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 to all the reviewers who make my day, every day: Koyote, Pippin the Unsober, MayLin, WingNut, Sobakasu, Star Lin, Sorceress Fantasia, Patty 40, Devil1, cryearthstearsfalltou, xxkurenaixx, CleverYoungThief, Casey Valhalla, Morgan, Moffit, and Arithkenshin. ;D

 

 

     The old Bobcat trader was setting out new winter linens to replace the ones he’d sold that morning when a young black Jaguar-girl went sprinting past. The trader grinned, figuring she was off after a young man, or away from one. Girls tended to run when boys were involved.

     This meant he wasn’t that surprised when a half-Fox and a half-Lynx came dashing into sight. Both looked around, confused, and the Fox saw the trader watching.

     “You, there,” the Fox yelled. “Did you see a Jaguar-girl go this way, running fast?”

     “Sure did,” the trader hollered back, pointing his hand in the direction the girl had gone. “You’ll have to run to catch up. She went that way, and turned down that trail.”

     The two young men nodded their thanks and took off.

 

 

 

 

     Wufei was not enjoying himself. Rather than head to the day’s giveaway at the gathering circle, Sali had expressed enough curiosity in the Coyote’s gifts that the group ended up detouring to the Coyote encampment. Now the young Jaguar swordsman was tolerating the fourth blanket laid out with bridal gifts, his expression a cross between flattered pleasure and affronted pride.

     “What’s this?” Sali leaned over and picked up a strange copper metalwork piece, with five prongs and blue Desert Lynx beads.

     “That’s a comb,” Solo said, and carefully tucked it into Sally’s hair for demonstration.

     “Now I can’t see what it looks like,” the Jaguar warrior replied, but smiled at Solo, whose tail wagged. Carefully he removed the comb and tucked it into his own sandy brown hair, and Sali laughed. Behind her, Wufei rolled his eyes.

     “And these are the weasel columns,” Kio was saying. The columns were gathered in a fine pottery bowl, one of several. “There’s three hundred and sixty-seven. We counted.”

     “Twice,” Sano added, shaking his head.

     Wufei’s eyebrows went up, despite himself, and the Coyotes laughed.

 

 

 

 

     Xing jumped, nearly dropping the pottery mug as Luyin grabbed her arm.

     “Ow!” The Jaguar-girl pulled her arm away and rubbed, glaring at her friend. “That hurt. What is into you?”

     “I think Meiran just went by...” Xing’s eyes went wide, and Luyin turned to see the Desert Lynx, followed by a laughing Fox. Xing took the mug and set it on the trader’s table, taking her friend by the hand. “Something’s up! Come on!”

     The two Jaguar girls took off after Quatre and Duo.

 

 

 

 

     “We bet on you, and we pooled our winnings just in case you needed that extra little bit,” Kio explained. “Trowa and Heero helped, too.”

     Heero nodded, his tail wagging hopefully. When Wufei simply glared at him, the bushy silver tail slowly stopped moving. Trowa’s chin was down, and his shoulders were slumped. Wufei looked at his two friends, and sighed. He didn’t mean to be prickly about it, but he was the Clan Swordsman now. There was no reason to get married anymore. His morose thoughts were cut off at the sound of pounding feet.

     “WUFEI!”

     The black Jaguar-boy nearly jumped out of his skin, whirling in place to see Meiran only ten feet from him. Her face was red and her arm was outflung, her index finger pointing directly at him.

 

 

 

 

     The trader had just sold three more sets of winter linens when two Jaguar men appeared, arguing about something. A third was trotting along behind them and shaking his head as he listened. Yeiren noticed the trader watching.

     “Say, did you see a Jaguar girl run past here?” The Jaguar looked mildly annoyed.

     “Followed by a Lynx, a Fox, and two more Jaguars?” The trader laughed. “They all went that way. The girl in the lead looked really mad,” the Bobcat added helpfully.

     “Oh, well, then that was definitely Meiran,” Yeiran replied, giving his brothers a pointed look. “Thanks!”

     The three Creatures took off, and the trader could just make out their argument as they headed down the path to the Coyote encampment.

     “I’m telling you, that’s her!” Teiran, the tallest Jaguar, was saying. “She’s got a boyfriend, and she’s hiding him from us.”

     “There’s no way,” Keiran snapped, shoving his brother even as they ran. “Meiran would never sneak around like that.”

     “Hey, stop shoving...”

     “Watch the branch...”

     “Ow...”

 

 

 

 

     “Wufei, I am going to kick your ass!”

