Corad: Howdy guys...I finally got round to an update. My internet's so slow right now...(shrugs) as long as I can get this up sometime before midnight, it'll all be good. Now, thanks to everyone who reviewed. And those who read too...I don't have much of a life right now, so like...maybe I'll gather some inspiration to right up some more of this story. I'm running out of chapters to upload. It's my Birthday too this Thursday...but you guys probably don't care...either way. I can finally change that '17' to an '18'! Freedom...WWHHOOOOOOOHHHHHHH! Um...yeah...better get on with it. This chapter isn't as interesting as the last, but like...maybe someday it will be. Also to JakLover, I'll have a go at drawing them fighting. We'll have some Blood Splat too for you Some Dude. I like Blood splat...well, not real blood splat, but like, the fantasy stuff. And Star Ocean too! Ok now, that is scary...my fav is Albel...he's so (drools). Except Bijoux and I are in debate whether his hairstyle is a form of over rated mullet...yeah, (gets prodded by a large stick) I'm getting on with it! See!

Don't own, never will...maybe I should go mourn my loss again...


Chapter 45 – The Aftermath

'How could I let this happen? I should have been more careful…but now…' Skytha thought angrily, as she placed the pendant back in her jeans pocket. She had just changed back into an elf after the large grey wolf had saved her, but now she was left with a bigger problem…to deal with Wolf Jak…

"He's unconscious…I just have to restrain him…tie him down or something, so if he does wake up, he can't go anywhere," she thought out loud, scanning the area hopefully. She needed to find a rope or something…anything… Leaving Jak lying on the ground, Skytha set off to find a rope. She hoped someone here had left one behind, but didn't get her hopes up about it.

'Maybe I need help to control him…If I can't get his mind to obey, then who can? Maybe…no, I can't drag him into this…I don't even know where he is…why did he answer my call tonight though? He's somewhere in the city, I know it! But why did he come running to help me?' Skytha was thinking it all over. She felt confused, but she couldn't let that get in the way of helping Jak.

Running quickly along the dirt and sand, she leapt over the dirty water and landed hard on the other side. "There's nothing out here!'" she cried angrily, feeling helpless. What was she to do?

"Need some help sweet cakes?" Skytha shot her glance upwards, and spotted Daxter leaning over the remains of a pillar. He was holding a small container of pills and had some ropes strung around his shoulders.

"Daxter! Am I glad to see you!" she yelled in relief, holding her arms out for the ottsel to jump down. He leapt from his spot on the pillar, and was caught roughly by Skytha, who ran back to Jak, the ottsel still grasped in her arms.

"Quick! Give me the rope!" she shouted after she'd reached Jak. Daxter handed her the ropes he had brought along and she began to roll Jak on his side, before tying them around his legs. Daxter stood back and watched in amusement, before strolling past and throwing the small canister of sleeping pills in her face.

"What are these for?" she asked, trying to read the label in the light from the moon. "Sleeping…sleeping pills? Why does he need these?" she snapped, standing up and tossing them back to the Ottsel. Daxter caught them, and growled in frustration.

"Because…it helps calm his nerves. Old green said he needs them to stay dormant! Now, stop ya arguing and give it to him!" Daxter muttered, tossing them back to her. She grabbed hold of the container and strolled over to Jak, before forcing some in his jaw.

Both Skytha and Daxter watched Jak for a few minutes in tense anticipation, before they figured he'd somehow swallowed them in his unconscious state and wouldn't wake up till 10 hours from now. 10 hours would be more than enough time for sunrise to come, so Skytha told Daxter he could head back to the bar, but he requested to stay with her and Jak.

"So Orange Lightning…why did you come out anyway?" Skytha asked once the two had settled down beside a rock a few meters from Jak. Daxter grinned and pointed to the ropes around Jak's legs.

"I didn't see Jak take ropes with him, and after I'd woken Erol up making too much noise upstairs, I asked him whether you had taken any. Said he didn't see you so I decided to come round. I've heard how Torn and his Freedom League fighters took care of him once...tied his legs up so he couldn't move…so, that's why I'm here baby," Daxter said, nudging her in the side.

Skytha rolled her eyes at him, and rested her head back on the rock. "Yeah well…you really saved my ass…thanks Dax," she murmured, ruffling Daxter's hair just as Jak had done earlier. Daxter rested his head back on the rock behind them too, and together they sat in silence, watching Jak's sleeping form rising and falling with every breath.

