Chapter Eight: The Hunter and the Hunted

"Only that when she calls for him, he comes to the chamber in the body of a hawk, and hawks can be destroyed."
– The King of Bro Arc'hant, Peter Berresford Ellis

Calares stood on the covered walkway between the church and the keep, watching the rain fall. He was disappointed that it wasn't snow. Snow would have slowed the archbishop's party down by a few days. By then, Calares hoped that he would have been more prepared. By then, Luciano would have reported back about the state of his plans. As it was, Calares could only listen to the rumors that were spreading.

The news that the demon was still alive hadn't stayed confined to Avalon as he had hoped. It had moved out to the farms and especially around Beststone, where Lelouch had first appeared. While the rumors rarely mentioned Rivalz Cardemonde, and when they did he was nothing more than a lowly apprentice. They seemed to focus exclusively on Suzaku Kururugi. But that was courtesy of the guards of Avalon.

Apparently, Kewell had seen the old captain and spread the word to the rest of the guard before he had died. That had brought a new round of rumors calling into question Suzaku's victories as good for Avalon. He was from Nippon after all, and everyone knew that all the people from that country had magic in their blood. It was just more proof that Lelouch was corrupt, and Calares was more than willing to push that idea to its full extent. All he would move to do was to start a few rumors away from the guards.

He looked up from the puddles on the ground as someone walked up, the young guard bowing before stepping underneath the cover. "I'm sorry, your grace. I was kept busy until now."

"Under Jeremiah's orders?"

"And Lady Nunnally's."

His eyes widened, Calares staring at the guard. He had thought that the activity in the courtyard had been the settling of the new guards and then the excitement from the forward scouts. Calares had been too busy with his own preparations to notice, pushed faster by the panic that the scouts had brought. He had never thought that Nunnally would make a decision without him.

He forced himself to relax, taking a deep breath and looking at the guard. "What were her orders?"

"We are to push toward the mountains and try to drive the demon towards the ambush point. Jeremiah will lead the attack to get the demon himself. Until then, he will remain in Avalon, safe and dry, to watch over the archbishop's guards. The captain of the Ashingford guards will be in charge of the sweep."

Calares eyed the young man. The only reason that the man would speak to him like this was that Calares had promised to make him the captain of the guards. And there were many things that could happen to Jeremiah between the arrival of the archbishop and when the demon was captured.

He folded his hands together, staring out into the rain. "I will accompany the guard to where the lady plans to trap the demon. He tricked me once before and I want to make sure that it does not happen again. But, I will need a small escort, should anything happen. I would prefer it to consist of you and men that you have chosen. Accidents often happen on the battlefield."

It took a moment for the guard to understand what he was saying. The young man stared at him with a confused expression before comprehension dawned. The man nodded, eagerly rushing off into the rain when he was dismissed with a curt nod.

Calares waited until the young man was out of earshot before swearing. He spun around to glare at the keep, his hand twitching by his sides. For a moment, he wished that God would grant him the strength to be able to tear down Avalon with his bare hands, although he doubted it after such a blasphemy. Instead, he took a deep breath to calm himself.

Nunnally was becoming bolder than he had thought her capable of. It was probably the influence of Milly Ashford that he was seeing, which meant that Nunnally would only get worse when Euphemia finally arrived. Any power that he had in Avalon rested on the hope that Nunnally would never fight against him because she was too weak or because he had been the one to remain at her side when Marianne had died. Apparently, that had not been enough, and now there was a danger that he would be kept out of Nunnally's meetings if she continued to follow the new pattern. The only way back into her favor would be through a miracle, of which he had none, or performing an act that would leave her with no other choice.

He was back to his original plan again, and Calares did not like the odds. It was one thing to make sure that Jeremiah died in battle, but another thing entirely to be the one to capture Lelouch. He would just be another man reaching for glory. His other choice would be to be the one to free Lelouch, but that would just endanger him further.

Calares looked up at the sound of shouting, turning to watch as the guards marched off to carry out Nunnally's plan. He curled his lip in disgust, reaching out to hold onto one of the columns. It was a bad plan, it would take too long. With Luciano working the job, they would never find Lelouch and Calares would have to come up with an explanation. Still, God would provide, as he always had.

