Ok so I don't have an excuse for not posting in so long, but I guess it doesn't matter cause I only got ONE comment (thanks by the way) so anyways here's the next part of Shifting Sands

Disclaimer: I don't own Gundam Wing, but I have a Cat named Warf... Isn't that something!

Shifting Sands

"How many times must I tell you? We must go faster," bellowed the fat ambassador to his manservant, "We can't miss Prince Heero's birthday, I'm already on ill terms with the king!"

"But. but sire," pleaded the dirty faced man as he walked along the carriage that held the ambassador. "Everyone is exhausted, and the horses are about to collapse. You've driven them so hard."

"Enough wasting my time," Albert grumbled, "alright, we may stop for tonight, but don't expect me to be so kind tomorrow, we must hurry back to North, can't be late you know."

The servant mumbled a quick 'yessir' and ran ahead to tell the entire caravan of the good news. Everyone but ambassador Albert was working overtime to cross the plains in time for the prince's birthday, and they all wished to rest as the sun's last rays fell over the distant mountains.

The caravan eventually slowed and was prepared for the night to come, horses were cleaned and fed, bags and such were unpacked, and food was cooked, all in a slow pace from exhaustion. Albert the whole time, barked orders and complained to whoever was in hearing range. 'Don't just stand there, help with the horses!' he would shout at a servant that was not acting as quickly as he wished. 'You call this food? Take it back and bring me something better!' he ordered when he found his meal less that perfect. He could stand nothing less that perfection, because he was just returning from Lorian, and he had bought many gifts for the young prince that was sure to please the King, bringing good ties along with it. Albert was in a great mood and nothing could break it.

"Sire? Where are you going?" Called one of the younger servants as she spotted the fat ambassador as he began to leave the caravans circle.

"I'm going for a walk! Don't follow me fool child!" The red head ambassador called over his shoulder before he tromped off, drunk from thoughts of future security with King Odin.

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A light growl escaped a figure in the darkness, its cobalt blue eyes flashed as it stalked the power hungry ambassador in silence, its sleek black tail twitched in excitement that it would finally get the chance to kill after days of tracking, the fool's life would end tonight.

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"Damn servants" the ambassador mumbled as he walked farther from the firelight, "We only have days left, I can't heighten my rank if I have disobedient servants!"

As Albert continued to mutter and rant, he grew farther from the safety of his servants and the firelight, he had no idea he was being followed and he would have never known if he had not remembered his walking cane.

He spun around, intending to retrieve it from the fireside. It was then did he see something in the darkness, only yards away. He froze in fright; it appeared to be a panther, its glowing eyes staring coldly at him. Albert swallowed hard; he took a few baby steps towards the camp, when the large cat took a step towards him, he took of running.

"Servants! Servants!" Albert yelled in desperation, he heard the large cat behind him, and growing closer. He was foolish enough to turn his head to look back, hoping he would find some way to escape his seemingly certain death.

No such luck.

The panther leaped at the ambassador, sinking its claws into the mans back as he fell forward and crashed into the ground. The panther almost instantly sunk his teeth into Albert's neck, killing him where he laid.

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King Odin sat stiffly on the old thrown, his eyes staring out into the mass of people that danced, ate, and chatted in the thrown room. He then turned his gaze to Heero, who stood next to his thrown, refusing to join the mass of people. Odin smiled, realizing his son was just as bored as he was, though neither of them would admit it.

Parties such as this was meant to bring friendship and understanding between him and his people, and no matter how much he disliked it, it had its benefits, and he couldn't stand not to have them, not with war so close at hand.

"Your majesty." came a voice. Odin snapped from his thoughts and looked up to the worried eyes of a young woman, her blonde hair fell around her face as she bent down to whisper to the king, "We just received a message, I think you should read it."

"Thank you Sally" Odin said in a low voice, then watched her walk back into the crowd. The king frowned in thought, then stood from his set, gave a glance to Heero, then exited the thrown room through the closest door he could find.

Heero frowned as he watched his father walk out, his curiosity sparked as to why he was called out of such an important even. Never the less, he returned his gaze to the crowd. It was filled with faces he did not know, or even wished to know, and he only stayed because of his fathers wish.

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Odin sat in silence as he read the information that was given to him. An angry look crossed his face as he set down the piece of paper and looked up to Sally, "So Ambassador Albert is dead." Odin paused, waiting for a conformational nod from Sally before he continued, "that's the fifth time this has happed. all killed by what seems to be a panther."

