Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ Skywind ❯ Chapter 4 ( Chapter 4 )

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters from Gundam Wing, and I do not make any money from the writing of this fanfiction.

 

*The jokes from last chapter were borrowed from Elaine Cunningham's Elfshadow, an excellent fantasy novel for anyone looking for a quick read that's still entertaining.

 

Chapter 4

 

“Is it just me, or are you eating more every day?” Quatre grumbled, taking up his bow for the third time that day to go hunting.

 

It's just you, Lian said from his sprawled, comfortable position on the ground. Do try and get a rabbit or two, won't you?

 

Quatre gave his friend and two-month traveling companion a ferocious scowl. “You're the wild animal,” he complained. “You should be doing this.”

 

Ah, but then you'd never become practiced in the hunting skills, now would you? Lian asked, amused. Stop whining, child. It's unseemly.

 

“This from the crazy cat that bonded with a human and studies human foul language as a hobby,” Quatre muttered.

 

Cat, indeed. Lian sniffed audibly. Get going, child.

 

Quatre rolled his eyes and walked off, hiding his smile at Lian's fussiness. He did so hate to be called a cat.

 

It had been two and a half months since the control spell upon Quatre had been snapped. He had contacted the Watch almost immediately after the fight with Landros, and used his family name to see that justice was done swiftly. Landros was imprisoned in Stone Mountain, a prison made especially to hold mages. As soon as he had made certain he would not trouble others again, he and Lian had slipped away from Veran Hall and the city near it. Four years in seclusion had had an affect on him; he no longer felt comfortable among his own kind. For the past two months, he and Lian had traveled through wilderness, and Lian had taught him skills of survival as well as schooling him in the specifics of his personal magic and lecturing him about various magical creatures. He had received more enlightenment in the past two months than he had in the entire four years he'd spent at Veran Hall.

 

He had also, Quatre mused, gained a close friend for the first time in his life. He liked Lian more than any human he had ever known; the giant cat's strange sense of humor kept him amused and his wisdom caused Quatre to give his respect to him. His matter-of-fact acceptance of strange and unusual things that happened unexpectedly kept Quatre alert, and his natural laziness kept Quatre busy.

 

The last thought caused him to roll his eyes again. He had quickly learned that Lian was the laziest creature on the face of the planet, and that if he could get Quatre to do for him what he could easily do for himself, he would, without hesitation.

 

I'm not that lazy, Lian's voice said, complaining, in his mind.

 

He mentally sent him an image of his glare. Haven't we had this talk before? he asked, using the mental communication Lian had taught him.

 

I know, I know, don't eavesdrop. I'm going, I'm going.

 

The cat's grumbles faded away in his mind, and Quatre smiled a little. He drew an arrow from the quiver strapped to his back and focused his eyes, scanning the undergrowth. His gaze lighted upon a pair of rabbits in a thicket some feet away. He crouched down, intent on his prey.

 

“Hellooooo over there!” a loud voice shouted, scaring the rabbits away in an instant. “Lovely morning, isn't it?”

 

Quatre rose to his feet with a scowl. “It was,” he muttered, watching the traveler approach. The man looked to be roughly in his twenties, with an unusual length of chestnut hair hanging in a braid across one shoulder. It was his clothing that caught Quatre's eyes. He was dressed in blue and green finery that was totally out of place in the wilderness. Obviously a noble of some kind, probably one with the impression of being off on an adventuresome journey, Quatre thought with derision.

 

As the young man turned toward him, Duo caught his breath. His keen eyes, sharpened by weapons practice and magic, had picked out his figure quite a distance away. He had suspected he was the one Duo sought; now, up close and personal, he was even more breathtaking than the portrait. His beautiful face, however, was currently set in a frown. Clearly, he was not welcome company.

 

“I say,” he said with a disarming smile. “Would you have happened to see a chestnut stallion wander about this way?”

 

Quatre's eyebrows raised slightly. “No.”

 

Not at all bothered by his clipped answer, Duo went on cheerfully, “It's a funny thing, really. All I did was leave the lad alone for two minutes to take care of a…err, problem, and when I got back the creature had vanished without a trace.”

 

Quatre fought to keep the sneer off his face. The dandy had gone off to take care of his physical needs, and hadn't even bothered to tie his steed's reins to a branch. “Where did you last see the stallion?” Now why on earth had he asked that, he scolded himself.

 

“Back thataways,” the dandy said, waving vaguely over his shoulder.

 

Quatre looked in the direction and sighed. He paced forward past the man into the thicket.

