A few tears lead to a nap, and a nap lead to a slumber. Lu Xun was content to just sleep the rest of the day away, and he realized, as he heard a soft rapping at the door, that he truly did need rest. But he didn't wish to get up, now that he was curled into a ball in the corner of the room.

"Go away..."

He had heard people walking by earlier, someone asking of his wear abouts. A maiden would answer their question, but would not allow them entrance in the library. He was thankful to them, until now. She was not doing her job, as the rapping came again.

"I said... go away..."

"Lu Xun, locking yourself won't help matters..." He heard Lu Meng whisper softly. "I brought you some food, and something to help you feel better..."

How could he resist? He sighed, "Okay... come in..."

A few seconds later, he heard Lu Meng laugh. "Unlock the door first..."

Now he had to rise from his nice warm spot, and he unlocked it, "You can come in now..."

He could see the concern on his friend's face, and he pointed to what was left of the table. He chuckled, unable to control himself. "Put it on the table... heh..."

He slumped into a chair, and asked without looking at the tray, "So, what did you bring me?"

"What they had... rice... that beast's been raiding the kitchens as well..." Lu Meng handed him a bowl, seeing how Lu Xun nearly raised his lips at it. "Look, you have to eat, or that thing WILL get you next time. You can't afford to lose anymore strength..."

"I don't care..."

Lu Meng didn't like that answer at all, now handing him the chopsticks. "You better... unless you want to become one too..."

"He will not have it any other way..." Lu Xun put aside the food gently, shaking his head. "Perhaps I SHOULD be bait... I shall lure it out, and have you all kill it. Then, if I were to be bitten, you should kill me as well..."

"We've already been through this, and last time you won. You shall not do so again..."

He could see a small smile creep upon the young man's troubled face, and that only worried him more. He looked like a man brought to the edge, and that was certainly not good. "He'll come again tonight... but this time, he WON'T leave the castle alive..."

"Lu Xun... you need to rest..." Lu Meng insisted, seeing his amber eyes gaze away from him. "Maybe we can call off the research for a day, and we'll tighten our security, if it makes you feel secure enough to sleep."

"Sleep? I have no time for such a luxury..." Once again, Lu Xun could feel tears begin to rise, but he fought them down, refusing to cry in front of his superior. "I NEED to find a way to destroy them... and a possible cure, if one of us WERE to be bitten..."

"You need to rest! Look at yourself!"

"Why does it matter anyway if I find the damn cure or not... I am told to do something, but I get told to do something else!" Lu Xun rose to his feet, nearly turning over the chair as he went back to the bookshelf. He ignored Lu Meng's sigh, as he scaled the ladder. "Unless you wish to help me, I suggest you leave..."

"I'm worried about you..." Lu Meng said rather bluntly, rising from his seat. "You rushed me out the WINDOW yesterday, and I know you're stressed, but I do wish to have an explanation..."

Lu Xun sighed, "I... I cannot tell you..."

Then, Lu Meng asked, "So you pushed me out the window for nothing?"

"N-no. Of course not!" Lu Xun wished to hide behind the opened book, not wanting to betray himself. "If I told you... then I'm putting someone else in danger, and I can't allow it."

"Do what you feel is right..."

Looking up from the book, Lu Xun gave a weak, a terribly weak smile, and Lu Meng feared that the man would fall over if he were to lean forward anymore. "At least you understand... unlike other people..."

"You mean Gan Ning?" Lu Meng asked, and when Lu Xun returned his gaze to the book, he saw the welt along his red cheek. "What happened there?"

"N-Nothing..."

"You're lying... was that from the werefox, or from Gan Ning?"

Lu Xun's silence answered all, and Lu Meng cursed, "Damn that pirate!"

Immediately, Lu Xun spoke for the pirate's defense. "I provoked him... he didn't take my refusal of information as you did..."

"YOU ARE NOT HIS TO HIT!"

