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"Dawning"Written By: Honor Disclaimers: Not ours. They belong to rich people. We just snuck them out of the high-security vault when they weren’t looking. Pairings: 3x4, 5x2, 1+(um…eheheh…we have no idea.) Warnings: Angst (which is fixed), AU, Fant, violence, character death (a couple of the bad guys, don’t spaz), questionable humor and LEMON!!! Rating: PG-13 to NC-17 Summary: When a man of obsession turns to the powers of darkness to curse two lovers that are against him, then those that can must do everything they can to break the chains that ensnare them all. *emphasized* //spell or thoughts//
"Dawning" Chapter Seven: Dawn Breaks
“Hn.” Feeling a bit sadistic, he grasped the two pine branches that they were sleeping on and drug them near the fire, directly in front of the drifting smoke. Then he watched them cough themselves awake. “Good morning.” “Barton, I’ve said this once, and I’ll say it again. Your sense of humor leaves *much* to be desired.” Wufei cracked one eye open, determined where it was safe to roll out of the bedding, then untangled himself from Duo’s grasp. Trowa was interested to note that this time the major wasn’t upset about being caught snuggling with his huggy toy. Turning back to the fire to turn the fish that were roasting there, he heard Duo wake with a sleepy murmur and stretch. Trowa looked up at Quatre’s cry and smiled. Holding out his arm so the hawk could land, he was surprised when he flew straight past. Duo’s startled squawk turned him around to see Quatre settling onto Duo’s still outstretched arm. Duo looked from the hawk—if he didn’t know better, he could swear that Quatre was grinning at him—to Trowa’s startled expression. Wetting his lips nervously he propped an awkward smile onto his face. “Ah…hi, Quatre. Morning and all that.” Subtly he tried to fling Quatre back into the air. “Go back to Trowa, okay?” The hawk dug his talons in a little more securely, flapping his wings a little to rebalance. But he didn’t budge. Wufei snorted, one hand covering his mouth to cover a smile. “Last night.” Trowa said with deceptive mildness. “Tell me about it.” “Nothing to tell really. Come on, Quat, I’m hungry. Go to Trowa.” “Reeally.” Trowa cocked his head a little. “You went to an inn…?” “Right. Well, we went to a stable first and changed clothes.” Trowa blanched. “Together?” “No, no, of course not!” Duo assured him hastily. “Then you left him alone?!” Wufei, by this point, had a hand around his ribs he was laughing so hard. “NO!” Duo almost ran the distance between them and forcefully transferred Quatre over to Trowa’s arm. “Here, take him, take him!” As Trowa took the hawk and soothed him, Duo turned away for a moment before turning back. “Lord Quatre’s a wonderful, beautiful person and the truth is, the whole time, he talked of nothing but you.” Trowa nodded, looking at the hawk and running a hand over his head. Duo nodded back and soon talk turned to breakfast and where they would ride that day. He turned back when Trowa bit off a pained exclamation. “Sir?!” Trowa was holding a hand against his chest, staring at the hawk in bewilderment. “He bit me.” Wufei snorted. “I’m not surprised. In his position, I’d do the same thing.” The hawk ruffled his feathers and flew to Wufei’s shoulder, settling with his tail firmly facing Trowa. Wufei carefully swallowed a laugh, but he couldn’t do anything about the smirk on his face. “I think he’s upset with you.” Trowa glanced down at his bleeding finger. “Really? I never would have guessed.” “You’ve nothing to worry about, Captain.” Duo assured him softly. “He loves you more than life. He’s had to.” “I know.” Trowa glanced at Quatre, but apparently he wasn’t going to be forgiven easily. The blond *could* hold a grudge. “Every moment that you spend with him, I…envy you.” Looking at Duo squarely he murmured, “Do you know that hawks and wolves mate for life? The bishop didn’t even leave us