That brought a smile to his face. He still had that power, the people still trusted him. In the end, it would be for their own good. It would reassure the people, help them settle back in time for the winter. The peasants wouldn't be able to survive if they had to worry about a rogue magician. It would also afford him a chance to shore up Nunnally's image. God would be on Nunnally's side, the lady of Avalon the extension of His justice. And the people would love her more for it. With Lelouch gone, Nunnally's dangerous independence would end.

He sighed, remembering himself when the guards noticed him. Calares forced a smile onto his face, raising his right arm to perform a benediction. That was another service he could provide for the people of Avalon. They would leave believing that they were doing the will of God. Certainly, the emperor had the authority to call going after magician a holy task, especially when the members of the church agreed with him. And, certainly, God would look down on a murder, but what the guards were doing wasn't murder. It wasn't revenge, it was justice.

Calares lowered his arm as the last man walked past. He leaned out into the rain, watching as they walked out of the gate and into the town. Calares was sure that there would be a few people up to watch them go. With that being the case, Calares would have to work the idea into his sermon. He was sure that Nunnally would be glad of the support.

He turned to go back to his cell. There were better things for him to be doing than to stare off after the guards like a widow. He had no particular attachment to any of them; he just wanted a captain of the guards who wouldn't change loyalties. He had already been burned by Jeremiah once; Calares wanted to be sure that it wouldn't happen again. He didn't need Nunnally turning on him like her mother.

The rain pattered on the roof of the church as Calares entered the building. To his surprise, there was no one praying for the souls of their loved ones, but that was probably because of the weather. People would want to remain inside in bad weather, no matter who they believed had been damned.

Out of habit, he folded his hands and said a quick prayer for those he had been asked to pray for. Finished with his task, he moved on, ignoring the grandeur of the church in favor of the austereness of his cell. That appealed to him now that he was busy thinking Calares amused by the way that his opinion on the part of the church he preferred kept switching. He was sure that there was a pattern, but there were other things on his mind, more important things.

Calares paused at the door the led to his cell, glancing around before offering in a quick prayer for Luciano as well. It was more for him his own safety than for the former Knight of the Round. Calares wanted one victory more than anything else, especially when it was so close.

Luciano secured the last trap, kicking the last of the dead leaves over it. He wiped his hands off on his shirt, giving the line of traps a quick look over. It was enough for the field and there were a few scatted throughout the forest. He had seen a few signs of wolves in the small forest between Stowden and the river, so he would come out of the night with some profit; double as much if he got a sale back in Stowden.

With the traps settled, Luciano turned and walked back to where his mule waited. He patted the animal's neck in passing, most of his attention on the skins already thrown over the mule's back. A protective piece of cloth was thrown over them, Luciano not wanting to make the trip back to his house. Not when there was dinner waiting for him at the Eagle's Perch.

He grabbed the reins and began to lead the mule back towards the town. The animal went eagerly, probably hoping to be heading back to shelter. The mule would be disappointed, because he would have to stand outside with Luciano conducted his business. It didn't matter in the end; Luciano could treat the mule to a night in a proper barn instead of the lean to that Luciano had. He gave the animal another absent minded pat.

The two of them rushed into the town, Luciano pulling on the mule when the animal tried to head back to their home. He yanked on the bridle, looking for one of the houses toward the middle of the town. If he was lucky, business would attract others. Maybe the rest of his pelts would get sold and he wouldn't have to worry about storing them over the winter. He already had enough trouble with the pelts that matched Lelouch's color, but he had been storing them up for years. Everything he had on the mule at the moment matched well enough for the richer peasants to take advantage of the windfall. He was considered the best trapper in the north for a reason.

Luciano headed straight for the Eagle's Perch, finding a space for his mule under an overhang. He adjusted the cover over the furs before leaning against the mule. Already, people were staring to notice. Luciano spotted the man he had been talking to earlier.

The man nodded and hurried over. "The weather is horrible tonight."

"Could be worse." Luciano glanced up and wrapped his arms around himself. "But let's not drag this out. The furs don't do well in the damp and neither do I. I can small good food and warmth just on the other side of this wall." He laughed and patted the wall, glad that the other man laughed.

