Shadow: Hello again faithful viewer, and yes I mean viewer, as in one, let's thank her shall we?
Milleniumdunpealrising: Yes we do indeed love you and you certianly aren't the only one who's impatient, thats how this looooooooooooooooong chapter came into existance. I hope you enjoy it oh faithful one! (hugs)
Evangiline: Things are a bit hectic right now, so forgive us if anything is typoed
Ryo: to the hiddiously fluffly chapter!
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Chapter 7: On the Road Again.
( /…/ means the werewolves are talking to each other)
Jack couldn't help but feel eager, he had been waiting centuries for this, so he could wait another week.
Lupine, Aura, and Omne trailed behind Jack calmly, inwardly snickering at the obvious tension between the two hunters. As werewolves, they tended to screw the consequences and just go for things, but these two were so repressed/It's funny isn't it Omne/ Aura asked her companion calmly. /What's funny Aura/ Omne asked in a confused manner. /The fact that the two in front of us are ready to jump each other/ Lupine cut in. /Seriously? I hadn't noticed./Are you kidding Omne! They're throwing pheromones at each other like crazy/Ignore him Aura, he wasn't there to see it./
"What are you three talking about back there?" Jack asked the wolves, turning his head slightly. Aura shook her head and gave her wolfish innocent grin. "You three are very chatty today." Jack muttered before turning back around.
"Are you actually TALKING to those over-grown dogs?" The symbiot asked. Lupine growled. /I wonder if Jack would mind if I ripped that hand off, I am getting hungry./Lupine! Be nice! That creature obviously doesn't understand us./ Omne chided. "Please don't call them dogs, they don't appreciate it and I am part werewolf, I understand them and they understand me." Jack explained. D seemed a bit interested in the subject. "Yeah well they still look like dogs to me." The symbiot countered. /Okay that's it, that hand is lunch/ Lupine growled loudly causing Omne and Aura to hold him back, even if he was smaller then Omne in height, he was stronger and could do damage if he wanted to.
"Lupine, calm down it didn't mean it." D said calmly. Jack laughed and Lupine gave a 'yeah, sure' look. Jack suddenly felt a little good inside. D got along well with wolves, maybe he just drew werewolves to him. 'That's it! Maybe that's why I've felt attracted to him! The other werewolves like him, maybe he just gives off a "wolves welcome" vibe.' Jack thought, then he realized that they were just acting friendly, unlike Jack who seemed to be developing something more then simple camaraderie.
n
So the hunters and wolves continued to walk on their new path, Lupine now scouting ahead now that the sun was setting. They had just reached the top of a hill whenLupine stopped in horror. When Jack saw the strong, night-black werewolf stopped. /Lupine? What is…/ Omne began running up to his pack-mate then stopping. /Guys, what…/ Aura began before Lupine interrupted. /Aura don't come up here/Why not/Just don't./
Jack ran up to the two werewolves and looked down at what they were looking. "Oh my God." Jack muttered, horror struck. "Jack?" D asked, dismounting to walk up behind Jack, Aura following cautiously, never one to listen to her elders.
D stopped beside Jack, eyes wide. "HOLY SHIT! Who did this!" D's symbiot yelled. Just at the bottom of the hill were hundreds of human bodies, ripped apart. Throats torn out, arms and legs mutilated beyond recognition, faces crushed, entrails strewn across the area, blood thrown about and vultures hovering. Dark figures ran from the scene and Jack's eyes flashed dangerously as he ran down the hill to the gruesome scene.
Aura was shaking and whimpering loudly. /Aura! Go back to the horses, you shouldn't see this./ Omne growled. /Omne, Lupine, it's happening again…He's doing it again, make him stop! I don't want to hurt humans anymore./ Aura whimpered backing up. /We aren't his slaves anymore Aura! Don't be afraid. He can't hurt you anymore/ Lupine barked. /You know who he's really after Lupine./Yes Omne I do. But right now we have to figure out where he's going. After this, he wouldn't go directly to the castle./Your right Lupine, he probably sought help from them./
Jack looked over the carnage, walking amongst the bodies of the unfortunate dead. "He definitely was here, but this isn't all his work." Jack thought aloud. "No this couldn't be all him." Suddenly Jack saw one of the corpses move, he kneeled next to it, seeing D coming up behind him. "It's just a little kid." D observed. Indeed it was a little girl, but the scent wasn't human. "She's a werewolf." Jack whispered. "B-Barbaroi…he's with them." The dieing girl whispered, golden eyes opening only slightly. Her arms and legs were mutilated to the point where only a few strands of tissue held them to her torso. She'd be dead in mere moments. "Did you see where he was headed?" Jack whispered. "T-the windmills. T-their hideout a-at t-the windmills t-then h-his cas…" Was all the poor child got out before dieing, eyes going dull and body turning lifeless.
