Wolf Moon Part 9
The tavern's breakfast menu was most impressive. Lean bacon, seasoned with the right amount of salt, pepper and sage, was a rare treat. The scrambled eggs weren't runny and the loaf bread was bake with whole-wheat flour.
Of course the tastier fare further drained the trio's moneybags. But after too many mornings of ingesting stringy wild game or food of questionable origin or no rations at all, the higher price was a suitable trade for avoiding the latter forms of digestive misery.
"Will we reach Twilight by nightfall?" Heero mumbled around a mouthful of crispy bacon.
In contrast to Heero's unpleasant habit of talking with his mouth full, Wufei chewed his portion of pork and washed it down with water before replying. "There's no reason we shouldn't get there before sunset unless we encounter additional inhuman hindrances."
Much to Wufei's chagrin, Heero used his fingernail to dig out a bit of meat wedged between his back teeth then wiped the half-chewed gristle off on his trouser leg. "There's nothing that son of Satan can do to stop us." he declared, spearing a forkful of fluffy egg.
Likewise, Duo displayed his ignorance of etiquette. He crumbled up his bacon and bread and sprinkled the bite size pieces over his egg then added a generous helping of honey. With a spoon that was not only clean but free of rust, he stirred the odd concoction until, in Wufei' opinion, the mixture became unpalatable.
"It's not the fleshy monsters that worry me tis the mind stalkers ya have to watch out for." Duo stated from his previous night's experience.
Sharing the Tracker's horrid nightmare had left the empathic Irishman physically weary and mentally drained. While Heero was also experiencing the after affects of sore muscles and a dull headache, Duo took comfort in knowing Heero had no recollection of the demon-induced dream.
However the absence of memories didn't mean those awful remembrances had been totally exorcised. Dread still lurked just beyond the edges of Heero's mind awaiting the first opportunity to strike.
The illusory beasts, spawned from the Demon Master's magic, searched relentlessly for a breach in the carefully crafted barrier thrown up around the Tracker's soul. Like insects that continually weakened the timbers supporting a house, the nightmares were used to undermine Heero's confidence and gnaw away at his emotional endurance.
Heero had no difficulty fighting something made of flesh and bone, with or without a soul, but dreams were intangible to his tactile senses. There was no corporeal material that could be pierced with an arrow or severed with a sword.
Dreams didn't follow physical laws but existed in a surreal reality where truth was distorted like images viewed through rippling water and where phantom spirits could freeze a heart with fear.
There was no doubt in the warriors' minds concerning their uneventful travel to Twilight or, once they were united with the cleric and the manipulator of seasons, that the Lord of Darkness would permit the quinque unhindered passage to Deep World.
The only question concerning the journey was the brand of demons dispatched to stop them.
*********
Aragon faded in the distant. In less than an hour all traces of civilization disappeared. The cart-rutted road became smoother and the grassy ribbon down the middle filled in leaving a vague path. From both sides the forest encroached on the dwindling trail making it necessary to walk single file.
Wufei took the point but his sword remained sheathed. Apparently he sensed no vile creatures prowling amongst the congested trees or the dense canopy that greatly reduced the sunlight filtering through branches interwoven with ivy, honeysuckle and wild grapevines.
The Tracker lined up directly behind the Oriental swordsman but left enough space to maneuver should any challenge be forthcoming. Although Heero also had no impression of imminent danger, the loaded crossbow resting against his hip offered a measure of security he wasn't willing to leave to intuitive chance.
Duo formed the rear guard carrying Heero's bag, bedroll and quiver. Self-assured in his transforming ability, he was still bothered by the conspicuous absence of birds, squirrels, deer or other wildlife that normally inhabited the forest.
The Duel Spirit and his comrades traversed a woody maze littered with moss- camouflaged stones and rotten logs infested with hordes of hard-shelled black beetles. Exposed roots compromised the travelers' footing and pinecone-laden limbs bowed to threaten the eyes or sag yard-long braided hair.
To further complicate an already troublesome trek, swampland was regularly interspersed among the natural obstacles. Spongy soil gave a false facade of firmness and sloshed up foul water.
When a misstep mired Wufei's fancy leather boots in a wet peat patch his cures were loudly voiced in a language foreign to Heero's ears.
Noting the Tracker's puzzled response to the peculiar dialect Duo supplied an explanation. "Chinese." he whispered to make certain Wufei's anger wouldn't be aimed at him.
"What?"
"Chinese...that's what Wufei speaks when he ain't speakin English."
