Disclaimer: I don't own Star Fox! It's owned by Nintendo, and Terra System, names, etc. are license of Galaxy Wulf, in which I own. The story took place during Star Fox 64, sometime after your battle with Star Wolf at Venom 2. I was wrong about my first two disclaimers. There will be FEW flashbacks here. Anyway, the narrator is obvious. Go and read!

SORRY FOR THE WRONG UPDATE! THE PREVIOUS CHAPTER 10 WAS WRONG! THIS IS THE RIGHT ONE!

Oh, please read my other fics here and in You may want to check my gallery at http:wolfoxokamichan. Thanks to everyone who reviewed and read my works!

Rivals or Friends

Chapter 10: Pity

It's a very sad night. Actually, it is a rather lonely night. Earlier, I couldn't imagine what happened to my rival. It looked like he was possessed or something. I sat on the chair, and I closed my eyes. I'm trying to relax myself. I don't know why, but I kind of pity Wolf. Something tells me he's hiding something, and I want to find it out. Somehow, my anger towards him has eased up, but, as I try to think of what happened to him, that day when we were on a mission, I felt that it's my fault that he ended up like that. I remember what happened to us, how he turned into a wild person…

"Wolf… Come on! What's happening?" I yelled. I know he was up to something. He just doesn't want to tell us. "Stop acting like a rabid person!" I tried not to believe what he told me earlier, about that curse thing, but I was forced to believe…

"No… Stay away from me! Everyone… Slippy, get everyone out from this room!" he howled in pain. I can tell. Everybody was leaving, even Ruby, who seemed to be scared on what's going to happen on O'Donnell. I wasn't, however. I tried to walk towards him. He's staying on a corner, trying to hide everything… but I can see it all clearly. He's changing.

"Fox, what the hell are you still doing there!" Falco yelled at me. I looked back, knowing that he won't close the door unless I leave.

"Get out of here now! I'll handle this!" I yelled back, but before I could turn around to look at Wolf, some strong force tackled me down to the ground. It was painful, as my body slammed to the ground. As I looked up, I saw Wolf, who looked like a rabid person.

"FOX!" the bird yelled again, this time with a blaster on his hand, "I'll get him! I need a clear shot on his head!" I can hear them clearly as I struggle myself to the beast.

"Are you insane! You can't do that!" Peppy argued as he pushed Falco's weapon away. "We can't kill Wolf! He's under some sort of sickness!" Sickness? I know Wolf's not okay, but sickness? Anyway, I tried to struggle back. Thankfully, Peppy, Slippy, and Ruby are keeping Falco from killing Wolf.

The lupine grabbed my arms tightly. He pinned them to the floor with his strong hands. I felt an urging crush to my body. "Wolf… stop it…" I gave a faint call, but he didn't respond, as if he wasn't Wolf. He tried to sniff my chest. I know what he's doing. He's looking for the right spot for the kill. Is he going to eat me? No! "Snap out of it!" I struggled, but I was struggling against a predator, and I was his prey. He finally knew my vital spot, the side of the neck. He howled wildly, and then gave a deadly death bite towards it. I closed my eyes. In a split second, I felt his sharp teeth plunging into my skin. I tried not to cry in pain, but it was so intense, that I shrieked so loud. However, something happened. I felt the loosening of his grip and the release of his mouth. His eyes, it showed pain. As I glanced at his side, a dart was pierced at his shoulder. He slowly fell down to the floor, knocked out and unconscious.

"Fox, are you all right?" Ruby cried as she entered the room, throwing the tranquilizer gun away. "I have to do that to Wolf… Sorry… I don't want the both of you to be harmed." I looked at Wolf, snoozing slowly at the floor. I took off the dart stuck on his shoulder. As I moved a muscle though, the wound on my neck started to hurt pretty badly. His bite wasn't deep, but it sure is painful.

"Go to the sick bay, Fox, I'll take care of that," Peppy ordered me. "Slippy, analyze Wolf with the internal bio-scanner, okay? Falco and Ruby, escort Slippy, you might not know what might happen…" The three nodded, and he assisted me in going to the clinic…

I touched the side of my neck once more. Covered with gauze, it still felt painful, but not as much as earlier. I knew it's not Wolf's fault why he did that… something has developed in his mind, as I guessed. I have to know the results of Slippy's scanning, but I have to wait for tomorrow. For now, I have something important to do…

I went back to the isolation chamber. I peeked to the window of the closed door of the room. I saw Wolf, still in his wild form, sleeping at a corner. He's been restrained with a collar equipped with a shock device that would give Wolf an instant electrifying punishment if ever he attacked anyone. I glanced, and pitied him. I couldn't bear it anymore. It's my entire fault. If I hadn't forced him to join the mission days ago, he'll be normal. Something tells me, though, that this is the time… It's the time I must reach out to my once enemy.

I opened the door of the room. The sound gave Wolf a slight signal to be alert. He stood up on all fours, and saw me. He started to growl as if he was a watchdog of some sort. I slowly approached him, trying to take slightly small steps. I have to pick everything, my guts, my heart, my soul, up and ignore his growls. As I drew nearer, he started to approach me with an instinct to kill. I stepped back, and the strong cord of the collar attached to the wall pulled him back. He was probably injured, since he was going at a high pace. He fell down on his back, and he whimpered.

I approached faster. I sat on the floor beside him. He gave a small snarl, knowing that I would probably harm him. I then tried to touch his head, but at first, terror beckoned me. What if he bites my hand? Now's not the time though, it's now or never. I slowly patted his forehead. As far as I know, animals love it. On his current condition, Wolf acted like an animal. I gently repeated stroking it, and then I slowly neared towards him.

I was grateful when he crawled beside me. Was I gaining his trust? I rubbed his muzzle repeatedly, and then I rubbed his chest. He placed his head to my lap and then he whimpered. It's just as if he's a pet of mine! He started to lick my patting hand, a sign of affection, if you're an animal. I can see his tail wag… I guess he doesn't feel any threat from me. Maybe he attacked me earlier because he thought I was some sort of danger, and he's only protecting himself. Yeah, I was somewhat scary earlier…

He slept on my lap. The more I looked at him, the more I pity him. "Wolf, I don't want you to end up like this…" I hugged him tightly, and I felt a cozy feeling on his fur. I fell down asleep on that room, with Wolf around my arms.