He walked over to the mule, peeling the cover back to reveal at the furs. The man pressed his fingers into the fur, mumbling under his breath. Luciano drifted closer, watching as the man looked through the furs. He could tell when the man found a fur that he liked, pausing just a moment longer than the rest. The man went through the stack before returning to one of the deeper grey pelts. "This would make a great lining for a cloak. And this," he found a slightly lighter grey, "for my wife."

Luciano glanced between the two pelts before nodding. The man had a good eye, which was a relief. Luciano didn't want to stand out in the cold longer than he had to. He pulled them off the back of the mule, folding them carefully and passing them to the man. Luciano grimed when the man pulled out his purse, paying the full price for both. While he enjoyed the thrill of haggling, it was not the night for it.

He put the money away, the man walking quickly away into the rain. Luciano pulled the cloth over the furs tied them down. It wouldn't keep the furs safe for a long time, but it would give him enough time to eat. Even with his furs, he couldn't pass up the chance to eat good food before the winter really settled in. He gave the mule one last pat before walking into the tavern.

There were a few calls of recognition as people turned to see him. Luciano waved at a few of his close associates. It seemed like most of the town was in the Eagle's Perch, eating and seeking shelter from the storm. He picked his way through the crowd to one of the free tables, sitting down and motioning at one of the women bustling around. She nodded and him and turned away.

Luciano leaned his elbows on the table, scanning the room. He recognized most of the people in the inn, except for someone near the front. Luciano smiled to himself and stared at the man.

It was the same one who had ridden in with Lelouch. The man was on his own now, which mean that Lelouch had already gone off. Luciano sighed and leaned back in his chair. The traps would take care of Lelouch and keep him still until Luciano could get to him. Hopefully, Lelouch wouldn't struggle too much and damage the pelt. He could just follow the man back to where Suzaku would be and kill him after the sun rose. Then he could deliver the pelt and feathers to Calares. He would leave the man to run away, Calares had said nothing about killing the man. The man would be another hunt, later.

He smiled as the woman came back, moving his elbows off the table so she could set down a wooden plate with meat on it and a mug of beer. Luciano nodded his tanks, not taking his eyes from the man. It didn't look like the man was going to leave soon, which meant that he had the time to eat. He picked at the cut of meat, hissing at the temperature. Luciano ate a bite of the meat, closing his eyes at the taste. Considering the way that the man was going about his business, Luciano had all the time in the world. He popped another piece of meat into his mouth and leaned back.

Rivalz ducked out of the inn, clutching the packet of food close. He ran through the rain to the barn, letting out a sigh of relief when he stepped into the barn. It was good to be out of the cold rain. He set the packet of food to the side, shaking out his cloak.

There was a rustle from the back of the barn, Rivalz looking up as Suzaku walked into the open. He had his blue and gold cloak wrapped around him, shivering in the cold. "Is it snowing?"

"No, but I don't know why it isn't." Rivalz draped his cloak over the wall of an empty stall. "But I brought you food."

Suzaku eagerly took the food and retreated. Rivalz shook his head and leaned against the stall wall. Suzaku hadn't been able to hunt all day; Lelouch had been holding him too tightly. Rivalz shook his head. Suzaku and Lelouch were clinging more tightly to each other the closer they got to Avalon. He drummed his fingers against the wall before pushing away and going after Suzaku.

He found Suzaku sitting by where they had put up Gawain and the blue roan. Both horses were peering over the stall doors at where Suzaku was. With the hand that he wasn't using to eat, Suzaku was petting Gawain's nose.

Suzaku smiled at him, settling the food to the side. "What's the news?"

"Nothing much. Lelouch isn't talking to me." Rivalz licked his lips. He didn't mention the desperate plan that Lelouch had made. Telling Suzaku that Lelouch wanted him far away would do nothing to help him. Rivalz waved one hand aimlessly. "He probably thinks that, because I agree with C.C. that I'm going to try and stop the two of you."

"Will you?"

"If I can." Rivalz shrugged, aware that Suzaku was glaring at him. "I owe the two of you more than that." When Suzaku didn't answer, Rivalz rolled his eyes. "Wouldn't you rather have the curse broken than die?"

Suzaku shrugged. "Maybe. To save Lelouch."

