Julien hoped for only one thing when his feet touched the steps of that marble platform.
Attack each other and leave me alone!
But he was never devout enough for his prayers to be heard.
A strong force yanked him off the stairs by the collar of his shirt, the fabric pulling up to choke him as he flew back.
Andrew!
Unable to anchor himself on anything, Julien fell into the man's arms with a choked cry and was immediately met with a crushing hug that made it feel like his organs were about to burst.
"Ack! Easy! Easy!"
Julien tapped on the arms of his captor as Andrew dodged the incoming wolf flying right over their heads, but evidently, he wasn't listening as he muttered the same words to himself over and over again.
"Bien, estamos bien…[1]"
Julien flipped through the elementary levels of Spanish in his head and yelled out as Andrew's claws began to penetrate the skin on his stomach to a painful degree.
"¡No estoy bien! Andrew![2]"
Andrew actually paused, just long enough for the grey-wolf to bite into his side and send Julien tumbling out of the were-Andrew's arms.
Shit.
Julien hit the ground with a graceless tumble, only managing to just barely prevent himself from falling over the opposite end of the marble platform as Andrew and Remus started on another brawl.
Sweet sweet oxygen.
He winced as he pushed himself off the ground, the pain of his head's contents sloshing around more intense than whatever he was putting his body through at the moment.
The exit…
Julien scanned the eight different paths branching out from the platform, his sense of direction messed up by his fall.
Feeling a jolt of adrenaline shoot through his chest, Julien stepped off to the side, just barely dodging the bodies flying in his direction.
But it wasn't enough.
On their way past, Remus managed to get a hold of his leg—when he'd changed into his more humanoid form he wasn't sure, nor did he have the chance to care as he was flung off once again.
You have got to be fucking kidding me.
Julien braced for impact with the tree in front of him, protecting his head and neck as best as he could just before the wind was knocked out of him by the largest branch of the tree slamming right into his abdomen.
"Cough, hagh."
Julien puked up his stomach fluids as he fell out of the tree, his everything aching for more than a few reasons and vision swimming as he found purchase in the dirt.
If he didn't want to get ragdolled again, he had to get out of this dome.
Fuck it, this way it is.
Moving to stand up, Julien clutched his aching head and began moving—slow at first, then faster and faster as whatever adrenaline was keeping his body moving seemed to kick in.
Grabbing at his upper arm as he dashed down the path—damned he'd be if it wasn't the right one—he breathed a sigh of relief feeling the bangle still sitting where it should be. One of the gems was missing from its metal surface, but hell, if Remus wanted it back in perfect condition he'd have to beg Halos himself.
Julien looked to the sky ruefully, the moon, full and bright, a mocking presence to his current predicament.
If Miris herself crossed those stars, let just one fall upon my eyes.
He'd beg any god he had to if it meant getting out of this, no worse, the next year alive.
—
Andrew tried to ignore the annoying grey ball coming at him left and right, his gaze lingering on the slowly fading back of the red-head running into the distance.
Always running.
Always running.
Why was he always—
He let out a low growl and grabbed hold of the grey ball's tail, a high pitched whine exiting the creature's maw as he flung the thing out of the way and took a step towards his target.
It doesn't matter.
Andrew clawed at his chest, skin peeling away from the force of his claws. The painful heat was nearly unbearable now that the runaway red-head was gone.
And it was only made worse because of that minty thing—hah.
Andrew shook his head, biting his tongue with what little willpower he had left.
Something's wrong with me.
And though he knew that, though he was aware, though he was made aware, and although that was the case—
He shivered, not because he was cold, no, he was much too hot.
He shivered because he kept walking.
He shivered because his mind whispered sweet promises of reprieve.
He shivered knowing—-
The pest—now in the shape of a naked man, tackled him to the ground, his clawed hands digging into Andrew's as if threatening to separate each layer of skin, one by one.
The man laughed at the fury burning in Andrew's bright amber eyes, a fury not too unlike what was burning in his own.
