The world was dark and blanketed in stars, their light twinkling through the canopy of the forest. Night creatures went about their natural habits, sounding out their cries and calls while the rest of the forest creatures slept the night away. All seemed well and calm on such a peaceful night.

A howl ripping through the cool air spoke of something far more primal and instinctual. Three sets of eyes nearby to make sure all stayed well, that a dear friend was kept uninterrupted on this very dangerous night.

Unbeknownst to the small group of tight knit friends, in the middle of said forest was a creature that was going to change all that they knew and believed in.

A petite figure laid curled on the forest floor shivering and whimpering. Pain racked the tiny figure, a coppery scent tainting the air as they tried to reach for some unknown goal while trying to shield o bloody wound.

Her vision kept swimming in and out, the world was dark and hazy and she felt as if the weight of the entire world was baring down on her. Clutching her arm injured arm to her chest, she tried her best to keep the forest floor from entering her wounds. Her other arm was clawing in an aimless direction.

All around her, she only heard the sounds o f her whimpering pants, night birds and a few insects. So when the sharp snapping of a twig echoed around her, she sluggishly turned in it's direction. She saw a figure just barely stepping into some light that managed to break through the canopy, but pain clouded her vision so much, she took no notice of who or what was hesitantly making its way towards her.

"...please..." her hand shook as she reached towards the figure, her plea barely a whisper past her dried and cracked lips.

Stretching her fingers out towards the figure when they finally began to approach her, twitching at the need to feel another living being in her desperate and fragile state, she cried out when they froze at the call of a predator. Their form was immediately erect and frozen, and she could just make out the wary look upon their faces as they searched the woods. They tossed her a look before darting off, heading deeper in to the forest.

Tears began to fall down her cheeks just as she allowed her own hand to fall, and silently, she cried. For the first time in a long time, Kagome felt... hopeless, alone, fear. As another howl echoed around her, sounding much more closer than the earlier one, she curled deeper in on herself. Was this her end?

Was she going to die in this forest, alone? What about her family and friends? Did the others even know of her missing from their little band of shard hunters? Or even where to begin in searching for her?

So deep into her thoughts, Kagome didn't notice the creature that stood at the edge of the clearing she rested in. It's hunched panting form that sniffed at the air and let out deep bone rattling growls. She did however take notice when it finally approached her and a cool nose nudged at her form.

Being so consumed by pain, she thought nothing more than to try and brush whatever was cool and wet away so she could suffer in peace. Instead, a puff of moist war air hit her fingertips, warmth coiling around them. In fact, whatever was behind her radiated such heat, warmth was returning to her entire back.

Heavy lids finally fell close, but her brows furrowed when some deep part of her mind told her to stay awake and aware due to the predator that hovered over her. She could feel it moving around her, the scent of earthy mush and something that awoke the familiar in her caused her to let out a moan. Her mind was losing it's grip on consciousness, which could be viewed as a blessing with how it was numbing the pain. Whatever predator that was over her, she vaguely wondered when it was going to pounce, it most likely never had easier prey.

The feeling of something cool and wet returned, snuffling around her wounded front and then nudging her onto her back. Groaning at the dizzying sensation, it quickly turned into a hiss of pain when Kagome felt a rough tongue grazing along her torn flesh. Flinching, she twitched away from the appendage, or at least tried. Her actions earned her a growl and large rough hands taking a firm grip of her arm and hip. Soon the being was above her, if the intense heat she was feeling was anything to go by.

It continued to lick at her spilt blood, sometimes agitating her wounds for more blood to flow, but never did it use it's fangs or claws. Groaning not only in her discomfort, but confusion as well, Kagome lolled her head to the side. Perhaps this was nothing more than a far to vivid nightmare concocted by Naraku in some shape or form.

The creature nuzzled her exposed neck as it let out something that could be called a purr before a warm and rough tongue licked up her pulse point. Shivering, Kagome brought her arms to her chest, truly confused and growing more and more tired by the second. The creature nuzzled her neck a few short minutes longer, it was also sure to add a few licks and nibbles, before returning to her chest. She shivered when she felt claws carefully remove what she was sure what had once been her shirt and nudged her arms to get to the wounds on her chest.

Whimpering again in pain, it was the only thing keeping her from blissful blackness at this point, the creature let out another low purring growl. After what felt like forever, it shifted so that it rested on the ground behind her and carefully brought her into it's arms. A furry body wrapped itself around her own, it's heat more than easily radiating into her own tiny form.

