"You seem to have a habit of being undressed in front of me."

Nick's only response to the teasing words was a grin over his shoulder and bobbing of his brows. The gesture made the rabbit snicker, but she didn't comment further as he moved further into the hot pool. Judy had recalled a natural hot spring here in the cave shortly after their agreed upon truce and told him he needed to make use of it. He was sure that was her way of saying he stunk. He had playfully feigned offense at what she had said, but went along as she led the way deeper into the cave and to the hot spring which he was now wading into. If he was lucky the water would sooth the bruises and cuts he had gotten as well as wash his fur and body clean. After all he may not smell the blood or whatever odor that he had, but a vampire's nose was superior to even that of wolves. And if she could smell him, then this Rogan certainly would as well.

"So, what kind of mammal is he anyway?" he asked, knowing she would know who he was referring to.

Silence was his answer, making him turn to her with a frown of confusion. Or rather turn to where she should have been. But she had disappeared again and was no where in sight as he turned to look for her along the bank of the springs. Nor was she in the water when he checked or so he thought. He had just turned a full circuit and had shrugged to begin his washing when she was suddenly on his back and holding his mouth shut. His reaction was instinctual, thrashing to get her off him and growling until she hissed into his mind to stay quiet and stop moving. He immediately did as she said, ears pointed straight up to listen for any sounds that she may have heard as the fur on his neck began to rise in warning. Another vampire then, in the cave and likely headed their way.

An unrabbit like growl came from behind him, so low he knew he wouldn't have heard it if she hadn't been right by his ear. Then before he could react they were both underwater and he struggled to hold his breath, before he breathed in more water than he already had. He hadn't held his breath quickly enough though and hadn't breathed in enough air to hold in before. His lungs felt ready to burst in only seconds and in a panic, he shook Judy and held his throat when she turned to him in question from beneath the water. The widening of her eyes told him that she understood and hadn't taken his mortality completely into account when she shoved them beneath the surface. Then she was on him again after a quick glance at the banks of the spring. And he could only lay...stand...float-whatever it was they were doing-completely still when she pressed her lips to his and breathed into his mouth.

He never had a chance to react other than to hold the new air given to him through her then she was gone again, but he knew from the loud splash that she had left the pool. He held his breath and remained under water for as long as his supply of air allowed. But after what felt like moments later, his lungs had enough again and he had to resurface, gasping more air into his starving lungs. It was only after he had gotten enough air and his racing heart slowed that he could hear a series of snarls and growls in the cavern up ahead. He had been right, it was another vampire but he couldn't assist in the fight, he was unarmed. Even if he had his weapons the element of surprise was lost, the other creature was likely there through having smelled him.

But what if Judy wasn't successful? He would still be vulnerable to attack if she lost and the unknown vampire continued to seek him. It was impossible to tell which was which from the bone chilling sounds echoing through the rock walls and to him. He shivered in spite of himself and the warm water and lifted a paw set with deadly looking claws. Claws that his ancestors had once used to tear open other mammals to feast upon them. His tongue ran over his teeth, sharp, deadly, meant for killing. It was all he had and he was doing himself no favors by standing in the water and waiting to find out who the victor was the hard way. His mind was made up and his paws clenched at his sides as he hurried back to the banks of the springs and sprinted towards the sounds of the hellish creatures battling to the death.

He had just entered the battle zone when the body of a wolf was thrown against the wall nearest him, but he didn't stop to stare and ran to stand beside Judy. The rabbit responded to his actions with a glare, obviously she had wanted him to wait. He only gave her a blank look in response before setting his attention on the vampire wolf that snarled as she stood though a grin split her muzzle when glowing eyes focused on him. He snarled in return at her, flexing his claws and readying himself to defend and try to kill it with what weapons he had. Himself.

It was time to put his slaying skills to use. Watch the movements closely, avoid eye contact, retain enough distance to avoid, but close enough to kill. That last one was going to be tricky, he didn't have as much space to work with as he would with his katana or his crossbow.

"You should have stayed out of the way," Judy hissed from beside him.

He didn't respond, keeping his eyes locked on the other vampire that sank onto all fours and tensed her muscles. She was going for a pounce and he kept his posture the same. Slaying 101: Let the enemy think you're incompetent and open to attack. That's the best way to gain the element of surprise once again.

