A/N: Sorry, I couldn't resist. You'll get it when you get there. And I'm sorry for other things, too. Apparently I just couldn't help myself this chapter.

Previously: The Quotz-hanoe stood. "Prepare the arena for tomorrow evening," he ordered. "We have a goddess to send home." A guard nodded and began to move away. "And find Arashi!" The soldier nodded fearfully and left the temple. "The rest of you, put her in a cell below and bind her. We cannot afford to allow her to escape before tomorrow."

Not My Savior

The next evening, John followed on Dynein's heels as he led them to what he had called the "Arena". "So tell me, what is this Arena?" John asked.

"The Arena is a sacred space for the Clathrin. It is where they perform their most intricate rituals," Dynein replied.

"But what exactly goes on there?" John pressed.

Dynein sighed. "It is the place of sacrifice to the Great Six. It is where they will burn the lady Okami at the stake this evening," he answered reluctantly.

"She is not Okami, Dynein," John said harshly. "She is just the Wolf. The woman who saved you, and is now going to be sacrificed in your place because some crazy tall bats decided she looked like some deity."

Dynein winced. "My apologies, Sirn John. However, Okami is the title the Clathrin will know and name her as," he warned. "Do you have a plan of rescue?"

John hesitated. "The makings of the beginnings of one," he hedged. "Mostly I think I'm just going to wing it."

Dynein looked over at him, puzzled. "I am sorry, Sirn. Wing. It?" he asked.

"You know, make it up as I go along?" The confused look didn't leave Dynein's face. "I've done it before – hopefully it works better this – you know what? Never mind. Just – follow my lead," John finished hastily.

"Yes, Sirn."

The Wolf was, in a word, less than thrilled with her current situation. She had been kept sedated throughout the last twenty-four hours, with some kind of drug that fogged her mind, making her unable to put together a string of coherent thought, so she couldn't think of some escape plan like she normally did. However, the Wolf was aware enough to feel completely helpless, which was not a situation she was used to, and she found that she hated it.

The Wolf had been left stewing, chained to a wall and tranquilized for an entire day, and now found herself tied to a stake just as the drug was beginning to wear off. Her first complete thought was that she was wanted to knock around the next living thing that dared called her Goddess or Lady. Then she was going to contemplate burning the people who wanted to set her on fire. The Wolf had her priorities.

But right now, the top of her hit list was John, since she had just spotted him creeping around the perimeter of the arena they'd brought her to with Dynein. Damn it, she'd told Dynein to keep him away, to keep him safe!

The Wolf struggled against the ropes once more, shredding the skin around her wrists in the process, as the Quotz-hanoe walked toward her with a burning torch in hand. He paused in front of her, and turned to speak to the crowded stadium of Clathrin there to view the sacrifice.

"Okay, there's a lot of Clathrin here," John muttered.

"I did warn you, Sirn John," Dynein reminded him.

"I didn't say I was backing out," John amended quickly. "Just – pointing out a fact." At that moment, he spotted the Wolf in the middle of the arena, bound to a stake with some priest guy approaching her with a torch. John felt a sliver of fear run through his midsection at the sight of the flame, but forced it down. He was getting ready to rush the priest and free the Wolf when the holy man stopped and turned to speak to the crowd, giving John a few extra seconds to get closer before revealing himself.

"My fellow Clathrin!" the priest called loudly. The masses quieted. "We have gathered today to witness the presence of the Goddess of the Hunt, the lady Okami, in our midst. We have come to dedicate her confined mortal body back to fire, and release the Goddess back to her nether realm!" There was a roar of approval from the rest of the Clathrin as they surged out of their seats to cheer. "Oh Great Six! We come before you, and return your compatriot to you!" The priest lowered the torch to fuel surrounding the Wolf, who John could see was struggling to get loose to no avail.

"Oh hell no," John muttered, and ran out into the open towards the priest as fast as he could. "STOP!" he yelled.

The priest raised the torch in surprise. John glanced at the Wolf, who was staring at him with a dangerous look in her gaze. He ignored her, focusing on the holy murderer.

"Who are you, foreigner, to intrude on this most sacred affair?" the Quotz-hanoe accused.

John stuttered for a second, not actually having come up with the rest of his plan yet. "Erm, I've come for my...companion – to take her away from here," he managed.

The Wolf glared at him and yanked at her bindings again. "Your companion?" she mouthed belligerently.

John gave her a look, silently begging her to just go along with it. She remained quiet, but continued to glare daggers at him.

The priest was looking John up and down disbelievingly. "You are the lord Arashi?" he asked suspiciously. "If you are so, why do you wish to remain here, in this mortal realm?"

Dynein, having carefully crept up behind John, now whispered urgently in his ear. "Arashi is their God of the Sky, one of the Great Six, and the lady Okami's mate and companion."

"You're kidding me," John muttered back. Louder, he replied, "Yes. I have come to claim the lady Okami." The Wolf's mouth dropped open. She couldn't believe what was happening to her today.

"Forgive me, but you do not appear as Lord Arashi to us," the Quotz-hanoe said obsequiously. "We would require proof, before releasing Lady Okami to you – your Raito Ningu, perhaps?"

My WHAT? John wondered. What the hell? "Your Lightning Bringer, Sirn John. Arashi's scepter of power. Lady Wolf had that screwdriver! In your jacket. Use it!" Dynein whispered once again.

