Titanium

Author's notes: We had a really good reaction last night guys, I'm glad you all seemed to enjoy our Neville's location, Animagus, and his attitude. I'm really pleased with how this past chapter turned out, but I'm not so sure about this one. I want you to know that I really love it when you lot read my story, even just seeing my hit count go up makes my heart flutter. In this chapter we're still with Neville, but he makes contact! I hope you enjoy this chapter as I enjoyed writing it! –CJG

Warning: Homosexual relationships, dark themes, violence, language, and angst. If you don't like, please don't read.

Chapter Eight: Protector of the Forest

Characters: Neville Longbottom. Location: Mirkwood Forest.

He stalked deep through into the forest, not really caring just how lost he was. He had found himself munching on a hare after his hunger had gotten the best of it. He felt a bit horrid afterwards, regretting taking the life of a creature that could have had a family back in its nest. He didn't stop, he didn't even lower his graceful skull when he felt his pads touch water, not wanting to risk poison, or unknown bacteria that could be lurking within the seemingly innocent substance.

Anyone who saw the beast at Hogwarts would know instantly exactly who the feline was. After developing his Animagus with the rest of DA, he was almost too well known in the school. They all saw him as the king, they saw him as the King of Lions, the cub of Gryffindor. He wasn't toadless Neville any longer; he wasn't bumbling about the castle in attempt to find that odd feeling of acceptance any longer. He was prowling through a forest of nightmares, full of creatures bigger than himself, yet that still trembled in fear simply as he walked past. He was willing to kill now, he had killed and he knew that he would likely have to again. Taking any kind of creature's life was something that Neville struggled with at the beginning of the war, but after an attack on his cottage, after all the countless scars that covered his body from other humans he learned that survival was the key. He learned that often death was given first to those who did not deserve it, and that the good always seemed to die young.

Maybe he wasn't good.

Not anymore at least. Sure. Neville had his shining moments, his deep moments of innocence, and of fear. In fact just under that mask of power and indifference he was trembling. If someone was looking closely just then, they would see that trembling little boy terrified of being left alone. Horrified that the evil witch was going to tear down his castle, break down his walls, and kill his parents, drive them to insanity. Break him with crucio once again. He wasn't good not mentally at least, Harry had seen firsthand at just how unstable Neville could be at times, how even the most wild of lions could snap.

Maybe that's why he didn't die with them.

A crashing through the forest ripped Neville out of his musing, tearing him out of his hectic world of thoughts. He jumped, obviously startled, he heard voices. Angelic voices ringing out in a language he did not understand that were clearly laced with panic. His lip curled in distaste but he turned, head bending him out of his defensive position, no longer ready to run away from battle but toward it.

His body stretched out as he leapt forward, his talons digging into the earth to give him more traction, to give him more speed. He dodged trees that seemed to be everywhere, his muscles rippled underneath the fine fur of his pelt. Charging as fast as his body would allow toward the commotion, towards the frantic clashing of metal and flesh. The shrieks of an unknown beast hitting the air, and filling Neville with a sense of possessiveness. This was his forest as of now, and any creature that was causing these angels pain was going to die.

He found himself skidding to a stop just outside of a rather large clearing. The sight that he found was almost disturbing in his beastly eyes, and pulled something deep from within, something that only his beast would feel. The urge to kill.

Panic was right, there were a few dead equine sprawled out across the forest floor, the smell of blood and death in the air. A large pack of animals that looked roughly like rogue overly large hyenas were attacking a group of foreign creatures who were rattling off orders, and battle cries in a different language. Some of their kind lay crushed under a few of the wild beasts, and even under the equine. At first he had taken them as all being female, long flowing hair, graceful movements and features, long cloaks and robes covering their pale inhuman flesh. It was after a few moments of staring completely entranced that he noticed a very noble looking "angel" was laying on the ground, scrambling to get his legs back underneath him as the alpha of the pack of beasts approached him.

Neville didn't get a chance to look that angelic creature over; if he had he would have felt even more deadly. If he had his attack on the creature that stood over the Elf would have been far more horrifying than it was already. If he had simply looked down, he likely would have lost his future mate. He didn't though, not taking notice of anything, simply letting out a soul shattering roar as he moved. Long agile limbs pulling him closer to that alpha and pulling the hyena like beast's attention away from the blonde Elf lying dumbly on the floor, gaping over his shoulder at the unknown creature that was coming to his rescue.

He collected himself, with one final roar, and took flight as he leapt over the Elf who still sat shell shocked on the ground.

A/N: I really don't have much to say right now besides the fact that I won't be home until late Sunday. I wanted to update, even if it is a short little bastard of an update. I hope you lot can forgive this tiny morsel of an update! But Like I said, I wanted to leave us on a cliff hanger so you all can hate me when I don't update as Neville next chapter! Ha-ha, I'm Satan aren't I? Love you all! See you either on Sunday evening or Monday afternoon. I'm going to be fully embracing SUMMER! Woot! Last day of college is tomorrow! – CJG