Title: Of Cats and Wolves
Author: Sol aka Zefyr
Muse & Beta: Katikat
Pairings: 1+2, 3+4, 5+TBA hehe.
Rated: PG or PG-13 at most
Warnings: Minor OOC due to AU situations; shonen-ai; fantastical animal/people mixes; gratuitous use of improper Gaelic; crazy adaptations of Siberian and Native American traditions.
Archiving: Please ask separately for this fic and one of us will get back to you, since it’s a collaboration. Also found at www-geocities-com/ mystera_k... Replace dashes with appropriate punctuation.
Disclaimer: We don't own, but we're having fun anyway. No harm meant.
Summary: In a world of Creatures, Heero is a young half-Wolf who wants only to help his adopted brother, Wufei, find a good mate. Really. Trowa, a half-Jackal, helps, and it goes downhill from there...

NOTE:
This is a joint effort. KatiKat wrote the teaser, then I saw Asuka's art for the werepervs, and then I watched Cat People right after re-watching GW episodes 1-5, and... the rest is history. The prologue (chapter 1) was written by KatiKat, and edited by Sol. The rest of the chapters are written by Sol, with beta comments and additional muse-inspiration provided by Katikat.

Extra thanks this chapter to all those folks sending their wonderful reviews of nice words and thoughtful comments: Icy Flame, Dyna, cryearthstearsfalltou, cherrystained, Kaori, Eliza, Sevenall, Kristina, Morgan, REI, CinC, Koyote, CleverYoungThief, Antoinette, Porcelain, and, of course, KatiKat, without whom this never would have happened! ;-)

 

 

     The two Jaguar-girls twitched their gold bracelets, patted their braids, straightened their loincloths, and pushed past the brocade door-hangings into the tent. Meiran was sitting at a low table, but stood as soon as her friends entered.

     “Well? What did you find out?” The young woman stepped around the pile of gifts she was preparing for the give-away. Luyin glanced at Xing, who giggled nervously.

     “Wufei’s fighting Treize tomorrow evening on the dancing grounds,” Xing finally answered, her brown eyes lowered as she fiddled with her bracelet.

     “A Desert Lynx is running the bets,” Luyin added.

     “So the rumors are true.” Meiran grimaced. “This the stupidest thing I’ve heard in ages.” She stormed past her two friends, who turned and promptly followed. All three took a second to blink at the morning light after the tent’s dark interior, then Meiran was already off, stalking out of the Jaguar’s encampment. “This is ludicrous. When my father finds out...”

     “I think he already knows,” Luyin offered nervously when the two girls managed to catch up with the Chief’s daughter.

     “He does?” Meiran stopped cold, and scowled deeper. “We’ve got to do something to stop this.”

     The two girls exchanged a worried glance.

     “Why?” Xing’s round face was puzzled. “It’s just a sword fight.”

     “Just a sword fight!” Meiran rounded on the smaller Jaguar, her black tail lashing angrily. “Wufei’s not a warrior, he’s a bookworm! All he ever does is read books. What does he know about fighting?”

     “And it’s not really just a sword fight,” Luyin added, hesitantly. “If Wufei loses, he’s forfeit to the Fox leader...”

     “He’s what?” Meiran yelped, startling several nearby Jaguar guards. Glaring at the men, she grabbed her friends’ arms and dragged them out of the encampment and down the road to the Gathering. “I say we do something.”

     “What?” Xing tried to work her hand free, but Meiran was too strong. “Ow, you’re hurting me,” she whined.

     “Sorry,” the black Jaguar snapped, and dropped her friends’ hands. “I don’t know what we should do. But we need to do something, or Wufei will get hurt!”

     The two friends exchanged a second glance, this one a bit more suspicious.

     “And he’ll bring shame and dishonor on the Jaguars,” Meiran added, ignoring her friends. “I’m the only daughter of the Chief. I can’t let my own Clan be dishonored by some Wood Jaguar!”

     “What are you going to do, fight in his place?” Luyin asked softly.

     Meiran stopped in the middle of the path, surprising Xing, who nearly ran into her. The black Jaguar turned to her two friends, a considering look on her face as she thought about it, then she nodded firmly. “That’s what I’ll do. I’m the strongest and best Mountain Jaguar warrior. I rank the highest. If anyone’s going to represent our Clan, it should be me.”

