Azrael:
Azrael ran hard across the open ground, trying to keep up with Crue's trail. He paws ached and his lungs burned, but he wouldn't stop.
"You have to stop this. You're going to kill yourself if you keep up this damned pace!" He looked to his side to see Kije, the Tree Shadow running at his side. When Az had run through his territory, the leopard had joined him in the hunt. Said something about Andais being such a nice girl, he wanted to help in any way he could. But now he was just being a hindrance. This was the sixth or seventh time the fool of leopard had told him to stop. How in the name of all gods could he just stop? He needed Andais, needed to save her from Crue before he hurt her.
"Shut up or go home, I know what I'm doing!" he growled back.
Kijeshi:
Kije just shook his head and kept up pace next to the crazed lion. He could see the look in Az's eyes, the grim determination and terror. He had known that feeling once. He had the same look in his eyes when he watched his dear sister claw at the edge of the ravine. He had run like this, then, too. Had run to try and grab her, do anything to pull her back up.
And he knew the complete and utter sorrow knowing that he had failed.
Call him sentimental, but he didn't want the Huntsman to go through that, didn't want the world to lose a lady like Andais.
So, even though it killed him to press on, he did, running with the lion.
Crue:
He knew they would catch him soon enough. He hadn't the ability to move at the quickness he could without the females dead white on his back. He should have just killed her. Thats what he should have done. He growled, and continued running. Though an idea came to mind, and the male grinned. He came to a stop slowly, his pace slowing into a steady trot, and then a halt.
Moving his shoulders so the female slumped to the earth, he pushed her over to a tree, and stood next to her. Waiting for Azrael to find him.
Azrael:
Az finally slowed to a stop and bowed his head, breathing heavily. He didn't want to stop, but he couldn't go on at the moment, his body was on fire and his heart felt like it was going to burst from his chest. Or whatever was left of his heart. He felt as if he had no heart any longer, as if there was a empty, hollow space where his once-cold heart had previously been.
He felt lost, empty. What would he do if they didn't get there in time? What if Crue hurt her, what if he... He growled, threw back his head and roared to the sky.
Kijeshi:
Kije slowed to a stop next to the lion, watching him in silence. He was afraid to speak to Az for fear that the lion would lash out at him in this state. He was staring with blank eyes at the ground, as if he wasn't completely there. And then he closed his eyes, threw back his head, and roared to the heavens. It sent a chill through the leopard.
"We'll get her back, Huntsman. She'll be fine," he said softly.
Azrael:
He nodded slowly, knowing it would be the only thing that would keep him going. He needed to keep telling himself that she would be okay, that he would get to her and he would get her back and everything would be fine. He lowered his head with a shudder, his whole body shaking for a moment.
"Let's go," he growled, stood, and set off at a run again. It didn't take long for them to stop again, though, because Az skidded to a stop when he saw Crue standing next to Andais' motionless form beneath a tree.
"Crue!" he yelled, taking a few steps closer. Gods, let her still be alive. He was starting to think that if she was gone... he wouldn't be able to go on. But he would kill Crue first. "Let her go, Crue! This is you and me, she has nothing to do with us!"
Kijeshi:
The leopard slowed next to Azrael, stopping when the lion did. His gaze locked on the crumpled lioness, hoping for Azrael's sake that she was still alive. Instead of keeping pace with Az, he held back, not wanting to send the other crazed lion into doing something rash.
Crue:
Crue grinned the most wicked grin he could muster when he saw Azrael come into sight. Though he was a bit angered he would bring backup for such an occasion.
"Oh I see you brought an audience. Tell me brother.. Do you think the leopard tips odds in your favor?" He asked, raising an eyebrow and flicking his tail possessively over the motionless lioness. He was quite amused at how well he had done knocking her out.
"Its not matter, of course. I think you owe me anyway. And if you don't, then.. Whoops." He grinned again, and let out a laugh that was as sinister as the rest of him/
Azrael:
"The leopard came on his own, I didn't have time to get him to leave," Az growled taking a few more steps closer to Crue. His blood boiled seeing Crue flick his tail over Andais. He had to keep a cool head, otherwise he could lose this fight. And the stakes were just too high for him to lose his head.
"All I owe you are my claws in your flesh, Brother," saying the word as if it was poison in his mouth. His ears were back and there was a deadly look in his eyes, but he looked restrained.
"What do you want, Crue? Stop hiding behind a female."
Crue:
"Tsk Tsk. Do you think me stupid Azrael? You've known me far too long for that." He said, and his gaze turned to the female, whose eyes were fluttering. She was going to be out for awhile, but he could garauntee she was dreaming. He wouldnt tell him that though. He wanted him to fear for her life.