     “What?” Wufei choked out the question, quickly backing up as the girl began stalking towards him. Her eyes were blazing, and the Jaguar swordsman looked either way, seeking help. Heero looked surprised, and Trowa seemed amused. Sali had just set the comb back down on the blanket, and looked like she was having trouble keeping a straight face. Solo, meanwhile, was covering his mouth with a hand. Taking it all in a single glance, Wufei scowled.

     No help from any of them, he decided.

     Another two Creatures ran up. The Desert Lynx stopped, then was shoved forward several steps as Duo plowed into his back. Quatre looked worried, and Duo looked curious.

     No help from them, either, Wufei thought.

     Meiran waved a hand at him, clearly irritated by the distraction. “How dare you kidnap me twice and then decide you don’t want to get married just because you got some stupid sword!”

     “It is NOT a stupid sword!” Wufei’s reply was automatic, even as the rest of his brain struggled to process what she’d just said. “And I didn’t decide I didn’t want to get married, you did!”

     “Did not!”

     “Did too!”

     They were saved from further intelligent arguing by the sound of more pounding feet. Xing and Luyin came barreling into the Coyote encampment.

     “Meiran, we’re here to save you,” Luyin hollered.

     Meiran stopped cold, blinked, and gave her friends a baffled look. Next to her, Wufei’s mouth was still open, ready with another yell. Quatre bit his lip to keep from laughing, and Xing tossed a furious look his way. Duo made a strange sound and ducked behind Trowa. Heero simply crossed his arms and watched. As long as his little brother ended up happy, he wasn’t going to get excited about any of the superfluous details.

    

 

 

 

     Solo was unwrapping the pink loincloth for Sali to see, when his attention was caught by the heavy footsteps of three Creatures. He sniffed and recognized the scent of three Jaguars he’d met the night before. Standing up, he noticed the youngsters were all measuring each other, and had belatedly realized the arrival of three adult Creatures, whose expressions ranged from worried, to angry, to amused.  

     “Meiran,” the tallest yelled as he slid to a stop between the two young Jaguars. “What are you doing here?”

     “Reviewing the bridal gifts,” Solo interrupted calmly, stepping forward between the three Creatures and their youngest sibling.

     There was a short pause.

     “Reviewing the what?” Seiran stepped forward, casting a dirty look at his brothers. He gave Meiran a quick look, and the girl flushed, her eyes suddenly on her feet. Then he looked at Wufei, whose mouth was still open to yell. Blinking, Wufei shut his mouth and scowled, backing up a step.

     “Bridal gifts,” Keiran said, his tone thoughtful as he saw the four blankets laid out on the ground.

     “Those are all for Meiran,” Heero said into the silence. Meiran’s three brothers raised their eyebrows, and stepped past Solo to see everything collected there. Kio, Sano, and Solo were more than happy to display the pottery, blankets, linens, jewelry, utensils, and assorted household items.

     “Stop helping,” Wufei muttered between his teeth to the silver Wolf. “You’ve helped enough.”

     “Not enough,” the Wolf replied in an undertone. “You’re not married yet, are you?”

     “I told you,” the Jaguar-boy said, his voice getting a little louder. “She doesn’t want to marry me.”

     “Well, that’s only because you don’t want to marry me,” Meiran retorted hotly. “You’re such a...boy!”

     “Well, stop being such a girl! Besides, I never said that,” Wufei said, taking a step forward. “Look at everything over there. Does that look like something I’d do if I didn’t want to get married?”

     The Wolf and the Jackal exchanged a look.

     “Oh...” Meiran couldn’t think of something to say. Her mouth worked silently as she tried to come up with a good response, unaware her feet were slowly moving her towards the first blanket. In the background, Solo and Yeiren were laughing heartily at something Kio had said, and Keiran was admiring the pottery. Teiran was discussing blanket storage with Sano. None of the six noticed the young Jaguar girl casually studying the first blanket out of the corner of her eye. Wufei drifted closer, a little uncertain as well. He hadn’t really looked that closely at everything laid out.

     “What’s this?” Meiran asked, almost to herself, as she bent down to pick something up. When she stood up, she was holding Duo’s comb. “This is really pretty,” she said softly, her fingers touching the beads carefully.

     “It’s...a comb,” Wufei said. He stepped a little closer, and touched one of the beads as well. “You...put it in your hair.”

     “Really?” The girl’s eyes went wide, and then she frowned as she tilted her head at the intricate net of copper metal.

