.

SONIC CHAOS 3: UNDERGROUND ARC - ALEENA

A Close Call

Sleet and Aleena returned to the hideout beneath a crescent moon. As Sleet fished for his key, Aleena looked up at the sky. It could very well be the last time she ever did. She took note of the time. Midnight, she estimated. She heard the lock click and turned quickly. Sleet pushed the door open and Aleena was immediately greeted by the outlines of Drago and Dingo, Drago with arms folded angrily and Dingo looking nervous.

"There you are, you rebellious little witch," Drago growled menacingly, cracking his knuckles.

Sleet felt her subtly shudder. "Don't worry. He isn't going to hurt you, are you Drago? He's going to be a good boy. After all, he wants you at your best," he darkly said, meeting Drago's eyes challengingly.

Drago sneered at the veiled combination of an order, insult, and challenge. It was clear that Sleet had no intention of giving him any opportunity to get his hands on the princess tonight. "Yes. Of course," he bitterly and darkly replied. Aleena was a bit surprised at Sleet's defense. She had honestly expected the opposite.

Sleet huffed and dragged the princess inside. He brought her to his bedroom and immediately chained her in place again. It seemed the door had been fixed in their absence by Drago. "I suggest you never try anything like that again," Sleet coldly said to her, covering her in the extra blankets Dingo had brought earlier.

"Why did you attack them knowing I would leave you?" she suddenly asked.

Sleet froze. "You didn't leave," he soon chose to say.

"Answer my question," she said.

He glared at her silently. "My enemy's enemy is my friend. Or in this case my enemy, but the lesser of two evils and all that," he said.

"At least one of us finally has a half-way answer to the question 'why'," she replied. He was quiet, watching her. She looked towards the boarded window. He shifted uncomfortably then turned and left, but she heard him outside the door every so often sharply warning off Drago. She closed her eyes. Now what was she supposed to do?

SU

As soon as Sleet was sure Drago and Dingo were asleep—thank goodness they snored so loudly—he straightened up from his place leaning against the door and stretched. The fight in the drainage caverns had been harder than anticipated. Especially considering none of those men had had any clue how to really fight. He grimaced as he rubbed a sore shoulder, then looked to the gash in his arm. He needed to clean and treat it, and would have earlier if keeping the princess breathing hadn't been his first priority. That swamp had been disgustingly filthy. He smirked dryly. Aleena wasn't so much against the dirt and muck as she was against the sewer scum. Meanwhile he, not of royal birth and used to hard living, would prefer the company to the filth. It was ironic, really.

He went into the bathroom and began to wash off. It occurred to him, suddenly, that Aleena probably needed a bath too. He grimaced. Should he even bother? She was the one who had chosen to go in there. Besides, she had no extra clothes. He supposed he could buy or steal a nightgown or something for her, but that would mean leaving her alone and undressed in the same house as Drago. Dingo was terrified of the white wolf and couldn't hope to defeat him besides. Throw him around yes, injure him yes, but not defeat him. He frowned to himself then shrugged as he finished washing up. He supposed now would be the best time to go out and fetch something for her. Drago was asleep, Dingo was asleep, and Aleena was currently as unappealing as she could possibly be - not that it would matter much to a man like Drago - so there was no better opportunity. Tomorrow, after she had a taste of what it was like to be left covered in sewer muck for a day, she could clean up. He smirked cruelly to himself.

Before he let himself think about why he was resolved to do this for her, he dressed and hurried out onto the streets. Soon enough he spotted a closed shop and crept up to the window, peering inside. Inside was an elderly rabbit woman folding some stock and laying it to the side. The woman looked towards a small couch and smiled at a little rabbit girl sleeping there—doubtless the woman's granddaughter—with her head resting on a slumbering crocodile boy's lap. Sleet waited until the rabbit woman gently woke the children up and led them off. Now was his chance.

He tested the window. Thankfully, it was unlocked. He crept inside the shop and quickly found the nightgowns. He selected one that looked about Aleena's side, folded it over his arm, glanced warily around, then slipped out as quietly as he'd entered. These shop owners were far too trusting, he determined. Too careless as well, considering the epidemic spreading through the city, but at least he'd found a perfect place to rob if he ever needed anything for Aleena again.

SU

Aleena lay uncomfortably on the bed. The underground cavern adventure was beginning to get to her. Mostly the knowledge that she hadn't bathed since going down there. In fact, she hadn't washed herself since she'd been taken from the castle. That plus the sewer muck was too much. She had a high standard of hygiene, and right now it was being broken. She would have to complain to Sleet about it. She smirked. He hated it when she complained. Nonetheless, he'd heeded her request to do something about the cold. Maybe he would heed this one too.

As if on cue, the door opened. She looked up with a cold expression. She couldn't wait to see his blood boil. He entered with a mysterious yet victorious smirk. Briefly she wondered what he'd been up to, but she didn't think on it long. "Sleet, I demand a bath!" she said in the most pompous tone she could muster.

"Oh do you now!" he angrily snapped back, immediately off-put by her tone. Quickly, though, he caught himself. She was doing this on purpose, he reminded himself. He wouldn't give her the satisfaction. He forced an impersonal grin to his face. "But of course, your majesty. That was my plan for you anyway. I won't have my room smelling like a sewer," he said. Two could play the provocation game.

"I beg your pardon?!" she furiously replied. When she saw the victorious glint in his eyes, though, she forced herself to calm down. He was playing her in turn, it seemed. "Touché," she said. He couldn't help but chuckle. She felt a smirk spread across her own face, unable to help it. Quickly, though, she hid it away. "Very well then. Unchain me so I can bathe," she said.

