Chapter 2: Toboe, Who Loves to Howl

I awoke to the most beautiful and exotic scent. It smelled like a flower, silently blowing in the wind. I slowly stretched and noticed that the two boys who were on the roof were already gone. The sun rose high in the sky as shades of purple, pink, and blue danced in the clouds – dying them in limitless colors. The scent of the flower suddenly grew stronger as I began to walk around town. I picked up another hot dog from the same lady as yesterday for breakfast. I asked her for some water and she kindly pointed out to me that if I wanted water, I would have to wait until this afternoon when the new shipment comes in from another town. So, I thanked her and decided to stroll around town to explore while I waited…

X

While walking around a small market off the edge of town, I noticed a young girl feeding a reddish-brown dog. The girl gave the dog some sausages as I walked around the corner. The girl began to slowly pet the dog, but a strong male voice suddenly called her away. The dog sat on his haunches and wagged his fluffy tail while he cocked his gentle head to the side. He watched the girl walk away while she struggled with the groceries in her arms. The dog suddenly got up and walked away and I cautiously followed him.

Watching from afar, I watched the dog slowly. Suddenly, evil crows began to swoop down and eat up what was left of the dog's food. The dog slowly began to grow angry and growl at the crows as he charged ferociously. The crows suddenly circled around the dog as I backed against a brick wall. The crows began to vilely peck and squawk at the poor dog. He suddenly whined and winced when he was forced to walk backwards. The crows had the dog pinned as he walked straight into a ferocious feline – a stray cat. The cat suddenly hissed and tried to strike back at the dog, but the dog quickly took off and ran. He suddenly winced and whined as he hid between a broken wall and a pile of wood blocks. After a few seconds, the scared dog poked his head out from the wooden blocks that shielded him. His golden eyes were full of fear as I cautiously walked towards him. Looking closely, I could tell that he was sad and lonely. The dog suddenly let out a growl as I extended a gentle hand. I noticed that the dog had something silver attached to his right foreleg as he suddenly sprang to his feet. He suddenly snapped at me and I fell backwards landing on my butt. The dog glanced back at me slowly before he took of into the ally…

X

I can't seem to get those beautiful dogs out of my mind… I thought as I took two bottles of water from the shipment truck. I quickly scrambled away into an ally off the outskirts of town. I suddenly felt my body slam into something hard and soft at the same time. I quickly caught myself as I looked at a young boy with reddish-brown hair, dressed in a red flannel shirt, green cargo pants, and high laced boots step back. He looked to be about my age and he had a slight look of confusion on his face. The other was a young man dressed in black leather all over. His hair was a whitish-silver that was tied back into a light ponytail in the back. His eyes were shielded by his black sunglasses. I noticed that he was the man that was that grey dog that I saw yesterday due to the scar in the shape of an "X" on his chest.

The young boy with the reddish-brown hair starred at me and then at the young man. He looked joyful to see us, which I thought was kind of scary…

"Hey – HEY!" the young boy said with a big smile. "Wow! I've never met another wolf before! Not a single one!"

'Wolf'? I thought as the young boy starred at me. Is that what I really am?! So, I'm NOT a dog after all! I'm an ACTUAL WOLF! COOL!

"R-really?" I said all excited as I looked into the young boy's eyes of chocolate brown. "So cool! I haven't really met any other wolves either! Well, hello! My name is 'Crystal'!"

"Well, my name's 'Toboe'!" said the young boy with a gentle smile. Toboe slowly scratched the back of his red hair and laughed happily. "Oh, yeah! You're called 'Tsume', right? WOW! The crows have always talked about how you make friends with humans and run wild with them!"

"SHUT UP!" Tsume yelled, as he turned his head to see Toboe. "Stay out of my way and don't follow me!"

Tsume vanished from our sight within seconds. I looked over at Toboe, who was holding my hand tightly. It looked like he was about to cry, so I lead him out of the alleyway and into a main street.

