"It's growling at me."
"Of course, it's a wolf."
Luffy got on his knees in front of it staring through the bars at it. "It's just scared."
"It's scared!" Usopp scoffed. "It's looking at me like I'm a chew toy.
Nami set to work on the cage lock, she had a knack for it. So far so good. They had freed six wolves already from various live traps around the forest. They ranged from bear traps that clamped down around the animal's foot, snapping to the bone, to concealed cages like this one that slammed shut when the unsuspecting wolf wandered inside, enticed by the meat offering.
"These wolves are smaller than most of the wolves we've seen," Nami said sliding her tools back into the case. She meant the ones in cages were smaller than the ones that had attacked them earlier.
"Oh yeah," Luffy looked down at the wolf. It was cowering at the back of the cage, teeth barred at them. "That's cause they're still little."
"This is little?" Usopp said in disbelief. Little Chopper sat on his shoulder; fur bristled at the sight of the sharp teeth. It was odd that he was still scared of monsters after all this time.
"Hmm," Luffy thought about it. "They're like… your age in wolf years. They're not baby's but their teenagers so they don't know better for the hunter traps. The older they get the less stupid they become."
Zoro looked down at the creatures. "Are they like Ace?"
Luffy tilted his head. "Like Ace?"
"He means are they human?"
Luffy looked down at the cage. "Not these guys, not usually at least. Usually, the more human they are the better they are at avoiding the traps."
"Got it," Nami said as the lock clicked up and Usopp scampered back like this life depended on it.
Sanji took hold of the bars, trying to force the heavy cage door up. "This thing better not attack me," he told Luffy. "Oi Moss head come help me."
Zoro looked over uninterested. "You can't do that yourself?" the judgment heavy in his tone.
"I can it's just heavy as- Ah never mind. Luffy came to help him and they lifted the door.
The wolves' growls grew in pitch as the cage shook.
"It's okay," Luffy told it, gesturing to the open door.
Stepping cautiously the wolf slinked closer to the opening. Both Nami and Usopp ducked behind Zoro as if that would protect them. Zoro only watched the scene unfold; his arms crossed across his chest.
Careful to avoid Luffy and Sanji the wolf slunk out of the cage, its tail between its legs as it continued to growl. Once it was free it began to sprint, stopping at the tree line. It turned around looking back at them. Luffy waved at it.
"Bye."
The wolf yelped at them, running in a circle like a puppy before taking off again.
Luffy and Sanji let the cage door drop.
"Whew," Sanji said wiping the sweat from his forehead. "How often do you guys do this?"
Luffy shrugged. "I don't know. Whenever we get assigned to it."
"Assigned?"
"Yeah, it's kind of a like a chore. A different pack gets assigned to it, or something else. The really old wolve packs like giving the younger one's work and stuff. Mostly it's cleaning up after the humans. Like moving bodies, patrolling the areas for hunters, and finding stuff humans dropped." He said it so lightly, but Usopp shivered. "Otherwise the hunters would drive the wolves out of their territories."
"I didn't know the wolves were that organized," Nami said.
Luffy just laughed. "Everyone always says that. It's really funny."
"How is that funny?" Sanji asked dryly.
"Because that's what the wolves and vampires say about the humans."
They moved on, making sure to trigger the still empty traps. They were nearing the outskirts of the eastern side of the woods when Choppers little ears twitched again. "I hear something."
"More wolves?" Zoro asked.
He shook his head, holding tighter to Usopp. "Hunters he warned. Their close. I think they have another wolf there or something. I can smell blood."
Luffy turned towards the trees again, frowning. "I'm going to go look!" He decided.
"What No!" Chopper scrambled down to the floor, hugging Luffy's ankle to stop him. "We can't. You know that side is forbidden right! We'll get in trouble."
"What why?" Sanji asked.
"It's the outlands." Chopper said. "Hunters took over a year ago, they have slowly been edging into the woods. They've driven all the packs on this side out of the land. They're burning the trees and salting the earth to make it uninhabitable. The other wolves banned the area because so many wolf kits kept going missing in the area."
Luffy shrugged out of his grip, stepping forwards. "It's fine," he said. "It was like- a loose ban. No one will know. I'll be right back."
"NO!" Chopper hissed as he began running towards the tree's pulling his hood up.
"Yeah- Luffy that sounds scary," Usopp called after him.
