Note: A Caterwaul is a creature with spines along its back and claws, cat type eyes (unlimited colors) and four pairs of limbs. They have tails and are very, very bad things, though in nature they are herbivores. Read on, I’ll giveaway no more!

Lena: Ohayo!

Hordes: (drool)

Lena: (getting drool all over her feet) Ew, stop that!Gross! Ugh…

Wufei: Here. (Hands her a paper towel)

Lena: Oh, thanks. (Wipes her feet.)

Hordes: (drool) Quatre: Hmn. Well, you can’t blame them. It’s really Trowa and Duo’s fault for…well…you know…

Heero: Hn.

Duo: Oh, come one, just cause you don’t get any…

Quatre: (disturbingly pleasant Zero smile) What was that,Duo?

Duo: Ah…nothing…(shrinks away)

Trowa: (rolling eyes) And people put me with this guy. Of all people. Really! He nearly killed me.

Quatre: Trowa!

Trowa: (sticking out tongue) Well it’s true.

Duo: (hugging him protectively) yeah.

Wufei: Would you please put me in the story soon, onna? I’m getting bored. I love showing up for rehearsals, you know that, but when I don’t even have a job to do, it gets ratherboring.

Lena: You have an integral part in the story, but you won’t be coming in yet. Here, I know! (Hands him a tape, VCR, and brand new TV with speaker system and comfy chair)

Wufei: Woohoo! Monty Python! (Glances sidelong at Lena) Will I have time to finish the whole movie?

Lena: Maybe…

Trowa glanced at the recipe again. Duo was watching from an easy chair, an interested but exhausted look on his face. The other pointedly ignored the violet eyes boring into his back, and put the two required eggs into the batter before stirring with his wooden spoon.

“You know, I just don’t understand how you can possibly do the stuff you do. You hunt for us all, you cook for the two of us, you clean, you build, you even make clothes when it’s necessary, and yet you still have to energy to-“

“Stir until evenly mixed,” Trowa said loudly over the end of his companion’s comment. Cracking a grin, Duo became silent for another minute or two, contemplating his hunter’sback.

“So how do you manage? You can’t possibly be human. Hell, I’m not human, and I do at least the same, and I’m beat every day! What species are you?” The stirring slowed until the wooden spoon was held perfectly still in his hand. Slowly, the green-eyed hunter turned to Duo.

“That,” he began, a mischievous gleam in his eyes. “Is for me to know.” He turned back to the counter, placing the now well-mixed bowl on the top and turning to the stove to place butter on the waiting pan; as it sizzled, he measured out a cup of batter and poured it on.

“And for me to find out, I’m sure.” Adopting a thinking pose, the almatomi continued. “I think I love you more because you can make pancakes.”

The wooden spoon clattered to the floor, and Duo swallowed, realizing exactly what he’d said. Both waited.

Slowly, Trowa bent to pick up the spoon and rinsed it off in the sink, proceeding then to clean the batter from the floor with a rag. As the hunter continued to maintain his eerie composure, Duo felt his heart sinking lower and lower- that was the wrong thing to say. The infamous spatula, which had been used on more than one occasion to whack Duo’s head, appeared from nowhere and Trowa flipped the cake, returning it then to its secret hideout above the oven. The braided boy closed his eyes and sighed, thinking morosely what an idiot he was, and a fool, and generally anything else that could be put down as an alternate meaning for the original word. Baka, the thought rambled on. Crazy bastard…

He didn’t hear Trowa’s footsteps as the other walked over to him, knelt down to be on level with the his face. When he opened his eyes there was a forest to meet them.

“T-trowa?” For a moment, long and torturous, nothing. Then:

“Do you really love me?” It was an honest, hesitant question. The almatomi even thought he heard a note of hopein it.

“I…well…” he looked down a moment, and then returned his gaze to that amazingly dark forest before him. “Yes, I…really…I do.” Trowa stood and returned to the kitchen, removing the pancake from the griddle and pouring a new one on. Duo watched him dazedly, not sure what to think. It hadn’t occurred to him that Trowa would care either way- as the hunter returned to where the almatomi was he slipped his shirt off. Duo stared.

“Do you really love me?” Now Duo noticed the tiny, hopeful smile on the lips of his lover. He returned it, an equally unsure smile, and repeated, more boldly this time,

“Yes. I love you.” This time he grabbed the hunter and managed to get a few quick kisses in before Trowa pulled away and flipped the pancake. When the hunter returned, he slipped off his shoes. Duo had already removed his own, and had followed suit with his shirt.