To their luck, Gan Ning had just so happened to be there, and he heard Lu Meng's shout well. He brought himself tot he library, seeing the young strategist, tear stained, sitting on the ladder and trying to block out Lu Meng's lecturing. "He shouldn't hurt you like that, when he knows how vulnerable you are..."

"He... he does not mean to hurt me..." Lu Xun wished to drop the conversation, though it seemed useless. If he would have known that the pirate was there, he would have kept silent. "I made him angry, so I deserved everything I got. I shouldn't worry him so, but he will not understand, and neither would you if I told you."

"So, if you anger him, you are his punching bag?"

Closing his eyes to rest for a second, Lu Xun answered, returning the blow to Gan Ning with it. "Yes..."

Lu Meng shook his head, "That isn't right, and you know it! That's not how a relationship should be!"

'It's not...' Gan Ning looked on, waiting to see Lu Xun's response before deciding rather or not to reveal himself. When Lu Xun said nothing, Gan Ning spoke up, catching them both by surprise, "Lu Meng, now what would a good general like you be doing disturbing our little busybody? That's MY job!"

The look he was sent was cold, but the response from Lu Meng was even colder, "So I see..."

Nothing seemed to help the situation at all, and Lu Xun spoke softly, bringing his head back into the books. "I cannot afford to be distracted... Lu Meng, if you don't mind, I do wish to work alone for now. And Gan Ning, you might want to look into tightening the defense during the night and inform your men exactly HOW dangerous the situation is."

Lu Meng nodded, and his words were meant almost as much for Gan Ning as for Lu Xun, "You know where to find me if you need me..."

Without much else of a fight, Lu Meng rose, grabbing Gan Ning's arm as he granted Lu Xun's wish.

"Heeey! What did you do that for?!" Gan Ning demanded.

"You disgust me... it's hard to believe I call you my FRIEND sometimes." Lu Meng's words were like stabbing knives to his chest, though it was not the fact that it was coming from him but the fact that he was addressing the way he had treated poor Lu Xun earlier that caused so much pain. "Though he doesn't act like it, he IS human..."

"Don't you think I KNOW that?!"

"Then why did you strike him?"

"I... didn't mean to..." The pirate was quick to defend himself, and he tried harder when he saw his fellow general's skeptical face. "I lost myself, okay? He left before I could apologize!"

"Well, there's nothing to stop you from doing it now..."

Why hadn't he yet? Gan Ning didn't know, turning away, "You heard him... he WISHES to work alone for now. I'll wait... and besides, the guards do not need to be aware of the situation."

"You're just avoiding it..." Lu Meng gave a weary sigh, crossing his arms but showing no further anger. "I remember talking to Lu Xun earlier when all this began, and we both came to the conclusion that this werefox was after gay men, and I think that it bares into his mind that he's next... he needs you now more then ever, Gan Ning, and you wish to deny him of that protection?"

"He doesn't WANT my protection..." The pirate sneered. "He pushed me away as if I had no business with him at all!"

"Of course he did! What else did you expect him to do?! He fears that the werefox will hurt you trying to get him; he feels if he pushes you away he is protecting you. But we both know that isn't that case, and YOU have to make him see that!"

That hit the head of the nail with the hammer indeed, and quickly, Gan Ning was out of the argument, knowing that what Lu Meng said was surely true. However, they had not time, as a soldier ran to them, saluting. "Lord Lu Meng, a messenger from Shu has arrived! He wishes to speak with Lord Sun Ce immediately!"

"A messenger from Shu? Did they mention what they wanted to speak to Lord Sun Ce about?"

The soldier nodded, "He wishes to hold a meeting regarding two of his missing generals...I believe it has something to do with that werefox."

Lu Meng nodded, "Then alert Lord Sun Ce at once, and bring him to meet him."

As the soldier saluted again, he went to dot he task quickly, and Lu Meng looked to Gan Ning, "The last thing we need is the other forces accusing us of all this mess... I wonder if Lord Cao has the same problems..."

"It looks like we'll find out soon..."