"If you think you're bathing unsupervised, you can think again," he said.

She was quiet for a beat. "What?" she coldly asked. He grimaced as if something unpleasant were about to befall him. Her eyes widened. "No… You can't be serious," she said in disbelief.

"Perhaps you shouldn't have proven yourself such an escape artist," he coldly replied. His eyes, though, were fixed intently on a far wall as if looking at her right now was the last thing he wanted to do.

"Never! I forbid it. You are not watching me bathe!" she exclaimed, outraged at the implication.

"It's either me or Drago! At least I'm less likely to look at you!" Sleet snapped back, turning sharply to her with eyes narrowed. She fumed, teeth gritted furiously. "The bath is run, I'm gong to free you, and then you're going to march right in there and climb in!" Turning, he stormed out and slammed the door behind him. She screamed furiously in all her pent-up frustration.

Outside of the room, the three men heard the scream. Dingo and Drago turned incredulously to Sleet. "So, how did it go?" Drago asked, though the answer was obvious.

Sleet shot him a venomous glare. "Oh just fabulously," he hissed, every word laced with poison.

"You know, if you're not up to the task…" Drago began.

"Shut up!" Sleet snapped at him, causing him to recoil a bit in shock. Upon recovering, though, Drago scowled at him.

Sleet snatched up the keys to her cuffs and marched back into the bedroom. Shortly after he walked out with Aleena, gripping her arm like a vice. "Drago, wash the bedclothes!" Sleet ordered testily. The gash on his arm had been opened again, the white wolf noted, which meant the princess certainly hadn't gone along willingly. Her eyes, in fact, matched Sleet's in ferocity and darkness. Drago rolled his eyes as they entered the bathroom, then looked towards a worried Dingo. Darkly he smirked. Well, as long as Sleet wasn't here… Dingo, feeling the gaze, looked quickly back at him, eyes wide. As the white wolf menacingly advanced on the pup, Dingo whimpered a bit, backing away.

SU

Sleet thrust Aleena into the bathroom then slammed the door shut and looked at her. She was scowling, glaring murderously at him, and if looks could kill he'd be dead and buried. "Get undressed!" he ordered.

"No!" she replied.

"If you don't undress on your own, princess, then I'll undress you myself!" he snapped.

"If you lay a hand on me…" she began, voice shaking in fury.

"It won't be just me. Considering how fiery you are, I may need help with it. Don't make me get Drago in here," he said with a cold smirk.

"You pathetic excuse for a man!" she spat.

"Oh come now. Undress yourself and I won't watch," he said. "After all, I'm not looking to throw up now, am I?"

"I relish the day you swing from the gallows!" she fired.

"Five seconds my lady," Sleet said with his mocking smirk. "Five, four, three…"

She quickly weighed her options. Undress herself and risk him looking, or have him undress her while they fought and know he was looking. If Sleet went through with his threat, Drago would likely be there too. "Fine!" she relented.

"About time," he said, turning his back on her.

She sighed in exasperation and quickly undressed. Quickly she climbed into the water before he could turn around. A pity there weren't bubbles she could use to cover herself with. She glanced towards her companion's turned back. He was currently occupying himself by trying to look everywhere but at her. She frowned at his uncomfortable fidgeting and sighed in exasperation, starting to wash her arms. "Do get it over with darling," she bitterly said. "I can't relax with you fidgeting like this."

"Darling?!" he sharply demanded. She huffed. He was quiet. "Get what over with?" he finally questioned, playing dumb.

"You know perfectly well what," she replied. He frowned in annoyance and forced himself to stop fidgeting out of pure defiance, stubbornly locking his eyes on the door. She looked over at him dubiously and rolled her eyes. Frankly she wished he would get it done. She wouldn't even be angry at this point. She just wanted the nightmare to end as soon as possible. Humph. The faster she finished washing, the faster they could escape this awkward situation. She looked for shampoo and conditioner but saw none nearby. She frowned and looked around for it. She caught her breath when she spotted the products. They were on a shelf next to Sleet, far out of her reach. She felt her heart drop. Chaos have mercy. She thought about skipping the ordeal, but her desire for cleanliness won out. She looked at Sleet's turned back in embarrassment. "I can't reach the shampoo and conditioner," she said.

"Get out of the bath and get them," he answered.

"They're next to you," she said.

She saw his every muscle visibly tense, his body stiffening. "What?" he finally asked.

"They're next to you," she replied in an embarrassed tone. She could swear she heard him whine. That was a new sound. He looked at the two bottles and grimaced, grabbing them. With a sigh he turned and walked them towards the tub, trying his best not to look directly at her. You would almost think he half believed that to look at her would mean turning to stone. Perseus and Medusa with a twist. She awkwardly stared at the closed window and sank deeper down into the water. Sleet placed the two bottles down next to her. She waited for him to make his uncomfortable escape back to his original position. "Thank you," she quietly said. She washed her hair and body quickly, then climbed out of the tub. Taking two towels, she wrapped one of them around herself and the other around her long hair.

"There's a nightgown in your room that should fit you," he said, refusing to turn under any circumstances.

"Where did you get it?" she asked.

"That's for me to know," he answered bluntly. She frowned and rolled her eyes. Stolen, she determined. It was definitely stolen. She didn't call him on it though. She just wanted this to be over with.

"I'm ready to go back to my room," she said, coming up next to him. He still refused to look at her, and for that she was grateful.

Nodding, he unlocked the door and the two of them left awkwardly, no word spoken. They just stared down at the ground. Drago, noticing their awkwardness, scoffed. "What's the matter Sleet? Too much woman for you to handle? If only I'd been so lucky," he said. Sleet scowled murderously and warningly at him.

