I own nothing.

Three days.

Blossom promised Brick three days to leave her home and be with him forever; a promise that was easier to make than to keep.

She knew for a fact that she could not leave her friends and family without warning or notice. They would worry greatly; Bubbles would cry into hysteria and Buttercup would rally the hunters and guards to search for her. The Professor would either follow Buttercup or sink into depression. He had barely survived the loss of his beloved wife, and the idea of losing Blossom would send him to an early grave.

She knew she would have to tell Bubbles and Buttercup the truth, the Professor, however, would need more time to think over.

For today, she would have to break the news to Buttercup and Bubbles. They were her good friends since they were very small; they would play together and tell secrets to each other. It would always kill Blossom to tell her closest friends a lie every time she went into the woods, but she could never tell them, for she was afraid that Buttercup would harm Brick, or worse, report him to the other hunters and the rest of the village.

But she believed she could trust her friends. It was a gamble she was willing to make.

Blossom pondered over how to go about it over a long hot bath. Normally, her bathes would be taken at night, but Brick's impromptu visit forced her to alter her schedule. Her body ached all over from last night, forcing her to scrub away the stench of dog and nature off her skin and her room. She also needed to come up with an excuse for washing her new sheets so soon in order to sway the Professor's troubled mind.

She finished her bath and quickly dressed for the day. A look in the mirror gave Blossom a fright; on her neck was a large, dark bruise that marked her of her sexual activities from the night. Blossom was anything but pleased. She was never fond of Brick's marks around her body, but if he had to, she preferred it not to be exposed.

Now the entire village will see her love bite.

Despite warm weather outside, Blossom was forced to keep her hair down, pull her hood over her head, and reminded herself to give Brick an earful.

Of course, stepping outside with her hood up gave strange looks her way, but it was best to smile and wave off unwanted concerns. Yesterday's birthday celebration was the topic of conversation every where she went; the food, the music, the festivities, and the drinking. Blossom was asked several times if she enjoyed her birthday—which she did greatly.

The celebration was wonderful.

The idea of it was dreadful.

And the aftermath was everything she had expected.

As she walked around the village, Blossom could feel the lingering stares of the men who sought her hand. Blossom went about her business as usual—polite greetings and went quickly on her way. But the stares hung on her person longer than usual; she wanted to hide in her hood if it weren't so noticeable.

"Blossom!"

Blossom turned at the call of her name to find Mitchell Mitchelson running toward her covered in ash and soot as the village's blacksmith should.

"Mitchell? What is the matter?" She asked seeing his expression of great worry.

He sighed. "Blossom. I told you—call me 'Mitch'. Mitchell is too formal."

"It's the name your mother gave you. I would rather honor it." She countered. "Now, what is the matter that has gotten you in such a huff?"

"It's Buttercup."

"What happened? Is she well?!" Her heart pounded against her chest at the worry of her best friend.

"She's healthy and all that, but…. she was dismissed from being a huntress."

"W-when?! Just now?!"

"Yes. She was—Hey! Blossom! Wait!"

Mitch was forced to chase after Blossom the second he answered her. Blossom was speeding past the people so quickly that all any could recall was red blur passing them by—followed by young Mitchell Mitchelson. Blossom was not to be blamed for running so shamelessly in public—anyone would for the well-being for a friend. The news shocked her to her own core, and Blossom could only imagine how Buttercup felt.

Ever since she was a little girl, Buttercup never cared for learning how to cook, or sew, or keep a house as every woman should learn. Buttercup wanted to fight. She wanted to hold a sword and protect her village. She wanted to shoot with a bow and crossbow, and as tough as the men who opposed her wishes. Blossom remembered the times they played as children, Buttercup would always play the hero. With a wooden sword in hand, Buttercup would chase after the bad guys. It was her dream. Buttercup pushed back ridicule and scorn from the public, and fought tooth and nail to become a strong huntress with the help of her closest friends and family.

But all of the hours she trained, all of the hard work she did, all of the blood she shed was not for nothing.

And Blossom ran to find her best friend to comfort her.

She ran to the other side of the village to Buttercup's small home. She was her friend outside her home leaning against the wall silently tossing her hunting knife in the air and catching it expertly without fear of cutting herself. Buttercup stood still, and her face showed no expression and that frightened Blossom.

