Gray Silence

Disclaimer – Don't own it, never will.

Note: This chapter title I must dedicate to the author of Shiver, Maggie Stiefvater.

She renewed my love in Vertical Horizon after seeing this song inspired Shiver.

SPOILERS FOR LATER CHAPTERS

Underwater

Vertical Horizon

-

"Listen, the faster we finish this mission, the less time we have to deal with one another, alright?" Cat was leading the rag-tag group of Exorcists with Lenalee, Lavi and Allen following her. Since the day when Cat had single-handedly killed a Level Four, tension had been created between all of the Exorcists and Cat felt even more alone than ever. Allen had refused to speak to her or even meet eye contact, so after a week of the wolf being by herself, she was growing rather tired and depressed. Dark circles were prominent under her brown eyes in her human form and her shoulders were constantly slouched. Even now in her wolf form it was clear her physical being was suffering just as much as her mental self. When Jerry had noticed she hadn't eaten anything for several days, he confronted her only to find out she had been hunting and straying into the woods as often as possible.

"I'm only hunting small rodents and birds, and it's enough to hold me over, but I feel like the longer I stay away from everyone, maybe they'll get over their anger."

Her answer to his questioning had surprised the cook who had alerted Komui to the wolf's distress. After a long conversation with every Exorcist about friendship and camaraderie, Komui thought the problem would be solved, but of course it wasn't that simple. So in an attempt to renew the bonds between some of them, he had sent Cat out with the three aforementioned teenagers.

If he could see them now, he would know that was a terrible mistake.

But as they continued onwards, Cat was beginning to not care. If I die tonight, it shall be because I saved my friends. I will not let them die, even if they hate me! Her thoughts were brave but she knew they was a pathetic chance of any of them actually getting killed, much less really injured. The mission was simple; exterminate the Akuma that had destroyed a town and now hid in a forest.

Cat looked up, knowing that beyond the sliver of moon and the mountains to their far right was HQ, waiting for their evident return. The sky was clear and thousands of stars sparkled like diamonds in the navy blue waves of the cosmos. Feeling a sense of home, Cat ignored the three humans behind her and pressed on quicker, the scent of flowers and water flooding her senses. A new scent reached her olfactory sense and Cat suddenly pushed her legs into a run, leaving the others scrambling to follow her.

As she finally broke through the trees and appeared in a large field that was nearly the size of the Order's Headquarters, Cat paused, taking in the large lake in the center and the closed flowers around her. Warily she began walking among the flowers and grass, her blue eyes scanning for the Akuma she had scented. "Where the hell are they?" The wolf muttered under her breath as she reached the clear, reflective water. Seeing if she could lure them out by exposing herself, she bent her head and lapped at the water, surprised by how crisp and cool it was on her tongue. When nothing happened, she straightened and turned to see her friends finally appear. They paused, each panting, but when they took in the landscape their eyes widened like children seeing something magnificent for the first time.

"It's beautiful…!" Lenalee gasped.

"It sure is," Allen whispered as he took a few more steps towards the field. His eyes were inexplicably drawn to a tree stump to his left where a single flower had wrapped itself around it. Something demanded to be remembered as he stared at it long and hard, trying to figure out why it seemed so familiar. He was so into his memory-surfing he didn't notice it when Cat barked in warning until Lavi shoved him out of the way of several on-coming bullets. Tens of Akuma hovered in the air all carrying the same grief-stricken look on their mechanic faces. As Allen finally realized what was going on, Lenalee and Lavi were already fighting. He noticed Cat surrounded and she was growling, her ears pulled back and her teeth showing. Knowing she could handle herself, Allen left it to her and began fighting alongside his other two comrades.

Cat noticed Allen had briefly glanced her way before joining Lavi and Lenalee, and for a moment her blood boiled with rage. Was he really so angry with her? But that was when she realized there had been no anger in his eyes, only a knowing that she could handle it. Shaking her fur out, Cat leapt at her opponents and easily brought them down. Yet as more and more began to come, the wolf was beginning to panic; there had to be over a hundred and it was obvious the others were getting worn out. Pushing herself as hard as her body could handle, Cat slashed and clawed, covered in blood, some of which was hers.

