Matt headed straight for the trees at a solid run, nose picking up the old trail easily. *Her trail is slathered in Coyote's stench...*
*I'm gonna kill him..*
*He took her from the yard... I could smell it. He lingered for an hour before grabbing her and running...*
*I'm really gonna kill him.."
*Just try to get her out of there first... She doesn't need to see it.*
Al continued to follow behind. If he even so much as touched her in a wrong way..
Considering this was the creature that bedded his own daughters, he wouldn't have any qualms about having her for his mate, Matt was sure... He sprinted as fast as he could, tracking constantly.
*Jez I know he had the whole night but how far did he go?*
*The tracks are winding... He's tried to throw us off... Wait!* He switched directions suddenly, running into the wind. Al skidded a bit in his turn, nearly falling.
They ran into a clearing just in front of a cave. Firelight flickered inside, illuminating two bodies, one struggling desperately beneath the other.
"You're DEAD!" Al ran inside.
Coyote looked up, clawed fingers still hooked in the waistband of Ro's leggings. "You found me?!"
Al tackles him off Ro to the other side of the cave. He tumbled with a grunt and a snarl, trying to roll in the fall so he landed on top. Al kicked at him from underneath. Coyote slashed with his claws at the same time, aiming to rip his face in two. The kick lessened the attack to a bad scratch.
Al winced wiping his face. Coyote reared back for another attack but a huge paw struck the side of his head, bowling him onto the floor. Matt snarled, half transformed with rage.
Al scrambled over to Ro. "You alright?!"
She just turned her back on him, curling up and shivering. Her clothes were torn and bloodied, scratches marring her shoulders and hips, tears staining her face. Bruises dotted around her skin, but from what he could see, Coyote hadn't quite gotten his way.
He hugs her close. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm so sorry.."
She resisted for a moment but ended up hugging back tightly, trembling.
"I'm sorry.. I looked.. I promise I did.."
She choked a sob, hiccupping softly. Matt growled again, sat on a battered Coyote behind them. Al rocked holding her close.
*Pick her up... We need to get her home.*
Al lifted her up and they started out. After they left a shadow fell over Coyote. The wild man looked up with a sense of dread.
"Honey~" Coyote Woman had a sickly sweet smile. "If you were so curious on how babies worked you could have just asked~"
He paled, a simpering smile curling at his lips. "I was simply expanding my social boundaries."
She chuckles menacingly.
"You know, I never took you for the jealous type my dear, but if you're feeling neglected..."
"Oh I don't think you'll be getting any for a while. There's this little spell of yours I'd like to try~"
"You wouldn't dare!"
"Try me~"
A strong gust of wind whipped through and Coyote vanished on the breeze.
"Oh you're not getting away that easy." She disappeared as well.
Back with the twins Al trudged along hanging onto Ro protectively. His face still dripped slightly from that scratch. Matt walked ahead, leading them back home. He was unaware of the injury. Ro however could feel the blood landing on her bruised shoulder. She looked up and gave a gasp of horror.
Al just smiles at her. Did something happen to his glasses? His vision was a little fuzzy..
Ro just paled, turning into a ghost. "M-Mattie...!"
Matt turned at her frightened squeak, cussing when he saw his brother. "Holy shit!"
"What?"
"You're bleeding bad.." he rushed back to them, Taking Ro and sitting her against a tree before guiding Al down next to her. "How well can you see?"
"M' fine.." That is until Al collapsed into a dead sleep. The stress of the last few weeks and ignoring his own needs did little to help his already poor health. This recent little excursion and the soul walk was too much.
Matt bit back his distress, trying not to panic when Al passed out. "Ro, can you walk?"
"I-I think so?"
Matt just nodded, hefting Al up on to his shoulders before grabbing her hand and taking off at a run.
Francis was outside waiting worriedly. Arthur paced between the litters and Francis, unable to stay still.
Matt stumbled into the yard, Ro stumbling behind him, lungs screaming for air. Matt just carried on towards his parents. "We need Arthur now!"