"If I move, you have your little female. Who, might I add, is incredibly weak. What is with you and your taste for weak?" He asked, raising an eyebrow again and tilting his head to the side only slightly.
Azrael:
"I guess I'm just a sucker for things to take care of," Az replied, trying to find any way to get Crue away from Andais. Please, sweetheart, he pleaded in his mind, Please, wake up. Show me your eyes...
He took another slow step, ready to stop the first moment that Crue deemed him getting too close. He wouldn't do anything to jeopardize Andais.
"What do you want, Crue? Stop beating around the bush, you're just stalling."
Andais:
Voices stirred outside her head and she twitched one eye, and then the other. She opened them, though they were unfocused. This feeling was familiar.. She remained perfectly quiet, and when her eyes were able to focus they locked on Azrael. She willed him to notice she was alive. She was hurt, and moving seemed much too ahrd for th emoment.. But she needed to remain quiet, otherwise Crue might realize she was awake.
Crue:
He stood, creating a wall between the lioness and the lion. He didnt see her wake, and he was allowing himself to get emotional with his old friend. Friend being a lose term and emotional in the ways of furious. He needed to work on his quick temper.
"I want you to suffer, Azrael. Just as Ive always wanted you to suffer. You could have been great and now you hide. Like a worried little pup. Its embarrasing." He snapped.
Azrael:
"Then make me suffer, Crue. Leave her out of this," Az said, glancing at Andais. He caught her eyes and his heart stopped beating for a minute. He looked to Kije, who had started inching towards Crue and Andais. He growled at the leopard.
"Back off, Tree Shadow. I said back off!" The words came out barked, and he saw the leopard flinch back, backing away. He wouldn't let the leopard endanger his Andais. He turned back to Crue and he bared his teeth.
Andais:
With Crue now standing in front of her, she slowly lifted herself to her feet, and from there she stood absolutely still. She looked shocked, her eyes wide. If she made a sound, and Crue turned around before she had her bearings, she would be in danger.. and so would Azrael and Kije.
But it took only a few seconds before her weight had crunched a leaf she had been unaawre of. She looked down at it quickly, and her head lifted up to see Crue staring at her with a malicious gaze. He would kill her, or thats what his eyes said he wanted.
"Az.." She whispered.
Crue:
He heard that lead crunch and his head whipped around and he bared his teeth to the female. Damn it. He hadn't done as well as he would have liked. With her awake, that made things ten times more difficult than before. He growled, and looked to Azrael, and then Andais, then back to Azrael.
"What would you do to save her, brother?" He asked.
Azrael:
Az watched as Andais stood, she was so close to getting away, but damn the gods, she stepped on a leaf and Crue saw her. Crue looked to her then Az, his gaze locked on Andais' eyes. He heard Crue's question, and it took every effort to return his gaze to his former "brother."
What would he do to save Andais?
And that's when he realized just how much she meant to him.
"Anything. Whatever you want, Crue, I'll do it," he replied, his gaze returning to Andais'. He knew what this was, he knew what she had done to him. How she had managed it in such a little time, he didn't know, but he loved her. He had to tell her, but Crue couldn't know. He'd kill her for sure.
Crue:
Crue's paw came out, and grabbed at the females throat. He held her there, looking at Az while she put her front paws on his in order to release his grip. She was bearing her teeth, and Crue wondered if Azrael meant what he said. Would he really do anything? That was pleasant.
"And what would you do if I just.. snapped her neck? What would you do then?"
He asked, but it was a question that wouldnt be answered as Andais' last attempt at survival was a claw across his face. He snarled, dropping her and landing a well placed bite on her hind leg as she tried to get away from him. He wanted her neck, but her leg would do. He snarled when she managed to get away from him, and his eyes went to Azrael.
"Don't think that you have gotten rid of me my brother. If anything, we've only just begun." He grinned, blowing a kiss to Andais, and taking off into the darkness of the jungle. Self preservation was the way to win sometimes..And Crue knew it.
Andais:
She cried out in pain when he bit her back leg. She got it away, but in the process his bite had gotten deeper. She limped to Kije, not wanting to be in Azraels way should the two go at it. She collapsed on him, and turned her eyes to watch what was going on. She held her breath until Crue left, and when he did, she started crying, and licking at her leg. She wasnt crying from pain, but she had almost died, and she knew it.
Kijeshi:
Kije grabbed Andais when she ran to him, shoving her behind him so that he was between her and Crue, ready to help Az protect the lady.
Azrael:
Az had balked when Crue grabbed Andais' by the neck, but before he could respond, Andais had bit him and got away from the crazed lion. The only thought that went through his head was that she was his girl, that she was more than worth anything he could do in his life.
