Jiang Wei was taking a nap; the midday sun full in his face wasn't making it easy either. He needed the rest. A gentle shifting sound in front of him roused him from his dreams. He opened his eyes dozily to see the great dark eyes and full mane of a beast, growling near his face.

Wolf or tiger? Didn't matter, he was probably looking at the means by which he would meet his end anyway.

The beast let out a low snarl.

"…Friend…"

Beasts can't talk. He opened his eyes again and focussed. It was no beast! It was Wei Yan.

"Wei Yan! Am I glad to see you! What are you doing here?"

"Find… Jiang … Wei." Yan Smiled happily.

"Yes, you found me, now get me out of here!" Jiang smiled. They did care! They were looking for him.

Wei Yan shuffled behind and started to loosen the ropes when Lu Meng saw him and shouted, "Hey, what's going on over there?"

Wei Yan jumped up. "Sorry…" He growled running off into the forest with his beast like gait.

"Doesn't matter, you tried." Jiang Wei sighed watching his backward friend disappear into the trees.

"So, you've got outside help huh?"" Lu Meng said.

"Actually he was just selling flowers, maybe you can call him back, get some for Gan Ning," Jiang Smiled.

"Watch you're mouth kid, it'll get you into a lot of trouble." Meng grunted.

"Well, I think it's already accomplished that." Jiang grinned looking at the puddle of blood before him.

Meng sneered and walked behind Jiang, checking the ropes were still tight.

He gave them a tug and Jiang looked over his shoulder growling. "Hey that's tight enough! I'd like to keep the circulation in my fingers if you wouldn't mind!"

A soldier hurried up to Lu Meng and bowed before him. "Sir, Sun Quan has ordered all officers attend a meeting in the main tent." The soldier said, twitching as he saw the puddle of blood.

"Ok, be right there." Meng said, giving the ropes one last tug. "Stay and guard the prisoner."

The soldier nodded and Lu Meng headed off to the main tent.

When he arrived all officers stood in attention around Sun Quan and Zhou Yu, who sat at the low table in the centre of the tent. A large map curled at the edges on the table and Zhou Yu was moving small wooden figures to indicate enemy troops.

"So, Cao Cao's forces are amassing here?" Zhou Yu said worriedly, rubbing the dressed wound on his hand.

"That's right, he is harassing our north borders and raiding our cities. If nothing is done he will surely crush us." Sun Quan said rubbing his Chin.

"But if we do fight we'll all be killed!" Taishi Ci Growled. "Why risk the bloodshed?"

"We should try to ally with Liu Bei, it's our only chance!" Lu Xun cried.

"We'll give it a try, Ling tong, lead a unit to Liu Bei requesting assistance." Sun Quan said. Ling tong bowed and left.

"We can't ask Shu to help us!" Zhou Yu spat.

Sun Quan's gaze pierced Zhou Yu's. "It's our only chance."

Zhou Yu sneered. There was no chance that he would ally with Zhuge Liang.

---

Zhuge Liang was getting sicker and sicker. It tore Zhao Yun's heart to see him suffer like this. Hopefully Wei Yan would return soon with news, with good news.

It had been a long time since Jiang Wei's disappearance and most of the time Zhuge had refused food. He was suffering terribly.

"You have to be strong prime minister, Jiang Wei is alive and he will come back." Zhao Yun said.

"No, he's dead… he's dead along with Shu's future." Zhuge cried, burying his face in the covers, weeping.

"Don't say that sir! Never give up hope! You taught him remember?" Zhao Yun smiled.

Zhuge lifted his face from the covers and looked up at Zhao Yun's smile.

"You… really believe he is still alive?" Zhuge said.

At That moment a soldier walked in.

"Master Zhuge Liang, a man from Wu is here and wishes to speak with you and lord Liu Bei." The soldier said.

"I'll be there soon." Zhuge said, levering himself up on stiff legs.

When he got to the main hall, Liu Bei was greeting the guest. It was Ling Tong of Wu.

"Please Liu Bei, consider our situation." Ling Tong was pleading.

"Hmm." Liu Bei said. He turned around and motioned Zhuge move closer.

"Do you think we should help Wu?" He whispered into Zhuge's ear.

Zhuge raised his hand to his chin and took his short beard in hand. It always helped him think.

"I Think…" Zhuge said but before he could finish his sentence, Wei Yan Burst through the door growling.

"Wei Yan! You Have news!" Zhuge Liang said, suddenly forgetting about Liu Bei and Ling Tong and rushing to Wei Yan's side.

" Jiang…Wei…" Wei Yan said.

"Yes, Yes, Spit it out man!" Zhuge Yelled, so impatient he took Yan's shoulders in hand and shook him.

"In…. Wu Camp… Zhou…Yu…. Have him…" Wei Yan grumbled.

Zhuge Liang let go of him and his face contorted with anger. He spun around and screamed at Ling Tong.

"You dare to ask for our help? You DARE to seek us when you stole my apprentice." Ling Tong stood back in shock and fell behind his guards. They crowded around Zhuge with their weapons raised but Zhuge slew the closest with his fan, causing the others to stumble away in confusion.

"I'll let you live if you crawl back to your commander-in-chief and tell him to give my apprentice back or we'll attack as well! He may be able to withstand Cao Cao with luck but I promise you this, if Jiang Wei isn't here soon, you'll have no home to return to!" Zhuge snarled. Liu Bei had never seen him so riled up. He was like a chained tiger attacking its captors.

"O…o.k… I… I'll go tell him…" Ling Tong said swallowing hard. He had never been on the bad side of such a powerful man before, and it made him quiver in fear. He scrambled to his feet, along with his remaining escorts and hurried out of the room.

Liu Bei stared at his Strategist. Zhuge breathed deep and regained his composure.

"We will wait." Zhuge sighed.