This note is posted in the last chapter as well...Authors note: I hadn't realized when I edited this chapter last night, (Chapter 12) the chapter I ended didn't save. I was at work and busy so things happen... I re-uploaded the chapter so the mistakes should be fixed ^^ For those complaining, everyone makes mistakes...and frankly with my dyslexia sometimes I don't catch everything so...you can read this...or not. WE (kage and yuki) are writing this for ourselves. We don't even have to be posting it if people are not satisfied with it.

Chapter Thirteen

Two hours...

It had been two hours since Kagome had spoken a word to her and it was putting her on edge. Yes, she knew her white lie would upset her but she had hoped Kagome would understand! Yet as the raven haired woman kept her gaze on the still body of water she could only shiver.

Kagome was mad.

Pissed.

Kagome could feel the rolling emotions churning inside of Bai, hurt, confusion, guilt, blah blah blah. At the moment Kagome couldn't give a rat's ass, not only had Bai gotten them into this mess but she had lied to a fairly powerful feral about her relationship with Parker.

Thus putting Parker in danger.

If Curtis thought Parker was a rival for the young girl he would no doubt seek out the leopard and try to kill him in order to void his so-called claim on Bai and that's what upset her the most. Not the fact that she said Parker was hers, though it did irritate her, it was the fact that she had so carelessly put Parker's life at stake without so much as a care in the world.

Only worrying about herself.

Selfish.

Bai was utterly and completely selfish and once they got out of this she would have to reevaluate their friendship. Yes, Bai was young but she had never used that as an excuse in the past and she would be damned if she let Bai slide by. Hell, she had been fifteen, one year younger than Bai when she had been pulled down the well...

"Hic. Kagome... I'm sorry, please don't hate me..." Bai's voice was a low whine as she cried, her shoulders shaking. Gritting her teeth Kagome was hard-pressed to not let her tears affect her, she was after all at her core a caring and loving person. She would not reward bad behavior nor would she allow Bai to think that a few tears here and there would wash away all the consequences of her actions and words.

"Look, I don't hate you. But you can't hope to cry your way out of every little thing. You have to accept responsibility for your actions and words..." She paused to sigh, her head throbbing in pain. "We'll talk more later, for now, we need to figure out what to do. We can't just sit here and wait for help to come."

Bai nodded, glad Kagome was once again talking to her. "What can we do? We can't swim out of here..." Kagome nodded, running over Bai's account of the last few days with a fine-tooth comb.

"You said Curtis wants you to be his female...that means he wants to please you...can you try asking him to move us to a cave above ground? Tell him you won't run away again...that you were just scared for my health." It was the truth, well she hoped Bai was worried about her enough that she tried to run and get help...and honestly with her ankle Bai wasn't running anywhere anytime soon.

Bai blinked but nodded, "Yeah I can do that, say that it's too cold down here and I might get sick...plus now that you're awake you'll need fresh air and sunlight to recover..."

Kagome shook her head, "No, don't make it about me. It's you he wants...keep his focus on you. Just think of me as collateral, though do impress on him that you would be upset if I died." Bai winced at the light jab wondering if Kagome made it intentionally or if she was just talking out loud.

Kagome was often blunt with her words, not sugar-coating things and while she usually didn't mean any offense by them they were still in the middle of a very tense...dispute? Argument?

Disagreement, yes that sounded better.

Moving to answer she paused as Kagome held her hand up in a shushing motion and pointed at the water. "He's coming, remember to make it about you. That should be easy, no?" Giving a smile that was more teeth than anything Bai could only gulp, oh yes Kagome was still mad at her... She could only frown as Kagome moved towards the far end of the cave to give her and Curtis privacy.

X-X-x

It was a few moments later that there was movement from the watery entrance, the water rippling as Curtis breached it. Bai who heard it made her way to the very edge of the water to greet him. Kagome didn't know how long they were over there but she could hear Bai's voice rise on more than one occasion. Kagome knew Bai would be safe though. This feral beast, Curtis, wanted her as his mate, so he wouldn't do anything to jeopardize that.

Kagome's eyes went over towards the pool of water when she saw Bai shuffle towards her, a blush on her cheeks and a different outfit on.

'Snakeskin from before.' Kagome thought, as her eyes took in the pattern and color that looked like the one's Bai had brought to show her.

"You're awake..." Kagome turned her eyes to look at who also entered and red filled her gaze. Red long hair, red cold eyes and from the lower part of his body were red scales forming a snake tail.

'This must be Curtis' Kagome thought as she gave a nod to the feral beast and her eyes downcast submissively, not wanting to say anything because she didn't know his temperament or personality. She didn't want to set him off.

"Good. That means we can move out." Curtis then went to moving around the cave, Bai who gave her a small smile went up to her.

