Thread:Selound/@comment-4482397-20120115051254

this chapter is called Hungry Like The Wolf

“I’m sorry.” Ralken whispered, heading back to Alya, who had fallen to her knees in shock. “That could have been a spy.”

“Ralken…” Alya stood up shakily. “You… I didn’t realize you cared about me like that.”

“Ever since I found you washed up on the shore.” Ralken smiled, brushing her headfur from her face. “You’ve been my inspiration to keep going in this mad house.” He drew his paw back, glancing uncertainly at the tent through the corner of his eyes. “But… my father would do something horrible to you, if he knew. And I don’t even know if you feel that way about me-

Alya leapt and threw her paws around his neck, and hugged him tightly, causing Ralken to stagger backward.

“Of course I feel the same way about you! I love you Prince Ralken, you saved my life and kept me safe. How else can I repay all your kindness?”

Ralken brushed his mouth against her ear. “Be my mate.”

Alya let her paw intertwine with his, and her tail hooked around his waist, then touched his cheek with her free paw, feeling every detail. “If what you want, is lifelong partnership, then I’m yours.”

Ralken closed his eyes, feeling her touch. “If we become mates… I cannot say for sure what will happen… but if that was a spy earlier, we will need to gather our friends together.” He kissed Alya’s paw. “We can’t stay here any longer. We’re leaving tomorrow night, whether that warrior mouse comes or not. I can’t risk what my father will do.”

“I agree.” Alya sighed. “But in the meantime….”

She gave Ralken a passionate kiss, and drew away from him. Ralken gripped her paw tightly and together they walked towards the tent. Findo winced as he limped down the ladder. His back was burning and stinging and he was hot, sticky, and exhausted. All he wanted to do was to go to the healer’s tent and get his back treated and then sleep for a season.

His back wasn’t even the beginning of his horrible day. He had felt the burning stares of many of his fellow guards. He had ignored them, but he could feel their suspicion and distrust piercing his back like arrow shafts.

But, aside from that, Findo was in a good mood. He felt light, happy, and content, as though a large weight had been lifted from him. He had returned to being the usual, witty, carefree, and fun loving Findo from before.

He let out a groan of pain as he gazed up the sky and rubbed the crick out of his neck. The sun was setting, but the moon and stars were starting to appear in the peach, rose and orange crème sky.

Findo smiled to himself as he rubbed his neck and gazed at his paw, which held something that Aqua had given him earlier that day, a small charm in the shape of an owl, which Aqua had told him was the meaning of Elonwyn’s name: “Little Snow Owl”

“You may want this.” Aqau had said, limping over to him as he chatted with Stumptooth and Tara, the only beasts that looked at him with friendship. “It’s something Elonwyn’s mother gave to me when she was pregnant with Lonny. She told me to give it to the one Lonny would become mates with.”

Findo pressed the charm to his lips. He knew that he and Lonny were only mates in the eyes of the creatures of Marshank, but for the time, until he and his friends left the atrocious fortress, he could dream.

“She loves my best friend. She may not say it, but I can sense it when she looks at him. she doesn’t trust me, but I won’t ever go berserk like that again, I’m going to be Findo, not a monster.” He whispered against the charm.

“Talking to yourself pervert?” a snide voice said from behind him. Findo’s grip around the charm tightened and he let his fist lower to his waist.

“Hello Risk.” Findo didn’t turn around, recognizing the voice of Hisk’s son. The scrawny weasel had been even more unbearable since his father’s death.

“Where’s your little slave? Waiting for you in your bed is she?” Risk grinned an hefted his axe over his shoulder, grinning cruelly.

“Why don’t you go bother someone who can’t fight back like a normal idiot Risk?” Findo asked, turning to face the silver furred weasel. Risk had pale grayish silver fur with a long ponytail that hung over his shoulder blades. If it wasn’t for his constantly hateful expression he would have been rather handsome.

Risk responded by aiming a punch at Findo, but Findo idly blocked it with his arm. Risk let out a growl.