"Let's go, Toboe," I said as I lead him to a clearing. Toboe suddenly took the lead as he rubbed his eyes with the back of his hand. I looked down at his hand and noticed that four silver bracelets were lightly wrapped around his right wrist. "Ummmm, Toboe… How did you get those bracelets? Are they an heirloom from a family member or-?"

"They were a parting gift from… they were from my Granny…" Toboe said solemnly. "B-but, it's OK now… I've got you, Crystal…"

"…Toboe…" I whispered loud enough for Toboe to hear. We stopped as I handed Toboe the other bottle of water that I kept in my bag. I gave Toboe a sweet smile as he opened the cap and took a sip of water after letting go of my hand. We rested against a solid wall sitting shoulder to shoulder. "I'm sorry, Toboe… I feel like I've been walking around for hours and I've frankly felt very tired…"

"That's OK, Crystal!" Toboe smiled at me happily. "Besides, I'm very tired as well… We might as well just rest here… Even for a little while…"

I rested my head on Toboe's shoulder and I saw him blush vigorously. Toboe suddenly faced me and threw his arms around me tightly. I felt my head rest on his lap as he scatted his back against the wall. He fell asleep within seconds as he stroked my golden-brown-silver hair. I closed my eyes tightly as my breath became slower and softer…

X

I awoke to Toboe's reddish-brown locks in my face and his warm arms still wrapped around me. His red flannel shirt was curled against my white and blue flannel as we were curled up together in the ally. He murmured a few words in his sleep and I could only make out a few like "Crystal" and "howl". He suddenly shot up and held my body in his arms. He had warm tears in his eyes as he held me tightly.

"Are you… alright… Toboe…?" I said with a yawn. "Is something wrong?"

A soft tear fell from Toboe's eyes and hit my soft cheek as Toboe choked out a few words.

"Y-yeah… It was… It was just a bad dream, that's all!" Toboe said, letting me go from his grip. I rubbed his shoulder as he continued. "Look, I'm very sorry…"

"What do you have to be sorry for? You haven't done anything wrong!" I said calmly. Toboe suddenly shifted into his wolf form and lowered his head softly. "Wait; are you sad because you snapped at me earlier?"

"Yes, Crystal! I am!" Toboe said, hanging his head in sorrow. "I didn't mean to! I was just tying to protect myself! I didn't know that you were a wolf like me at the time, and I'm sorry…"

"You have no right to be sorry, Toboe," I said calmly as I rubbed Toboe's fluffy red cheeks. I suddenly shifted into my wolf form and licked his tears away. "Everything will be all right, Toboe!"

My wolf form was a beautiful color. My top was a golden-brown and my underbelly was a deep shade of silver, which matched my hair. My hair was a golden-brown with the ends being dipped in silver. The only objects that remained on me while I was in my wolf form were my crystal necklace and crystal earring in my right ear.

I began to lick Toboe's left ear and he gently nipped at my cheek. Toboe began to say something to me, but he decided to hold the thought until later. I could tell by the expression on his face.

"Toboe," I said as my left ear twitched. I looked up to see the girl that Toboe was looking at earlier. She noticed us and began to approach us cautiously. "Toboe, stay in your wolf form. I'll approach her and give you a signal to follow, ok?"

"Right!" Toboe silently yelped as the girl came closer towards us. "I'll be right behind you."

The girl slowly stopped and I cautiously walked forward. My necklace dangled from my neck as the girl bent down to pet me. She dropped her groceries behind her and my left ear twitched again. Toboe suddenly ran towards the girl as she dropped sausages into my mouth. Toboe suddenly began to growl and snarl at the girl, showing his canines and protecting me. Yet, Toboe suddenly began to calm down once the girl gave him sausages. There was one sausage left, so Toboe and I decided to split it. Toboe suddenly took the sausage in his canines and our noses met as we simultaneously clamped down on the juicy sausage. I heard the girl giggle as she stroked my fur alongside Toboe's fur.

"I wonder if you two are in love?" the girl giggled as she patted my head softly. "It sure seems that way… Anyway, I have to go puppies! Hope to see you two soon!"

