Jason hadn't realized what was happening and didn't have time to react. The arrow flew through the air, grazing Jason's face diagonally, cutting into the skin. He screamed in pain, falling to the ground and covering his face.

Stampy quickly dropped down with him, ears flattening. "Jason! Oh my- I'm sorry! I just heard the arrow whistling and didn't realize you were still holding onto me and-"

"DON'T **ING TOUCH ME!" Jason screamed. Without thinking he slapped Stampy across the face, the sound echoing throughout the clearing. Silence immediately followed except for Jason's sobs.

Stampy had fallen backward at the impact and slowly lifted his hand to his cheek, tears spilling down his face as he stared at Jason, ears flat. He opened his mouth as if to say something but couldn't find the words and just looked away, tail curling around him.

Jason covered his face back up, blood oozing onto his shirt. The rest of the team stood in awe, almost frozen. It didn't even appear as if they were blinking.

Stampy took a shaky breath. "J-Jase... I-I-"

Jason's body shook. He looked away, curling in on himself. The others had now formed a small cluster, looking at each other but not saying anything.

Stampy was shaking too. "Jason... Please... I'm so sorry... I didn't mean too..." He tried.

Jason remained silent.

Sky jerked back to life and was the first one to speak up. "Dude.... just leave him alone..."

Stampy gave a soft sigh and pushed himself up and turned to them his usually bright and energetic eyes, cold and angry. He had many things he'd like to say to them but Jason still thought they were real so he held back, not wanting to upset him further.

His tail slowly moved behind him like a cat's would when stalking its prey. He watched them carefully but didn't move from his place beside Jason in his defensive stance, not allowing any of the others to get even slightly close to him.

"Come on Jason... lets go." Ty walked over and held out an arm. "Let's get you away from here." He glanced at Stampy.

Jason looked up Ty then back to the others. He was tired, everything hurt, he just wanted to go home. But would he really leave Stampy for that?

"I... I don't know..." Jason bit his lip.

"What do you mean? He hurt you Jason. Just say the word and we'll get you away from... him."

Jason shook his head. "I just..." His head was beginning to hurt.

Stampy glared but made no moments other than to keep himself between Jason and the others, tail swishing as a warning, daring them to try.

He glanced back at Jason, eyes softening.

I'm just trying to protect you, Jase. I hope you'll forgive me... he thought to himself before turning back to the others, expecting a fight.

"I think this place has driven him mad Jason. Putting him down would be an act of mercy..." Mitch snarled.

"Look at him, Jason! He acts more like a cat than a person!" Husky exclaimed.

"He hurt you once he could hurt you again." Sundee added.

"Guys enough..." Jason sighed, he tried to stand up but fell back to the ground. "We can just... let's go..."

Stampy turned to him, eyes wide and fearful, tears beginning to brim them. "Wh-what?" His voice shook. "Jason, please, don't do this... they aren't who you think they are... Jason, you're the only one I have here... please... don't leave me..." Stampy tried to approach him but his shaking made it hard to without collapsing to the ground.

Jerome stood between the two, the scars on his face still visible. Mitch joined him, bow still in hand. Jason took Ty's hand and stood up, face still covered.

"Let's go get you fixed up." Said Husky.

Jason nodded.

Stampy stared at them all, unsure of what to do. He could lunge, but he doubted he could take them all.

But it was that or let them take Jason...

He narrowed his eyes and lunged for the nearest one.

Mitch was quick in grabbing Stampy's arm, Jerome grabbing the other.

Sundee and Husky stood so that Jason would be unable to look back at the commotion.

Stampy struggled, starting to panic.

"Captain... I regret to inform you but your friends are correct. Stampy has fallen to the verge of insanity. He acts impulsively and without thinking it through, he has nearly gotten you killed a couple of times now, Captain.... With all due respect, I recommend putting him out of his misery..." Stella finally piped up.

Stampy looked up at that. "Wh-what?! No, I haven't! Stella, I thought you were on my side! Jason, please!" Stampy begged.

Jason froze. "What? Stella no..." He looked around, realizing that he was completely surrounded. "This... this isn't right..."

