The woods... she heard a whimper of an animal from the woods off the path they were going down. Lina paid little heed to it.... stopping only to wait for Gourry and the rest to catch up. A Rustling soon followed... but no one seemed to notice it other then her. Zelgadis was right up next to Gourry. Amelia trailed behind, looking at everything with her youthful curiosity.

                "I want to get to town before nightfall," Lina told them, "I'm tired of sleeping on rocks..."

                Zelgadis gave her a glance at that.

                Another whine from the woods and Amelia stopped. "What's that?"

                Gourry blinked "Some animal.... been trailing us for a while” he said matter of factly.

                Amelia looked to Lina. "Oh, what are we going to do?"

                "Nothing..." Lina told her, "as long as it stays in the woods like a good whatever it may be."

                The trees near by rustled again, as if something was going to walk out.

                "Alright you..." Lina said, "Come out so I can get a clean shot..."

                Amelia frowned. "What if it's not hostile? That's not just!"

                "Look... if some weird animal is following us its probably someone's minion."

                "Are you sure its.... not our pet?"  Gourry asked dumbly.

                As if to respond, a wolf limped onto the path, whimpering... it looked hurt and half starved. It had dark purple fur, and didn't have any real minion look to it.

                "How often does one see a purple wolf?" Lina asked.

                "Every so often... they're rare." Zelgadis said. "I used to live in woods..."

                "It's hurt!" Amelia said, rushing over.

                "Amelia.... its a wolf!"

                Amelia didn't seem to care as she squatted down by it, starting to cast healing spells. It didn't attack, it just whimpered in pain.

                Zelgadis looked at Lina. "You're afraid of wolves Lina?"

                "Well... not really...." Lina admitted.

                "Miss Lina, can I have a hand?" Amelia asked, trying to sooth the poor creature.

                Lina moved over slowly.... "You know Amelia... I think you'd try to help a wounded Mazoku if you saw one..."

                "Not if it attacks." Amelia said, "Besides, this is just an ordinary wolf, can't you sense that?"

                "Yeah... It’s just a wolf... "  Lina says uneasily... and kneels down to help with a healing spell. Real wolves don’t practically ask for help...  

                The wolf leaned up and licked her face, whimpering.

                "It looks hungry..." Amelia told her.                

                "What," Lina asked, "you want me to give it my arm?"

                "Noooo... let's take it with us!" Amelia helped the poor creature up once it was healed.

                "Alright... but its your responsibility then...."

                "Ok! I'll give it some of my food."

                Lina looked at the wolf "And you... Mr. Wolf.... Im pretty sure you understand... although Im not sure why....  but you behave.... "

                The wolf licked her face and rubbed its head against her leg.

                "Eew... doggie spit"

                Zelgadis chuckled slightly. "That means he likes you Lina..."

                "Ohh.... great... "  Lina said as she patted the wolf gingerly. It whined happily but whimpered again in hunger.

                "Let's go!" Amelia cheered.

                "Yeah..." Lina said. Glancing at Zel and Gourry.... then at the wolf.

                Zelgadis started to head down the path, as if he didn't want to wait any more. Gourry followed him like a lost puppy. Amelia was ahead of them now rather then behind...

                "Well... c'mon Wolfie... we're getting left behind... "  Lina said and trailed after them.

                The wolf followed at her heals, all the way into the inn where the owner yelled, "What are you doing bringing an animal in here?"

                "I'll have you know..." Lina growled, "this isnt an animal... he's a member of our party... under a curse... "  That sounds good...

                The innkeeper scratched his head. "I'll... still need extra money in case it does something... and, keep it away from other guests."

                "Amelia... he's your responsibility... "  Lina told her.... not wanting to fork over extra money. Amelia nodded and paid the innkeeper extra before flouncing into the food area.

                Lina nudged the wolf. "C'mon pal... you said you were hungry right?"

                The wolf followed Lina and sat down by the table, wagging his tail.

                "Now what do you want?"

                "Food!" Amelia said, sitting down.

                Zelgadis sat down at one end, ordering his usual coffee.