"Stay there," Luffy called to them, "I'll be right back."
The group stood there for all of two seconds before Zoro lost patience. "May as well," he said following the boy. "What are they going to do. Kill us twice?"
"Wrong way IDIOT!" Sanji snapped as Zoro quickly veered off course. "Only you can get lost in a straight line."
Nami, Usopp, and Chopper were left in the spot, staring after the retreating figures of the three boys. It took them a moment to realize what had just happened and then Nami was cussing like a sailor. "Oh hell no!" She scooped Chopper up, taking off after them. "We are going to die here aren't we?"
Usopp whimpered as he headed after her. "Why do they keep doing this?"
XXX
Robin had been stupid to trust a wolf. She knew better than this. Well, that was a lie. She had worked with plenty of wolves before, and humans, and even vampires, and she hadn't trusted a single one of them. She had however made the mistake of letting her guard down for one moment. She was paying for it, in the hunter's custody with a broken ankle. She had figured Crocodile wouldn't get rid of her until she decoded the texts for him. What she hadn't counted on was how little he actually cared about what they said. The second it was revealed that didn't hold the secrets to some powerful weapon he could wield he threw her aside.
Little did he knew Robin had simply chosen to omit that part. Not like he would ever know. And now no one would.
She laid back against the cage bars, feeling overwhelmingly tired. Her ankle was constantly hurting. Even if she managed to get out of the cage, there was no way she could make it through the forest and escape the hunters. No, they would turn her back over to the military. And maybe that was okay.
She was just so tired of running.
Hunters moved around her, all too busied with their tasks to spare her a glance. She was used to it at this point. People avoided looking at her if they could. Rumors were floating around that she was cursed. Maybe she was. That would certainly explain a thing or two.
All around her the hunters seemed to be excited about something. They were yelling excitedly. She sat up a little, paying attention. From somewhere in the distance smoke rose up from the trees. A fire?
Her neck prickled in warning. Someone was staring at her, she could tell. Robin scanned the area. The hunters in the area were preoccupied with the smoke, walking back towards the commotion. She turned more, looking back at the tree line that stood several yards from the cage.
There was a face among the leaves, looking at her. Fully alert now Robin tried to sit up before her ankle throbbed warningly and he sat back, stifling her cry.
-Wolf? If so this was had strong human blood in it. Rather this was the face of a boy. Wide and innocent looking. When the hunters had moved far enough, he crept from the tree's heading over towards her.
They stared at each other.
"What are you?" She asked.
"Luffy." The boy said.
"I mean what are you!"
"I'm not anything," he insisted.
"That's not an answer," she moved away from the bars, backing up against the cage. As it was now even a young vampire or wolf could take her out.
"It's a dumb question," he frowned as he came up to the cage bars, testing the padlock. "I'm just me."
"Vampire then," she decided. They often spoke in riddles too. Just one of the reasons they were full of themselves. "You start the fire?" She gestured to the rising smoke.
He shook his head. "No, that was my friend. He said it was a smoke bomb."
"-So you could drink me? Are you that desperate for blood you would risk a camp full of hunters?"
He made a face. "Ew, no. Have you tasted blood before? It's like- all bitter and metaly and stuff. Sper gross."
Not a vampire then.
"You can keep your blood okay," the boy told her. "I'll get you out of here."
Her hands gripped the bars again. "Why?"
"Cause it's my weekend chore." He explained. "I mean I guess I was just supposed to let the wolves go. But I'll let you go too. You don't want to be with the hunters. Trust me." She knew that all too well.
"Your human," She decided. "I am too."
"I don't care what you are," he said as he tugged again at the lock. "You can be a giraffe if you want, just as long as you do it out here, and not in there. Cause otherwise, the only thing you will ever be is dead." He huffed again dropping the lock. "I have to go get my friend. I can't open this one myself. Stay here."
"Don't!" She called but he was already running back to the trees. He remerged a couple of minutes later with not just one person but four more and some type of furry raccoon creature with a hat.
A pretty red-haired girl approached the bars, tools in hand as she started on the lock. "This isn't like the others," she said. "They really didn't want her to leave."
"Yeah Luffy," The boy with the long nose said. "If she's in there she might be dangerous. Don't hunters catch criminals and stuff and put them away."
Robin reached through the bars, putting one of her hands over the girls. "I am. You guys are better of leaving this place. Before they come back."