~*~*~*~

The news of Lord Liu Bei's arrival was spread around Jian Ye immediately, as he would arrive within two days. And it was not long before they received a message from Lord Cao Cao of Wei, requesting to come to the Wu capital to discuss the serious issue. It was as many feared; what was their problem was also everyone else's...

Sun Ce was trying to act dignified, but in truth, he was nervous more than anything else. Even though it was a relief to perhaps gain some allies in this war against the beast, he could not forget that at any other time they would be enemies.

Perhaps they were behind this? God, he felt so paranoid! And Zhou Yu's calm nature was NOT helping at all... "Stop fidgeting... they won't be here for another two days, so we have plenty of time to prepare..."

"How can you be so CALM?! What if two days isn't enough?!"

Zhou Yu had a plan; he would simply keep Xiahou Dun occupied until they arrived, and then he could reveal the truth to Cao Cao. Perhaps the discovery of his own blood causing this would lend them aid in finding a cure. Zhou Yu sighed, "It WILL be enough... we just need to tighten the security and be weary of travelers."

Sun Ce sighed, "I'm glad YOU know what do..."

"One of us does... I suggest you rest as much as you can, my Lord... I shall be joining Lu Xun in the library now."

"But I've been resting all day!" Sun Ce protested. "I'm TIRED of resting!"

Unfortunately, Zhou Yu knew this, but he needed a reason to be away from Sun Ce and to be sure that he would not walk in on his and Lu Xun's conversation. He could NOT let him know the truth, at least not yet. Though, he thought for a second, that perhaps if he knew the truth, it would ease Sun Ce some tension? 'No...'

So, he spoke soothingly, "But sir, we need you at your finest, and sometimes that means doing things you don't want to do. Rest and save your strength, if not for your sake, then for the sake of your people!"

"If I did knew better, I'd say you WANT me to be asleep... I think you're UP to something..." Sun Ce looked at him suspiciously, though only for a joke.

"Why, whatever could you mean, sir?" Zhou Yu asked, slightly worried now, and if he were in his right mind, he would have known it to be a joke.

"I'll bet you just want me to go to sleep so you can take advantage of me somehow!"

That's when the joke was obvious, and Zhou Yu nearly fell from the window sill, barely catching himself as he sputtered, "Sir, surely you jest! I would do NO such thing!"

"Oh, really?"

As the sun threatened to drop from the skies, Zhou Yu sighed, wishing to prolong its rest for a little while longer. He hadn't realized he slept most of the day, and he sighed, jumping from the windowsill and trying to guide his friend tot he bed. "Sir, such accusations are result of your lack of sleep... you need to rest before the other lords present themselves."

"You worry too much, but if it will make you happy, I shall try and sleep," Sun Ce sighed.

He was worried, and truly suspicious now. But he dared not try to think about it. Him, his best friend and companion, a werefox? HA! What a foolish idea, and he shrugged it away. "See what you can do with Lu Xun, okay?"

"I will... goodnight sir." It did not take him long to get out of the room, and he leaned against the now closed door, sighing. It seemed that time passed too quickly during the day... could he not have but a few more hours being his TRUE self?

The curse seemed to not wish this for him, and he sighed. Soon enough he would have the cure, and he would not have to worry about changing anymore...

'Best see Lu Xun... before my time runs out.' Zhou Yu began his trek to the library, going down the many flights without a word. The pain of the transformation had yet to come, and he was thankful. He figured it was when the moonlight touched him that it happened... as long as he prolonged it enough to get a word in, he would be content.

He knocked quietly on the library door, "Lu Xun?"

The voice that replied was soft, almost weak. "Zhou Yu... good... come in..."

Something about the tone concerned him, so after he had shut the door, he asked, "Is anything wrong?"

He could see Lu Xun resting his head on the book that laid on the fixed table, and he seemed half asleep. Still, the man was kind enough to raise his head and give a polite bow, though his face seemed a bit flushed. "It's good to see that the transformation hasn't taken place yet... good... I was starting to worry a little..."

