Chapter 2: Medicine

Samoacookie is back in business! Eat it flamers!

Little Game couldn't remember the last time his body felt so exhausted. His limbs felt so heavy, and his skin stung in places where the wind and cold chaffed it raw. He hadn't noticed it before do to his frozen state.

The little Navajo wanted nothing more than to sink back into the warm furs draping his body, but a familiar voice shattered his blissful state "Are you awake now little one?" the skinwalker!

Yugi shot up wild eyed, his fatigue forgotten. The skinwalker was crouched by the fire pit in the center of the cavern; a grayish brown coyote pelt his strong shoulders, as he ground an odd mixture in a clay bowl "You thought it was all a dream didn't you" he chuckled.

"Y-you" Yugi trembled, his throat was so dry his words only reached a whisper.

"There's a water skin to your right if you need a drink little one" Yami said indicating the carefully sewn sack. Of which the little Navajo snatched it up with little hesitation.

While Yugi drank his fill, Yami set his tool aside and rose to his feet. Yugi noticed the monster coming closer and scooted back as far as his taxed body limbs would allow, making sure to keep his eyes firmly planted on Yami's collar bone. He didn't want to find out if a skinwalker could possess him by looking into his eyes.

"Now now don't fidget" the skinwalker scolded pulling him closer "the icy weather gave you a nasty case of frostbite. It must be treated properly or else your condition will worsen" Yami said dipping a finger in his concoction and smeared a bit down the little Navajo's arm "we wouldn't want your lovely skin to blacken and rot now do we?"

Yugi grimaced at the disturbing image of his skin becoming black and shriveled; and bore the light burning the medicine caused him "W-why do you care…don't you want to kill me?" things weren't adding up and it confused the little indian. Skinwalkers were told to be evil shape shifting tricksters who willingly gave up their humanity in order to gain the ability to transform.

Was Yami's small gesture of kindness a cruel trick?

Yami cocked his head to the side, as if his aibou had said something weird "Why would I kill you when you're more entertaining alive? Besides even if I was planning on killing you later, I wouldn't be wasting my secret medicine on you".

"I-I suppose" Little Game mumbled, staring at his feet. Truth be told he didn't like the idea of being this creature's 'entertainment'. And then it hit him "U-um…" he couldn't form his thoughts into words.

This amused the skinwalker "I was wondering when you would notice your lack of pain." he said pulling his little human into his lap "You see last night I felt terrible for treating you so harshly…so I whipped up a batch of my special healing salve. It worked better than I thought it would" Yugi flinched and pulled away from Yami's hand that had wandered lower past his comfort zone.

"S-stop it Yami!" the little Navajo looked like he was close to tears. He couldn't handle being violated again! But just as suddenly as it began, it stopped.

"Cease your crying Yugi" the skinwalker chided grabbing his arm to move him closer to the fire pit. "Here, stay here and keep warm" Yami instructed. Yugi hugged his knees securely and watched Yami's back as he placed his grinding utensil in their proper place "Are you hungry little one?" he asked standing up.

"I suppose a little…" Yugi mumbled. As if on cue, Yugi's tummy gave off a loud rumbling gurgle.

"I think more than a little" his little prey was so adorable. He'd chosen well "Well I will be off then" Yami said moving towards the entrance, pausing a moment to readjust his pelt, the skinwalker turned around to face his captive again "Oh and just in case you had any ideas about leaving…" with a snap of his fingers, two large Timber Rattlesnakes slithered out of a hole in the cave wall.

Little Game gasped in fright at the venomous serpent as they came to curl at the shape shifters feet "Meet Hardfang and his mate Redscale" Yami smirked at his Yugi's obvious discomfort "they're my eyes, ears, and my servants. Be on your best behavior or else got it?"

"Y-yes of course" the little Navajo shuddered, how he hated snakes.

" He looks rather scrawny" Redscale grinned baring her needle sharp fangs making Little Game squeak.

"Be nice you two, and don't let him out. I shall return shortly" Yami commanded, and was up the tunnel in a flash.

Now that he was alone, Yugi let out a breath he didn't know he was holding and poked at the burning red embers with a long stick; shooting up tiny bursts of fiery flakes. The dancing glowing wisps twirled and fluttered in the rising hot air until finally cooling off and disappearing completely "I want to disappear…just like these embers" his amethyst eyes reflecting the warm living flames.

He never knew why, but fire always held a deep fascination for Little Game. Countless evenings, he would stare into the blazing orange, and ponder them and its hostile nature. This sacred gift the once colorful crow brought to man held a spirit all its own. Just like humans and animals, fire knew hunger; its need to fulfill itself was destructive and at the same time helpful, and if the hunger wasn't dealt with, then the warm, flickering living flames would grow dim and fall to dust "What are Yami's desires" Yugi wondered.

When he'd dared to look him in the face while Yami tainted his body, all he saw reflected was a wild unbridled beast, a monster. And it frightened him terribly "He…He'll want to do it again won't he?" Little Game shuddered, clutching at his tightening chest "I don't want it" he sniffed.

The little Navajo did not know how long he laid there in his misery under Hardfang and Redscale's unblinking reptilian gazes. Or even the point when he fell asleep. But the next thing his overtaxed mind was aware of, was the feel of hands petting and caressing his vulnerable body coupled by feather soft kisses to his neck and bared shoulders "Mm..Nn" Yugi unconsciously moaned softly and leaned towards the new source of warmth. He wanted to go back to sleep.

"So cute…" Yami smiled watching the boy press in his body, for a moment the skinwalker thought that Yugi was about to wake up, but he didn't "Sleep love" he cooed raking his fingers gently through Yugi's hair "sleep as much as you want to. I'll be right here when you wake up my sweet one" unfortunately, the hunt had been unsuccessful, and Yami had wanted to impress his little one with fresh meat, but it seemed that all the animals had still yet to come out of hiding. But luckily he still had some cheese and biscuits stolen from a passing covered wagon.

"I think I'll take a nap myself, then we can eat together" Yami yawned, snuggling up so Yugi's body was flush against his own darker one "Sweet dreams aibou".

End Chapter

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