Movement from in front of her was heard, she couldn't open her eyes now even if she wanted to, caused the creature behind her to shift and growl lowly. She could feel the vibrations from deep within it's chest as they worked through her entire body. A low whine, Kagome furrowed her brows and somehow pegged the new critter intruding to be a dog, seemed to ease the creature behind her.

The dog, she wasn't entirely sure but she would stick with that until she finally passed out, slowly approached. It's steps were light, as were it's whines and whimpers. The creature behind her slowly eased on it's growls, and it's body eased with each forward step the dog took. Finally, Kagome felt the dog lay itself along the length of her front. What she vaguely found odd, was how it seemed to be careful to not touch her wounds.

With warmth at her front and her back, the head of the dog pressed carefully against her chest and the muzzle of the creature resting gently where her shoulder and neck met, Kagome quickly let herself fall into that most welcomed blackness.

The creature eyed the dog with gold eyes and blue gray eyes returned the stare with their own wariness. The creature stared a few moments longer until it let out a huff and buried it's face deeper into the mass of raven locks. As for the dog, it snuggled deeper into the exposed flesh, though it was careful of the freshly cleaned wounds. Both quickly fell asleep, one knowing there were two others keeping an eye out should anything happen.

When the suns first light hit his face, he let out a groan and buried his face deeper into the warmth before him with hopes of falling back asleep. The warmth before him shifted, making him realize it wasn't his pillow. Then he remembered what last night had been, and that he couldn't have been in his bed last night, and this wasn't the cot in the tiny stick house that had been provided for him.

Blue eyes snapped open as his body lurched backwards. His mind froze and he went into shock at what was presented before him.

A young woman, perhaps around his own age of 18 if not a few years younger, laid on her side and faced him. When she shivered and drew in on herself for warmth, his eyes fell to her state of dress. Or lack thereof. Now, at first he blushed, she was in nothing but a skirt and brazier, but all thoughts came to a complete halt at the vicious claw marks that marred her pale skin.

He snatched his hands back, his mind reeling at where they had been to begin with, and checked them over.

"If you're looking for blood, you won't find any. You didn't attack her."

Head snapping up, Remus blinked wide eyes at a pair that were watching his every move from over the girls shoulder. Said girl shivered before turning over and burying herself into Sirius for more warmth. Both of them watched her, Sirius blushed and seemed at war with himself on where to put his hands. He let out a sigh when the girl shivered again and wrapped his arms around her.

Something in Remus shifted at the sight, not quite comfortable with the scene. But he shook it off when he realized, more or less, that is was that cursed werewolf in him that was displeased. Or the fact that it urged him to either rip his friend apart or join him. Physically shaking his head to clear such thoughts, he thought it best to sit up.

"What happened?" he rolled his shoulders as he looked around them, not familiar with the clearing they were currently in. How deep in the Forbidden Forest were they this time?

"Well, we didn't make it to the shack in time. So when you transformed, we directed you towards the forest. We thought things would have gone normally, but you found her."

Looking down at said her, Remus scanned her form, taking in each and every angry red slash. "And you're sure I didn't do... that?"

"She was already injured, from what..." Sirius shrugged his shoulder. He started to push himself up into a sitting position, careful of the still injured girl who snugged deeper into Sirius' warmth after he settled her in his lap. "In fact, you pretty much cleaned her wounds and keeping watch over her."

Opening his mouth to ask his friend to elaborate, he closed it when the two missing members of their little group showed up. James was carrying a familiar cloak over his arm as his eyes darted over the three of them.

"We'll use this to hide her, those wounds should be looked at. Peter volunteered to run distraction while we get back inside and head to Dumbledore." James walked towards them only to halt at sudden twin growls from both Sirius and Remus.

Wide eyes blinked and shifted between the two of them. "...everything alright?"

Remus coughed into a raised hand, trying to end the sudden and unwanted growls. He chanced a quick look towards Sirius to see his friend looking highly confused, he turned his attention back to James. "Er, yes. I think. Let's get her inside and to see Dumbledore, perhaps he might know who she is."

James nodded his head and took a wary step forward, when the two of them stayed silent, he closed the distance. But as he watched them, he handed the cloak to Remus rather than wrap the girl up in it himself. The werewolf was internally pleased, though he was greatly denying this fact, and shifted to wrap the cloak around the girls shoulders with Sirius' help.

Remus watched as she disappeared beneath the cloak, but his nose eased his suddenly worried mind that she was indeed still there with them. When Sirius was finally on his own feet, still carrying the unknown girl in his arms, though it looked more like he was holding air, they stood there for a few moments.

"Right, let's get this done and over with."

AN: A little something that wouldn't leave me alone this past week and took forever to write as well... No time! D: Read, enjoy, and review!