"You're a real son of a bitch to pin down Teddy."
Andrew didn't care about his feelings. Staring at the moon behind him instead—unmoving as a sense of emptiness took root next to the searing pain of his body being rearranged—he was able to confirm one thing.
Something's blocking it.
Something.
Blocked.
Something was blocking a certain cedarwood scent.
Andrew's eyes darkened, his gaze drifting into the distance.
Was it too much to ask for things to be normal?
No, this was normal.
He was completely normal.
The yearning for cedar-scented everything was only normal.
Andrew lifted up his legs and rabbit kicked the shorter man off before jumping into a sprint—a faint hum of something guiding him to where he surely needed to go to become normal again.
Even if he couldn't smell him, there were plenty of other ways to find out where he went.
Andrew muttered to himself the same words over and over.
"No te dolerá."[3]
—
Julien glanced behind him before taking a deep breath and journeying off the path.
Now where am I?
He frowned, scanning the trees for a familiar landmark so he could make his way back on course. If he was going the right way, he would've at least seen the exit ahead by now, but evidently, the stars were not aligned in his favor.
Hearing a rustle a little ways off, Julien crouched down and inched further into the forest.
Regardless of his whereabouts, if he couldn't find the exit right away it'd be better to walk in a circle until he did.
Julien kept his stance low as he passed tree after tree, his breathing slowly returning to a normal if not a bit shallow rhythm the longer he walked.
Crunching leaves and squelching moss continued to be his only companion as the forest slowly grew darker and darker, then, after what felt like an eternity of stiff movements—
He finally saw something different.
It's one of the off-limits areas…
He crept forward, keeping his ears peeled for any sudden movements despite knowing the larger man was far quieter than he could ever hope to be. There was almost no light streaming in from above now—only the luminescence of nearby plants—but that wouldn't be an issue.
Swiping over his wrist as if peeling off a second layer of skin, Julien lifted his fingers to his eyes and jabbed into them. After a brief moment of discomfort—especially since his hands were dirty—he blinked as the sight in front of him became just a little clearer.
I hate doing that.
Looking around, he stepped past a small wooden gate and approached what looked like a smaller version of the alcove they'd been staying in until an hour ago.
With this, and the fact he hadn't come across anything else until he entered this quadrant, he could confidently say he was circling in the right direction.
Lifting up the curtain, he frowned as several Reco crystals lit up on a nearby table. Grabbing hold of one in order to cut it off, Julien paused.
This isn't a Reco.
Furrowing his brows, he moved the brightening lights underneath a nearby blanket instead. If Andrew was anywhere close to where he was his position was as good as gone.
And that was the last thing he needed right now.
Spotting another exit, Julien passed through it and carried on his way, passing through a mini-garden of various plants both familiar and unfamiliar before making it back to the wider forest.
Julien paused, a prickling feeling causing him to turn back around and hide within the alcove, crouching low beside the entrance.
He held his breath.
Thump thump.
He perked his ears.
Thump thump.
And soon, the sound of rustling grass made itself known—near indistinguishable from the slight breeze blowing throughout the enclosure.
His stomach dropped.
Was it Andrew or Remus?
The sound of footsteps drew closer, stopping just before his original entry point and casting a long shadow over the floor.
He didn't dare to move.
And neither did the figure behind that curtain.
After a few painfully long seconds, the figure finally spoke, lifting the curtain to meet Julien's eyes with a smile on his face.
"I'd keep runnin' if I were you, poppet."
Julien breathed a sigh of relief and stood up.
"Where's Andrew?"
Remus tapped his nose.
"Close enough."
Pausing for only a moment to give him a once over, Remus chuckled before ushering Julien towards the forest.
"Don't turn back no matter whatcha hear dollface."
Nodding, Julien dashed into the forest while Remus ran in the opposite direction.
It didn't take long for the fighting to begin.
Bang!
A stream of dirt flew in Julien's direction, blinding his path just long enough that he missed the fallen tree in front of him.
Shit.
