Updated: 28/01/2024

AUTHOR'S NOTE PLEASE READ!

Sorry for the long wait but my computer crashed and is basically a ride off and I haven't got the money to get a new one at the moment. Today's update luckily was already on Doc's ready to put up and I have borrowed a computer to do this.

So everyone please hang in there and know I haven't abandoned ANY of my stories!

Chapter 7: D'Artagnan?

Aramis and Porthos thought for sure their time was up now and hoped Athos would remain unconscious for this. Like he did for all the commotion going on outside.

But the beast turned to them blood dripping from its teeth and claws but when it turns and its amber eyes land on them, they see them shining with intelligence. This was not any ordinary beast. This looked like a wolf but bigger.

It sniffed the air and neither of them moved a muscle. Trying to prolong their lives even if it was futile. But then they see the beasts' amber eyes slowly fade and turn a familiar chocolate brown but with golden flecks. Where had they seen those eyes before?

The wolf bows to them shocking them and lets out a little whine in their direction. It started to slowly approach them. But it didn't look like it was being cautious it looked like the wolf was show THEM it wasn't a threat to them.

D'Artagnan was actually doing just that. He wanted them to know he meant them no harm. As he wouldn't be able to turn back for several more hours and he needed them to trust him enough to free them.

There was another way that he might be able to tell them who he was. Even if they didn't believe it straight away, they might just to help Athos. Whose heart D'Artagnan could hear was struggling. But he didn't expect what happened next.

But then Athos opens his pained blue eyes and looks directly into the 'wolf's' eyes. As he looked into the wolf's eyes even in his state could recognise those eyes anywhere. He didn't know if he was going mad or not. But those eyes belonged to his Little Brother…D'Artagnan.

"D'Artagnan?" Athos rasps softly.

"Ath…", Aramis goes to say but was shocked when the wolf nodded its head at Athos name.

And what he did next nearly gave Aramis and Porthos heart attacks. The wolf very gently, for a wolf who just took out a man, nuzzled Athos side of his face in affection and familiarity. And let out a worried whine.

"D'Artagnan?" Aramis whispers.

The wolf turns to them and bows his head to them. Before turning back to Athos and going toward the bonds that bound the man.

Aramis and Porthos eyes widen when the wolf raises its front paw and snaps the ropes binding Athos's wrists with careful precision with one of its claws.

Athos sags and would have hit the ground if the wolf hadn't moved to support him with a whine. The wolf gently manoeuvres Athos so he was laying down. When he goes to move Athos grabs the wolf's fur.

Aramis and Porthos stiffen again.

But the wolf does nothing but bends down to Athos eye level.
"I'm not going crazy am I? D'Artagnan?" Athos whispers looking into those soulful brown eyes.

Again, the wolf nods and nuzzles his face gently.

Athos lets a tear fall. He doesn't know how but this wolf was D'Artagnan. He was sure. But was he in a fevered dream? Was he really going to be able to see his Little Brother one last time?

He lets go of the wolf's fur and the wolf cautiously moves to Aramis and whines nodding at the binds. Aramis eyes widen the wolf was asking permission to cut his binds the same way he did Athos.

Aramis looks into the wolf's eyes like Athos did. And he finally saw the impossible.
"How?" Aramis whispers.

D'Artagnan gives him a wolfish grin and nuzzles Aramis's cheek. Much to Aramis astonishment. The wolf who if looking into his eyes told him anything. Was actually his/their Little Brother.

He nudges his Brother gentle and cuts the ropes away with one of his claws and sniffed the bloody wrists.

Aramis had stiffen at the wolf sniffing his wrists and the rest of his body. But the wolf does nothing but give him a look of compassion and nudges him and nods at Athos who was barely holding onto consciousness. It was obvious what the wolf…D'Artagnan wanted.

"We…we will talk about this later", Aramis decides not sure how to proceed.

But he shakily gets up stiff and sore and makes his way to Athos. He nearly falls but D'Artagnan the 'wolf' manages to help him keep his balance till he was at Athos side.

Then D'Artagnan cautiously moves towards Porthos. Athos and Aramis had seen him as he truly was. Could Porthos?

He bows his head at Porthos but keeps eye contact.

Porthos like Aramis didn't know how but now he could see those eyes were full of love and concern with anguished mixed in. This wolf was not a wolf.

"D'Artagnan?" Porthos asks.

Again, D'Artagnan gives him a grin and nuzzles his last brother's cheek gentle.
"If that is you can you NOT get blood on me?" Porthos asks him trying to just go with this development.

To their surprise the wolf/D'Artagnan lets out a wolfy laugh and yaps at him. Before cutting the bonds or Porthos with one of his claws.

"Thanks", Porthos says with a wince.

D'Artagnan whines and sniffs Porthos over and Porthos realised D'Artagnan was searching for injuries.

"Give a guy a little help?" Porthos asks him.

He nods his big head and lines up with his side and Porthos grabs the wolf's fur and the fur surprisingly heaves him up no problem and helps him painful to reach Athos and Aramis.

D'Artagnan didn't know if they were in shock or not to just let him do what he did and recognise it was him. He didn't expect it too last.

"We need medical supplies", Aramis says, "I can't help Athos or any of us without them. My supplies are gone…"

D'Artagnan heard him and he felt bad as he startled them with a different pitch of howl than before. They looked at him wearily.

D'Artagnan heard the sound he was looking for and pawed at the ground to get their attention and gestured with his head to the barn door.

The two less injured Musketeers were shocked to see D'Artagnan's horse trotting in. Buttercup seemed to have no problem with the large wolf actually nuzzles the large wolf and stands next to him.

D'Artagnan gestures with his head towards the saddle bags and whines trying to communicate with them.

Aramis and Porthos could see the saddle bags now. Obvious overloaded with supplies. They thought they had been imagining things with the wolf. But the appearance of D'Artagnan's horse was more proof the wolf was in fact their beloved Little Brother.

"You…you have bought supplies?" Aramis asks him.

D'Artagnan nods at him and he gestures to one of the bags. Showing Aramis exactly where to find the supplies he needed.

Aramis shakily gets to his feet and moves cautiously to the horse watching D'Artagnan/wolf out of the corner of his eye. But the wolf doesn't move as if sensing his unease. Aramis opens the bag and sees everything he would need to at least save try and save Athos and help them packed in the bag neatly and there seemed to be a lot of it.

Aramis turns to D'Artagnan shocked and the wolf grins him a wolfish grin.

Aramis shakes his head, "We are going to have a LONG conversation about THIS. Whatever THIS is! You are in SO much TROUBLE! Do you understand D'Artagnan?"

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