Francis took off into the house searching. Arthur was in the lounge, trying to soothe his nerves. Francis pulls him upright and tugs him along.
"What the-" Arthur started, thoroughly confused until he saw the state Al was in. "Fuck... Bring him in, now."
Al was taken to the couch. He seemed slightly pale, more sick than from blood loss. It was hard to tell through the blood he had lost. Arthur kicked out everyone but Matt, knowing he wouldn't leave anyway - and set about cleaning him up. There wasn't anything coming off him mentally. Too tired to even dream.
Once the scratches were cleaned and wrapped - thankfully they didn't need stitches, Arthur sat back with a sigh. "As far as I can tell, he just needs to rest..."
Matt sighs sitting next to him. "He's been slipping again hasn't he.."
"Seems so..." Arthur shook his head "Fretting over those eggs no doubt..."
Matt pets Al's hair. "I'll go put him in bed.. Could you check with Ro? She got pretty banged up.."
"Of course," he smiled sadly, getting up to tend his next patient. "I'll be about if you need me."
"Thanks.." Matt picked up his twin and headed upstairs.
Arthur went back to the kitchen to find Francis and Ro.
Francis had her sat at the table, attempting to clean her up with a damp cloth. He managed her arms and face, but ended up panicking uncontrollably if he tried to shift any of her clothing. He frowns worriedly, implications of what it meant weighing uncomfortably.
Arthur slipped into the room, quickly reading the situation with a sense of dread in the pit if his stomach. "Was she..."
"Hard to tell.. She hasn't said anything.."
Arthur frowned softly, coming over to her. "Ro... We need to see, sweetie..." she shook her head firmly.
Francis grips her hand gently. She gripped back tightly, other hand clamped to the hem of her shirt.
"Ro.. We just want to know you're alright.."
"H-he scratched m-me... B-but Al got there b-b-before..." she hiccupped, scrubbing her eyes.
Francis pet her hair hushing softly. She trembled, stifling her sobs as best she could. "Why don't you go clean up and change and we'll make you something to drink alright?"
She nodded softly, tears still in full flow.
"Come on poppet," Arthur took her hands, coaxing her up. "I won't do anything you're uncomfortable with, but it'll do you good to be in something clean."
Francis set about the kitchen, none of them had eaten yet this morning really. The others slipped off to the loo.
A while later Francis had a simple meal fixed up along with a pot of tea. Arthur guided Ro back, the fae now clean and calmed down in a big cozy jumper. Arthur smiled warmly, rubbing her arm. "All better."
Francis smiles as Matt trails down with Gil and Ivan. Matt went straight to Ro, pulling her into his arms. She snuggled in instantly. They all gather round and eat grateful that things had finally been resolved, even with less than desirable circumstances.. Now they just had to gather the pieces and stick them back together... And figure out what they were going to do with the zoo they now had.
They finished up and gathered the plates, Francis handing Matt the one that still had food on it. Matt smiled sadly and took it up to Al.
Too bad when he got there the room was empty..
Panic bubbled in his chest instantly. *Alfred?*
Gloomy vibes was all that answered. But he was definitely still somewhere in the house. Matt set the plate down, trying to follow the vibes until he found him.
He got lead to Ro's room. Al lay on the bed, face nosed up against the nest resting on the sheets while one of the chicks pecked at his hair and glasses curiously.
Matt slipped in silently, heart panging. He perched on the bed, petting his hair gently *Hey...*
*Hi..*
*Talk to me...*
*..it shouldn't have happened..*
*None of it should... But it all did and we have to accept that...* Matt fiddled with a stray lock of hair.
He sighs tracing the designs on the comforter. *If it wasn't for this whole mess she wouldn't have been pushed out..*
*We're all to blame...*
*...How is she..?*
*Shaken? Arthur managed to clean her up and get her to eat, but she'd been crying a lot and she's still shaking...* there was no point lying about it...
