Breaking out shouldn't be this easy, Kyoya thought, ducking through the foliage. Something's wrong.

Then came hounds, howling. Their baying calls wailed through the woods around them, slowly circling in on them. With The Woman so injured and the nearest town nowhere nearby, it seemed there was no hope.

"They'll rip us apart," Tamaki quaked, looking ill at the thought.

"Just a bit further… just a bit further, guys…" The Woman cajoled weakly from the center of the group.

They managed to drag themselves as far away as possible, Tamaki supporting The Woman's small frame. Eventually the adrenaline seeped from their systems and feet began to drag. It was worsened when it began to rain. Kagome braced herself without Tamaki's help and stood at the beginnings of a forest, and the two men came to flank her. When she spoke, her words were strong but her form swayed uncertainly.

"We're here now, it'll be easier for me to make the call."

Kyoya exchanged a furrowed look with Tamaki. "Call?" He asked. He had to shout to hear himself over the downpour and wailing dogs. "Do you have a phone?"

Kagome laughed, looking taken aback. "No, no. You misunderstand me." Then she looked up, and through the clumps of hair they could see her eyes gleam. "I meant make the call."

Then she threw her head back, and howled.

Kyoya nearly jumped out of his skin and Tamaki looked equally startled. It wasn't a sound bite, imitation sort of call- no, this was a high, shrill yapping that ended with a drawn, yowling note. It raised the hairs on Kyoya's arms, which he grabbed in his anxiety. It wasn't a sound any human had a right making.

The hounds had gone completely silent.

My God, he thought we've escaped with a feral woman.

Then something even more unbelievable happened.

A lone howl, answering back, and again, The Woman let out another godforsaken noise. More howls rose up to join them, and Tamaki grabbed at Kyoya's arm as soon as the haunting choir began. He clung to Kyoya, and Kyoya could only cling back in confused dread.

A lone wolf- surprising for so many howls- loped its way out of the midground, a sleek dark shape distinguished only by gleaming eyes.

Kyoya shivered despite himself. She had those eyes.

The Woman swayed heavier as her voice died out, and the canine darted out of the underbrush towards her. Before either Tamaki or he could cry out, it swept up beside her slumped form and kept her from falling. She repaid it with a gentle expression, and gentler hands upon the animal's coat. She tenderly groomed it, greeted the beast like an old friend.

It was almost straight out of a Miyazaki film.

So taken aback was he that it took Kyoya a few moments to realize she was speaking to the wolf. The animal settled her gently on the bare ground, and then it was shifting, flashing into a man.

A fucking man.

"C'est quoi, ce merdier?" Came Tamaki's stressed whisper.

"Tu dois te calmer," came Kyoya's immediate reply, but his wide eyes never left the man, who was now hoisting The Woman into his arms. Wolf-man approached, and the three men were silent, studying each other.

His skin was tanned and he was strong, lean from work. Big hands, which interestingly enough had each nail carefully sharpened to a point. Or were they claws? His ears were pointed, poking out of a head of long, black hair. Around his waist was a pelt, along with- somehow standing out moreso than the previously listed details- startlingly modern running clothes. He even wore running shoes.

Everything that was happening was way too much, so Kyoya shoved it aside for a bit and focused on The Woman. "Is she okay?"

The man regarded him favorably for it. "She will be. Come on, let's get you kids patched up. I'll explain on the way."

Relief slammed into Kyoya so hard his knees shook. "Thank God…"

Pity flashed across the man's face, and his expression gentled. He shifted Kagome to one arm, and laid the other gently on the teen's shoulder.

"I'll call some wolves. You kids shouldn't have to walk."

Would he howl?

Kyoya shuddered at the thought, but the man simply whistled and there came two more wolves loping towards them.

"Get on. We'll get you settled in and talk in the morning."

Where Kyoya was wary about sitting upon a beast, Tamaki had no qualms with it; the blonde quickly hauled himself onto the grey wolf's pelt, leaving the auburn wolf to look at him expectantly. Kyoya sighed shakily, and gave in. The wolf was kind, and clearly intelligent- was it also a person?

The man began a pace back towards the forest, and the animals followed, until all three careened past countless trees and rock plateaus and creeks and finally, finally reaching a small collection of campers. Several people were anxiously standing at attention by a bonfire, and lightly crowded the three newcomers. Kagome was lifted from the man's arms, and he was chasing behind the healers to shout further instructions. What a surprisingly fussy man, he really did care for her.

A group of healers fussed over Kyoya more than Tamaki, which surprised him. Further taking him aback was the blonde striding beside him, grabbing Kyoya's hand and refusing to let go.

Tamaki's voice drifted into his ears. Kyoya looked at him.

"… was very focused on my emotional… sure he took… hits to the ribs, one hit to the... no concussion…"

He was so beautiful. His blonde hair was matted from the rain, and his amethyst eyes were distraught from stress and earlier weeping, but oh, he was so beautiful. What was that Siken poem?

I wanted to be wanted and he was very beautiful, kissed with his eyes closed…

"Kyoya? Stay with me, my friend."

Of course, Tamaki. Kyoya couldn't see it any other way. He closed his eyes, and drifted off to sleep. One of his hands still limp in Tamaki's desperate grip, the other nestled in amber fur.