"BUTTERCUP!"

As Buttercup caught the knife, she looked up to see Blossom Utonium in sweaty, dirt covered, hair frizzled mess. Her shoulders and her chest expanded and collapsed from her heavy breathing as though she had been chased across the world.

Buttercup pocketed her knife in her belt. "Blossom? What are you—?!" Buttercup was pushed back by the sudden weight of Blossom as the red hooded girl jumped at her latching her arms around her neck. "B-blossom?! What the hell are you doing?!"

Blossom didn't let go, no matter how hard Buttercup pulled to let go. She needed this.

"Blossom! Stop! Let go!"

"NO! I'm not letting go! How could they do this to you?! You were their best hunter!" Blossom exclaimed.

Buttercup rolled her eyes. "There's nothing that can be done about it now! Now stop this and let go!"

"That was your dream! You worked so hard to be a hunter only for them to shrug you away like you weren't as important!"

At this point, Buttercup stopped resisting and listened to Blossom.

"But you proved them wrong, and you showed that you were just as strong as them! Not just because you were a woman, but because you loved this village, and you wanted to protect it."

Buttercup remained quiet.

"You deserve more than those bastards." Blossom heard a snort from her friend followed by a soft laugh.

"They are bastards. Stupid ones…" Blossom heard Buttercup's voice crack slightly, but she inhaled to regain her composure. Blossom rarely saw Buttercup cry and today wasn't going to be it. "Those sons of bitches aren't worth the tears."

Blossom felt Buttercup's arms around her hugging back with as much comfort and support as she gave.

"How did you know? It only happened a few minutes ago."

Right on cue, Mitch ran onto Buttercup's property huffing and wheezing in desperation for some air. How could Blossom run so fast?! The girls released from their embrace to watch Mitch desperately cling on to any oxygen he could inhale.

"Bu—Buttercup…. I…. Buttercup I saw—" He coughed. "I saw….you….. watched you…"

"You saw they tossed me out?" Buttercup deduced.

"They tossed you out of the guild hall?!" Blossom shouted.

Buttercup waved off her shock. "I'm fine. They didn't hurt me. They just…pushed me out and said that I should focus on finding a husband and leave the hunting to the men. Such nonsense!"

"I don't understand….just yesterday they seemed to be on good terms with you, and now—!"

Buttercup punched the wall of her house. "I am just as skilled and strong as them! How could they treat me like this after all I did! I was the one who caught the most game! I was the one who hunted the meat! I was the one who helped the people! I am BETTER than that arrogant prick! If I was in charge, I would have caught that bloody wolf by now!"

Buttercup repeatedly punched the wall with every word she spoke letting out her frustrations and anger. Mitch could do nothing but watch as his friend roared in fury, but Blossom stepped forward and stopped Buttercup from breaking her hand.

"….I don't know what else to do. Hunting was everything I ever wanted. Everything I ever wanted to do. They took my weapons, my horse, my seal…. I have nothing."

"Buttercup. You don't have to submit to their wishes. You never did, so why do you sound so defeated?!"

"Blossom, I'm not a hunter anymore… I can't do anything important."

"And is THAT going to stop you?! At the age of twelve, you went into the forest ALONE with some rope and a stick, and came back with a rabbit! You treated your family to rabbit stew for three days! When you were fifteen, you shot a bulls-eyes from several feet away when no other hunter could! You would venture out to rescue lost children when no one else could! You would inspire strength in the bleakest of times! And all of that was BEFORE you became a hunter! You don't need their weapons or their approval to be you, Buttercup! You are more than what they see! You are Buttercup! Even your name inspires strength! And I am so cross that you have allowed them to make you think that you are not!"

Blossom let out a heavy breath from her monologue. Her fists were clenched so tightly throughout her speech, but she didn't realize until she was done. Buttercup and Mitch were silent through it all. Buttercup stared at her best friend—the village beauty that even she wanted to protect. Blossom's words made her realize why she wanted to be a hunter in the first place, not to prove anything to anyone, but to protect those she cared about most. Somehow, she had lost that meaning.

"Blossom…"

"She's right." Mitch spoke. "You don't need the hunter's seal to hunt. Everyone in this village knows you're more than qualified. Hell—you can borrow some of my weapons if need be."

"See, Buttercup? You have people who support you no matter what. Just please don't become discouraged. It doesn't suite you."