     “Wait a minute,” Xing interrupted. “You can’t seriously mean---”

     “Why not?” Meiran’s tone was haughty. “I’ve spent years practicing my warrior skills. I even fought that Osag to a draw!” Scowling, she looked around at the crowds of people heading into the Trader’s area. “Now, we just need to find Wufei.”

     “What for?” The two listening girls asked at the same time.

     “To get him out of the way before the fight, of course,” Meiran said, rolling her eyes. “And I suppose we’ll need to let my father know...” She pursed her lips thoughtfully, and tapped a finger against her mouth, then pointed at Xing. “You can be my messenger for that.”

     “Me?” Xing’s brown eyes went wide.

     “Yes,” Meiran said, pleased. “And I’ll go find Wufei.” With a swirl of her breech-skirt, she was gone, leaving her two friends gaping in her wake.

 

 

 

 

     “Alright, I’m going in,” Duo whispered. “Cover me.”

     Behind him, Heero rolled his eyes and leaned against the banner pole. Just his luck that Quatre took him seriously when he said he’d keep an eye on the Fox. He’d half-hoped that his threat of bodily harm would prompt the half-Lynx to rethink the idea of being partnered with Duo. At the same time, he suspected that Trowa hadn’t supported him for selfish reasons. Heero wasn’t blind. He’d noticed the covert looks between the Jackal and the Lynx, and remembering it put a scowl on his face again. Everyone pairing up, he thought. Trowa’s been affected by knowing Wufei. Heero consoled himself with the assurance that at least he’d remained immune to the feline tendency.

     Heero watched Duo stalk the two young Jaguar-girls that Heero had identified as Meiran’s friends. If they were standing around, then Meiran wouldn’t be far away. The Wolf warrior rolled his eyes again at the thought of Jaguar girls and their giggling ways, and turned to watch the crowd. Absently he remembered his task, however pointless it was, and looked over to where Duo was supposed to be charming the two Jaguars. The crowd swirled apart after a pause, and Heero frowned. There was no sign of them, and he couldn’t see a flash of a red bushy tail. Annoyed, the Wolf-boy pushed away from the banner pole and headed into the crowd.

     A few minutes later he caught sight of a red flash, and sniffed the air. He was downwind, and could just barely register the spicy scent that was Duo’s signature. Giving a long-suffering sigh and staunchly ignoring the sudden flip of his stomach, Heero set his jaw and headed after the half-Fox. He was supposed to charm those girls long enough to distract them, Heero complained silently, not take them for a jaunt through the fairgrounds. As he got closer, however, Heero could see that Duo wasn’t exactly charming anyone. It looked more like he was struggling to get away.

     The half-Wolf’s silver ears perked, and he shook his head to get his disheveled bangs out of his eyes. Strolling closer, he could just pick up the edges of the conversation. It was enough to tempt him to not bother getting involved, no matter what promise he made to Quatre.

     “Let go of me,” Duo was saying, trying to yank his arm away from the smaller Jaguar. Unfortunately for him, both Jaguars topped him by at least two inches. Even the smaller girl had a good hold on him. Heero doubted the half-Fox was exerting his full strength, anyway, probably reluctant to hurt either Jaguar-girl. “Really,” the half-Fox’s voice traveled back on the breeze to Heero. “This really isn’t necessary...”

     “Yes, it is,” the taller girl snapped. “If I’ve got to face the Chief, you’re coming with us.”

     “Whoa, whoa, whoa,” Duo replied, his voice going up with each exclamation. Disregarding his previous care, he twisted his arms and slipped easily out of the girls’ hold. The Fox’s red tail thrashed around his legs as he quickly backpedaled away. “I am not going to talk to any high mucky-muck! Not me!”

     “You have to,” the taller girl cried, then turned to her friend. “Luyin, you explain.”

     The shorter girl sighed, and turned her doleful brown eyes on the Fox. “Please... We just need someone who got to see the whole thing, to help explain why Wufei shouldn’t be allowed to fight.”

     “Shouldn’t be what?” Duo was flabbergasted, and opened and closed his mouth several times before finding words. “Now you look here, you two, that guy volunteered. I didn’t ask him for his help. I was doing just fine---” He bit off his words with a yelp as someone grabbed his ear and pulled, hard. “Hey! Ow!” The thief flailed his arms, unable to turn to see his attacker without twisting his own ear. “Ow,” he yelled again, louder.

