Author's Note: The fic you're about to read is far from the first fanfic I've ever posted. However, it is a remake of the first I've ever written. Sometime during my sophomore year in high school, I rediscovered it on the Internet, reread it, realized what a horrible piece of writing it really was, and deleted it out of embarrassment.

That being said, I doubt that there will be many people on this site that are aware of the original, or even aware of a site called MediaMiner, where it was posted in the first place. So let me tell my new readers now that the story that follows was originally conceived as a way to fulfill this author's (and her friend's) wishes for the cast of Wolf's Rain. It was fun, thoughtless, and despite how badly written it was, it ended up holding some very fond memories for me. That being said, I undertook this revamp as a way to do the original series justice by having the fic be well-written and well-thought out as possible, even with the addition of two original characters into the mix. I understand that stories written under such a premise usually have the expectation of being the exact opposite. Hopefully, my fic will manage to break that mold.

Please read, review, and if you find any problems, please be kind. Thank you.

Light Embracing Darkness: Chapter One

The Countess D

The world was absolutely, completely blank.

How long had she been traveling? Minutes? Hours? Maybe even days? Either way, this storm had refused to let up and she had been left trudging through the deep snow. The world was colorless, lifeless.

Lonely.

Hopeless.

Her legs crumpled beneath her, the cold biting sharply at her belly as it made contact with the snow. It would be easy, so easy to stay there, to close her eyes and rest, and hope that she'd be able to open them again in the morning. But despite her exhaustion, despite how futile continuing on would be, she forced herself to stand once more. She walked.

Instinct was all that had brought her here, in this direction, on this day. Instinct had led her to her death and made sure she was alone to greet it. And yet, for all that it had done for her, alone in a snowstorm, instinct was all she had, begging her, pressing her to loose the cry for help that was bubbling up in her throat.

She opened her jaws wide, giving into temptation for a moment before she shook her head, stalling the action every nerve of her body was urging her to do.

Humans would hear. It would only be a waste of breath; a call for the end to reach her quicker than it would have done before.

There wouldn't, couldn't be any of her kind to help her nearby. It was useless either way.

There were so many reasons to ignore what instinct was telling her to do. So many reasons to accept her fate and die there. But against all logic, against all reason, it stuck in her throat; that beastly call.

Growling at herself in disgust, she lifted her maw to the skies and let out a long, resonating howl.

"What was that?" Tsume's ears turned towards the mouth of the cave, as did his companions'. They'd all heard it in the distance, a sound barely muffled by the storm. It was unmistakable, and Tsume's question had been asked more in shock than with the expectation of an answer. For a long while, all the wolves in the cave were silent.

It was Hige who spoke first, getting up from his position on the cave floor. Toboe followed him, both of them bounding towards the entrance. "Aw man! Hey, hey, Kiba! There's someone out there!" Hige turned to look at the silent mass of white fur that still lay on the cave floor not too far away.

Without moving an inch, Kiba's eyes looked to Hige and Toboe in all their excitement before turning back to the mouth of the cave. Toboe walked a little closer to him, "We're going out to find them, aren't we, Kiba?"

Kiba seemed to think before answering, his eyes still searching for any more signs of life within the flurries of snow outside. Finally, he said softly, "Go back to sleep."

"What?" Hige blanched. "There's a wolf out there calling for help and you're not even going to try?"

"The storm's still too strong." Kiba said, his voice detached and methodical. "There's already one wolf lost in that storm, we don't need four more. We'll take some time to search when the storm's died down."

Toboe let out a cry of despair, "But by then it will be too late!"

"…There's nothing more we can do." Kiba replied, resting his head back onto his paws before saying gently, "Go back to sleep."

The pup stared at the wolf, his eyes pleading. But Kiba, having been in positions such as this one before, had already closed his eyes and was determined to keep it that way. Hige eventually led Toboe back to the back of the cave, if not grudgingly. It didn't take long for them to fall asleep.

Tsume sat across the cave from Kiba, looking out into the storm. "You know, they might be of use to us."

