FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

A/N: Hey guys, if you keep up with all the comments like the ones I have been getting, Im serious not going to be able to stop crying. I mean like for serious, Everyone has been super supportive and telling me to take a break and everything. Well now that I'm done thanking everyone and stopped crying for a bit, Here the next chapter. Also, please don't kill me for what is about to happen in this chapter. *Crouches down and covers head*

Chapter 24

"Derek! What happened?"

Ethan's eyes were wide as he watched his leader carry his close friend, blood dripping from his limp hand. Derek looked fine but from what he could tell the blood that covered him was Moku's. And Moku... "Oh god... Derek... is he?"

"No, he's sleeping."

Derek swept into his room and kicked the furs on his bed around until he made it suitably flat. Very gently, he laid the fragile boy down. He used two fingers to brush back blood crusted hairs, worry shining in his eyes. Moku would be fine. He'll be fine. "Barex went to go get Gira so once she's here it'll be alright. She'll know what to do."

Ethan cautiously stepped toward his friend, tilting his head to one side to get a better look at Moku. The wounds were hard to distinguish behind all the blood but the gore was enough to make his stomach turn. He highly doubted Gira would make a difference. The thought made his eyes sting.

"Der-"

"I got her!" Barex called as he barged into the room.

Derek looked up to see Gira walk in, eyes scanning over the unconscious boy. He swallowed hard, stubbornness taking over. "He's just sleeping. He'll be alright. I just need you to bandage him up like you did with me. That's it. He'll be fine."

Sad eyes turned towards her nephew and she gave a small smile that didn't reach them. "Of course, honey. I'll do what I can." She knelt by Moku, inspecting some of the wounds. "Ethan, you go get Ludus and fetch some water and washcloths. I need to get the blood off to judge the wounds. Barex, you go get my supplies. Dari will show you where they are and bring her with you. Is there any other injuries that I don't see?" She looked up at Derek as she addressed him.

Derek swallowed hard, shifting uncomfortably but his tone was normal. "Yeah. His legs have a few scratches. Not much."

Gira gently pealed away the half torn off leather pants and immediately froze. She positioned the leather back in place before looking at Derek again, an unreadable smile on. "Derek, honey. Can you do me a favor? Go out and hunt for a while. Try to catch something to eat. It doesn't have to be big. A squirrel, bird, mouse, anything. It's okay if you come back empty handed if you can't get anything by tomorrow."

Derek gulped, his right hand rubbing his left arm. "Yeah... okay, I can do that. Because Moku will be hungry when he wakes up, right? Healing always makes me hungry."

"Of course, honey."

Derek nodded a few times before ducking out of the cave, sprinting towards the exit, passing Ludus and Ethan on his way.

Gira looked back at Moku, checking his pulse and breathing. Her senses told her that Ludus and Ethan entered the cave but she didn't look up. The water and cloths were placed by her and Ludus dared to speak. "Is he dead?"

Gira shook her head, slowly and tenderly stripping Moku of his pants. "No. He's still alive."

Ethan swallowed hard, hands fisting the leather that covered his thighs. "Will he survive?"

Gira paused, gently placing the tattered pants on the ground, looking at the deep gashes along the boy's legs. A few were still bleeding. "I don't know. Tonight will be tough. He's so thin and lost so much blood already... I just don't know. But don't tell Derek. I don't want to think of what he would do."

Kadell gently pet Liolyn's hair, fingers sliding through the silky strands. The low rumble of purring echoed through the cave and made a cozy atmosphere. The fire crackled merrily in the center, casting an orange glow over the slumbering kitten. Kadell couldn't help it. He leaned down and gently kissed those slightly parted lips.

A claw hand slid along the back of his neck and Kadell found his mouth forced down harder and a tongue diving in to slide over his own. He moaned but the deep purring drowned it out. He was finally released and looked into coy heavy lidded cat eyes. The slits dilated a little bit to look at the wolf better, a tail sneakily snaking out from under the covers to wrap around the wolf's arm.

