Yan picked hopefully at the last few scraps of meat, but it was obvious that they had salvaged all they really could from the boar. A small crack from the trees had every officer's eyes dart round nervously, their weapons still by their sides. The fire crackled merrily illuminating the officer's sullen faces. All of them huddled together for warmth the sun only just rising behind them. Breaking the circle, Zhuge Liang rose to his feet, shaking his head sadly; he went as if to leave before turning back and addressing his fellow comrades.

"We can't continue this. Staying at camp all day, constantly afraid that something in the forest is coming for us. It's ridiculous. We are proud Shu generals and a coward will not defeat us." He paused and took a deep breath, Chao and Yun nodded in agreement, until they noticed the other was doing the same and stopped abruptly. "We need food, but I do not wish to risk anyone's lives. Three of us will go hunt a boar, the others will stay here and protect the camp."

At this there was a lot of angry muttering and moaning and Liang was forced to raise his voice to be heard. "Please, quiet down! I will lead this expedition and if anyone wishes to come along…"

Yun jumped to his feet, "My Lord, I would be honoured to…"

Chao cut across him, "Prime-Minister I would gladly give my…"

But Yan interrupted, "I'll go. I'm getting bored hanging around at camp."

"Very well then." Liang concluded, "Yan and Chao, come with me. Yun and Zhong stay here and protect Lady Ying."

At this Ying sprang to her feet, "Protect me! I can easily protect myself, which is more than you can say! When was the last time you manned the front line?" She screamed, her face red with adrenaline and anger. Liang gazed at her with his sorrowful eyes and she turned away, tears racing down her cheek. Yan went to put his arm round her but Liang stopped him with his fan.

"Yan. There is no time. We must leave now.

Yan nodded and the three of them grabbed their weapons and headed out into the forest. Yun sighed and sunk into the ground next to Zhong, Ying gave them both a contemptuous look and bustled off to being planting some seeds in her makeshift garden.

"Can't believe he chose Chao!" Yun said with disgust, "I mean he can hardly handle a spear."

"How come you guys are like this?" Zhong questioned.

"I'd rather not talk about it."

"Well rather him than me. You wouldn't catch me heading out into those woods. Not with murderers around."

"What about, "Proud Shu Generals"" Yun asked.

"Hmm, to be honest, I'd rather not die at the ends of a demon because I'm proud."

"A demon? What are you talking about?"

"Well," Zhong leaned closer as though trying to conceal a secret from Ying, I've seen this person in the woods."

"Who?"

"You remember that officer we fought at Hu Lao Gate? What was his name?"

"Lu Bu?"

"That was it… I think. Anyway, I saw him. In the forest."

At this Yun left out a laugh and Zhong looked thoroughly confused. "You're not serious?" But it was clear from Zhong's wrinkled old face that he was, "Lu Bu is dead. The Wei forces called him at Xia Pi. Didn't you hear about that?"

"I know what I saw," Zhong stated stubbornly.

"Ok," Yun giggled, "whatever you say, maybe it's about time you thought about retirement." And with that he excused himself from the conversation and went to help Ying with her garden.

Chao's spear glinted in the patches of sunlight that dotted the forest floor. Behind him Yan scythed through the thick undergrowth with his Voulage. Liang skulked at the back, his breathing slightly heavier than normal, watching for any signs of a boar.

"So how you feeling Yan?" Chao asked.

"Been better." Yan nodded in reply, "but I'll get over it." Yan thought he heard Liang let out a little snort behind him, but when he turned Liang looked focused on traversing the thick jungle. A snake or two slithered past them and birds flew overhead constantly but of boars; there was no sign. Every now and then Liang would notice a sign of boars; a scratched tree here a trampled plant there, and these clues seemed to point him in a certain direction, but after two hours of searching Yan began to feel less confident.

"So where are the boars Liang?" Yan called.

"I'll find them," Liang wheezed, panting for breath his brow deeply furrowed.

"Hmm, maybe you should hang back and we…" Chao began but Liang yelled over him, "how dare you! You know nothing! You could never catch yourself a boar so I'm doing it for you…" his breathing became erratic his face streaked with lines of perspiration. "You wheezing old…" Chao began, but Yan silenced them with his outstretched arm. Liang heard the crashing noise in the distance. Chao raised his spear to his shoulder; Yan lowered his body clasping his voulage with both hands. The crashing got closer, snorts could be heard, the three officers faltered slightly at the evident size of the beast. Suddenly the creature burst through the trees surging straight past Chao and skirting round Liang. Yan jumped at it, swinging his voulage but failed and merely struck a nearby tree. Liang gave a heavy sigh as they watched the boar disappear from sight. Chao dropped to the ground exasperated, Yan cursed and stamped his foot.

Then, from the trees came a second boar, slightly smaller than the first. Chao, still on his hands and knees stabbed at it with his spear. It caught the boar in the side of the leg causing it to slide to a halt knocking Liang to the floor. Yan darted in slicing the boar's stomach with his Voulage. Liang rose to his feet slowly, his head spinning. His legs felt rubbery and he suddenly felt very weak.

