Amaris held Kiba's hand leading him down the streets he had ventured down just the other day. She was happy; excited to be out with him searching for the other wolves. Kiba couldn't explain why but he knew he could trust her completely and knew he had to protect her at all cost. She had said it was her job to guide and protect the wolves but she seemed like such a fragile thing. Innocent and fragile like the flower she was. She suddenly stopped in front of Kiba still holding his hand and pointed her finger straight ahead passed the other humans. "A wolf is coming just straight ahead. He is one of them."
Kiba waited patiently watching for the person she was talking about. Then, he saw him. He was dressed in black wearing shades over his eyes blending well with the other humans.
"Him?" Kiba questioned.
Amaris released his hand planning to meet Tsume halfway before Kiba gently pulled her back. She glanced over her shoulder at him and smiled. "It's all right. He won't intentionally hurt this one."
Tsume caught sight of Kiba and frowned at the sight of him not even noticing Amaris at first. As he neared the maiden though, he caught the fresh scent of lunar flowers then eyed the strange girl standing next to Kiba.
"What's this?" Tsume asked when he got close enough.
"This is Amaris, she has been looking for you."
"Is that so?"
Amaris did a bow of her head to Tsume to show her respect. "Please Tsume, give this one a chance to explain."
"How do you know my name?" Tsume questioned stepping away from her.
"She has been seeking you and the others to take you to paradise."
"Paradise?" Tsume laughed in disbelief. "You two believe in those fairytales?"
"Every wolf tries at least once to find paradise," Kiba reminded him. "It's a natural born desire, instinct to seek out paradise. Surely even you must know that."
Tsume shrugged and showed off his cocky smirk. "This place is the closes to paradise I'll get. I wouldn't want to give it up on a place that doesn't exist."
Kiba examined their surrounding areas watching the noisy cars drive by, the bland gray sky and the stench of their greasy food and pollution. He met Tsume's eyes again and scoffed. "You're right, this would be paradise to a dog like you."
Tsume bit his tongue in wrath. He clenched his fist raising it to Kiba but Kiba just stared coolly at him looking unthreatened. "You obviously haven't learned the rules of living in this city, kid. Don't pick fights you can't win. I should make you pay anyway for wrecking my motorcycle."
Amaris gently touched Tsume's arm trying to get his attention and calm him. "Please Tsume-
"Don't touch me!" Tsume snapped swinging his arm out hitting her. She cried aloud as she was thrown off the sidewalk into the dangerous, busy street. She fell on the street landing on her side. She raised her head gasping in horror when a semitruck came flying down the street honking its horn repeatedly for her to get out of the way and unable to slow down.
"Amaris!" Kiba started to go after her before Tsume cut in front of him jumping quickly in the middle of the street. He took Amaris in his arms like she only weighed like a feather. Just as the truck would have hit them, Tsume jumped towards the truck landing on its trailer as it sped and jumped from it back on the sidewalk where Kiba was. He let Amaris down gently and she turned to face him bowing her head respectfully once more. "Thank you." Kiba began to wonder if he had misjudged Tsume but he still was the one who shoved her into the street in the first place.
People were starting to gather around them at Tsume's heroic deed and he was obviously not the type for attention. "Kindly leave me out of your fairytale." He said to Kiba then shoved the others out of his way.
Amaris started to go after him until Kiba gently pulled her back. "Let him go. Why persist if he's clearly made up his mind?"
She looked at Kiba and shook her head sadly. "We mustn't give up on him. We all promised to see each other again in paradise."
Kiba looked passed the humans to glance at Tsume again but Tsume had disappeared completely from the scene. He looked at Amaris again showing a subtle smile. "All right. We'll keep trying."
Amaris nodded and smiled back. "Thank you, Kiba."
Hige sat up in his human form stretching his arms towards the sky and let out a loud yawn. He rest his arms back on his knees arched up to his chest and stared in content at Blue lying beside him in the long grass. "That was the best night ever," he whispered still in a dreamy daze. It was meant for his ears but Blue had heard him and let out a chuckle.
"You need to get out more then, Hige." She said still keeping her eyes closed.
"Doesn't mean much coming from a wolf owned by a human," Hige joked. "I'm out more than you." He let out a dreamy like sigh. "What a night! I had the best dreams."
"What did you dream about?"
"That we finally decided to leave this dump and found this beautiful place meant just for us. We were free to be wolves, no rules, so much food." He let out another dreamy sigh and fell with his back against the grass folding his arms behind his head. "It was absolute paradise."
Blue sat up on her side chuckling. "Sounds like it."
Hige turned on his side to face her still smiling. "Why not make it a reality?"
"Huh?"
"You and I leave this dump and find that paradise. Just the two of us."
Blue couldn't help but laugh as she sat upright stretching her arms.
"What? I mean it. Think about it Blue."
"Hige," Blue said softly, "I can't just abandon my family like that. Pops needs me." She got to her feet looking at the direction they came in from. "I should head back. He's probably getting worried about me. I missed a whole night of work."