John hesitated, but pulled out the sonic. The Wolf's eyes widened and she shook her head vehemently. John ignored her and flourished the screwdriver. "You are insolent, priest," John tried to be pompous, "but I present my – Raito – Ningu – for you to observe." He pressed its button, causing it to light up and make its typical 'whirring' noise. He could hear muttering from the crowd at that. "I trust that you will require no more proof of my identity."

"Indeed, my lord Arashi," the Quotz-hanoe, said subserviently, bowing. "Forgive me, but if I may inquire once again, why do you and Okami wish to remain here, instead of returning to your rightful place in the nether realm? Your teachings clearly state that this is the way that all godly tests must be handled. The mortal body must be destroyed, paying tribute and returning the goddess to her throne."

How do I get through to him? John thought. Suddenly, inspiration struck. He'd seen this kind of thing before. In a kids' movie, but it was all he had, and it'd worked there. I can't believe I'm about to say this. He took a deep breath."The stars … are not in position for this tribute," he said authoritatively, pointing up at the stars that were just starting to peek out of the night sky.

Everyone in the arena looked up, except for the Wolf. "Really?" she mouthed at him. John shrugged helplessly.

"The stars?" the Quotz-hanoe asked, terribly confused. There was nothing in his legends about stars and their role in ritual sacrifice.

John nodded confidently, getting into it now. "As I said. The stars. You can not do this. Not today."

"But – " the priest tried, but John interrupted.

"There shall be dire consequences for deviation from the star alignment," he warned. "Now, I command you, unbind the lady immediately." The frightened guards rushed to do as they were ordered, ignoring the stunned priest, who remained speechless.

As they were releasing the Wolf, John leaned over to Dynein. "Anything else?" he whispered.

"No, Sirn John. You did marvelously."

John sagged in relief. "Thanks, Dynein. Just, remember this next year, alright?"

"Next year? What will be so crucial about next year?" he asked.

John smiled. "Just remember."

"As you say, Sirn John."

By this time, the Wolf had reached them. "Worst. Plan, Ever," she hissed.

"It worked this time didn't it?" John protested quietly. "And you're welcome."

"My hero," the Wolf muttered sardonically. "Just finish up here. I want to go home."

"Right." John turned back to the priest and crowd of Clathrin, who looked positively deflated, and perhaps a little fearful. "Now, the lady Okami and I shall return to the godly realm in our own manner. But heed this," he warned. "The Nectins are under our protection just as you are. Find something else to offer as tribute." The Wolf jabbed him in the ribs, causing him to grunt.

"Tone it down and let's go," she ordered.

John nodded. "That is all. We take our leave."

With that, the three of them left the bewildered Clathrin population behind and exited the arena. Dynein walked with them for a ways before splitting up to return to his village with a vow to share the news of what had occurred.

"Thank you, for your help, Dynein," the Wolf said sincerely, the first moderately civil words she'd spoken since John had gotten her back. "Thank you for keeping John safe."

"It was a pleasure, my lady Wolf," Dynein bowed.

"How many times do I have to say it?" the Wolf smiled. "I'm not a lady."

Dynein grinned back. "I do believe you are, my lady." John thanked him as well and apologized for punching him, shook his hand, and Dynein went off to return to his family.

As soon as Dynein was out of sight, the Wolf walked away, not even waiting to see if John was coming. He jogged to catch up. "Do you mind?" he called, but she ignored him. She was silent all the way to the TARDIS, and John gave up trying to start a conversation. Once they were finally inside, she moved the ship to float in the Vortex and stalked off towards the library. John followed a few paces behind, confused by her anger.

She turned on him as soon as they were both inside the doors. "What the hell do you think you were doing, John?" the Wolf yelled.

John looked at her, startled. "What was I – What the hell were you doing, Wolf?"

"I had it handled," she seethed.

"You were about to be set on fire! Or is that the way we're handling these situations, now, because I'm sorry, I missed the memo!"

She poked him in the chest, forcing him back a pace. "I am not a damsel in distress. I don't need a hero, John! I did not ask for you to come rescue me!"

"Well, if you hadn't given yourself up to those crazy bats in the first place, I wouldn't have needed to come and save you, now would I? We could have all escaped together, the three of us!" John protested.

"No, we would have all died, if I hadn't gone out there. You have to trust that just maybe I have greater knowledge than you and that I –"

"And what?" John interrupted. "The plan was for you to get yourself sacrificed? Because that's what it's looking like to me. You have absolutely no regard for your safety, Wolf! That's your problem. You run from one world to the next, itching to throw yourself into every battle you find and one day, it's going to catch up to you and get you killed."

They were both silent for a moment, breathing hard, but neither backing down. "I don't need your lectures, John," the Wolf finally said through gritted teeth. "I am perfectly capable of taking care of myself – been doing it for hundreds of years before I met you."

"Capable, yes. But you don't," John countered. "Maybe you weren't like this before the War, but I have seen you place yourself needlessly in danger time and time again in the few months I've known you, Wolf. Maybe you no longer care, but I do." John paused. "Then again, maybe you've always been like this. Maybe that's the reason why I don't know any of your friends."

Instantly, John knew he'd gone too far. The Wolf stiffened at his implication, anger and all other emotion leaving her face. She stared at him, and John almost shivered at the ice in her eyes. "Get. Out," she said quietly.

"Wolf … I'm –" he tried to start.

"Out," she ordered.

John turned on his heel and left.

A/N: *hides in a corner*