She paused, looking back at the boy. "Luffy?"
"We're saving her of course," the blond boy said. "I mean… look at her. Don't worry," he assured her. "I will get you out of there even at the cost of my life. For I-,"
"-Am an idiot," the green-haired boy cut him off. "We already know. Shut up. Luffy? She has a point."
The kid- Luffy- shook his head. "Hunter's lock everyone they don't like up. She doesn't have to stay there just because they put her in. Nami let her go."
The girl nodded as she worked faster. "I'll try."
"Uh, could you hurry Nami," long noise said. "The smoke bomb is dying pretty fast. I'm sure they found it by now and are on their way back here." If the distant shouts were any indication then they only had a few minutes.
"Geez, I'm working on it… There!" The lock clicked in her hands and three of the boys moved to open the cage door. Still, Robin hesitated.
"Go!" She said. "It's too late for me.
"Stop being stubborn," Luffy said. "You don't want to be left with the hunters. Trust me. But she didn't trust him. She didn't trust anyone.
"Kid get out of her before-LET GO!"
Tired of the talk Luffy had crawled in the cage, grabbing her wrist as he pulled her out. When she tried to stand her ankle gave out and she sunk back to the grass.
"Oh," he said in perfect understanding as the furry creature jumped off the long-nosed boy's shoulder. It ran over to her and she recoiled.
"It's fractured in two places." It said and she blinked.
"You can talk."
"She can't walk," it informed them as it prodded the ear delicately with hoofed hands.
"I told you to leave me." She pushed him off.
"Oh," Luffy said in perfect understanding. "You're trying to protect us huh? I knew you were nice." He smiled at her, flashing his very human teeth in the process.
"I can't get away from here."
"I'll carry you," he said.
"You're not going to be able to outrun them with me."
The boy's smile turned to a frown. "I don't know," he admitted honestly. "What I do know is you don't want to stay here.
"They're coming back," the little creature told him.
The kid nodded. "You guys go! Run back to the woods. Get back to the south side. I'll meet you there."
Robin eyes the boy. He looked young and more than a little scrappy. He was probably barely pushing a hundred pounds. "You can't carry me," she told him." while not large Robin was an adult woman. But the boy waved off her concern.
"I can, I'm really strong." He moved to pick her up but the blond stopped him.
"Luffy I got her." Robin yelped as she was picked up by the surprisingly strong teenager. "My lady," he flashed her a smile.
Luffy frowned. "Guys go! The hunters are coming."
"We know." The green-haired boy said. "Time to go- together."
Luffy hesitated a moment before nodding. "Okay." And there was something so determined in his tone Robin truly believed he would make it happen.
They headed back for the tree line, going as fast as they could with Robins dead weight in the blondes' arms. She was still surprised by how much endurance he had despite carrying her. The others never went further than a couple of yards from them. Even though she knew they could go faster.
They broke back into the tree's, heading in a straight line through. Robin was surprised to see most of the greenery in this area was either new or it had been burnt down. But the black-haired boy seemed to know his way around here as he led them through the burnt parts. Eventually, the destruction gave way to a large clearing full of tall grasses and bushes.
The blond, whose name was apparently Sanji put her down. To catch his breath.
The little raccoon creature tugged on Luffy's pants. "Their coming." It told him. "I think they realized she was gone."
"How many?"
"Uhh… I don't know. I just hear really loud engines."
The green-haired boy scowled, his hands going to his swords. "We can't outrun them on those."
"Sanji! Get Robin out of here," Luffy said as Sanji moved to do just that despite her surprised protests.
"Put me down!" Robin insisted as he picked her back up. "I never asked you to save me. You fools! You have no idea what they will do when they discover you helped me."
"It's fine," Luffy waved off her concern with a shrug. "Go! I'll slow them down."
"Luffy," Zoro warned. "I'm coming with you."
Luffy looked back over his shoulder, they were getting closer. He shook his head. "Get them away from here-okay. Chopper knows these woods, follow him."
The little monster nodded, his eyes wide and frightened as he clung tighter to Usopp's neck.
"Wait!" Robin said as she grabbed his hand. "Kid, you don't want to do this. You don't know what they're like. They will kill you!"
Luffy shrugged out of her grip. "I know," he said, "run." To his Zoro, he said, "find Sabo okay?"
Zoro rang his fingers through his fringe furiously. "Dammit, Luffy! I'm not going to leave you here!"