Before Buttercup could speak, they heard someone shrieking her name from a far. They turned around to see Bubbles, of all people, stomping toward their direction carrying a pitchfork in her hands. As she got closer, they could see her red, swollen eyes locked in a vicious glare.

Trailing behind her was her husband calling after his wife begging her to stop.

"B-Bubbles…?"

Bubbles raised her pitchfork up as she stood in front of Buttercup. "THEY HAVE NO RIGHT! I'M GOING TO TEACH THOSE HEARTLESS JERKS A LESSON!"

Bubbles's outburst somehow broke Buttercup into laughter. She cackled so loudly that her face turned red from lack of oxygen. Everyone stared at Buttercup in wide confusion, until Blossom laughed with her.

All of Bubbles's angry quickly dissolved into bewilderment. "What? What is so funny?"

"I'm fine, girls. I promise." Buttercup reassured once again as she set the cups on tea on the table before Blossom and Bubbles.

"It still doesn't make it cruel! They allow you to be a hunter for two years, and decide to just let you go?" Bubbles questioned. "It makes me so mad just talking about it!" She had already missed her pitchfork, but her loving husband took it away from her, and went back to their little farm. Mitch returned to his shop to go back to work, while the girls entered Buttercup's home to talk.

Buttercup took a seat. "Calm yourself, Bubbles. I don't want you to worry yourself into an early labor." She smirked.

"Oh! You know I would!" Bubbles sighed.

"But I really appreciate the concern. Thank you, both of you."

Blossom shook her head. "We've been friends since we were children."

"The best of friends!" Bubbles agreed.

"Of course, we would be worried. Nothing can get past us."

Buttercup hummed on Blossom choice of words. "I'm glad you said that Blossom. Now—" Buttercup stood up and pulled the hood down from Blossom's head revealing her poorly hidden red love bite. "You can tell the name of man who gave you that shiner."

Bubbles spat the tea she was drinking out of her mouth. "B-B-B-B-BLOSSOM!"

Blossom glared at Buttercup's smug look. She probably knew the second she saw her. Blossom could try to fool everyone in the village, but Buttercup couldn't be easily misled.

She sighed. "Well…. Coincidentally—I have been planning to tell the both of you something. Something I've been meaning to tell you for a long time."

"What? That you have a secret lover, and he lives in the woods or something silly like that?" Buttercup snorted as she drank her tea.

"Actually, yes."

It was Buttercup's turn to spit out her tea. "I merely jest!"

Bubbles gasped loudly covering her mouth. "Blossom is this true?! How long have you kept this from us?"

Bubbles's question caught Blossom off guard. "….years…. actually."

"Years?!" The nearly screamed.

"Calm down! Please. Let me explain. I've known him for practically all my life. He is a family friend."

"If he is a family friend, then why has the Professor have not made mention to him, or why have we not seen him before?" Buttercup counted.

"On my mother's side, he is. He visits Grandmother Ida and takes great care of her when we are not able."

"And he resides in the woods?" Bubbles asked.

"It's strange, I know, but he would rather…prefer living there than in a village—like grandmother." She answered.

Buttercup folded her arms together. "So, those trips you took in the woods, instead of visiting your grandmother, you visited him?"

Blossom nodded her head. "Yes. I would still go see my grandmother, but I would always see him."

Buttercup frowned. "Blossom. You lied to the hunters. You lied to the people. You lied to father."

"Buttercup, please—"

"You lied to me! You lied to me, Blossom! What if something happened to you and we wouldn't know where to find you, because you've been lying to us all this time!? Why didn't you tell anyone?! What's the point of keeping this a secret from everyone—from us?! You don't trust us?!"

Blossom said nothing.

"All for a man we don't even know?! For all I know, he could be a killer, who has done nothing but manipulate you!" Buttercup pointed at her mark. "And what's even worse, is that you two have shared a bed together! Blossom—you know the crimes of being a harlot is punishable by death! So, why, Blossom?! How could you be so stupid?!"

"It's because she loves him." Bubbles answered.

Throughout Buttercup's rant, Bubbles stared at Blossom. She had remained quiet as Buttercup poured out to them her worries and frustrations. The news shook Bubbles as well, and worried for Blossom's safety, but the fact that Blossom had remained reserved for so long, Bubbles could only imagine that Blossom knew. She knew all of the consequences, she knew the ramifications of her lies, but she did it anyway—because she loved him.