"Where's Dingo?" the grey wolf coldly asked, ignoring the remark.

"He washed the bedding for me then headed to his room," Drago replied. Sleet glared darkly at him, huffed, then ushered the princess along quickly. The sooner they were away from his partner the better. He brought her into the room and made the bed as he waited as she got into the nightgown. Once they were done, he chained her down and left without a word, trying to forget this had ever happened.

SU

Sleet, Dingo, and Drago stood in the living room the next evening, the tray of food prepared for Aleena sitting between them. They were all looking at it as if unsure what to do. It was clear to them all that Sleet didn't want to bring the food to the princess. He almost seemed nervous to face her again, but someone had to do it. Dingo was uncertain about bringing it, worried she would try to trick him again. Drago was all too willing but didn't dare volunteer when Sleet was in such a high-strung state. The man was liable to snap in an instant. While he had technically defeated Sleet in their first altercation over Aleena, before Dingo came in, Sleet hadn't exactly been trying his hardest. Sleet, in fact, had been far more interested in avoiding it altogether, because who in their right mind would willingly pick a fight with a guy so much bigger than them? Fortunately for Sleet, Drago knew what the grey wolf was capable of when provoked. Suffice to say, he was no more eager to pick a fight with his partner than Sleet was.

"Sleet?" Dingo finally asked, looking inquisitively at his mentor.

"The queen is going to need clothes. I plan on leaving tonight to get them," Sleet said, changing the subject immediately.

Drago laughed sinisterly in a way that made Sleet's hackles stand on end. His lip curled back, revealing his teeth, and darkly he turned to look at Drago. "You know, Sleet. If you plan on making the bath a nightly event, I'll be all too happy to take up your position since you handled it so well last time," Drago said.

"I'm sure you would!" Sleet snapped.

"Run off dog. Go get our little princess some clothes," Drago growled, going to the kitchen. Sleet glared after him, scowling.

"What now mate?" Dingo asked uncertainly.

Sleet turned to the pup. "You, Dingo, are going to go into her room and lock the door. Feed her and stay at her side until I get back. Don't give Drago one minute alone with her, understood? Don't even give him a second!"

"Why mate?" Dingo asked.

"Never you mind, Dingo. Let's just say I have a bad feeling his plans for her may be put into action sooner than later," Sleet replied.

"What are his plans anyway? You said they were, um, polical, didn't ya?" Dingo asked.

"Political, Dingo," Sleet corrected. In a sense they were, he remembered bitterly. Just in a far, far darker manner than his own were. He scoffed in disgust and stood up straight. "Now do everything in your power to make sure Drago stays away from Aleena.

"Um, okay Sleet. If ya say so," Dingo nervously replied. Sleet nodded, looked once more towards Aleena's bedroom door, shifted, then turned and left with a sigh. Dingo, unsettled now, picked up the tray and headed to the bedroom.

SU

Entering the bedroom, Dingo set the food down on the table next to Aleena. He hurried back to the door and locked it. Aleena watched him in confusion. Dingo turned back to her with a sigh and Aleena frowned in concern. "Dingo, what's going on?" she asked.

Dingo looked over at her. "Sleet's gone ta getcha some clothes, Princess Aleena, so now it's just me and Drago here. You too. Sleet told me ta make sure Drago didn't getcha." An uneasy feeling washed over the princess. "Here ya go Aleena," Dingo said as he moved to her side again and took some food from the tray to feed to her.

"Thank you, Dingo," the princess replied with a forced smile. After a while she finished eating, and the two of them sat in compatible silence, Dingo on her bed cross legged and looking bored out of his mind. "Dingo, tell me about Sleet," she soon said, attempting to engage the child in conversation. Know your enemy. Another lesson her tutor had taught her.

"The more you know about your opponent, the better prepared you are to face them. Know what makes them tick, know what triggers them, know their movements, their motivations, their drive. Whatever you can learn about them has the potential to be turned either into a weapon or a lifeline."

"Teach me to defeat you."

"Unfortunately, my princess, that's a lesson I won't be teaching you. You'll have to find your answers elsewhere."

Dingo looked at her, curious. "Sleet? No one really knows a lot about Sleet. I know he likes money though. He hates ta lose, can fight real good, and knows how t' fly real good too! He can drive anythin' actually. He's real, real smart. Drago says he can outwit the smartest of 'em and is a real big threat. Drago uses othah big words to describe him too, but I don't know 'em real well so can't say 'em. He uses Drago for muscle lots, but he's pretty strong on his own. Drago don't even like ta mess with him most times," the boy proudly said with the same energy of a child claiming their dad was better than someone else's. She was vastly amused by it. "He comes up with really good plans that always seem ta work, he likes t' adventure and explore, he likes not havin' ta answer t' anyone, and he hates ta work under anybody else's rules. He's cold sometimes, and real strict, but he cares too! At least for me. I don't think he cares for anyone else though. Except you!"

"Me?" she asked, startled.

"Yeah! I ain't nevah seen him so invested in a prisoner before," he said.

She doubted caring had anything to do with that, but she kept it to herself. "Have there been many prisoners?" she dryly asked, raising an eyebrow.

"All sorts," Dingo said, nodding. Aleena was vastly unimpressed. Not shocked, given what the man was, but unimpressed.

"What does he do with his prisoners?" she asked. It was a subtle way of determining a body count, but it would do the trick.

"I dunno," Dingo replied, shrugging. "He let the last one go 'cause she said her fiancé would pay more to get her back than her fathah would."

"Really?" Aleena said, perking up at this information.

Dingo nodded. "Sleet lets lots of 'em go 'cause of that," he said.