Kiba opened one eye to look at him, "It's still too big of a risk to take. Would you want Hige and Toboe out in a storm like that?"

"Is that the only thing keeping you from going out there?" Tsume smirked slightly, positioning himself to face the white wolf. Kiba sighed and shifted to face him as well. Obviously only half of the pack was going to get any sleep tonight. "I can understand Toboe. Hige, maybe, but he can handle himself pretty well… when he wants."

"Well in this situation, I think he might get a little overexcited." Kiba replied.

Tsume raised an eyebrow, looking over at him. "This situation?

Another pause came from Kiba. He started slowly, "I'm surprised Hige didn't notice. But… judging from the sound of that wolf's voice..." Kiba glanced back towards the husky wolf, "I'm pretty sure that the lost wolf is a female."

There was a beat before a loud barking laugh echoed through the cave. Kiba snapped his jaws and growled at Tsume at the sound, glancing back at the sleeping wolves at the back of the cave to make sure they hadn't stirred. Tsume chuckled for a few more moments before looking at him, "Damn, Kiba…" He laughed again, "You know we need one of those."

Kiba shot him a glare before laying his head back on his paws. "If she got this far, she'll have more than enough strength to last until morning."

"And if the storm doesn't die down by morning?" When Kiba didn't answer Tsume chuckled and waltzed over, speaking lowly into his ear. "Just know that you're leaving one of our own kind, a female nonetheless, to die out there in the bitter cold. And when we pass her carcass once the storm finally passes, you can be proud to say that it was all because of you."

All Kiba did was close his eyes and listen as Tsume went back to his spot across the cave. He listened for who knows how long, waiting. He could hear the fierce whistle of the wind outside of the cave, the swish of fur against stone whenever one of his companions moved, and eventually, the sound of even breathing as they all were immersed in a deep sleep.

He didn't know how long he listened, if he had even slept at all, but suddenly there was another call. A howl that was much fainter, more desperate than the last. This time Kiba slowly opened his eyes, lifting his head to look outside. Whoever this wolf was, she was either getting weaker or moving further away.

Not even five minutes passed before she tried again. By this point, Kiba shook his head and turned to Tsume's sleeping form, growling at it before trekking out into the snow.

Atra whimpered softly as realization slowly seeped in. No one would answer her calls, and no one would save her. How many minutes had it been since her last howl? Too long, Atra decided. She could almost hear a reply now, a delicious baritone note that echoed in the air. Of course, that couldn't possibly be real. It was too beautiful, too surreal that someone was finally coming to rescue her.

Weak. That's what she was. Worthless. And as she entertained those thoughts in her mind, her steps became as worthless as the wolf taking them. She looked up and whimpered again, only seeing white, white, and more white. She blinked, thinking she had seen a fleck of amber, but of course, that was impossible.

She let herself fall into the snow, burrowed in it until the cold ice pressed on her at all sides. What was killing her was becoming her sanctuary, a tool to avoid the pain, a way to numb herself to the cold.

As she drifted out of consciousness, she smiled. It was working.

Kiba growled in frustration. She hadn't answered! She had brought him out here, and for all he knew she could be dead by now. The silence was certainly ominous enough to make it seem that way.

He pushed himself harder, trying to sort out the tools he had at his disposal to find this wolf. His sense of sight was rendered useless by the blizzard and all using his sense of smell accomplished was burning his nose with snow. All he could rely on was her last howl, and if he didn't get it right, it was almost certain that they both wouldn't make it.

Finally, as he neared what he thought was the source of the sound, he saw it. Something dark hidden by the flurry of the storm. Hurrying towards it, he found just what he thought he would. A female already half buried within the snow.

He brushed the snow off her coat, pressing his nose to her neck to feel her faint but present pulse. He began to nudge her, tried to stir her but to no avail.

Kiba let out a soft sound of anxiety before rubbing his fur against hers, eventually reviving her enough for her to open her eyes. They stared each other for a few moments, Kiba looking into her brown eyes, and the stranger looking into his. It didn't last very long before she dropped off once more, weak and worn out.