Rivalz stared at Suzaku. Everyone that he knew had some sense of self preservation. As the captain of the guards, it was Suzaku's job to stay alive. Rivalz shook his head, dragging one of the stools over. He sat down heavily, staring down at the ground. He shifted, not able to meet Suzaku's gaze. "How long have you loved him?"

"What?"

"I…" Rivalz looked up, blushing. "I mean, I can't think of any other reason for all of this. C.C. did call this whole affair a twisted fairy tale."

"She would." Suzaku laughed, the sound making Gawain start backward. "C.C. enjoys putting drama into situations. It's the way she entertains herself."

"So, it that the reason?"

"Yes and no." Suzaku sighed and tipped his head back. "There are many reasons and most of them go back beyond when you escaped from Avalon. And most of them, you couldn't understand."

"Try me."

Suzaku tipped his head to stare at him, Rivalz wanting to scoot away. The gaze was more like the eagle's than the human. Rivalz shivered and looked down. He glanced up again when he heard Suzaku get up.

Suzaku stepped into Gawain's stall, petting the horse. "It's my job to keep Lelouch alive, yes. And yes, I care about him. We weren't friends at first, we hated each other. And then, we were friends. We just got used to each other."

"And then…"

Suzaku looked back over at him, then beginnings of a smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. "Yes, and then. But Lelouch was betrothed and my father…my father…" Suzaku shook his head. "It was complicated. Charles was trying to invade Nippon and my father was trying to save it. But we had already sworn our loyalty to Charles. I stood by that vow, by Lelouch and my father…he was a large part of the reason that Charles died. I owed Lelouch, especially when he made me captain of the guards. It's why I got him out of Avalon without questioning him."

He sighed, pressing his forehead against Gawain's neck. "Everything was just too much. I was the son of a traitor and a foreigner. Everyone knows that people like me have magic in our veins. Britannia is not safe for us. And Lelouch…"

"Is a noble."

"Is a nephew of the emperor."

Rivalz bit his lip. He understood Suzaku's problem. The nobles were a complicated group, related to the emperor or not. The politics that they played were complicated, far above what he and Suzaku were used to. It was always a double life with them, public face and then what they really wanted. It was hard to tell if you were part of their private life or the complex tangle of their public life. Rivalz sighed and rubbed the back of his neck. "Did it matter?"

"Yes. Everything about me was wrong. And Lelouch was set. Shirley would have been perfect for him."

"He's not going back to that life."

"I know." Suzaku turned so he was leaning against the stall wall. "And there was a brief moment when I thought that it would be fine. That there could be something…but there's no chance."

"C.C. said that there was a way to break the curse."

"And if it doesn't work? What then? Why bother with an unsure thing when we know what will happen?"

"Lelouch will die."

"Yes." His voice broke over the word, Suzaku not bothering to hide it. "But I need to be sure, Rivalz, before I do anything. I owe him that."

"And then what will you do?"

He didn't get an answer, Suzaku just ducking his head. Rivalz swallowed, feeling his stomach twist. Lelouch had been right; Suzaku would need to be watched carefully. He wasn't going to be getting home, not when he would have to watch Suzaku carefully.

Rivalz shook his head. "Suzaku-"

"Of course I want him back! Of course I want to break the curse! But there's nothing I can do." The anger drained out of him, Suzaku slumping against the door. "Rivalz, don't try to convince me. I don't need the hope."

Suzaku slipped out of the stall, dropping to the floor. He played with his untouched food, not looking at Rivalz.

Rivalz was more than willing to let the subject drop. He had gotten the answers that he wanted and more than what he needed. It just reminded him that Suzaku and Lelouch had a life long before him. He was just coming in at the end. Rivalz regretted it, because he would have liked to known them before.

"Alright." He held up his hands. "If you are sure."

"There is nothing that I am surer about." Suzaku shivered. "It's hard enough to live like this, Rivalz. Can you imagine what that is like?"

"No." Suzaku nodded and looked back, Rivalz watching him carefully. "But I bet you miss him."

"Like nothing else."

Rivalz hesitated before getting off the stool. He sat down by Suzaku, folding his hands in his lap. "There's someone back home in Ashingford. Actually, she's the daughter of the lord of the keep, Milly Ashford. She has no idea that I exist, well had. She probably knows about me now, but she doesn't know me. It makes no sense because I don't have know her either. But she's beautiful with her smile and the way that she laughs. Everything about her is just…but it can't happen. Nobles right?"

