone out, but the last one was nearly a thousand years ago. We do what we must to be safe."

Trowa rubbed his face slowly. "Those men who captured you?"

"I was with my sister and her daughter, in a clearing one night," Quatre said. "They found us. I had received a kick from my cousin, and was lame." He lifted his right foot and pointed at the fading bruise on his heel. "I told them to run while I led the bad men away. I had to kill one of their hounds, it was chasing me and nipping at me and I had been shot in the shoulder and they were chasing me on horseback and I was so confused and angry and afraid," he began to speak quickly, his breathing growing rapid at the traumatic memory just two and a half weeks prior. He lifted his face to Trowa, tears welling in his eyes. "I didn't understand why… why would they hunt us to kill us, our alicorns are useless when we are dead!" He made a searching gesture in front of him by lifting his palms up, fingers curled inward, and circling his hands. "They're barely useful while we're alive!"

A twin trail of tears fell when Quatre blinked. "And then, I remember advice Wufei had given me, that if I was ever in a situation where my life was in danger, to turn into something that men hated; themselves. I did and they hurt me so badly." Now his voice had dropped to a hoarse whisper. "They were so cruel… and my heart was broken." He pressed his hands to his chest as he lowered his head, a sob coming from him. He felt the bed dip when Trowa sat next to him. Seconds later, he was enveloped in a warm embrace and he began to weep, over and over repeating why, why, why?

"Ssshh," Trowa murmured as he gathered Quatre into his lap, holding him close as the blond began to weep into his shoulder. He pressed his palm onto the back of Quatre's head and began to rock him slowly. "You're safe now."

"But they almost got Duo," Quatre moaned through his sorrow. He sniffled once and then succumbed again to the sorrow in his heart. "And that was all my fault because they were looking for me! I'm the reason they're hurt!"

"Duo is safe, too. So is Heero," Trowa whispered over the weeping as he cradled Quatre to him. "You're safe here."

Quatre rubbed first one cheek and then the other against Trowa's shoulder, trying to dry his tears before leaning his head back to look him in the eye.

"Safe," Trowa said again, more firmly this time as he brushed Quatre's bangs back from his face. "If the Hunter's want you, they'll have to kill me first. And that is highly frowned upon in this region. They adhere to the rules, besides, as long as you stay human, you'll be safe anyway, right?"

Quatre sniffled and nodded, his eyes still locked onto Trowa's. "Right," he answered, his hoarse voice hitching.

Trowa gave him a tiny smile, and then put pressure on the hand still pressed against the back of Quatre's head, urging him to rest his cheek against his shoulder once more. Quatre obliged willingly, and the tears returned. He clung to Trowa like a burr as the archer rocked him, listening to him as Trowa softly sang a song his mother had sung to him as a child.

Cathy washed the breakfast dishes, trying to be as quiet as she could so as to not disturb the bonding in Trowa's room, however, she had to pause from time to time to wipe away her own tears. "Damn those men and those hunters," she whispered.

By the time the sun set, the snow was almost gone, leaving in its wake new grass that poked up sluggishly through the muddy ground.

"Eeegh," Duo grumbled as he walked from the barn towards the human den, grousing at the sticky sensation of the mud as it clung to the bottoms of his boots. Trowa had told him that if he wanted or needed anything, to just come in, so he did.

"Why hello!" Cathy greeted him cheerfully as he stepped inside, causing him to startle in place. "Why don't you go ahead and take those muddy boots off, okay? I was just getting ready to come out and check on Heero and feed him his supper. Has he woken up yet?" She took a breath as she bustled about. "I'm glad you decided to come in, you can eat at the table like a proper gentlemen instead of in the barn like an old cow." She let out a chuckle as she added a few things to her medicine basket. "By the way, would you like some mead? I made a fresh batch and I think it came out rather good. I'll go ahead and fix you a big mug of it, it'll warm you up, I know it's still chilly outside and you should be somewhere warm, where there's a fire."

"You talk as much as I do, lady," Duo said in awe as he watched her with his large, expressive eyes. He was rewarded with kind laughter as she filled up a bowl with broth, and then hooked her arm into the basket.

"That's good, then we'll never run out of things to talk about! Though it might drive Trowa crazy, he's not one for a whole lot of talk. I think Quatre's up, if you want to go visit him, he's right through that flap. Trowa! Duo's here to see Quatre! Don't throw anything at him when he comes into your room! Your mead is on the table if you'd like it, Duo!"