"You love him, don't you Blossom?"

For as long as they knew Blossom, they had never seen her expression so bright and soft. The happiness on her face was unimaginable; she looked as though she was glowing in bliss at the thought of him and how much she loved him. Anything she could say that would describe her love for him, would not be enough to capture her feelings. Her eyes shone as though her eyes were made of stars, and while her smile wasn't big, the gentle curve of her lips was enough to brighten the saddest of hearts.

Blossom nodded her head. "I do. With all of my heart."

That was enough for Bubbles burst into silent tears, and for Buttercup to go silent.

"I know it was wrong for me to lie you two and to the rest of village, but I was afraid, not only for my life, but for his. I did not want to risk endangering his life."

"What do you mean?" Bubbles inquired. "Blossom, please, tell us so that we may understand."

"If I tell you, you must promise me that you may never tell anyone else in the village. Especially to the hunters."

"What about Boomer? Can I tell him?" Bubbles asked. Blossom could trust Boomer; he was like a brother to her.

"Of course."

"What about your father?" Buttercup asked breaking her silence. "Are you going to tell him all of this?"

Blossom looked down thinking about it. "I will. But I must be the one to tell him. No one else."

"I promised, Blossom." Bubbles said.

Buttercup nodded her head. "As do I. I'm no longer a hunter, so own them nothing." The girls giggled at her comment.

Blossom took a deep breath. "Okay. His name is Brick."

He missed her.

There wasn't a day that passed by that he had not thought of Blossom every second of the day. He wanted to see her, hear voice and breath in her scent. Brick hated that she must return to the humans, far away from his grasps. He wanted to keep her and share her with no one else. He wished he could lay waste to that miserable village and finally take her for himself.

The mere idea of it made him content.

Brick, in his beast form, laid on the grass listening to the forest he was tasked to maintain. The wildlife was thriving; the flora benefited from the rain days ago as plants flourished, and the multiplying herbivores were feasting to their hearts content. The chirping birds flew in the trees above him, the squirrels dashed through the grass beneath him, and the fish swam in the lake before him.

Everything was peaceful, as it should.

Everything was in place, as it should.

Balance needed to be maintained. The predators will return once again, to restore what the foolish humans tried to destroy. The forest will thrive under his protection. The forest will be safe for her, and she could stay with him forever and ever and be his.

The mere idea of it made him happy.

Brick jolted his head up.

He stood up and sniffed the air. There was no mistaking it: he smelt an intruder.

It wasn't a human. It smelt familiar.

Brick growled. "Not in my territory."

He let out an abrupt bark that was short enough to be undetected by the humans but was loud enough for the forest animals to hear. The forest fell into silence under his command. Brick focused his acute hearing to find the intruder. The bushes rustled from his movements; he wasn't very swift, but from the hard sounds of footsteps, he wasn't bothering to hid from him.

He was moving around him circling Brick like a prey—something Brick wasn't too fond off.

"Do no hide from me, brother! You will reveal yourself in my territory, or you will be slaughtered like the rest!"

"HA! DON'T MAKE ME LAUGH!"

Brick swiftly avoided a bolt of green lightning and watched it strike a tree into ash. He managed to predict the next attack and dodged it and ran to chase after his brother. His brother was running from him—good. Brick loved a hunt. He smelt his brother climbing up high in the trees using the height to his advantage. Brick dodged more bolts sent his way; despite his large mass, Brick was very swift as his speed increased.

"YOU'VE GOTTEN SOFT BROTHER!" He heard his cackle echo high above. His brother will do more harm if he didn't catch him soon. Thinking quickly, Brick raced far ahead and jumped off a tree to reach his brother's height. Just as he had crushed him in his teeth, his brother's form evaporated. Brick slammed onto the ground fooled by an illusion.

"TRICKSTER!"

He was only answered by the haunting echo of his brother's howls.

Brick sniffed the ground tracking his brother. He found him once again—this time, he found him invading his home base. Brick raced to his tree as quickly as his legs could take him, but halfway, Brick lost his beast form and changed into a human once again. His speed decreased significantly, but he was able to reach his home without being detected.

