His arms were strained and tired, and he hadn't even done much yet. Dark, savage bodies tried to break through the translucent shield, their gaping mouths threatening to swallow him whole once they had their way. Frantic, guttural growls filled the air, frustrated how they couldn't reach him yet...not yet.

Cuervo knew about magic. He had practiced it when he was young, but the lessons he once had were blurred, the details lost. Much of the time he had to rely on instinct and pure luck to summon any spells now, and he admitted he wasn't that good. He had lacked to study the arcane craft as he grew older, due to either waning interest or plain laziness. The natural talent he had for it was his only saving grace, but it was a talent he neglected to nurture.

He only brought forth the shield out of desperation. The sunlight reflected off the glass-like surface, shining in the rabid eyes of the attackers as well as his own crimson ones. He had succeeded in stopping them, but now what was he supposed to do? His black fur-covered body was already shaking, the outstretched arms feeling heavy. The half-hearted defense wouldn't last long.

He felt more than heard the heavy panting behind him. The wolshen could just imagine Sen in his state; exhausted, barely holding himself together, his pale, thin body dressed in scratches. He couldn't fight them off anymore, he had to turn his full attention to just breathing properly. But he wouldn't be kneeling on the ground ready to collapse. Sen would be standing, a little stooped, but tense, prepared for anything if the monsters broke through the shield.

Cuervo grimly frowned. When they broke through the shield was more closer to the truth.

An attack spell came to mind, but he had forgotten the mechanics of it. He searched for it in a panic, but there was nothing solid or convincing that came to mind. His body jolted, bringing him back to the dangerousness of the situation. Claws scrabbled at the weak shield, breaking it apart. He pushed the air, but it barely helped. He wasn't even sure just how many of the creatures there were! What he knew for certain was that he was losing, fast. He could still feel the warm breath of Sen's panting. Not even the predator could hold out for long. They were both going to die. Damn it, just how did that spell go?!

Footsteps moved closer to him. The breathing lessened, was more in control.

"You're not concentrating hard enough."

Not when you're breathing down my neck! Cuervo was tempted to speak aloud what he thought, but he was having trouble just drawing breath. He kept his gaze directed forward. What the hell was Sen talking about? He was putting all he can into this shield -no matter how horrible a shield it was- and trying to find the workings of that one, damned spell. He was even resorting to a backup plan with his sword, but he wasn't that great of a swordsman either. He was barely skilled in any area...

"Stop thinking about so many things at once." Sen's voice broke through his innate rambling. "You're supposed to focus during this kind of thing, aren't you?"

"Just back off and let me do this!" Cuervo snapped. His words were strangled, coming out in a pitiful croak. Of course he was focusing. It was hard not to focus on those monsters on the other side, or on the non-stop shaking of his limbs, or on the hopelessness of the situation...

"You have to move your arms up more." The voice was smooth, contrasting the chaos of his emotions. He felt Sen's body press against him from behind, grabbing his arms that were stretched forward. The metal hands of inconceivable design -blue clubs topped with five silver claws- that the pale wolshen always wore gently prodded the other's wrists. "You're letting it sink. The shield gets weaker that way."

It was an unexpected comfort, especially coming from the one that had been trying to kill him all this time. But current circumstances forced them together. There was nothing threatening in Sen's words or his actions, but strangely gentle. The steady breathing he felt brush his ear dimmed the sounds of the screaming monsters. The chest pressed against his back gave a strange kind of support. Yet this was crossing a boundary, and it...it had to be wrong. Not even enemies should be this close.

Cuervo turned his head slightly, grounded out his words. "How would you know about-?"

"I learned a few things about this, alright?" Sen was exasperated. He pressed closer. "And I can see that you're doing this all wrong. You're giving too much attention to those things and not enough on yourself. That, and you're panicking like a little girl."

"Are you saying I should just ignore them?" Cuervo didn't bother refraining the sarcasm from his voice, born from an undeniable fear.

"No, but you should be more focused on the offense now. You're getting distracted."

And you holding me doesn't do just that? Again, Cuervo bit off the words. The shield flickered, ready to give away. His teeth gritted, he pushed his arms out more. That should hold them back, at least for a few more seconds. Again, hopelessness took over.

