Clutching the armrests of her seat, Miranda Wright knew something was wrong. The turbulence was the worst she'd ever experienced and being a frequent flyer due to work; she knew turbulence. The engines chugged and groaned, fighting against the wind. Opposite her, the only other passenger on the small charter plan seemed oblivious to the disaster that was around them. More lightning lit up the heavens before the plane dropped - loosing more air before the roar of effort filed the cabin and slowly they went back up.

Tap tap tap tap

"This is your Captain speaking, due to the change in weather conditions we will be taking a minor detour to try and avoid this rough patch. Please ensure all seatbelts remained fastened." The old captains voice did nothing to sooth her and looking behind her seat, the flight attendants kept themselves strapped in. Judging by the looks on their faces, they weren't used to it either.

Tap tap tap tap

"God Rory, stop tapping the fucking pen!" Miranda growled. Slowly releasing her grip on the armrests before checking her belt was still fastened.

"Relax Andy, this is one of the most sophisticated aircraft in the sky. Besides if we die, its all thanks to your boyfriend," Rory smirked, unbothered by the way the interior looked like it might fall apart any second or his boss's short temper. "Sorry, your boss."

"Boss, Rory, how many times do I have to tell you - he's only my boss. We had one kiss at last years Christmas party, it changed nothing!" Miranda managed to hiss at him while her teeth grinded together. She knew that was a lie, but would never admit. For all the promotions and oppurtunites that came her way, she couldn't fool herself for ever it was simply because of her work ethic and great organisational skills. The lights flickered and from above them, the oxygen masks were deployed. It was at that point in time the plane began to tilt towards the earth and gravity was forgotten.

"Please, no one is that desperate to get someone across the country if its strictly professional!" Rory snapped and once this was over, Miranda wondered how hard it would be to find a new personal assistant. Finding a good worker was hard, but finding one who could keep their mouths shut was impossible.

Thinking back to when she had taken on the internship when she was only eighteen had been risky, but had paid off and from her six months in the lower level positions she knew how brutal the office grapevine could be. Rory was easily the gossip king these days and what rumours he had started regarding her relationship - or lack of with their boss had her getting even more agitated. Then again, thinking of work or more so the gossip there, managed to distract her long enough so when the situation hit her, she fumbled with the mask as Rory put his on with more ease though with the same amount of urgency.

"Masks on and wait for further directions." The Captain blurted over the intercom. The private plane was too small for Miranda's liking. At least being on a domestic flight, there were more people, more plane and surely someone else would be freaking out to make her feel better as Rory acted like nothing was wrong.

Sitting opposite Rory wasn't how she wanted to die. Maybe tonight would have been the night when Jason finally took her into his office and did more than praise her work or tell her how much he loved her... working for him. As the lights blacked out, the Captain screamed mayday and the air hostess fainted. Miranda doubted she'd ever get to find out. Daring a look out the window, lightning lit up the sky to reveal nothing other than tree-tops. She didn't even know they flying over a forest and in the chaos of the situation she found a second of clarity to try and work out the detour the Captain had been taking.

Trees scratched the side of the plane and one of the engines exploded sending flames to tear up the rear of the aircraft. Rory screamed from behind the yellow mask that hid half of his face, though Miranda hardly heard a sound and as he reached out to take her hand, the slow motion ended and in a blur of flames, smoke and flashing lights the plane returned to the earth. Miranda's head snapped backwards against the headrest and as hell was unleashed around them, she missed it all - retreating into the peace and darkness of her mind.

-x-

Tap tap tap tap

Groaning, the white and grey wolf rolled up onto its stomach. He looked around the cave he called home and yawned noisily, eager to locate the sound of the insufferable noise that woke him.

Tap tap tap tap

Lightning sizzled through the air outside, offering him a chance of looking around properly. Getting up, he lazily stretched and listening to his surrounds the sound came from towards the back.

Tap tap tap tap

In an instant he realized what the noise was. The trickle of water leaking between the rocks fell as steady drips onto the rusting metal lid of what had once been a Batman lunchbox. He hurried over to the small pile of priceless items and trying to nudge the box out of harms way was proving harder than he thought.