The girl gave me and Toboe one last stroke before she picked up her groceries and gave us a light smile. Toboe and I slowly retreated back into the ally and simultaneously shifted back into our human forms. We caught up with the girl and we decided to strike up a conversation with her.

"Hello!" she said calmly as Toboe walked beside her on her right side and me on her left. "I haven't seen you two around here. Are you two from another city or town?"

"No, we are just wandering around town… You know, looking at interesting food stuffs, buying things we need, etc. So, do you have a name?" I asked nervously and awkwardly. "Oh, let me carry that bag for you!"

I took the heavy bag in my arms and struggled to carry it. The girl looked at me with concern as we continued to walk.

"My name is 'Leara'," she said with a sheepish smile. "What are your names?"

"Well, my name's 'Toboe'!" Toboe said full of delight. "And this is 'Crystal'. We are friends!"

Toboe, what in the hell have you gotten us into?! I can handle my own introduction, if you don't mind! I thought as Toboe placed his arms against the back of his head.

"So, have you two seen any dogs around here?" Leara asked kindly.

"Oh, yeah! They belong to me and Crystal!" Toboe stated with a smile. "Actually, the red dog is mine and the yellow-brown dog is Crystal's!"

"Well, do they have names?" Leara questioned.

"Yeah, I call my dog 'Toboe' and Crystal calls her dog 'Crystal'!" Toboe said bluntly. "They are the best dogs in the whole world!"

Toboe shut the hell up right now! Before I hit you with this heavy bag full of assorted groceries! I mean it! I will do it, too! I thought vigorously.

"So, you call your dogs after you…?" Leara frowned.

"Well, we're a lot alike! So, I decided to just call my dog after me and Crystal did the same!" Toboe said happily.

"Now I get it!" Leara said happily. "Well, I guess I'll have to see you two later!"

Leara quickly took the heavy bag from my arms and took off running. Toboe and I watched her leave quickly and quietly.

"She is sooooo nice!" Toboe said happily. "I hope that she brings us more sausages soon!"

"Well, if we continue to fool her while in our wolf forms, we should be able to collect more!" I said with a grin on my face.

"Maybe…" Toboe said with a shaky voice. "I just don't want to steal from her anymore…"

"Toboe, it isn't stealing!" I argued. "When we get the money we will find a way to pay her back…"

"Then why?! Why do we continuously beg and wag our tails for her to give us food?" Toboe shouted back.

"Look, I don't know… We only do what we can to survive as wolves, right?" I whispered under my breath.

"I… I guess so…"

X

"How about we go find something delicious to eat? You must be hungry." I said calmly as I took Toboe's firm hand in mine. "Does that sound good to you?"

Toboe nodded at me with a weary smile in his face. He quickly dusted off his green cargo pants and laced this boots before we took off. I suddenly heard the sound of a dog growling and the faint clicking sound of a gun as we headed around the corner. The same man in the trench coat with the blackish-blue dog had out his hunting rifle and was pointing it at Toboe and me.

I remember him! He's the one who shot that white dog the other day! HOLY CRAP! I thought as the man loaded his gun full of bullets.

"You think that you can fool me with that little TRICK?!" said the man, while his dog growled at me and Toboe. "You two aren't even human! YOU TWO ARE DIRTY LITTLE WOLVES! LOOKS LIKE I'LL BE GETTING TWO FOR THE PRICE OF ONE!"

"T-Toboe… We have to run!" I said shaking him vigorously. Toboe wouldn't budge no matter how hard I tried. "TOBOE?! WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING JUST STANDING THERE?! WE MUST RUN! NOW!"

Suddenly, Tsume appeared in my vision. He had stunned the man who had thrown his rifle away and yanked on the dog's neck.

"You two have to hurry up and JUMP! Do it NOW, while I have them stunned!" Tsume yelled loudly.

Toboe suddenly snapped back to us and he suddenly began to jump from window to window. I followed him and I almost lost my footing once or twice. I suddenly caught myself when I reached the roof. I landed on my side and looked up to see Toboe. His face was drenched with guilt and sadness as gentle tears flowed from his eyes.