Brick hid just as he was a meter away. Hiding in the bush, he saw him

Butch the Trickster.

His wild and unpredictable brother. Raven hair unkept like a madman, crazed eyes green like envy, the clothes he wore were from their damned realm—dark as sin lined in his signature green color. He had his weapon—an axe, stained in crimson red. It was human blood.

Butch was invading this hut going through his things and dismantling everything he could find. Brick watched as Butch picked up his red cap and tossed it in the lake; he held back his growl and moved quietly to get closer to him. His brother couldn't detect him—he wasn't paying attention.

Perfect.

But the time Butch had heard him rustling in the rushed, it was too late. Brick transformed back into a beast with his fangs and claws sharpened for the kill. He lunged forward and tackled Butch to the ground, however, Butch was quick enough to swing his axe at his side. The blade sunk deep onto Brick's side forcing him to withdraw his teeth, but he kept paws on top of Butch. He stabbed his claws onto his brother's flesh causing Butch to shout to the heavens in pain.

"ARGH! For Him's sake! Brother! I only jest! MERCY!"

"I have NO mercy for intruders! You have stepped onto my land and you will face the consequences—just like the rest!"

Butch chuckled. "Brother." He sang. "Dearest brother—" He coughed up some blood. Brick didn't bat an eye. "—will you please…reconsider your rules for your own blood?"

"My own blood? You mean the same blood that has hunted me down for past two centuries like cheap game?! The same blood who has damned me to suffering imprisonment?! THE SAME BLOOD WHO CURSED ME AS THIS BEAST?!"

Butch chuckled like a hyena in response.

"No. I will not allow ANYONE of my blood to step in my land and live." Brick opened his jaws and prepared to devour Butch whole.

"BRICK! STOP THIS!"

The sound of that voice made Brick freeze in his tracks. He retracted his fangs and turned around to see his Blossom tears streaming down her beautiful face at the sight of the blood and carnage he had caused.

"Blossom…" At her distress, the claws retracted from Butch's chest and Brick released him. Blossom took a step back away from Brick much to his panic. "Blossom! No! It's me!"

The second he turned into a human, the wound from the axe ignited in sheering pain causing Brick to stumble and fall on the ground. But despite the pain, he managed to raise his head up to his love to show her that he wouldn't harm her. "Blossom please, I—!"

"Pathetic."

Brick watched as the Blossom he had been groveling for was nothing more than a mere illusion; a cheap imitation of his love faded away into nothingness.

A trick crafted by his own brother.

Before Brick could react, he howled in agony as Butch pressed his boot on Brick's wound.

Butch laughed like a madman.

"I KNEW IT! IT KNEW IT! I KNEW IT! I KNEW I WOULD FIND YOUR WEAKNESS! AND IT WAS A HUMAN GIRL! HOW PATHETIC OF YOU BROTHER!"

Brick tried to transform, but an axe to his neck stopped him in his tracks. Butch wagged his finger.

"No. No. No~ I can't you do that!" He pressed harder on his wound forcing Brick to cry out in pain. "Now, you listen to me, brother! I am in need of your assistance!"

"Ugh! What makes YOU THINK THAT I WILL NOT RIP YOU TO SHREDS INSTEAD?!"

"Oh, my dear brother~ Isn't it against the Law to lay with a human?"

Brick blood ran cold. "You. Wouldn't. Dare."

"I wouldn't, if you let me borrow your power~!" Butch cackled. "Plus! I'll let you try to kill me another day! What do you say?"

"Fine. I'll let you live for now." At Brick's word, Butch stepped away from allowing Brick to try to heal his wound. Brick tried to stand, but he saw Butch extend a hand out to him.

Reluctantly, Brick grabbed his hand and pulled himself up—but retaliated by slamming Butch back on the ground. "My territory. My rules. You will not stay in my hut. You will not feed on my creatures. And you will not touch my humans—especially her."

"As you wish, brother." Butch sneered with a toothy grin.

"Clean this mess. And retrieve my hat." Brick commanded as he staggered back to his large tree hunt.

I was going to leave this at a cliffhanger, but its been a while since I last updated so I won't do that to ya'll.

So, what is Brick? What is his purpose? Why is Butch there? What is his purpose? Will Blossom be free by her three day period?

BunnyKoi Says: "I'm trying to keep the peace."