It didn't get the laugh he was expecting. Suzaku just gave a slow shake of his head. Rivalz flinched and looked down. He was hoping to make Suzaku laugh or at least get Suzaku out of his funk.

Suzaku knocked his shoulder against Rivalz. "Would you go look for her?"

Rivalz hesitated. He wanted to say yes, but that wasn't the truth. In the moment, the truth was the only thing that could be aired, anything else would seem wrong. "I…I'm doing this for my mother. I escaped for my mother. We need each other; we've had to rely on each other for long that I can't just leave her. And Milly doesn't know who I am. I'm not important to her."

He felt Suzaku's hand on his shoulder. "It might be a while."

"I don't care. My mother is all I have left." Rivalz gave a shaky sigh, turning his head to look at Suzaku. "It must be great, hearing them love you back. Hearing that they actually care."

He just got another pat on the shoulder. There was some part of him that was jealous that Suzaku got that attention. Then again, Suzaku no longer had that, he was alone again. There was no reason to be jealous.

Suzaku patted his shoulder again. "Maybe she'll come around."

"Maybe, but I'll be gone for a long while. I doubt that she will remain available for that long. Her father will probably marry her off before then." Rivalz sighed and looked up behind him. The blue roan was staring down at him, Rivalz reaching back so he could pat the mare's nose. "Maybe I should name you Milly in honor of her."

The mare snorted and pulled her head back into the stall. Rivalz laughed and looked at Suzaku. "I don't think she likes it."

"No."

Rivalz tipped his head back, jumping when Suzaku nudged his shoulder again. "Just before I forget, thank you for everything that you've done. Lelouch might not say it, but he thinks the same. Without you, we wouldn't have done this, and I would probably be dead by now."

Rivalz wanted to point out that Suzaku wouldn't have been hurt if he hadn't been around. But the smile that Suzaku gave him was sincere. Rivalz shook his head, scooting away from Suzaku. He wasn't sure that he wanted the thanks, not when he was leading them to their deaths. Beyond that, he would have to wait and watch Suzaku deal with the fact that Lelouch had ordered him away instead of letting Suzaku make his own choice.

They both looked up at the sound of cheering coming from outside. Rain was still falling, but Rivalz could hear the faint sound of music coming from the inn. He hadn't expected anything like the lively music on a rainy night, but it was getting close to winter and people wanted to celebrate as much as they could, rainy night or not. Rivalz found himself nodding along, glancing over at Suzaku.

Suzaku had his eyes closed, fingers twitching slightly in time with the music. He glanced over at Rivalz, part of a smile crossing his face. "This was popular in Avalon for a while because Lady Marianne loved this song. They even played it at some formal dinners. There was one night when Lelouch and I danced in the garden, for nearly the entire night."

Rivalz chuckled. "I can't dance with you."

"You wouldn't want to. I'm horrible. I was constantly stepping on Lelouch's feet that entire night. I don't think I even remember the dance that he taught me."

"Saving me again?"

"That's my job." Suzaku stood up and walked away from the stalls. Suzaku pulled off his cloak and draped it by Rivalz's. Rivalz leaned out to watch him, hesitating before standing up and following Suzaku. He was hesitating by the doors.

He stayed there for a long moment, his hands on the door. After taking a deep breath, Suzaku dropped his hands back to his side. "I wouldn't even know where to find him and it's too close to Avalon. They know me here and all the rumors probably have them on edge." Suzaku looked over his shoulder at Rivalz. "He would kill me if he knew that I tried to go out tonight."

Rivalz wanted to agree, but he was aware of the keep looming just days ahead. All Suzaku had were the nights, and he couldn't have that now. Rivalz sighed and took a step back, the motion telling Suzaku all he would need to know. He wasn't going to stop Suzaku not with the limited time he had left.

Suzaku nodded his head in thanks, placing his hands on the door. He looked over his shoulder at Rivalz, giving him a cocky smile. "Don't wait up."

