Blood and Bone

Gideon followed after Peter quickly, his body hurting more and more the closer they got to home. He tried not to show it but the act was wearing thin. He was limping by the time they got back to the house and as soon as they reached the villia, Gideon’s fur withered. His paws became feet and hands and soon enough he was a man again. His hands gripped his side as he watched Peter run off towards a peach tree. He walked towards the tree and slumped down against it. Pushing one hand into Peter’s fur, Gideon closed his eyes. “I am sorry.” he puffed. “I didn’t want to see you get hurt. I’ve seen a lot of people get hurt and I just couldn’t-” He paused and looked at Peter. “I shouldn’t have yelled at you. I am sorry I yelled at you.” Gideon leaned his head back against the tree and stroked Peter’s fur, scratched behind his ear. His other hand still holding his side. His eyes set on the door as he waited for Alistair to come home. 

Peter watched as Gideon came over to join him, clearly finding it difficult to walk. He wanted to tell the other wolf that he should go and get himself patched up, that he should be resting because he was in bad shape, but he also figured Gideon wasn’t going to listen to him, no one seemed to listen to Peter much, he was young, stupid, he didn’t know enough for his thoughts to carry weight yet. When he felt the fingers run through his fur, Peter debated about being stubborn, acting like a kid and pulling away, but he didn’t. He listened as Gideon apologised for yelling at him. Peter understood that the elder was looking out for him. “I’m useless. I can’t do anything, can’t protect you or Alistair or even myself.” He huffed, whining slightly before tucking his muzzle under his paws. Peter’s ears twitched when he heard the sound of someone approaching the orchard and he stood, giving a soft growl in case it was a goblin before his scent detected Alistair. 

Peter’s words where totally lost on Gideon. He knew he was hurt and he knew he should be resting but he wouldn’t be able to. Not toll Peter and Alistair were out of harms away. Once they were were all home, then and only then, could he tend to his wounded side. Of course, his body still ached painfully as he stood with Peter. The cut hadn’t been so bad when it had first happened. But after being tossed around, running, and fighting the goblins it had gotten worse. If the roles had been reversed he would be saying the same things to Peter. He couldn’t think about that now. Not till he heard Alistair’s voice telling them to go go home.

Gideon stiffened for a moment. A low whine broke his muzzle as his ears dropped back against his head. He did not want to leave Alistair here but he didn’t want defy a direct order either. Pawing at the ground Gideon looked at Peter and then back towards Alistair’s voice. He had to keep Peter safe. Nipping at the younger’s scruff, Gideon took a step towards the house. “Come on. He’ll meet us there. We can’t stay here and worry him.” Gideon told Peter before pushing his head into Peter’s side to get him going. The pup was just as loyal as Gideon was and leaving Alistair here was hard but they had to trust him now. ‘He’ll be okay. He had more power then those goblins could ever dream of.’ Gideon pointed out both to himself and Peter as they they started away from the battle and towards Alistair’s villa. 

Peter was still nervous over the fact that Gideon was hurt, that Alistair was still out there and that there were still goblins running around. He felt like such a burden to both of them, the fact that he couldn’t do anything, couldn’t fight, couldn’t defend them, couldn’t do anything. He heard Alistair’s call out to them as well, but didn’t want to leave the kitsune behind. He growled at the nip to his scruff, pulling away before Gideon shoved him with his head to make him move in the right direction. Peter didn’t want to leave but Alistair had told them and so he began to move, tail tucked between his legs until they were finally back at their own home. Peter still felt so useless, so pathetic, so he whined as he wandered into the peach tree orchard to hide. 

Alistair pulled Peter closer to him, pressing their lips against one another, cupping his jaw, “If you find Gideon, and I lose you, head home… You hear me? Head straight home and I will find you. Tell Gideon the same, don’t hesitate, don’t stop, don’t help anyone, just go home.” He ran his hand up the other’s back before pushing him in the direction he had gestured, “Go ahead, follow the scent, let’s go.”