"Yes my lord" the young woman answered. Sally was one of the kings several advisors, the youngest as well, but that never hindered her loyalty to her king.

"It can't be a coincidence." Odin's said as he stroked his short beard in thought, "Sally, it must be a shifter..."

"Sire?" Sally blinked at him in confusion, "but why would a shape shifter what to do such a thing?"

"They have every right to, Remember, it was only eight years ago that Thomas destroyed Divinity. maybe whoever it is, they are looking for revenge."

"But it's been five years since Thomas has been in power, him and his advisors were banished." Sally reminded the king, her eyes held a look of confusion as she spoke.

"That is true, but we are still all humans, and we did wipe out almost the entire race. what do you expect Sally." Odin asked as he stood stiffly from his care, "Please announce that we will have a meeting on this issue a week from today, for now, let it rest."

Sally nodded and bowed her head as the King exited the room; she then turned and picked up the piece of paper. Her forehead wrinkled in worry as she read it again, "Why now."

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The next morning, only a few miles from the North castle, a small caravan was coming to life again after the long, moonless night. People began to wake and carry on with there duties for the day. One figure within their ranks was set on a certain path. A sandy blonde centaur that walked quietly through the grounds, his tail would swish the air as he made sure everything was being packed properly, they were to reach the city that very day and he did not want something to go wrong now.

"Hey! Solo!"

The centaur turned his attention to a new figure as he appeared from almost nowhere. He was to busy making sure every little thing was perfect that he didn't even notice anyone approach. "Duo, what are you doing back so early?" He called back to the braided shifter in all his glory; he was already searching for the cook.

"Hmm?" Duo grinned wildly as he set down a bag and walked closer to the tall centaur, "Come on, you really think it would take me THAT long?" he joked, "Now if you'll excuse me, I'm hungry! And I smell food." Duo winked, then turned on his heals and ran off, in search for his precious food.

Solo just sighed calmly, he ran a hand through his sandy blonde hair as he watched the prince disappear. He walked over and picked up Duo's discarded bag and placed it in one of the closer wagons before he returned to his inspection.

Duo hummed cheerily as he wandered through the busy camp, waving to the random people that ran into him as they went along with there normal routine. Duo suddenly grinned wildly as he saw Hilde, he waved madly at the caravan's own cook. She spotted Duo and laughed, waving back to him. He grinned and bounded to her and her table-o-breakfast, his braid flying out behind him.

"Hey Hilde! Did I mention that I loved you today?" he said as he busied himself with filling his plate with food, food, and more food.

"Duo, you love my cooking" Hilde giggled, watching as he already had his mouth filled with food.

"Damn straight," Duo said as he swallowed a piece of bread, "Thanks Hilde, I'll be back for seconds!" and with that, he spun around to search for a nice place to eat, somewhere not as busy as the food table.

Duo found his solitude by a burnt out fire, long dead and abandon. Duo ate with delight as he watched the surrounding dramas of the traveling circus. The caravan that once took the ambassador Fredrick to sign peace treaties had turned into a carnival of a sort. Solo had taken over the lead not long after they left the ruins of Divinity and he decided that, instead of settling down, they would continue to travel. In the past few years, they had picked up several different types of people, and decided to turn the entire thing into a carnival. Duo had no objections to this, because they had become quite popular, and get request to perform all over the land, this time they were to perform for someone's birthday at the castle. Least that's what he knew.

"Quatre! Over here!" Duo suddenly called out as he saw his mage friend. Quatre was one of the newer members of the traveling circus, but it wasn't long for him and Duo to become good friends.

Quatre turned to search for whoever called him. Spotting Duo he quickly smiled and hurried over to him, all duties forgotten for the moment as he made his way over to his good friend, "Duo! Your back!"

"Yeah, knew you guys couldn't survive without me for long." Duo said with a laugh, "Solo was just as surprised as your where, what, you people don't think I can do anything right?"

"No, its not that" Quatre hesitated before he decided to tell Duo, "Its just I think Solo has something else for you to do, a new lead! It has something to do with the next place were visiting, and we didn't think you'd be back in time."

Duo looked up and the blonde mage and shook his head, "Another job? This soon? We must be getting close!"

"Maybe. Trowa's already went to North," Quatre said, finally decided to sit beside Duo, his eyes to the ashes near the center of the circle.