"If we don't do something about him he'll kill us." Sky said.

"But... we can't kill him." Jason replied

"Then what do you suggest we do, Jason? Let him loose so he can maul us? Tie him up and leave him or for him to cut through the ropes?"

"Block him in a cave or something? What do you want us to do?"

"We aren't doing that!" Jason tore his hands away from his face. "What's gotten into you guys?"

"We're only trying to help!" Exclaimed Ty.

"By murder? I know you guys... you'd never do something like this!"

Stampy had been muffled by Jerome's large paw, watching with wide eyes as he panicked.

"Jason, he is going to kill us if we let him go! So who are you willing to risk?! Us, your family, or some probably insane cat hybrid you just met like, yesterday?! And if you don't want him dead then give us a better option! Cause we are just trying to protect each other from this psycho!" Sky told him.

"You really think that he'd be able to kill all of us?" Jason's voice rose. "He's not dangerous! I should know!" Jason broke free of Ty's grip. "Wait, how did you know that I just met him the other day? I've been here for years, I could have known him that entire time but you knew it was just a few days ago."

"Didn't you mention it when you told us where you had been?" Sky asked back.

Stampy narrowed his eyes, taking the moment of distraction to bite into Jerome's hand making him pull away with a cry, letting go of his arm too.

Stampy swiftly turned around and scratched Mitch a couple of times, one of them, deep across his chest, pulling free of his grip too.

Mitch fell to the ground with a scream, black blood oozing from his chest.

"Mitch!" Jerome kneeled down by Mitch, pulling a diamond axe out of his inventory and brandishing it at Stampy.

Stampy braced himself, ready to try to leap out of the way.

Jason panicked, pushing Husky and Sundee out of the way. He looked over at the havoc that had just occurred. He stood there, frozen.

Jerome let out a cry and lunges towards Stampy. Sky approached, an enchanted golden sword in hand.

Stampy leapt a good five or so feet into the air and over Jerome, landing behind him, slashing at his back with his claws.

Jerome turned around, growling under his breath, he advanced towards Stampy.

"Stampy stop!" Jason stepped forward. "It doesn't have to end like this!" He was crying again.

Stampy glanced at him but said nothing. He was in fight or flight mode and was simply trying not to get killed. He kept his distance from Jerome, trying not to hurt him as Jason wanted but was willing too if he got too close seeing as he was gonna try and kill him anyway.

"GUYS STOP!" Jason yelled. Husky grabbed onto his arm.

"Jason. Stop." Husky's voice was stern. "This is the only option."

"NO. IT. ISN'T." Jason pulled away from the mudkip's grasp, running forward. He felt himself being pulled again, and before he knew it he was in Sky's arms, sword held at his neck.

Stampy stopped, eyes now on Sky and Jason, body tense. "Release him. Now." Stampy hissed, warning them, tail fluffing up, paying Jerome no attention anymore.

"Make me." Sky squinted, the sword pushing into Jason's neck and drawing blood.

"Sky... please... this isn't like you-" Jason paused. Stampy was right, there aren't his friends.

Jerome continued to go towards Stampy.

Stampy narrowed his eyes, ear twitching hearing Jerome approaching him but still made no moves, knowing any wrong one could hurt Jason.

Out of nowhere Jason elbowed Sky in the stomach. Sky cried in pain and moved his hand, dragging the sword across Jason's torso. Jason ran away, seeing for the first time Sky's bright red eyes staring back at him.

Stampy ran forward to close the gap between them and retracted his claws on one hand, grabbing a hold of Jason's wrist. "Run!" Stampy told him, pulling him along behind him.

Jason ran as fast as he could, clutching a hand to his neck.

"GET 'EM!" Sky yelled. The rest of the team grabbed pulled out their weapons and began to make chase.

(Hey guys, quick Authors note! First of all; We try to update every other day. Second; Please leave us some comments! We see your votes and we are so happy you all seem to enjoy this but we'd love to see your comments too! And if you didn't know, we have a notebook story where we post art and references for the story! I think that's it so again, thanks for reading! ~Molly)