Peter didn’t like the feeling of finality that suddenly befell him when Alistair kissed him, like the kitsune was about to leave him. He returned it, trying to cling to Alistair’s shirt harder as if that might keep the other with him. “I will.” Peter promised but when he was pushed ahead, forward with Alistair behind him, Peter became afraid. He didn’t want to be separated, what if he found Gideon and he was dead? What if he didn’t find him just a bunch of goblins and Alistair wasn’t there to help him? Peter was fast but these creatures had already knocked him down once and practically started killing him. But even with obvious fear in his eyes he stumbled forward, following the scent like he’d been told to. 

“That’s my boy,” Alistair crooned, guiding the other through the crowd in the direction he had pointed out. His hands curled around Peter’s own, afraid to let go as they moved away from the commotion and closer and closer to that scent. Alistar stiffened, however, when something else, something familiar caught his attention. He wasn’t particularly focused on scents that weren’t right under his nose, but he knew that well, “Can you tell how far away Gideon is now?”

Peter made sure to stick as close to Alistair as possible, never parting from him, his hand tight in the others. When the fox stopped and stiffened, Peter looked up, for a moment concerned over what had caused Alistair to pause, if perhaps something bad had happened to Gideon or if something bad was about to happen to them. “He’s close, just beyond those trees I think, at least the smell is stronger in that direction.” Peter answered, biting his lip nervously. 

Alistair was focused purely on Peter in that moment, his brows knitted in together as the other seemed to drift in and out of focus before finally their eyes latched and Peter clung to his shirt. “We will find Gideon, we will go home and we will wait for this all to blow over, we’re not going to stop and help anybody, we protect each other. This family, we protect, okay?”

“Our family.” Peter agreed. He knew maybe he should care about the other pets all suffering and dying, but all he really cared about was Alistair and Gideon. He didn’t care who else died as long as neither of them were hurt. “I just want us to be okay.” Peter whined before he tried to track Gideon’s scent to help Alistair find him. “I think he’s that way.”

Yes, Gideon did feel bad for yelling at Peter. He didn’t want to yell or growl at him. He didn’t want to force the other to do what he wanted but he’d rather peter be alive and upset then dead. Gideon would take Peter hating if thats what it took to keep him alive. So dragging him off didn’t feel good. The look on Peters face didn’t feel good. But the fact that he was out of harms way for just a moment did feel good. It was a breath of fresh air after struggling to keep them both alive for so long. 

‘You’re not leaving me. You’re doing what I’ve asked you to do.’ Gideon assured him before pushing his face into Peter’s shoulder to urge him forwards. The pain in his side was getting worse by the second. He watched Peter start to run and waiting till he was a few strides ahead to run after him. He was slower but bigger. His body twithing with every thump of his paws on the ground. They broke the tree line and Gideon looked around frantically. ‘Do you smell Alistair? We need him. We need to get him and go.’ Gideon wheezed, feeling slightly light headed now.

Peter kept running until they had a moment to breathe. It was easier to keep away from the goblins when he was on four paws, able to smell them even stronger than before, hear them all around. It was pretty amazing and he almost wished he could be a wolf all the time. He came to a stop when they reached the small grove, looking around before he set amber eyes on Gideon. Peter’s nose twitched, able to smell the other’s blood and it made the pup whine.

“You’re hurt.” Peter said softly, worried he’d bitten the other too hard when he’d gotten angry for being yelled at. He was still angry at being yelled at, but mostly Peter was just scared. He moved closer, licking gently at Gideon’s side before shaking his head. “No, I can’t find his scent anywhere. But Gideon you should rest.” He didn’t want the other to collapse or for the goblins to show up and take Gideon down because he was feeling weak. Peter would protect him if it came to that, but he knew he wasn’t much help, he was pretty useless and it made him whine. Why couldn’t he do anything to help? Peter should learn to fight, as if having a small epiphany he set his mind to it. He’d find someone to teach him so that he’d never be useless again.

“Hush now,” Alistair responded, stroking along the other’s back as he tugged him in the direction of safety, hopeful to come across Gideon along the way. He did his best to comfort the other when he began to panic, his hands pushing through Peter’s hair before pushing him behind a wall to give them a moment, “I can’t let you out of my sight, don’t run off, stay with me, tell me if you catch his scent but do not move without my say so, Peter, do you understand?”