"You're beginning to worry me. You should rest; you look exhausted." Zhou Yu said softly, wondering how many times someone had to say that today. He took a seat next to Lu Xun, figuring a few minutes wouldn't hurt. Seeing that Lu Xun wasn't going to budge, he asked, "Did you find anything important?"

"No..."

That was truly discouraging, and Zhou Yu rested a hand on his shoulder, seeing him stiffen slightly. "Look, don't worry about it. The other lords will arrive in two days, and I think I can hold off Xiahou Dun for a little while longer. Perhaps... with their help, we'll find the cure."

"I hope so..." Lu Xun looked ready to collapse, and he practically slammed his head onto the book. "I don't know how much more of this I can take, and I fear that the answer is right under my nose, but I'm too stressed to see it."

"But, if you keep looking, I know you will see it," Zhou Yu assured him. "It is about time for me to go; please get some rest while I'm gone. Sleep with an armed guard if you have to."

All Lu Xun did was nod, and he rose from the seat, closing the book with a slam, hinting anger as he began to scale the ladder. It was a mistake for him to do so, as now Zhou Yu could see the sky clear from the sun's golden light. It was night... it was time.

He wondered if the pain from the transformation would ever go away; he wondered if he really wanted it to. Without pain there would be no rush to cure himself...

"Zhou Yu, you best be quick, and be carefu-" Lu Xun's sentence was cut off, and he heard a vicious roar arise from Zhou Yu's throat. He was half way down when he was thrown from the ladder, hitting the hard wooden floor as the transformation began to take place. "Blast..."

Zhou Yu glared at him with eyes half-glazed, and he spoke aloud, though it seemed more to himself than to Lu Xun, "What am I DOING?!"

He knew exactly what he was doing, and he wished for it not to happen. As Lu Xun tried to rise to his feet, he lunged himself at him, his claws were the first to be completed.

It was horrible and Lu Xun cried out in both fear and shock. Here he had been worrying about Xiahou Dun's attack, when apparently he should have been weary of his fellow strategist. He whispered, knowing it was useless, "Zhou Yu... don't..."

It was too late, and Lu Xun was only so quick, unable to match the werefox speed. He dodged the teeth, but he could not dodge those deadly claws, trying to stifle his scream as they tore into his arm.

Xiahou Dun's words haunted him, and he whispered, "So, I am to be infected like this?"

"No..." Zhou Yu's senses came back to him too late, and he knelt to the ground, watching as a blood dripped freely from Lu Xun's arm. "What have I done...?"

Lu Xun winced, moving back, "You... have to go. If... anyone finds you here now, they'll try and destroy you..."

"I... I'm sorry..." Zhou Yu backed away, knowing if he stayed here any longer that someone would find him. As he turned to leave, he swore he could hear Xiahou Dun laughing, and he only ran faster, tears streaming. 'What have I done? Damn...'

He allowed the night to cloak him, stopping only when he felt no one from his clan would hear his howl of pain. How could he let it happen, he wondered, berating himself even more as he knew that soon, Lu Xun would have to join him like this. But it wasn't his fault... and he knew it. "XIAHOU DUNNNN!"

"You called?" Xiahou Dun was resting upon the rock, a toothy grin brightening his one eyed face. Zhou Yu growled, snarling like the beast he had become. "I hope you realize that now, Lu Xun will only search harder for that cure..."

"HE SHOULDN'T HAVE TO BE SPURRED ON BY THE FACT THAT HE TOO HAS THE DISEASE!" Zhou Yu snarled, trying to hold back the tears in his eyes. "I can't believe I did this... to him, to ANYONE!"

The one eyed werefox laughed, "No... you did that to him. You must control yourself, before anyone ELSE is hurt..."

The Wu strategist whirled on him, "Control?! You're a FINE one to be talking about CONTROL! Look at what you've done to me and the other members of the pack! Where was your CONTROL then?!"