Aleena stared at Dingo, eyes wide in disbelief. Of course, she numbly realized. Gods, why hadn't she thought of it before? Sleet was a bounty hunter. He sold his services to the highest bidder. All she needed to do was out bid Drago and she could go home! How had she not thought of that before? She could purchase her own freedom! She almost cheered, but she restrained herself. It was best, for now, to play it cool and change the subject so as not to arouse suspicion.

"Tell me, how does he feel about his people? Their condition and their ways?" Aleena questioned.

"Oh. That…" Dingo said quietly. He thought a moment then looked up at her again. "I dunno. Maybe you should ask him yourself. He nevah talks about it really."

"Perhaps he never talks about them because he cannot remember," she mused half to herself and half to Dingo. "Perhaps he wonders about himself. Drago may be the first one of his kind he's met in years. He doesn't like what he sees, so he refuses to acknowledge him as one of his kind. Maybe he fears Drago is indicative of what they all are."

"Nah. Sleet don't care about what his species is supposed ta be. He just cares about what he is," Dingo said. Aleena tilted her head curiously and smiled a little. She was growing to quite like Dingo. He had a sweet sort of innocence about him. Their pleasant conversation, though, was suddenly interrupted by a loud banging at the door! Dingo spun around nervously to look. Aleena looked sharply up at the doorway, watching it carefully. That, she knew, wasn't a good sign.

SU

Sleet made his way through the empty city streets, heading for the shop he'd taken the nightgown from just the other night. Suddenly, though, he heard a small voice exclaim, "Vaniwa, it's him! It's de thief! I told you I could find him. I'm a good detective!"

Sleet froze. He looked quickly over in horror. There stood a little crocodile boy, a rabbit girl hovering above him. "You!" she exclaimed. "Vector, you did it!" It was the children he had seen in the shop the night before! How did they recognize him? How had they seen him?! He cursed himself for not checking for any security cameras or spying eyes. It should have been the first thing he looked for! The few people that were mingling about were beginning to stare, and he knew he needed to do some damage control fast.

"Why children, there you are! Your friend has been asking about you! She wanted me to see if you were all right," he quickly said, playing off their childish obliviousness.

"Huh?" the two asked in confusion as they cautiously approached.

His grin fell to a scowl as they neared. The two froze and looked about to run, but quickly he knelt down to their level, "If you little brats know what's good for you, you'll keep very, very quiet."

He saw their fear, but it wasn't long before anger sprang to the rabbit's eyes. "You stole from grandma's store last night. Why did you do something so mean?" she demanded with a pout.

"You going to jail," the little crocodile, Vector, growled.

"Oh am I?" Sleet indignantly demanded.

"Yes! Unless you have a very good reason you took it away," the rabbit girl said, crossing her arms and closing her eyes.

Sleet sneered at them and carefully considered how to approach this. He put on an innocent grin. "Why, of course little ones," he said. "You see, my family is very poor and my dear wife very ill. Not long ago our home burned down with all our things inside. All we had were the clothes on our backs. We couldn't afford more, so I took the nightgown because it was going to be very cold that night. My wife needed it. I'm so very sorry," Sleet said. When in doubt, lie your way out. At least if the ones you were lying to had a good chance of believing it. Children were such empathetic little creatures.

"Oh. Oh dear. I-I'm so sorry to hear that," the little rabbit girl said, looking concerned now.

"I know," he replied. Of course she was. "Little ones, do you think that you could get some more for me? Oh please. All she has is one set of clothing and the single nightgown I took. I have a little money to pay you with this time," he said, pulling out a small coin purse and offering it to them. He wasn't keen to spend a cent on the princess, but desperate times and all that.

"Of course we can get you more!" Vanilla exclaimed, taking the purse. "Come on Vector, let's go!" The crocodile boy made an 'I'm watching you' gesture at him and Sleet wanted to slap the little brat, but hitting a child in public wouldn't be a good look, so he refrained. The two hurried towards the shop and he watched after them, shaking his head bitterly. This was what happened when little children tried to play detective. Luckily for them, he wasn't the sort of man who was willing to murder children simply for knowing too much. Drago would have, but not him. At least not when there was a clear way around it. Sighing, he patiently waited for them to return.

SU

"Dingo you worthless mutt! Let me in!" Drago yelled furiously from outside the bedroom door. Dingo remained silent, shooting a panicked look at Aleena.

"Shh. It's alright," she soothed. Dingo looked nervously back at the door with a whimper. Despite her calming words, Aleena was becoming concerned. Not so much for herself as for the child with her.

"Open this door or I'll break it in!" Drago roared.

Dingo scrambled back on the bed and curled against Aleena, who glared darkly at the entrance. "Aleena, I'm scared," he fearfully said as Drago began to body check the door.

"Do you have the keys to my cuffs?" Aleena asked.

"They're out in the livin' room," Dingo replied.

"Can you get them?" she asked.

"I dunno," he replied.

"Can you try?" she asked.

"Why?" he whined.

"So you can use them to free me," she said.

"But then you'll run!" the boy protested.

"I'm not going anywhere. Not as long as you're in danger," Aleena promised.

"Dingo!" Drago roared, pounding furiously on the door and causing Dingo to jump with a gasp.

"Quickly little one. Hide under the bed," she prompted. Dingo nodded and scrambled to obey, vanishing beneath. Almost immediately after Dingo had hidden away, the door crashed open! Aleena gasped, looking quickly towards it. There, filling the frame, was the large white wolf, teeth bared as he panted.

"Where's the little whelp?" he menacingly asked the queen.

"Leave him alone," she answered coldly.

