Vile could feel Barbas hot on his trail. His growling and snapping felt like it was right on his heels. He couldn't run any faster from his limp. He didn't like this one bit. He wanted Barbas back, yes, but not like this. Vile was trying to think of how to snap his friend out of his trance.

He looked back and whimpered, "C'mon Barbas! It's me! Clavicus Vile!"

"Grrr!" Barbas growled.

"Please, Barbas! You have to snap out of it! You're being affected by Hircine's power!"

"Grrrrah!" Barbas growled louder.

"Barbas…"

Barbas didn't even show a slight twitch of response to his voice. Vile knew he had to get to him some other way and he knew what he had to do. He suddenly slowed his pace and looked back, holding up his arm in defense as Barbas lunges at Vile. He teeth sank into his arm as tugged and shook his head, bringing Vile to the floor.

"Barbas…!" Vile winced in pain.

Vile tried to pry his Barbas's mouth off but his jaws were closed shut like a trap. He kept shaking his head as he tore into his flesh. The pain shot up his arm and down his back, but Vile kept his tears of pain back. With a shaky hand, he reached out and put a hand on Barbas's head.

"Please…" Vile begged.

"Grrr!" Barbas growled in response.

"Please… C'mon back to me…"

"Grrr…"

Vile saw that Barbas's furry eyebrows twitched and his eyes quickly glanced at him. Vile knew now he was starting to get through.

"Barbas… Come back to me…" Vile whined softly as he started to slowly pet Barbas.

"Gr-grrrr…" Barbas's growl started to fade.

"That's it, Barbas… fight it!"

Vile managed a soft smile and pet Barbas to reassure him. He felt Barbas let go of his arm as the glow slowly faded.

"Ma...Master…?" Barbas spoke hoarsely.

"Barbas… yes Barbas, it is master!" Vile sounded relieved.

Vile kept petting him. He felt so relieved that Barbas was in his arms, and as he looked over he saw the red moon was falling on the horizon.

"Master… what is.. Going on…?"

"You… are hunting me, Barbas… For Hircine's sick game…"

"So it was Hircine who... Took...me...grah..!"

Barbas suddenly started to shake and his started to snarl again as the aura returned. His growl was fierce and he lunged at Vile's face, but grabbed his muzzle. He was holding it down with a grip as he tried to keep him still till the red moon faded over the horizon.

"Grrr!" Barbas's growl returning.

"Come on… come back to me…! Please, Barbas… fight it!"

"Grrr…!"

"Shhhh… Come on my friend… fight…"

"Grrr..rrr…"

Barbas's growl faded with red moon as is disappeared over the horizon. He let go of his arm and his tail fell between his legs. Barbas's aura faded and his legs shook for a bit before he fell into Vile's lap. He began to pet Barbas to reassure him once more.

"Master… though the moon fell… I still feel Hircine's power... Gah..!" Barbas whispered.

"You gotta fight it, Barbas… just until I open a portal.." Vile responded as he was working with whatever little power had left to open a portal.

"We're going home…?"

"Yes. We're going home. Together!"

Vile felt Barbas nudge his nose into his abdomen and began to nuzzle it. Vile smiled as he finally opened a portal.

He patted Barbas's head and whispered, "You have to get up now…"

"I can't…"

"What do you mean you can't..?"

"My paw…"

"Your paw? It looks… oh…"

Looking at Barbas's paw, he saw it was clearly broken and swollen. Vile now knew why he was always whimpering about his paw in their thoughts. He looked back at his tail and saw the same thing: all broken and crooked.

"Then I will carry you!" Vile spoke, sounding a little desperate as he stood up.

"Master..." Barbas spoke as he raised his head, laying down.

"What?"

"You couldn't even pick me up before… what makes you think you can this time?!"

"Cause I have to bring you home! So no one will take you again!" Vile responded as he deadlifted Barbas in his arms.

Vile wobbled a bit but took some steps forward, his ankle stinging with pain but he ignored it. Barbas was heavier than he expected. His wobbly steps ended up making him trip forward through the portal. He felt the back of his hands hit his stump chair, making him hiss a bit in pain, but his face ended up in into Barbas's side. He looked up from a face full of fur and saw that he made it home. The cool, breezy air felt amazing compared to the hot, damp air of the Hunting Grounds. Vile sat himself up and took a deep sigh of relief, finally he can be relaxed.

"Barbas… we're home… together…!" Vile excitedly claimed.

"Master… I can feel its home but… I can't feel our connection…" Barbas replied with a worried look.

"What do you mean?"

"Hircine's power… it did something. I can still hear him calling me…"

"What?! No no no! You're my dog! Not his! How…"

"The… the collar master… pull it off.." Barbas's voice sounded weak.

Vile put his hands on the chain collar, and tried to lift it up. It was extremely heavy and massive. He wondered how Barbas was even able to run with this on. Vile began to slide it off Barbas's neck when he heard a clap behind him. He then realized he forgot to shut the portal.

"Well done Clavicus Vile~! You, as the prey, were able to outsmart the hunter's hounds and brought Barbas to his senses. And what a thrill you've given me so far through this hunt~! I dare say the best I've had in years~!" Hircine's booming voice mocked behind him.

"What have you done to my dog…?" Vile mumbled.

"We made a deal Vile. I said I would help you… FIND… your dog. We never made a deal for you to keep Barbas~!" Hircine sneered.

Vile stay silent as he looked down in shock realizing he was right. They never made a deal for who's keeping Barbas. His own deal was being used against him with a play of words. Vile, having enough, tried to yank the chain off Barbas's neck but froze feeling the head of a spear against his own.

"Try that one more time~! I dare you!" Hircine growled.

Vile stayed silent as he let go of the chain and raised his head. He felt Hircine's right hand entangle itself in his hair and he yanked up, forcing Vile to stand. Barbas rose his head up and tried to stand but Hircine drove his spear into the ground between one of the chain's holes. He felt himself get tugged closer to Hircine as his chest pressed against his back. He was burning to the touch, even through his toga he could feel Hircine's body heat.

Hircine whispered in Vile's ear, "How about we make a deal for your dog then~?"

Vile gulp and stuttered a response, "W-What do y-you want?"

Vile felt Hircine's hot breath burn on his neck as he nuzzled his bony nose into his skin. His left hand trailed across Vile's waist and up his right side. He tightened his grip on his hair, pulling the back of Vile's head to his right shoulder. Hircine nuzzled his nose down his neck then back up to his ear and nipped it, earning a jolt from Vile followed by a shudder.

He whispered once more into Vile's ear, "I want you~!"

Barbas's ears shot up and he struggled against the chain, yelping out, "Master! Don't accept it! Say no deal! I'm not worth that...!"

Vile felt the tears well up in his eyes as he whispered out, "I'm sorry Barbas…"

Hircine growled, "Do we have a deal?"

"Master no…!" Barbas whined out loud.

Vile shut his eyes and sadly stuttered a reply, "D-Deal."