                "Was talking to our pal... " Lina said and dangled the menu in front of the wolf... wondering if it can read. The wolf tried to bite it... as if it was food... or perhaps it just wanted the whole menu? Lina frowned "Okay...  since you’re not going to be civil... you can have table scraps. And if you know me... there isnt much left over..."

                Amelia giggled and poured over the menu. "Aww, don't worry wolvey, you'll get fed."

                Lina rubbed her hands together and waited for the waiter to come over. The waiter came, and looked startled at the wolf.

                "I'll take everything on the menu... triple portions” Lina chirped.

                The waiter fainted.... then managed to recover and stand again. "Um, any one else?"

                "Mm....  "  Gourry said, hesitating for a moment.... "Everything on the menu... quadruple portions...."

                "Double portions here!" Amelia yelled.... and there was a loud thump again as the waiter passed out. Lina sighed and leaned back in her chair.

                The wolf started licking the waiters face... and quickly there was a yelp as the waiter jumped back up again. "Y-yesss... right... right away!" He ran out.

                "Gonna be nice to get some real food and sleep in a real bed.... "  Lina said dreamily.

                Amelia was nodding quickly. "Can't wait!"

                "And maybe a bath..."

                "And some privacy..." Zelgadis said quietly.

                "Hmm..... what was that Zel?"

                "Nothing..."

                Lina shrugged.... "Must have been cursing at me again...."

                The waiter came back with some plates and set them on the table, full of food, before running off to get more.

                "All right..." Lina cheered, "Time to eat!!"

                Amelia started stabbing her food with her fork, mming at it.

                "Hey... Amelia... that’s mine... "  Lina growled.

                "No it isn't! It's mine!" Amelia growled back.

                Lina's eyes flashed and she grabs the food... then dropped it on the floor "Now its his...."

                The wolf hungrily attacked it, apparently not having eaten for a while. Amelia humped and attacked the next plate with her fork. Lina growled and fought Gourry away from a plate.... and set in to eating. Zelgadis tried to ignore the usual food fighting as more plates were brought in. The wolf whined for more scraps, licking its muzzle.

                Lina set a plate on the floor for the wolf... feeling kinda bad for it. It devoured all on the plate, even gnawing on the plate itself.

                "Probably hasn't eaten in some time..." Zelgadis remarked.

                Lina looked at it. "I think I know who it belongs to."

                "It was hurt... that's probably why..."

                "Alright... trivia time... "

                The wolf yawned, wagging his tail. Zelgadis nodded.

                Lina pushed her empty plate away "Who do we know that likes wolves?"

                "Beastmaster...." Zelgadis said quietly as the other two were eating.

                Lina nodded "We haven’t seen Xellos in a while... seems like she's sent something lesser to watch on us."

                Amelia shook her head. "Look at his eyes Lina... they are not Mazoku eyes."

                "Yes.... but.... he's not a regular wolf....  unless he's somebody’s pet we stumbled across."

                "Perhaps...." Zelgadis agreed. "Its owner might have been killed, didn't you notice how he was hurt?"

                Lina nodded. "Yeah... he was hurt kinda bad... amazing he was able to follow us."

                "Probably saw people and needed help." Amelia chimed in, "And we helped!"

                "So.... we have a pet now I guess..."

                Amelia smiled happily. "Yah!" She went back to eating.

 

                That night water was brought up for Lina's bath. Lina grinned and filled the tub.  "Ahh... privacy... and a bath... and a bed that isnt the ground..." After a minute she noticed that the wolf was in her room, stretched out under the bed, wagging his tail and chewing on something.

                Lina blinked "Don’t think you’re staying there...." It was chewing on an old piece of cord, but it looked at Lina as she spoke.

                "That better not be something of mine that you’re chewing on...." She muttered. It came out from under the bed... some piece of rope that had apparently been left there in its jaws.

                "Well... I guess I don’t have to worry about you being a pervert wolf do I?"  Lina said as she unclasped her cloak. The wolf lay down by the tub where Lina was standing and wagged his tail as he went back to chewing.