Dammit! Lenalee was taken off-guard and was tossed aside like a rag doll by a Level Two that had appeared. Cat saw Allen go to help her so she joined Lavi's side and offered him some assistance. The red-head was surprised to feel the wolf's presence but took it as a blessing considering she seemed to be the one with the largest stamina out of their group.

"We need to help them!" Lenalee was huffing in-between pants to Allen. He was glad they had a moment to rest while Lavi and Cat took care of the Akuma but more and more kept showing up. He had never seen so many at once in his entire time at the Order or when training with Cross.

"Let them take care of it. You're tired."

"So are you!" She retorted, making the white-haired boy grind his teeth in frustration. His eyes jumped back to the battle and noticed that the Akuma had suddenly stopped and parted like the Red Sea. Out of the opening walked a wolf the same color as Cat, but with ruby-red eyes. He grinned, flashing his pearly white fangs as he laughed at Cat's startled expression.

"My Cat, has it really been over three years since we last met?"

"Night…!"

"That would be my name." This wolf named Night seemed to be teasing her as he circled her. Lavi was standing a few feet away, debating if he should attack or wait. He decided on the latter though due to the fact Cat hadn't moved yet. Then again, her blue eyes shocked uncertainty and fear while her face kept its usual mask held up. "You've grown into a finer she-wolf than I could have imagined possible for you. Too bad we seem to be on opposing teams or else you would have made a fine mate." She growled softly and his barking laugh carried through the field and into the forest. "You haven't changed mentally though it would seem!"

"Why are you here? You're supposed to be dead." Cat was following his movements as he continuously circled her, studying every aspect of her.

He paused and gave her as innocent a look as his bloody eyes could manage. "Little ol' me? You thought I died when I tried to kill you, but you were quite wrong. After I woke up I was in the care of the Earl and he's been training me for this day…" he paused, letting in sink in before the largest tidbit came out of his mouth. "…the day I kill you finally and kill some Exorcists." He licked his chops when her shocked expression showed itself. "It seems I've struck a nerve."

"No, you just talk too much!" Cat roared like a lion and lunged at the other black wolf and soon it was a flurry of everything black. The only ways to distinguish the two were the odd-colored eyes and the fact that Night – being a male – was much larger than Cat. The Akuma moved forward again and Allen, Lavi and Lenalee began their fight once again.

Cat clawed and bit every ounce of flesh she could find hold of as she rolled around with Night. He did the same though it was painfully obvious that his skills were far more refined than hers. As he finally pinned her down to the ground Night finally raised his left paw and sent Cat flying down the hill towards the lake. She stopped rolling right before she hit the water though but was knocked unconscious by the heavy blow. Night stood there smirking and turned, ready to rip into Exorcist flesh.

Noticing Allen standing away from the other too and quite open, the male wolf couldn't help but allow a smug grin to grace his muzzle and with a short bound he had one paw wrapped around Allen's leg. Yanking his leg from out from underneath the poor boy, Night began clawing and tearing at Allen's exposed back. Allen struggled but was unable to do much until he turned the tables and twisted enough to punch the wolf in the jaw. Night yipped in pain and Allen took this time to flip over completely and use one foot to push him the rest of the way off. Allen stood again but as the cold wind hit his back he gave a sharp intake of breath, feeling the wounds he had just received in full force.

Night had stood again and as soon as he saw his new-found opponent wince he was already on his back legs and with one great shove, sent Allen flying off the small slope and into the lake below. As the splash of water rose and faded back into ripples, the wolf laughed cruelly and turned his attention back to the remaining two…

-

Allen was drifting.

I can see the moon, but it's so far away and it's unclear…why? Oh yeah, I'm in the lake, aren't I? I'm drowning…yes, that's it…I'm going to die in a watery grave…

It seemed almost ironic to the boy, for what reason he couldn't place his finger on. His eyes were half-lidded and blurred because of the water and his arms were out in front of him as if they wanted to grasp the moon and pull himself up.

So here I will die, in a lake, on a pathetic mission. I will die the way so many people wanted me to; pathetic and broken.

The boy continued to drift downwards.

Surely I should have reached the bottom by now? Or is everything slowing down so I can have a moment with my dying thoughts? Is someone going to save me?

If he could have, Allen would have laughed. The others were busy fighting. They wouldn't just stop to save him. But this train of thoughts brought him to a particular face that entered his mind's eye like his brain wanted it to be the last thing he saw.

Cat.