"If I was always woken up like this I'd be a very happy kitty." Liolyn purred out before pulling Kadell back down for another kiss.

The wolf chuckled against those clever lips. "I think you would be happier if you woke up with me already in you."

The purring hitched up and the cat arched, both arms now wrapped around the wolf's neck, pulling him down and into the cat's inescapable embrace. He miraculously resisted, pulling back, ignoring the nips and licks that tempted him to return. "When I get back, Lio. Just be patient."

The purring came to a screeching halt. "You're going outside?"

Kadell looked confused into those wide and now fear filled eyes. "Yeah. I was going to get you something to eat."

"I'm not hungry." He cursed his stomach as it gave him away.

Kadell chuckled, giving a quick kiss to those tense lips. "Right. I'll try to be quick."

He pulled back but found out that the cat had a vice like grip on him. "Lio-"

"Don't go."

Grey eyes looked into fearful gold. "Why?"

Golden slits looked away and those arms tensed.

Kadell stroked the back of his fingers down the cat's tanned cheek. "Liolyn? What's wrong?"

Liolyn swallowed hard before loosening his grip and fell back limp against the furs. "Nothing. Just... be careful?"

Brows drew together. "I will..." He leaned down and kissed the cat. Their lips lingered together and Liolyn gave a small mewl before Kadell pulled away. It was almost physically painful to do so and he wanted so badly to just tumble back into bed with his lover and roll around together all morning. But he was hungry too and he didn't know how much longer he'd last without food. They both needed to eat and fast.

Moku had woken up.

"NYAAAAAAAAAAAAH!"

Gira held him down, strong arms pushing down against his shoulders, deciding that they were the least injured. "Please, Moku! You're going to have to lie still."

"Oh god..." Moku sobbed, hands fisting in the furs. "It hurts... it hurts so badly! Please! Gira!"

Gira looked helpless, her maternal instincts kicking into overdrive. "I know, baby. Please, please, lie still. Dari needs to stitch them."

Moku looked pleadingly into her eyes. "Just let me die."

An arrow shot clean through her heart. "I can't, Moku. Is there anywhere else that's injured? Somewhere I need to know about?"

Moku's mind searched wildly and where it landed made him sob again but this time out of disgust. "He... there's... down there."

"What?"

Moku looked away in shame. "His claws... tore down my... um... oh god..." Tears slid down his face. "Where's Derek?"

"I made him leave to go hunting. Do you want him to come back?"

"Yes-NO! Oh god... I don't know... he tore my... um... he was going to r-ra-rape me but... he used... his claws..."

Gira's eyes went wide. "Oh... Oh my, that explains the anal bleeding. I think... we're going to need to sti-"

"NO!" Moku tried to bolt up but ended up screaming in pain and collapsing. "Oh god... kill me. Just let me die!"

Ethan covered his mouth with his hand and silent tears slid down his cheeks. Barex hesitated before putting a hand on the boy's shoulder. Ludus gave his friend a small nuzzle.

Derek snarled as the rabbit got away, starting to dig after it. He knew it was pointless but this was the third one. Usually he could catch them no problem but he was too shaken up, too distracted.

Moku would be fine. It was nothing. The boy had recovered from bad things before. He couldn't die. He was tough. He was... he was tough. Hard to kill. He was fine while talking to him before he passed out. He was fine. There were no gushing wounds that would signify a vein being severed. Just some bleeding, nothing more. No broken bones or anything. Just... bleeding.

He roared and punched the ground, the snow stinging his bare skin. He pounded against it, using both fists. He clawed the white powder, growling and snarling. Tears began to slip down his face, the clawing slowing to grip the snow tightly. He let out a shuddering breath before choking, trying to hold back tears.

Moku was going to be fine. He would be fine. He was going to fucking be fine. Gira was there. Gira would fix it. All he needed was to get food. Moku needed food. He needed nourishment to get healthy and strong again. He needed food to heal.

He sniffled, wiping his nose on the back of his hand.

He could hunt. He could get something.

