Luda gripped Rathi's throat.

"Don't tell me what to do." He breathed.

Rathi gasped and reached for Luda's hand, but fell silent as two figures moved through the forest toward them.

"I know I heard something." Adamanti said as Ryou looked around the area- his gun at ready.

Luda's grip loosened on Rathi's throat as he watched the two men with narrowed eyes.

Rathi relaxed and moved in front of Luda protectively, his eyes alert and his body tense.

"Get back, I'm going to kill them." Luda said.

"There it was again, over there!" Adam pointed.

Rathi jumped forward without warning, his tail snapping up defensively as he hissed for a few seconds, before pausing as he realized who it was. "Ryou-!"

"Rathi, I almost blew your head off!" Ryou burst.

"What are you doing here?" Rathi inquired, still looking tense.

"Does it matter?" Luda asked. "They're armed."

He stood up and Adam stepped back.

"I know that voice!" He told Ryou hurriedly.

Ryou lifted his gun again.

"Both of you, stop," Rathi said, calmly. "No one has to die!"

"They may not have to, but that doesn't mean they won't." Luda replied. "You think you could be something on the same level as me and you're just too weak Rathi."

"I'm not weak, I'm kind," Rathi informed. "I know Ryou - he wont kill me. I can't say the same about you, however."

"Then what's the point." Luda smirked before his eyes began to glow.

Suddenly, Rathi's tail shot out and dug into Ryou's stomach. Ryou's eyes shot wide and his mouth fell open, his gun dropping from his hands to the ground as a red patch spread on his front.

Rathi's eyes went wide and his tail snapped back. He spun around and tackled Luda to the ground, pinning him with an angry snarl.

"Can you kill me Rathi?" Luda asked- still smirking. "Really?"

Ryou stumbled back a little- looking down at the growing, red blotch on his shirt in shock. He reachined up and grabbed a handful of his hair as his hand trailed down to cover his wound before he fell back into Adam's arms.

Rathi's eyes flashed dangerously for a few moments, before he suddenly snapped out and grabbed hold of Dolly, tearing the fabric in half with a loud growl.