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Arien shook as well, from rage. His eyes narrowed and he glared daggers at Ash. "You need some serious help. It's also why you're all alone. Next time you want to feel envious or hateful of someone who has a good friend or lover, you should remember that you have no one to blame but yourself."

He stomped away, hoping that the tiger would take care of things naturally, and headed for Red. She looked to be in despair. He gently put a hand to her shoulder and squeezed it. "I'll never betray you, Red. Ever."

"Dont blame me. I did warn you not to speak to me that way. Get off me tiger or you'll regret it," Ash hissed.

Red looked up at Arien. All her emotions that came with Ash were rplaced by a single emotion when she looked at Arien. Love.

Nex growled and pinned his ears to his head.
Who are you to tell ME what to do?! Nex thought in outrage. Everyone heard the thought as it was sent to everyone.

Arien flashed a quick smile at Red before turning back to Nex and Ash. "I'd be nice to the tiger, seeing as how it's his teeth that are currently keeping you alive. If you apologize to Red, though and swear to leave her alone, we'll let you go. Maybe. Depending on how sincere you are."

He crossed his arms and waited, not noticing that Bella was inching around him, readying herself to spring at Ash should the tiger release its hold.

Ash let out a wicked laugh.
"I think your forgetting that i hold Red's life in the palm of my hand," she growled fiercly. "Withering Willow to final stage," she hissed coldly.

Red's eyes widened as a pain worse than anything Red had beared before gripped her heart. Gasping in a breath she fell to her knees, clutching her shirt right above her heart. The veins were all the way up Red's left arm and to her heart now.
Red couldnt breathe at all and it felt as if someone was squeezing her heart from the inside. A scream shattered the still silence of the night.

Nex quickly let go of Ash and stared at Red in fear. Neo held back Bella, predicting what she was going to do.

Ash grinned coldly and watched with pure excitement as Red suffered the poison's affects.

"No! Don't kill her!" he yelled and flinched when Red screamed. He dropped to one knee, grabbing a small dagger from his boot. He'd had enough of this. He flung the throwing dagger at Ash, aiming for her heart. If she was going to kill Red, he had no reason not to kill her first.

Ash caught the dagger with two fingers and stood up.
"Withering Willow to dormant," Ash said emtionless. "That was your last warning to stay away from me." Ash hissed before dissapearing into the shadows.

Red gasped in breath and managed to grip onto Arien's arm. The pain started to subside but Red's body continued to tremble with the pain it had been put through. Blackness swept over Red and she fell to the ground. Red was barely concious but managed to stay awake.
The veins were back down to her wrist and were clearly showing, Red's skin paler than usual.

Nex stared at Red, thinking she was dead.

"Then don't bother to seek us out!" Arien yelled after Ash's retreating form. He knelt and gathered Red up in his arms. She was still alive, just weakened.

"Alright, guys, I'm hoping it's really not that much farther to...crap." He had forgotten in the madness that the house was gone. "Whatever. I just need my pack and then we can pitch camp wherever is dry. Nex? Neo? Can you help with that?"

The tigers quickly agreed and led the way back to the house and found a large dry patch. They collected dry branches for a fire and then Neo went out to hunt while Nex helped Arien with everything else.
When they were done Nex looked at Arien.
Your worried for her aren't you? he thought to Arien.

Arien had made quick work of pitching the tent and placing Red inside it. Right--they'd need a second tent or someone would be sleeping outside under the stars.

Nex's comment threw him and he looked at the tiger. He sighed and glanced back at the tent where he'd left Red as comfortable as he could make it. He was tending the fire now.

"Yeah, I am. It's strange but..." he trailed off, suddenly looking a little uncertain. "I like her. A lot. A lot more than I thought I could. And to see her in pain, or being attacked, hurts me." He flushed and poked at the fire. "I'm not used to feeling this way--I usually don't, ah, stay with women for long." He didn't know why he was dancing around the term 'player', but he felt awkward about it now that he realized how much he loved Red.

Nex flicked his ears then looked back at Red.
I think you should stay with her tonight. She looks a litle cold by herself. Nex thought to Arien, flicking his ear toward the tent.
I know she feels the same way about you Arien. If she didnt she wouldve kicked you out of the house or run you off a long time ago. She has never shared her and Ash's story with anyone. Not even me or Neo. So she really does love you. he added on before laying down beside the fire and purring from the warmth it provided. And dont worry. She'll pull through this. Nex finished and fell into a light sleep.

Neo came back set down a rabbit and two voles.
It was all that i could catch. Neo thought to Arien and Nex.

Arien sighed. "Well, you two do know her best. If you think that'll be alright..." He skinned and cleaned the animals that Neo had caught, before roasting them over the fire.

He doled out portions to the tigers and Bella and Patch, before grabbing the remaining two bits for himself and Red. He stood and went to the tent, where he peered in.

"You awake, yet?" he asked softly. "I've brought food." If she wasn't, though, he'd be fine waiting until she did wake up.

Red blinked her eyes open when she heard Arien's voice. Sitting up, she looked up at him sleepily. But the smell of food reminded her of how hungry she was.
"Food?" she asked a little excitement in her voice.

Neo listened to Arien approach the tent then scarrfed down his portion. Nex sat calmly by the fire and let his portion sit there for a bit before munching on it.

"A bit, Nex caught it." He handed one of the skewers of meat to Red, keeping one for himself. He waited for her to eat before starting on his own.

Bella flopped down contentedly by the fire, stretching out to her full length with a sigh. She wagged her tail at the tigers and then closed her eyes.

Red finished hers slowly, the events that happened so recently clinging to her like a blanket. She couldnt shake off the coldness she had felt radiating from Ash. Shivering slightly, she thought of a shirtless Arien and blushed sligtly.
Well at least it takes my mind off of things.. Red thought to herself.
"Thank you Arien...for everything," Red murmured looking at him and offering a small smile.

Arien had changed back into his spare, which seriously needed a washing now, shirt when he and the critters had set up camp. Having finished his own portion of dinner, he returned the smile.

"Anytime, Red." He saw her shiver and looked around for another blanket, but she was laying on the two he had packed. "The fire's warmer if you feel you can move."

"Of course i can move," Red said with her usual defensiveness.
She managed to stand up and walk over to the fire. Sittig on the opposite side of the tent and animals. It was alot less crowded here and she relaxed a little.
Pulling up the sleeve to Arien's shirt she looked at the veins to make sure they stayed at her wrist. Then the horrible memory of the pain she felt, came back and she trembled for a second.
Damn Ash..when did you get so strong.. she thought to herself.
Scooting closer to the fire, she started to warm up a little but i cold breeze hit her back.

Arien glanced at Nex and Neo as he plopped down next to Red. Bella was already asleep; no surprise there.

He reached his hands out to the fire, warming them, when he noticed that Red checked her arm. "Is everything okay?"

"hm? Oh yea. Everythings fine..just checking that they hadnt moved... Arien.. I dont want to feel that pain again," she whispered and looked into the fire.
For the first time in her life, Red had felt completely helpless. Her life was quite literally in the palm of her enemy's hand.

The two tigers were fast asleep and so was Patch.

Arien nodded. "I know." He gently put his arm around her, careful of her shoulder injury. "I know. But she did promise to leave you alone. And the next village is a few days' travel from here. We'll find a way to stop Ash."

Red layed down in the grass and put her head in Arien's lap.
"Arien just dont get killed trieing to help me or i will forever hate you," joked Red trieing to lighten up the mood now.
She smiled and laughed softly. The truth was she could never hate him.