"Chi..." Heero struggled to wrap his tongue around the strange word. He paused to process the sounds then began again, "Chineeesss." he hissed like he didn't know how to rein in the snaky syllables.
"CHINESE!" Wufei shouted in frustration at Tracker's lingual ineptness.
The smirk on Duo's face betrayed his amusement at Heero's diction difficulties and Wufei's annoyed reaction.
"DAMMIT!" Wufei swore at his boots' defiance to be exhumed from the muck and the pleasure Duo was deriving at his expense.
The extracted boots finally popped free with a slurping noise. Duo stifled a giggle. "That's reminds me of the time we was in Hamptonshire and you and that whore thought it was a good idea to..."
"Shut up." Wufei growled then added a stern warning to prove he was serious. "Unless you wish to be strung up by your braid."
The exasperated Asian continued to mutter and swear while attempting to wipe off his filthy footwear with a bunch of dry straw grass and even though Heero couldn't understands the words, the irate inflections clearly conveyed Wufei's vexation.
This time Duo wisely decided that silence was a virtue but when he was certain the boot cleaning had distracted Wufei he leaned closer to Heero. "I'll tell you the story sometimes when Wufei ain't actin' so tight assed." he promised.
*********
The forest thinned out allowing the Twilight trio to walk side by side. Midday sunlight streamed overhead to brighten the wider trail that was much easier to navigate.
Wufei paused and took on an inquiring attitude. He tilted his head to separate subtle noises from the twittering of birds that had finally vanquished the unnatural silence.
Heero stepped up beside his cautious comrade. "What's wrong?"
Wufei sniffed the air. "I'm going to scout ahead."
"Wufei." Heero called after the exiting Oriental.
Duo placed a hand on Heero's shoulder. "Let him go."
"I don't like dividing the ranks. If that damn Shadow Spy and his soulless legions catch him alone..."
"Wufei can take care of himself." Duo declared from experience. "Come on, we'll tag a little behind."
The road curved to the right, not sharply but enough for Heero and Duo to briefly lose sight of their inquisitive friend. When they rounded the bend there was no sign of the Asian warrior as if the earth had swallowed him up.
"Where in the hell did he go?"
Duo shrugged. "He's here somewhere."
"That's not an answer."
"I can change and be your eye in the sky."
"No, I don't need you missing, too."
Heero surveyed the dusky tree line, which appeared to be as vacant as the road. "We'll keep moving; Wufei will have to catch up as best he can."
Two steps.
The hair on Heero's neck stood on end.
He froze.
At the same time an instinctive tingle prickled up his spine, a guttural growl close at his back validated that something was indeed wrong.
Heero's head turned to look over his shoulder then, by cautious degrees, his body pivoted to find himself face to face with a large male wolf that had seemingly materialized from thin air.
The carnivorous canine had the lean frame and strong shoulders of a predator. Stiff-legged in an unmistakable defensive stance, muscles rippled under a shaggy silver-gray coat that bristled along his back. Ears flattened against his head and lips were curled up to expose long, flesh-ripping fangs.
Pale blue eyes glared fiercely at the human who dared to trespass through the wolf's territory. Air was sucked into a heaving chest then the hot breath was expelled in a snarl that shook the wolf's entire body and put Heero on notice that he was in dire circumstances.
Now Heero had two choices. First he could utilize his crossbow to stop the dangerous beast but his battle with the daywalkers had depleted the arrow count to three and he might be required to use them against any even deadlier foe.
His second option was to reach some reasonable impasse. If he could communicate with Duo's falcon form then surely he could create an intuitive link with the cunning hunter. Besides he hated the idea of killing such a wondrous creature with which he shared an intrinsic kinship.
Heero decided.
Slowly he let the crossbow slide to the ground. He deliberately stooped his shoulders and lowered his eyes in the passive posture of a submissive member of the pack. Still there was no guarantee that his surrender wouldn't result in him being mauled and left lying in a pool of blood with his throat torn out.
*A test of faith?* Heero's inner voice whispered inside his head.
"We will see." he muttered under his breath.
The wolf never lessened his intense stare or relaxed muscles coiled to strike at the slightest provocation or perceived challenge to his authority.
"Easy. We have no need to fight."
To reduce the tension that might shatter the invisible barrier keeping the wolf at bay, Heero slowly took one step backwards. A husky growl and a vicious sneer gave the Tracker cause to wonder if he'd made a fatal mistake.
Heero couldn't see Duo but he could sense his presence nearby. In his peripheral vision he caught a glimpse of the Irishman who seemed surprisingly calm considering he could succumb to the same fate.