     Several feet away, Heero noticed Duo suddenly tensing. The half-Fox’s red ears were perked straight up, nearly quivering in the thief’s attempt to hear every word. The Wolf warrior wondered what the Fox was so excited about, and then realized the thief wasn’t wearing any jewelry. Puzzled, he looked over at Quatre, who cut his eyes at the comb in Meiran’s hand, and then twitched his tail once in the direction of the Fox. Heero’s eyes widened, and he looked back at the strange object and then at Duo’s bare neck and arms.

     The Fox used his own jewelry to make that? Heero was astounded. Foxes never give up their jewelry. They wear it all the time, every day, and it’s always the more, the better. The silver Wolf felt suddenly abashed that he’d just assumed the Fox would steal something, and wouldn’t be able to help any other way. But the comb was beautiful, from what Heero could see.

     Meanwhile, Wufei was trying to tell Meiran how to use the comb. After several failed attempts to describe its use, he hesitantly took the comb from her and started to place it in her hair, like he’d watched Solo do to his sister. Meiran, unsurprisingly, reacted the same way.

     “Wait, now I can’t see what you’re doing,” she told him, and ducked away from the comb.

     “Oh.” The Jaguar swordsman nearly dropped the comb at her quick movements, and swallowed hard. She was standing right next to him, her big brown eyes looking into his as she waited for him to come up with an idea. Or maybe she was frowning at him. He wasn’t sure. Nervous, he decided to mimic Solo, and put the comb at the back of his head. “It goes like this,” he said, and shoved the comb down until it was nested tightly in his hair. “Does it look okay?”

     Meiran giggled softly. “It’s very pretty,” she said, and her cheeks were slightly pink. “But I think it’d look better on me. Would you...” She turned her back on Wufei, and he swallowed again, lost. He glanced over at his foster-brother, who gave him an exasperated look. Trowa wagged his tail, and Quatre was making some strange hand motions. Duo was nearly thrumming from excitement. Wufei looked back at Quatre, who mimed taking a comb out of his hair and placing it against the scalp of an invisible person before him. The Jaguar blinked, then nodded, finally understanding.

     Carefully he undid the comb, and slid it into Meiran’s hair, pushing gently until it seemed like it was in place. The girl turned, her hand going up to catch the unfamiliar weight if it fell.

     “Does it...look okay?” She asked, her eyelashes fluttering closed and then open as she checked his face for his reaction.

     Watching her, Wufei suddenly felt strangely queasy, but in a good way. He nodded slowly, studying the blue beads glittering in the early afternoon sun, and the way they matched perfectly with her blue vest and ankle-length loincloth.

     “They’re...beautiful,” he finally stuttered, smiling shyly.

     “Thank you,” she whispered, dropping her eyes again.

     “Hey, Wufei,” Yeiran said. “Do you want pork, or chicken?”

     “Do I what?” The Jaguar swordsman was startled. Meiran jumped at her brother’s voice, a guilty flush on her face, and backed up at the same time, nearly backing into Wufei. It caught the Jaguar-boy enough off guard that he could only put his hands up to catch her, and didn’t hear Yeiran’s explanation.

     “Pork or chicken for the wedding feast,” Keiran yelled. “Are you deaf?” He turned to his brothers. “I don’t want nieces and nephews who are going to go deaf. Maybe we should talk to Father---”

     “Shut up, Keiran,” Teiran said. “I think they’re just distracted a little. Pork, or chicken?”

     Wufei shrugged helplessly. “I think Meiran should decide.”

 

 

 

 

     A second party had spontaneously begun, and no one paid any attention to the fact that they’d originally planned to see the day’s giveaway. The Jaguars would be accepting the last day of the event, but that was far enough away that the Coyotes were perfectly willing to bundle up the wedding gifts and follow the parade of Creatures through the Gathering.

     The three brothers led the way, more than happy to announce to nearly everyone they met that the Clan’s new Swordsman was marrying their sister. Right behind them, Wufei walked with an expression somewhere between a scowl and complete bewilderment. Every time he glanced over, Meiran was either smiling bashfully or ignoring him completely, but she hadn’t removed the comb from her hair. The blue beads caught the sun and dazzled the Jaguar-boy’s eyes.

     Behind the pair, Heero, Trowa, Duo, and Quatre walked abreast. Sali had been walking with them, and then had fallen back on the pretense of helping Solo pick up several blankets that Kio had dropped. Quatre turned in place, walking backwards, surveying the Coyotes following them with a self-satisfied smirk. There were eight Coyotes following, and each one had his hands full.

     “It’s pretty impressive,” the Lynx said casually. The half-Fox turned as well; nodded, and then turned back to watch the comb bobbing with every step Meiran took.