     “This Creature bothering you two?” A stern baritone voice asked from behind the Fox, and the two girls froze. The hand was removed from Duo’s ear and just as quickly latched onto the Fox’s arm, pulling him around and behind the speaker. “Has he stolen anything from you? If he has, I will see to it personally that he’s whipped thoroughly on your behalf.”

     Duo blinked as he found himself behind the Creature. Glancing down, he saw the white unmarked loincloth, and the thick bushy silver tail. Duo’s eyebrows lowered in a scowl, and his gaze traveled back up the stranger’s tanned back, slender but muscled, and up to the dark brown hair and the silver ears. The half-Fox groaned and tried to pull his arm away, but Heero had a firm grip on him.

     “That’s really... uh... not required,” Luyin finally stuttered. Beside her, Xing nodded, bewildered. Luyin tried to smile, and stepped forward, then stopped as Heero stepped away. The Jaguar smiled again, even as a line appeared between her brows. “Really, uh, whoever you are. We were just talking. He didn’t steal anything.”

     “That’s a relief,” Heero said flatly, and smirked. “But I’d bet he was thinking about it.”

     Luyin canted her head to the side, her expression suddenly thoughtful. “Wait... aren’t you that---”

     Heero cut her off before she could finish the statement. “A whipping might be a good idea, just as a warning.” He gave a quick half-bow and turned swiftly. Before either Jaguar could respond, Heero strode off through the crowd, towing Duo along with him. The Fox’s braid trailed out behind them as Duo barked unhappily at being dragged for the second time in one day.

     “Hey, hey,” the half-Fox yelled several times, before finally shoving at Heero with his free arm. “You can let go of me now, you... rude Creature.” Although not entirely rude, the thief thought, reminding himself that the Wolf had rescued him from being dragged to his death by two girls. Duo realized with some relief that the Wolf had let go of his arm, and he rubbed the bruised flesh for several seconds, uncertain as to what would happen next. His ears were laid back on his head as he regarded the taller Wolf nervously.

     Heero sighed. “Come on,” he finally growled. “We’ve got to find Quatre and Trowa.”

 

 

 

 

     Not far away, Quatre was trotting alongside Meiran. Shadowing them in the crowd, Trowa followed along, a little bemused by how easily the Desert Lynx had talked Meiran into coming with him. Unable to hear over the crowd’s chatter, the half-Jackal watched for glimpses of the pair and wondered just what the Lynx had said to the girl. Navigating closer as the two Creatures reached the edge of the trader’s area, Trowa’s ears perked as he picked up their conversation.

     “I understand completely,” the Lynx warrior was saying in a soothing tone. “I’m the heir for the Desert Lynxes. It’s a difficult job.”

     “It is,” Meiran replied grumpily, then sighed. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t be such dismal company. But this is very aggravating. If anything happens to Wufei... I mean, if it goes badly, it will reflect on the Mountain Jaguars. There’s a Council for the Gathering. They should be deciding this, not some brawl between a seasoned warrior and a bookish scholar.”

     “Wufei’s a scholar?” Quatre’s tone was amiable, if mildly indifferent. He could’ve been discussing the weather, Trowa reflected, and smiled to himself. It looked like his guess about being a diplomat wasn’t far from the truth.

     “Oh, he is,” Meiran said. “Always has his nose in a book. He’s really smart, and he’s been translating a lot of the older texts into the colloquial so they can be used for the younger Jaguars in schooling...” She seemed to catch herself, and Trowa could see her shoulders tense. “Anyway, he’s not a warrior, not like me. I’m the strongest, so if anyone should represent the Jaguar’s interest, it would be me.”

     “I thought you have three brothers,” the Lynx prompted.

     “I do,” came the begrudging reply. “One’s a craftsman, the second’s a hunter, and the third is a teacher. But Jaguars are matriarchal. My mother died several years ago, and my father is technically Regent until I turn eighteen next year. Neither of my parents had sisters to become Chief in the interim.”

     “I’m sorry to hear that,” Quatre told the Jaguar-girl, and his voice was sincere. “My mother died... when I was very young.”

     “So you understand, then,” she said, and her tone was firm. “It’s my responsibility. Besides... I sort of gave him the stupid idea in the first place. If my friends hadn’t dragged me off, I would’ve put a stop to it right away.”

     A large group of Bobcats stepped between Trowa and the felines, and he lost the conversation for several minutes as he waited for the group to pass. A minute later the coast was clear, and he could just see the two reaching the edge of the woods. Shoving down a sudden wave of jealousy over the way Meiran was laughing at something Quatre had said, Trowa stretched his long legs and cut into the forest, hoping to come around and meet the two of them on the path. Digging the blindfold out of his leather pouch, he reminded himself of the purpose for the entire outrageous venture and was soon lost in the underbrush.