Duo blinked at Quatre, pausing from his breakfast long enough to glance around the circle once again, to the busy people. "Maybe that's why it's so busy, it takes a lot less time to handle the animals when he's around."

Quatre nodded, and looked as if he was about to say something when he suddenly realized what he was doing, "oh no, I forgot about the animals. I've have to go Duo. ah, glad your back" Quatre stuttered as he quickly jumped to his feed, running off again, leaving Duo alone again.

Duo grinned as he watched Quatre leave. He knew Quatre regularly helped with the animals, more so when Trowa was off helping Duo with his 'jobs.' Duo shook his head at the thought. In all the five years that he knew Trowa, the amazing unibanged animal speaker seemed to take more with the animals than he did with people, sometimes Duo thought he could understand animals more that the shifters could. But Trowa did great with helping Duo during operations, and he was a good friend as well, so he didn't complain too much.

Duo yawned loudly and stretched out as he finished his food. He wasn't required to help on the days like this, when he just came back or about to leave. But now he was bored and wanted to do something. He decided to go find Solo, and find out what he was to do today.

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Duo found Solo waving off a few of the slower wagons, they were to go ahead and when the smaller ones where finished packing, they were to catch up. Duo walked up to his friend and watched them for a few moments before he looked up to Solo.

"Hey Solo, Q-man said you gotta lead for us again," Duo said putting his hands behind his head and grinned quickly as Solo looked back to him.

"Actually, I do. Today we will be arriving at North castle." Solo paused as he caught the look of hatred that passed on Duo's face before continuing, "We'll be performing at a party of some sort, for Heero, remember him?"

Duo nodded with a sigh, repeating what both of them seemed to have memorized, "Prince Heero, son of King Odin, who became king after overthrowing his brother, Thomas and exiling him, right."

"Right, I think that Thomas and the 5 mages are causing trouble again. The elves have reported that they were attacked earlier this month, and they blame it on North kingdom. But I think it was the mages that caused the attack, North hasn't done anything military wise in months." Solo rubbed the bridge of his nose slightly as he turned and walked back towards the rest of the caravan, Duo quickly trailing him.

"Alright, that does sound like trouble for North, but what do we care?" Duo said, his lips curled slightly in disgust, "I don't see what the point is to help them."

"I didn't say we'd help them. well, least not out of sympathy. I've heard a rumor that there will be an attack on Heero. an attempt assassination within the next few weeks. I believe the mages will be behind this attack as well."

"So what do you want me to do about it?" Duo asked. He waved to a passing shifter, formerly a guard of the original caravan that had stuck around all these eight years. Duo smiled slightly, remembering how long it took for him to get them to stop calling him 'prince Daniel', some of them still slip up sometimes.

"I need you to prevent the assassination, and if your lucky, you could find out where the mages were exiled to, then we could go from there," Solo said calmly, glancing back to Duo as he finished his sentence.

"Really? Man, I was right, we are close to those low-lives. wait, how do you expect me to prevent an assassination, I doubt I could get close enough to the prince to protect him without getting my head bashed in by the guard." Duo stuck his tongue out, he heard of people doing that, it wasn't a pretty sight.

"No, you probably won't be able to. But I got a plan, that is if you're up to it." Solo gave Duo a mischievous look before he stopped, turning towards the shifter.

"And what might that be exactly?" Duo looked at him with guarded eyes, whenever Solo gave him that look, it always meant trouble for himself.

"A panther. given to Heero as a present from the traveling entertainers."

"What?! You mean I have to be a present?" Duo blurted out hastily, already disliking the plan.

"It's the only way you can actually get close to him. You do want to find the mages don't you?" Solo frowned at Duo, "This is the closest we've ever been"

Duo glared at the centaur, sometimes he thought he did things like this on purpose, "Fine. fine, but your just going to leave me there by my self?"

"No, I already sent Trowa ahead, and Quatre will stay behind until you have what information you need." Solo smiled at the pouting Duo, then turned his attention back to the already moving wagons around them, "Now get in one of the wagons before we leave you, and be sure to stay hidden when we get there, alright?"

Duo sighed a little pathetically before he nodded. But all anger was forgotten when he heard Quatre call for him. He smiled quickly and ran after the wagon that the young mage was in, swinging himself up with little difficulty. 'Least the trip there won't be so bad.' Duo thought to himself as he grinned at Quatre, and began to explain the plan to his good friend.