Updated: Monday 25th/9/2023

Chapter 5: Stalking Prey

D'Artagnan moved with grace as he stalked the road and then forest with careful calculated speed. Not so slow that he wouldn't make his Brothers suffer anymore then they probably are, (he hoped), and not too fast as to miss anything.

It was easy to follow the scents of the men who took his Brothers and it was even easier because the attacker's scent was mixed with his Brothers. That scent he was VERY attuned too.

"These attackers were stupid as to leave a trail I can follow…then again they wouldn't be expecting someone like me to track them", D'Artagnan thinks sniffing the ground.

It was true that the attackers wouldn't have been able to predict a werewolf tracking them. So, they only had to hid their trail enough for human eyes. Thank God he was far from human.

D'Artagnan thanked his lucky stars that these people wouldn't expect the retribution that was coming their way as soon as he located his Brothers.

"If even a single hair is harmed on their heads my sword and pistol will be the least of their worries", D'Artagnan growls continuing to stalk gracefully through the forest.

Not that he was going to use his sword or pistol. As he knew this form would have to be the form, he fought in.

So, them attackers would be knowing first hand just how sharp his teeth and claws were.

It had obviously rained after his Brothers had been taken through here but his heighten senses could still smell their scent on the grass and dirt of the forest.

His ears prick up as he hears noise up ahead and his sharp eyesight caught the outline of buildings through the gaps in the trees.

D'Artagnan drops down lower as he cautiously approaches the place in front of him. Looking through the bushes he saw a farmhouse with several buildings around it. Men were moving around the property. Including around the perimeter.

They all were armed so this was likely the place his Brothers were being held in. He moves silently around the perimeter studying every detail of the property and the men.

He had to hold himself back when he heard the telltale sound of pain and shouting. It was coming from the barn.

Now he believed he knew were his Brothers were and held himself back as he heard the sounds coming from there.

"Tell me where the package is!" he hears from the barn.

"We will never tell you", he hears Athos painful gasp.

"If you do the pain will stop and I'll let you go"

"No, you won't", D'Artagnan thinks.

"No, you won't", he hears Aramis rasp.

D'Artagnan winces at the sound of punches and kicks being dished out. And the grunts his Brothers made in pain.

"No one is coming for you. No one cares. So why protect something that belongs to someone that thinks your dispensable"

"Doesn't matter. We are loyal to our King", Porthos retorts.

"Everyone has forsaken you and anyway nobody can find you out here"

"What to bet?" D'Artagnan growls, "Every hit you give them the more you WILL suffer"

"I'll give you a few hours to decide your options. You can give me what I need and get some food and I'll even let you live. But if not then I will shoot each of you in turn somewhere not fatal but painful, till you tell me where the package is"

"Your going to face many's worst nightmare", D'Artagnan growls internally, "A VERY pissed off werewolf that will do anything to protect his Pack. Even if their humans!"

"Well, you wasting your time. We won't tell. You mos as well kill us now", Athos says with pain in his voice.

Suddenly a shot was fired and a cry of pain comes from D'Artagnan's best friend…Athos. That bastard had just shot HIS Brother.

"ATHOS!" D'Artagnan howls.

It nearly was too much for the Wolf. He nearly let himself go into a crazy rage filled rampage.

He heard Aramis and Porthos crying out Athos name. He heard them struggling in their bonds.

"You have a few hours to make your decision. Make it and I'll give you medical supplies to save his life and yours. If not…"

"Why would you save our lives?" Aramis growls weakly.

"I have plenty of people interesting in able body or handsome men to use how they like"

"Over my dead body", D'Artagnan growls his eyes with more amber in them.

D'Artagnan watches as the men leave the barn and post men outside to guard it. Even through it was unlikely that the prisoners could escape without help.

"Athos, Athos open your eyes…", D'Artagnan hears Aramis beg.

"Mis", the weak voice of Athos whispers.

Even D'Artagnan's hearing could barely hear his mentor's word.

"We WILL get out of here Athos. Hold on. Porthos and I will think of something", Aramis begs.

D'Artagnan could hear Aramis and Porthos struggle to free themselves. His heart ached for them. But he had to pick his moment perfectly and that would be after the sunset.

He starts to stalk the perimeter again and it pained his heart every time he heard his Brothers plead to Athos to hold on. D'Artagnan couldn't help the whine that came out.

The sunsetting couldn't come fast enough…

(Line Break)

Aramis and Porthos felt helpless watching their friend struggle to stay conscious. But they could tell it was a losing battle no matter how much they beg.

They could handle the beatings but seeing Athos shot in the shoulder was horrifying as Athos already had a wound in his leg. Aramis also knew they each had a few broken or cracked ribs. Numerous bruises and lacerations. And they each properly had a concussion and they haven't eaten. They had been given water but that was all.

Aramis tried desperately to free himself. But all he was doing was shredding his wrists so bad that they were dripping in blood.

"What are we going to do Aramis?" Porthos asks gasping in pain as he moved the wrong way.

"I don't know. But Athos won't last much longer", Aramis says worriedly, his heartaches for his Brother.
All they were able to do at the moment was watch as their Brother slipped away from them.

"Athos…fight! Fight for us! Fight for D'Artagnan! Our Little Brother is waiting for us at home Athos! And you don't want to disappoint him by not coming home do you? You don't want him to feel the pain in losing you and us, do you? We have to fight to get back!" Aramis pleads to the mans love of the young Gascon, "We need each other to get out of here!"

Athos groans, "D'Artagnan", he rasps weakly.

"Yes Athos! Fight for him!" Porthos exclaims, "Fight for us! Fight to live!"

"Just think Athos he could come charging in right now!" Aramis says desperately, "You know it would be something he would likely so!"

"Tell…him I…I…I'm sorry…love him…", Athos chokes out as he fights to stay awake.

"You can tell him yourself!" Aramis tells him firmly, "Don't give up now!"

Athos started closing his eyes.

Aramis and Porthos couldn't do nothing to stop Athos from losing consciousness. Aramis was praying for a miracle.

There had to be hope didn't there?

Without hope what would they have?

But how would anyone find them?

What would D'Artagnan do when they didn't return home? How would that effect the young man in losing all three of his Brothers?

"Please Athos fight till the end. D'Artagnan is waiting for us and I don't think he'll handle losing us all!"

As Aramis says that a howl of anguish and pain fills the property. But Aramis and Porthos believed they imagined it. As wolves weren't around here, were they? And they certainly couldn't have feelings, did they?

Maybe THEIR injuries were finally getting the better of them…But they couldn't think about that. They just had to watch as their Brother fought for his life unable to do anything to prevent him for slipping away from them…

(Line Break)

Glowing amber eyes watched the property in anguish. But as the sunset the human in the wolf dimmed as he was ready to kill those who touched his pack.

He was more the predator than he had ever before and those unsuspecting bastards were his prey…

~~Author's Note: What Do You Think? Please Review:)!~~