In a series of cracks and breathless gasps the wolf disappeared and in his place, crouched a man. Rough, calloused hands gently picked up one of the few items that reminded him of another time and grabbing a piece of rag he wiped the water away, taking with it more of the black felt marker that once spelled out his name and owner of the tin leaving a faint blur.

"Braydon," he mumbled. Closing his eyes he tried to remember a time when he was something - someone. A lone tear ran down his cheek and putting his things in a safer position, he turned and became the wolf once again. Walking out into the storm, his pelt was soon soaking from the rains assault and as the wind howled by him, his own call of the night was carried with it.

The wolf hadn't gone far from his cave when the unnatural roar filled the forest he called home. The summer storm had sent the majority of the animals into hiding and looking around, he ran back out into the clearing. The decision to leave his own shelter was one that filled him with regret until he caught sight of the plane and took off as fast as he could in the direction in which it landed as explosions mixed with thunder.

By the time he got there, the worst of it was over. Taking in the sight of burning forest, smoking wreckage and mayhem, he knew he should check for survivors. It was the human thing to do. But then what? He didn't know first aid; he didn't want to be found. What did it matter to him someone chose to fly in this weather? From where he stood on the edge of the forest, he just watched and movement from under what had been a wing of the plane made him tense.

"Andy! I can't find Andy!" The hoarse voice screamed, close to hysteria. The human figure fell to the ground, throwing up as the smell of blood mixed in with the smoke and burning of the crash site. Another figure stumbled out, his state less mobile than the first humans.

"Dead, they're dead." The older voice mumbled, "We need to move."

"Is there a body? She wasn't in her seat. The chair came loose and-"

"I'm sorry kid, come on." Helping Rory stand, the two men moved from the wreckage. They leaned against each other for support, coughing, crying and barely evading death themselves. The rain began to pour down, harder than before and the wolf keenly followed the survivors. The older one seemed to know what to do; taking out devices from a suitcase. It was some kind of radio and despite favoring his arm as well as his whole right side; he managed to get it working instantly calling for help.

Rory threw up again, groaning as there was little shelter from the storm and before long both men had passed out beside each other. It was the closest to humans the wolf had been in quite a few years and while it was safe to do so, moved among them curiously. He inspected the few things the old one had carried from the wreck, the first aid box the most interesting he decided to add it to his own collection of things as he remembering the time he had a splinter in his finger, it was a wise choice.

With the white box in his mouth, he walked towards the bulk of what had been a plane for one final look and that was when he heard it. The whimpering was more enticing than an injured animal and he couldn't go without finding it first. Dropping the box, he moved towards the second part of the wreckage, and then among the smoldering forest.

His nose quivered, trying to find something even more unusual within the mess and as if to help him the rain eased up. In its place came thunder, which clapped like cannon fire above him and as he was about to turn to leave, he smelt something. It was sweet and delicate; like the meadows in springtime when they were alive with an assortment of floral scents. Perfume.

It was then he saw the hand and as the thunder stopped the faint cry for help met his ears. Moving closer, the first piece of debris could be pushed out of the way with his nose and seeing the arm the hand belonged to, he ended up shifting into his human form to move the other few pieces.

Beautiful.

It was the only word he could think of to describe the damaged figure in front of him. Her eyes were shut and long lashes rested on bloodied, dirty cheeks. Her once golden hair was the same yet the state she was in didn't bother him.

Beautiful.

The wolf inside seemed to agree to the word he applied to her and then to both of their horror and amazement her fingers twitched, and full lips that were smeared with more of her blood and ash slowly moved.

"Hel-p." It was barely a breathless moan and his first thought was to take her to the men. If they thought everyone was dead, clearly they were wrong. The younger one had looked for an Andy and he wasn't around. Surely they would be happy to see this one alive?

Her cries were weakening and as if sensing she was being watched, she slowly and with much difficulty, managed to open her eyes. They closed barely a second later and Braydon reasoned with his mind and wolf that he couldn't take her to the ones who didn't even try looking for her. They didn't deserve her.

How do you know?

The presence in his mind wasn't impressed, not liking the change in the humans' normally submissive behavior which had been what got them out here in the first place. "I just do."