"He doesn't care," Hige uttered bitterly.
Blue turned to face him arching her brow. "What did you say?"
Hige got to his feet and placed his hand affectionately on her shoulder. "I'm sorry. You do realize I can never be around you as long as he's around, right?"
"You could if you apologized," she said trying not to raise her voice.
Hige scoffed. "Apologize to that old bag of bones? You know he wouldn't listen."
"It's worth a shot. Surely I'm worth that."
"He's not. I can't believe you are putting a human first in your life Blue. Wolves weren't meant to be pets!"
"I'm putting family first!" Blue yelled. "And I don't have my head in the clouds like you do. There's no paradise Hige, wake up!"
"Well I guess you got your priorities straightened out then!" Hige said then shoved passed her.
"Don't act like you don't matter to me. Just apologize-
"Forget it!" Hige yelled as he stormed off.
"Fine!" Blue yelled and stormed off in the opposite direction.
Blue returned back to the bar coming in through the back entrance like she usually did. She kept replaying their argument over and over in her mind which only made her angrier at Hige. How could he be so heartless? How could he expect her to just give up her life and family here to go to a place that doesn't exist? What hurt her the most was he thought she didn't care for him. She slammed the door shut as she stormed inside the kitchen. Her thoughts were interrupted when she heard words coming from beyond the door that led into the pub seating area.
"...since when is it illegal to own a dog?" She heard Quent's voice shaking in anger. She approached the door quickly and listened in on the conversation.
"There's nothing wrong with dogs. Only when dogs try to act as humans is when it becomes a problem," a stranger's voice spoke.
"I don't know what you are talking about. Get out of my restaurant!"
"Careful sir. We have every right to arrest you."
Blue gasped and without thought, opened the door rushing right into the scene.
"Sinikka? Where have you been?" Quent asked in surprise. " Nevermind. Get upstairs. I'll handle this." Sinikka was a human name given to her so humans nearby wouldn't be suspicious as to why her name was Blue. She was first named by Russe and about everyone was used to the name Blue but Sinikka has been a useful name for her. Such times like now.
Two policemen were in the room and both immediately drew their eyes over her attractive body and face. "This your daughter? Sinikka eh?" One of them smirked.
"I said get out!" Quent yelled and started to charge one of the policeman before he pulled a gun out and aimed it for Quent's forehead. Quent froze in his tracks but there was still no fear to be seen in his eyes. Just pure fury. "You better watch yourself old man. Word is you're keeping a wolf here. Any human found keeping a wolf will be taken to jail and the wolf shot. Where is your 'son?' Strange that he isn't here now."
Quent lunged at the policeman but before he could get his hands on the policeman, Blue cut in between them pushing the policeman's arms upwards so the gun wasn't pointing at Quent anymore. She forced a flirty smile resting her hands on the policeman's shoulders. "Don't mind my father good sir," she batted her eyelashes and slyly took the gun from the man and put it back in his holster. "You'll be the first to know if we see any wolves." She tickled her finger on his nose.
The policeman cackled pulling her body to his and held her face pulling her ear to his mouth. "I'll hold you to that baby." Then he kissed his slimy lips against her cheek while eyeing Quent as if to provoke him. The policeman finally released Blue with a shove and eyed his crony. "Let's go."
Once they finally left the scene, Blue used her sleeve to wipe her cheek still slimy from the kiss. Quent crossed his arms in disgust at her. "I ever see you do that again, I'll shoot you myself."
Blue narrowed her eyes at Quent still wiping her cheek. "You're welcome. You think I wanted to?"
"You want to be friends with that Hige, don't you? He doesn't seem any different than those bastards." He said sitting at the bar pouring a drink.
"You won't give Hige a chance. He's nothing like those creeps."
"Whatever," Quent muttered drinking a shot. He slammed the glass on the bar and turned to face her, his eyes already turning red from the strong alcohol. "No more wolves, Sinikka. Next wolf I see around here I'll shoot dead. They're dangerous to be around."
"Pops!" Blue said in shock.
"Wolves are bad news and I'm going to do whatever it takes to protect my family. You can't blame me for that."
"It's murder!"
"Only when humans kill each other is when it's murder. I'm going to do what I have to do Sinikka but I won't stop you from leaving."
Blue looked away sadly crossing her arms. Quent only wanted to protect his family and that alone was honorable but why did it feel so wrong how he wanted to do it? She looked at Quent showing a hint of a smile. "I'm not going to leave you Pops."
"I can't believe you stole all this food," Akio muttered. He held a loaf of bread in one hand and a watermelon in the other.
"Shut up!" Toboe hissed nudging his elbow in Akio's side. "Just go ahead and announce it to the world that I'm a thief."
"Sorry..."
"Let's eat here," Toboe led him to the next alley and led them near a dumpster that would conceal them from passing eyes looking in. A soft meow escaped from the hood of his jacket and a white puff ball suddenly emerged through his hair on his shoulder. "Someone knows what time it is," Toboe laughed.