 

 

 

    

     Relena set down the basket and made a face at the Bobcat next to her.

     “This is boring, Dorothy,” she announced. “How soon until today’s give-aways?”

     “Only a quarter-hour less than the last time you asked me,” the Bobcat sniffed. “The midday feast isn’t for another three hours.”

     “But I’m not hungry, I’m bored.” The blonde Wolf-girl sighed and picked up another basket, turning it over in her hands. “Are you going to the fight tomorrow evening?”

     “If I don’t have to cover my uncle’s booth,” Dorothy replied, flicking her claws at several brightly dyed breech-skirts. Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed the Wolf’s jewelry flash in the sunlight as the girl turned her head suddenly. “What is it?” Dorothy asked, her interest piqued.

     “I think I just saw Heero,” Relena replied, and was gone with a flash of her bushy golden tail.

     Dorothy sighed and simply shook her head.

 

 

 

 

    

     “Heero!”

     Heero growled and walked faster. Next to him, Duo frowned, bewildered, and started to glance over his shoulder at the direction of the voice. Before he could turn completely around, Heero grabbed him by the shoulder and yanked him around to face forward again.

     “Don’t look,” the Wolf muttered. “It’ll only encourage her.”

     “Why? Is she ugly?” Duo’s eyebrows were raised, and he started trotting to keep up with the Wolf’s longer strides.

     “No,” the Wolf-boy replied. “Just... a pest.”

     “Heeeeeeeeeero!” came the cry again.

     “Oh,” the half-Fox said, nodding with a knowing expression. “Pests are to be avoided at all costs.”

     “I try,” Heero muttered. “But I think I’m cursed.”

     The call was heard a third time, and Heero snarled, shoving Duo quickly as the two made their escape through the crowd.

 

 

 

 

     Trowa set Meiran down on the rock, and checked the tie around her wrists, and the scarf he’d wrapped twice around her head as blindfold and gag. After seeing Heero laid out flat by the young woman, he wasn’t going to take any chances. Sighing, he settled down where he could keep an eye on her, and waited for Wufei to arrive. By now, Heero and Duo should have gotten to Osag’s temporary practice area and retrieved the black Jaguar. The half-Jackal sighed again, hoping that Wufei appreciated the lengths his heart-brother was willing to go to, just to make sure the young Creature achieved acceptance in his adopted Clan.

     Fortunately, he didn’t have long to wait. His red-brown ears picked up the sound of Duo’s laugh, with an undercurrent of quick footsteps. A second later the half-Fox scampered into the clearing, his expression somewhere between delighted and a little worried. The half-Jackal raised an eyebrow, guessing it was probably something Heero had said. Ever since the Wolf noticed the Fox’s reaction to his threats, Heero had looked like a feline with a toy mouse. Or a Fox while hunting, Trowa thought, and smiled to himself, amused by the sudden suspicion.

     Trowa sat up straighter as Wufei and Heero came into the clearing. There was a flash of gold behind them, Quatre waved, and then disappeared again to stand guard. Duo was already gone, into the woods at the other end of the clearing, to stand guard on the other path.

     “Heero,” Wufei hissed, seeing the young girl sitting on the rock. He rounded on the taller half-Creature. “What the hell are you doing?”

     “Helping you,” the Wolf-boy replied, his expression guileless. “We kidnapped her, and now you can go do that marriage thing.” There was a muffled squawk from the figure on the rock.

     “Are you kidding?” The black Jaguar’s jaw dropped. “Don’t tell me...” His gaze fell on Trowa, whose red-brown tail wagged once, then fell still. Wufei’s eyes narrowed. “You helped? What is this?”

     “It’s us helping, little brother.” Heero crossed his arms and nodded in the direction of the girl, who was now struggling fiercely with the bindings on her wrist. “Now, go be married.”

     Wufei scowled, hesitated, and sighed deeply before stalking over to the rock. Cautiously he reached out, jumping back when the figure flinched. The girl hadn’t heard him approach, too caught up in her attempts to get free. Nervously the Jaguar chewed his lower lip, thinking furiously as he watched the figure frozen, waiting, on the rock.