"Where is he?!" Drago roared, stepping forward.

"He's a child!" she furiously yelled. Drago sniffed the air and growled darkly, eying up the bed. Aleena paled. With a snarl, Drago lunged. "Dingo run!" Aleena screamed. Dingo shot out from under the bed as Drago reached it, and bolted for the door with a terrified shriek. Snarling again, Drago gave pursuit. "No!" Aleena screamed, thrashing against her bonds frantically, desperate to escape and help the child. "Drago, leave him alone! Leave him alone!" Blood was starting to soak her wrists and ankles, but she didn't care. She had to get to Dingo! What was happening? Did the boy stand a chance? Would the little one be killed?! Dammit, where was Sleet?!

Dingo darted into the living room and dove for the keys to Aleena's shackles, grabbing them quickly. "You worthless little mutant freak. Sleet set you up to this, didn't he?!" Drago shouted.

"Set me up to what, mate?" Dingo whined. Drago lifted a chair and sent it hurling at the child. The boy screamed in alarm and took cover.

"He locks me out of the room, takes my gun and weapons, keeps me away from my captive…!" Drago began to narrate.

"But she's our captive!" Dingo protested. "Besides, I nevah knew Sleet took your gun or weapons!" Drago flung the coffee table the boy was hiding under to the side. Dingo darted away quickly, running for Aleena's room. Drago cut him off swiftly and he gasped.

"Oh no you don't," the white wolf growled. "Now to make sure you stay out of my way while I deal with the girl."

Dingo cried out in alarm as Drago lunged. Quickly he dodged around the wolf and ran into Aleena's room. "Princess Aleena!" he exclaimed, leaping onto her bed and quickly unlocking her cuffs. He screamed as Drago suddenly leapt into the room and seized him, dragging him away from her. Rather trying to. Aleena leapt up immediately, attacking Drago viciously and knocking him back. She pulled the pup up and ran towards the window, prying at the boards frantically. Dingo hurried to help and the two peeled off the planks as fast as they could. Aleena heard Drago snarl and gasped, turning. He was lunging at them. She scowled and went at him with a shout, attacking with a homing attack and staggering him. He recovered fast, though, taking hold of her viciously. She kicked at him, trying to break free, but he held her firmly and tanked it.

"Dingo, run! Find Sleet!" she shouted to the pup. Dingo gasped, turning quickly with eyes wide.

"Aleena!" he exclaimed in despair.

"Go little one!" Aleena ordered. Dingo gasped and raced out of the room. The boards were down, but the window didn't open. It would have to be broken, but there was no time to find something heavy enough that could do it! The front door was his best bet, so that was what he made for.

Drago threw Aleena onto her bed and went after the pup. Aleena leapt at him with a cry and seized him from behind, fighting to keep him back.

With an angry shout, Drago threw her back onto the floor. He heard the front door slamming shut and scowled. There was no point in going after the child now, but the girl… Darkly he turned to the princess, who was wincing as she pushed herself off the ground. She looked up at him and caught her breath, eyes widening in fear. He stormed towards her, seizing her by the hair. She screamed as he jerked her up and threw her onto the bed. She shook her head and scowled at him, rolling over onto her back and backing away, pressing herself against the headboard with teeth clenched. He towered over her, darkly advancing. She knew what would happen to her at his hands. Already she was mentally preparing herself for it.

"Was it worth it?" he darkly asked her, crawling onto the bed and closing in on her.

"Yes," she darkly answered. "It saved the child."

"We'll see if you still think that after I'm finished with you," he dangerously replied.

SU

"Here you go Mister, um, oh, I don't know your name!" the rabbit girl said upon returning with the crocodile boy.

"Wolf," he answered.

"Really? Just like the game?" Vanilla said.

"Don't remind me," he bluntly replied.

"Well, here you go Mr. Wolf. I hope your wife is okay, and your family," the little girl said, smiling up at him sweetly. Her smile fell. "The disease is scary. Vector's mama got it not long ago. She… she didn't get up." Vector bowed his head, sniffing a bit. "His daddy got it too," the girl solemnly said. "He's still here at least, but…" She trailed off and looked woefully up at him. Sleet was silent, an unsettled feeling prickling up his spin. He shifted ever so slightly. How rampant had this disease become, he uncertainly wondered? He should consider putting some investigation time into learning about it.

"I don't wike you," the little boy flatly said.

Sleet turned to him, blinking, then frowned. "And I don't like snot-nosed little brats," he replied. The crocodile blew a raspberry at him. Sleet rolled his eyes.

"Vector, behave!" the rabbit girl said.

"Vaniwa, I don't twust him!" Vector insisted, gesturing to Sleet.

"Do you ever trust anybody? You always think everyone is up to something," she said.

"But the pwincess is missing! Anyone could be de enemy," Vector said. "He's stealing clothes for a girl. Maybe he taked her." Sleet's eyes widened in disbelief as he stared at the boy. This could be a problem. Maybe killing off the little brats wouldn't be such a bad idea after all. Then again, the sooner he got back to Aleena and Dingo, the better.

Just then, though, he heard an all too familiar and fearful voice cry, "Sleet, Sleet!"

"Huh?" Sleet said as he turned. On seeing who it was, his eyes widened. "Dingo!" he exclaimed. "Didn't I tell you to stay and protect our, err, guest?"

"That's just it, mate! That's what I was doin'! Then Drago broke in and tried ta attack me, but I got away and grabbed the keys and I ran back in so I could free her so she could help me! I did but Drago kept comin', so she attacked him and she fought as hard as she could, and I helped, and we got the boards off the window, but then Drago was up again and he came aftah me and she told me ta run t' find ya, so I did 'cause she can't beat 'im and I can't beat 'im, and Sleet, Sleet, he's gonna hurt her!"

