()()()()()()

I woke to someone prodding my shoulder, and I growled in annoyance, swatting the hand away. A deep chuckle sounded from behind me, but I refused to move.

"Aw, don't be like that, Sprite," came Ripcord's voice from behind me, poking at me again.

I opened my black eye, glaring up at him. Ripcord refused to be deterred, even by my demonic eye, and he poked me for a third time. I smacked his hand away again, closing my eye.

"I'll bite you," I threatened, my voice a little muffled by the sheets. "Don't think I won't."

"Oh, I know you would," Ripcord teased. "But you'd have to actually get up to do that." Once again, there was a poke to my side.

In a blur of movement, I twisted around and grabbed Ripcord's wrist in a death grip, not even leaving the covers. Ripcord yelped in surprise, and I chuckled, tightening my grip slightly. "Say it," I told him.

"Uncle!" Ripcord said quickly as my grip continued to tighten. "Uncle! Uncle!"

I laughed, letting go of his wrist as I slowly sat up, my muscles sore and tight after all the shifting I'd done in the past couple of days. I yawned, stretching as best I could without sending a fresh wave of agony down through my bones.

"I heard that you're leaving," Ripcord said softly after a few moments, all laughter gone.

I nodded, a small pang going through my heart as I thought about leaving the big black man. "I have to, Rip," I explained. "I'm still dealing with . . . this thing." I tapped my chest before continuing. "I guess I need to retire for a few months, get my head on straight, before I hurt someone."

"You won't hurt anyone, Sprite," Ripcord said, touching the back of my hand gently. "I know you; you wouldn't hurt anyone without reason."

"Like that guard at the Eiffel Tower?" I asked flatly, putting my hands in my lap. "Like what happened with Snake Eyes? Face it, Rip; I'm a danger to those around me. I can't control this rage, not when it takes ahold of me. Sure, I'm keeping things under wraps now. But what happens when someone hits me too hard during a training bout? Or in the field? I can't risk that; I would never forgive myself if I hurt an innocent, you know that."

Ripcord was quiet for a few moments before he gave a faint smile. "I know," he said. "Doesn't mean I won't miss you being around."

I smiled back at him in turn. "I know, Rip," I replied. "I know."

()()()()()()

It took about two weeks for General Hawk to be well enough to take me to my new home. During those two weeks, I trained with Snake Eyes.

He had realized that I had no idea how to fight in my human form; I'd only ever fought in the forms of different animals. So, the ninja took it upon himself to teach me the basics of jujitsu. It was weird, using my human body to fight; wouldn't it be easier to just shift into my wolf form and kill with tooth and claw? I tried making the same argument to the ninja, but he told me - using Scarlet as translator - that one day I might not be able to shift quickly enough, and he was teaching me in case I was attacked while in my human form. I'd glared balefully at him, but he hadn't relented. And so, that's how I ended up being knocked onto my butt multiple times in one day.

I scowled up at Snake Eyes for the millionth time that day, having been knocked onto my ass for the billionth time that day. He came at me without remorse, even while I was down. I twisted out of the way, kicking out at his knees as he passed. He dodged, of course, but my kick at least nicked him and threw him off balance. I brought my legs up under me and pushed off, lunging at Snake Eyes and wrapping my arms around his legs, bringing him to the ground with me.

Snake Eyes twisted like the serpent he was named after, shoving me off with one, well placed kick to my shoulder. I rolled, popping back up to my feet in an instant. I didn't take my eyes off of the ninja, even when I heard someone clapping by the entrance to the training area.

"Well done," I heard General Hawk say, though I still refused to look away. Only when Snake Eyes nodded his consent, did I look towards the general.

"I don't see how," I grumbled, wiping sweat from my forehead with the back of my hand.

"Not many can hold their own against Snake Eyes," General Hawk explained. "I'm impressed."

I only shrugged, not really caring about what he thought about my fighting skills; I was learning to fight so that I wouldn't collect anymore scars, that's all. Absently, I rubbed one of the scars visible on the back of my hand. If Hawk noticed, he didn't say anything.

"If you're ready," Hawk started, "then we can leave tomorrow. Doctors finally cleared me for travel."

I could only nod, not trusting my voice. General Hawk watched me for a few moments before he turned and left, walking slowly due to his still healing injury. I jumped when Snake Eyes came up behind me, touching my shoulder. He cocked his head slightly to one side, and I shook my head.

"I'll be fine," I told him softly. "It's for the best, right?"

()()()()()()

Y'all know the drill! (;

ML