With that simple sign of life, Kiba hoisted her onto his back and began to head back towards the cave.

"Lay down around her. She needs to be warmed up."

"What's going on? Oh!"

"…Aw damn it; you just had to hog all the glory, didn't you?"

Atra's brows furrowed, remembering the feel of warmth slowly surrounding her body… Where was she?

"So was she as strong as you thought she would be, Kiba?"

Whoever this Kiba person was, all he did in response was growl. If Atra wasn't practically dead, she'd probably find this amusing. She tried to open her eyes.

Three wolves, no, four, were circling around her. The first who lay beside her was dark reddish-brown, and was much younger than the others, barely more than a pup. The next who positioned himself at her side was butterscotch gold, the biggest, oldest, and as Atra discovered, the warmest. She moved closer to him, shuddering as another breeze swept through the cave. He snuggled against her in turn, apparently happy to offer his services.

Finally, the last two. A wolf with gray colored fur, though a lighter gray than her's, observed her, his gaze more critical than concerned. In the end, he didn't move from his spot at the wall of the cave. Then there was the white wolf. Atra turned her eyes wearily towards him.

He was stunning, and could barely be seen against the entrance with all that snow. Strong. He had the sense of a leader about him, even if he seemed to be the second youngest of all the four. Suddenly she realized he was staring back and automatically lowered her eyes.

A few moments passed, and he slowly stepped closer to her. Atra looked back up towards him and a jolt of recognition was sent through her. "You're…"

Before she could say anymore, he interrupted, "How do you feel?"

"…Better… Much better." She replied, unable to think of anything else.

The butterscotch wolf laughed against her, and Atra turned to face him, surprised at the jolly sound. "Well, I bet! Well, for starters, my name is Hige. That pup warming you up on the other side is named Toboe. That stiff in the corner's Tsume, and this here's Kiba." Hige jerked his head to the white wolf. "I believe he's the one who saved your ass out there."

The pup, Toboe, barked in a feeble attempt to reprimand him. "Hige!" After glaring at him for a couple of moments, he looked back towards Atra. "Are you sure you're alright?"

Atra paused before smiling and nodding slowly, turning to Kiba before saying quietly. "Thank you." She turned to look at the rest of the wolves in the cave, "All of you."

Hige nodded, "Hey, no problem! And… out of curiosity, what's your name?"

"…Atra." She replied slowly, even the sound of her name already foreign on her tongue.

Suddenly, a voice came from the gray wolf in the corner, Tsume. "You smell like a human."

Atra hesitated before saying quietly, "And you smell like a dog. I suppose we're even."

She watched his fur bristle. There was a low rumble as he growled at her across the cave, his eyes narrowing in a dangerous glare. But all Atra did was smile. After a moment, she turned back to Kiba. "I'll stay until the storm lets up… We'll part ways then."

Hige let out a groan of disappointment, "Don't tell me you're going to leave just like that! We wolves need to stick together!"

Before she could reply, Kiba added, "He's right. Before we start talking about you going out on your own again, you need to get your strength back…" He leaned down and nudged her gently, his tone gentle. "Sleep, Atra."

She didn't say anything in return, and didn't need to. As soon as Kiba said her name she felt an end to the whole conversation settle into the cave. Yawning quietly, she rested her head on her paws and watched as the white wolf walked back to his station at the the cave's entrance. Then, silently, she allowed herself to succumb to exhaustion and fell asleep.

Tsume watched the form of the new wolf, frowning as he did. Turning his gaze to Kiba, he spoke. "Wake her up."

"She's tired." He replied calmly, his eyes staring out into the now clear frontier of snow.

Tsume growled slightly, "At this point I'm thinking you should've just left her out there."

Kiba replied, using his same nonchalant tone. "Just because you got a whiff of human in her fur? You were the one who wanted me to go find her in the first place, and as far as I see it, she's still not ready to leave. Let it be."

Tsume made a sound of disgust, "You all get too soft around females for your own good."

