Authors Note: See disclaimer on first page, beta'd by Kitty29

As Gilbert and Antonio walked farther into the forest a feeling of being watched crept over them.

"You sure you know where we are going?" Gilbert asked nervously, casting a wary look over his shoulder.

"Not really," Antonio replied, "Kiku just told me to walk into the forest."

Gilbert froze and glared at Antonio's back. "I thought you knew where Ludwig is." He accused angrily.

"I only know where he was headed, so I figured that we could head in that direction and work from there." Antonio said cheerfully as if he couldn't feel the death glare that was aimed at his back.

"That was un-awesome Antonio." Gilbert said scowling, but before Antonio could reply an arrow flew through the air and landed in a near-by tree.

"Take one more step and the next arrow goes through you." A hard, accented voice said and both men froze. A blond haired boy pushed through the undergrowth, violet eyes flashing angrily as he gripped his bow, arrow knocked ready to fire. The boy wore forest green pants that looked easy to move in, berry red shirt and archers wrist guards, on his belt that looked like it was made of woven reeds were a pair of thin wood sticks. As Gilbert looked at him, he figured the boy couldn't have been more then nineteen summers.

"I sing freedoms song,"Antonio said smoothly acting like he was talking about the weather. "As does he."

The boy relaxed slightly, though kept the arrow ready to fire and replied, "Who taught that sweet song?"

"Kiku Honda."

"Introduce yourselves then," The boy said releasing the string slightly so that the arrow simply fell to the ground, he picked it up, dusted it off and put it back into the qiver

"I'm Gilbert of Shanna," Gilbert said trying to keep the confusion from his voice. The boy stiffened slightly but other than that made no move.

"Antonio Valeraz."

"Gilbert I get the feeling you are confused you do not know of us?" The boy asked, sounding startled. "Then why are you here?"

"I ran away from home, and am looking for my brother." Gilbert answered.

"You have a brother," The boy stated, looking thoughtful. "Let me ask you this; is your father putting you up to this? 'Cause I know the Lord of Shanna and his kind are not welcome here, and unfortunately we know nothing about you."

"You do not trust us?" Antonio asked mildly, raising an eyebrow.

"I don't trust him, there are too many questions surrounding him," The boy said jerking his head at Gilbert. "However, if Kiku can vouch for you Antonio then we can see the Seer and have him test Gilbert of Shanna's trustworthiness."

"You said questions," Gilbert interrupted a bit put out by the boy who acted older than he looked. "What do you mean?"

"Oh there are several but the one that stands out the most is why didn't you follow your brother when he left."

"He asked me not to. Said that it was more dangerous if both of us left. He was right of course; Father flew into a rage that didn't let up for more than a year, 'course Ludwig was always the better son." Gilbert laughed bitterly, and shrugged.

"I see, so you are the brother that Ludwig constantly talks about," said the boy thoughtfully. "Back to the matter at hand though, would you guys mind waiting for the Seer?"

"Nope, we don't have anywhere we need to be, but you haven't told us your name yet." Antonio said cheerfully, causing the boy to groan.

"Matthew, I don't expect you to remember though, no one really does anyway." He turned and squatted close to the ground before speaking to a mouse that had just run up. "Can you get Arthur, please? Also tell him to use his Shindrig form."

The mouse squeaked and scurried off, much to Gilbert's shock. Looking up Matthew offered a shy smile and motioned for Gilbert and Antonio to sit down. "Now we wait, it'll be at least fifteen minutes so you might as well get comfortable but at least he'll be here quicker than if he just came as a human."

Gilbert did as was suggested a little bewildered by the quick change in Matthew's mood.

"So the tales are true." Antonio said as lay on the ground, arms behind his head acting as a pillow.

"Which tales? There are plenty of tales that are told, like that the forest is haunted by ghosts." Matthew said dryly.

"No the ones that are whispered when none of the Kings right hand men or those who wish to be by the King are around. They say you are shape shifters, able to turn into an animal, only one." Antonio replied. Gilbert frowned, he hadn't heard of the tales, then his mind ran over what Antonio said again and understood. Because he was close to royalty these stories would not have reached his ears.

"You heard those tales?" Matthew asked sounding surprised, "I didn't think they'd reach farther then the villages near the forest."

"I love listening to the old tales," Antonio said, "Some of my fondest memories are of listening to my Grandma telling tales of the days before this blasted monarchy came. She always said that there were still shapeshifters around and that one day they would rise up and all would be well in the land again."