The ploy worked...on both vampires. He heard the rabbit label him an idiot then just as the wolf went sailing toward him, she was knocked off course and slammed into the ground by, Judy. It seemed the wolf had expected this however because before the rabbit could incapacitate her, she had dug her much longer and sharper claws into the rabbit's sides and dragged them down. Judith winced from the attack, but showed no other sign of pain as her eyes began to glow and her fangs lengthened in her mouth.

"You chose the wrong cave to invade, pup," she said in that sickly sweet voice Nick remembered from the hotel.

The rabbit planned to kill the wolf through shadows and probably some other form of dark magic. But while she had shown little sign of pain, her blood loss was weakening her and thus weakening her power as well. She had only just been able to subdue the wolf, but now the canine was struggling and gaining more ground by the second as Judy blinked and shook her head to get herself to focus. She wasn't succeeding and Nick could see that all too well from where he stood, still at the ready for an attack from the wolf should she break free.

"Carrots, give me my sword!" he called, hoping the rabbit was getting desperate enough to give in.

She made the mistake of looking toward him rather than calling back to him and paid for it. The wolf lunged up just as her head turned and tore a chunk from her neck, the effect was immediate. Blood went flying, Judy pressed a paw to her neck as she cried out in pain and the wolf was slashing at her. She wouldn't die from this, he knew that. But the wolf had the ability to kill her and wasn't, she was torturing her.

"Hey bitch over here! I am the reason you came am I not?" he called.

His mouth spoke before he had the chance to think about it or stop himself and the result was the wolf turning on him. He had succeeded in getting the attention off the rabbit, but he had dumbly called it to himself instead. He could hear Judy agreeing as he heard "dumb fox" and "idiot" coming from where she was slouched against the wall. But he paid no mind to it. He couldn't, not if he wanted to live past the night, the wolf prepared only moments before she leaped at him again and he just barely avoided with no more than a scratch on his upper arm. It had still been too close a call, the vampire had still landed one wound too many and he hadn't had a chance to land an attack of his own.

It went on like that for another minute or so, her attacking, him evading and not landing a hit of his own. And he found quickly he had been played when he was knocked down and the wolf grinned from above him showing her fangs.

"I have not had fox or priest blood for a long time. Tonight, I get both."

His answering snarl was cut short when he felt a familiar weight in one of his paws as the beast was leaning in to bite him. He didn't have to look to know what he held and quickly shot his paw up, driving his dagger into her heart and twisting as his snarls began anew. The screech that was let out from the monster was amplified by the cave, even after she turned to dust and covered his still nude form, the sounds echoed for another minute more. It was after the adrenaline wore off that he noticed that some of her vampire dust had gotten into his mouth as well and most of it covered him.

He quickly stood up, brushing himself off as best as he could while spitting what was in his mouth. But with his fur still wet from the springs, the dust only stayed on him and smeared, staining his creamy white fur brown and his red fur even darker. It was disgusting! And his growls showed as much until soft groaning pulled his attention back to the wounded rabbit against the wall. She stared back at him now with a mix of caution and a smirk of victory now that the wolf was there. And the caution was due to the dagger clenched tightly in his paw, she didn't have the strength at the moment to take it back from him, didn't even have the strength to read his thoughts or move to defend herself if she had to.

He knew he could kill her here and now and be done with it, knew it would be easy. But he also knew he still needed her so he turned and spat on the vampire dust that had made it to the floor of the cave and went to her.

"I must say I am surprised. I thought you would kill her."

"I would have, had I not had to worry about your fuzzy tail."

He wasn't sure if what she said would have had more bite to it if she had been stronger or not, but going by her weak smirk she was teasing again. She reminded him of himself in some ways, jesting to those she trusted at least to some degree. Making light a tough time or what had been a life or death situation. If she wasn't a vampire and he wasn't a priest perhaps he would have truly courted her. But such thoughts were dangerous and he must not allow them entry into his mind other than to ensnare and entrap her in his plot.

"You need blood." She nodded, but just beforehand he had seen her muzzle wrinkle as if she didn't like the truth of it. He didn't let the thought sink in any further and used the dagger he held to slice open a wound on his paw. Her nostrils flared instantly, her eyes shooting to the wound as he lifted it toward her, then she turned her head away with a scoff.