For once Peter did go quiet when asked, allowing Alistair to lead him away from the fighting. Peter had never seen a battle before, he’d never seen a goblin either, but now he was seeing swarms of them, and pets and elites alike dying all around him. It was more than the young wolf could handle, and he'd never been so afraid before. Alistair’s fingers carding through his hair helped, but all Peter could see and hear were the screams and the blood, the smell of it thick in the air. He heard the kitsune’s voice but it sounded muffled, almost far away before Peter finally focused on him again. “I won’t I promise.” He replied, fingers gripping Alistair’s shirt tightly, as if letting go would mean Peter would be left amongst the carnage. 

Gideon couldn’t take this. He could barely concentrate on fighting off the goblins with Peter so close and in so much danger. He did his best to keep the monsters at by but every time Peter made some sort of sound Gideon’s attentions snapped to him again. Which left him open for attack. He was nearly hit a few times because of it and if he hadn’t shifted, he probably would have been dead the second this fight had started. He’d never been so thankful to be on all fours before now. 

When the ropes found Peter, Gideon’s heart sank. He snapped forwards and grabbed the rope to rip it apart. His body twisted till it snapped and and Gideon grabbed Peter by his scruff. HE was rough. He didn’t mean to be but he was. Dragging the smaller wolf off, Gideon took a few long strides away from the goblins and let go of Peter. ‘I told you to run. Now go, for fuck sake Peter.’ Gideon snapped hoping that Peter’s wolf would back down to a more dominating presences. ‘Find Alistair.’ Gideon ordered him with a snarl. His head butting against Peter’s shoulder to push him. He was going to be right behind Peter the whole time but he didn’t ant to be ahead of him. 

Peter whined when Gideon seemed so angry with him, when he’d nearly gotten the other wolf in trouble by not running. His head dipped down, practically hiding under his front paws before the elder wolf picked him up and all but dragged Peter away. He could still hear the goblins in the distance, knew they were still in danger but Peter felt so guilty, chastised by Gideon. 

They were safe for a moment at least and while they were Peter took the growls and clear anger from the other wolf. “I didn’t want to leave you.” Peter whined before he gave an angry nip at Gideon’s paw then turned and started to move away when he was nudged by the larger wolf. He started to run, making sure to keep away from any sound or scent of goblin, trying to find Alistair but his ears were still pinned back, tail tucked between his legs from the scolding he’d gotten from Gideon. 

Alistair didn’t wait to crush their frames together, his arms tightening around the boy as he pressed a kiss to his temple, “I’m sorry I didn’t come for you, I should never have let you out of my sight, mon amour.” The kitsune growled deeply as he looked around them, before pulling back to assess the damage on his pet. It wasn’t too bad, he seemed okay, but it still didn’t sit well with him. “We have to find our Gideon too, yes? Then we will go home, I will keep you safe. I won’t let anything hurt you, okay?”

Peter felt safer in Alistair’s arms. His master might not look like he had the power to destroy and kill, but Peter knew better, he’d seen it, he felt it and it made him feel safe. “I should have stayed home not gone off to watch.” Peter said softly, feeling guilty for having left home to come watch the pets train. The wolf looked worried when Alistair mentioned Gideon, the fact that the other wasn’t at home safe made Peter scared. “I can help you find him, I’m good at scent tracking.” Peter offered, wanting to do his best to bring Gideon home safely. He clutched tighter at Alistair, practically burying against the kistune’s comforting form. 

Glancing around at the three goblins that were closing in on them, Gideon snarled and snapped when ever one got to close. He backed up closer to Peter. Standing in front of him. ‘You love to run Peter, so run.’ Was the only response he gave Peter. ‘I’ll be right behind you.’ He promised because that was probably the only way he could get Peter to leave. It wasn’t fair. Not to Peter. To die here. He was far too young with a life so full of promise up a head of him. He needed a chance to get away and Gideon was going to give it too him. Whether Peter wanted him to or not. 

One of the goblins lunged at them and Gideon snapped his jaws around the monesters arm. He dug in deep, pressed hard till his teeth hit bone and the creature snarled right back. He flung his arm and Gideon with it. Sliding on the ground, Gideon scrambled to get his feet back under him. Snapped a warning to the goblins in the form of a snarl. 

