Chapter 11

Rufus didn't go to the game. His mind was too foggy to think straight and his body felt numb with sadness. He was not himself whenever he was sad and the best thing he could now was to go for a walk deep in the woods beyond the forest line that He and his family passed. He wasn't sure if Plutonic could go this far past the forest line or even Lucky.. but Lucky wouldn't even know the types of trees in here, he was always glued to his boring hobbies like reading.. He took a deep breathe, smelling the forest trees and the wet soil... from a far he could smell a deer and fresh running waters in a river. It was a lovely smell.. Nature held a lovely smell that was naturally calming and eased the mind. Rufus walked further in the forest thinking about the new forest part he was walking into. If it belonged to someone (some humans loved to live secluded in the forest so it wouldn't be astounding or anything like that) or a pack (obviously it would belong to the NightWing clan they loved living in the forests and were very quiet. They could camouflage themselves with the trees and you wouldn't know if they were there).

Rufus took in a deep breathe as he closed his eyes before opening them as they turned red. "If you want to see what no one else can't see then use your Phoenix eyes. Phoenix eyes don't lie!". He remembered when Plutonic taught him and Lucky that when they were young. He looked around to see if there were any other supernaturals around there, if any, he should leave at once before a fight started.

Rufus saw nothing, he couldn't smell another supernaturals either. He turned his eyes back and continued to walk deep in the forest but suddenly, something hit him on the head and he blacked out.

•••••••

His head was pounding heavily causing pangs of pain to flash all over his head. He felt pain in his whole body as if it wasn't his, as if his bones were being pulled out of his flesh. He squeezed his eyes shut and shook his head though that worsened the pangs of pain he felt in his head.

Rufus couldn't take it anymore, he opened his eyes though he couldn't see clearly, it was as if everything was dazed or was his mind foggy? Perhaps it was the hit on his head before he had blacked out. What had happened? Where was he?... Rufus couldn't take the pain anymore as he squeezed his eyes shut then opened them again while cawing loudly almost a roar/caw for help but it came out as a mere scream not so loud but at least loud enough for Plutonic's ears since he was an alpha and his senses were stronger than any of them. That's if he was still around where he had been earlier before whatever took place happened.

He shivered... he was cold and hungry and in pain and there was nothing he could do. He couldn't move, he couldn't feel his body let alone his hands and feet... all he could feel was the cold and the pain and he wanted it to stop.

Two beads of tears streamed down his face. He just wanted all of this to stop and now he made his situation worse because he was in another pack's territory or even in the Hunter's base nothing else could perfectly explain the way he was feeling. Whatever was causing this pain was ... iron!.

This was certainly the work of hunters without any doubt. "H-Help". he whispered desperately as cold sweat streamed down his face. He shivered from the cold... his skin was never this cold?... he had never been cold in his life.. actually FireWings were never cold, their Phoenixes kept them warm during the cold seasons and cooled off themselves during hot seasons but his Phoenix had never cooled off like this. This cold was unbearable and yet his Phoenix was weak and injured due to the iron. "Come on buddy. Hold on... F-For m-me or f-for Lu-Lucky". Rufus spoke out softly or rather he was speaking to his Phoenix?. Only the heavens knew how long he and his Phoenix would be able to hold on. He could feel himself getting weaker. Rufus could feel himself drifting off into the unknown and he didn't want to die just yet. He had a lot of dreams yet to fulfill... feelings to confess and someone to keep company and protect.

"We should drain his blood off and sell it to the black market!". He heard someone suggest. His assumptions had been right, those were hunters who had taken him and now they we're planning on how to finish him off.

"The boss wants him alive!". Another voice said only that it was deep and heavy - that was definitely a man!.

"Either way he'll still kill him. Imagine what we could earn from his blood let alone those tears streaming off his face!. That's a waste of tears". The first voice - feminine perhaps, he couldn't tell - spoke again. "Someone bring a tin to collect these tears!". The voice shouted at the back before he heard a muffled laughter and shuffling of feet.