"None of us are," Sanji said, shifting Robin in his arms.
"I'm cool with it," Usopp squeaked, "I mean he'll be fine right? Luffy's tough." Even Nami rolled her eyes at that.
"We don't abandon each other," Zoro told him. "That's not what this is. You didn't leave us when we first met."
Luffy looked over his shoulder again. If the bristled fur on Choppers back was any indication, then they were nearly here. "Then come back for me, okay?" he said. "Make sure the others are safe and tell my brothers. Then come back for me." He looked back into the faces of his friends and managed to smile for them. Looking at the dumb expression on their faces made him smile. Luffy had never had friends before them. He really liked it. He was done letting the hunters take things from him and he was done running for them. It wasn't that he wasn't scared. He was terrified. But someone needed to protect his friends.
Zoro met his eyes and he seemed to find something there because he nodded, somewhat reluctantly. "Fine. I will come back just hang on."
Luffy nodded. "I know you will." Only he doubted he would still be here.
"Oi, moss head we're not-," Sanji began but Zoro cut him off.
"Shut it! Run all of you."
"We have to help," Nami argued.
"Help by running," Zoro yanked her arm as he pulled her along with them. "The faster we get out of here, the faster we bring help."
"NO!" Robin began to kick against Sanji as he began to follow the others. "Don't Leave him! KID! They'll Kill You!" She looked scared, but not for herself.
Luffy just waved at her. Robin was nice, he decided. Maybe he could still get to know her. He turned back towards the clearing. Robins protests carrying over to him.
His friends had almost made it to the woods when the first hunter arrived. The space was clear enough that he was driving a dirt bike. They liked to hunt down wolves on these sometimes. It was the only way they would be able to keep up with one.
The man stalled the engine when he saw Luffy, standing in the field. Then he looked past Luffy at the retreating forms of his friends as they reached the tree line.
"I see them," he spoke into his radio. In the distance, Luffy heard the sounds of motors begin to converge on the clearing. "Yeah, I think the woman is with them. Understood- all units pursue Nico Robin."
He dismounted the bike, clipping the radio into his belt. His hunter mark was on clear display and just the sight of it made Luffy's hands tremble. He clenched them into fists. He had seen the house again- years of nightmares had stacked up to be nothing more than dust and bricks. These weren't monsters, they were people who acted like monsters, and Luffy knew how to handle people like that.
The hunter approached him, reaching back into his belt for rope. "Oh kid, you have no idea what you just did do you?" When the man reached for him Luffy struck. He grabbed the oncoming hand in his own. Leveraging the captive arm over his shoulder he flipped the hunter into the grass faster than he could cry out. The man hit hard, lying stunned in the grass. Still holding his arm, Luffy put his boot over the man's chest.
"Wha- what," his voice came out breathless. "What are you? One of the monsters?"
Luffy looked up as the moto noises grew in intensity. They were coming, all of them. He kicked the man's head, letting go of his now limp hand as Luffy turned to face the oncoming traffic. He felt his hands begin to shake once more and he closed his eyes, trying to calm down.
He could remember tearing through the dark woods. The sounds of trampling feet followed him right behind. They would chase him through the woods. And he would run because if they caught him…
But this was okay! It wasn't like all those times. Luffy fought back now and he wasn't alone. Someone would come for him. He knew it. He just had to hold on.
"What the hell!" One of the hunters called as they approached, their eyes fixed on the downed hunter. "Hey kid, what did you do." When Luffy didn't respond the man dismounted his bike as well, barking orders. "Go get the woman before she gets away. Bring me back anyone who helps her." He gestured to Luffy. "And someone grab this kid, we will interrogate them later."
Interrogate. They were going to torture them. Luffy wouldn't let them.
As another man approached, handcuffs in hand Luffy moved, fast as lightning. He grabbed his bat whirling around to smash it into the man's knees. He went down with a cry and suddenly everyone's attention was on him. Most of the hunters looked shocked, and then furious.
"Your gonna regret that," the unit lead promised.
Luffy wouldn't.
The man turned his furious stare back onto the other men. "Go!" He snapped. I told you to get the woman Nico Robin! She's getting away.