"Alright, Cathy," Trowa's voice floated through the flap. Duo stepped out of the way, pushing the door open for her so she could step out, and then sat down on the floor to remove his muddy boots and to recover from the barrage of words that had been tossed at him so quickly.

Quatre turned his head to study Trowa's quiet form. "You don't mind that Duo comes into your den?"

Trowa was quiet for a long moment. Did he mind? Yes, he did, but not only because the braided youth was invading his personal space. He bristled slightly, feeling off put by the knowledge that Quatre had been friends with the handsome young man for a long while now. But, even though they had been friends for quite a while, that's all they were… Surely. Trowa lifted his head and cut his eyes to Quatre. "I don't mind," he finally answered softly. "It's good for you to have more… lively companionship."

"Thank you, Trowa," Quatre said. His voice was strained from the long bought of weeping, and now, exhaustion seemed to be emanating from him in waves.

"But maybe he shouldn't be in here too long. You've had a rough day, you need your rest."

"I'll be fine, Trowa," Quatre answered, his voice still soft and gentle. Moments later, a hand appeared at the side of the flap before pulling it aside. Replacing it was Duo's curious face as he peeked into the room.

"Hi Duo," Quatre smiled. His eyes slowly took in the new human face of his dearest friend. How odd to see him like this. He used to be so beautiful. I guess… by human standards, he still must be.

"You look bad," Duo said in all his tactful glory. It caused Quatre to grin softly.

"I feel bad," he answered honestly as his friend came to the side of the bed. He turned his head, and realized that Duo and Trowa were having their own silent communication. Duo wanted in Trowa's nest, Trowa, however, didn't seem too sure that he wanted Duo in it. He let out a sigh and let them battle it out while he closed his eyes to rest them.

"His wounds have been unnecessarily aggravated," Trowa stated mechanically. "He shouldn't have been up and walking. I think it's best to let him rest, but if you must stay… try not to wear him out too much."

"I won't," Duo said softly. He lowered his eyes from Trowa's, gazed at the bed, and then lifted them back up in a silent request. After a long moment to ponder it over, Trowa gave a minute nod.

Duo climbed cautiously onto the bed, not sure how to react as the mattress dipped beneath his body weight. He put one arm out to steady himself as he made his way over to sit next to Quatre.

"Tell me…" Cerulean eyes lifted up to meet amethyst curiously. Duo tilted his head with an expectant expression and Quatre let out a soft breath. "What do I look like?"

Duo's head tilted to the other side as he studied the still bruised face. "Beat up?" he answered honestly.

"Other than that."

"Human?"

Quatre sighed, but his eyes twinkled.

"Would you like a mirror?" Trowa interjected. Both heads turned to face him.

"What's a mirror?" Duo asked as he got himself comfortable next to his friend.

"A looking glass," Trowa said as he rose. "It lets you see your reflection."

"Human magic," Duo whispered to Quatre as he watched the aforementioned human open a drawer in a dresser on the far side of the room.

"Hardly," Trowa answered as he pulled out a hand mirror and approached the bed. He lifted it up, and then quickly spun it by its handle, abruptly introducing the two unicorns to their human reflection for the first time. They didn't take it well. Letting out twin gasps of surprise, Duo was the first to react as he moved away from Quatre and hopped nimbly from the bed. Crouching down, he eased towards Trowa with a heavy air of mistrust.

"You've got people trapped in that looking glass!" Duo accused as he eased closer to the archer. Trowa held his ground; stoically watching the braided youth slink up to him. "And I'm going to let them out!" He cut his sharp gaze over to Quatre. "I told you! Human magic!"

"And I told you, this allows you to see your reflection," Trowa stated. "I assure you; there is no magic involved."

Duo craned his neck as he eased forward still, his hand coming out slowly, fingers trembling. Curiosity would surely get him killed one day. Quatre watched in fear as Duo's fingertips brushed the round edge of the mirror, only to be snatched away by their cautious owner. "You're not going to suck me up into this thing, are you?"

"No, Duo, I will not," Trowa said, his voice a little tight. "Come stand beside me, I will show you."

Duo looked over to Quatre, who only nodded once.

"Alright, but if anything happens…"

"Nothing will happen to you," Trowa replied, his tone nearly acerbic.