*...He didn't actually make it did he..?*
*No... Nearly, but you stopped him... Though I think he still scarred her emotionally...*
Al closed his eyes burying his face a moment. Matt just lay behind him, wrapping him in a hug. They sat there for a little bit, the chicks sat in the nest huddled together with their unhatched siblings peeping softly.
*Is it bad to say part of me wishes we'd never met her...?*
*I know.. If we hadn't she wouldn't have lost so much.. But she wouldn't be around now either..*
*She wouldn't have to live with so much weighing on her heart... She lost her first family then her second ignored her...*
Al sighs hugging him back.
They tended to forget or gloss over her pain because nation issues kept arising, but if you stopped to think about it for a moment, there was no wonder the poor girl was probably depressed...
*How do we even make it up to her..?*
*I don't know anymore... We might as well just start kicking her for all the good we've been lately...*
They sat rocking softly. Oblivious to the fact the oldest chick had tumbled off the side of the nest and onto the bed to get closer to them.
It was only when something fluffy brushed his fingers that Matt realized. *Oh! Al, you've got a runaway.*
He turns slowly picking it up. *That reminds me.. Have you talked to Bear yet?*
*Briefly. I've been distracted...*
Al lay on his back setting the chick on his chest. *Well I saw something interesting when I was talking to him.*
*He's okay, right?* The worry was plain to hear.
*He's fine, just had a little cub with him in there. Looked just like the one that got hurt.*
Matt stopped, gasping softly. *Really?*
*Yep.*
Matt brimmed with a muddle of emotions. He quickly went to see, slumping as he went inside of himself. Al lay there keeping the chick occupied. He was still thinking about Ro though..
Everything she'd been through... It was all his fault, wasn't it... He'd been Nate's first target, he'd scared her by losing control of Eagle, broken her heart by shooting down her brave advances, pushed her out of the family... And now this...
He wouldn't be surprised if she wanted to up and leave him.. But where would she even go? This was all she had...
He sighs closing his eyes. No matter what he did, he was just going to hurt her... He set the chick back in the nest and curled up hugging himself.
It was a few minutes before Matt woke again, smiling warmly. Al glanced over to him.
"My cub's going to be okay..."
"That's good."
"Are you okay...?"
"Yeah.."
*You sure...? You look like you're about to cry...*
Al sighs leaning into him. Matt hugged him tight, sighing sympathetically. He felt horrible. Both physically and emotionally.. Matt could sense it but he had no clue how to fix it...
They lay there for a while. Al near to nodding off again.
*Rest if you want, I'll watch the chicks.*
He didn't want to, he wanted to see Ro. But his body told him otherwise, drifting off. Matt slumped tiredly, exhausted himself. Ro still wasn't in a very good state... Maybe seeing would have helped?
The chicks peeped softly in their nest. The eggs needed to be warmed back up as well. Matt sighed and set about what he needed to do. Al seemed to be more sick now than he was after the cubs.. Everything was going downhill again...
Oh he forgot about that plate.. He cussed to himself quietly. They'd have to get him to eat later. Keep an eye on him to see that he does.
There was so damn much going on right now...
Gil caught up to Matt in the hall. One look at his face and he pulled the blonde into a hug. Matt burrowed in, trying to swallow back his tears.
"What's wrong Birdie?"
"It's just too much..."
Gil rubs his back gently, leading him off to sit. Matt trudged along, just needing to cling for a while. Gil sat him down and hugged him close playing with his hair. Matt huddled in, just letting himself cry quietly for a little while.
At least everyone else was healthy now. Might help Al and Ro some. They just needed to calm down..
Gil sat holding Matt, letting him vent. When he finally puttered out, he sat back, rubbing his eyes tiredly.
"Better?"
"Yeah..." Now he just looked exhausted.
Gil smiles pecking him softly. He smiled weakly, hugging him tight.
"Come on, I think you could use a break."
"Where are we going...?"
"Well we could go outside, off to town, or.." He grins slyly.
Matt chuckled soft. "You might have to put me in the mood."
"Town it is then! Come on get your shoes!"
Matt just smiled and went to find shoes. They jumped into Matt's car and drive off.