"If you're ready he'll take us back to the first cave we were in, the one above ground." Kagome nodded. Glancing around the dimly lit cave, they didn't have much here. Just the fire pit, the bamboo shoots, and half a sack of rice.

Curtis quickly easily grabbed the bag of rice with one hand, his other one pulling Bai close, scooping her up in one swoop, holding her close he glanced down at Kagome a small sigh escaping him as his tail wrapped around her middle and he shot under the water.

The world was a blue blur, bubbles escaping her as Curtis shot through the water at a pace that would make anyone queasy. The world was spinning and her lungs burning as they broke through the surface into another cave. Her body shivered as she laid on the bank, her hair a wet tangled mess, her bleary eyes watching as Curtis left her on the shore of the water and made his way towards a previously used fire pit and set the bag of rice and Bai down.

Afterwards he started another fire, fretting over Bai and speaking to her in hushed words. Kagome resisted the urge to snort as she pulled herself from the water and made her way towards the newly lit fire, making sure to make her footsteps heavy so as to not startle the snake beast.

Sitting down on a fallen log away from the two love birds, Kagome began to ring out her long locks, her fingers running over the fur of her outfit, eventually, she would have to take it off and let it air dry least it starts to smell of wet fur and mildew. Maybe once Parker found them he wouldn't mind going on another hunt? It would do her well to have more than just one outfit.

Shivering, she let thoughts of him fill her mind, warming her heart and her body. Her fingers played with the necklace around her neck. She would also look into a way for their necklaces to be able to hone in on each other, it would make it much easier for him to find her should Bai once again get them into a mess in the future.

Knowing the young girl she undoubtedly would, and she did not want to make it a habit to be caught with her pants down, so to speak. She hadn't even had her bow and arrows with her when they had been taken by Curtis...

Sighing she let her mind wander, her body warming and her clothes and hair drying. She didn't know how long she sat there, ignored by the other two in the cave at least until Bai cleared her throat to gain her attention.

"Let's go sit outside for a bit. The fresh air would do you good." Bai glanced at Curtis who was watching their every movement but didn't say anything as he was putting meat on the fire, when and where he got it she didn't know and she didn't really care. She was just eager to feel the sun on her skin, to breathe fresh air, and maybe just maybe figure out where they were.

Kagome let herself be dragged outside, her eyes taking in the large lake that no doubt went underground and linked to the channels and underground lake they had seen. She sat down letting her feet touch the cool water, she really wished she had some form of shoe or foot covering. She didn't say anything as she glanced at Bai, not liking the look on the girl's face.

'Could she be warming up to the feral?' Kagome frowned at this but would have to keep a closer watch on Bai. If she was developing feelings for the snake...where would that leave her in the long run of things?

Kagome and Bai were enjoying the silence but Curtis quickly came out of the cave grabbing both girls into the water and followed after them, he held Kagome by his tail, and Bai in his arms, giving them glares to keep silent. Not even a couple seconds later, there was the sounds of wings and footsteps.

"They were definitely here. We should keep searching." Kagome could hear the male voice clearly and the sound of three others quickly shooting off in directions.

Curtis let them go, Kagome quickly getting out of the water, and away from the snake as fast as she could. He gave off a bad feeling and having him touch her made her stomach turn a bit. She didn't know why, but it did.

"You knew they were coming!" Bai's voice cracked, Kagome turned to see Bai hitting her fist against Curtis's chest, tears in her eyes. The snake gave a small glare, taking her hands into his own.

"You're my female. I am not letting anyone take you." He bit out, voice cold as he held Bai to him.

Kagome didn't want to get in the middle of this, she let her powers reach out a bit to see if she could feel where they went. With wide eyes, she felt something approaching.

Curtis must have felt it because he shoved Bai into Kagome's direction, causing her to catch the girl who gave a loud yelp as a bird came down with a screech.

Kagome watched with narrowed eyes as Curtis transformed into a giant snake and started going after the black bird, who looked to be a crow or a raven of some kind. The two fought back and forth trending blows until Curtis got in a bite.

Kagome saw the bird rear back, a pained cry leaving his beak, as he was forced to transform back into his other form. Brown hair, with piercing silver eyes glared at Curits who had just transferred back, a smirk on his face. Not even a couple minutes later three men from the leopard tribe came running forward.

"MUIR!" The voices called out, running towards the bird beast, Kagome now knew as Muir. She saw them sniff the air and their eyes land on Kagome who still held Bai, who was shaking and in tears in her arms.

Their eyes narrowed at the scene, one of them giving a snarl as he glared at the feral, "Feral! Hand over Parker's female!"

Kagome felt relief run through her, so they were part of Parker's tribe. That means he was still looking for her. Kagome didn't even get to say anything as she felt herself forward. Kagome fought but she felt a sting on her neck and her body hit water and then darkness.