He couldn't come up with a good rebuttal before Suzaku opened the door. They both jumped back when the doors opened to reveal a man standing on the other side. The man had one hand raised to open the door, the other hand holding a loaded mule.

Rivalz took a quick look at the man before pushing Suzaku back, clearing the way for the man. "Sorry."

"That's fine." The man led the mule into the barn, tying the animal off to the side. "We're all looking for a place out of the rain tonight. Especially those with wares to sell."

"Not much business?"

"Very little." The man turned to tend to his mule, Rivalz keeping between the man and Suzaku. He was sure that the man had seen Suzaku already, but maybe he didn't recognize him. Rivalz wanted to make sure that Suzaku was as safe as possible.

The man looked up, tossing off the cloth that was covering his wares. He was still standing between them and the mule. The man glanced over his shoulder. "At least we can get inside, unlike the wild animals. They're all stuck out there. At least, the lucky ones are."

The man stepped aside, revealing the pelts that the mule was loaded down with. Rivalz stared at the pelts, his mind stuck on a loop.

All of the pelts were black and Lelouch was a black wolf. There were a good amount of them and Rivalz hadn't heard Lelouch all night.

He glanced back at Suzaku, seeing a mix of shock and anger on his friend's face. Suzaku spun around and ran back toward the stalls. Rivalz tried to call for him, stopping when he saw Suzaku leading Gawain out of his stall by the bridle. He jumped onto the horse's back, Rivalz pressing himself against the wall as Gawain galloped out of the barn.

Rivalz stared after Suzaku, looking back at the man. He was covering the furs again and laughing. "He'd better hurry. It's dangerous to be out on a night like this."

The man tied the cloth down again and led the mule out of the barn, Rivalz watching for a moment. It was only when the man left his line of sight that Rivalz shook himself out of his shock. He glanced over in the direction the man had disappeared in before running after Suzaku.

Suzaku sat back, feeling Gawain slip a bit in the mud. He let the horse scramble for his footing as he looked around. The rain wasn't too thick that he couldn't see through it, and it was lightening up. It helped, but it wouldn't be helpful if he couldn't find Lelouch. The wolf had his usual patterns, but the rain and the proximity to the people threw that all off.

He cursed under his breath, looking around the open field for a familiar shape before kicking Gawain on. The stallion snorted and stumbled forward, slipping in the mud. Suzaku rocked forward, clinging to Gawain's mane. Logically, he knew that he should slow Gawain down to keep them both safe. But he couldn't stop thinking back to the pile of black pelts. Any of them could have been Lelouch, and he had to be sure. Lelouch couldn't be dead. It meant that Suzaku had failed.

He leaned close to Gawain's neck as they entered the small forest that was close to Stowden. Suzaku closed his eyes against the stallion's whipping mane. He nearly fell off as Gawain slowed to a trot, sliding on the horse's back. He hadn't stopped to put on a saddle. There hadn't been time. The rain had made Gawain's back slick and it was hard to keep his seat when he was soaked as well. Suzaku gritted his teeth and pulled himself back into place.

Gawain snorted, but continued on. Suzaku leaned over the horse's shoulder to look for any sign that Lelouch had passed through the forest. He had to pull Gawain to a walk, trying to look for prints. In the dark, he couldn't quite make out anything and the tracks would be washed away by the morning. By the morning, it could be too late for Lelouch.

Suzaku huffed and slid off Gawain's back, the stallion coming to a halt. Suzaku gave the horse an absent pat on the shoulder before tying him to a tree. He stopped long enough to check the knot before walking deeper into the forest.

He kept off the trail that the animals used, not wanting to mar anything that he could help him find the wolf. Suzaku couldn't see any wolf tracks, but there were plenty of prey animals. Lelouch might go after a deer if he was hungry, but Lelouch usually wouldn't. What he usually did was call, because he was lonely. He spent most of the night calling for the pack that he didn't have. But Lelouch had been silent all night, and that was the most worrying thing. When their patterns as animals were disrupted, then they were in trouble.

Suzaku turned away with a curse, kicking at a pile of leaves. He watched the wet leaves flutter up briefly, his full attention on the trap that had been hidden underneath. He swallowed and reached up for a stick, using it to set off the trap.

It was no wonder the trapper had been so confident, everything was already set up.