that. Not even that.” The hawk took off and circled around Wufei’s head, returning to his husband’s wrist. With a soft cry he nuzzled in apology against Trowa’s cheek, tugging on the bangs. “I’m sorry too.” Trowa whispered to him. “Come. Let’s eat. We have a lot of traveling to do today.” + Heero dropped the reins of his mule onto the seat of the cart and jumped down, stalking forward to where Trowa sat on Goliath holding Quatre. “On your way to kill the bishop?” He glared up at the man, Trowa looking back calmly. “Why won’t you listen to me? In two days time, you can face the bishop in L’Aquila with Quatre by your side and break the curse.” Trowa looked at the hawk and then back to Heero. “I will be in L’Aquila tomorrow and one way or another, there will be an end to it.” “One day more or less, what could it matter?” Duo appeared with Wufei, carrying a skin of water. Trowa narrowed his eyes on the thief and his major as Duo secured the skin to his saddle. “You too? I warned you.” Trowa nudged the black away from them. “Stay here then with the shaman.” Wufei glared up at the captain. “Don’t be stupid, Barton. We are going with you.” “Besides, how will you get inside the cathedral without my help?” Duo tossed a grin up at Trowa which faltered as Trowa arched an eyebrow back. Turning the black away, he called over his shoulder. “I *will* get in. Without your help.” As he rode off, Wufei let out a string of soft curses. “Stupid, *stubborn* man.” Heero laid a hand on Duo’s shoulder, looking at Wufei. “We tried to tell him. Thank you both for standing up for the truth.” Duo sighed and looked after the disappearing rider. Now what were they to do? + Quatre rolled up the sleeve of Trowa’s shirt, looking around for his knife and lost in his thoughts. “My lord.” Looking up, Quatre smiled slightly as Duo and Wufei came around the edge of a large boulder, Heero following. “There you are, I had wondered.” He looked around again. “Where’s my knife…?” “Lord Quatre,” Wufei crouched down next to the blond lord, “Have you had any success with the Captain?” Quatre sighed and shook his head. “He is stubborn. Even when I Look at him, he does not heed me. He is determined to kill the bishop.” Another particularly strong gust of wind tore across the plains and the frozen lake next to them, sending chills straight through Quatre’s frame. He shivered hard. “It’s far too cold tonight.” Heero scowled at the frozen lake. “Not the best place for camping, I fear. Let’s dig a trench to sleep in. It’s the only way to gain some protection from the wind.” The other three nodded and set about getting the supplies needed. + “Must you keep hitting me in the *liver*?!” Heero snarled to Duo. “Shaman,” Duo proclaimed righteously “this hole is not big enough for the two of us.” Wufei shook his head at the two of them bickering like children and turned back to watch Quatre watch the moonlit hills on the other side of the lake. “Quatre?” “I have such an uneasy feeling.” Quatre murmured, almost to himself. “Wufei…will you go and check? It’s probably nothing, but…” “It never hurts to make sure that the area is clear.” Wufei assured him. Quatre gave him a wane smile and turned back to stare across the lake, seeing Trowa come over a hill. “Trowa’s coming.” He murmured. Wufei paced away from the small encampment, his eyes and ears straining for anything that seemed out of place. As he passed a low hill, a low voice came out of the darkness. “So, Chang, still following after Barton like a puppy?” Wufei snarled and turned, drawing his sword as Zechs stepped out of the shadows and into the light, a sneer on his lips. “ Merquise! What are you doing here?!” Zechs smiled coldly. “Why, catching a wolf and a hawk of course.” Wufei growled and swept his sword up. “Over your dead body, Merquise.” “Fine.” Zechs stepped forward and the ring of metal meeting metal rang through the night. + Quatre jerked around with a gasp as he heard sword strike sword and saw