He was right. Luffy's friends retreating forms were barely visible now, hidden by the outskirts of the forest as they reached the trees. They would be safe there. Chopper could hide them. Still, when the first bike revved its engine, moving to pass by Luffy threw his bat. It hit the man in the head, and he cried out, falling off his bike. The hunter beside him wasn't able to get out of the way in time and barreled straight into the collision, falling into the grass with a cry of outrage.
The clearing went silent as all eyes turned once again to Luffy. The leader looked murderous. "You're a wolf," He realized- incorrectly.
Luffy bent to pick up a rock, clutching it in h4is hands. A warning to the next motorcycle who tried to pass the invisible line he represented in the field. No one would go any further if he could help it. He raised the rock. "Leave them alone."
The leader drew his gun, pointing it at him. A move echoed by the others. "Or what monster- you are done. One move and we blow your head off."
"No!" The leader said. "I want this one alive. We have questions for you- and once we have our answers, we're going to have our fun."
Luffy's grip tightened on the rock. It was taking all of his effort to stay here in this spot, facing down the hunters before him. But the second he thought about giving in to his instincts- the voice screaming in his head to run, he imagined the hunters going after his friends. Catching them like they caught him- hurting them like they hurt him. He shuttered.
When the man gave the signal, they opened fire. Luffy was quicker as he ducked down into the tall grass of the clearing. There was a deer path carved into the earth, wearing it down some. He scrambled along it- listening to the gunfire collide with the earth, spraying soil into the air. When at last the air settled, the hunters fell into silence."
"Did we get it?" Someone asked after a long moment.
"I don't know idiot! Go look."
"I don't want to."
"Fine, I'll go."
Luffy heard the crunching of footsteps across the tall grass. Still, he stayed where he was, lying completely still just like he had been taught until the hunter was before him. It was a common wolf technique. The pounce.
Luffy lashed out his leg, grabbing the hunter's ankle as he dragged the man down into the grass. He let out a horrifying shriek as he fell, and then another shriek of pain as his ankle twisted. His hands ambled blindly for his weapon, but once again Luffy was faster.
Pulling the man's gun from its holster he hit across the head with it, and the man crumpled as easily as the first had. Luffy didn't like guns. In fact he despised them. But that didn't mean he didn't know how to use them.
He pointed it at the hunter leader, a silent warning to the rest that they wouldn't go past him. The man seemed to understand as his face paled. "That ain't a toy monster."
Changing his aim, Luffy fired, directing the shot to fly just past the man's ear. The man's face paled further with shock and fear. "No One Shoot!"
"Tell them to leave Robin alone!" Luffy said. The leader looked angry for a moment, then he looked back at the gun on him and moved to grab his radio, gesturing for the hunters around him to lower their weapons.
"Fine just don't'-"
BANG-
Luffy cried in pain as something embedded itself into his hand. He dropped the gun on reflex and it fell back into the grass. Someone had shot him? He clutched at his hand which was quickly going numb. No, it was worse. A tranquilizer dart was piercing his skin. Luffy recognized it as the kind they took down wolves with. He pulled it out, throwing it to the ground. But the damage had been done. His entire arm moved sluggishly as the effects worked through him.
In the moment it had taken him to recover the hunters had collected themselves. When he moved they trained their aim back on him.
The leader was livid. "Who the Hell Did That!" he demanded. "This thing could have killed me dammit!"
-and from somewhere behind Luffy someone laughed.
"No," the gravelly voice said. "I'm a good shot captain."
Forcing his body to obey Luffy looked over his shoulder at the newcomer. Someone had snuck up on him while he was distracted by the group. They must be a good shot if they could hit him with a tranq from that distance. Good at camouflage as well. Luffy had messed up big time.
"I gave you orders!" The hunter lead was still barking. "Disobey me one more time Bluejam and I'll let this wolf have ya."
Luffy's blood turned to ice.
The man was still laughing as he crossed the field. He was close enough that they could see each other clearly now. The hunter's rotten smile only grew. He looked surprised. But also deeply pleased with himself.
"Oh, this ain't a wolf cap."
Luffy was frozen to the spot once more. Every instinct was screaming at him to run. He needed to go! They were going to catch him; they were going to hurt him- and then they were going to take everything from him. But still…. No matter how badly he wanted to he wouldn't let himself take one single step. Not until he knew the others would be okay.