“I’m not an idiot! Roll over and die you-

“Better not finish that sentence Risk, or I’ll have to damage your face.” Findo gave a slight grin. “It’s the only alternative, since you don’t have a brain to harm.”

“Shut up!!!!” Risk backed away, braced for a fight.

“Alright.” Findo turned away. “I don’t want to bother with you today. I’m tired, and I want a nap.”

Risk glared after Findo’s retreating form. “You just wait Findo. I’ll destroy you.”

Juni winced and clutched her stomach. Her baby was kicking again, and each pang made her feel sick. She clutched the side of the log she was sitting on, and let out a hiss.

“Dang it!” she growled. “Why does it have to be six months?! I can’t take this much longer!”

“Juni?” she looked up with a start and glanced over her shoulder. Findo was staring at her, his head cocked with a quizzical expression on his face.

“Findo, I was wondering...” she hauled herself up, still pressing her arms to her belly. “If you could help me make some supper, I’m having some *grunt* distractions.” She made a confused face as Findo suddenly crouched and pressed a paw against Juni’s bulging stomach. “What… are you doing?”

Findo smiled up at her. “You’ve got a feisty one here Juni. Remind you of someone?”

He started as Juni’s eyes filled with tears. “Hey! Sorry, I didn’t mean-

Juni pressed a paw against Findo’s head and ruffled his headfur. “It’s not your fault. I’m just not… over his death yet.”

“I didn’t mean to remind you of that.” Findo shuffled uncomfortably, and then leapt up, ignoring his back. “Here! I’ll make supper! You rest!” he tripped over the log in his hurry and hit the ground beside the unlit fire.

“I think...” Juni helped Ralken up. “That since we’re both crippled, we should work together.”

“Yeah-

“what’s this?” Juni snatched something from out of Findo’s paw.

“Hey!” Findo yelped. “That’s mine!”

“I know, but I want to look.” Juni examined the charm with interest. “It’s really detailed. Where did you get it?”

“None of your business.” Findo muttered.

“Here.” Juni ripped the hem of her tunic and strung the charm on it, and stood on tip toe to tie it around Findo’s neck. “It’ll be safer here that clutched in your fist.”

“Thanks Juni.” Findo smiled at his friend. Elonwyn rubbed her burning eyes. Her throat was sore and she was extremely thirsty. She didn’t have a tear left to cry and she felt sick to her stomach. “ Hey! It’s the pipsqueak!” an unfamiliar voice rang in her ears and with a squeak she turned her head to see a tall silver weasel with a cruel smile.

“Aw wook! Da widdle pipsqueak’s been cwying!” the weasel crooned sarcastically. “Did Findo tell you to stop-

“It figures I don’t have my sword on me right now.” Elonwyn thought as the weasel finished his sentence. “I need someone to beat up.”

She let out a startled yelp as the weasel suddenly grabbed her shoulders and shoved her down, pressing his knee in her stomach. He gripped her chin, forcing her to sit upright.

“Why don’t you play with me instead?” the weasel purred.

“Get off!” Elonwyn spat, struggling. She managed to free herself long enough to punch her attacker hard in the cheek.

“Punch a little harder you might actually cause me to bruise.” The weasel shoved her back against the ground hard, and a pain shot up Elonwyn’s back.

“What’s your problem?! What did I ever do to you?!” Elonwyn snarled and kicked with both her feet and nailed him in the chest. The force of her kick got her to her feet, and she raised her fists, ready to fight for her life.

Risk, for that was whom she was dealing with, rubbed his chest a huge grin on his face. “Aren’t I lucky? I got to see up your tunic that time!”

Elonwyn let out an angry hiss. “Shut up!!!!”

She screamed in pain as he grabbed her left ear and pulled her head down with a swift twist.

Findo looked up from the stew he and Juni were making together.

“Did you hear that?”

Juni was listening intently, her eyes wide. “That sounded like Elon-

She didn’t finish her sentence; Findo was up and running towards the sound of the commotion.  