But Crue got her leg and Az roared in rage.
He lunged at Crue, but he was gone before he could get to him. And Andais was more important. Claws slashed a leaf to ribbons with his frustration, but when he turned to Andais, it was instantly gone and his world focused on her.
He ran to her and wrapped his paw around her, pulling her close.
"Gods, Andais, sweetheart, I... Gods." He couldn't even manage a coherent sentence as he pressed his face into her fur.
Andais:
Andais breathed deeply, leaning against the body of Kije in an attempt to calm herself. Her leg was throbbing, but that was the least of her worries.
"Azrael.." She whispered, wrapping a paw around his back. She purred a little, enjoying the feeling of being pressed into him. She narrowed her eyes and looked up at Azrael.
"Im about tired of being hit over the head." She chuckled , raising her other paw to her head. She groaned, and then turned her gaze to her leg.
She had been afraid she would never see him again.. She knew that he had saved her.. and he had said hed do anything for her safety. She smiled at the thought, and pushed her muzzle into him.
Azrael:
Az shuddered when she said his name and choked out a laugh at her attempt at a joke. He could only squeeze her tighter.
"I'm sorry, sweetheart. I shouldn't... I could've, he could have..." He leaned back then to press a worn paw to her cheek, feeling the cool tears there.
"When I thought he might have... I didn't, I don't know what I would do without you," he said slowly. He needed her, life without her would be... empty, hollow, like the hole in his chest that now felt as if it was too small to hold his joy over having Andais back. It would have killed him.
Kijeshi:
Kije let Andais go when Az came and pulled her to him. While the couple spoke, he kept an eye out around them, making sure the b*****d Crue didn't come back to surprise them. After a moment, he glanced back at the pair, then back to the surrounding trees.
"That gash looks bad, you two should take care of it soon," he told them, his fire-colored gaze returning to their surroundings.
Andais:
She nuzzled into his paw when he placed it on her cheek. She smiled hopefully up at him. She wanted to say she was sorry for the conversation earlier.. But if Crue was who was in your life at one time, it would be no wonder youd want tof orget that.
"What are you saying Az," She smiled and her eyes were half lidded as she looked at him. Her leg was bleeding rather badly, but she was in the moment. Even Kije's words went unnoticed as she relished in Azraels touch.
Then his words registered and she nodded. "Alright Kije, we will go. In a moment." She smiled at him, and turned her head back to Azrael and her eyes ticked up at him once more.
Azrael:
There was no getting away from it now. The blueprint was set, all he had to do was follow it until he was finished.
"I love you, Andais. I don't know how, I don't know when, but I do. Knowing he had you was killing me inside..." he finally said, rubbing his paw against her cheek. He, too, heard Kije. But he needed to say it, then and there. He wouldn't risk anything preventing her from knowing that he loved her, that he needed her.
Now that it was said, though, he dropped his paw, licked her cheek, and quickly slid under her, slipping her onto his back as if she weighed no more than a cub to him.
He didn't move yet, though, waiting for her to get settled, waiting for her to tell him she was ready to go.
Andais:
When he said those words her heart almost stopped in her chest and it seemed the air was hit from her lungs. She couldnt believe it.. That was indeed what she was feeling.. She knew she loved him. Despite the totally messed up way she had been brought here, he had been nothing but a gentleman. Even if sometimes he had a temper, she had a temper too.
When he lifted her onto his back, helping her to get home. She purred, and leaned her head close to his ear. With a soft whisper as he stood there, she spoke to him as well.
"I love you too Azrael.." She finished.
Azrael:
Az's eyes closed for a moment as he took in the whispered confession. Oh, gods, he didn't realize how free he would feel when she said that to him. After all of the chasing he had done, he felt as if he could run to the edge of the world and back for her, could take on a hundred Crues.
He decided he would take her home, treat her wound, and tell her everything she wanted to know. Not in great detail, but the basics. He could really care less about her own past, it was her present and future that mattered most to him, but if she wished to share as well, he would listen. And he would hold her and care for her until nothing but a possible scar would remain of Crue's touch on her body.
"Come on, old warrior. I'm sure it's passed your bed time," he said with an almost evil chuckle, receiving a glare from the leopard.
Kijeshi:
"Son, when I was your age, I had more respect for my elders. Not much, but more than you," Kije snapped back, but set off at a matching pace with the young lion.
When they neared his section of the jungle, Kije leapt up into a tree, staring down at the pair as they went on towards their home. Smiling softly, he looked up at the heavens and closed his eyes.
"Watch over them Weledi, baby sister. They deserve a rest."
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