"You left her alone with him?!" Sleet furiously demanded.

"No. I was forced out," Dingo defended.

"Idiot! We have to get back there," Sleet said. In that moment, Dingo noticed something in his guardian's eyes that took him completely off guard. For a moment, just a moment, Sleet's eyes reflected fear. His tone was even worried, and that wasn't like Sleet.

"We're coming too!" the rabbit child stated firmly.

"What?!" Sleet demanded, looking at them.

"We can help!" the crocodile insisted.

"Oh for goodness sake!" Sleet said, breaking into a run. He had no time to try and argue them down. Not if Aleena was alone and at Drago's mercy. Every second wasted was another second she didn't have.

"Sleet, who are they?" Dingo curiously asked as he followed his partner.

"Dingo, Vector and Vanilla. Vector and Vanilla, Dingo," Sleet quickly introduced in annoyance.

"Hi," the two chimed together. Dingo gave them a sheepish grin. It wasn't often he met kids so close to his age. At least not ones who weren't scared of him. Vector and Vanilla actually looked at him like he was normal! Most others didn't.

SU

Aleena cried out as Drago seized a fistful of her hair and yanked her towards him, crushing her lips with his own. She screamed against his mouth and began to strike him as hard as she could, but her blows barely seemed to disturb him! No matter how hard she struggled to get away, she couldn't break free of his vice-like grip. She thrashed and squirmed, desperately trying to slip away, but he held her fast. He bit her lower lip and pulled back on it before releasing it and grinning cruelly down at her. "Now you're mine!" he crooned, straddling her.

"No!" she screamed.

He laughed and wrenched her head back, leaning in close. "No one can hear you scream, princess," he growled against her neck. He kissed it and nipped at the flesh there. She punched him in the face as hard as she could, undoubtedly breaking her hand, but she didn't care. The adrenaline numbed the pain. All she wanted to do was get out! He snarled in anger, drew back his arm, and struck her. She cried out in pain as she hit the bed, dazed, but the second she recovered her senses she began to thrash and kick and punch and scream once more. Drago tanked every blow she rained down on him, and she cursed her misfortune. He punched her again and this time she almost blacked out. Seizing her throat, he slammed her head down on the pillow. Frantically she clawed, inflicting as much damage as she possibly could. As she began to exhaust herself, though, her struggling weakened and her screams became quieter, throat raw and sore.

He waited patiently until the last of her strength waned and she could barely flail. Finally! She was a hard one to break. Seizing her nightgown, he ripped it apart and bent over her, kissing her chest. She bit his ear viciously in retaliation, growling. He shouted in pain and backhanded her with a snarl. She glared up at him with passionate loathing, scowling at the man. She wasted no words on him. He wasn't worth the breath.

He straightened up and loosened his belt. Her breath caught in her throat and her eyes widened in dread. Her breathing sped up, becoming heavy, and she screamed, going at him once more and clawing frantically at his face and body. He pulled the belt off and wrapped the leather around her throat. She gave a strangled cry as he pulled it tight, reaching quickly up to grasp at the belt in an attempt to pry it from her throat. Tears of fear spilled from her eyes. "Hold still," Drago darkly growled, tying the belt to the headboard so as to ensure strangulation or a broken neck if she continued on the way she was going.

Sobbing, she tossed her head from side to side in denial. "No!" she pled through tears as she choked for air. "No, no, please!" He laughed cruelly, preparing to start. "Sleet!" she shrieked in a final act of desperation. All at once a loud crash was heard as the window to the bedroom shattered, and a malevolent snarl unlike anything she'd ever heard before echoed in the room, so raw and violent it was almost a roar! He had come! Aleena watched the shock and terror cross her attacker's face as he heard it. To Drago it was the sound of doom. To her it was the sound of salvation. At a speed almost too quick to see, Sleet launched himself across the room and tackled Drago off her! The white wolf was slammed brutally into the floor, and before he could even process that it hurt, Sleet was savagely and wildly raining down blow after blow! Drago, snapping out of the shock, began to fight back. Not expecting the abrupt recovery, Sleet was thrown off long enough for his opponent to stand. Aleena caught her breath.

SU

"You worthless piece of meat!" Drago bellowed at his fellow wolf before lunging. Sleet snarled again and met the attack head on, charging right back at him and leaping onto the other, burying his teeth deep into Drago's shoulder and almost ripping it out! Drago yipped in agony and retaliated, sinking his own jaws into Sleet's ribs. Sleet yelped in pain, letting go of Drago's shoulder and driving his elbows down into the man's back, causing Drago to release him and collapse with a shout. Scowling, Sleet went at Drago again. Drago retaliated by throwing back his arm, nailing his bounty hunter hard and sending him flying across the room with a cry of pain!

"Sleet!" Aleena exclaimed in terror, prying at the belt around her throat in an attempt to get it off so she could help him.

"Princess Aleena!" Dingo exclaimed from the window. She looked sharply over with a gasp, and her eyes widened when she saw not only Dingo there, but two more children as well! One a rabbit and one a crocodile.

"Vector, you were right. He did have the princess!" the rabbit girl exclaimed in shock and horror.

"I told you!" Vector said, pointing. Frowning and turning, Vanilla climbed in through the window, Vector and Dingo clambering after her. Vanilla soared right up to Drago, who was closing in on Sleet, and delivered a driving kick to his skull. Drago shouted in pain. Vector raced forward, tackling the white wolf's legs and bringing him down onto his back. "Weave him awone!" Vector screamed. "He's de law's now!" Sleet, raising himself up on his arms, scowled back at the boy and rolled his eyes.

