"I can hunt just fine on my own," Gantlos's grumble was barely audible. Duman could hear it loud and clear however.

"Then start doing it," Duman's curt response caught the blonde off gaurd. He frowned.

"You know, you could be on my side about this —"

"No, Gantlos, I can't be on your side because you're literally killing yourself with this. You don't wanna go all Count Dracula in battle? That's fine, don't. But you have to nourish yourself, even the parts you hate. You keep pressing this down until it explodes and you go on a feeding frenzy. You say you don't want to hurt us, but starve yourself until you're nothing but a—" Duman stopped himself, "nevermind."

Gantlos stiffened — he knew he had been causing trouble for the team, but this felt like something was wrong in his interpersonal relationship. Duman's lack of eye contact solidified this fear.

"OH COME ON!" A shrill, frustrated voice found its way into their ears. Gantlos and Duman gave a look toward one another before slowly making their way to the disgruntled voice.

Stella shone with sweat, her chest heaved with each breath. Why couldn't she do this? The spells seemed simple, but the sheer opposing energy from what she's worked in her whole life contradicted her body. She worried she'd never be able to use her magic again.

Creak

Blonde hair whipped around just in time to see a large black wolf jump out of the brush. They stared, him stepping as she stepped back.

Run

Her feet didn't get far as she ran into a firm chest

Gantlos— , she looked at him a moment. His eyes a blend of their normal gold and a crimson. His teeth seemed sharper, his hands colder.

Stella backed away.

"What's wrong fairy? Don't we get a show?" Duman taunted, she didn't feel she had a choice.

"BELIEVIX!" Dawning her bright orange made her feel comfortable, "Solar storm!"

"AG!" Gantlos stumbled back, but the attack was short lived.

Pain.

"Oi I think she's shy, blondes get that way around me," she had no come back to Duman's banter. She clenched herself.

"What's your problem fairy?" The smell of burning flesh tainted the air.

"AAAA" she now collapsed as UV burns spread through her body. Her screams continued, she couldn't detransform.

"Bloody hell…?" Duman stared at the burning fairy.

"Hey…" Heavy boots approached her, "quit screaming you're gonna attract someone!" She couldn't hear Gantlos. He picked her up, causing her to scream louder at the cold hands on her now melting body. Gantlos looked at Duman, who simply shook his head, confused and slightly concerned, "Shut up, ya need to relax!" Gantlos shook the screaming fairy.

"Oh god the smell—why isn't she stopping?!" Gantlos looked at the burns, familiarity creeping into his mind, he knew that pain, and he knew that the only way to really get away from it was with help. Extending his fangs, he impaled the writhing fairy. He fed from her until she was herself again. She went limp in his arms. Nobody moved. The woods were still. Duman mouthed something that he couldn't quite understand. He thought for a moment, is she a vampire? No. she was warm. She fluttered with life This was something else something they may be able to use. As if carrying a bride, he held her in his arms. He was gentle, he was delicate with her.

"Let's take her back to base,"

"She's still alive?!" Gantlos rolled his eyes at Duman's perplexity.

"Barely, but Anagan can heal her up,"

"Isn't Ogron gonna be pissy? I mean, he's already not too happy with you…"

"He's got no reason to be mad about me taking food home, right? He's the one who wanted me to eat more anyway," Duman was going to protest, but Gantlos had begun walking away. Duman looked over, something was by the tree. He picked up the book Stella had had with her , and followed along.