Her breathing was shallow, raspy and carefully he lifted her from the rubble. Cradling her gently against his chest, he remembered the first aid kit and went to collect it. Then he started to run and by the early hours of the morning, the storm had passed. Clouds cleared the sky and the stars finally appeared. He knew he was still a good few miles from home. The walk back as human always took longer and carrying the woman, as tiny as she was, slowed him further.

Gently putting her down on a boulder by the river, her arm fell down into the water and purely on instinct he cupped his hand to gently wash her skin. Blood clouded the space beside them, and with more wounds to clean, he saw only one option and the confusion in his mind translated easily.

What are you doing?

"Washing." Braydon mumbled, used to talking to the voice of his wolf out loud. His voice caused Miranda to stir slightly and the sensation of her arm being rubbed soothed her back into unconsciousness.

Carefully he tried to move her closer to the water. Taking off her pants, the black barely there panties made him stop. They hugged her lower hips perfectly, and distracted his finger ran along the top of the lace around the band that held them in place around her waist. Swallowing nervously, the buttons of her blouse were undone next and the first thing he noticed were the dark marks bruising smooth creamy skin. As he went back to taking off her shirt the matching black bra had him entranced. Her chest barely moved with her struggling breaths, and just underneath her right breast there was something tattooed in a curly font. Braydon studied it for a moment, struggling to remember how to read.

"Young hearts run free." It took him a few minutes to sound out the words, the font not helping. "I wonder what that means?" His wolf offered no help in deciphering the message and with her now only in her underwear, he stared again. The opposite sex had only just started becoming interesting to Braydon, when he was chased from his home. Before that, girls were just annoying classmates who didn't do any of the cool stuff the boys did like take out dirt bikes in the mud or play sports.

This was different. A lot of time had passed since he thought Isabel Conetti was the prettiest girl in his class and the lunch break where they held hands for the whole session meant they were 'together'. He wanted to hold this woman's hand all day - not just for lunch. Looking at her breasts, it wasn't actually her hand he wanted to hold now either.

Licking his lips, a feeling of need came over him. It was like hunger, but maybe more consuming. It was definitely more distracting...

Wash her.

Shaking his head to try and get back his focus, the wolf's voice was more scolding than telling him what to do now. He didn't need to be told twice and the woman was smoothly moved down into the water. He made sure keep her hair dry, not letting the blonde locks go near the water he managed to keep the bulk of it over his arm so only the ends got wet. Slowly the dirt and blood were washed away, her body instinctively leaning into him as the cold water covered her. The freshness of the river has her skin breaking into goose bumps and by the time he was finished, she was trembling nearly as much as he was but for completely different reasons.

The state of her clothes was as ruined as her body and leaving her away from the water on the bank, he put her clothes in the water too. Memories of his Mother hanging washing came to mind, a chore he had forgotten about and tried to rub them like he had washed her skin. The black burns disappeared only the blood seemed to stain it, and looking at the wet clothing and then then woman he couldn't dress her in them again. Not until they were dried at least. He didn't need clothes, usually sticking to his wolf costume. This girl was all human so didn't have that option and judging by how cold she was now - she needed a blanket or new clothes. She needed something.

Moving her closer to the rocks, most predators were still away due to the storm and taking his chances, Braydon shifted and ran back to the crash site. The old one was now dead and Rory was still asleep, only now he was curled around the radio box. Turning his attention to the deceased, the heavy jacket was removed from the body and as he moved past the wreck, he looked around for anything else she might need.

Walking by the smoky tail of the aircraft had him sniffing out something else and looking into the burnt out hollow, something could have resembled a person had him pulling away. Death lingered, setting his wolf on edge and giving up, the jacket would have to do. He folded it as best he could and once back in wolf form he couldn't help the drool that dampened the section he held within his jaws.

He was getting tired from all the moving around, and by the time he managed to go back to where he left her dawn had started to take over the world. He was gentle as he went back the womans side, carefully lifting her away from where he had hid her. Her cut, dried lips were tinged with blue and going into the first aid kit, he knew the stinky stuff would stop her cuts getting infected. Splashing it all over her, a bit of the liquid got into a cut of his own and he hissed from the sting of it touching him. Giving up on it, he threw the bottle away and attempted to put on a couple of bandages because thats what came next and finally he slipped the jacket on her. The wet clothes were slung over his shoulder and he rested the first aid box on her stomach before he scooping her back up.