Jack sighed looking at the girl…this brought back to many memories. Jack stood, eyes covered by his dark hair, hiding the look in his golden, predatory eyes. "Let's continue on D." Jack said calling the wolves and horses. D would have said something, had Jack given him the chance before walking.
D was a bit…worried. Jack was so quiet and the wolves were just as silent. The sky was dark now, littered with stars and a pale crescent moon. D had never really noticed before, how beautiful the night sky was. D looked over at Jack from his horse, he was looking up slightly, eyes reflecting the scant light of the moon giving them a light gold/silver glow. He looked tired, worried, angry, and…lost. "Jack?"
Jack's mind was off with those stars, trying to make sense of things. 'What does he want? Does he want me to get mad? Does he want me to become more of a monster?' Jack thought, barely hearing D's call of, "Jack?" Jack focused his slightly glowing eyes on the Dunpeal hunter quietly. "Yes?" Jack asked softly. "Are you alright?" D asked, a hint of worry in his normally neutral voice. "Yeah, I'm okay D. No worries." Jack said, false smile plastered onto his face.
Aura whimpered and pulled on the back of Jack's cloak. /Jack, you should rest. You didn't sleep at all when D was hurt and I can tell you haven't slept in almost a week./ She whimpered. "Aura, I'm fine honestly. I can live on little sleep." Jack said calmly. /Yes but you have a lot on your mind, plus your hurt./ "I'm not hurt Aura, I'm not bleeding or anything." /I never said anything about being hurt physically./
Jack sighed, but didn't say anything. Damn, stress was getting to him, making either a nap or something of the like. "Jack, do you think we should rest?" D asked calmly. "Why, do you want to?" Jack asked. "You need rest Jack. I can tell something is wrong." D countered. "Yeah, also the big guy's organs did take a bit of a beatin' so rest would be good for both of ya." The symbiot threw in. Jack sighed then smiled lightly. "Alright, we'll rest." Jack started as D dismounted. "Oh and D, thanks for caring." He added with a charming smile as he walked past D to get firewood.
D stood at their chosen roadside campsite with a light flush on his face. "Oh come on D! He was practically feeling you up with his eyes! And don't tell me that smile of his wasn't flirtatious!" The symbiot yelled in a frustrated way. "Bet you want him, want him so bad it's killing ya. Remember the way he sucked your blood off his fingers, pretty damn sexy huh?" It said trying a new tactic. D clenched his fist, muttering a shut up and ignoring his flushed face as he tied the horses to a tree.
Jack, meanwhile, was silently berating himself. "You are a stupid dumb-ass, you know that Jack. You practically purred at the guy for God sake!" Jack growled to himself, grabbing some firewood. "Now behave boy, just don't make an ass of yourself again." He muttered as he walked back. He saw the flushed D and sat by him. "You okay partner?" Jack asked arranging the wood then placing a hand to his forehead to check his temperature. "Yes, I'm fine. Why?" D asked blinking. "You looked flushed that's all." Jack shrugged, removing his hand and lighting the fire with his gun.
So here they sat, three werewolves, two hunters, and a parasite. Aura and Omne lay by the fire while Lupine stood watch. Jack and D sat side by side, not speaking before D decided to ask a question that had been building up inside. "What did you mean, back at the apartment when you said that you're a monster?" D asked cautiously and Jack looked away from the flame to look at him properly. "Because of what happens to me when I fight. I lose control and become something…animalistic in origin." Jack sighed. D seemed to think for a moment. Jack was a strong and, dare he say, passionate fighter. But animalistic was extreme. "You aren't a monster Jack." D said softly. Jack focused his dark golden eyes on D's midnight blue ones, gold reflecting the firelight. "Yes I am." Jack said turning to face him fully, placing a hand where his scar was. "It marks me as one, this scar. When I first fought, when I could have ended it. Every life I've taken or has been lost on my account, that's what woke up this…creature inside of me." He whispered sadly, eyes reflecting the flames like fiery tears of the past that were pent up but could never escape.