Kiba sent him a glare before a loud yawn sounded further into the cave. They turned to look at Hige as he stretched and shook himself awake. Before he got up, he looked down to see Atra snuggled up against him, still sleeping soundly. "Hey… I think she likes me." He winked.

"If I was as cold as she was last night, I'd like you too." Tsume rolled his eyes. "And that's saying something." He paused before looking down at Toboe and Atra. "…At least wake up the kid."

Suddenly, a soft, weary voice spoke. "Let him sleep." Atra opened her eyes slowly for a few moments before closing them again. "I'll get up."

Tsume paused and rose his voice slightly, "Yeah? Well you don't seem likely to follow up on that any time soon."

"I've been awake since you started whining about it." She opened one eye once more, smiling slyly. When Tsume didn't say anything she slowly sat up, shaking her head and looking at Toboe. "Just let him sleep."

Kiba watched her for a few moments before saying simply, "Now that you're awake, I don't see the point. He's used to the way we move, and he should have been awake by now anyway."

"But he's just a pup." Atra looked at him quizzically, but before she could say anymore Hige was leaning over her and barking into Toboe's ear.

Toboe let out a loud yelp and got up in shock, looking around, panting. Tsume smirked, "What took you so long, kid?"

The pup looked at him, as if still registering his surroundings before saying slowly. "I had a dream we reached Paradise."

Atra looked at the pup, a hint of surprise in her expression before she realized the others around her had gone silent. Finally, Kiba smiled. "…Tell us about it while we're moving, Toboe."

With that, they were off.

"It was so amazing! There were all these red and blue flowers blooming as far as the eye could see! And guess what, they were all lunar flowers!"

"Have you ever seen lunar flowers before?" Hige replied skeptically.

Toboe hesitated, "…Well, no, not really." Then suddenly he launched back into his innocent enthusiasm. "But granny was there too and she took care of us and she cooked for us and made us all kinds of delicious food!"

"What are you talking about?" Hige said, his words edged with annoyance. Atra assumed the annoyance came from the inclusion of 'granny' in this fantasy more than anything.

Confirming Atra's suspicions, Tsume added snidely, "I guess he'll be happy being somebody's pet even in Paradise."

Atra looked at him but remained silent, sitting off to the side of the group.

"It's not what you're thinking! It was like a party and we were all treated as guests, and there was great music playing and everything!" Toboe said, pushing on, trying to convince them of his vision of Paradise.

Hige closed his eyes and turned away, "It sounds like a city coffee shop to me."

"But it's true, Hige! It was so amazing! It made me think it was really Paradise!" There his enthusiasm stopped, a part of him suddenly realizing that he wouldn't convince them of the merit of his vision of Paradise for the world. "It's kind of… hard to describe."

"Well, with a brain like yours, what do you expect?" Hige snipped.

"Give me a break!" The pup said indignantly, "Not even Kiba's told me what Paradise is really like so how am I supposed to know?" Defeated, he frowned and looked to Kiba, "What color are lunar flowers anyway, can you tell me that?"

Kiba smiled.

Atra took that moment to waltz towards the group, glancing kindly towards Toboe before saying, "I think this is where we part ways."

All eyes turned to her, Toboe's eyes in particular widening. "But why?"

She looked at him and laughed, "Well… Listening to the lot of you just now, our goals are very… very different." She looked towards the landscape in front of them, "The place I'm looking for is anything but Paradise."

Kiba examined the she-wolf in silence, his features shifting into a thoughtful expression. Hige spoke beside him. "But you can't go! There aren't any other wolves out there; and you traveling all alone? It just can't be safe!"

Atra grinned impishly, "You'd be surprised… Either way, I thank you for all you've done for me. And who knows, maybe we'll meet again." She began to move away from the pack before hesitating, turning to them one last time before setting off. "Maybe sooner than you think."

Following what they thought was the smell of lunar flowers, the wolves crossed a bridge to find the rancid ruins of a human city instead of the Paradise they sought. Kiba studied the wreckage as they walked through the streets, his chest becoming tight as he realized there truly wasn't, couldn't be anything to find here. His friends spoke around him, disappointed as he was. Suddenly, something caught his eye.

