Chapter 2 - Finding Friends but Losing Family

~Couple years before~

"Ludwig, come on," Gilbert called out, "get out of the lake."

"Okay bruder," Ludwig responded, once he was out he shook his hair dry then put his clothes back on.

"Come on we still have to get food," Gilbert rushed.

"Okay, okay," Ludwig said as he ran up to his brother.

As the two walked through the woods Gilbert couldn't help but to panic, quickly scanning the area, he heard gun shots last night and it frightened him to think that poachers could still be lurking around. As he looked around once more he noticed a lack of little brother around him. Now he was really frighten, Ludwig was nowhere to be found, and there could be poachers around ready to find and kill him.

"Ludwig," Gilbert said, he wanted to shout but feared anybody else hearing him, "Ludwig." Gilbert jumped as something grabbed his hand he turned to see Ludwig, but before Gilbert could say something Ludwig ran off, dragging Gilbert behind him. The two stopped behind a tree. "Whats going on, why did you leave?" Gilbert asked. Ludwig only pointed forward, Gilbert looked and gasped as he saw a small child with a pair of small brown wings, Gilbert immediately recognized the boy. He was the little boy his two friends Elizabeta and Roderich were looking after, if he was alone what happen to them? Gilbert placed a hand on Ludwig's head, Ludwig looked up to his brother. "Stay here," Gilbert whispered, then he began to slowly walk up to the boy. "Hey there," Gilbert greeted, the boy jumped back, "remember me? I'm a friend." The little boy wiped his eyes, turn immediately jumped forward wrapping his arms around Gilbert proceeded to cry on him. This frightened Gilbert, he knew that this kids had a tendency to cry a lot, but what if something did happen to Elizabeta and Roderich?

Ludwig watched as his brother calmed the child down then got up and walked the boy towards Ludwig. "Ludwig this is Feliciano, he'll be staying with us from now on."

"What!" Ludwig exclaimed, "but bruder we have a hard enough time finding food for ourselves sometimes, and-"

Gilbert then put his hand on Ludwig's head spinning him around and pushing him forward, "no negotiating, we're heading back home."

"But we haven't found food," Ludwig argued.

"I'll look for some while you two stay home, besides it will give you guys a good chance to get to know each other," Gilbert said.

Later that day Ludwig sat on the edge of the cliff where his home, which was a small cave, lied as he waited for his brother to return. Ludwig turned as he saw Feliciano walk up to him, sitting on the edge next to him.

"Thank you," Feliciano mumbled.

"Thank my bruder, not me," Ludwig responded.

"I hope I'm not too much of a problem," Feliciano said.

"If my brother thinks you should stay, then I'm find with it. Most of my bruder's idea don't back fire, that badly. Uh, I was quite surprised to see you alone, I know some of us travel alone, but never that young."

"I wasn't originally alone, I had two people watching over me."

"Had?" Ludwig asked.

"Well, you see it happened when we were walking through the woods, we heard gun shots and ran for it, but when we were running I looked and saw I was all alone, I had lost them. Elizabeta told me that if we ever got separated to stay in one place and they would find me, but they never did. Then you guys found me the next day," Feliciano explained.

"Oh," Ludwig mumbled, then leaned back looking up at the sky. "I'm sure we'll find your friends."

~Almost a year later~

"Are you sure we should be here alone," Feliciano said as he dragged his hand through the lake water.

"Yeah, it's close to home, and I know this great stop to hide if anybody comes by," Ludwig reassured.

"You mean poachers?" Feliciano asked.

"Just anybody, anybody that isn't suppose to be here."

The a loud crunching and snapping noise followed by a thud caught the two boys attention.

"Did you hear that?" Ludwig asked as the two boys turned around to the woods behind them.

"If I say no can we ignore it?" Feliciano replied scared of what caused the noise.

"I'm checking it out," Ludwig declared then ran off.

"Ah, wait don't go!" Feliciano exclaimed.

"If your so scared stay there," Ludwig called out.

Seconds went by as Feliciano watched Ludwig run out of sight, before jumping up and running after him, "wait up! Don't leave me alone!" Feliciano yelled.

"Do you have any idea where we are going?" Feliciano asked as the two wandered the woods.

"The sound was pretty loud so it couldn't be far," Ludwig said. Ludwig stopped as he felt a pile of sticks break under his bare feet, he looked down to see the tree was surrounded by broken branches and fallen leaves. Ludwig looked up to the tree was damaged as if something had hit it causing the branches to fall. Ludwig was then pushed as a distracted Feliciano slammed into him, causing Ludwig to jerk forward. Once Ludwig had his balance again he finally saw was cause the noise and mess. Ludwig and Feliciano stood there staring at the little black haired boy with little matching black wings lying face down unconscious on the ground, covered in sticks and leaves. The two boys immediately started to taking the branches off the boy, as then did Feliciano stopped in horror staring at his hands. Ludwig looked up as Feliciano showing his hands, covered in blood. Ludwig looked over to see the little boy's shoulder covered in blood.

Gilbert looked up as he saw Ludwig and Feliciano land on the cliff carrying a little boy between them. "Ah, what the hell?" Gilbert exclaimed as the two boys dropped to their knees, Ludwig immediately got up and ran to Gilbert.