                Lina used a fire spell to heat the water in the tub.... and sighed softly. "You still make me uneasy...  I don’t know why though..." The wolf took no notice, behaving somewhat like a dog by his master. Lina shrugged and stripped her clothing off... tossing them on the bed.... then eased into the tub.

                Chewing... that's all she heard from the wolf next to the tub. "Have to get you something quieter to chew on...” Lina murmured as she relaxed. The chewing stopped and she felt her hand being licked. "What?" It just seemed to be licking her hand that dangled over the tub.

                Lina pulled her hand into the tub.... "Quit it..." It whined a little before settling back down. Lina just about fell asleep in the tub... feeling quite nice. With her eyes closed she could hear the wolf panting.

                "Mmmph... Now I know why mom never let me have pets.... "  Lina said and stood... reaching for a towel. The wolf got out of the way and went back under the bed. Lina toweled herself off and looks at her clothes  "Wash them in the morning... too tired... "  She muttered and collapses onto the bed. Sleep came quickly, and it was rather peaceful on the bed.

 

                In another room Zelgadis closed the door behind him as he looked at Gourry sitting on the bed.

                Gourry grinned stupidly "been a long time since we had a bed...."

                "Or been alone." Zelgadis added with a smile. "At least Amelia stopped hanging all over me."

                "Yeah... you think she knows?"

                "She might...." Zelgadis took off his cloak and sat down on the bed.

                Gourry brushed his fingers along Zel's sandpapery cheek and smiled. "Not like it matters."

                "I know." Zelgadis let himself stroke Gourry's hair, having wanted to all day.

                "The person I'm afraid to.... let know is Lina... she.... yells about everything"

                Zelgadis nodded and touched his smooth nose to Gourry's cheek. "She likes to own people..."

                "Mm... Well you own me... you know that.... "  Gourry said as he wrapped his arms around Zelgadis.

                Zelgadis smiled and started kissing him, "Yes, I do..."

                Gourry ran his hands over Zel's body.... his calloused fingers not minding the roughness of it. The skin was rough yet smooth... and in places, very yielding...

                "Mm... What you want me to do?" Gourry asked.

                "Whatever you like... we have all night."

                Gourry pushed Zel back onto the bed and began to kiss him passionately. The rock-man who was nice and warm unlike stone kissed back, pulling his arms around the large warrior. Gourry stopped kissing for a moment and grinned... his hands plucking articles of clothing off of Zel with expert motions. A blue grin met Gourry's eyes and soon his armor was pulled off along with the shaman's clothing. Gourry smoothed his hands along Zel's body again... and nibbled at one of the small raised pebbles on Zel's shoulder.

                The pebbles were quite sensitive and caused the shaman to moan as soon as they were touched by the swordsman's mouth. Gourry continued to nibble at select pebbles.... as if he memorized the most sensitive ones.... his hands sliding down and caressing Zel's groin. More moans were his reward, and quickly he felt those smooth, warm, hands slide over his torso, stroking along each muscle curve, heading for one of the toughest. Gourry quivered for a moment.... Zelgadis' hands never losing that tingling electric sensation... no matter how many times they did this. And that is why they always continued to do this when they got the chance to be alone, which wasn't as often as lovers would like.

                Gourry's fingers encircled Zel's groin and stroked gently. His lover shuttered underneath him, eyes closing to the pleasure. The other's hands quickly moved to perform the same task on the blonde. Gourry moaned softly and closed his eyes.... mindful not to be too loud lest someone hear. That could be hard some times since the pleasures that always came of this were so great.

                "Zel..." Gourry asked, "Do you think I can?"

                "Yesssss..." Zelgadis purred, moving his hands around to the back of Gourry.

                Gourry grinned and rubbed a finger against Zel's entrance. He heard the small gasp of pleasure escape the shaman's lips as one of the softer places on his body was touched. Gourry probed him eagerly.... not having had this pleasure for some time. One of the hands left his back and went back o his groin, stroking it again as more moans issued from Zel's throat.

                Gourry moaned again... biting his lip to try to stop from being loud. That fear was put to rest when he felt smooth, warm, lips pressing to his own.