The trees in
the large forest swayed in the winter breeze as if alive. The land
moved, sloped, and rose in its own nature. A small figure moved with
speed but also clumsiness through the trees. Dark hair fell wildly
over slender shoulders as the figure moved. Sounds heavier than bare
feet thundered along the path the youth had just traveled.
"Capture
him! He can't escape," a voice yelled through the trees.
The young man
tried to speed up but the forest floor cut into his bare feet.
Turning his head, dark eyes saw horses drawing closer to him. No he
had to escape... he was no one's slave! A movement in front of him
caught his focus. A white horse stood near the path alone. He felt
the stead calling to him, feeling his own fear and pain. Stopping
before the animal he slowly reached out to touch the snow colored
fur. The horse bucked its head and turned to the side to give the
youth access to its back.
The tired young
man climbed on allowing the horse freedom to take him where ever as
long as it was away from here. The stead moved swiftly through the
trees and debris on the forest floor. Closing his dark eyes he felt
his body drain and tire as the threat became less. The horse stopped
causing him to force one eye open.
Before him were
several huts in a small encampment. Did they own this animal? The
horse whined drawing attention. A tall man with ginger colored hair
stepped out of one of the huts. The young man swayed on the horses
back his body shutting down. He began to fall to the side when he was
caught in a pair of solid arms. His head lulled back as he lost consciousness.
"Get over
here boy! Who do you think you are disobeying me? I'll have your
village attacked and destroyed if you keep this up," a growling
ugly voice said.
"You
killed them already! Don't touch me ever again you ugly pig!"
Wufei shot up
his muscles tightening when a pair of large hands tried to gently
push him back down. He tried to fight back but his body was far too
weak to do anything.
"Calm
down, you'll cause more harm. No one is going to hurt you," a
warm voice startled him. Turning his head, dark eyes met light blue
as he remembered the man from before he had passed out. "What is
your name?" The older man asked.
Wufei looked at
him startled to be asked such a question. It had been so long since
anyone cared what his name was. "Wufei," he whispered
afraid to speak any louder.
"Don't be
afraid, we mean you no harm Wufei," the man said. "My name
is Treize; I'm the leader of a rebel group. This is an outpost of
that group."
"Rebel?"
Wufei asked quietly.
"Yes,
against slavery and our false King," Treize explained wiping a
warm cloth over Wufei's forehead. "What were you doing in the
forest in this condition?"
Wufei turned
his head away; he couldn't tell anyone what had happened since he had
been taken from his village a few years ago.
"Are you a
runaway slave? Well either way you are very special," Treize
said causing him to look back over.
"Special?"
"Yes, that
horse you rode wouldn't let anyone touch her, let alone ride. After
breaking free we decided to let her go, only she returned with you on
her back."
"She
called to me, and offered her back..."
"You can
speak with animals?"
"No, I
just feel their emotions sometimes, I've always been able to since I
can remember. I don't know if they can feel my own in return."
"Where is
your home?" Treize asked gently.
"I don't
have one, they are all dead.... he killed them to make me
behave," Wufei said, his dark eyes becoming sad and haunted.
"Who is
he?" Treize asked re-soaking the cloth and replacing it.
Wufei looked
away mad at himself for already saying too much. Treize gently turned
his head back, forcing their eyes to meet. "The false King,"
he mumbled.
"That
bastard," Treize swore standing up. "We will have to act
faster or he will get his hands on all our children. I'm sorry about
your family and village. If you'd like, you are welcome to stay here
until you feel better."
"I can
take care of myself," Wufei said softly.
"Don't be
foolish, no one in your condition could survive in those woods in
this weather. Just get some rest," Treize said as he approached
the closed curtain separating the room from the rest of the hut.
"What is
her name?" Wufei ventured to ask, his voice still soft.
"Not one
you need to hear," Treize replied. "Why don't you give her
a new one?"
With that said
the older man slipped through the curtain leaving it closed behind
him. Wufei looked around the small room, noting the lack of personal
items. This must be temporary, Wufei thought when he heard rushed
footsteps on the other side of the curtain.
"Lord
Treize is it true?" A young but warm voice asked.
"Calm
down," Treize's voice replied.
"But if he
is a slave, they will come looking for him... it'll give us away too
soon," the young voice trembled, trying to reason with its leader.
"Stop it!
This isn't like you Quatre," Treize said keeping his voice level.
"But..."
"What has
gotten into you? He is a human being not an object!"
"That's
not what I'm talking about..."
"If they
do come looking, they won't find him. I won't let them."
"I..."
the voice faltered, "oh Gods, I'm sorry. I don't know what got
into me. I'm sorry, you're right we must not let them find him or
take anyone else."
"Why did
you speak the way you did just then?"
"I had a
vision when he came... you died in it."
"Is that
all you saw, just my death?"
"Yes, not
the how, why or when. We were just mourning the loss of our leader.
He was there in the shadows... I'm worried."
"Don't be,
I don't plan on dying before this is over," Treize replied.
"Now go on I bet Trowa is looking for you."
"I just
thought you should know..." Calmer footsteps walked away than
had come.
Wufei stood
beside the curtain his entire body shaking. He was going to cause
this man's death if he stayed. No he had to leave before that could
happen. Looking around he found the torn up shirt he'd stolen.
Slipping it over his bandages he listened for the older man to leave.