Wufei engaged with Zechs Merquise in the moonlight. Duo and Heero looked up out of the trench and Duo stifled a gasp of his own. Oh no! Looking around frantically, Duo looked for the soldiers he knew were somewhere near. His eyes widened as he looked out over the lake. “Quatre!” Quatre’s head snapped around to see what Duo was pointing to and his eyes widened with horror. Merquise’s soldiers had circled around the other side of the lake and were now driving Trowa onto the ice. Quatre cried out. “No! Trowa, don’t!” Trowa skidded to a stop, but it was too late. With a horrible crack, the ice beneath him gave and Trowa plunged into the freezing waters with a yelp. “No!!” Quatre bolted away from the camp as Duo and Heero jumped out of the trench. “Quatre, be careful!” Duo yelled, scrambling after him. Quatre slid out onto the ice, determined to get to the thrashing wolf. He yelped as the ice gave an ominous crack beneath his feet and dropped to his belly. Crawling out to the hole in the ice, he reached out for Trowa. Duo watched as Quatre slid across the ice and almost go through. Looking around frantically, he snatched up Trowa’s sword and gestured for Heero to wrap a piece of rope around the hilt. “Quickly! Tie it up!” Once it was done he dashed onto the ice and thrust the sword into it. Heero came up behind him and grabbed hold of the hilt, securing it. “Careful, Duo!” Duo nodded sharply, grabbing the rope and scooting on his belly to where Quatre was. + Wufei heard Quatre’s warning cry and then Trowa’s yelp as the ice gave under him. Biting back a curse and not daring to look around, Wufei concentrated on keeping Merquise away from his charges. Merquise smirked as he swung his sword in low and Wufei parried. “Seems like my plan worked then.” Wufei growled and thrust back. “Not on my watch, bastard.” Zechs laughed. + Duo finally came up to where Quatre lay, grasping for Trowa. “Quatre, here! See if you can get this around him!” Quatre grabbed the rope and tried to flip it over Trowa’s head as he scrabbled at the ice’s edge. Trowa cried out as he slipped back into the water and Quatre whimpered. Panic flaring, Duo did the only thing he could think of and went into the water after Trowa. “Duo!” Duo gasped as the temperature of the water hit him, but reached out and caught Trowa by the scruff of the neck. In his panic, Trowa turned and launched himself at Duo, attempting to climb out of the water. Duo cried out as Trowa’s claws sank deep into his chest, leaving deep furrows. Duo kept hold, though. “Duo! Trowa! Come on!” Quatre reached for them and as Duo heaved the heavy wolf onto the edge of the ice, grabbed Trowa around the chest and pulled backwards. Trowa finally got leverage under his feet and Quatre pulled him out of the water. They collapsed back onto the ice as Duo got his own leverage on the rope and heaved himself out of the water and collapsed next to them. + Zechs looked over Wufei’s shoulder and snarled in frustration. The damned brats had pulled the wolf out! His attention was abruptly brought back as Wufei got through his guard and sliced across his chest. Realizing his mistake, Zechs snarled again and knocked Wufei’s sword back before stepping back. Wufei narrowed his eyes. “This isn’t over!” Clutching a hand to the profusely bleeding wound, Zechs whistled to his men and ran back to his horse. Wufei watched as the man and his henchmen galloped out before turning and running back to the lake’s edge as Duo collapsed onto the ice. “Duo!” Heero was already carefully sliding out to the trio. Wrapping a cloak around Trowa and then Duo, he looked up at Quatre. “We must get them back to the fire and get them warm.” Quatre nodded wearily, gently caressing Trowa’s head in his lap. Heero wrapped the rope around Trowa and looked back to where Wufei stood. “Chang! Pull him back!” Wufei complied, worried about his captain and Duo. When
Trowa was safely across the ice, Wufei pulled him over to the fire.
