Xun's captor dragged him along, his feet trailing limply along the ground. The earth had changed. It was hard now, no longer the packed earth. It echoed with each footstep of the captor. They were inside a building now. The cool breeze on his skin had been replaced; there was a stale smell of occupation, cooking, cleaning, and the smell of people.

He heard footsteps coming towards them and a gentle feminine voice ask "Sir, who is this?"

Help, this could be help!

"Back to your job!" His captor grunted.

Xun cried out, calling to the woman, but was silenced by a blow to the side of the head.

"Keep your mouth shut!" His captor growled.

His captor sped up now, hurrying along, his short fingernails digging into the back of his captive. He soon slowed his pace and turned. There was some activity, then the sound of a wooden door creaking on its hinges.

The man pulled Lu Xun past the door, the sidecaressing his body as it passed, and then Xun was flung to the ground, sliding along and colliding with a wall. He let out a startled cry, involuntarily spitting into his gag.

He shuffled back, trying to get as close to the wall as possible as the thundering footsteps echoed closer to him, shaking the ground. Xun pushed his head into the corner of the floor and wall, trying in vain to hide.

Please don't hit my face.

All the effort Xun had made to hide was made fruitless in one move as his captor grasped the back of his robes and spun him around. Even though Xun couldn't see a thing, he still turned away, not even wanting to hint at eye contact. His captor grasped one rough hand under Xun's chin, pulling his face forward. If Xun wasn't blindfolded, he was sure the man would be staring straight into his eyes now.

"I trust you'll be a good little boy and be quiet while I'm away." The man growled, his unpleasant breath stinging Xun's nose.

Damn you!

Xun let out a low growl. He waited to be struck, but yet again the blow didn't come. The man's grip tightened on Xun's chin, short nails cutting shallowly into the skin.

"Listen little boy, you make a noise and I'll just take you back to the slaver I got you from, how many buyers do you think there are for a pretty little thing like you then hmm?" The man growled.

Xun fell silent, suddenly terrified. Sweat peppered his brow. His captor obviously saw as he let out a deep hearty laugh, dropping his captive to the ground.

He stood and hid footsteps echoed away. The door slammed and then there was silence again.

Xun bit his tongue. He was desperate to keep quiet now. Even if it was a bluff, he couldn't risk it. He couldn't stop the tears welling, but he cried silently.

---

The black steed trotted slowly through the trees. Jiang Wei let the reigns loose. He was in no hurry to get back. He still wore Zhang He's prized weapons on his wrists.

He will be happy to see these again!

They weren't easy articles to retrieve either. As soon as he found them, Zhao Yun, thinking he was Zhang He, pounced upon him. It was the mask.

He sighed, remembering the look on Zhuge Liang's face. Zhao Yun was about to strike him dead with an arrow, and would have done it too if Liang had not saved him. Wei wasn't quite sure what to think anymore. After yesterday, he was convinced there was no place for him in Shu Han but Zhuge Liang… it seemed he was still wanted. As for Cao Wei, everyone seemed nice, but the black wolf…

A sound in the undergrowth brought Wei back to reality. He looked around, following the sound and saw a trail of stale blood. He could hear whimpering, like an injured beast. He slowed his horse and motioned it round. He trotted slowly forward until the creature came into view.

It was the Alpha wolf that Sima Yi had shot, the shaft still sticking from its bloody shoulder.

At first Wei froze, ready to spur his horse to run, but the poor beast didn't move. Just lay whimpering in the undergrowth.

Wei was frightened, but this wolf didn't seem so scary anymore. It seemed weak, helpless.

He stopped his horse and cautiously dismounted, taking a closer look. The wolf raised its head in acknowledgement that Wei was there, but slumped back down again. There was no fear anymore. Just pity. Wei knelt down beside the beast and grasped the shaft, pulling it free of the victim's flesh.

The wolf yelped, shuddering. Jiang Wei stretched out one shivering and and lay it on the wolf's soft fur.

They are not so scary after all.

---

Zhuge Liang had to be carried to his quarters. He lamented deeply. Ling Tong sat at his bedside, not sure whether or not to leave. He felt quite awkward.

Liang sighed deeply. He didn't know what hurt worse, that Jiang Wei had defected, or that he had defected by choice. He had tried his best to teach the boy, he always thought of himself as Wei's stepfather, but now he was nothing.

Ling Tong cleared his throat. Zhuge Liang turned over and looked at him.

"Well, I guess I'll carry on looking then." Ling Tong said standing up.

"Where will you look?" Liang asked.

"I think I'll start by tracking your errant apprentice and see where that leads me." Tong said.