The metal hands, their touch usually so cold and uninviting, gripped his wrists in reassurance. The claws steadied his shaking arms, holding them aloft.

"Do you remember the spell?"

Cuervo's voice was a mere breath. "...No..."

"Try to, and don't rush. Look through every corner, slowly."

"I have and I still can't remember!"

"If you learned it once, then it's still there, hidden in the back." Sen't tone was now one of patience. He placed his chin on Cuervo's shoulder. His presence gradually lessened the other's shaking. His words were soft and fluid, putting a calm order in Cuervo's mind.

"It'll be easier if you close your eyes."

No. If I do that, I'll lose my hold. Those things will break lose and tear us apart. There will be nothing left holding them back.

"Do it." The timing of Sen's words made him suddenly wonder if the predator had read his mind. "I'll watch them. Just focus on you now."

"Not me..." Cuervo pleaded against the odds. "I'll only fail..."

There was nothing at first. He could picture Sen's eyes narrow slightly, searching for better words.

"Fine. Focus on me then."

He held Cuervo tighter.

"Concentrate on me with you. I am always here. I won't let you go." Softer, now a whisper. "There is nothing to be afraid of."

"Nothing..." Cuervo echoed. His heart, that had been about to shot forth from his chest, now resumed a steady pace. He took deep breaths, eyes no longer on the shield and the horde of monsters, but the metal hands that gripped him. Strange how the fearsome weapons could reassure him so.

It was easier when he closed his eyes. The hands were the last things he saw, stayed imprinted in his mind. Sen's body warmth covered him pleasantly, caressing away his fears. He took the advice and traveled through his mind. Erratic images burst around him, remnants of memories. At first he was startled, but the costant presence of Sen calmed him. He ignored the images, looking through corners, finding the specific spell, the one he had once used as a child.

He came upon it unexpectedly. It lay there before its eyes, making him wonder just how he could miss something so obvious. The directions to the attack, the workings of it, it all suddenly made sense. Most of the panic had now completely left his body. He let the old, forgotten knowledge fill his mind. His hands moved in a pattern, guided by Sen's own. He wondered for a moment if the other knew the spell too, but it didn't matter now. It was all coming together. His words were short, halting, but confident, even when he heard the dreadful shattering of the shield.

The roars of the monsters turned to screams of pain soon after. Heat surrounded him suddenly, suffocating him. He coughed, feeling weak. The metal hands squeezed his wrists. He pictured Sen's face, violet eyes hard, but supportive. The hands fell into its own dance. No claws or teeth marred him, it was as if the shield was still up.

Yet there was still doubt. What if it wasn't enough? Even if one was still left alive, they would be torn down, because of him, all because of-

"Don't lose yourself... I'm still here."

It ended much more quickly than he realized. Even when the frightening sounds ended, he let his hands continue to move, bringing forth an unnatural fire that consumed the air. The claws, a sleek silver, poked the back of his hands, bringing a pain that was not meant to intimidate, but to bring him back to reality.

When he opened his eyes, there were only heaps of ash, baking in the sun. He looked down, finding what appeared to be the remains of a charred hand just a few inches away from his foot. A second more and it would have grabbed him, broken his concentration, pulled him away from...

Sen looked intently at all their broiled enemies, satisfied with the results. He was about to step back until Cuervo gripped his artificial hand, the hand he always steered cleared of, always so repulsed at their design and purpose.

"Don't...let go just yet."

Cuervo didn't look back. Whether out of shame, embarrassment, or perhaps just exhaustion; his words gave no clear image why. But there was something, and it made Sen stand still, suddenly aware of how any little action would feel to the other.

"Until I can pull myself together...can you...keep holding me?"

Sen wasn't sure if he should have said something, just to ease away the silence. But anything else he said would have been meaningless and break the sanctity of the moment. Nodding, he pressed closer, hands closing around Cuervo's gently, using the weapons as a source of comfort. He heard Cuervo give a sigh, bringing the metal hands to his chest. Both clung to one another, focusing on the one they held.

It was strange, feeling so at peace with the enemy.