"Toboe, are you all right?" I said trying to catch my breath. "Why didn't you run?! You could have been KILLED, Toboe!"

"I'm sorry, Crystal…" Toboe said as Tsume caught up with us on the roof. "I just couldn't move… It was like… my whole body was f-f-fro-frozen or something…"

"YOU MUST NEVER FREEZE LIKE THAT, TOBOE! NOT UNLESS YOU ARE ASKING FOR A DEATH WISH!" Tsume roared loudly, showing his fangs. "NOW STOP FOLLOWING ME!"

Tsume then vanished once again from sight. Toboe looked like he was in shock so I patted his back.

"Its fine, Toboe… Just stay closer to me next time, ok?" I said calmly as I got to my feet. "Now, how about we continue to find something fresh to eat?"

Toboe nodded his head and brushed the tears away. He grasped a hold of my hand tightly and it almost felt like he would never let go. Toboe let me lead just in case of another "incident"…

X

All he's done since that incident over an hour ago was sulk, cry, eat, and hold onto my hand the entire time… I thought as I sat down beside Toboe as he held onto my hand firmly. I wonder if I've offended him or said something I shouldn't have…

"Ummmm… Toboe?" I whispered silently. "Do you want me to leave you alone for a little while?"

Toboe just shook his head slowly. He murmured something to himself, but he was too quiet for me to hear.

"Well, do you want me to try to track down that girl for you?" I asked cautiously.

Toboe just shook his head in silence again. He rubbed his tears with his left hand and tightened his grip as he rolled over to his side, twisting my arm in a knot.

"Toboe, are you sure?"

"YEAH, I'M JUST FINE!" Toboe snapped. He suddenly shifted into his wolf form and let go of my hand swiftly and began growling at me.

"Toboe?" I whispered as I also took my wolf form. "Look, whatever I said or did, I'm very sorry. I never meant to make you cry or snap so suddenly! I'm sorry, Toboe…"

"Crystal…" Toboe yelped while he lowered his head and flattened his ears to the sides of his head. "I should be the one to apologize to you. I should have run when you and Tsume told me to in the first place… I shouldn't have been so stubborn!"

We slowly waited in an enclosed ally to watch the sun as it set. Toboe and I heard a slight flapping sound of wings nearby, along with the sound of Leara's distant voice. Toboe suddenly shifted into his wolf form and stood up, quickly breaking into a sprint.

"Toboe, where are you going?!" I called after him as I shifted into my wolf form. I darted after him quickly after putting paw after paw on the rugged ground.

"I'm going to help Leara! I think she needs help!" Toboe said letting his tongue hang out the side of his mouth.

"Toboe?" I cried as I ran after him through the ally.

I watched Toboe quickly catch the falcon in his jaws playfully before Leara noticed. Toboe suddenly bit down into the fragile bird and shifted into his human form, holding the unconscious bird in his arms.

"I caught your bird, Leara!" Toboe said cheerfully as I quickly shifted into my human form. "He seems to be ok! Just sleeping!"

"…Toboe…" Leara said taking the bird in her arms. She stroked the birds red feathers calmly as sobs escaped her lips. "He's gone, Toboe… How could he just-?"

"N-no he isn't!" Toboe argued. Toboe placed a hand on the bird as he dropped to his knees. Soft tears formed in his eyes as I began to walk towards him. "He has to be alive! He isn't dead! I know it! I was just… I was just trying to play with him…."

"Toboe?" I said as I watched him beginning to cry softly. I placed a hand across his back, but he suddenly shifted into his wolf form in front of Leara… "Toboe?! Please, don't be upset!"

Toboe suddenly began to howl softly. His painful howl made Leara freeze while her eyes stayed glued to Toboe. He kept crying and howling as I sensed Tsume's presence nearby. Tsume suddenly approached me and Toboe ferociously. Tsume quickly grabbed Toboe by the back of his neck. Toboe whimpered and whined as Tsume quickly knocked me unconscious…

X

I quickly awoke in an abandoned building. Toboe suddenly snapped himself awake and kicked me in the ribs. I held a wince back as Toboe got me to my feet.