Using a dumpster as cover, they began to eat their stolen goods. Toboe had been carrying two sandwiches he had stolen and a bottle of milk for the kitten. He had eaten breakfast but was still so hungry. To Akio, he had stolen a lot of food for them but Toboe was a wolf and could eat a whole animal by himself. This was not a problem for him to eat. Toboe sat the kitten on the ground and poured a few drops of the milk on his hand and lowered it down for the kitten to drink. "There you go little guy."
The kitten meowed thankfully and began to lick the milk from his hand. While the kitten drank, Toboe used his other free hand to eat his sandwich. Akio ate half the loaf of bread and broke the watermelon on his knee to divide it between he and Toboe.
In the midst of their small feast, however, Toboe suddenly stopped himself from taking another bite of his sandwich sensing danger.
"What?" Akio asked seeing him looking so alert. Suddenly, the growling of a beast could be heard and both first saw its shadow on the wall before the beast appeared around the corner of the building they were sitting against.
"Ah!" Akio yelled. "It's a-It's a wo-"
Toboe dropped his sandwich to quickly cover Akio's mouth before he would draw attention to them and the wolf. "Relax, it just wants our food, not us. Take the kitten and go; I'll catch up."
"What are you going to do?"
"Just do as I say!" Toboe snapped.
"Okay..." Akio took the kitten and quickly hurried away back into the city not even looking back.
Toboe stood before the wolf just now realizing it was no older than he was. The wolf had deep red and orange fur throughout its rather small body."Came out of the wild, didn't you?" Toboe asked curiously.
The wolf growled showing its teeth and suddenly charged Toboe. Toboe gasped raising his arms in front of him to defend himself. He had never faced a wild wolf before and thought he could just reason with it. The wolf threw itself into him throwing him flat on his back on the ground and tried to snap its teeth into his neck. Toboe immediately became his wolf self turning on his side to avoid the other wolf's teeth and kicked his claws into the wolf's stomach to get it away from him. The wolf immediately lashed back at Toboe but he was just quick enough to dodge its attack. The wolf revealed an opening to him and Toboe took it headbutting into the wolf's side hard enough, he threw it on his side. He quickly stood right over the wolf showing his fangs threateningly to it as if to dare to fight back now.
The wolf looked like for a moment it was going to lash back but then dropped its head against the ground letting out a soft whimper. "Just do it. You're doing me a favor," it finally spoke. She was just a lost and confused girl.
Toboe relaxed and sat back up from the wolf in human form. "If you would have let me speak a bit more, I would have just offered you the food we have. We don't have to kill each other for it." He chuckled nervously realizing he had just been lying over a girl.
The wolf perked its head and ears up. "Really? But you have so little."
Toboe looked at what food he had left and looked back at the wolf smiling. "I'll get some more but you're in the city now. You can't expect to eat a lot here and no killing."
Toboe gave her the second sandwich Akio had left behind and led her out of the alley. She seemed to hesitate on leaving the ally showing she has spent most of her time hiding in such darkness. She was also not used to her human form with how she carried herself. She kept her head low trying to hide it especially when a human walked too close. Her name was Tala at twelve years of age having wondered by herself to the city of Listra in desperate search for food. She had already proven herself to be tough but just needed to know a few things about living in the city. She wore her Burgundy-red hair back in a long chucky braid and hid her shy green eyes with thick loose strands of her curly hair. She dressed like a traveling gypsy wearing an orange peasant blouse just off her shoulders, an embroidered scarf angled at her hips, leggings and brown boots. After realizing Toboe would do no harm to her and he gave her what he promised, she came to depend on him completely already. She had been alone for months with little food and no contact with other wolves.
She stuffed her face eating the food he was able to get for her and it took everything he had not to laugh.
"I need to head off. You'll be okay on your own?" He tried to ask with a straight face.
She looked up at him with food still in her mouth and widened her eyes in horror. "Where are you going? Please! I've been alone too long s it is."
"Oh...well I live at the orphanage."
"I'll go with you then."
"You can't. It's just for boys. Plus, you're better off not knowing Mr. Satou. He's not a nice man."
"Why do you stay then?"
Toboe sighed crossing his arms and he just shook his head. "Its difficult to explain."
"Can I see you tomorrow then?"
Toboe smiled quite flattered a girl didn't want to leave his side. Then again, he was the only other wolf she knew here and he had helped her making her dependent on him. He nodded. "Sure. I'll be here at noon."
"Noon. Got it. You better be here, Toboe."
"I will. See you later," he waved as he ran out the ally.
It was then he realized how long he let too much time slip as he stepped back out in the light of the city. The sun was already setting. "Oh no! I'm in for it now." He started to hurry into a run.
"Hey you!"
Toboe froze then slowly turned around to see the two policemen always stalking him and now with a large dog growling viciously at him. "Stay where you are boy. You're under arrest."
"For what?" Toboe yelled.
"Are you sure that's him?" The policeman asked the other.
"He's alone and fits the description."
Hearing the scene going on, Tala came running out of the alley to see the two large men with guns and the vicious dog. She gasped. "Toboe!"