“Do you really love me?” Impishly, Duo attempted to capture and hold the other boy, murmuring that he would not let the other get away- not if he could help it. He threw his arms about the hunter, holding him firmly, and soundly kissed the taller boy on the mouth.

“Yes. Yes, I do.” Trowa slipped out from his arms- how, he wasn’t sure- and returned to the pancake, leaving Duo to giggle at their antics. Things were shaping up rather nicely, and the scenario was one he’d never imagined would come to life. The hunter returned clothed only in underwear, and Duo stripped himself equally. By the time the batter was all cooked, they were both quite naked.

They ate together and enjoyed a happy, nearly tangible silence that meant more than any of the answers to Trowa’s question had, and afterward they watched the sun set.

Iria nearly fell into Trowa as he was leaving the house. After much stumbling on the girl’s part, they righted themselves completely, Iria smiling and Trowa wearing a faintly concerned expression.

“Are you still in one piece?” Green eyes glittered in the fading reflection of the sun.

“I should be asking you. Do you need help?” Placing her bags of knick-knacks firmly on the floor, Iria ended that particular avenue of conversation. With a sense of mothering authority, the girl placed her hands on her hips and winkedat him.

“If I ever need help, Quatre will have a heart attack. I miss your company, Trowa.” The hunter did not respond, though something in his eyes told her that he missed someone very like her. “Not that I ever got to enjoy much of it to begin with, but maybe that’s the point. Quatre’s very high strung, lately, and Duo always has been…” Trowa allowed apartial smile.

“And if Heero were sociable, horses would revolt.”

“Exactly!” Of a sudden, she found herself hugging the boy, closely and with something that felt like worry. “Where are you off to?” She tried to search his eyes, but it was like attempting to rescue someone from beneath a foot of ice. She bounced off the surface every time she looked for somethingdeeper.

“Hunting.” The girl clapped his shoulder, drawing away enough to allow him breathing room again. Both felt something hanging in the air that neither could place- it made them uncomfortable. “They make you do that?” The girl let loose a nervous laugh, looking away from him. “The slobs. Ah, my brother…he’s the worst, isn’t he? Messy as a mouse, likely…I haven’t had time to check on how he leaves the rooms before you get around to cleaning them, you see, so I can’t be sure.” Almost pleadingly, she turned her eyes back to him. He shrugged, warding off any of her concerns.

“It’s nothing. As long as someone cleans weekly, the house stays for the most part easy to maintain.” Iria planted a sisterly kiss on his nose and waved as she entered thehouse.

“Well, if you ever need help, you just look for me- I won’t mind in the least, I promise.” The hunter nodded, and before either knew what he was doing, he spoke.

“Goodbye, Iria. I wish you well.” They stood, uncertain and halting as a young couple, until he turned to leave. She raised a hand, almost as if to call after him, but before her voice found its way back to her throat, he was out of sight. Uneasy, she dropped her outstretched hand, eyesstaring out into nothing.

A call from inside caught her attention, and she absently replied, picking up the bags she’d set down to talk with Trowa. Once inside, the feeling of something different left her mind- it was obvious Quatre needed help in the kitchen.

“So you and the hunter have patched things up, right?” Iria deftly switched a frothing pot from the fire and turned the heat down a bit before returning it, not missing a beat as she spoke. The blond boy made a face and turned to the stove, dropping some dried noodles into a pot of boilingwater.

“He’s always perfectly friendly- for him. But I can never get the courage to say I’m sorry. I feel like an idiot.”

Surprised by the vehemence with which the words were spoken, Iria hugged her brother, heart going out to him. Usually,that helped. Usually.

“Thanks, Iria.” He continued to watch the noodles, ladling them a bit here and there. It was clear that his thoughts were elsewhere. Another notion popped into her head, and the evil smile of sister-with-a-hunch spread across herfeatures.

“You’re after that girl you work with, aren’t you?” The blond jumped and turned to her, complete bewilderment on his face. She found herself chuckling again. “Don’t say I didn’t warn you- she’s got a terrible temper, and I think she likesHeero anyway.”

“Who likes Heero?” Duo had wandered in. He looked desperate for something to do- especially since his hunter wasn’t around. Iria turned to him with a wink and, before Quatre could regain himself enough to stop her, began to explain the situation to the almatomi.