Looking back, he saw that Heero and Quatre had gotten Duo off the
ice and Heero was carrying him over. Laying the exhausted thief by
the fire as well, the shaman gestured to the trench. Wufei nodded and together they moved Trowa down into the depression. Quatre scrambled in after him and lay down beside him, drawing a blanket over them to keep in body heat. He looked back up at Wufei and Heero. “Thank you.” Wufei nodded and turned back to Duo. The thief was
shivering violently as he came up to him and he looked up at Wufei. “Here, drink this slowly and then I want to take a look at those wounds.” “What?!” Wufei looked down as Duo winced. “It’s nothing,” Duo murmured, sipping at his drink. “That’s what they all say.” Heero scowled. “Drink up. I’ll look at them after you’re done.” Taking a firmer grip on Duo and still rubbing his arms, Wufei breathed a silent sigh of relief. He didn’t know why Merquise had given up so easily, but he was damned glad that everyone was safe. For now, they would just rest and regain their strength. Wufei continued to warm Duo and waited for Heero to come back. Tonight was going to be long… + Quatre opened his eyes slowly, his hand stroking along Trowa’s back. The fur was now warmly dry and Quatre shivered slightly. It had been so close, so close. But Trowa was safe and here. Blinking, Quatre wondered what had woken him up. As he stroked along the black fur a shaft of sunlight caught the back of his hand. Quatre sucked in a breath and jerked his hand back. What? His mind raced to find the reason as to why he wasn’t changing immediately. The sun. The sun wasn’t directly hitting him. He could fight for a few minutes. Then maybe… Trowa stirred, feeling the effects of the sun as it rose and something else. Turning, his eyes widened as he saw Quatre sitting next to him, staring with hope in his eyes. Trowa began to change and Quatre’s hand flew to his mouth to muffle a sob as he saw his husband’s eyes and face change from wolf to human. He fought his own transformation as hard as he could and reached out, his hand trembling. Trowa gasped silently and reached out as well. Their fingers brushed as Quatre lost his fight and changed. With an agonized cry he flung himself into the air. Trowa cried out in despair and flung himself up, reaching out for his lover. A sob caught in his throat and he dropped his face into his arms, snow biting unnoticed into his bare skin. Duo had been watching the two as the sun rose and at Trowa’s cry turned into Wufei’s shoulder and muffled a sob of his own at the pain he saw. Wufei was silent as he wrapped his arms around the thief and held back his own tears. He watched as Quatre came down and landed next to the captain and rubbed his head along Trowa’s arm, his distressed chirps breaking the still air. It was a solemn sun that broke over the hills that morning. + The camp was silent as they broke it down and prepared to move out. Trowa said nothing as he quietly saddled Goliath and slipped his sword into its sheathe. Duo and Wufei watched him as Heero watched all of them. Duo tracked the Captain as he moved back and forth. He could stand it no longer as the silence pressed in around him and he moved toward Trowa. Wufei held out a hand and then let it drop, watching. Trowa was tightening the girth of his saddle as Duo came up behind him. “I’m sorry.” Duo said softly, his eyes downcast. He felt horrible for all that had happened and felt this was the only way to express himself. Trowa froze, his misery and anger coalescing into fury as he heard Duo’s words. He needed no one’s pity! Whirling around he took a step toward Duo, snarling, striking out the only way he could. “Who do you think you are?!” Duo’s head snapped up and his eyes widened as Trowa took a threatening step toward him. He scrambled back and slipped, crying out as his fall jarred his wounds. Immediately Wufei was there, between them. He faced Trowa silently, his dark eyes looking into anguished and angry green ones. “No.” he said quietly. “You will not.” Trowa had stopped at Duo’s cry of pain and seen the deep parallel wounds that marked his chest. He slid his gaze off of his major’s to see Heero lift Duo up and the thief then grab a handful of Wufei’s tunic and hide behind him. Wufei dropped an arm back and around the trembling form protectively. “What happened to him?” Trowa asked through clenched teeth, trying to get his emotions under control. “What are those marks?” “You don’t remember, Captain?” It was Heero who replied and Trowa looked over at him. “Last night, when you fell through the ice, Duo went in after you and saved your life.” Trowa stared at Heero as Duo’s wounds flashed through his mind and he recognized the marks of sharp claws. He only vaguely remembered the night before, his fear and desperation having wiped most of it away. Immediately his temper cooled and he looked down and then back up at Duo as the thief peeked around Wufei’s shoulder. He held out a hand. “Forgive me.” Duo smiled and came out from behind Wufei. Catching a hold of the braided thief around the neck, Trowa pulled him into a hug. Duo hugged him back. Coming to a sudden decision, Trowa looked up over Duo at Wufei and Heero. “Come on. I’ll show you how to cage a wolf.” ~*~*~* Velvet: *pulling out a handful of Kleenex and sobbing
into them* Waah!
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