 

Duo followed him, chattering inanely. “I say, you look to be a ranger sort,” he said hopefully. “Think you could help me find my horse? I had several important articles in my packs, you see, gifts to my lady-friends…”

 

Quatre ignored him, not caring about how many mistresses this annoyance had. He studied the ground for a moment, then paced off to the left, following the faint trail of hoofprints the horse had left in the ground. As he suspected, they found the horse grazing not too far away from where the noble had left him; the creature, well-trained enough not to leave his master apparently, had simply sought out a better source of food.

 

“Well!” the man exclaimed, delighted. “You found him so fast! My eternal thanks…?”

 

Quatre heard the hint for his name well enough, and ignored it. “You are welcome.” He turned to head back toward his own camp.

 

“A moment,” Duo said hastily.

 

Quatre turned and regarded him with impatience. “Yes?”

 

Duo gave him another disarming smile. “Well, it's another funny thing, really. I'm lost. And I'm rather hopeless in the wild, as I'm sure you noticed.”

 

Quatre nearly groaned out loud, realizing what the dandy was getting at. “You need a guide.”

 

Duo ignored his slightly defeated tone. “Oh, would you? I would be in so much of your debt. Just to the nearest town, I swear. Of course, I know this must be out of your way. I'll compensate you well for the trouble.” He patted a smaller pouch tucked into one of the larger ones that jingled.

 

Quatre pressed his fingertips to his temple, where a headache was beginning to form. “The nearest town is a good week's travel from here,” he said slowly and deliberately. “How on earth did you end up out here?'

 

Duo tried a smile of charm rather than a disarming one this time. “Yes, well, I had a bet with some friends of mine. They told me that I couldn't survive out here for a day, and I have. The problem is, however, that it's been more than a day. I've been lost in these woods for near two weeks now.”

 

Quatre took a closer look at the dandy. His clothing was stained from continuous wear. He was thinner than was normal for his height, and there were circles under his eyes. However, tired and under-nourished though he looked, something about his story didn't sound quite right to Quatre.

 

“You have quite the will to have lived out here for such a time with no experience in surviving in the wilderness,” he said with grudging admiration. “However, I fail to see how you ended up so far from civilization in the first place. You're not stupid, I doubt you would have wandered so far willingly.”

 

Duo heard the unspoken completely between the words “not stupid,” and grinned deprecatingly. “Yes, well, I hired a guide to show me a bit of the wilderness while I was fulfilling my bet, and he…err, decided to break contract early.”

 

Quatre's eyes flashed. “He abandoned you.”

 

“Just so,” the noble admitted. “Stole a good bit of my purse, too. A good thing I kept this hidden in my spare clothing,” jingling the small purse of money he still had.

 

Quatre came to a decision. “I will take you to Hitsome. That is the nearest town. However,” he said over the dandy's effusive thanks, “I travel with a friend already. If you object to magical creatures, then we have a problem.”

 

Duo's eyes sparkled with excessive curiosity. “What sort of magical creature do you travel with?” he asked brightly.

 

“A reanlos,” Quatre said, hoping the dandy would be typical of his type and be too proud to ask what a reanlos was.

 

“Reanlos - a very powerful cat breed of magical creature, known for its gift of flight and immunity to human magic,” the noble recited in a learned tone, then blinked. “But hey, aren't they also known for avoiding humans?”

 

Quatre's eyes narrowed slightly. The noble wasn't as stupid as he looked. “Just so,” he agreed, beginning to walk back toward his own camp. “If you're coming with me, then follow,” he added shortly over his shoulder.

 

Duo hurriedly grabbed the reins of his stallion and strode after him. “I say,” he called. “If we're to travel together, shouldn't I know your name?”

 

Quatre paused and allowed the noble to catch up with him, thinking about the question. “You may call me Kat,” he said finally, beginning to walk once more.

 

“Master Kat,” the noble said, somehow managing to sweep him a bow while walking and holding a horse's reins. “My name is Duo, by the way. Duo Maxwell.”

 

Quatre's eyebrows drew together when he heard the noble's full name. He recognized the name Maxwell, but he could not recall how. He allowed the puzzlement to fade from his mind, but made a mental note to think about it later.

 

They reached the clearing where Quatre had set up a tent large enough for himself and Lian to sleep comfortably in; for some reason, the cat insisted on sleeping beside him. Lian was currently sitting on the ground directly outside the tent; he lifted his head interestedly as the two humans entered the clearing.

 

Duo eyed the cat with some trepidation. If the reanlos could truly hear his conscious thoughts as was said to be, then the whole plan of following the Winner boy about and learning his secrets while protecting him was about to go flying out the proverbial window. He was about to find out if the shields his uncle had erected around his mind would hold up.

 

Lian probed the stranger's mind and came up against a magical barrier preventing intrusion. Surprised, the reanlos sought further, then withdrew as he realized just who had erected the barrier. Well, well, Lian thought to himself. This is going to be interesting.

