A/N: Wow. I wrote this whole thing in one day. That's got to be a record for me. Make that two records. Fastest update without having the chapter pre-written. I'm gooooood. (friends all turn away) Ouch. Oh well. Oh, and for the last chapter, there should have been a break between where the girl runs off with the wolves and where it switches to Stella. The original break I had in there didn't stay when I uploaded it but I didn't check. Stupid fanfiction…oh well. R&R!

Chapter Two

Two years had passed since Cooro, Husky, Senri and Nana had settled down at Mr. Harden's dwelling. He and his wife Margaret, a former +anima, had taken care of them earlier during their journey when the army had taken a disliking to them. When their journey was finished, they returned to live their in peace. They chose to live there because they felt at peace with Mr. Harden and his wife. They were tolerant of both +anima and children, not to mention the kim-un-kur. The commander of the Astarian army, Igneous, had a big problem with the kim-un-kur. Needles to say he didn't get along with Senri.

However, after two years, they had become bored with the quiet life. It was time for them to travel again. They had no destination in mind and they had no purpose either. They just felt like traveling again.

They had been traveling together again for a while now. They were now in Stella, traveling around. They had to keep themselves relatively hidden because of the slave situation there. If anybody found out they hadn't been claimed by someone, they would be taken and sold in the slave market. They had thought of making a quick stop in Stella to see Husky's mother but decided against it, remembering what had happened last time.

Next they thought of paying Crystala a visit, but no one had seen her in over a year. She had disappeared around the same time the king, her twin brother, had died. They had journeyed to her plantation and met up with Kazana again. He hadn't seen Crystala in a while either. They had tried to convince him to come with them. The king was dead after all now so he didn't have to pretend to be dead anymore. He had refused. Apparently he had lost his anima while working there. He had stayed on though to help the other +anima working their. It was fulfilling work he had said.

Now they were just wandering around. Cooro was his usual goofy self, Nana was getting more and more nagging, Husky still carried his 'Cooro Punishment Stick' and Senri was…Senri. They were doing nothing but enjoying each others company and the adventure of traveling again. They didn't anticipate any danger or real excitement this time around.

Then again, statements like that usually come back around to bite you in the ass.

They were in a forest now and evening was approaching. They were no where near a town or village so they had to find some place to spend the night in the forest. They hoped to find nice cave to spend the night in, some place out of the wind. If that failed, then they would improvise.

"I don't know why you guys are so against sleeping in the open," Cooro said. He was walking in front of the other three with his hands behind his head. He kicked his feet out as he walked, taking his time and enjoying the scenery.

"You know why!" Husky snapped back. He hadn't improved his temper in the past two years. If anything, it had become shorter. "One, there's going to be rain tonight. Two, it's still not good for Nana's nerves to be out in the forest at night." Nana smiled sheepishly. Despite his claiming that he hated girls he had always looked out for her. Behind her, Senri just nodded his agreement.

"Okay then!" Cooro was still as agreeable as ever. Living with Mr. Harden and what happened two years ago had done nothing to dampen his spirits.

Behind them Senri suddenly stopped and turned a ways to the right. The others stopped and turned to face him. "What is it Senri?" Nana asked.

He reached out one arm and pointed in front of him. "Cave."

The others turned to look. Nana sighed in relief when she saw the cave. She didn't fancy a night out in the open.

Cooro just ran for the cave mouth. "Yay!" Husky caught up with him before he could enter the cave. He stopped him with a nice hit to the head with his staff.

"Wait a minute you dimwit!" he scolded Cooro. "We need to check to make sure nothing's in that cave first!"

"Oh, right." Cooro stopped and let the others go first. Husky rolled his eyes as he walked past, holding his staff at the ready. Senri walked forward as well, his bear arm anima already activated. Nana walked in the rear with Cooro. She had her bat ears out to listen for anything. Cooro had his wings activated, mostly for the hell of it. He had never been ashamed or embarrassed about being a +anima like some others had.

They entered the cave cautiously, looking and listening for any signs of danger. There were plenty of wild animals that would stay in caves like this one. They looked around the dimly lit cave and found nothing. Nana didn't hear anything either.

Husky relaxed his stance and lowered his staff. Senri deactivated his anima and stood so did Nana. Cooro decided to as well, keeping with his friends examples. They all relaxed at bit, thinking they were safe.

"Looks like this place will do perfectly," Nana said with a smile.

Of course, that's when they were attacked. Out of a corner of the cave they thought they had cleared darted a figure, too fast for them to make out. It went straight for Husky, aiming its foot at his head. Senri blocked though, his bear arm catching the foot in mid air.

The person twisted their body around, wrenching their foot out of Senri's grasp. They landed on the ground on all fours and dashed for Husky again. He was ready for them this time though. He had his staff at the ready now. Their fist struck the side of the raised staff while their foot swept around to knock the staff out of his grasp. Disarmed, Husky backed up a step.

It was Senri's turn to attack now. He lunged at her, his claws outstretched and reaching for her neck. They dodged under his claws and went for his stomach. Husky had recovered his staff and intercepted their blow. Senri stumbled backwards before attacking again.

During the whole fight Nana and Cooro stood in the back. Nana didn't like fighting and Cooro, even with his hand axe, wasn't much of a fighter either.

Finally Nana had had enough. Her wings and ears popping out, she screamed at the fighters. "ENOUGH!"

Husky and Senri dashed backwards and stood still in a defensive position. Their attacker dashed backwards as well and stopped. They were finally able to get a good look at their attacker.