     “Yeah,” Duo said, and his voice was quiet, but pleased. “It all worked out well, didn’t it?”

     Quatre caught the little bit of sadness, and turned around with a sigh. Something wasn’t right, and he just wasn’t sure what to do about it. The Jackal moved around Duo, coming alongside Quatre with a gentle bump. The Lynx looked up, and his blue eyes were friendly, but distant. His best friend was still acting a little strange, but parties always made Duo forget whatever was bothering him, Quatre decided. Besides, it was the last night of the Gathering. Everyone was going to be a little sad, he figured.

     The Lynx sighed again, and Trowa nudged him.

     “What’s wrong?” The Jackal warrior’s voice was soft.

     “Just...it’s the last night of the Gathering,” Quatre replied. “And tomorrow we all pack up and head on, except for those staying until the next morning. By this time two days from now, this place will be one big empty field.” He looked around at the traders yelling congratulations to the young pair, and smiled sadly. “And we won’t see each other until six months from now.”

     “Unless we’re traveling together,” Trowa said, and his tail wagged. “I’ve always wanted to spend more than just a week in the desert.”

     Quatre tilted his head back to give the Jackal a suspicious look, which melted into a happy smile.

 

 

 

    

     The party was in full swing when Duo found himself cornered by Treize. He was ready to bolt for freedom when the older Fox grinned at him.

     “I’ve been meaning to compliment you,” the Fox Leader said.

     The young half-Fox was so stunned he nearly dropped his wineskin. “You what?” Duo stuttered.

     “The comb you made,” Treize said, and laughed. “It’s a beautiful piece. Where did you get the idea?”

     “In some human towns I’ve visited,” Duo replied, and grinned. “The women wear these combs, and put scarves over them. I didn’t have a scarf, though.”

     “Ah,” the Fox Leader said, and knocked his wineskin against Duo’s in a quick toast. “Keep at it. You’ve got some real talent there. And now, I believe, it’s time for my Clan to congratulate the lucky bridegroom. Excuse me.”

     The Fox Leader strolled off, his bushy red tail waving behind him, to take his place with several other Foxes. Duo was left standing alone, his mouth slightly open. He closed it with a snap, and grinned happily at nothing in particular.

 

 

 

    

     Not far away, Heero watched the Fox Leader walk off, his eyes narrowed in suspicion. A bridal party was the last place to cause trouble, and he was relieved to see that Duo appeared to be smiling at whatever Treize had said. The wolf’s silver ears came forward as he picked up the sounds of the Foxes giving their traditional wedding blessing to the young couple, but Heero didn’t take his eyes off the Fox. Duo was still wearing the same loincloth he’d worn most of the festival, a blue one Trowa had said was Quatre’s.

     The Wolf-boy dug his hand into his leather pouch and fingered the purple silk loincloth he’d bought. There had to be a perfect time to give the gift, but he wasn’t sure. He really only had experience giving such things to Wufei, who understood that things were just given and no comments needed. Heero wondered if he gave something to Duo, would the Fox jump about? Would he have to show it to everyone? Heero was certain that would embarrass him to no end. Maybe the Fox would try to hug him, and the Wolf scowled. He was pretty sure he didn’t want a hug. Well, he thought, maybe a short one. Just a quick hug would probably be fine. Nothing too much, he decided, and nodded firmly.

     It was then that Heero realized Duo was staring at him, and the Wolf scowled. What’s the Fox looking at me like that for, he wondered. Is my belt not straight? He glanced down, making sure his nipple rings were both in place, and then twitched his ears, reassured by the weight of the cuffs as his ears flickered forward and back. His wrist cuffs were straight, too. Heero glanced back at the Fox, and set his jaw, reprimanding himself sternly.

     You idiot, it’s just a gift. It’s not like it’s that important. He’s just some stupid Fox who doesn’t have a nice loincloth. And besides, Heero reminded himself, Duo doesn’t even have any jewelry now, either. It’s the least you can do, to thank him for helping Wufei get married. The Wolf nodded, satisfied at his reasoning, and looked over at the Fox.

     There was no one there, and Heero frowned, looking around. Where did that Fox go, now?

 

 

 

 

     “Solo, I’m going to just head back to camp.”

     The older Coyote regarded his adopted brother with a little bit of concern, and shook his head. His sandy-brown curls swung at the movement. “Duo, you’re staying here. These are your friends, and you helped. You deserve to celebrate.”

     Duo shrugged, looking up, but his deep blue eyes didn’t quite meet Solo’s. “I’m just...tired.”