She was sitting, talking to him about the legend of the lunar flower.

I remember that night…it was when we first kissed and I shared more of my emotions than I ever let another person see…well, maybe with the exception of Mana. That man could read me like an open novel he always had in front of his nose. You know, it's not so bad down here, now that I'm used to the feeling. I'm not even cold. Maybe I'll die feeling okay and with good thoughts of people that changed me for the better.

Suddenly Allen barely noticed a smudge of black across the silver and blue waters. As confused and curious as he was, he was also very tired. Closing his eyes shut he didn't even feel it as two arms wrapped around him and began to drag him upwards.

It's not so bad down here… Was all his mind could repeat emptily as the black consumed him…

-

"Dammit Allen, wake up!" Cat was leaning over Allen's body, trying to get a response out of him. While she had saved his ass from drowning, Lenalee and Lavi had joined forces to finally get rid of the last Akuma. They were also crouched near him, both holding their breaths with worry.

Would he wake up?

Laughter made Cat spin around and when her brown eyes landed on Night, she transformed and took a step towards him with a feral growl. "Should you be coming after me when your friend there is dying?" Cat remained in her wolf form, watching him with wary eyes as he slowly began to fade into black mist. "The dead shall come to haunt you, Cat!" With that he disappeared altogether.

Cat transformed back and turned her attention to Allen again. Pressing her hands down on his chest she began pumping, trying to get the water out of his lungs. She had performed this maneuver once before when her apprentice had fallen into the river and nearly drowned, and it had worked quickly, but Allen was remaining still, his chest no longer rising and falling. Pressing one hand to the side of his neck, his pulse was faint. Cursing quietly the girl pried open his mouth and gave him mouth to mouth resuscitation right then and there.

A few breaths in, a few chest pumps, repeat the cycle. The mantra her mind was sending gave her courage that she would save her friend. Finally Allen's grey eyes flew open and he sat up, hacking out water. Cat placed one hand on his chest and the other on his back to help support him. After a few moments of him merely coughing and spluttering water, he finally flopped back onto the grass and drew deep breaths, one after another.

"Thank you Cat," he managed after a few more minutes of spluttering. She offered him a soft smile and that was when he noticed how upset she seemed. Her eyes then widened and when he raised his head, he saw what made her look shell-shocked.

The flowers they had disregarded upon entering the clearing were now opening wide to the claw of moon above. They were shining a brilliant silver color and he immediately knew this was the so-called 'lunar flower' that Cat so often smelled like. As the scent of thousands of them descended upon his nose though, it was even better than what he could ever imagine and he wanted to be wreathed in the scent forever. His head turned to the left and he noticed the same tree stump before where a lunar flower had its vines wrapped tightly around it. Remembering the image he had gotten when Cat told him the story, he reached out and gently plucked the flower. Holding it up to Cat, she blinked down at him and the expression on her face was priceless; it seemed as if she wanted to laugh, cry, and look touched and angry all at once. She accepted the flower and he smiled widely at her.

"This flower is the only one that suits you. You smell like it and are just as beautiful. You told me the story of this flower a long time ago, but I will never forget it."

Despite her cold façade, tears leaked in the corners of Cat's eyes and with a heavy sigh, she smiled shakily. "I love you already you twit." That said, she bent down and swept him into a gentle kiss. He raised his hand to cup her face, wanting to remember this moment and never let it go. As they finally separated, they realized they suddenly didn't have an audience. Cat looked around and realized that Lenalee and Lavi had wandered off a little ways, their backs turned, looking at a group of the flowers. Her eyes shifted back to his face and he grinned. "Seems as if Lavi knew what was coming and helped give us some privacy." The wolf rolled her eyes sharply and raised an eyebrow at him.

"What am I going to do with you?"

His cheeky grin was his only answer, and the girl accepted it anyways. As Allen closed his eyes for a moment and tried to recall that feeling of that peaceful sinking through the water, he hardened all of his resolves with yet another one.

The little thing known as doubt and trust will never come between us again, I promise.

Like that would ever last...

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PLEASE CHECK OUT MY PROFILE FOR A POLL CONCERNING GS.

Damn, the 14th just wants to fuck with everything, doesn't he?

Man, what on earth is Cat going to do now that Night is back and wanting to kill her?

Next chapter: Prostitute Cat?! WHAT THE FUCK?!

-PA