Rufus lifted his head from where he had been held and tried to look up to see his kidnappers.

"Let me go!". He exclaimed once he had set his eyes on a Caucasian skinned short man with blonde hair. The man chuckled as he turned his body fully to face Rufus.

"We will but after we take what we need from you". The man said.

"I think he'll be dead by then... Nonetheless he'll be free in the spirit world to roam however he wants that's if birds have a spirit world". A lady said as as she appeared standing beside the man. They were both dressed in black leather pants and polo shirts. The Lady had her dark brown hair held in high neat pony tail, her hands in the pockets of her pants. The man had his hands crossed against his chest.

"Why did you kidnap me?". Rufus questioned slowly even though he knew why. They wanted him for his blood. Phoenix blood was well known for healing any kind of illness, it was something very precious and was the main reason why hunters were after them.

The lady laughed. "I wouldn't say kidnapped. You are a kid alright! I should have said 'Phoenixnapped'!". She smirked as the other man let out a lopsided smile.

"Klaus? Get him some more iron will you?". The lady asked the man, Klaus as she took a step forwards close to Rufus.

"I think he needs some more steaming up!". She added as she dragged her finger down on his cheek where his tears had streamed and licked it.

"Okay Yonce. I'll be right back!". Klaus replied then left.

If he hadn't been bound up, Rufus would have easily dug his claws deep in this hunter's body to finish her off but he was too weak, he had a lot of iron in his body that he wasn't sure if he would be able to morphe into a Phoenix or not.

"You're thinking of how you'd finish me off if it weren't for the iron, aren't you?". Yonce asked leaning her face down close to Rufus'.

Rufus didn't answer. He was too weak now, his mouth felt dry and his throat ached with the burn and need of some water.

"Tsk! tsk! tsk! too bad it's opposite of that. How does it feel?". Yonce asked. "How does it feel being there stuck all alone with no one to help you?". She asked.

Rufus opened his mouth to speak but then shut it up. His eyes slowly shut as he felt the deeper effects of iron taking place. He was sure... very sure that he wouldn't survive at all. He wouldn't survive this one. Yonce took a handful of his black hair tightly forcing him to look up at her.

"Do you even have a pack?". Yonce asked mockingly.

"Of course he does!". Someone said from behind her. She quickly let go of him and turned to face the source of the voice.

Rufus looked up as well as he saw the limp body of Klaus thrown on the floor, a few feet away from Yonce.

It was Lucky!.

Lucky was there!.

There for him!.

Lucky was there to rescue and take him home. Rufus let out a small sigh of relief at the realization that he was now safe though he had never thought of Lucky showing up to do any rescues... Had he come alone?. No, he had probably come along with his parents and Plutonic to rescue him. Rufus longingly looked behind Lucky though the doorway was blocked by him, hr could hear nothing else nor smell but who was Rufus kidding? He had loads of iron in his body of course his Phoenix was weak and he couldn't make out if the whole pack was there or not.

Rufus stopped trying to feel his pack's presence as he pulled back to what was presently happening. Lucky gave him a small smile.

"How did you get past the security?". Yonce asked.

"Are those few weaklings out there security?". Lucky asked as he slowly walked towards Yonce only stopping in front of Klaus' body.

"You must be crazy!". Yonce exclaimed.

"Yes, when it comes down to pack!". Lucky exclaimed before lunging and jumping forward and stabbing Yonce on the head with a knife. Her body fell lifelessly on top of Klaus'.

Lucky took out another knife from his cargo pants back pocket and cut off the ropes tying down Rufus. He was about to fall when Lucky held him up.

"I got you buddy. I got you". Lucky said softly with a small smile as he raked Rufus' hair back. Rufus tried to smile at the small gesture of affection that Lucky had shown him but he failed.

"Let's go home!". He heard Lucky say before he drifted off.