"Silly puppy... look at the bright side. At least now HE won't be alone when he first transforms." Xiahou Dun said with a snort, leaping from the rock and landing at a safe distance from the angered beast. He turned to Zhang He, seeing as the other two members revealed themselves as well. "What did you find tonight?"

"Hunting was more difficult, but I managed to capture a few rabbits..."

Zhou Yu could see one hanging from Jiang Wei's mouth, and he said nothing when Xiahou Dun nodded. "Good... I'll bring Zhou Yu for his own first hunt... take care of those two while I'm gone."

"As you wish."

Perhaps a good hunt would soothe his pain and anger, Zhou Yu thought as he rose to his feet, brushing by the others without a word. He heard Zhao Yun speak though, his voice low to where Xiahou Dun could not hear him. "I'm sorry about what happened..."

"Not nearly as much as I am..." Zhou Yu smiled, though, for him as well as for the younger Shu officer. "This won't hinder his attempts, and soon we will have aid from our kingdoms... including you, Zhang He."

Zhang He's ears perked, "What do you mean?"

Smiling to give them hope, he answered, "Lord Cao Cao and Lord Liu Bei will arrive within two days, and if I know Lu Xun, as well as Sima Yi and Zhuge Liang, they WILL find a way to end this..."

He could see that they wanted to ask more questions, but he only kept walking, "I have no more news about it, so I will tell you all when I do..."

Jiang Wei barked, wagging his tail slightly, "Good luck..."

"Thank you..." As he wandered away from them now, he turned back to Xiahou Dun, his ears bent in anger. "What are we hunting tonight? Another innocent human I presume..."

"I would think you would have had enough of hunting humans, but we can if you REALLY want to..."

A growl was enough, "No..."

"A stag then? They have a rather nice one in this forest..." Hearing no sounds of rejection arise from the angered Zhou Yu, Xiahou Dun nodded. "I presume you know where their weak spots are, correct? Stags can be quite a challenge if you let them."

"I can handle myself," Zhou Yu said, walking ahead of the other werefox without saying another word.

He was beyond angered now, and he eagerly waited to spot a stag, or anything for that matter. He wished to inflict as much pain onto that creature, as he had just done to Lu Xun. Xiahou Dun snarled, "You don't have to think of it that way, you know... taking out your anger on a poor stag won't make you feel any better."

Zhou Yu's fur bristled, and he growled, "Since when have you cared how I felt?"

"You'd be surprised..."

The Wu strategist snorted, "Nothing you could say would surprise me; try me."

Stopping from the trek, Xiahou Dun replied, "I rather do wish for a cure to be found..."

Or all the things that could have been said, Zhou Yu had to admit that this was the one that surprised him, "Do you really? One would never guess from your actions..."

"Tell me truthfully... do you think that I could return to my cousin, like this? Just as you cannot return to Sun Ce, I know that Cao Cao cannot accept me for what I am now." Xiahou Dun spoke softly, lowering his head slightly. "You weren't ALONE when this happened. Hell, I was in such fury on my first night that I found the one who infected me and slayed him."

"Don't doubt for a moment that I would not have slain you if I could have," Zhou Yu growled. "And you know NOTHING of my pain; you cannot possible care for your lord as I do mine..." Realizing what he had just said, he fought the urge to curse. 'Maybe... maybe he won't understand what I mean...'

Rather it was good or bad, Xiahou Dun ignored the statement, continuing on with his tale. "After I killed him, I realized how foolish it was, because I was alone, and I had no control. You are lucky to have others who know what you're going through..."

The sarcasm in Zhou Yu's voice was thick, "I feel so privileged..."

"Why else do you think I got so many involved? I do not WISH to be alone in this... and perhaps, with others involved, I could get help from those much smarter then me, to find the cure."

"So you cursed others in order to ease your own pain; there is no excuse for such a thing."

Snarling, he was pushed to the ground. "I got the others cursed because it was the only way to get help! Do you truly think that I could turn to Sima Yi for aide?! He ALONE would not help..."

Zhou Yu's ears flattened to his skull, "So you cursed his love! Anything and everything to get what you need, no matter who or what you hurt along the way!"