And he had to know exactly where they were and what the curse did to them. The trapper had seen them ride out into town and he had waited. And he knew the color of Lelouch's coat, enough to save pelts of the same color, just to spook him out of the barn and after Lelouch. Maybe the trapper had been hoping that Suzaku would bolt and keep out of the way while he finished his work. Everything had been planned out in advance.

Suzaku stared at the closed trap before standing up and turning away. Gawain would stand tied and there were no other traps around the tree. Suzaku would have to go on foot to keep the horse safe. The traps would be too hard to see from the stallion's back. Suzaku muttered a curse, reaching up to break off another branch before moving on.

If he couldn't find Lelouch, then he would trigger the traps he could find until he got them all. He had failed to protect Lelouch once before, and he would die before he let that happen again.

He worked his way through the forest, stopping when his branch got too short to trigger the traps. He reached for another branch, freezing as he heard something moving through the woods. Suzaku glanced down at the short stick in his hands. All of his other weapons were back in the barn, but he could handle whatever was coming.

Suzaku shifted his grip, about to step forward when a wolf appeared. He stared at the dark coated wolf for a moment before dropping his stick and lunging forward. "Lelouch!"

The wolf spun around and ran, Suzaku following as fast as he could. It didn't matter that Lelouch couldn't understand him, the wolf would recognize him. Suzaku had spent every night for two years with Lelouch, which had to have made an impression. He couldn't call Lelouch like a dog, and that frustrated him the most. If he had had the stomach for it, Suzaku would have tamed Lelouch. Everything would have been easier to keep Lelouch safe.

Through the trees, he couldn't see the wolf clearly, Suzaku only getting glimpses of him. It was enough to keep Suzaku on the right path. But it wasn't enough, Lelouch was too far ahead. He dropped the stick, hoping that Lelouch would stop running when he realized that Suzaku was no longer a threat. Anything to get Lelouch to slow down, because Suzaku couldn't see where the other traps were.

Lelouch disappeared out of his line of sight, running up and over a rise. Suzaku slowed down enough to reorient himself. He scrambled up the slope, slipping in the mud and nearly falling down completely.

He caught himself on his hands and knees, taking deep breaths. He had to slow down before he got himself hurt, he would be no help to Lelouch limping around the forest. Suzaku looked up abruptly at the sound of a trap snapping shut and a loud yelp.

"Lelouch!"

He pushed back into his feet, running over the rise and sliding down the other side. Suzaku could make out the shadow of something in a dip. He didn't bother to check the ground for more traps as he ran to the wolf.

Suzaku fell to his knees, staring at the dead wolf. The trap had snapped shut around the wolf's neck, snapping it and killing the creature. Suzaku dug his hands into the wolf's fur, leaning over.

He froze when he saw the white fur underneath, Suzaku staring at it before letting out a sigh of relief. Lelouch was a completely black wolf. The one that had died in the trap was grey, turned darker by the rain. Lelouch was still alive, which meant that he still had time.

Suzaku stood up and looked around. He couldn't see anything from where he was. His best chance would be to go back to the trail and seek out Lelouch from there. Normal wolves would run away from Lelouch or go around him, just to avoid him. If he followed the dead wolf's trail back, he would be able to find Lelouch.

There was a wet squish from behind him, Suzaku scrambling to his feet and turning around at the low growl that followed. Suzaku stared at the black wolf on the rise behind him. Suzaku stared at the wolf for a long while before taking a cautious step forward. The wolf looked like it was about to run for a moment before stepping down the slope. Suzaku stayed in place as the wolf came close, nearly holding his breath as he watched the wolf get closer. It was only when the wolf sat down in front of him that Suzaku dared to speak. "Lelouch?"

The wolf couldn't respond, but he didn't run away. That was enough proof for Suzaku. He fell to his knees, just stopping himself from reaching out to grab the wolf. If he did grab Lelouch all he would get were bites and scratches as the wolf tried to free himself. Suzaku pressed his hands into the mud to keep himself from doing anything. He couldn't help the laugh that escaped, the sound making the wolf jump. "You're alive."

Lelouch edged closer again, Suzaku remaining still as Lelouch nosed his face. It wasn't a greeting, it was just curiosity. Lelouch was recognizing him again after being separated for a while. Suzaku closed his eyes and sighed, letting the wolf sniff at him.