*********
Even though Duo's transforming capabilities gave him an edge and, with any luck, he could change and ascend before the wolf closed the gap, Heero wanted the beast's attention focused solely on him.
The Tracker's intercession was neither a death wish nor a need to establish his noble rank in society. Weeks ago Heero Yuy would have been the Lone Hunter. The elimination of the enemy would have been his prime goal. There would have been no remorse for anyone who got in his way or any regret if he'd lost his life in battle.
Now Heero was not longer unaided in his quest. He and Duo and Wufei were not only soldiers but friends who had vowed their mutual protection.
Even though Heero was reluctant to admit his reliance on his teammates, he had to truthfully acknowledge that Duo's intervention had kept him from plunging into the bottomless abyss of insanity.
True he didn't remember the dreams. Only vague recollections and hazy impressions were left in the nightmare's aftermath but he had sensed a connection with some force greater than himself.
It wasn't until the previous night, when he awoke sore of body and confused of mind, with traces of a kiss lingering on his lips, did he finally comprehend that Duo had always been there cloaked in the wisps of memory.
*********
A touch on his arm brought Heero back from his contemplations. Duo stood by his side and, as before, he gave no outward sign that he was at all concerned for his well being.
The wolf was poised to attack. Although the loaded crossbow lay at Heero's feet and he had always trusted his quick reflexes he knew, this day, luck would come down on the beast's side.
Heero had failed in his pledge of protection and he was afraid that the failure had broken his bond with Duo leaving only flesh and bone without a soul for the wolf to feast on.
"Duo I'm sorry."
Duo increased the pressure on Heero's arm. A grin bloomed on his lips as he nodded across the road. "We'll be all right." he stated with such fervent conviction he made the Tracker believe anything was possible.
Like thunder from an angry sky, a gut-deep snarl rumbled through the wolf's throat but the animal's aggression was not directed at his victims but at another wolf that had boldly emerged from the forest fringes.
The second wolf was as tall as its counterpart but its brawny physique and glossy midnight coat were evidence of better nutrition. There was no menacing growl or baring of teeth. Ebony eyes locked on the gray wolf and fixed him in place with an alpha male's command of power that was not to be ignored.
The gray wolf momentarily considered standing his ground but the black wolf's dominating demeanor left no doubt that he wouldn't hesitate to thoroughly thrash his insolent opponent. Or that the ultimate price of death would be paid for anything short of total capitulate.
The "Monarch of the Wild" approached, the gray wolf cowered. Eyes that were once filled with fire could not meet the black wolf's glower. Bristled hair smoothed over the gray wolf's spine, his tail tucked between his legs and a piteous whimper begged for mercy.
"See I told ya we'd be fine." Duo stated confidently as if the pair of feral lupines were merely mirages of the mind.
However the cocky Irishman's optimism did nothing to allay Heero's fear that either he or Duo would remain unscathed. The authoritative leader and his docile follower...both fierce man killers...still impeded their path to freedom.
While Duo might be able to fly away, Heero was defenseless. The crossbow was out of reach and the dirk strapped to his thigh might as well have been a feather.
"How do you figure we're fine?"
"Watch."
Amber light began to glow around the black wolf's paws. Like fluttering fireflies, a thousand tiny pinpoints swarmed up the wolf's legs, traced along the contours of its chest and back then flowed in opposite directions over its head and bushy tail until the black beast was enveloped in a golden glow.
As Heero watched in disbelief, the "fireflies" compacted, elongated into a human outline, became translucent then vanished altogether.
Wufei stood before the stunned Tracker. Residual glimmers danced around his body and flickered over his unbound hair like heat lightning. In his right hand he held his sword while his left hand stroked the gray wolf's head.
Wufei slipped his fingers through the wolf's hair. "Go home." he ordered. The wild canine nuzzled the Asian's hand, padded across the road and blended into the shadows as if it was never there at all.
"You...can..." Heero stammered over elusive words processed through a befuddle brain, "can...change...like Duo." he finally finished the sentence.
"I am always a wolf." Wufei proclaimed, "I choose to veil myself in human form."
The Tracker had heard legends about men who could become beasts. Perhaps the modification hadn't been from one form to another but actually an unveiling of their true nature?
Duo looked from Wufei to Heero. "Every being is capable of incredible alterations." he rested his hand on Heero's hand, "Even you."
Heero nodded. "Then I shall embrace our differences and expect more astounding revelations once we reach Twilight."
Wufei let a rare smile grace his lips. "The secrets don't end at Twilight, my friend, they begin."
TBC...
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