“There’s this girl that Quatre works with. Her name is Relena- she’s blond, about your height, blue eyes, very pretty. Also very spoiled, temperamental, and I’m fairly certain that she’s attracted to Heero. And I know that because she’s come over for him once or twice and caught sight of Heero- and then she drools.” Duo snickered and Iria arced an eyebrow inquiringly, giving her brother the look.

“Quatre always was a hopeless romantic…” The blond quietly glowered and turned back to his noodles as though nothing was happening, ignoring the other two as they continued to discuss Relena, Heero, and his hopeless tendencies. The food was nearly cooked when the door practically blew in, giving way to a massive blow from Heero on the other side. His eyes looked dangerous- the three in the kitchen paled. He stalked over to Quatre and grabbed the lighter boy by his collar, shaking him with each word.

“Who is she?” Heero growled, voice barely more than a growl deep in his throat. Quatre blinked. “Who?”

“Heeeeeroooo! Where are you?” No one missed the shudder than ran through the informela; Duo began smiling.

“Her. Who is she, and why is she here.” Quatre glanced helplessly over at the other two, who shrugged, the girl confused, the boy unwilling to end the amusement. Heero shook him again to regain his attention and he turned unfazed, seemingly unconcerned eyes on the informela.

“Why.” Shake. “Is.” Shake. “She.” Shake. “HERE?” Quatre’s head snapped forward and back from the force of Heero’s shaking- he batted at Heero’s hands and was dropped back down to the floor. The blond made a show of dusting himself off before sending his dark-haired companion a glare and marching out of the room towards the sound of Relena’svoice.

“Heee- oh, hello Quatre. Have you seen Heero?” The remaining three listened intently to the conversation.

“I don’t know who you’re talking about, Relena.” Heero breathed a sigh of relief, and Duo clapped a hand over his mouth, lest the girl hear and come to investigate.

“Are you sure?” They all could feel Quatre nodding. “He’s about this tall, dark brown hair, blue eyes?” The disappointment in the voice was rather obvious, even to the ears of the kitchen trio- who, coincidentally, could barely hear anything through the sounds of bubbling pots and steaming kettles all around them.

“I haven’t seen anyone matching that description, Relena, I’m sorry.” A long pause, and then:

“Oh. All right then, I’ll keep looking. See you later, Quatre!” I hope not, Iria mouthed, smiling in sympathy. Poor Quatre.

“Bye, Relena.” The three in the kitchen exchanged confused glances; the boy didn’t sound in the least bit hurt. When he re-entered the room, Duo launched a barrage of questions.

“Why’d you let her go? Don’t you like her? That’s what Iria said! Quatre, what gives?” The blond gave Duo a piercingglare and he quieted.

“Iria doesn’t know everything,” Quatre said, smirking as he returned to his noodles. Heero glared at the two others and asserted himself by assisting Quatre with the food, shooting confused but grateful glances at the blond.

Duo and Iria traded equally astounded looks and left theroom.

The sun set on another day, and Duo’s voice rang out for miles. Fortunately, most people within the area were either used to his voice or simply didn’t care.

“LET ME GO! I’M GOING OUT THERE RIGHT N-mmmph…” Heero had successfully covered the almatomi’s mouth and now was fighting the urge to remove his hands… Duo’s teeth were very sharp. “Mmph!” The braided boy commented angrily. Quatre shook his head and turned to Iria.

“You say you saw him just after sunset last night? Beforethe Relena incident?”

“Yes,” the girl murmured. Duo patted her shoulder- hishands were still free.

“We have to go look for him.” For a moment, Quatre looked unwilling- during that time, the restrained almatomi seemed to darken until he looked reminiscent of Death itself, instead of just a soul-collector. The blond nodded, swallowing. Something felt very wrong- he turned to Iria.

“Can you think of anyone that might be able to watch the house while we’re gone?” Duo wrestled free of Heero’s hands.

“You’re paranoid. No one’s going to the steal the house! People can try, but they won’t ever be able to really do it. We’re too well protected. There’s no point in waiting, let’s just GO!” Three pairs of hands firmly held him back from the door, despite his most vicious efforts. He couldn’t believe they were stalling- it made him want to kill them all and go out alone to look for his beloved. Iria could see his desperation, and turned to her brother’s beseeching eyes.