"Suzaku?" He opened his eyes as he heard Rivalz calling his name.

Lelouch growled, Suzaku barely stopping himself from reaching out for the wolf. Instead he shushed the wolf and walked toward where he had heard Rivalz.

He was aware of Lelouch keeping his distance, but generally walking by his side. Suzaku smiled at that. He hoped that Lelouch would stick close to his side; it was the only way that he would be able to get Lelouch to safety. But, they wouldn't be able to go back to Stowden. Rivalz would have to get their equipment, Suzaku would stay with Lelouch.

Suzaku climbed up the rise, waving when he saw Rivalz. He turned to glance at where Lelouch should have been, but the wolf was hanging back. Suzaku frowned looking over to his left. He tensed when he saw the trapper standing on the top of the hill as well.

The man had a bow drawn and an arrow nocked. And it was aimed at Lelouch.

Suzaku stepped back, putting himself between the trapper and the wolf. "Get back."

"I can't, I have my orders. Someone wants his hide and I can't say no." The man smiled. "Don't worry. You'll follow as soon as the sun rises."

Suzaku narrowed his eyes, dropping his hand to where his sword should have been. If he hadn't panicked, then he would have been better prepared. The only other weapon was done at the base of the rise and going to get it would mean leaving Lelouch exposed.

Torn between two actions, Suzaku didn't count on Rivalz doing anything until the rock was in motion.

It hit the trapper on the side of his head, the man stumbling backward. Suzaku took the moment to run forward. He didn't have a plan beyond getting the bow away, but he had never been one for complex plans. That's what Lelouch had been for; coming up with the ideas that Suzaku would carry out. On his own, he wasn't a long term thinker. He preferred to act in the moment.

He slid in the mud, using his momentum to kick at the trapper's ankles. Suzaku grabbed the man's wrist, yanking the bow out of the man's hand. He heard it splash onto the ground, not bothering to look down as he concentrated on the trapper. Suzaku gained his balance just long enough to kick out the man's knees.

Suzaku expected to hear a thud as the man hit the ground. He was not expecting the snap of a trap.

The trapper screamed and clawed at his face. The scream ended in a gurgle, Suzaku staring at the trapper. The trap had snapped around the man's head, killing him quickly. Suzaku was almost disappointed that the man hadn't suffered. After threatening Lelouch, the man deserved a slow death. His own death didn't frighten him, as a member of the guards it was inevitable.

Suzaku kicked the man's leg and looked away. He could hear Rivalz scrambling up the rise, Suzaku still trying to calm himself down. He wasn't the captain of the guards any more, but he still had his pride. He couldn't just pick up the bow and fire the arrow into the body at point blank range as much as he wanted to. Suzaku wasn't sure if he would be able to come back from that.

He took a few steps back, allowing Rivalz to peer at the body. Rivalz coughed and tugged at Suzaku's sleeve. "Let's get out of here, before anyone finds us."

"No." Suzaku turned his head to look at Lelouch, only to find that he wasn't there. He wasn't surprised to see that the wolf had slunk off in the confusion. "I can't leave Lelouch. There are too many traps in the area."

Rivalz looked at a loss for words, still staring at the body. Suzaku reached out to push Rivalz back. "Go back to the barn and take Gawain. Get the horses settled and wait until morning."

"But Lelouch-"

"He can yell at you all he wants, but just bring him out here and show him the body. Maybe then he'll understand what I'm doing."

Rivalz nodded and turned away. He turned around before he could make it down the rise. "Will you be alright?"

"I can take care of myself."

Rivalz gave himself a skeptical look but walked back to Gawain. Suzaku watched until Rivalz was out of sight before sighing. He was alright, just shaken from the close call. If he had been any slower, the trapper would have shot Lelouch or Rivalz and then Suzaku didn't know what he would have done. He didn't want to think about it for too long.

He picked up the bow and arrow. He would use it to disarm the other traps in the woods. Suzaku was sure that Lelouch wouldn't stray out of the woods, not with there being a chance to join up with other wolves. Anything to keep him from being alone.

Suzaku swung the bow up onto his shoulder. He gave the body at his feet one last look over before walking off to search out more traps.