"We did it!" Chao cheered, "We… are you ok?" Chao stared worriedly at Liang's complexion. Liang staggered slightly before falling to the floor beside the boar, completely unconscious.

Yun dropped the small brown seeds into the carefully dug hole. Ying nodded encouragingly to him and he let out a little smile of satisfaction. Compared to gardening Yun found a battle a piece of cake. Ying finished the last hole and stood up to admire their hard work. The garden wasn't large and was hardly grand but she hoped it would soon produce fruit and that would definitely be useful and help them to stop relying on catching boars. Although she would never admit it to Liang she was worried about him heading off into the forest to catch boars. After what happened to Jiang Wei she didn't want to risk anyone else, after all Ping and Fei were still gone and she worried they might have suffered the same fate as Wei.

Yun suddenly burst into laughter and nudging Ying, pointed over to the edge of the beach. What Ying saw filled her with happiness once more again. Making their way across the beach towards them were Fei and Ping. They both had a few cuts and bruises but besides that they looked healthy and happy. Ying hurried over to them, grinning.

"Well look who it is!" Fei called. Ying giggled pulling them both into a firm hug tears travelling down her face.

"Ying? Are you okay?" Ping asked.

"Yes. I'm just so glad you two are okay." She replied.

"Of course we're ok what could have harmed us?" Fei laughed but Ying glanced away sadly, "anyway I almost forgot. We brought along a couple of friends." Ying looked at them, confused, before she spotted the figures stepping out onto the beach. First came Sun Ce with his wife Da Qiao, her dark hair still held up in intricate plaits. Then came Zhou Yu and his wife Xiao Qiao, the smaller of the two sisters her hair was tied in a high ponytail. Following them was the large, muscular Huang Gai and the scrawny strategist Lu Xun.

Ying could hardly believe it. She had never thought for a moment that Wu would be the on the island as well but seeing them here made her realise all the more how real there situation was.

"Ying…" Ce began but with a look from Yu he started again, "Lady Yue Ying, I have come to ask you if we could camp together. My wife has nursed young Guan Ping to health and he has convinced us that we would be safer if we stayed together."

"Safer?" Yun questioned.

"Yeh," Ping blurted out, "there are people on this island. They took Shang Xiang and they killed Quan!" Fei hit Ping to tell him to be quiet and he noticed Ce's usually cheery demeanour fall for a moment.

"We are not without our share of tragedy," Yun began, Fei and Ping looked at him strangely only just noticing that there were only three Shu officers at the camp. "Our friend Jiang Wei was ambushed in the forest," at this Ping gasped and Fei swore loudly, "he died."

"And the others?" Fei demanded.

"They're okay. They've gone into the forest to hunt down food."

The Wu officers all looked troubled at the two Shu officers and the other one stumbling towards them. It was obvious they had been expecting something slightly more impressive and they seemed almost as if they were about to turn back before Zhong called cheerily, "Good to see you! The more the merrier." And at this simple statement the Wu officers and the Shu Officers looked to one another and nodded. Yun and Yu shook hands, Ce kissed Ying's hand, which made Da glow red, and Gai and Zhong began to share old veteran's stories. It was as though they were all one family.

Suddenly a gasp brought them all from their happy conversation. Chao fell to his hands and knees; a boar slung over his shoulder. Behind him Yan dragged an unconscious Liang. The group pelted them with questions.

"What happened?"

"Was it the others?"

"Is Liang dead?"

But Ying remained quiet, hardly daring to breath, merely staring in horror at the still form of Liang.

"Are you gonna be alright?" Yan asked worriedly.

"Of course," Ying replied bravely, "you go sit with the others." Reluctantly Yan left the tent and headed off to sit around the fire with the rest of the camp. Ying loved to watch Liang sleep. She had missed him in the few days of their separation. She stroked her hand across Liang's cheek and was reminded of how she had acted similarly when Yan had been injured. Could you love two people?

"My dear…" Liang croaked. Ying had not been aware he had woken up but at the sound of his voice she grinned and kissed him upon the forehead. "Have I been forgiven?" He rasped.

"No way!" Ying cried indignantly, "but I can be angry with you when you're healthy again."

Liang laughed before lapsing back into a series of coughs, he reached out his hand and Ying grasped it firmly in her own. "It seems I've caught whatever you had." Liang whispered. At this, Ying burst into laughter.

" I highly doubt that. I don't think it's quite possible." She giggled. Liang gave her a bemused expression and she returned a watery smile.

"Whatever do you mean, my dear?"

"Greatest mind under heaven and you can't work it out?" Ying laughed. "Here let me help." Taking his hand she slid it down her body to touch her belly. Ying's eyes crinkled as her smile lengthened. "Can you feel it? I'm not ill, I'm pregnant," she whispered.

"I'm the luckiest man in the world," Liang croaked a tear forming in his eye, "but how will you…?"

"No, no, no!" Ying interrupted, "you can't worry about me, until you get better."

Liang smiled and Ying kissed him again. "I love you Ying," he sighed.

"I know."

Another chapter is finished!

I wanna say a big thanks to:

Super Sailor Vegeta Sei

Koeigirl

Thanx for your reviews please keep them coming!

Hope you enjoyed!