After some time
of not hearing anything from the other side of the curtain he peaked
his head through to see the room empty. Slipping quietly through the
hut he stepped outside as a numbing wind touched his exposed skin.
The white horse from before stood near the hut's entrance and looked
up as he exited. It was then he noticed the falling snow and the dead
earth already being covered.
He placed his
shaking fingers to already cold lips hoping to keep the animal quiet.
But as soon as he stepped into the snow with bare feet the animal
reared back and let out a loud whine. It gained several people's
attention including Treize who ran over. Wufei made a dash for the
woods to the north of the camp, scrambling through the cold snow, his
sore body protesting the actions.
"Wufei
wait!" Treize called running after him.
His already
weak body let him at a disadvantage. He finally had to stop, his
lungs burning from the cold air he gulped in rapidly. His skin was
colder than he had ever thought it could get. He was suddenly wrapped
in a large warm black cape.
"He just
wants to help you," a voice he didn't recognize said behind him.
Turning sharply
around he was staring into a pair of happy violet eyes. "I don't
want to cause him any trouble," Wufei said through chattering teeth.
"Trouble?"
"His death..."
"Where
would you get an idea like that?" The young man asked adjusting
the hood of his own robe.
"Your see
ere said..."
"You have
to take caution with Quatre's visions; sometimes he doesn't interpret
them correctly. We usually talk through them to get the real meaning."
"But..."
"No more
buts, Treize should be here any minute to take you back to his safe,
warm hut... let him help you," the young man said just as heavy
boots broke dead limbs drawing Wufei's attention.
When he turned
back to where the violet eyed man had been standing, no one but the
wind was there. A shiver climbed down his back as he felt a strong
hand against his shoulder.
"Wufei,
you could die out here dressed as you are and the shape your body is
in. Why did you run?" Treize asked turning the teen to face him.
"I
heard... what your see ere said," he whispered trying to stop
his chattering teeth.
"I thought
you might have heard that conversation, he can get a little zealous
when it comes to his visions, especially is someone is harmed in
them," Treize tried to explain. "Can we discuss this
somewhere warmer?"
Wufei looked at
him, the white snow easily showing in the ginger hair. "Just let
me walk away... you'll be better off."
"Why won't
you let us help you? You must have heard what I told Quatre... I
won't let anything happen to you and I'm not just going to hand you
over to them."
Wufei just
stared at him lips trembling as his teeth chattered. He brought one
of his arms up to try and keep what body he had had left in, but his
feet were becoming numb in the snow. "No one in the past two
years has wanted to help me... no one cared about me as long as I
kept that pig happy..."
"That has
changed, I won't let them touch you again," Treize replied
stepping closer to the shivering teen. "Now please, you're going
to make yourself sick."
"You hate
slavery that much..." Wufei stated looking down at the snow
causing his loose shoulder length hair to fall in his face.
Treize stepped
closer before scooping the teen from the ground. Wufei sucked in his
breath in surprise, his hands shooting up as he grabbed at Treize's
robe. The robe he had been give we pulled tighter by the action.
"Maybe," Treize mumbled as he walked back toward the encampment.
"Please...
put me down," Wufei pleaded as they neared the clearing.
"They
won't think any less of you if I carry you," Treize explained.
"Please,"
Wufei pleaded his voice soft and vulnerable.
"All
right," Treize caved gently setting the teen on his feet.
Wufei took that
moments to try and escape, he had to get away. He wouldn't stay; he
wouldn't be the cause of this man's death. He hated death; he hated
everything about this world. He was only able to take a few running
steps when two powerful arms encircled him.
"I thought
you might try that. Why can't you accept someone's help?" Treize
said tightening his hold. When Wufei didn't answer he quickly scooped
the teen back up knowing he couldn't let him walk away in this condition.
Wufei looked
anywhere but at Treize as they entered the encampment. He saw a short
blonde standing beside a tall brunette near one of the other huts.
Suddenly Wufei's attention was grabbed by familiar vibrant eyes. The
young man from before was standing with the hood of his robe pulled
down. Wufei could see rich brown hair dotted with snowflakes, a long
braid fell over his shoulder. The young man smiled brightly at him
causing Wufei to quickly dart his eyes away.
Treize entered
his hut without saying a word to anyone who had been standing around.
He set Wufei back on the bed before easily removing the cape and
ragged shirt. "Now please rest and let your wounds heal."
Wufei silently
watched him leave with the cape and shirt in hand. His body was tired
and cold as he fought to stay awake. Finally he couldn't fight it any
longer as his body folded to send him into the warm covers.
Treize left he
hut again, only this time he made sure Wufei was truly asleep.
Carrying the folded robe he moved through the falling snow toward
another hut. He stepped inside seeing one of the owner's at the small
table. He set the cape beside the long haired man not gaining any
reaction. "Thank you."
"For
what?" The young man asked not looking up from the object in his hands.
"I know it
was you who stopped him in the woods," Treize answered.
"Actually
his injuries stopped him; I just thought he could use a little warmth."
"Well
thank you anyway Duo."
"Don't
lose this chance... I can already see the effect he is having on
you," Duo said still not looking up.
"Don't...
don't use your power to try and make something that isn't there,"
Treize warned before turning to leave.
"I think
you're wrong," Duo whispered to the empty room.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*