     “This have anything to do with a certain Wolf?” The Coyote leaned forward to rub noses with Duo, then pulled away. Solo gave the smaller Creature a conspiratorial look. “I think he has something for you.”

     “Yeah, like a whipping,” the thief replied morosely.

     “I don’t think so,” Solo said, his voice singing a little as he teased. “He keeps watching you, and putting a hand in his pouch for something. Then you walk off, and he looks disappointed.”

     “Stop making things up,” Duo retorted, but his tail wagged a little, giving away his hopeful curiosity. “He has not. Every I see him, he looks pissed-off.”

     “Have it your way, then,” the Coyote said, his ears perking up at something over Duo’s shoulder. “The Bobcats just finished their toasts. Come join me for one song, and then if you still want to, you can head back.”

     “Fine,” the Fox-boy said, and shrugged. A second later his head was up, and he was smiling, but Solo knew the young Creature well enough to see the unhappiness hiding in the big blue eyes as he spoke. “Well, let’s go sing.”

     “Yeah,” Solo said, and clapped a hand over Duo’s shoulders, hugging him tightly as the two joined everyone else around the campfire.

    

 

 

 

     Seven songs later, Duo was still ensconced between Solo and Kio, although Sali had joined them at some point. The Jaguar warrior seemed to think there weren’t enough places to sit and had made herself comfortable on Solo’s lap. Duo watched, vaguely amused, content to sip at his wineskin and steal glances at the silver Wolf over on the other side of the fire.

     There was a lull between songs, after Quatre’s strong tenor had regaled them with a particularly funny Desert Lynx song, with two of his sisters chiming in on the refrain. Duo knew it well enough, and most of the Coyotes had brazenly helped along on the refrain. Now, however, the gathering had fallen silent. Duo leaned forward, hiding a smile at the way Meiran’s head was drooping at points, dangerously close to Wufei’s shoulder. The Jaguar warrior looked frightened, uncertain of whether he should shake his bride awake or offer her a shoulder to lean against. Kio noticed as well and giggled, elbowing Sano, who nudged Rio, who chuckled and jerked his head towards the pair, alerting Taro and Leo.

     Without warning, Solo’s strong baritone echoed through the celebration as he began an ancient human song.

     “Kind friends and companions, come join me in rhyme,” Solo sang. His voice wasn’t loud, but the words commanded the company to fall silent and listen. “Come lift up your voices, in chorus with mine. Let us drink and be merry, all grief to refrain,” and the Coyote spared a smile to Duo as the chorus finished. “For we may for might never all meet here again...”

     Trowa’s tail wagged as the Jackal recognized it, and joined his strong voice to the Coyote’s. Together, the two men sang the next verse.

     “Here's a health to the dear lass that I love so well,” Solo and Trowa chanted. The Coyote squeezed Sali tight on the last few words. “Her style and her beauty, sure none can excel.” Wufei joined in, and Meiran sat up with a jolt. She blinked sleepily, but then blushed as she heard the words Wufei was singing. The three voices blended on the last two lines, Wufei’s sparkling tenor adding a counterpoint. “There's a smile upon her countenance as she sits on my knee...Sure there's no one in this wide world as happy as me.”

     Most of the Coyotes joined in on the next refrain, their wineskins waving happily in the air. Many of the other Creatures had picked up the tune, and were humming or singing along, as well as they could. The Foxes were providing a quiet beat by patting their paws against their knees. Trowa and Wufei dropped their voices, and let Solo’s baritone carry the final verse alone.

     “Our ship lies at harbor, she's ready to dock,” the Coyote sang, a little slower and quieter. “I hope she's safe landed without any shock. If ever we should meet again, by land or by sea...I will always remember your kindness to me.”

     The listeners gave a rousing soft series of cries, making their agreement obvious as they joined in on the final refrain. “Kind friends and companions, come join me in rhyme,” Heero sang along with Trowa, the Wolf and Jackal’s deeper voices holding under the Lynx’s descant.

     “Come lift up your voices, in chorus with mine,” and Sali’s soprano matched sweetly with Solo’s baritone, underscored by Treize’s deep bass.

     “Let us drink and be merry, all grief to refrain...” The last note was held a little longer, and Solo waved his hand as the entire congregation sang the final line as a single phrase.

     “For we may for might never all meet here again!”

     When the song was done, Heero took a minute to smile crookedly at Wufei, then stood up, his hand on his pouch. He was going to catch that Fox now, and give him... The silver Wolf’s tail drooped as he noticed the empty spot next to Solo.

     The Fox had already left.