 

“Liandramonedarym, meet Duo Maxwell,” Quatre said flatly. “Explain to my friend why you will be accompanying us, Maxwell. I have hunting to do.” He stalked out of the clearing once more, leaving Duo alone with the very dangerous reanlos.

 

Duo stared at the reanlos with something approaching awe. “It was true then,” he remarked quietly. “You bonded with him.”

 

What business is that of yours? The voice echoed powerfully and painfully in Duo's head. Lian muted his voice with Quatre out of consideration for his sensitivity. He made no such concession for the stranger intruding in their camp.

 

“You know who sent me,” Duo said, low and intense.

 

Milliardo Peacecraft has ever been a meddler, Lian said icily, still not bothering to repress his power.

 

Duo winced. “You wouldn't want to turn down the volume a bit, would you?” he asked plaintively. “He's going to hear you if you keep talking like that.”

 

Now the tone of the reanlos turned withering. Unlike you humans, reanlos can shield their words from any that they do not wish to hear them.

 

Duo sighed. “Look, I'm not your enemy.”

 

Lian stared at the human for a long moment, then commented, You've established quite an elaborate masquerade just to be able to travel with my Winner.

 

“He is of the clan, then?” Duo asked intently.

 

Of course, Lian responded derisively. Don't take me for a fool, mage. You knew what he was the instant you laid eyes on him.

 

Duo watched the reanlos carefully. “Are you going to tell her what I am?”

 

Now it was the cat's turn to watch Duo. Finally, he answered, No, that I will not do. His interference I do not like, but I respect Milliardo Peacecraft. If he sent his most promising apprentice to my Winner's side, he must have had a reason. You may carry on your silly masquerade with Kat. But be warned that he is very far from stupid. You will have to be on guard at all times if you do not wish him to realize you are more than you seem.

 

Duo stared at the creature in amazement. “How on earth…?”

 

The reanlos actually snorted, swishing his tail disdainfully. Milliardo would only bother putting that powerful of a shield around your mind if you had other things besides your true identity to hide. The shield was not meant to protect against my probes, was it?

 

Duo let out a long, admiring whistle. “You are very good.”

 

Thank you.

 

Quatre stepped back into the clearing, carrying four dead rabbits shot cleanly through the head in one hand, a load of firewood cradled in his other arm. “Finished explaining?' he asked Duo shortly.

 

“Yes, quite.” Duo was eyeing the rabbits in his hand with something approaching disgust.

 

He raised an eyebrow at him. “If you are not used to eating game after being stuck for two weeks out here…”

 

Duo smiled faintly. “No, it's not that. It's just that I do so hate having to skin those things. My father's hunters tried to make me learn, but the lessons didn't stick.”

 

“Don't worry about it. I'll be doing the hunting and cooking,” Quatre said, still shortly. He looked at Lian questioningly.

 

Just an airhead of a dandy, came the cat's quick reassurance. The idiot really did come out here on a bet. I'm stunned and amazed that the fool hasn't been eaten by something nasty yet.

 

Quatre's lip curled slightly, then he regained control of his expression. He looked over at Duo. “Do you have something to sleep on?”

 

“Yes,” he answered readily. “The bet was supposed to be for twenty-four hours, so I brought a sleeping pack on the assumption I'd catch a nap at one point.” He eyed Quatre's tent. “Will that thing hold the both of us?”

 

“No,” Quatre said, amazed that he would even have the audacity to ask. “I have a spare sleeping pack and tent. You can use that.”

 

“Oh.” He actually had the gall to look disappointed, and Quatre stared at him.

 

“Perhaps I should make something clear while we're on the topic of sleeping,” he said with deceptive calm. “If you touch me in any way without my given leave, I will hurt you. In a permanent manner.”

 

Duo eyed him nervously; the man was deadly serious. “Yes, sir.”

 

The sharpness faded from Quatre's eyes, to be replaced with weariness. “You may dispense with the titles as well,” he said tiredly, walking a little ways away from Duo, sitting down, and drawing his skinning knife from his belt. “I gave you a name to call me by. The extra is not necessary.”

 

“Kat,” Duo said thoughtfully. He glanced over his shoulder in inquiry. Duo smiled at him. “Just trying it out. Rather short, isn't it?”

 

Quatre shrugged, turning his gaze back to his work.

 

“Not that there's anything wrong with your name,” Duo said hastily, under the impression he had offended him. “Kat is a very pleasant name. It's just that I don't know your surname.”

 

Quatre finished skinning the first rabbit before replying. “My full name is Quatre Raberba. Like I said, Kat's enough.”

 

“Master Kitty-Kat,” Duo said in a delighted tone. “The gods truly smiled upon me today when I met you.”

 

A corner of Quatre's eye twitched at the playing Duo did with his name. It was going to be a long week traveling to Hitsome.