Drago suddenly whipped around, attacking the children. Quickly they fell back in alarm with screams. Dingo, though, leapt in to back them up. At the same time, Sleet leapt on Drago's back to help bring him down. On being relieved by the two more experienced fighters, Vanilla and Vector turned their attention to the horrified yet relieved princess. They hurried to her side. "Your majesty!" Vanilla exclaimed. "Are you okay?"

"Quickly, get the belt off the headboard!" she ordered.

"Huh? Oh!" Vanilla exclaimed in horror, covering her mouth. Quickly she began to work on releasing the belt. Vector grabbed it, looked it over, then delivered a savage bite that severed it without issue. Vanilla started then grinned at him. She suddenly heard something and gasped, whipping around. She screamed and leapt, knocking Vector out of the way of a heavy chair that had been soaring towards them. They landed on the ground, the rabbit on top of the crocodile who had broken her fall, and Aleena barely avoided being beaned in the head

Aleena looked over only to see Drago with his iron claws grinning at her coldly! Sleet and Dingo were on the ground, Sleet scowling and pushing himself up on his arms. Dingo was staring wide-eyed at the other two children. "Dingo!" Aleena warned. Too late. Before Dingo could even turn, before Sleet could react, Drago had pulled out a knife and driven it into the pup's leg, making him scream in pain and sob. "No!" Aleena shrieked, leaping off the bed and going at Drago furiously.

"Leave him be!" Sleet echoed, leaping to his feet.

Drago glanced between Aleena and Sleet then sprang at the latter with a snarl, sinking his teeth deeply into the other's leg! Sleet yipped as he was brought down again. In retaliation he kicked violently back at Drago's face. Drago cried out in pain. Sleet seized the opportunity and went at him viciously, attacking once again. Aleena stopped, backing up to give them room and wait for an opening. Drago swung at Sleet, but Sleet's armor deflected the blow and the gray wolf drew his sword, cutting at his opponent. Drago yanked out another larger knife, a machete in fact, and blocked the cut scowling. Sleet gasped and Drago seized him. Once more the two began to grapple. Drago began to get the upper hand. His strength was greater than Sleet's, so in hand-to-hand combat, the latter was at a disadvantage. Spotting an opening, Aleena sprang to Sleet's aid and attacked Drago with a homing attack. Drago cried out in surprise and turned to face her in shock. Sleet, startled at first, recovered and grinned wickedly. He fixed his gaze on Drago again.

Drago, scowling, looked from Sleet to Aleena. He sensed the fight was as good as over, but he wasn't going down as easily as that. With a shout he brandished his machete and went at Sleet, aiming to drive it into his throat! "Sleet!" Aleena exclaimed.

Suddenly the little crocodile boy let out a shout, tackling Drago's legs again and causing the wolf to fall, the machete sprawling away from him. The rabbit girl soared towards it quickly as Drago lunged to grab it. She snatched it out of his reach and threw it towards Aleena. "Your majesty, catch!" she called. Aleena leapt up, grabbing it from the air.

Vanilla landed triumphantly next to Vector. Vector grinned up at her then gasped and screamed, seizing her arm and yanking her out of the way of an enraged Drago, who leapt at them with murder in his eyes and metallic claws outstretched. Drago slashed at them again and probably would have struck them both had Sleet not suddenly slid into sight, intercepting the blow and letting the claws glance off his armor, deflecting them from the children with a scowl. Drago immediately seized him and threw him over his head, sending him crashing onto the bed then leaping up and springing at Sleet with a roar-like snarl of his own. Sleet gasped as the claws came down and whipped out his sword, raising it to block an attack he knew would probably break right through, but suddenly Aleena was there as well, crossing his sword with her machete and reinforcing the block. They caught the blow together and, after the initial surprise, exchanged victorious grins before pushing Drago back as one.

Aleena leapt from the bed and attacked him with a succession of homing attacks, sending him staggering back. Drago recovered quickly, though, and threw himself at them with an enraged roar. Gasping, Sleet shoved the princess out of the way and took the full brunt of the attack, tumbling backwards over the bed and crashing to the floor, locked in combat with his partner once again.

"Sleet, the window!" Aleena called.

With a shout, Sleet kicked up and back, sending Drago flying over his head and tumbling out of the shattered pane. Drago yelled as he toppled out and struck the ground, hitting it hard. Sleet and Aleena ran over to check. The noise, they noted, had woken up some nearby households. "Hey, what's happening over there?!" a furious voice shouted.

"A man fell out the window!" another from further down said.

In a sudden light bulb moment, Sleet swiftly pulled the shaken princess close to him and shouted, "How dare you come into my house and try to assault my wife?! While her husband is home no less!"

At first the others were shocked, none more so than Aleena herself, but then she noticed the reactions of the people. They ranged from furious to appalled. Drago sensed the hostility and looked around like a trapped animal. He met Sleet's eyes in disbelief. The gray wolf was smirking cruelly, and Drago scowled. "Did he really dare try and…" one of the onlookers began.

Immediately Sleet went into acting mode and held Aleena firmly in his arms. "Of course he did! Why would I make something like that up?" He felt Aleena shiver. This, though, was very real. Her grip on his armor tightened, and she buried her face in his neck fur, shocking him. He looked down at her in disbelief. "Are you alright?" he quietly asked, more quickly than he cared to admit. She shook her head without a word. In that moment he felt anger welling inside him, a surge of protection spiking through his entire nervous system, and hatred for Drago unlike anything he'd felt before overwhelmed him. He held her tighter, scowling. Darkly he turned to Drago and yelled with very real passion, "I'll kill you for this!"