"You still think Lu Xun will be with him?" Liang asked.

Tong nodded. "Xun ran away, he was never one for being alone. He wouldn't go to his parents because they would tell us. Xun likes company." Tong said.

Liang smiled. Although he didn't think Xun would run to Wei, he did think Tong had a good idea.

Tong made obeisance and left, his two guards following him.

---

Jiang Wei dismounted Zhang He's steed and a maid let it into the stables.

He walked into the castle and headed down the corridor.

He stopped still when he heard Sima Yi call after him.

"Jiang Wei! Where on earth have you been, I've been looking all over for you!" Yi shouted, rushing up to Wei's side.

"I just went back to get a few things. Wei said.

Sima Yi screwed up his nose, "just tell me where you are going next time, I couldn't get a straight answer out of Zhang He." Yi muttered.

"Ok, I'm sorry." Wei said.

Yi's face softened and he laughed giving Wei a friendly pat on the back. "Its alright, your still learning!"

Wei smiled under his mask.

"I have to go find Zhang He now, if that's alright." Wei asked. He held up his hands, watching the impressive blades gleam in the light.

"Of course, he went to the blacksmith about an hour ago, he should be back in his room by now." Yi grinned, letting out a low laugh. Wei nodded, turning and heading down the corridor to Zhang He's room.

Wei passed Zhang Liao's room and stopped when he saw Zhang He in there sitting by his friend's bedside.

He stood at the doorway, looking at the two.

"So, the blacksmith didn't work then." Zhang Liao was saying.

He sighed. "I'm going to have these stupid things around my wrists forever!" He lamented.

Jiang Wei cleared his throat.

The two Zhangs turned around. Wei held up the claws. "Remember these?" Wei mused.

Zhang He's eyes lit up. "Oh, you went back for them!" He gasped, he ran over to Wei accepting his weapons and donning them, but they didn't fit due to He's bonds.

He swore.

"Damn! I can't wear them anymore!" He cried.

Wei let out a hearty laugh.

"What's so funny?" He muttered.

Wei held up the shackle keys, jingling them in his hand. "Ooh, looks like that's not all I went back for!" Wei laughed, tossing the keys to He.

He laughed, immediately undoing his bonds. The chains fell to the floor with a loud clunk. He rubbed his wrists, a relieved smile spreading across his face.

"That's better, oh Wei, you are full of surprises, thank you." He sighed, wrapping his arms around Wei's shoulders. Wei was surprised by the sudden physical contact, but it was Zhang He, so he hugged back gently.

"Don't be so surprised, you are a friend, I'll do anything for my friends." Jiang Wei said.

---

Xun lay silent. It had been hours since his captor left, he wasn't sure how long, but he dare not move. He dare not even breathe audibly in case he came back.

He was tired, his body clock telling him it was probably nighttime, but he was too afraid to sleep.

When the door creaked open he held his breath, hearing heavy footsteps come towards him. The man was close, standing over him.

Xun let his breath out slowly, listening to the slight sounds of activity.

The man shuffled, Xun assumed he was kneeling down. He screwed his eyes up tightly beneath the blindfold.

"Shh." The man whispered.

This man… his voice is different…

Xun felt something touch his nose and he pulled away, but when he took a breath he could smell it. It was food.

The man shushed again and pulled back Xun's gag, pushing the food close to his lips.

Xun was suspicious, but hungry. This man was definitely different from his captor, he smelled faintly of medicine.

Xun, free from the gag, couldn't resist the food and took a bite, swallowing hard. It was well-cooked meat, he couldn't be sure what kind but it tasted good. Xun finished his mouthful, subconsciously begging for more, but when his gag was replaced he knew his wish had been denied.

Xun's new benefactor patted his shoulder gently, then his footsteps echoed away as he left.

Xun sighed. He wished he had more food, but at least he had an ally.

He hoped.

---

The black wolf growled, walking close. Wei took a step back, forgetting for a moment about the white, but then the White lunged forward, standing between Wei and the black wolf.

The black stalked sideways, It's gaze intently focused on it's prey. Jiang Wei.

The white wolf stood before Wei, shielding him from the Black, and when the black jumped, the two clashed violently.

"Run, the black wolf means to do you harm!" Qiong's voice echoed in Wei's head

---

Jiang Wei woke up in a cold sweat yet again.

That damn dream!

Sima Yi was fast asleep next to him.

Wei rubbed the palms of his hand into his eyes. This was getting ridiculous. In the morning he would tell Sima Yi, tell him that he wasn't sure if he'd made the right choice in defecting.

If Yi would listen…