"Are you trying to die you moron?" she hissed, pupils going to slits before his eyes as her irises began to glow.

"No, but you need it do you not?"

"I need too mu-ff!"

He cut her off by pressing his wound to her mouth, her struggle only lasting a mere second before she was sucking at his paw. It was a strange feeling, being fed upon. He could actually feel his blood leaving his veins as she sucked it into her mouth. He could see some of the wounds she had gotten, closing up and even as he shuddered from the truth of what he was doing, he knew this would earn more trust. She fed from his paw for moments longer then seemed to snap to her senses when her eyes shot open and she glared at him from behind it. He felt the soft, wetness of her tongue across the cut then his paw was pushed away and he tilted his head curiously. Was she done already?

"No," she corrected, hearing his thoughts. "I took enough from you to get strength to get it from elsewhere. You are lucky I have so much control. Do not fall asleep."

And with that she was gone again and this time, when she didn't appear second later like usual, he knew she was really gone. He sighed and looked down at his paw, already expecting to see it healed as if he had never cut it in the first place. But it was still interesting to see unmarred pad there, not even the lightest little scar or scratch from it.

"Nicholas Wilde.. You are in a deal with the devil.." he told himself and he knew he should shudder, knew he should feel disgust. But it was nowhere to be found this time even after what he had witnessed. He blamed it on shock and perhaps fatigue as he made his way back to the springs where he washed off the filth of the vampire scum they had slain. He would figure it out after he found a chance to get some rest and he knew he couldn't until Judy was back. It was foolish to sleep anywhere near any vampire, but then it was foolish to willingly feed one too. And he was armed again anyway, not nearly as much as he wished he was, but he still had more than before.

He hurried through his washing, getting the grime of the vampire off him and what sweat and dirt was on him that had made him stink before anyway. Once he was satisfied he was clean, he emerged from the water and washed out his garments as best he could without soap. Once done, he rested against one of the surrounding rock walls, knowing the pool of water would help to hide his scent. He would soon redress himself and talk with her about finding food. Nearly drowning, having his blood taken and being in battle had taken a lot out of him.

He didn't even realize he had fallen asleep until his eyes groggily opened and blinked before they focused on a grey head settled against his chest. He knew immediately it was Judy sitting against him and drowsily lifted his arms, wrapping them around her. She didn't seem mad now even as she lifted her head, instead she seemed almost content as she looked at him and put a paw to his cheek gently. It could have been the blood she had consumed too, but she felt warm against him. Or was that just the spring surrounding them? He didn't know and didn't care enough to question it, he was still half rocking on the tide between asleep and awake.

"I told you not to fall asleep dumb fox," she told him, but her voice carried no bite. She only seemed affectionate as she spoke and rubbed her thumb across his fur and he found himself tilting his head into the touch as his eyes closed.

"Mm, sorry I suppose I was more tired than I thought," he mumbled back, about to drift off again.

She woke him again slightly as she patted his cheek to bring his focus back. It worked, his eyes groggily opening to meet hers again. She had a smile equal parts amusement and affection waiting to greet him.

"Stay awake now, Nick. Just for a little while, I want to reward you. You saved me tonight, I think that deserves a reward."

He returned the smile as his paws wandered down her hips and cupped her bottom that he found to be as bare as he was. A few days ago, or hell even a few hours ago, having her naked against his equally naked form would have sickened him. But now it only made a pleasant burning tingle begin in the pit of his stomach and spread through him. The resulting shudder had nothing to do with disgust and they both knew it.

"I see you get the idea," she purred, her voice so very close and her breath on his lips.

His ears laid down against his head as she pressed against him, fur to fur, chest to chest and the heat spread through him again. The feeling made him groan with a need he had never felt before, but wanted to pursue. So he obeyed, paws squeezing her perfect bottom as he leaned in just as she did, their lips meeting.

TBC...

AC: That's it for this chapter folks~ I know, giant cliff hanger, but there's a reason for that and part of that reason is to make it easier to open up next time. The other? Not telling~ You'll just have to see. ;) Next chappie won't be as long to come out though I promise. :3 You know what to do dear readers~

Disclaimer: I own nothing, but the plot and any OC's that has or may make an appearance. ^^