Peter didn’t want to leave Gideon, he wouldn’t just turn around and abandon him when these creatures were getting closer, seemingly more appearing from nowhere. He was afraid, more afraid than he’d ever been in his life before and before Peter knew it he was shifting. He’d only managed to shift a few times in the past, usually with the help of a full moon and something serious to cause the change, so now the fear and adrenaline pumping through him forced him to turn. 

When the pup stood on shaky legs he saw one goblin lunge for Gideon and the wolf bite down into its arm. But when Gideon was tossed away and there was distance between them Peter growled. He pounced on one of the goblins, biting and tearing at whatever part he could sink his teeth into, but Peter wasn’t coordinated, he was acting on instinct alone and before he knew it he was being tossed dragged away by other goblins, getting ropes around the small wolf. 

Alistair realised it almost instantly, the boy’s scent buried in his mind so deeply that he knew exactly where to look. His voice sent a shiver down the elite’s spine and the kitsune let out a loud growl, darting forward, electricity crackling around his whole body, almost like an aura around him as he grasped one goblin, tearing it’s head from it’s shoulders effortlessly and tossing it aside. He didn’t stop, he couldn’t stop, not until he was doused in blood and the threat, for now, was eliminated. He looked down at the pet, offering his hand, “Are you hurt?”

Peter felt the electrical crackle of the air before he saw Alistair and when he did catch a glimpse of the kitsune, he’d never seen the other look so frightening and awe-inspiring at the same time. Peter wriggled out from under the goblins dead body. He watched the fox rip through the goblins like they were nothing, blood covering him. Peter took the hand offered to him without hesitation, allowing Alistair to pull him to his feet. “Scratched up.” He answered looking down at his torn clothes and clawed up skin. 

Under extreme chases of stress or pain halfing wolves ere known to shift. Gideon hadn’t been on four legs since the day one of his fathers was put to death but when he heard his name cut through the noise of the battle, Gideon didn’t have much control. It was like someone flipped a switch in his brain and it was all over. His skin was ripping away and replaced by fur. His teeth sharper and the pain in his side dulled by the need to get to Peter. Peter who was scared and hurting and unable to get away from the massive creature on top of him. He wasn’t nearly as big or as imposing as full werewolf might be but he was stiill a wolf and he was still ready to do what he had to.

Leaping across the land between himself and Peter, Gideon let out a sharp howl before launching himself at the goblin. His teeth sunk into one of its arms and used what weight he had to pull his hand away from Peter. The monster roared and swung around to try and hit Gideon off but he jerked back and pulled the creature over. Snarling and growling, Gideon looked at Peter. ‘Run! Get going. Find Alistair and keep running.’ He snarled, teeth shredding the goblin’s flesh before his grip slipped and the creature was free. Gideon snapped at him and took a lung at the goblin’s leg, snapping his teeth around it for a moment before pulling away and darting back to put some room between himself and the monster.  

When Peter felt the weight on his back disappear he finally pushed himself to his feet. He could see the wolf and he just knew it was Gideon even before the other spoke. He watched as the wolf ripped into the goblin, holding it back from him. Peter’s heart was racing, he was scared. He was pretty sure he wasn’t far behind in turning himself, his whole body shaking, his skin felt too tight almost uncomfortable. “But...but what about you?” Peter asked, afraid to leave the other behind.

Peter hesitate and in the moment of pause more goblins seemed to descend upon their position, coming out from between the trees towards them. “Gideon, there’s so many of them.” Peter said, eyes wide looking at the goblins surrounding them. His body seemed to shake even more, eyes glowing a bright amber. 

Pushing himself up off the ground, Gideon grabbed his side as it ached at him. He could feel wet there and wasn’t sure if it was his blood or someone else on him. This was chaos. He could hear goblins war cries and pets screaming. It sounded like at least a few Elites had shown up now. Which was good because he didn’t feel like he could keep this up very much longer. Looking around, Gideon noticed another pet on the ground and took a step forward before feeling his knees wobble. Pain shot up his side and he finally looked down at his own hands. 

He was cut rather badly up his side. Deep enough that Gideon was worried. Pushing both his hands into his own side the halfling shuffled forwards and sat down hard behind a tent that clearly had been on fire but wasn’t anymore. He pressed back against it and pulled his shirt off over his head. A low growl came from the back of his throat as he bunched up the shirt and shoved it hard against his side to try and stop the bleeding. He closed his eyes for a second and let his head fall backwards. He’d been in pain like this before. In the colosseum. This wasn’t the worst he’d been hurt in the past or maybe it was but he couldn’t let himself think that way. He pushed himself up out of the mud and looked around trying to find a clear path out. There wasn’t one. 