The two men whirled around to see the little girl. "Another orphan?"
"Tala run!" Toboe yelled.
She failed to comply as the policeman grabbed her by her wrist,jerking her close. Toboe saw him reaching for the handcuffs in his belt and thought quickly how to save her. He grabbed a chunk of broken cement on the sidewalk and hurled it at the policeman grabbing Tala. It struck the policeman straight in his nose breaking it as blood spewed out his nostrils. He released Tala cursing at the heavens as he held his broken nose.
"Run!" Toboe hollered in a desperate tone of voice.
Tala finally did a reluctant nod and ran back inside the alley on through the other side. Toboe turned on his heel just as the policeman released his dog on him. He could run so much faster in his wolf form but that would only lead to more violence and drama if he ran down the streets like that.
"Stop that boy!" The police hollered.
The humans heard the policeman's cry and one of them suddenly opened their arms wide to capture him. The time it cost Toboe to try and maneuver around the human was all the dog needed. The dog sank its teeth into Toboe's pantleg making him trip and fall over his knees. The human grabbed both his shoulders and shoved him flat against the pavement and kept him pinned to the pavement until the policeman caught up. Toboe fought against his hold as long as he could but to no avail. "Let go of me!" The policeman knelt down beside Toboe grabbing his arms and handcuffed his wrists together behind his back before roughly pulling him to his feet.
"What am I being arrested for?" Toboe yelled.
"Your help is truly appreciated, citizen," the policeman told the human ignoring Toboe.
Toboe was thrown in the back of a police truck and had the doors slammed shut leaving him in complete darkness. "Let me go! You have no right!" He yelled desperately. His cries went unheard. He felt the truck start to move and fell on his side when it went into drive. With his arms cuffed behind his back, it was useless to try and stand or even sit up. Where are they taking me? He quivered in fear.
Kiba never thought he could find such peace in a city like this. No doubt it was because of Amaris but if she made the air easier to breathe around here, he was that much more thankful. He had stolen some food for himself and ate in the city park. While he ate, Amaris stood in the park's large fountain soaking her feet in the water. The wind blew her silver hair gently at her sides as she walked around the fountain touching her fingers against the small waterfalls falling into the pool. Small children gathered at the fountain watching the mysterious but beautiful maiden dance in the fountain. She sure was strange but kind and gentle and smiled lovingly at the children.
After eating, Kiba returned to his wolf form and laid across the grass. He closed his eyes just to rest a few minutes but felt his face being gently lifted. He opened his eyes and saw Amaris' deep green eyes and felt her hand stroke his face. "It is dangerous for you to be seen like this, Kiba. This one senses a great danger stirring in this city."
"What do you mean?"
A soft gasp escape from behind them and Amaris turned around to see it was a small boy in shock at seeing a huge white but beautiful dog...at least the boy thought he was just a big dog. She smiled holding her hand out to the child. "Come touch him. He will not hurt you."
Kiba looked at her in horror that she was going to let a little brat touch him, but he kept calm. The boy slowly approached Kiba and raised his hand but hesitated. Amaris gently took his hand and pushed it against Kiba's neck. The boy gasped in amazement how soft but thick Kiba's fur was and began to giggle with excitement.
"Is he yours?" The boy asked Amaris.
"This one watches over him and he over her," she said stroking Kiba's face.
"Huh?" The boy asked not understanding how she spoke.
The affection Kiba was receiving didn't last long. He had noticed a policeman coming onto the scene eyeing them and talking through a radio. Another policeman showed up, then another followed by another slowly surrounding them. Amaris' words came to mind how she sensed danger stirring within the town. Something unusual was definitely stirring here. He got to his feet startling the boy especially once he saw how big Kiba really was. The boy tripped and fell to his bottom and the police took it as a bad sign. One of them drew a gun and pointed it straight at Amaris. "Don't move! Let the boy go!"
A look of anxiety came across Amaris face and she took a handful of Kiba's fur into her fist protectively. This one meant no harm," she pointed to herself.
The little boy slowly backed out of the scene sensing the trouble coming and took off running once he was clear of the policemen. Even children feared them.
"I'm afraid we have to arrest you Miss. You should know better than to be keeping a wolf as a pet."
Kiba dug his claws in the ground growling viciously at the policemen who all had their guns pointing at he and Amaris.
"Step away!" The police ordered Amaris. When she didn't comply the policeman went ahead with the next order. "Shoot the wolf. It holds value dead or alive."
"No!" She screamed trying to get in front of Kiba. Kiba instead lunged at the closes policeman jumping high in the air. A gunshot was fired but missed him by a long shot. He, however, got what he was aiming for sinking his fangs into the policeman's arm holding the gun and threw him flat on his back as he screamed. Kiba took the gun in his mouth crushing it like glass in his mouth and charged the next closes man with a gun. Kiba dodged all his predictable bullets he fired and was not as merciful as he was with the first man. Kiba snarled as he leapt through the air and bit his fangs into the man's neck breaking it and nearly killing him instantly. Once he turned to face the other two policeman, they first just stared too frozen in fear until Kiba snapped his fangs at them. They took off running immediately. Kiba turned to face Amaris in his human form. "It's getting dangerous here. Wolves at one point could be wolves in front of humans. What's going on?" Not that she would know.