Kadell was low to the ground, sniffing the snow. He slowly crept, following the trail of a deer. It was rare that he would find one but he was pretty deep into the forest now, almost to the fox territory. The chances of running into one of those sneaky little bastards were high but he didn't worry about it too much. The foxes knew better than to mess with him.

His mouth watered as he heard the soft shuffling of movement. He was downwind and had the advantage. He sank a little lower to the snow, eyes wide and on the creature. A buck, young and stupid enough to venture into the wolves' territory but that just made him tender. Velvet still covered his antlers.

Now, normally he would let the young ones go and let them breed to make more prey but he was desperate. Every muscle coiled, waiting for the deer to get closer.

Just a little bit more... come on... and... now!

He was so fast that the young deer didn't even know what was coming.

Derek crouched perfectly still, eyes wide and staring at a rabbit nibbling on some grass that had sprouted through the snow. Very, very slowly he crept, keeping low to the ground. Every muscle quivered in excitement, blood roaring through his system. He tried to keep his breathing normal but he was panting. He could never really control the thrill that hunting caused him.

He inched forward and accidentally brushed against a bush. He immediately froze and his prey did also, ears up and alert. They twisted to the side, listening carefully. Derek held his breath, praying that it wouldn't run.

The rabbit gave a small hop forward before going back on its hind legs to listen intently. Derek was trembling hard with impatience and he almost gave a whine.

The rabbit lowered and Derek waited a little more before inching silently forward again. He rolled his shoulders, head getting low to the ground.

He pounced.

He missed.

"Fuck!"

Kadell was carrying to deer back, holding the legs as it balanced over his shoulders. He smelled and sensed something coming towards him.

He tenderly placed the buck down and stayed crouched, waiting.

Something leapt out of the bushed and instincts took over. He grabbed the rabbit with one hand and snapped its spine simultaneously. He wished all kills were this easy.

A roar drew his attention back to the bush as something larger and demon leapt out, punching him. It took him by surprise but he soon recovered and lashed out. He caught the creature by the throat, throwing it under him. He raised his claws with a snarl and froze.

"Derek?"

Derek looked up at him in utter shock. Uncle and nephew stared at each other, hardly believing that the other existed. Kadell couldn't even count how long it had been since the last time he interacted with the boy.

"What are you doing out here alone? Where's your pack? You know, the other four that follow you around?"

That snapped the boy out of it. He snarled, thrashing, trying to get Kadell's hand from around his neck. "Let go, you bastard!"

Kadell growled. It took some time but he grabbed both of the boy's wrists and pressed them against the snow. "Stop it! I won't release you until you calm the fuck down."

Derek snarled at that, twisting and bucking, trying to lurch up and bite him.

"Oh, for the love of..." Kadell backhanded him and Derek immediately froze, trembling from shock. "There. God, you're such a brat." He got off, sitting back but still on his guard. "What are you doing here?"

Derek didn't move, still curled up on his side. "I was hunting but you killed my prey."

"You were going to bring back a half starved rabbit? Ouch. I hope you remember that you don't get to keep it unless you plan to fight off every mother who wants her pups to be fed."

"I wasn't! And I would if it comes to that! It's not for me."

The sad tone caught Kadell's interest. "What's going on?"

"Like you care!" Derek snapped, sitting up to glower at his uncle. "You're the reason why! You're always the reason! If Moku hadn't fucking got involved with you then he would've been safe!"

"Moku's hurt?"

Derek growled darkly, eyes flashing silver.

Kadell's mind was putting things together. "He's hurt... and you're hunting... is Gira treating him?"

"Who else?" The boy practically ripped his head off.

"Oh." Kadell leaned back on his arm, assessing the boy. "You care about him, don't you?"

Derek snarled but the blush still crept up on him. "Like you care. You raped him."

"I didn't rape him."

"LIAR!" Derek's rage was making tremble. "You and Raklyn and everyone just want to hurt him. I'm the only one that cares."