"If it works, then so be it..." Xiahou Dun lowered his gaze, as if ashamed, but it was short lived. "But it appears to be working... not bad I suppose. I'm no strategist..."

"No, you are not. Now, get off of me," Zhou growled. "We're supposed to be hunting..."

With another push, Xiahou Dun released him, sneering to bare his white fangs. "Do you even know where to start?"

"I'm pretty sure I can figure it out."

How hard was it to track down a stag when he was 'gifted' with enhanced hearing and a keen sense of smell? Even before he had started to concentrate he picked up the scent, following it.

It was mating season for the deer, so finding a stag's scent was simple. Like all males, they'd mark which territory was there, and that gave away their position. This was a young stag, no older than a few seasons. That was good...

He froze when the quarry came into sight. Yes, as he suspected, a younger male with less experience and shorter horns. The only disadvantage might be speed, but he sincerely doubted that. What could outrun him if he put his mind to catching it?

The innocent creature was near a stream, lapping the water as quickly as he could. Great... an alert young stag. Just what he needed, but never the less, he began to plot the way to slay his meal...

He rejected the obvious plan of running up and leaping upon it. It would be long gone before he could even get there. No, he had to stalk this beast to bring it down. Having decided this, he began to creep towards it, careful not to make any sudden movements or sounds.

The stag rose its head for a second, freezing Zhou Yu momentarily, before turning back to the water.

He was behind it now, and it while it was distracted by its drink, he leapt, burying his fangs deeply into its throat and relishing the blood that filled his mouth. It gave a cry, begging to be released, but it was already too late, as Zhou Yu gave a quick snap of its neck, ending its pain as quickly as he could. No, this poor creature didn't need to suffer more then he needed to...

He released the animal, almost ashamed to taste the blood that clung to his lips, and he sneered, addressing Xiahou Dun, "There. Easy."

"You put Zhang He to shame in quickness, but he outmatches you with entertainment..." Xiahou Dun rose his hind paw to scratch behind his ear. "That was boring..."

"Why should it be entertaining? I hunt for food, not sport," Zhou Yu growled.

Nevertheless, Xiahou Dun nodded, "Well, good job, nevertheless... not a single scratch on you. I remember Zhao Yun's first hunt..."

"I'll bet you do. What, did you allow his first kill to harm him, or was all the pain he endured made by your own hand?"

"Both."

Zhou Yu snarled, "What did you do to that poor man?"

Sniffing at the stag, Xiahou Dun replied, "When the stag attacked him, it wasn't my fault. Served him right for asking me NOT to aid him, and I was only obeying his wishes."

"You're avoiding the question. I didn't ask what the stag did to him; I asked what YOU did to him," the Wu strategist said.

"That's what I did... I sat back as the stag nearly took his life. Need I say more?"

Zhou Yu began to tear into his kill, "I doubt that is why he hates you so..."

The one eyed werefox gave a yawn, letting his tongue curl a bit as he lowered his gaze upon the dear. He rested his head on his paws, now, as he watched, showing no signs of hunger. "Perhaps not... but who cares? Soon Zhuge Liang will arrive, and as much as I hate to admit of his brilliance, the cure will be mine."

"Not to mention the rest of the pack. That should make them all happy..."

"Indeed."

Zhou Yu sneered, licking his lips, "You sound so enthusiastic."

Xiahou Dun rolled onto his back, sighing. He seemed more distracted today then usual, almost to the point of worrying him. "I've grown too used to this, and I am afraid that I will miss it."

"You will be the only one," Zhou Yu assured him. "If the others feel the way I do, they cannot wait to get away from you."

"I know... but it won't be long now..." Xiahou Dun rose to his feet again, and he turned to leave. Something else was on his mind, and though he wasn't sure if that was a good or a bad thing, Zhou Yu watched as he walked away. "Return to the pack when you're done, and don't gloat. You're the first one to get a stag on your first night hunting."

"Joy..."