Hige was the first to speak, to announce what they already knew, "It's a woman."

Before they could see anymore of this she-wolf, her mate stood and stared them down, a scar etched into his left cheek. "Where are you boys from?"

"A city to the north." Kiba replied, a slight edge to his voice.

"Why are you here?"

Tsume cut in this time, "Just passing through. You don't expect us to do business here, in a dump like this?"

The wolf, the alpha of the pack as it seemed, didn't take his eyes off of Kiba. "…Well then, where are you going?"

"Where are we going?" Hige raised an eyebrow, looking to Kiba as if wanting to know the answer.

But before Kiba or any of the wolves could reply, Toboe spoke up. "To Paradise!" His honest reply seemed to be the biggest mistake they had made on the journey so far. As the strangers burst out laughing, Toboe looked to Kiba in confusion, "Kiba, why are they laughing?"

"Because obviously they don't know anything about Paradise."

The laughter came to an abrupt halt. One wolf spoke with a sneer, "We know everything about it."

A member of the pack cut in, "It's nothing but a stupid legend."

"Legend?" Toboe echoed.

The wolf replied easily, "That's right, kid, there's no such thing as Paradise."

"What makes you say that?" Kiba asked, his voice dangerously calm.

"Maybe because we've been there; we've all seen it." Soft gasps came from the young wolves, and the stranger continued, ignoring their awe. "And I'm telling ya', it's not Paradise. That place is more like hell."

Tsume paused before scoffing under his breath, "Well that's no surprise." Meanwhile Kiba stared at them, skeptical and confused.

"You'll all find out soon enough. You'll see that Paradise isn't worth looking for." The alpha spoke again, "Now get lost. You all have somewhere you belong, don't you?"

Kiba just kept on staring. Even as Toboe tugged at his arm, urged him to leave with them, the white wolf couldn't help but imagine showing this whole pack just how wrong they were. Finally he relented, letting Toboe guide him away.

Minutes later, Tsume started to growl. "What a damn joke. A bunch of down and out losers just gave me the brush off."

Hige rolled his eyes behind him, "Yeah right, you're not exactly one to talk you know."

Tsume's growl deepened dangerously as he turned to look at the husky wolf, "What'd you say?"

Hige put his hands in front of them, chuckling nervously. "It's just… in a couple of years; we could be just like those guys!"

Toboe, meanwhile, stared at the ground. "This city is scary. Doesn't feel right… There may be a lot of wolves that live around here, but this place is really cold."

"Well maybe they're right." Tsume replied, "The sooner we get out of here, the better off we'll be."

Finally, Kiba spoke up. His voice full of authority, cold as it had been talking to those wolves not even a half hour ago. "And where do you think we should go exactly?" All eyes turned to him. "There has to be something here. Look how many wolves are in this city. I think we should stay and find out."

Silently, the others agreed. Without any more words between them, they continued down the city streets.

Atra sighed as she walked throughout the city, the sun already setting on the horizon. Examining the shabby buildings around her and breathing in the polluted air, she couldn't help but gag at the thought of this being her new (though hopefully very temporary) home.

Before she could do such a thing, an unfamiliar voice greeted her. "You're a new face around these parts, aren't you?"

A woman stood in front of her, beautiful as both a wolf and a human. Donning winter clothes and purple hair that fell to her shoulders, she smiled kindly towards her. "You seem a little familiar."

"I'm looking for someone… My sister. Kuri." Atra looked at her, keeping her voice casual.

The woman seemed to think for a few moments before letting out a soft "ah" of recognition. "Kuri! I see…" She stopped and looked away, "I'd bring you to see her, but she's undergoing training right now. I'm sorry." She turned to walk away, and Atra saw her chances of escaping with her sister slipping away.

"If it helps!" Atra exclaimed quickly, hesitating as the she-wolf looked at her. "I'm… also looking for a place to stay."

Slowly, a small touch of sadness touched the woman's smile. She bowed her head, turning that sad smile towards the ground. Finally she spoke, "My name is Cole… Welcome aboard."