Straightening his back, Duo rose to his full height and moved to stand next to the tall human. When they were side by side, Trowa lifted the mirror once more and to his shock, Duo realized that he could see the archer within, along with a strange human with large amethyst eyes, a sharp straight nose and full lips that were parted in surprise. He reached up and touched his face, intrigued when the hand in the reflection did the same. He touched his cheeks, chin and lips, feeling the sensations as he watched in the mirror. He brushed his shaggy bangs back from his eyes, and then leaned forward. "This is me?" he asked softly.

"The one and hopefully only," Trowa answered back.

Duo cut his eyes up to him and gave a smirk. "You sound like Heero."

"Hmm…"

"Now you really sound like Heero…"

"I want to see myself…" Quatre said. "Please?"

"Alright," Trowa agreed. Moving away from Duo, he walked to the side of the bed and sat down, holding the reflective surface to his chest as he gazed into those curious eyes. "You've got bruising on your face; please know that it will heal in time."

"He's a big boy," Duo said as he crawled onto the foot of the bed. "He'll live." He groaned as he got comfortable. Never before had he rested on something so soft, yet so firm. Odd creatures, these humans, he thought to himself.

"Alright," Trowa agreed. He pulled the mirror from his chest and turned it slowly to give Quatre time to brace himself. Quatre grew still as he was greeted with the injured face in the reflection. Like Duo, he lifted his hand and began to touch his features while his doppelganger did the same. Trembling fingers trailed the outlines of the bruises before touching his jaw. He lifted his head and explored his chin, his lips and his nose. He twined his bangs through his fingers as he studied his cheekbones, and then leaned closer to get a good look at his eyes.

"For a human… what do I… how do I appear?"

Trowa was quiet for a long time before answering. "You're beautiful."

Quatre was caught off guard by his reflected smile.

"How are they?" Cathy asked. The Midnight hour was fast approaching and yet Trowa was still awake. He was sitting in his chair by the fireplace in the kitchen, a blanket over his lap, his eyes heavy.

"They've entertained themselves with the hand mirror for most of the day. Studying themselves, but I believe they've spent the better part of the time making faces into it."

Cathy laughed pleasantly as she gathered up fresh dressings into her medicine basket. "Everything is so new to them… I wonder what that feels like?" she asked. "To be so innocent to such simple things? By the way, did you inform Duo about the outhouse?"

"I did and he has the hang of it."

"Good. I'm going to change Heero's dressings; I don't like how he's still bleeding. I've got a poultice boiling now. That should do the trick. I'm glad that spring is here, I'm running out of medicinal herbs."

"I wonder if they know of some that we aren't aware of?"

"That's a good question," she answered as she put her shawl over her shoulders. "Anyway, I shouldn't be gone too long. Breakfast might be a little late this morning."

"You have a patient to tend to, I'll cook, you rest," he said as he closed his eyes.

Cathy paused by the door. "You're letting them both have your bed."

"It can't be helped," Trowa whispered as sleep tugged at his tired brain. He turned his head to the left, his chin resting on his shoulder as he succumbed to slumber.

"Poor Trowa, you're exhausted," she said with a smile before stepping out and heading to the barn to tend to the wounded Keeper. The ground was frozen once more; winter wasn't too keen on letting go of its hold just yet. Not too much longer now, and then the nights would be warm and pleasant and filled with the scent of honeysuckle accompanied by the sounds of night birds calling for their mates.

Cathy let out a sigh as she gripped the handle of the barn and pushed it to the side to release the latch. Before she could get it to open, a large gloved hand fell upon her arm. Another covered her mouth before she could utter a shriek and as she was turned quickly, she realized she was standing face to face with a uniformed stranger. The light of the full moon cast a silver glow onto his pale hair and reflected off of the silver mask covering half of his face. His lips twisted into a wry smile.

"I'm not here to cause you harm, I'm here to ask you a few questions. If I let you go, will you scream?"

Slowly, wisely, Cathy shook her head once to indicate her understanding.

"Good. I like cooperation. My name is Zechs and I am his Excellency's personal hunter." The gloved hand slowly released her mouth and Cathy took a step back, her breathing harsh and shallow. The barn door rattled as she pressed against it.

"I am on the trail of a Keeper. His name is Heero. He has a charge with him that I am very interested in."