Morning had arrived by the time he was home. She didn't open her eyes again or say anything as he found a dry section near the back to set up a make do bed. Putting her down amongst the dry leaves, he went outside and going into the forest, hung her clothes to dry amongst the branches of a heavy tree. The night was had worn him down too and her limp form hadn't moved from where he left her when he returned.

"Will she die?" Braydon asked softly, if there was anything he understood more in the world, it was death. If there was one other thing he knew, especially on the slightly colder nights was to keep warm and thats where his thoughts went with his wolf.

Keep her warm.

Braydon only knew to trust the voice in his head; the presence of his wolf had ensured his own survival this whole time so it must know what was happening now. A shifters animal companion was in some ways a guardian angel, a spirit guide and so shifting back into the grey and white figure, he carefully moved to lie beside her. His head rested on her belly, hoping his own warmth would transfer over to her and with the leaves underneath and dry rock around them he didn't have to worry about keeping her warm at all.

-x-

It was nearly mid-day when Braydon woke up to more thunder. Only as he carefully got up from beside his prize, he realized it wasn't thunder at all. Rushing to the cave opening, the giant white helicopter flew like an eagle above and as the heavy thud of the blades disappeared, he looked back to dark corner.

She doesn't belong here; give her back to her own kind.

Her own kind? He was her kind too, but deep down he knew that was a lie. Ignoring the nagging to do the right thing, he went back to check on her. She was paler in the faint light of day that made it's way into the cave. Sweat was beaded along her forehead and every now and then she would mumble something he couldn't understand in her sleep.

Did she like blackberries?

Another helicopter went past and his curiosity got the better of him. Despite still feeling tired, he took off in the direction of the plane crash, by the time he arrived the clean up was in full swing. Staying out of sight, he watched on with interest. All the humans seemed to have their own job to do and creeping around the edges, Rory and the old man were gone.

Braydon listened in where he could. The talk of Rory being the only survivor pleased him, as that meant no one would be looking for her; who ever she was. As if hearing his thoughts, one of the police officers put down his folder and squatted away a few friendly mosquitoes.

"Shame about Miranda, my brother knows Jason Carpe and he is devastated."

"As you would be. Glad I'm not the one telling her family the news!" His co-worker agreed, grabbing a bottle of water from the table someone yelled something from the plane and he put it back down.

'Her name is Miranda,' Braydon thought, liking how it sounded.

Send her home, she needs her family.

He had family once. His Mother left him first and then his Father. The others all turned away from him too and the anger that took over when ever he thought of them had a growl rumbling in his chest. Those people wouldn't care if she was gone, humans were cruel in nature and even the way Rory had looked for was pathetic. He didn't care. If he hadn't come along she would have been left hidden in the rubble to die and now these two barely paid her much attention as well.

Risking a shot at being seen, Braydon jumped up and grabbed a bottle of water. These people weren't worth any more of his time and Miranda was better off without them too. Once he was back at the cave, he shifted again. His jaw ached from the way he had to carry the bottle back, and after stretching a few times he loosened up enough to ignore it. Taking the water to her, he knew she needed something to drink from until she could go down to the river. Sitting her up, he tried to get her to drink some and after a few attempts at waking her up - she took a few sips. Blink by blink, her eyelashes fluttered open so she found herself staring into dark brown eyes that were wide with curiosity and concern.

"Who are you?" Miranda amanged to ask, her voice like sandpaper, which was how her throat felt. She began to cough, her throat aching from the smoke she had inhaled. Her second of clarity left her and she sunk back into his arms. He kept up his care all day, attempting to use different things in the first aid kit to wake her up with no luck. Whenever he was sick, he slept so by the second day, he let her be.

He stuck to his normal routine only now he made sure to keep the bears away from his home and the jaguars. Most animals stayed away because they already sensed something different about him, with their fear also came respect so the cave was left undisturbed. By the time the wolf pack he occasionally ran with appeared, he was glad for the company since the human didn't offer him any. Maybe that would change when she woke up.

If she woke up.