"If it isn't little red," the man said as he stopped in front of Luffy. "All grown up now huh? Hell, I almost didn't recognize you. I'd know that ratty ol' hoodie of yours anywhere. Here we all were thinking you were dead. Eaten by a wolf-." He leaned closer and Luffy could smell his foul breath, stained with stale alcohol. "-Your little body scattered in bits across the forest. So completely that yer own father couldn't even find enough of you to recognize."
Luffy lunged at him, letting out a furious cry. His fist smashed straight into the side of Bluejams face. He felt it hit with a satisfying smack and Bluejam fell to the ground, still in shock. He wasn't used to Luffy fighting back.
Not nearly done yet Luffy stood over him, staring down at the man's surprised face. He looked scared. Luffy brought his boot down into the man's side as hard as he could and he yelled. He was about to do it again when the hunters opened fire.
The other hunters had finally been cued into the action and were quickly approaching. Luffy dove down into the grass, pressing his face into the dirt as he felt a bullet whoosh past the space he had just been. Bluejam lay beside him- eyes wide as he too came too close with a bullet for his liking.
"Don't shoot!" Bluejam swore.
"Don't worry, I'm a good shot too," the captain mocked as he approached.
Luffy clambered to his hands and knees, but before he could do anything more the captain's gun was on him again- point-blank range. There was no way to dodge it this time. Luffy looked up at the man's face.
"Someone's brave." The hunter remarked, dryly. "You say he's not a wolf? Vampire then?"
Bluejam clambered to his feet, looking rather furious with the turn of events. He stocked towards Luffy's crouched form, giving him a rough kick to the ribs. The force of the blow knocked Luffy onto his side. He moved to kick him again, but Luffy grabbed the oncoming ankle this time and twisted it with all his strength. Bluejam toppled to the ground once more- halfway onto of Luffy this time pinning him to the earth. He tried to free himself, but his arm was all but useless now and his body refused to obey him. Collecting whatever adrenaline, he had left Luffy squirmed and crawled himself free of the man. When he looked up, it was at the barrel of the captain's gun.
"You don't quit, do you? Enough now, that means you too bluejam."
The man swore furiously as he rose again.
"Is he a vampire?" The captain repeated the question.
"Maybe," he snarled. "He was human the last time I saw him- a hunter."
"Impossible."
Bluejam made to grab Luffy's wrist but immediately backed up when Luffy tried to bite him- snarling at both of them.
"Are you sure he's not a wolf?"
"You're as much of a pain in the ass as I remembered," the hunter said. He retrieved the dropped tranq gun and fired again- and again.
Luffy cried out in pain as the dart hit him in the shoulder, then the chest. He moved to take them out again but it took him several tries for his fingers to work right.
Bluejam would have fired again but the captain stopped him. "Those were made for wolves- you'll kill him."
"Nah- they're a low dose. We use these to confuse a wolf- make them more fun to chase. Limping and stumbling through the woods and stuff." He smiled. "Good training practice."
"If he's not a wolf-like you say, then you've just overdosed him pretty bad. I thought you wanted him alive?"
"It's fine," Bluejam snarled. "Kids apparently harder to kill than a cockroach. Now somebody tie him up before he tries something again and I do kill him."
The captain gestured two of the hunters forwards, turning to the others. "The rest of you after that woman! She gets away and it's all of our heads, understand."
Luffy heard the sound of engines as the bikes started up again. "No!" He tries to say but it came out more like a whine. It was all he could do to crawl forwards when his arms gave out and he fell into the dirt again.
Bluejam laughed. "Pathetic."
"St-Stop." Luffy groaned. He felt two sets of hands-on him as the hunters roughly grabbed his arms.
Luffy needed to protect them.
With a cry he moved his legs, wrapping them around the closest hunter's neck, dragging the man down with him as he thrashed around frantically.
The captain was quicker to act this time, bashing in Luffy's temple with the butt of his gun until his vision blacked out and he released the man. He fell back once more- feeling as if gravity was overpowered him Luffy tilted his head further back into the ground to watch the first dirt bike pass by, followed quickly by the others as they headed off into the tree line.
"No!" he whined. "St-"
His arms were wrenched back again and handcuffs snapped around his wrists, keeping them tied behind him.
"Feet too!" The captain snapped. "I'm not taking any chances with this one- he's part feral."
Luffy tried to kick out but between the four men his legs were pinned, and they had an easy time of binding his knees and ankles together.
He felt his mouth being wrenched open with someone's knife. The sheathe was still on but they warned him that any more biting and they could change that. Luffy didn't care. He bit down, all the same, trying to chew through the leather that forced his mouth open.