Their attacker was a girl about seventeen years of age. Her hair was silverfish grey shot through with black and white. Her bangs were parted to the side that reached her chin. Most of her hair was long and loose, reaching her mid back but some of it was up in a half tail. This part of her hair was shorter and reached her shoulder blades. Her outfit looked almost tribal and she wore a necklace and anklet of beads and feathers. Her eyes were a very striking blue.

She stood with her feet planted firmly on the ground, shoulder width apart. Her hands were flat on the ground directly in front of her with her fingers spread wide. She was bent over with her back straight, staring straight ahead, looking at them intently.

"It's a girl?" Husky burst out. He didn't like girls in general so being attacked by one didn't sit too well with him.

"You got a problem with that?" she spat. That remark only seemed to anger her more.

Cooro walked forwards with his wings out. He walked almost right up to the girl. She tensed and almost seemed to growl at him.

"What's your name?" he asked simply.

Husky, Nana and the girl almost fell over. That's all he had to say? She had just attacked them and he was asking what her name was. Well, that was Cooro for you.

She looked up at him for a moment before responding. "Why do you ask?"

Cooro smiled at her and extended his hand. "I think we got off on the wrong foot," he said. "I'm Cooro. These are my friends Husky, Senri and Nana." He pointed at each of them in turn.

"The wrong foot?" Husky was almost livid. "We didn't get off on the wrong foot. She attacked us!"

After a moment the girl straightened and looked at the others. "I agree. I do believe we got off on the wrong foot." She extended her hand to Cooro for a friendly hand shake. "My name is Kiyrely Mykail. If you would allow my, I would like to explain."

They had sat down in the middle of the cave. It was becoming dark outside now, even more so because of the storm that was rolling in, so they decided to light a fire.

Kiyrely started to explain after everyone had settled down. "I am truly sorry about what happened. You see, when I heard you entering the cave, I thought you were going to attack me." She smiled sheepishly at them.

"You thought we were going to attack you?" Nana asked.

"Yeah. My nerves sometimes get the better of me."

"I see."

"Oh," Cooro said. "Well that's okay then." Husky shot him a nasty look. He didn't trust this Kiyrely very much. She seemed to notice this and looked down at her feet.

"Um, do you mind if I stay in this cave tonight as well?" Kiyrely asked. She had been there first after all but she wasn't going to say that to them.

"Sure!" Nana agreed readily. She was the only girl traveling with a group of boys so she would enjoy having another girl around. Cooro agreed readily and Senri sat down in quiet complicity. Husky, however, was not so quiet.

"No," he said right away. He didn't like the idea of having another girl spend the night with them.

"Yes, she can," Nana stated firmly. She gave Husky a cold glare and he finally submitted.

"Fine," he conceded.

"Yay!" Cooro shouted his elation. Cue Husky's Cooro Punishing Stick.

"Thank you." She said happily. She didn't fancy the idea of staying out in the rain for a night.

"So where are you headed?" Nana asked. She wanted to get to know this girl a bit before she left in the morning.

"Astar," she replied. "I've heard some nice things about the city so I thought I would go and check it out."

"Whatever," Husky mumbled under his breath. Nana elbowed him in the side to silence him. Senri just sat and listened, as usual.

They sat in silence for a few moments before the silence was finally broken.

"Hey!" Cooro piped up suddenly. Everyone looked over at him to see what his idea was. For all they knew his bright idea was that they should go running in the rain or something stupid like that.

"Why don't you come with us?" he asked. Husky's reaction this time was quicker coming then the last.

"Absolutely not!" He sounded dead set in his decision.

"Why not?" Cooro asked innocently.

"Because she's a girl!" He said it like that should be enough reason.

"Thanks for noticing," Kiyrely said bluntly.

"Aren't you over that yet Husky?" Nana asked.

"No I'm not," he replied. "I'm not having another girl come with us."

"But Husky," Cooro whined. "We're going to Astar too. Why can't she come?"

"I told you!" Husky seemed quite frustrated now. "I'm not having another girl join our group." With that, he turned away.

Nana shuffled up behind him. "Husky," she said firmly. He seemed to tense up at her voice. "She's going to come with us and you are going to be fine with it. Got it?" Her voice was very firm and demanding. She was twelve now and she was going to get her way.

Husky turned to her after a moment to meet her cold stare. He turned to Senri to ask his opinion.

"What do you think Senri? Should we let her come?" He was counting on Senri backing him up. For the most part he didn't seem to like new people and she had attacked them after all. He never took kindly to people attacking his friends.

"She can come," he said simply. Husky felt like pounding his fist into his face.

"Fine," he grumbled. "She can come."

"Yay!" Nana seemed very excited by this. She would finally get to hang out with another girl, even if she was a bit older than her. Nana turned to Kiyrely. "I'm so happy now!"

Kiyrely brushed at her bangs absently. "I'm sorry Nana," she said. "But I don't think I will go with you guys. Thanks for the offer though."

Nana looked crushed. "Why?"

"Well I kind of like to travel alone," she replied.

"But it's not safe to travel alone for one." Nana was starting to get desperate. She really wanted Kiyrely to come with them.

"I don't know." She sounded rather unsure.

"Please?" It was Cooro asking this time.

"Well…" She hesitated for a few moments. "Fine," she said finally. "I'll go."

"Yay!" Nana's former elation returned in full force.

"I'm going to bed," Husky grumbled.

"Don't worry about him. He's just a bit of a grump," Nana assured her.

"Okay then." Kiyrely nodded to Nana. She turned to the mouth of the cave to try and see where the moon and the stars lay, but they were covered by large storm clouds.

"Well I think it's time for all of us to call it a night." She walked to the back of the cave to grab her bags. The other three readied their things as well.

"I'm glad you're coming with us," Nana said happily.

"I know." Walking to the centre of the cave Kiyrely doused the fire, plunging the cave once again into darkness.