Matthew nodded, a fond smile curling his lips. "That's what we say also. Sometimes when the weather gets bone cold and we are all forced into our Shindrig forms loosing hope, one of the elders or the Seer'll tell us that we are to rise again." He paused and added. "Shindrig is our word for second form, every shapeshifter has a Shindrig form but legend has it that some people have a third form called a Trinan form and that those who have this Trinan form are destined for greatness."

Quiet settled like a cloak around the three of them and Gilbert didn't say anything, not wanting to disturb the peace. Fifteen minutes later the sound of something rustling in the undergrowth startled them out of their thoughts and Matthew rose. A fox slunk out and transformed into a medium sized man with blond hair, green eyes and thick eyebrows who wore a light yellow sleeveless shirt and light green pants that were cut off at the knee, it was warm enough so that the clothes didn't look to unreasonable although nights were still cold.

"Why'd you call me…?" He asked trailing off looking quizzically at Matthew who sighed and said.

"Matthew, Arthur. I called you to ascertain that these people were trustworthy."

The man called Arthur glanced to Gilbert and Antonio and frowned slightly.

"They're okay, not spies though I still wouldn't trust them, my power can only see so much." He said grudgingly brows still furrowed. Matthew relaxed and said lightly.

"You don't trust anyone until they've proven themselves Arthur. Thanks for coming out and testing them anyway."

Arthur shrugged, "That's all then? I promised the idiot that I'd get some herbs for him, since he doesn't want to leave the Infirmary and he won't use his Shindrig form"

Matthew laughed softly and nodded. "That's it I'll show 'em to the village. Thanks again, happy gathering."

Arthur nodded slightly, "You'll find Ludwig at the training yards…" he trailed off looking puzzled.

"Matthew." Matthew supplied sighing, Arthur had the grace to look embarrassed before he shifted back into a fox and ran off.

"How did he know about Ludwig?" Gilbert asked, stunned. "And why did he forget your name?"

Matthew smiled shyly and said softly. "I'm really forgettable so people tend to either forget me or think I'm my brother. As for Ludwig, Arthur's the Seer, unfortunately that's about as much of an explanation as you'll be able to get." He shrugged apologetically and stood. "Ready? I'd like to get back to the village before dark."

Gilbert stood and offered Antonio his hand to help him up.

"Ready whenever you are." Antonio said cheerfully brushing leaves from his hair.

"Good, follow me." Matthew said starting into a trot heading in a direction different then where Arthur went. To Gilbert's surprise he found that there were hidden paths through the forest, marked only by less dense foliage.

"How do you not get lost?" Antonio asked from behind Gilbert.

"You get used to it." Matthew called back, "It helps if you grew up here."

Ten minutes later Matthew slowed down and let out an unearthly sounding howl startling Gilbert and Antonio. A second howl rang through the air and Matthew grinned. "Okay, we are clear." Noticing the looks he got he explained, "We do that so people in the training field don't get startled and accidentally hurt someone."

Gilbert and Antonio nodded before following Matthew into a clearing where there were about nine people. Gilbert looked around for his brother, trying not too look to frantic, but didn't spot him among the others. Distressed, he was glad when Antonio stated the obvious for him.

"Ludwig isn't here."

Matthew blinked before he too looked over at the training ground. Seeing that the others statement was correct, he turned to the two and said, "Wait here," before he trotted up to the nearest person.

Gilbert, meanwhile, ran a hand through his hair as he released a heavy sigh. Of course, how silly of him to just believe he could meet up with his long loss brother so easily. He didn't want to admit it, but a small voice in his head was constantly whispering that it would be a long time before he would see Ludwig once again, and it seemed as though that voice was right. Feeling a hand on his shoulder, he turned to see Antonio giving him a gentle smile, and he faked a small one of his own back. No need to bother the other with his own family politics, that would be unawesome.

It was then that Matthew decided to come back. "I think he's just taking a break," He reported. "He should be back soon."

A elated feeling rose in Gilbert's chest, and he fought to keep it from showing on his face. He opened his mouth to reply to the boy but hearing Antonio's words caused him to freeze.

"You look good Ludwig, these years have been kind to you."

Gilbert turned and stared at the man who seemed to have appeared from the forest like a spirit in a shirt with jagged sleeves, blond hair glowing in the late afternoon sunlight was Ludwig.