They just sat there, staring each other down almost. D wracked his mind to respond, anything. Words of comfort, sentiment, understanding, anything would do, honestly. His voice was gone; he was lost in golden eyes that were slightly above his own. "You can't honestly believe that Jack. That isn't who you are." D found himself whispering. "A monster wouldn't have given those wolves a second chance, a monster wouldn't have…saved my life."
Jack stared at him in disbelief before a light smile broke over his features. "Heh, that's probably the longest, most emotional statement I've gotten out of ya in the entire time I've known you." Jack stated softly and a light flush found it's way to D's face. "I'm sorry." "Don't apologize, I like it. You should talk more often, I was kinda getting the impression that you didn't want me around." "What gave you that impression?" "I'm not around people often but generally, among people and wolves, silence is taken as a sign of dismissal." D remained silent. He didn't know how to respond and it probably showed on his face. Even by himself he never showed emotion as openly as he did with Jack.
Jack smiled at the lost look on D's face. 'I caught the poor guy off guard didn't I? I won't push anymore tonight but hell, I finally got him to really talk.' Jack thought with a hint of happiness.
"Forget it for now D, it is a bit of a loaded question." Jack said calmly, a sudden sly smirk striking his features. "What?" D asked in a confused way at Jack's smirk. Before D knew it, Jack was standing opposite him with his hat on his head. "Hm, not a bad fit but a bit wide don't you think?" Jack asked with a smirk. "Hey, that isn't yours pal!" The symbiot yelled and Jack just laughed good-naturedly. Apparently his moods flip-flopped like a fish thrown out of a lake. "If D wants it, he has to come and get it." Jack said winking. "What are ya waiting for big guy? Go get it!" The symbiot snickered, obviously putting a double meaning in its voice. D sighed and got up to grab his hat, putting about three feet of space between himself and Jack, but Jack held up above his head and snickered. "You'll have to reach more D." Jack laughed. D moved closer and reached, managing to grab the hem but then found himself chest-to-chest with the other hunter.
/He's just like a puppy on the inside isn't he/ Aura observed. /Yeah, I think they need each other. They both need to live./ Omne said calmly, licking at a cut on his paw. /Indeed, but do you think that they would work as mates/ Lupine asked observing the two hunters, standing there, both with one arm raised and staring at each other. /Well they certainly are attracted to each other but they need more time before we can truly judge anything./ Omne stated as Lupine lay down beside him.
D was staring into Jack's eyes, and Jack was staring back at him. They were just a hands-breath apart and everything was just so…quiet. Jack gulped lightly, damn did he want to kiss him. Instead, Jack put D's hat on the hunter's head and smiled lightly.
"We should get some sleep." He whispered, "We have a long day ahead of us." With that he led D over to the side of the fire to sleep.
D sighed, unable to remove the moment from his mind a few hours later. He looked over at Jack and sighed again. He looked around a bit seeing everyone else sleeping and his parasite was resting as well. He quietly moved over to where Jack was sleeping; he was just curious, he just wanted to look.
D looked at the sleeping Jack calmly. The taller hunter's inky black hair fell in his face and D lightly brushed it away. A small smile found it's way to his face and he had to shake his head angrily. "What's wrong with me?" He whispered before looking back at Jack. His eyes softened a bit and he lightly kissed Jack on the cheek before moving away to berate himself. Damnit to the pits of hell, he was attracted to Jack!
D lay down and tried to sleep, knowing they'd be leaving in a few hours
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Shadow: And that was Four 1/2 pages on Microsoft Word (tm)
Ryo: yeah, don't you reviewers dare say this chapter is to fuckin' short!
Evangiline: (sweat drop) please read and review
Amelia: Or I rip your hearts out
Aries: she's only joking...I think