After a while, the two fell into a light sleep. They had watched Jak for as long as they could, but couldn't stay awake past midnight. Skytha just hoped Jak would still be there in the morning when she awoke. She also hoped nothing else was lurking in the shadows surrounding them.

She had gotten some reassurance from the ottsel curled up beside her however, that they'd be fine to sleep. So, following his advice, both were now sleeping peacefully. During her rest, Skytha thought through the problem at hand. She talked with her wolfish side, and tried to find some answers from her.

'You must guide his wolf mind back inside. Tell him he'll be stronger inside than out,' her wolf mind said gently in her sleep, and Skytha groaned out loud in reply, shifting her body against the rock. She had listened to her wolf mind suggest helpful ways to get Jak to listen to her, and so rested her mind the remainder of the night.

Once morning had broken out, and the rays of sunlight filtered across Jak's face, he woke with a start, feeling his bones twisting back in shape. He held back terrified screams as sweat gathered on his tight skin, before his body relaxed. He looked down at his self, and noted he was back as an elf.

"Jak…you're awake?" Jak looked up, struggling to break free from the binding ropes. He saw Skytha stand up and walk slowly over to him, before kneeling down and fumbling with the ropes around his ankles. "You had me worried…what happened last night?" she asked, after freeing Jak's legs. She then grabbed hold of his wrists, and started to untie them.

"I don't know…I felt like I was being thrust back into darkness. My wolf side took over…he's too powerful to control…" Jak muttered, lying patiently for his arms to be free. Skytha pulled a concerned face, and snapped the ropes off.

"He's not too powerful…he's living inside you now Jak…he's right there in your mind, and you're controlling him ok…we just have to work on it…tonight?" she asked, turning her green eyes to him as he sat up, massaging his wrist.

"Why not…I need to conquer this…like you said, he needs to be controlled, or I can end up in trouble if I'm not careful," Jak replied, getting to his feet shakily and looking down at his shoe. He noticed dry blood splattered across his ankle, and remembered faintly those sharp fangs digging into it.

"You did this…you're one powerful wolf in battle," he murmured unconsciously, surveying the damage done. Skytha stayed silent, fighting back guilt.

"I had to do it…you were taking flight, and…I couldn't let you leave," she said gently, forcing out a smile to show Jak her apology. Jak noted it, and turned to see Daxter walking sleepily to him.

"Dax? Why are you here?" Jak said in alarm, as his friend yawned widely. Skytha stepped forward to take the blame, still thankful at what Daxter had done for her.

"He brought me some ropes…realized I hadn't taken any, and came along to make sure you were ok," Skytha said quickly before Jak had time to speak again. Jak raised an eyebrow at her before, kneeling on the ground and patting Daxter on the head.

"Thanks buddy…always looking out for me, aren't ya?" he said, a smile playing at his face. Daxter stood up proud, and shot out "Would I do anything different?" before Jak began laughing. He pulled Daxter into a rib crushing hug, winding the poor Ottsel.

Skytha stood back and watched, feeling happy for Jak to have such a close friend. She often wished she had a company always by her side…willing to risk their own life to save hers…she had felt that companionship once with her older brother…until he changed.

"Ready to go back to the bar now?" Jak's voice cut through her thoughts, and she lifted her head to focus on him, before nodding. "Great, let's head back then…come here Dax!" Jak shouted, picking Daxter up from the ground and putting him on his shoulder pad.

The ottsel gripped the pad tightly as Jak broke out in a limped run, Skytha following close behind shouting for him to slow down. They'd managed to reach the door, when she turned to him and offered him a ride.

"What ride?" he asked curiously, glancing down at her. She tugged out her pendant, and lifted it to his eye level.


Corad: Hehehe, I can just imagine the look of terror as Jak falls to his death...

Jak: Um...what are you talking about?

Corad: Huh? Oh, nothing...if you guys liked that, then I'm happy...if not, then I'm neutral...or upset...or both...or maybe, just maybe, all three O.O Yeah, now if you want to review, then that will make me happier. It can be a Bday present...or not...why am I still here?

Sharok: You're like a bad smell...it just won't go away...

Corad: Correction! I'm not like a bad smell! I am a bad smell...

Jak and Sharok: (exchanging nervous glances)

Corad: I'll see all my fellow readers next update (gives Jak and Sharok dirty looks and pokes tongue at them both)