Amaris nodded. "Yes, we must go."
"Let's find Tsume. He would know if there were any wolves around here," Kiba suggested.
Amaris looked away sadly. "This one hopes it doesn't happen like this," she said then looked up at Kiba with glistening eyes, "This one knows when wolf blood has been spilled. It pains this one very much. If wolves are being killed, this one will know. This one must find them before it's too late."
"We will find them," Kiba promised. "You will draw them to you like I was to you."
Kiba wondered why no wolves hadn't already been drawn to her like he was. Could they not feel what he felt when he first entered the city?
They were quick to leave the park before more policemen showed up to surround them again. The best thing now would be to try and find the wolves without walking so openly. Kiba had a feeling it was going to take wolf's blood being spilled to find one with Amaris so sensitive to it. That's what worried him the most.
Toboe fought to at least try to free his hands but to no avail. He thought he was caught finally for the things he had stolen or perhaps using his wolf form too freely. He even thought he was being driven to where he would die. Being in complete darkness did not help brighten such thoughts. He closed his eyes panting softly unable to control his anxiety thinking he'd never see Akio, his only friend,ever again, another full moon, or even Tala. It tore him up that he wouldn't be there to meet her tomorrow like he promised.
He felt the vehicle slow to a stop and thought they had arrived to his deathbed. He opened his eyes when he heard something rattling against the door and then someone pull against it. Just as the vehicle started moving again, the door was pulled opened beaming the light of the world inside, followed by a girlish scream when the vehicle jerked forward. A second later, Tala fell in flat on her stomach spitting out broken pieces of metal as the door slammed behind her. That's when it became clear to Toboe she had bitten through the lock in hopes of saving him.
"Tala, what are you doing?" Toboe yelled. "Get out!"
Tala raised her head glaring at him in disbelief. "I've come to get you out!"
Toboe grunted in effort as he tried to sit up despite his hands trapped behind him but bumpy movements of the truck would just make him fall over again. At another feeble attempt, he started to fall on his side again until Tala, in her wolf form, pressed her head at his side to support his weight and helped him sit upright.
"How do these come off?" She asked but went ahead using her fangs to try and bite through the cuffs.
"You need the keys," Toboe replied. "The policemen have them," he gestured his head towards the front of the vehicle. When she tried to bite through cuffs again, he sighed impatiently and pulled away from her shaking his head.
"Hey! You're acting like you don't want to be saved," she said.
"I can't be saved," Toboe turned on his knees to face her. She was in her human form again. "Look if they see you, they'll take you away to who knows where. They may even kill you."
"What?" She looked at Toboe thinking about the horrors that awaited him if she didn't get him free. "Are they going to kill you?"
"Uh well..." He started to say. Suddenly, the truck hit another bump as it turned. Tala lunged forward grabbing Toboe's collar to keep him from falling again but instead, fell down with him.
"Ow!" She sat over him rubbing her head. "I hate these stupid, moving...mechanical...things."
"Vehicles," Toboe corrected her then groaned having fallen right on his hands crushing them with his own weight. He forgot the pain noticing how close she was too his face looking at him with such concern. Her eyes were so different compared to most wolves, her wolf self being so colorful and fur so thick. Even now in her human form she was so colorful and different how she dressed.
"Toboe?" She asked.
"Hm?"
"What are you looking at?" She asked having watched his eyes shift from her face down.
Toboe looked away closing his eyes in embarrassment then laughed nervously. "I've been around the humans too long," he whispered to himself.
She looked down her own body still confused as to what he was staring at. She finally looked back at him blowing the curls from her face then shoved him to his side. "There has to be a way for these things to come off," she looked at the cuffs closely. She became her wolf form again and bit her fangs into the metal of the cuffs trying to break them through without hurting him. That was when Toboe realized the vehicle had stopped moving and he heard the doors slam shut. His eyes widened in fear for both he and Tala. He looked over his shoulder at her. "You got to get out now!"
"The lock has been broken through!" He heard one of the policemen exclaimed. A second later the door was thrown open revealing the two angry policemen. They saw the red wolf standing behind Toboe and immediately drew their guns. Tala stepped a paw in front of Toboe protectively and growling threateningly at the policemen.
"Don't!" Toboe cried out. "She's just my dog, she doesn't know better." He looked at Tala desperately wanting her to just run. "Just go! Leave!"
Instead, Tala foolishly charged the two policemen determined to free her new friend. The police jerked away from the truck as she charged them and fired their first shot. One bullet missed while the other grazed her side. She returned to her human form grasping her side and cried out from the pain.
"Tala!" Toboe sat up fighting the cuffs restraining him even though he knew it be pointless.
"What the-
"It's a wolf," the other policeman pointed out and raised his gun to shoot her again. "This one is mine."