Peter couldn’t fight, he didn’t know how. Maybe he should have learned, it was a thought that crossed his mind as he ran, chased down by he didn’t know how many of those things, every time he looked back it seemed like more of them join in the chase. A couple of times the wolf almost tripped, but his quick reflexes were the only things that had saved him this far. He’d stumble and catch himself just in time to keep going, but he knew it was only a matter of time. 

Peter could see a break in the trees, but from the sounds of it the fighting was likely worse in the clearing, but he couldn’t turn back. The wolf came stumbling through the treeline, falling just as the goblins pounced on top of him. “No!” Peter cried out, feeling their rough skeletal hands clawing at his clothes, tearing through the fabric trying to tear him open. Peter struggled, trying to kick them off, wriggle away, get up again. He was able to turn over onto his stomach, trying to get his knees under him by they were all over him. “Gideon! Alistair!” He called out, likely fruitlessly as he’d not seen either of them. 

It seemed to happen very quickly, before he knew it, they were under attack and he was moving out of his home to the approaching attack. Alistair swore under his breath, moved inside to check on his boys who were nowhere to be seen, “Gideon?” He called out, frantically looking around, “Peter?” It seemed to be then that the kitsune realised what had happened and he wasted no time in darting towards where the chaos seemed to be centered. 

When the attack had started Peter regretted not being at home. He’d liked watching the pets train and so had been out doing just that, but then the goblins had shown up and Peter had never seen a goblin before. He didn’t know what to do, he wasn’t really much of a fighter, he was a good runner though and so he’d avoided them by trying to flee. He hoped Gideon and Alistair were safe, although they could take care of themselves so really Peter was the one who was pretty fucked. A couple of the creatures had him pinned down, trying to rip through his clothes to get at the wolf’s flesh. They seemed to be capturing pets or just plain eating them. Peter struggled under their hold, fighting as hard as he could. “No, get off me!”

“Relax kid, I’m not going to tell anyone you’re here if you’re not supposed to be.” Vincent promised before taking a seat next to the other pet. It felt like such a long time since he had seen him but then a lot had been going on for everyone, he supposed. He didn’t know why he was here since the tournament troubled him - maybe he was trying to catch sight of whoever it was that Barris was going to champion. “How’ve you been?” He asked, instead of referencing the tournament.

Peter recognised the other’s scent and it took him back to when he’d still been in the tower. “I don’t know if I’m not supposed to be here, I just wanted to see what was going on, all the pets were down there but no one came to get me so, I wanted to see what was going on for myself.” The pup explained his reasoning for spying on the training grounds. When Vincent sat next to him, Peter relaxed because clearly the other wasn’t going to rat him out if he was with him too. “Good. I got claimed, I don’t know why everyone was telling me it was a scary thing or that I should be careful, it’s great. Alistair is great.”

Paris listened to the young pet as he explained he could fight but wasn’t properly trained. He couldn’t help but chuckle grabbing the coin in his hand. He could only imagine the guards face when he was one finger less. “And tell me Peter what did that guard do?” He asked with obvious curiosity. He didn’t know many if any of the guards to be kind here in Aeternum. So if one ended up on the end of the pets bite it couldn’t have ended well. “Well from the sounds of what you think of your master you have little to worry about.” His smile widened, happy to hear a pet so willing to ask questions. That smile though quickly faded as the subject became much more serious. “Yes, they will. It’s unfortunate and barbaric to have this foresaken ritual to appease such beasts.” He said with an obvious disdain for the Avians in his voice.

“Tried to find something to wrap his finger with. The others just threw me in a cage and brought me here.” Peter answered, remembering his capture after his mother’s death. It had been the only real fight he’d been in and he’d clearly not won given his capture, but Peter had never really been a fighter. Alistair and Gideon were his family now, Peter wouldn’t want to be anywhere else than with them. He saw the way this elite seemed to hate whatever was going on down there, a tournament or something Peter had heard. “I thought elites didn’t care if pets die?”