"Where in the hell are we?" I asked as I looked over to see Tsume in the window. "Where did you take us, Tsume?!"

"Relax; you two will be safe here…" Tsume replied without looking at me or Toboe. "JUST DON'T DO ANYTHING RECKLESS LIKE THAT AGAIN!"

Suddenly, I heard a sharp cry and the scent of a flower. I saw Toboe suddenly cover his ears with his hands and I thought I saw Tsume wince. The noise ringed in my ears while I also covered my ears vigorously. The sound was sharp, but it also sounded very sad… The sound suddenly vanished and Toboe and I uncovered our ears. The scent of the flower also vanished along with the sound…

"What was that just now?" Toboe asked as he starred at Tsume in confusion.

Tsume just got up from the window and walked into another room without saying another word.

"Toboe, what were you thinking earlier?!" I questioned as Toboe glanced at me. "Why did you do that? Why did you show Leara that you were a wolf?"

"I just wanted her to see me for who I really am…" Toboe said as he sniffled. "I-I-I just wanted… I just wanted her to see that I was sorry…"

I noticed that Toboe suddenly curled himself into a ball, crossing his arms over his knees and lowering his head. I shifted into my wolf form and nudged my nose against his arm. Toboe looked up at me and wrapped his arms around my neck. His gentle hands grasped tightly onto the fluffy fur covering my lower neck and shoulders. My head was against his back and balanced on his left shoulder. I heard his gargled cries and muffled sobs in my golden-brown fur.

"…Toboe…" I whispered quietly. "It's going to be all right, Toboe… I'm not mad at you or upset… I'm just… I'm just curious…"

"CRYSTAL, I'M SOOOOOO SORRY! I DIDN'T MEAN TO… IT WAS JUST INSTINCT" Toboe yelled as he continued to cry into my neck. "Please, don't be upset with me…!"

"Toboe, how could I ever be upset with you?" I replied as Toboe let me go from his grip. I licked Toboe's soft cheek and wagged my fluffy tail from side to side. "Toboe, you're my best friend! Why would you ever think that I'd be angry with you?"

Toboe shifted into his wolf form and he quietly lied down beside me. Toboe began wagging his tail softly and my tail collided with his as we both wagged our tails together. He then lowered his head and I slowly began to nip at his right ear. He rolled over onto his back and I nudged his light reddish-brown underbelly with my wet nose. Toboe then nipped under my chin softly as he rolled back onto his belly. I suddenly got to my paws and nudged Toboe's fluffy cheeks. Toboe was then nipping at my neck gently as I licked his cheeks softly. We soon ended up rolling over each other in a playful manner. Toboe suddenly licked my chin and I nuzzled Toboe's chin with my muzzle. Toboe's ears suddenly perked up as he got off of me and shifted back into his human form. I shifted back into my human form as well, while I slowly planted a faint kiss on Toboe's left cheek. He immediately blushed and laid his head against my shoulder lightly.

Tsume then reentered the room and saw me and Toboe huddled together in the corner. I gracefully kissed Toboe's forehead as Tsume handed me a soft blanket. I poked Toboe in the ribs and Tsume quickly carried Toboe into a soft bed. I placed the blanket over Toboe's body and watched Tsume shift into his wolf form and sleep by the window. I shifted into my wolf form and climbed into bed with Toboe. He quickly grasped onto my right paw gently as I licked his cheek once more.

He looks so peaceful when he's asleep… I thought calmly as I watched Toboe sleep beside me. I wonder if we will always be like this… Innocent and pure… Forever…

"…C-Crystal…" I heard Toboe murmur in his sleep. "…S-Stay with me…"

I nudged he head against his softly as his grip on my paw became loose. Toboe's breath became light and I felt very drowsy. I slowly curled up closer towards Toboe as I closed my eyes softly. I had a faint smile on my face as I began to fully become enveloped in a state of unconsciousness…