Toboe fell to his side and kicked as hard as he could into her side that wasn't injured and knocked her down just as the second shot was fired. "You'll do me no good dead! Run! I promise we'll see each other again. I promise; just run!" He yelled saying anything to make her escape.
"I can't-
"Go!"
She finally nodded sadly becoming her wolf self and jumped high through the air passed the policemen despite her wound in her side. They cocked their guns and directed them at Tala as she ran. Toboe had already seen that coming and had gotten to his feet and ran to the ledge. He jumped and plowed his feet into the policeman's back shoving him forward and slamming his body flat against the road. The other policeman whirled around and raised his gun to Toboe's face. Toboe closed his eyes ready for the shot. Instead, the policeman lowered his gun grabbing Toboe by his collar pulling him off his partner and threw his back against the truck. The policeman he had kicked, and also broken his nose, whirled around raising his gun to Toboe and shaking it in his face. "You little-
His partner grabbed his wrist lowering the gun from Toboe's face. "Easy. Satou will make sure he's dealt with properly."
"Mr. Satou?" Toboe asked softly.
"How do we know he isn't a wolf in disguise? Listen to how he just talked to it!"
Toboe tried not to look guilty but he couldn't bring himself to deny out loud that he was a wolf. There was nothing they could really do to him unless he openly confessed he was a wolf or caught as one. The policeman grabbed Toboe by his arm jerking him forward trying to instill fear in him. "You know we have the right to arrest anyone having contact with wolves and will kill wolves on sight."
"What?" Toboe yelled. "Why?"
"They're demons in disguised, that's why," the other said.
"You're either a wolf or a stupid boy mixing yourself in dangerous affairs. For your sake, I hope it's the latter."
"We will find your pretty wolf girl and finish her off." He forced Toboe to walk around the truck to the sidewalk. Toboe looked up at his surroundings and saw they were just outside the orphanage. They were never taking him to jail, instead, they were delivering him to the gates of hell.
The engine of the motorcycle revved loudly as Tsume accelerated it speeding down the highway and passing the slower cars. "This is more like it," he uttered on his breath as he drove on. He had had no choice but to take it in and get it fixed professionally. But while he was glad to have it back on the road, he had other stressing things on his mind. Not too long after his squabble with Kiba, he had passed a television store displaying it's products on a shelf before a window for the public to see. There was a public announcement talking of the wolves and how dangerous they have become. There was even mentioned of a wolf having viciously attacked a policeman and gotten away before it could be captured. It was a red wolf having been injured by a gunshot wound and everyone was to keep an eye out for it and to call the police immediately if it was spotted. A new law was being passed to have no contact with wolves or you would be arrested. A substantial sum amount of money was being offered to bring them in dead or alive. They talked of how dangerous they have become and how they no longer have a place among humans. Tsume had at first thought Kiba had been the one to stir trouble until they said it was a red wolf on the loose. "They have the power to appear as humans. Also, keep an eye out for any human injured at the side from the gunshot wound," the news reported had said. "These things will use and even kill humans. Do not be fooled by their humanlike appearance."
What has happened to this world, Tsume thought. Humans and wolves had once lived in harmony and at one point could be their true wolf self in front of them without bring scorned. Now they were making an enemy of wolves. Wolves were no more dangerous than humans, if anything humans were more dangerous. It seemed like Kiba and Amaris showed up just in time with their offer of paradise just for wolves but it still sounded like nothing more than a fairytale.
Tsume glanced at his rearview mirror noticing he was being followed by two thugs on their motorcycle. They had been behind him since he left the shop with his motorcycle. They wore no helmets so he could see their faces from his rearview mirror and could recognize them. He just couldn't place how or where.
Tsume turned a sharp corner without slowing down spurning them on. The two thugs revved their motorcycles recklessly passing other cars to pursue him but struggled to keep up. Tsume looked at his mirror again to see their faces and noticed they each had a gun. He suddenly remembered why they looked so familiar. They were bounty hunters. He had faced them just a couple months ago in a bar getting into a violent fight. Apparently, Tsume fit the description of a criminal they were after and had been ready to shoot him. Tsume had lashed back at them in his wolf form to defend himself and nearly killed one of them. He had spared them not wanting to give the police a reason to come after him. That's why they're after me, Tsume realized. They knew he was a wolf and wanted to bring him in for the money.
He saw through his mirrors one of them pull their gun out and began shooting at Tsume. People screamed and cars slammed on their breaks to avoid being fired upon. Tsume took another sharp turn into an alley to avoid being trapped in the traffic jam created by the bounty hunters and sped through. Just ahead, he saw something lying in the middle of the alley and realized it was an animal. It raised its head hearing the oncoming motorcycles. It jumped immediately to all four feet and ran to the other side of the alley leaving a trail of blood. Tsume watched the red creature become human before his eyes just before it ran out in the open city streets.
"That's the injured red wolf," he whispered to himself. It was just a little girl.