"Teeth are human enough." Someone above him said.
"Search him," Bluejam commanded. "Human or not he's a hunter. I doubt he's unarmed."
Luffy tried to growl again as the hands returned. He didn't want them to touch him- he didn't want to be pinned. He felt just like he did as a child. Defenseless, outmatched, and terrified. He could even fight back anymore. They were going to kill him this time- or worse, keep him.
The knife was taken out of his mouth as their attention moved to his hoodie. Luffy felt them undo his boots, finding his knife easily. Bluejam moved to his hoodie, unzipping it and pulling up the sleeve to show off the hunter mark on his wrist. "Told ya."
"You know him?"
"Oh yeah, Red here was trained by my unit. Right up until he disappeared." Bluejam snorted.
"Did he defect? Or did the vamps get to him?"
"Honestly, the whole vampire mind control thing is just a rumor," Bluejam was saying. "There's no such thing as magic. "Although- maybe they brainwashed him or something. I've heard it can happen to hunters. He was certainly gone long enough."
"We're taking him back to base," The hunter lead announced. "We'll sort it out there." He faltered a bit at the thought. "Does he have parents or a guardian or something we can call? He looks awfully young to go through the interrogation process."
"Leave it to me," Bluejam assured him. "My team can handle him."
Luffy hung onto their words, fighting to stay awake as they talked. Interrogation- he knew what that meant. They were going to hurt him. Were they going to all Dragon? No! They couldn't. This was because he fought with Ace, Luffy thought as he felt Bluejams rough hands on him again. The man was searching for more weapons. The collar of his hoodie was yanked off his shoulder and his shirt was pulled aside to show his neck.
"Vampire bite-" One of the hunters was saying, their voices drifting in and out of clarity. "He's bit."
"Looks like multiple times," Bluejam said as he found the older one. "Something was feeding off him. Maybe that's why they kept him alive. Emergency food.
Luffy had spent most of his life terrified of this moment. The moment the hunters took him back. It would be like waking up from a really- really long dream, to realize he had never escaped at all. He had feared it for so long- but he hadn't thought this day would come. Because he wouldn't let it. And because he thought his brothers would protect him. -But he fought with Ace. He was being punished. He had been bad.
Luffy gasped, feeling the panic overwhelm him. Bluejam misunderstood his fear and laughed.
"Oh- what's this. You're going to cry now? Do you think that's going to work? No kid, no one here is going to feel sorry for you. Not after the stunt you just pulled."
"Enough!" The other hunter cut off his taunts. "I said we're taking him back to sort this out and that's what we are going to do. This is over our heads."
Luffy would never see his family again. Ace wouldn't come for him, his sluggish mind told him. Not after the fight. Ace probably thought that if Luffy wanted to be with the humans so bad that he deserved to get his wish. -They weren't coming. Not this time.
All the hunters jumped when Luffy started to scream like he was dying. The noise pierced through the silent clearing.
"Shit!"
"What's wrong with him?"
"I'M SORRY!" Luffy's voice carried over the rest as he screamed to the treetops themselves. "I'M SORRY. DON'T LEAVE ME HERE."
"Shut up Shut up!" Bluejam shook him violently. "You're going to bring every god damn wolf in these woods down on us."
"AAAAACCCCEE!"
Still furiously cursing, Bluejam riffled through his belt, stabbing one of the tranquilizer darts straight into Luffy's neck. "I Told You to Shut UP!"
The captain pulled it out angrily, as Luffy's cries died down. "I Told You, Anymore and You're Going to Kill Him!" He threw the dart onto the ground in disgust. "We can't question a corpse. Go easy, he's one of us yeah."
"No," Luffy heard Bluejam say as darkness overtook him.
"-He was never one of us."
XXX
Once again, so sorry about the long wait. The good news is I am working really hard on the next one to two chapters right now as I am so excited by this.
This is part one of the arc I have been dying to get to since forever! And just for the record, Luffy does absolutely not owe Ace an apology. He's just panicking. Ace will make it up to him in this next part.
And like seriously! I have been wanting to write this forever! But I think it will probably be a handful of chapters long. And! Luffy gets reunited with a certain family member for a heart to heart.
I know I owe you quite a few chapters- more consistently this time. But if you guys want to leave me a comment and let me know I promise it helps remind me to put chapters out faster.