"I don't know what you're talking about," she answered innocently.

The wry smile only deepened into a boyish tug as Zechs leaned in closer to her. "And I am sure that you do. There was a bad wreck. The damage to the road is fresh. Three sets of tracks that I have followed and am familiar with, along with you and your husbands, and a large horse. There is one set that is missing, that of the Keeper's. I haven't located a grave, so he must still be alive. The two women have gone ahead, back home, I presume, to follow their own horses." He paused. "I don't know what became of the wagon, I'm sure your husband has dispatched of it already. It must have been destroyed, but I will say; he is very thorough with getting rid of the evidence."

"I think you should leave," Cathy whispered softly. "We don't want any trouble here. We live here in peace."

"I will give you what you ask for, if you will give me what I am seeking," Zechs said. He lifted his head, his gaze directed at the barn.

"There's nothing in there for you but a sick goat," she answered, and then shrank back further against the door as Zech's imposing form loomed closer to her. "There's nothing in here that concerns you, so you should just leave! Now!"

He lifted a gloved hand, taking her chin and holding it firmly as he pressed his free hand against the door by her head. His voice dropped down to a dangerous growl as he leaned his face close to hers. A glint of silver slipped along the sharp edge along the nose of the mask. "I want the unicorn. I will have it, do you understand me? I will do what it takes to bring the quarry back to my master!"

The hard thock of the arrow as it embedded into the barn wood between his pinky and ring finger cut off his words as effectively as if she had slapped him herself.

"I believe she said to leave. Now."

"Trowa," Cathy breathed in response. When the hand holding her chin loosened, she wiggled away from the hunter and jogged a few paces away from him.

"Ah, the husband appears," Zechs said as he turned to face the archer.

"I'm not her husband," Trowa said as he knocked another arrow into the bow and slowly pulled the string. Zechs watched the muscles glide smoothly within the wide open neck of the untied tunic, gauging the young man. He gave him a mental nod for strength and for accuracy. There was potential in this one.

"You need to leave," Cathy said, her voice full of anger. "We don't want you here, we just want to live in peace, is that so much to ask!?"

Zechs smiled once again. "No. I suppose it isn't." He took a few steps towards Trowa, feeling the thrill of adrenaline as the arrowhead glinted the light of the torch in its sconce on the stone wall by the door. It followed him with the intensity of a red wasp protecting his nest. "I wish you… both… a very fine evening," he said, and though he walked away from his prey, the smile never left his lips.

When his footsteps faded, Trowa lowered the bow and removed the arrow to return it to the quiver. Cathy let out a harsh sigh, and then turned to the barn. "Thank you, Trowa. What would I do without you?"

"Marry a rich man and have lots of children," Trowa answered before slipping back into the house.

"Oh Trowa…" Cathy whispered softly in admonishment as she pulled the barn door open. She shut it behind her and latched it before heading to the lantern to turn up the wick. The flame quickly took a better hold and eagerly gave her more light, and while she was busy bustling about, when Heero spoke, she let out a soft squeak of surprise.

"We're only going to cause you trouble." His voice was weak, but firm.

"No, it's dangerous for you to be out there," she said as she sank down onto the fragrant straw next to his body. Her nimble fingers began to unbind his upper arm, where the wound was stubbornly refusing to belay the bleeding.

Heero opened his eyes and turned his head, and he regarded her in contemplative silence for a long while. "We can't stay here," he said. "We're putting you in danger."

"And the other options are what?" Cathy asked as she pressed a folded piece of linen cloth to the injury. "To let you go back out there with that… man and be captured or killed?" She sighed and softened her voice. "We know what you are. You're safe here, with us. We won't let him take you."

"He'll not give up," Heero warned her softly. "Men like him do or die, there is no in between."

"I know. Trowa's the same way." She lifted her face and smiled at him. "So you better get used to staying here. Your friends will return within a week to check on you and bring more supplies. I made a promise that we would protect you, and I always keep my promises. And besides, Duo is in the house with Quatre, and I know that—"

"Quatre? He's… here?"

"Yes," Cathy said as she nodded her head. "Trowa found him on the road, he was badly hurt, but he's doing better now. He and Duo spent the better part of the night entertaining themselves with a hand mirror. It was sweet," she chuckled.

As she spoke to Heero, Zechs listened from the cloak of night.