She screamed in terror jumping out of Tsume's path just in time. She fell on her side grasping her side as blood dripped on the sidewalk from her. Tsume had no time to aid her and turned back on the street. The girl slowly got to her feet as the two bounty hunters sped out the alley. Once they caught sight of the girl, they stopped their motorcycles abruptly on the street near her.
"Well my dear, I know who and what you are. You're coming with us." She gasped in fear and burst into a run as fast as her wound would allow her. One of the bounty hunters drove their motorcycle on the sidewalk and caught up to her within seconds. He snatched her up in her arm restraining her in front of him. She cried at the top of her lungs. "Help please! Let me go!"
Tsume slammed on his brakes turning around on the opposite lane seeing what had been done. He sped up as fast as he could to the bounty hunters but struggled with traffic slowing him down. He cursed under his breath now feeling responsible for the girl that had gotten captured knowing he had led the bounty hunters straight to her. He knew it shouldn't surprise him that the low lifes went for an injured little girl instead of them continuing the chase on him. It didn't surprise him, but it sure ticked him off. He could only watch from a distance as the girl fought to free herself.
"Just finish her off!" His comrade yelled watching the other struggle to keep a good hold on her. "She's just as good dead."
She suddenly changed right there in her wolf form turning her large head snarling and snapped her fangs into the biker's arm. He screamed in fright as blood flew from his arm as she bit down. In a desperate attempt to make it stop, he shoved her completely off the bike onto the road still going at least sixty miles per hour. She yelped as she hit the road at such speed and would have been hit by the oncoming cars had Tsume not cut them off. He swung his arm out catching the wolf in it and pulled her close. The bounty hunters for a moment seemed like they were going to continue the chase until the sound of police sirens started to fill the streets. Tsume immediately turned down a different alley before he or the red wolf could be seen by them and for once, the bounty hunters were smart to stop the chase for now.
"Get in there you little miscreant!" Satou threw Toboe in his office and was followed in by the two policemen. Satou had apparently sent the police after Toboe but the trouble and damage Toboe caused the police was going to cost Satou.
"He was with a wolf! We could have you and this boy arrested for that alone. He's your responsibility. All these children are and you need to know where they are at all times."
"I snuck out. Please, it isn't his fault- " Toboe tried to speak before the policeman with the broken nose slapped his face.
"You don't know how long I've been wanting to do that boy."
Satou raised his arm in front of Toboe almost protectively. "Like you said, he's my responsibility and mine to discipline. Not yours!"
As they argued, Toboe raised his head letting his mind wonder a bit noticing the clutter and the empty bottles of rum and other bottles of strong alcohol. He had never actually been in his office. One thing Toboe did notice was a portrait of a beautiful woman on Satou's desk that had taroundhe most bottles gathered around it. Toboe lips parted in sadness when he thought of Satou staring at his wife's picture while he drank bottle after bottle. He was so miserable without her and had driven himself so far into grief, he had become incapable of running the orphanage and was running it to the ground. Toboe was startled out of his thoughts when the policeman grabbed his arm and pulled him around finally freeing him from the cuffs. "Next time any of these boys act out again, we'll shut you down Satou."
The policemen finally left after making their threats clear. Toboe closed his eyes waiting for his harsh discipline but instead, Satou picked up one of the empty bottles and flung it at the wall. "Get out!" He yelled.
Toboe looked at the picture of the woman then back at Satou. He lowered his head feeling guilty he had gotten Satou in so much trouble. "I'm sorry. I never meant to hurt you."
Satou suddenly grabbed Toboe by his hair banging his head against the wall. "Did you not hear me?" He raised his other hand to strike him again but held back the strike. Toboe opened his eyes having closed them to better bear the pain. He only saw the hurt and agony in Satou's eyes. Satou stared back and for a moment, seemed regretful how he was treating Toboe.
Satou finally released his head and walked back towards his desk. "Leave."
Toboe slowly approached the door and rested his hand on the doorknob. He looked over his shoulder at Satou who was bent over his desk becoming overwhelmed by tears. Toboe finally walked out shutting the door behind him. At least at one point in his life, Satou had been a good man.
Tsume returned to his apartment not knowing where else to take the wounded wolf he got stuck with. Even in her human form she would be recognized by her gunshot wound if he brought her to the hospital and he couldn't bring himself to just drop a wounded girl in the next alley. So, he reluctantly brought her inside.
She woke up later and moaned softly opening her green eyes. She sat up on her side in confusion when she realized she had been sleeping on a small kitchen table. She was in a small cramped kitchen with only one way to exit out of it through a narrow doorway but she didn't think it be that easy to escape. There was some blood on the table and even some on the counter near the sink. The last thing she remembered was being caught by those thugs.
She swung her legs to the front of the table and suddenly grunted in pain remembering her wound. She lifted her blouse just enough to see the wound on her side and saw it had been stitched up while she had been passed out in her wolf form. She lowered her blouse and tried to find the courage to speak up. "H-hello?" There was no answer.
