CHAPTER THREE: FANGS AND CLAWS

Noami and her two friends glared at the large, black blue-eyed wolf that stood before them. Avin shivered closer to Sasumi who growled at the wolf. The black dog stepped forward and halted infront of Naomi.

"Where are a bunch of young wolves headed?" She questioned.

"Who wants to know?" Sasumi wondered as the black wolf smirked,

"The name's Taya. And you?"

"Naomi, these are my friends Avin and Sasumi." The little wolf replied,

"We're headed towards the Northern Lights."

"Northern Lights?" Taya asked a little shocked. Noami nodded,

"We're looking for Sakura."

"Sakura? You don't mean the Great Wolf?" The black wolf wondered.

"Hai." Sasumi spoke. Just then, there was a noise in the bushes and the trees whistled.

"Come with me. Hurry." Taya replied before leaping into the air and racing through the forest. Naomi followed aswell as Avin. Sasumi let out a long sigh then raced off too. The black wolf stopped at a large river.

"We should be safe here." She told them, lying down.

"What are we running from?" Noami wodered still a little confused.

"Shiga, he's the ruler of the Dark Forest." Taya replied.

"Another wolf?" Avin said.

"No, a lion." Taya told him. Avin's eyes shot up as he looked at Sasumi.

"So there really are cats around here?" Sasumi smirked,

"Avin, you're not scared of a big kitty- cat, are you?" Avin shook his head,

"No, it's just..."

"Don't worry, as long as we're following Taya, we'll be fine." Naomi interrupted. Taya smiled at the younger wolf.

"So Taya, why do you live in this forest?" Sasumi wondered.

"My pack use to live here, before Shiga came. He killed most of them, and now i'm the only wolf left. I fear he's after me now." She said, putting her head down. Naomi sniffed the air as a large, brown cat made its way out of a large bush. The four wolves glared at the cat as it snarled. Taya's eyes turned from blue to purple. She stood there looking at the creature. Naomi knew something was up but had no chance to move before the cougar attacked. Naomi leaped out of the way.

"Naomi!" Avin and Sasumi yelled.

"Avin, Sasumi! Get Taya out of here!" She shouted dodging the cougars attacks.
"Stand still you little.." The cougar grabbed Naomi by the throat with his sharp fangs. Naomi yelped in pain as Taya shook out of her trance. She growled under her breath then raced towards Shiga. Taya ramed into the side of the cougar as Noami smashed to the ground.
"Are you alright?" Taya asked the little wolf.

"Yeah." The cougar stood up. The two wolves growled as Sasumi and Avin lounged at the cat.

"We'll help too!" They shouted together. Avin bit into the cat's paw as Sasumi sank his pure, white fangs into Shiga's throat. The large cat kicked Avin away and soon enough Sasumi.

"Avin-san! Sasumi-san!" Naomi howled as she charged at the cat. Shiga faced the wolf.

"Naomi don't!" Taya yelled but Naomi didn't listen. Shiga gazed into Naomi's light, brown eyes. Suddenly, a large white wolf appeared inside the wolf's eye. Shiga stood there in fear.

"That's, that's Sakura!" The cat replied as Naomi leaped in the air and came crashing down bitting the cat with her fangs. Shiga yelped as Naomi flew back from the cat. Blood dripped from Siga's neck.

"She got him." Taya whispered as Avin and Sasumi watched. Shiga glared at the wolf for a second until a loud gun shot was heard through out the forest.
"Humans?" Avin said looking around.
"Naomi! We must leave!" Sasumi yelled at her. Naomi growled at the cat. Shiga then backed away and sat down in the grass.

"I have never seen anything in my life like that. Sakura's ghost, lyes in the body of this young wolf." Shiga said to himself. Another gun shot was heard only this time it was close.
"Naomi!" Sasumi shouted at her once more. Shiga stood up.

"Go, now!" He demanded as Naomi looked at him.
"Why are you helping us?" Avin snapped at the cat.

"Go or you'll be killed." He said. Naomi glanced into the cat's eyes then nodded. The four wolves raced off through the woods. Shiga turned and faced the direction were the hunters were coming.

"I can't let them get close to them. I guess i'll finally get to meet Sakura." Shiga thought. Naomi and the others raced through the forest. Suddenly, a loud gun shot was heard and a growl followed by severial gun shots. Naomi stared ahead.

"Naomi, Shiga.." Sasumi started to say.

"I know. He saved us, but in the end, it cost him his life." Naomi told them.

"Seeing Sakura's ghost, must have changed his feelings for wolves." Taya replied. The wolves came to a large building with a huge cage around it.

"I smell humans." Avin said. Just then, a large dog appeared on the other side of the cave.

"Who are you?" He said as his dark fur glimmered in the sun.
"Naomi. And you are." The sun shown right on him.

"He's a wolf." Avin whispered.

"Kaito."