"Allow us!" another neighbor declared. There was a chorus of agreement as they began to close in on Drago, who by now was standing and braced for a fight.

"He deserves no better!" another shouted.

"Get out of here! We have no place for people like you!" yet another said. Clearly they were not about to tolerate any such heinous crime in their neck of the woods, Sleet noted. Good.

Drago began to back away from the encroaching mob and shot Sleet a loathing look. "Sleet, you'll pay for this!" he roared. Sleet's jaw twitched. He hoped to the gods his partner didn't say something stupid that gave them away. Surely even Drago wouldn't be so foolish. He would go down too. Wait… Sleet caught his breath, straightening up. The soundproof window was wide open. Aleena had only to scream, and he and his associate were done! He looked quickly down at her, hoping she was too much in shock to realize it. Unfortunately, Dingo had no filters.

"Sleet, the soundproofing!" Dingo exclaimed, sounding fearful. Sleet would have facepalmed, had he not been holding the princess in his arms. He felt her stiffen and braced himself, holding his breath. This was it. That moron Dingo had done them in!

"Run that wicked man out of this city!" Aleena commanded, pointing at Drago.

"Li…" Sleet began. He cut himself off in shock when he realized what she'd just said. Rather, what she hadn't said. "Huh?" he said, looking at her in disbelief. She wouldn't meet his eyes. He turned to the window as the neighbors let out furious shouts and charged at the white wolf. Drago gasped and turned, making a break for it as the mob pursued him. Soon enough the sounds of the chase faded away, and just like that it was silent once more…

SU

After a stunned moment in which Sleet processed they had actually gotten away with that, he looked down at Aleena in disbelief. She hadn't given them up. He could hardly comprehend it. He started when he felt her begin to tremble in his arms. Suddenly he felt very uncomfortable. For a moment there was silence between them, her face buried in his fur as she shivered. He was utterly still, unsure of what to do or say, so instead looked at Dingo, who was being treated for his stab wound by an unexpectedly knowledgeable Vanilla. Vector watched on worriedly. As if feeling his eyes on them, the three children looked over. Sleet's jaw twitched ever so slightly. "Dingo, clean up and get ready for bed," he ordered.

"Okay," Dingo agreed, rising shakily with Vector and Vanilla's help. The latter two looked back at the wolf guardedly, eyes narrowed, but said nothing. Instead they helped Dingo out of the room. Sleet watched them go. Now there was this problem to deal with. He sighed in frustration and looked back down at Aleena. It was clear, at least to him, that right now she was trying not to upset the three children more than they had already been upset.

Sure enough, as soon as the trio left the room, the princess broke down. He held her close as she wept in his arms, the harsh reality of what had almost happened crashing down on them both. Suddenly he felt exhausted. Gradually the girl's sobs subsided. Eventually they stopped altogether, though she had yet to release her hold on him. There was silence for a long moment. "I…" he began before trailing off. What could even be said in the wake of something like this? "You should get some sleep," he finally finished.

Aleena looked towards the bed and shuddered, turning away from it. He didn't know what to do. Fortunately, he didn't have to know. She was the one who acted, pulling away from him and going to it. She sat on the side, staring at the ground with a sniff and wrapping her arms around herself to hide her exposed body. He started, eyes widening a bit. For the first time, he noticed the state of her nightgown. He stayed utterly silent as it dawned on him just how close Drago had come to realizing his goal.

"What will you do to the children?" she whispered at last.

"Nothing. It doesn't take much to shut children up," Sleet answered. A veiled threat, some words of warning, and neither would have the guts to speak up. Of course, if luck was with him he wouldn't need to resort to that. Spin a few lies or a wildly romantic sob story, and they might just play straight into his hands regardless. Aleena was silent. Sleet shifted then turned to take his leave. Staying would probably just make it worse.

"Stay with me," she suddenly said. He paused. "Please. I don't want to be alone. I… What if he comes back?" she said, voice breaking a bit. She didn't look up from the ground.

Sleet was quiet, considering her request. Shaking his head, he relented and went towards her, kneeling at the side of her bed and reaching out to tilt her chin up so she would look at him. He examined her for any injuries. The expected bruises and cuts of course, but was there more? He scanned her and his eyes found her hand. He frowned. It looked wrong. He looked quickly at her. "I think I broke it punching him across the face," she said with a strained huff of laughter. She winced right after, holding her wrist gently.

He whispered a curse under his breath. Just his luck. "I'll stay," he promised.

Sniffing, she nodded gratefully and lay down on the bed. He remained kneeling next to it. Distractedly he looked back at the window. He jumped a bit when he felt her hand cover one of his own, and turned quickly in surprise. "Thank you," she whispered, meeting and holding his gaze. For a long time, he was still. At last he turned his hand beneath hers and held it gently, nodding in acknowledgement. She smiled ever so slightly and for a moment there was silence between them. "Why?" she soon asked, smile slowly fading. He tilted his head curiously at her. "Why did you risk so much for my sake? Why did you turn on him when this was what he paid you to kidnap me for in the first place?"

Sleet was quiet, damning the question. Why, why, why, it was always why! He decided he hated that question. It seemed he never had an answer to it. But then neither did she… "I don't know," he answered. He didn't like that he didn't know. He hated not having all the answers.

She nodded, accepting the less than satisfactory answer. Gently his thumb played across the back of her uninjured hand. "Don't go," she pled in a whisper.

He shifted a little. "I won't," he promised. She nodded and closed her eyes. Soon enough her breathing became regular and steady. Noticing how tired he himself was, he sighed and laid his head down on her blankets, closing his eyes to rest them...