She plopped her feet on the floor and cautiously made her way out the kitchen which immediately opened to a small living room. The only thing that was really in there was a couch. As she approached the couch, she heard soft snoring and then froze in place. She found the courage to keep walking and peered over the couch to see a huge gray wolf. At first she thought it was some kind of monster and screamed at the top of her lungs. The wolf's eyes flew open raising its head in alarm then flatten its brow at the sight of her. She ran passed the wolf to the front door pushing and pulling against it but it wouldn't open. She started to bang her fists against it. "Help! Someone please help!" Suddenly, a hand gripped tightly around her mouth and she was whirled around facing a tall man now. "Shut up!" He yelled. He reached passed her shoulder to the door and unlocked it before turning the doorknob and cracking it open. "All right, now you can go, stupid dog."
Tala then relaxed tilting her head curiously at him. "You're a wolf. I should have known. Thank goodness. You weren't those men chasing me."
He turned his back on her making it clear he wasn't interested in listening. Tala suddenly had a thought and followed after him. "You're a big wolf and no doubt a good fighter, yeah? You see-
"The answer is no. Leave."
"Please. My friend was caught by the police. He's a wolf too -
"Then he's dead," he said in a blunt tone.
Tala scoffed at him. "No he's not. He promised he'd find me again. And I promised I would help him. I just don't know my way around. Please help me."
"No."
Tala's face turned a shade of red from the anger stirring inside her by his short, curt answers to her. She stomped her foot against the floor. "Fine! I will find him myself and rescue him, no thanks to you." She stomped out of the room slamming the door shut behind her.
Nightfall fell upon the city as Hige, in his wolf form, was hunting for food. It was garbage actually. He stood on his hind legs and knocked over another can of garbage in hopes of finding food. It had never bothered him eating like this but now everything tasted so bland. He had been so angry at first with what happened between he and Blue but now he was just sad to be without her and the fact that they haven't made up yet. Someone had to make the first step and to earn her forgiveness, he had to apologize to Quent. He's such a moody old man, he thought, why on earth would she choose to live with him over me?
Suddenly, a gunshot interrupted his thoughts making him alert and grounded on all four paws. For a moment, he thought he was caught for getting into the trash. Then the smell of lunar flowers filled the air around him overpowering the garbage. He heard a girl scream and the sound of it made his heart lurch in pain. He rushed out of the alley he was in back in the street in human form. Police cars and trucks blocked the street just ahead and police had guns pulled out ready to fire on a certain girl. As he got closer, he saw the girl was tightly holding onto a wolf, hugging his head with such tender care.
"We won't ask again, step away from the wolf or you will be fired upon!" One policeman yelled. He gave her a few seconds and suddenly fired inches from her legs on the ground. She closed her eyes with a cry hugging the white wolf to her. "Kiba!" She cried.
The policeman raised his gun just a bit higher right at the girl. "Anyone who loves wolves this much deserves to die." Just as he was about to pull the trigger, a howl filled the night air. The policeman had just enough time to lower his weapon slightly before Hige, in his wolf form, jumped onto the hood of his car, lunged at the policeman gnashing his teeth into the arm that held the gun. Once the policeman screamed in horror and released his gun, Hige jumped back and landed just in front of the girl and white wolf. The white wolf had been shot in the chest but weakly stood to all four feet.
"Go on, get out!" Hige yelled. "I'll hold them off."
The white wolf gave a subtle nod as he was helped along by the beautiful, silver-headed girl.
"What are you waiting for?" The policeman having been attacked held his bloody arm shaking in fury. "Shoot them all!"
Hige lunged at the next closes policeman holding his gun threateningly and tore his teeth into the flesh of his arm. He jumped back to the ground and ran the opposite direction the white wolf and girl ran to lead and direct the policemen's bullets at him. They all fired at him but the fight didn't last long when Hige disappeared into the next alley.
Hige found a dark corner to rest and catch his breath at. He was surprised that he had risked his life for those two, especially the girl. He could smell the lunar flowers the strongest when he was near her. He had seen many wolves get caught by the police and had never once aided another wolf until now.
"There you are," he heard and then a gun cocked.
Hige raised his head to see that a policeman had managed to follow him and now had him cornered ready to shoot him dead. The man let out an evil chuckle pulling back the trigger. Just as the shot was fired, the white wolf seemed to jump out of no where gnashing his teeth into the man's neck breaking it. Instead of the bullet hitting Hige, it hit the brick wall inches from his furry face. The man died almost instantly by the white wolf. It turned to face Hige. "Are you okay?"
Hige nodded. "Thanks to you I am. You know, you really shouldn't travel so freely as your wolf self. I can tell you're a newcomer by just looking at you."
"I was in my human form when they first attacked Amaris and me. They must have recognized her from before and knew I was the wolf she was guarding."
"Who?"
As he spoke, she finally showed herself and peered around the corner knowing the danger was now gone. Her hair glistened brilliantly beneath the moonlit sky. She looked like someone you could only see in a dream. "This one is who he speaks of." Again, the smell of lunar flowers filled the air. "She's Amaris, the flower maiden here to guide the wolves to their paradise.
