Kai: Hey guys! ^-^ Geez you guys are hard on Light O.o I think she went easy on him XD Seeing as if he touched it more petals would fall and she would die faster XD Remember Prologue XD?

Lightning: -.-

Hope: O.o

Kai: Anyways ^-^ I hope you guys enjoy this chapter! :D Let the bonding begin. Sorry it is so short XD

Chapter 5: Bonding

Hope stared at the wolves that surrounded him. He yelped when one launched out and tried to bite him, but he quickly managed to smack the wolf away. He stood and backed away but he was soon knocked down by a large grey wolf, snarling hungrily. Hope closed his eyes, preparing for the fangs to sink in his flesh but he suddenly heard a roar. He opened his eyes and looked over his shoulder to see Lightning hitting the wolf off of him. She growled as she stood on all fours over him protectivly. The wolves circled them and growled, licking their lips. Lightning looked at them coldly then launched into battle.

She hit a wolf in the head and smacked it into another one. A wolf jumped onto her back and bit her throat, though she quickly grabbed the wolf by the scruff and threw it off. She snarled as the large pack of wolves bombarded her with claws and fangs, but she had some too. She raged wildly as she threw off the wolves, hitting them against trees or other wolves. Snapping her jaws on one wolf's neck and shook it and punched another in the snout. Hope watched, his eyes wide with amazement and fear as he watched the battle. Lightning was severly out numbered, but it seemed she was doing perfectly fine in fighting the wolves off.

Finally, once she hit a wolf to the ground, with a loud whimper the wolves retreated deeper into the forest. Lightning snorted then turned her cold gaze to Hope who was a few feet away. He flinched a bit at her gaze but he watched her suddenly grow tired and fall to the ground unconcious. Hope quickly stood and ran over to the now standing Chocobo, about to mount the bird but stopped himself, his hands on the birds back. He looked back at the unconcious beast who had saved his life. He couldn't just leave her here after that. He sighed then went over to her then used all his strength to get the beast onto the Chocobo's back. He wrapped his cape around her then grabbed the Chocobo's reigns and led them back to the castle.

~The Castle~

Hope was buisily tending to Lightning's wounds in the room with the fireplace. The beast sat in the large chair while Hope was sitting on the floor, getting some clean water ready. The animals were in front of the fireplace, staring curiously at their master. Having been surprised that Lightning just shot out of the castle then had come back unconcious. Lightning was licking a large gash on her left arm while Hope took a washcloth and looked at her.

"Um... don't do that... it isn't good for the wound." Hope said and resisted the urge to flee when Lightning growled and held her arm away from him. Hope looked determined though. He quickly tried to put the wet washcloth on the beasts injury who was buisly trying to avoid it.

"Just.... hold.... still!" Hope said and managed to get the wet washcloth on the gash. Making Lightning hiss loudly and growl. The animals jumped at the icy cold eyes that she shot Hope.

"That hurt." Lightning growled.

"Well if you wouldn't move so much it wouldn't hurt!" said Hope.

"If you run away this wouldn't of happened." Lightning shot back, icy calm and cold.

"Well if you didn't go glaring and baring your teeth at me, I wouldn't of ran away!" Hope said, green eyes flashing.

"Well if you didn't go to into the West Wing, this wouldn't of happened." Lightning answered, blue eyes flashing.

"Well if you would learn to control your temper, this wouldn't of happened either." Hope said.

"If you bothered to knock or not to go touching my stuff, I wouldn't of even let out my temper." Lightning shot back and snorted in victory when Hope sighed in defeat.

"Fine." Hope said as he gently treated the injury. Gently cleaning the wound out to the best of his abilities. Lightning snorted then stared at the fire with her blue eyes.

"By the way....." Hope said slowly as he stared at the injury. His eyes half closed as he thought about something while trying to focus in cleaning the injury. Lightning glanced at him for a moment and paid attention to what he was saying.

"Thank you.... you saved my life back there. I owe you.." Hope said quietly, not bothering to look up into the beast's cold blue eyes. His hands being gentle as possible. Lightning looked at him for a moment then slowly nodded.

"Your welcome." Lightning answered, letting the boy wrap up her arm.