“Look, Quatre, I would go look for someone, but there simply may not be time! If you’re really that worried aboutthe house-“

“Will you stay here?” The girl blinked and was wordless a moment. Something in the way he said it so quickly told her what he was afraid to say: This is dangerous. Please stay, and let me take care of things.

“Do you think I’m sufficient protection, Quatre? Because if you do, I’ll stay.” The blond nodded eagerly, and shesighed.

“All right. Go, then- before Duo goes crazy.” That was all the finality they needed.

The trio rushed out of the house and into the forest, Duo in the lead, Heero close behind, still human, and Quatre only a pace or two behind them, all determined to find Trowa. Led by their slightly reptilian informela, they wove through the foliage for two hours. Heero kept looking with all his enhanced sense for signs of the hunter, finding only traces that said the boy had been there momentarily.

Finally, they came bursting out into a clearing, all three skidding to a halt in surprise and slight dread- Heero turned his head away, reverting to completely human form.

The circle of open land was devoid of any life, as far as they could tell, as though the soil were poisonous. The dark ground looked perfectly habitable, however- that was when they noticed the burn lines around the edges of the circle. The heavy dusk made it difficult for the almanade and almatomi to see, and Heero led them forward, eyes narrowed in pent up anger. When he stopped moving, and kept them from moving any further as well, they saw why. Lying in the center of the clearing was a dark body, nearly indistinguishable from the rest of the place in the twilight haze. With a growing sense of horror, Duo walked around the body, to see the front, and the head. What he saw was…

His body was seized with the uncontrollable urge to retch. Heero came around with him, frowning; his features hardened into angry iron at the sight- Quatre followed them and tried to do as Heero had, though he looked rather pale. The body was that of a unicorn, shot through the eyes just as Shinigami had been. The blood was fairly fresh, still oozing slowly out of the holes where the eyes should have been. That alone would have been enough to make them all sick- but even worse; this unicorn was missing its defining trait.

Someone had removed its horn.

“What…what does it mean?” Quatre asked, exerting all his self-control so as not to follow Duo’s example. The other was just regaining control of himself, and still looked very shaky. Heero grabbed the almatomi by the shoulders as he stood and turned him away from the body, shaking his head.

“I don’t know. Duo? Are you all right?” The violet-eyed boy shuddered and gasped for some clean air, nodding his head once. After swallowing a bit of bile, the almatomi stood away from Heero, regaining his balance.

“There are certain…powers that can be utilized through a unicorn’s horn. W-we have to find whoever took this one.”

Turning back to the unicorn in remorse, he noticed a faint glimmer in the mud next to the corpse, and curiosity moved him to pick it up. Upon closer inspection, it appeared tobe-

“Isn’t that…Trowa’s?” Quatre asked, fear and dread creeping into his voice. Duo nodded solemnly, his eyes glazing over. Trowa…Heero closed his eyes, shaking his head, and shifted to wolf form. As he sniffed about the clearing, Quatre knelt down beside Duo, unsure how to speak with his friend. Unsure if it would be right. “Duo…do you think that he…he couldn’t have…” Duo turned to him, eyes brimming with tears.

“Please…don’t say he…” Heero’s voice interrupted them fromacross the clearing.

“He didn’t.” Hope flared in Duo’s eyes and he stood shakily, turning in Heero’s general direction. Somehow, he managed to drag himself up, and Quatre stood next to him, ready to provide support. The informela motioned them over and Quatre carefully led his trembling friend to Heero.

“This is his blood. Someone else killed the unicorn, took the horn, and must have dragged him off as well.” The wolfish boy took another sniff of the air and nodded. “He was probably just in the wrong place at the wrong time.” Duo breathed a sigh of relief, and turned his eyes down to stare at the glittering silver pendant as it swung from his hand. The chain was slightly bloodstained.

“Can you track them?” Quatre asked wearily, feeling some faint hope. Dark blue eyes turned to him, and the informela smiled toothily, his expression grim.

“Even if Trowa hadn’t been bleeding, I’d have been able to. I think he scratched himself on purpose. He’s very resourceful.” Duo’s eyes narrowed, and he threw the silver chain over his own neck, dropping the coin down his shirt.

“Then let’s go. Now.” Heero nodded once, slipping effortlessly into the form of a land lizard. He paused only to allow the other two to board, and then he was away through the foliage, nose to the ground, following the trailof blood.