"Bruder, we found this boy in the woods, he's really hurt," Ludwig heaved.

"Oh jeez what is with you finding kids in the woods, do have some kind of radar?"

Hours later as Ludwig and Feliciano sat in the cave watching after the boy.

The boy's mind was hazy as he heard two voices around him.

"Do you think he's alright?"

"Bruder said that wound wasn't that deep, and I think he's breathing."

"Is he going to stay with us too?"

"It's not really my decision, but knowing my bruder, most likely."

The boy began to slowly open his eyes as he saw two figures over him. A couple of soft moans and grunts alerted the two boys of his awakening.

The blonde boy gasped, quickly standing up from beside him. "He's awake!" Then ran off shouting for something.

The boy turned to see the other boy with messy brunette hair, "how do you feel?" The brunette asked. The boy slowly tried to sit up, wincing at the sudden pain in his chest. The brunette immediately started to panic, "hey if your still in pain, don't try to move."

"Where's my brothers and sisters?" The boy asked.

"Wha- wait you were with your family!" Feliciano exclaimed.

"I was with them, but we got attacked, and I got," the boy paused looking over at his bandaged shoulder, "shot."

"My friend and I found you lying in a forest, we think you crashed through a tree," Feliciano explained.

"Friend?" The boy asked.

"Surprised that he's awake already," Gilbert said as he and Ludwig approached the boy.

"This boy was with his family," Feliciano exclaimed, "but a poacher shot him separating him from his family."

"Damn that's gotta suck," Gilbert commented. Gilbert then knelt down in front of the boy, "so, kid, what's your name?"

"Kiku," the child mumbled.

"Well Kiku, it's too bad to hear about your family, we'll help you find them, until we do, you can stay with us," Gilbert said.

"Bruder!" Ludwig exclaimed.

"What, you want me to just send this poor, injured kid out alone?" Gilbert asked.

"No," Ludwig mumbled.

"Thought so," Gilbert smirked.

~Year and a half later~

Gilbert looked out across the land from the cliff they called home, it had a great view. Even though he couldn't see the kids when the were on land he could see the lake and the forest. With the restrictions he set if anything happen he could get there quickly. According to Ludwig and the kids they were at the lake, the children did like playing over there.

Gilbert turned to go back inside the cave when a low rumbling noise caught his attention, he turned around to see a Jeep driving through. Gilbert began to panic, cars never get this close to them, the camp ground are a lot further back. Then the gears finally clicked together as Gilbert realized that they weren't campers, they were poachers. Without hesitation Gilbert jumped off the cliff, he had to get to the boys before it was too late.

Ludwig sat on the large boulder on the shore of the lake, watching Feliciano and Kiku have contest for who could hold their breath the longest. A strange noise from behind him caught his attention, he turned around to something heading their way. Ludwig leaped from the rock into the lake grabbing Feliciano and Kiku up from under the water. Both stood up confused by the sudden panic.

"What's wrong?" Feliciano asked.

"We have to leave, NOW!" Ludwig demanded.

However before any of them could move, a shot was fire. The three boys turned to see three men standing by the lake, each carrying fire arms. Another shot was fired at the lake, towards the boy, Ludwig jumped back to avoid the shot.

"Just come in, nice and slowly, and you won't get hurt," the man who shot the lake said.

Before any of the child could make a move, the man feel to his feet as Gilbert jumped in, kicking the man in the jaw.

"Brud-" Ludwig was interrupted as he watched Gilbert get shot in the stomach.

"FUCK!" Gilbert shouted as he fell to the ground.

The lead man stood back up wiping the blood from his mouth, "damn, get the kids, and remember, keep them alive."

The two other men slowly walked up to the kid in the hopes they would stay, frozen in fear.

"Get out of here!" Gilbert shouted.

"But, bruder," Ludwig protested.

"Damn it Ludwig," Gilbert sneered, "for once don't argue, just get the fuck out of here!"

"Oh, shut up!" The man hissed as he hit Gilbert in the head with the back of this gun, knocking Gilbert out.

Each of the boys jumped from the water, snapping their wings out in an effort to escape. However they didn't get far before one of the men threw a noose tied rope catching Feliciano around his throat. He gagged and choked as he struggled to get away.

Ludwig and Kiku turned to see Feliciano in distress, "Kiku, go, I'll try to help." Ludwig ordered, but before Kiku could protest Ludwig pushed him back flying off to help Feliciano who was currently being pulled closer to one of the men. Feliciano was kicking and struggling as the man tried to get a grip on the child. Ludwig manage to finally get his hands on Feliciano to help him, but wasn't able to do much when the man pulled out a pocket knife jabbing it in Ludwig's side. Ludwig cursed in pain as he released his grip on Feliciano falling down into the lake. His breathing shallower as he held his side, watching helpless as his two friends were dragged down, and knocked out. Blood began to slip through his fingers and flood into the lake, as his vision became blurred. The last thing Ludwig saw was a shadowed figure in the woods run off before he couldn't hold consciousness anymore.

A/N:

I don't know why this took so long to write, just kept procrastinating it. However consistent nagging from a friend to get it done motivated me. Even though it is a bit choppy with the time skips I hope you like it.

Anyway, any comments are appreciated!

Until next time!

~Silent Fangirl