     “I’m going to undo your blindfold and gag,” he said, in as soothing voice he could manage given that he was shooting angry glances at Heero and Trowa. The half-Jackal backed away. Wufei shook his head and turned his attention back to the girl. “Promise not to scream?”

     There was a pause, then the girl slowly nodded. Wufei leaned forward, catching the scarf and pulling it gently off her head, careful not to catch the gold bindings around her ponytails. Then he recognized her face, and gasped, stepping back in wide-eyed shock.

     Meiran, meanwhile, opened her mouth to scream, focused her eyes on the Jaguar in front of her, and ended up squeaking instead.

     “Wufei?”

     “Meiran,” Wufei said, and turned on his heel. “Brother! You kidnapped the Chief’s daughter, the next Mountain Jaguar leader? Are you insane? Were you banged in the head by elk one too many times?”

     “Wufei!” Meiran called, from behind him.         

     Heero looked puzzled. “She’s the highest rank.”

     “WUFEI!” Meiran tilted her head back and shouted.

     The clearing fell silent, and Wufei turned to Meiran, his body tense as he tried to figure out what to do. Before he could summon a response, the girl began speaking, even as she fought to get the ties off from around her wrists.

     “I am not going to be kidnapped into marriage,” the Jaguar-girl announced resolutely. “Get this undone,” she added in a threatening tone.

     Wufei undid the knots and quickly backed up. The scarf trailed uselessly from his fingertips as he backpedaled until he was abreast Trowa and Heero.

     “I can’t believe this,” she told the three young Creatures. “You are such... boys! This is ridiculous.” Meiran hopped down from the rock and glared at them, her hands on her hips. Trowa, meanwhile, was distracted by the glint of gold at the back of Wufei’s head. It wasn’t the copper hair-band he’d been wearing the day before.

     “New hair band?” The half-Jackal asked in a conversational tone.

     “Yes,” Wufei replied under his breath. “Heero---”

     “Are you LISTENING to me?” Meiran nearly stomped her foot, then caught herself. All three stared uncomfortably at the claws on their toes. “If you want my hand in marriage,” she continued, glaring at Wufei, “you’ll have to do it the proper way, with gifts suitable to my station. I’m not going to have the shame of being stolen attached to my name.”

     Heero twitched at the edge of his loincloth, and Trowa straightened the leather strap for his carrying pouch. Wufei folded the scarf in his hands neatly, then unfolded it and refolded it.

     “It’s bad enough with you shaming the entire Mountain Clan,” she added imperiously.

     Wufei’s jaw dropped, then he caught himself and glared at her, drawing himself up to his full height of an inch taller than her. “I am not shaming the entire Mountain Clan,” he retorted hotly. “I’m defending someone who doesn’t deserve to be---”

     “The only thing you know how to defend is a book from a moth,” she snapped, jabbing a claw in his direction. Wufei’s ears went down flat on his head and he gritted his teeth as he stepped up to her challenge.

     “You go back to your shopping,” Wufei replied angrily. “Leave the real fighting to someone strong enough---”

     A sudden furious hissing startled both of them, and the argument broke off in mid-stream. Quatre was on the edge of the clearing, almost hopping in place.

     “Hush, hush,” he repeated, making a face in relief as he realized he finally had everyone’s attention. “Three Jaguars, coming this way. Angry Jaguars, I might add.”

     “Did you get a---” Heero started to ask, but Meiran interrupted.

     “My brothers,” she said, a look of fear on her face, that was quickly replaced by anger. She turned on Wufei and prodded him in the chest. “Great! Now look what you’ve done! My brothers are going to find me here, being kidnapped, and I won’t get to enjoy anymore of the Gathering! I’ll be stuck with some doddering old crone Jaguar for a chaperone. I’m going to hold you personally---” 

     “Enough already,” Wufei muttered, slapping his hand over her mouth. Too surprised at the action, she raised her eyebrows, then yelped as Wufei picked her up and threw her over his shoulder in one smooth motion. In a voice that bespoke huge amounts of aggravation, he turned to his two friends. “You stall the brothers, while I dispose of her royal ladyship.” The last words were loaded with sarcasm.

     When he turned to leave the clearing, the two friends saw Meiran reach down and yank Wufei’s tail. A second later they heard a resounding slap, followed immediately by the sound of a girl’s choking bark.

     “First kidnapping, now stalling,” Trowa observed calmly, then turned to the half-Wolf. “I really don’t know why I hang out with you, sometimes.”

     “You like the excitement,” Heero replied.