Wolfen One Part 5
Duo stood in the doorway, looking out at the snow. His coat was buttoned tight, his braid tucked carefully in his hood. His bow and arrows were on his shoulder, his knife back in his boot.
"I guess the blizzard really is over," he said to Heero.
"It is. I hope your supplies and camp made it through okay." Heero squinted up at the sky. "If not you should be able to go back into the village by nightfall."
Duo bit his lip. The snow had stopped that morning; four days after Heero had brought him to the cabin. This morning Heero had woken him up early and practically thrown Duo into his clothes. Now he was shoving Duo out the door.
Had Duo offended him somehow? He had thought they were getting along okay...
A memory of a warm mouth on his surfaced for a moment.
Better than okay.... What had he done wrong?
"I guess I should finish my job."
"You did promise the village to bring them the wolf's hide. If your camp is okay, you think you'll go looking for him today?"
"More than likely," Duo nodded. The sooner he killed the wolf, the sooner he could leave this forest. "Are you sure you won't come with me?" He had asked the question several times already, and Heero hadn't even shown signs of changing his mind. But Duo had to ask anyway.
"I don't think I'll be able to," Heero's voice sounded regretful. "I am sorry Duo."
Duo nodded, pulling up his hood. He was obviously bothering Heero, had worn out his welcome... His voice grew cold as he tried to build the distance up between them again.
"I'll be on my way then. I'm sorry for all the trouble I've been. Thank you again for helping me."
"You're welcome." Duo stepped out of the cabin. "I'm... I really am sorry Duo. I wish I could go with you." Duo turned around and looked at Heero. He was leaning against the doorframe, his face shadowed by his bangs. His next words gave Duo a brief flare of warmth. "I don't think I've ever enjoyed anyone's company more. Thank you for gifting me with that." He looked up briefly, his blue eyes meeting Duo's and then looking away.
Duo nodded, not trusting himself to speak again. He turned around and began trudging back to his camp.
He wondered if Heero would watch him go, but when he snuck a look over his shoulder, the door to the cabin was closed.
It was a tiring trek to his camp, he was out of breath and his shoulder was aching again when he finally made it back.
Luckily his makeshift shelter had held up very well. Once he cleared the snow from the door, he found his things inside the same as he had left them.
He checked the sky- still plenty of time before the sun went down.
The walk to the meadow was slow going, and he wondered if the sheep would be out today- still after days inside, the shepherds might be eager to let them stretch their legs and forage a little.
Sure enough, there were little moving heaps of white on the far side of the meadow- close to the town, away from the woods. Still, the wolf had to have been holed up in the storm. He was probably hungry and looking for easy prey.
Duo opted to stay out of the trees this time. He found a screen of brush to hide behind and strung his bow.
As he waited for any sign of the wolf, he thought of Heero. Why was he so sure he couldn't be cured? He'd only really consulted one group of healers...
And the way he'd shoved Duo out the door... was something happening to him? Was he that close to death?
Was that why he'd said no to Duo's offer?
Maybe he had just grown tired of Duo's company...
Or maybe he was back in the cabin right now... sick... or dying... by himself...
Duo fought with the urge to go check.
Heero had thrown him out. He hadn't wanted Duo's company- that was obvious despite his last words.
But... Duo remembered hands holding onto him in the dark, cradling him against a sweat-slicked chest, caresses and kisses and... that wasn't the way someone who hated a person acted...
Duo turned, fully intending to go back to Heero's cabin, when a flash of movement caught his eye.
The wolf.
He stood on the edge of the forest, nose in the air, scenting the wind. Duo reached for an arrow. All the better. He'd kill the wolf, skin it, go to the village and convince them to lend him their healer in payment.
He raised the bow, sighting carefully. The wolf was almost in range... just a few more steps...
The wolf took a step, cautiously, and then another. Duo nocked his arrow and pulled back on the string, waiting.
The wolf turned its head, scanning the meadow, almost as if it sensed its death lurking in the edges of the wood.
It took another step, and Duo checked his aim. One more step.
The wolf stepped forward, his head turning in Duo's direction, and Duo caught another glimpse of those weird blue eyes as his fingers released the string.
TBC...
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