Kadell smirked. Young love. So foolish. "You're probably right. You are the only one that really cares. You know..." his tone turned soft so not to startle the other. "When my mother was dying and bleeding out, they told my father to go hunting. When your mother was inches from death, they told Drake to go hunting. When my son was inches from death they told me to go hunting. But I didn't."

Derek met Kadell's knowing stare and he trembled violently. "He's going to be alright... he's going to be fine."

"I don't know what it is about our culture and hunting. It's supposed to relieve the loved one's pain by maiming a poor defenseless animal." Kadell got up, grabbing the dead rabbit. "But I never regretted staying with my son as he died. He was so scared and he wanted me to hold him."

Derek stared at the spot where Kadell had once sat, realizing that he left the deer behind.

The moment he entered the den, the wolves were on him, trying to get his -technically Kadell's -kill. Derek snarled, slashing his claws at them. He grabbed a hind leg of the buck and tore it off, glaring down anyone who might protest him claiming his share.

The moment he moved the mothers fell upon it, snarling and roaring over their pups' claim.

Each footstep he took seemed to echo in his mind as he neared his cave. His breathing was normal and he felt oddly calm. He saw his friends sitting outside of it rise in surprise. They tried to keep him from entering but he ignored them.

Gira stood from where she knelt at Moku's side and walked over to her nephew. "Derek. Maybe you sh-"

"How is he?"

Gira faltered, looking hesitant.

"I said." Derek's voice was alarmingly calm. "How is he?"

Gira let out a shuddering breath. "He lost a lot of blood, Derek."

Derek swallowed hard. "Yes?"

"His wounds are numerous and he's weakened from the earlier attack he suffered."

Derek's breathing was trembling.

"I don't think he'll survive the night."

The world stopped. Everything stopped. His heart froze before shattering like thin glass into a thousand little glimmering pieces. He felt empty and yet in so much pain.

"I'm sorry, honey."

Derek bowed his head, swallowing hard to get around the lump growing in his throat. "Get out."

"Derek-"

"OUT!"

Gira looked into those anguish and rage filled eyes. She nodded and Dari got up to follow her mother.

Derek was alone now, staring at a limp Moku. The boy's breathing was shallow and each breath looked painful. Almost every inch of him was covered in bandages. There were stains from tear trails.

The full blood slowly walked towards his friend and fell to his knees. Silver eyes trailed up and down Moku's body. He reached out a trembling hand and took Moku's least bandaged one. He couldn't take it. The dam broke.

He let out a pain filled sob. His body wracked with tears as he bowed over the one he loved. First his mother died before he even knew her, then his father disappeared. His grandfather, the one he thought he could trust, betrayed him and now the only person left in his world was dying. Everyone was dying. His cousin died, his uncle was basically dead to him. And now Moku was slipping through his fingers like sand but, oh god, not Moku. Anyone but Moku. Please, oh please, not Moku.

He kissed that hand, tears staining the bandages before pressing it against his chest. He wanted to collapse against that body but he refrained, forcing his trembling body to support his weight.

He leaned down, kissing Moku's forehead before pausing. He wet his lips before brushing them against Moku's parted ones, not daring a real kiss in fear that the boy would stop breathing.

He whispered very softly. "Please... please survive. Please, live Moku. I don't care if you never love me again for being so selfish to not let you go but I can't. I can't live without you. I need you. I'm selfish and stupid and ignorant and such a fucking fool that I don't even realize what I'm doing until it's too late." He tenderly pet the boy's hair. A shuddering breath escaped as he threatened to start crying again. "I love you. I love you so much. I can't... I can't stand the thought of you gone. I need you, Moku. I need you so fucking much that it hurts every time you're not around. I need your occasional snappy come backs and I need your presence. I need your fear and I need your hatred. I need your kindness and your tolerance. So please... please don't die. I'd die if you left me... I love you. I love you so fucking much."

He brushed his lips against Moku's again before kissing his forehead one more time. He curled around the limp body, still cradling Moku's hand in his. He let out one more anguished and lonely sob.

"God, I love you."