Expect the next chapter by the 23rd when I try to dump a ton of in-progress chapters at once. (Defenders, Tail of the Sea, TWRR, and EITDOP).
Anyways, please let me know your thoughts. What story you want updated first. And mostly if you guys need Franky and Brook cameos as well to complete the Straw hat set. (And maybe Jinbe.)
Happy October and stay warm and safe!
XXX
UnicornsThatGamble: Aw, that is so nice. And I say Casablanca fast so color me impressed! Haha. I am glad you like it. And oh my god! Adulting is so hard. Rent right! I'm over it.
Mjscev: Thank you. I'm glad you like it. I miss it too every time. So I am so happy to come back to it. But Every chapter I keep signing myself up for more plot points. The chapter turned out even darker than I thought it would. But hopefully it puts this one into perspective and why he is so scared. (Your opinion of Dragon will only fall haha). And thank you so much! I hope everything is going well for you too.
Onar27: Thanks! I have fun with it too. Lol, so I came up with it in highschool, walking home from school listening to the song wolf in sheeps clothing. The night before I read a creepy one shot OP fic where Ace, Sabo and Luffy like eat or kill Marco and Thatch when they get stranded in the woods. I imagined that scene in the first chapter when Marco knocks on the door and Luffy answers all happy and then Ace slams it. Haha, but since then it's kind of gotten away from me and taken on a life of it's own.
Your right to be mad at Ace. Probably for being a dick to Luffy in their fight. But he will try and make it up in this part. And yes! I think I already updated but I'm doing another Defenders update. And thank you again. Adulting is so hard. But worth it! I wish you well!
Random: Deal!
Fallon D. Jones: Yes! I will get a more in depth chapter about Luffy's full past and Shanks. I know we just started getting into that part.
MoustacheKiller: Your English is great! Wow, this must be annoying to binge. It is very long. I always get so excited to hear people still like it though! Protective brothers gives me life! Sorry to make you sad. I think I made myself cry too haha. That is such a nice thing to hear.
No! Dragon is the worst. Don't emphasize with him. He is awful, and he is just going to get worse. I am so sorry to hear about your dad. Luffy will always be saved by his brothers! No matter how dark things get! They will be there to cuddle him. I'll make sure to include Shanks again! He's still got a important job at the end.
And never! Long reviews are my favorite thing in the world! Thank you for such the nice comment. I will try to update again soon. I wish you all the good days!
LawPateameLaCara: Haha, I forget the plot too sometimes. And I have to go back and re-read.
Irene Sharda: Thank you! More on Law later. The goal is how he would act if he was instead raised by Doffy not Cora. Plus soul-less version.
Haha, I am also wondering how it's going to come together. I will certainly do my best to tie everything up. So -so many plot threads. And I keep making more for myself. But after this Arc I will start answering them one by one. I will continue!
Kringgalss: Thank you! That was fun wording! I'm glad you like evil law. He is a lot of fun. More on him and his obsession later! Hopefully I have time for some more Kidd too. Especially since I've been loving him in the manga lately.
Guest #2: Aw, thanks.
Guest #3: I'm just sorry the update took so long. I know I keep saying this. But I wil; be faster this time. Especially considering it's my favorite arc time!
SunsetDawn420: Of course! And yes. Thank you so much for reading and comment. Greetings back!
SvalbardGirl:
I love this story! It's fantasting and really interesting to read, just now i re-read the whole story from he start since it's been a while but i love it so much i would read the whole ting again without hesitation!
I'm excited for the new arc! I hope there will be drama, like dragon being convinced and determent that Luffy is brainwashed by Ace to hate him and turned against him and not believing luffy would willingly be keept away for so long and luffy just bitching at dragon that he is a jerkface and mean. Lu really is not all that good at insulting people, is he? haha, anyway, love the story and i'm looking forward to reading more of it!
Watching the rain fall: Yeah, that got so dark last chapter I surprised myself. Neither was I! I have been writing a lot of horror lately and I think I might have overdosed on it haha.
03Morgenstern09: Aw, that is so nice to hear. Of course. Thank you for reading.
AnimeAngel2692: Haha, because it was creepy. I need to lay off the horror books. I didn't intend the basement scene to be as intense as it turned. Luffy will be okay! If only the hunters would leave him alone now. And thank you! As always. For such nice reviews.
yukino76: Of course!