Unable to skid to a halt in time, Julien tumbled over the tree, faceplanting into the dirt.
Swivelling his head to check behind him, Julien froze.
Andrew was right there.
Rolling out of the way as the man reached down to grab him, Julien stumbled to his feet and ran.
Passing by a small building resembling the bathroom on the other end of the enclosure, Julien's heart jumped with excitement.
He'd just passed into the final quadrant.
Just a little longer.
Crack!
The sound of splintering wood and angry snarls entered his ears but before he could dodge, a piece of hard wood hit him squarely in the back of the head.
Stumbling for only a moment, Julien grit his teeth and pushed off once again.
Damnit!
He ran like his soles were on fire.
He ran as every thump of his heart threatened to knock him over.
He ran as his lungs burned with every breath he took—
And then he saw it.
Ignoring the cold feeling arresting his heart and the growls of wild animals—no, werewolves—fighting in the background, Julien mustered all the willpower he could and just ran.
Sucking in a sharp breath, he dashed left and right—moving like a gazelle in order to just barely avoid the sharp claws aiming to take hold of his life.
Not looking back at the red locks fluttering where he'd been just a second ago, Julien nearly cried in joy.
The door is right there!
But his moment of joy was truly only a moment as breathing not his own reached his ears.
Turning his head, Julien saw the world in slow-motion as Andrew's arms reached out to surround him.
This is so unfair.
Andrew slammed him into a nearby tree, pinning him against its surface as he buried his face in Julien's neck. Julien winced as he recovered his senses.
Ironically, the only reason he didn't splinter like the tree in front of him was because of Andrew's ironclad grip guarding his head and spinal cord.
Am I supposed to be thankful?
Andrew's breathing was rough as if he were a drowning man brought to land, his feral eyes flickering between confusion, relief, and desperation as he muttered over and over again.
Julien grit his teeth and flailed his legs helplessly, his airways compressed by the bear hug keeping him stationary.
It hurts!
Julien stiffened as the collar on his button up was torn apart by Andrew's teeth—his insistent breathing leaving perspiration on his neck. Cold shivers ran down his spine.
"Hugh, damnit Andrew!"
Feeling Andrew's teeth graze his neck, Julien flinched and did the only thing he still could.
He bit him.
Andrew paused.
And the few seconds it managed to buy was enough.
The grey wolf bit into Andrew's arm, yanking it away and giving Julien just enough wiggle room to drop to the ground and crawl out of the way.
Andrew bared his fangs at the intruding party.
Grabbing hold of Remus's head, Andrew tore the annoying pest off his arm and slammed the wolf's body into the ground. Growling out a complaint, Remus kicked Andrew off with his hind legs and rolled away—shifting back into a more humanoid form before charging back in.
Wrapping his arms around Andrew's midsection, Remus leaned back—suplexing the rowdy Shifted while grunting out a reprimand to Julien who was already running away from the scene.
"Fuckin' Carrion. If ya get caught one more fuckin' time!"
Remus clenched his teeth.
Readjusting his weight, he released his hold on Andrew and spun around—delivering a kick to the man's ribcage.
Julien wanted to yell back at him but he bit his tongue and kept running.
It's not like I was trying to get caught!
Julien ducked as Remus's wolfish body slammed into the tree ahead of him, sending splinters flying in every direction—but he didn't stop.
If that damned wolf wanted him to keep running he should've been winning the fight not getting his ass handed to him!
Letting out a frustrated groan, Julien's feet finally landed on the dirt path to his salvation.
Two hours of running.
Two hours of hiding.
And finally—
Julien reached for his arm one more time—
His footsteps stuttered to a halt.
It's gone.
Squeezing the indent in his arm hard enough to hurt, Julien felt his stomach drop.
Nothing.
He whipped around to stare at the scuffle raging on behind him—the splintering of wood and the chaotic wrestling of inhuman bodies trying to tear each other's heads off closing in on him.
It was gone.
[1] (Fine, we’re fine…)
[2] (I am not fine!)
[3] (It won’t hurt)