We were running again, Tsume's leg had healed so we had decided to run. Right now we were next to a train, sure it was the middle of a blizzard and we were cold tired and hungry but, somehow I ad never felt more free and alive.

Toboe had a dream that we reached paradise, apparently there were red and blue flowers, they were all lunar flowers. His granny was there to, she apparently took care of us and cooked for us. I never wanted to be someone's pet. His dream sounded like we were just her pets. "Sounds like a city coffee shop to me." For once I agreed with Hige.

Soon after he finished telling us about his dream we were on the move again. I was walking next to Hige this time. Kiba and Tsume stopped at the top of a hill. Hige and I caught up soon. I looked in wonder, it was the ocean. I had heard of it but, I had never seen it before.

There were train tracks going across it, there was no other way so we started across the tracks. Not far in Kiba started smelling lunar flowers. Toboe got exited and started to run. Kiba ran after him then Hige I looked up at Tsume "Shall we run after them?" He just nodded at my question. I smiled and started running with Tsume.

I wouldn't admit it to myself yet but I may have a little crush on Tusme. It was a long way until we reached the end of the tracks but, Tsume and I ran it all. We made a race out of it, and here I was thinking Tsume couldn't be playful. Something told me this was as playful as it got.

Almost to soon Kiba and the others stopped. We were outside some kind or crap heap. What kind of place was this? We jumped over the wall. Kiba crouched down, Hige stood up, the runt jumped over the wall but slipped on the ice, Tsume jumped over and kept walking, I jumped to far and landed on Tsume. He tumbled to the ground growling. I immediately jumped of "I am so sorry Tsume, I didn't mean to jump that far." He just glared at me at walked off.

Of course we followed, Kiba and me walked far enough behind the others so that they wouldn't here out conversation. "You like him don't you?" He asked me. Damn it I knew this was going to happen. "Maybe, maybe not." I couldn't think of a good answer. "Tell me when you make up you mind, I'm always here if you need to talk." Kiba walked up to the front with Tsume. No matter how much I didn't like them at first this, pack was starting to grow on me.

Soon enough we came across a pack of wolves, if you could call them that. The Alpha stood up and began to speak "Where are you from?"

"A city to the north." Kiba answered

"Why are you here?" The Alpha asked

"Just passing through, you don't expect us to do business here do you?" Tsume answered

The Alpha asked another question, he was starting to annoy me "Where are you going?"

"To paradise" Toboe said, putting his hands on his hips. The wolves started to laugh at us. How dare they! I started to growl at them, Tsume put a hand on my shoulder. Apparently the pack knew all about paradise. Some fat guy told Toboe it was just a legend. They said they had been there and that it was more like hell. Yeah right. "Toboe, don't listen to them." I said looking down at him.

We all walked off, these people werent worth our time. We went and sat by the ocean with or legs dangling of the edge, I sat in the middle, between Hige and Toboe. Hige's stomach growled, then Tsume's. We all laughed. Toboe yawned "Time to find some where to sleep guys. I think the runts tierd." We started towards the graveyard. It was the only deserted place left.

Once we got there Toboe was whining about how creepy this place was, I heard a strange sound and saw an old dog puts its head out of the hole it was digging. Toboe fell back onto Hige, they fell to the ground. Even Tsume jumped. Kiba and I stayed still at the back of the group.

The old man told us he was digging a hole for himself. He told us of the flower bed that was all over this island. They were all dug up. Toboe wanted to know where the entrance to paradise was, the old man lead us to a hole and said that was the entrance to paradise.

Later in the shack we found Tsume and Kiba were discussing what the old wolves had said while Toboe and I were leaning against each other. He was trying to sleep, I was just thinking about what Kiba said to me earlier. I was planning how to get Tsume alone to tell him how I felt.

Hige jumped up, when a woman came around the corner, it was the same one from before. Kiba looked at her and walked out. Toboe followed him out the door. Hige was stuffing his face, Tsume suddenly snapped at him "Weren't you listening back there? Our little trip is over. We dont have a destination." Hige ignored him and talked to the female, Cole. Tsume left just as Toboe came back complaining that Kiba had left. Toboe just looked at Hige then followed Tsume.

I sat there for awhile just thinking. Hige and Cole sat down and ate. Cole seemed nice but I didnt trust her. I left soon after Hige fiinshed off the bread Cole had given us. Fat bastard. "See you later Hige." Then I left. I walked to the train station, I thought there might be something there, I was right. It was dark inside but, I didnt mind. Toboe was already asleep on the end of the seat. Tsume was still awake at the other end.

Tsume saw me and gestured for me to sit next to him "What's on your mind girlie?" He asked. That really surprised me, the Tsume I had known so far didn't ask questions like that. Maybe he only put on a show for other males. I sat down next to him "Hey Tsume, don't be mad. I have something I really wanna tell you." I looked up at him nervously.

"The thing is" I continued "I really like you." He looked at me, confused for a moment "OK" he replied slowly. He didn't understand what I meant. One way to fix this. I looked at him for a moment and took a deep breath in. I was so afraid of rejection, so I just did it, I didn't leave any time to think.

My lips met his in a fiery embrace, we stayed that way for a few moments before he deepened the kiss. We broke apart for much needed air. "I think I understand now." He said with a smile, I smiled back up at him. As much as I hated to admit it I was tired. I started to yawn.

"Well, it has been a long day and, I think I'm ready for bed." I curled up on the ground as a wolf. To my great surprise he lay down behind me and put his head over my shoulder. "Good night girlie." He said gently into my ear. Right now I couldn't care less about my much hated nickname. I was with Tsume and that's all that I cared about at this moment.

When I woke near dawn Tsume was back on the seat with Toboe and Hige was coming towards us. I stood up, in human form, "Look who finally showed up." Hige ignored my smart ass comment. "Word is they will give us some food here." Tsume and Toboe sat up.

"What about...?" Tsume trailed off, "Kiba? He never did come back." After Hige told us this I started to wonder if he had decided to ditch us.

We walked over to the railing and looked down at the scene below us. There were about ten wolves strapped together it look like they were going to pull something for the humans. The lead human cracked a whip and the wolves started to walk up a steep hill. The four of us were speechless, then I spotted the old man from last night. He looked about ready to die. The wolves stopped moving and the humans threw a bucket of meat around them. I could tell Tsume was more upset than the rest of us "What the hell is going on down there!" he yelled at the Alpha wolf, who was just a few meters away.

"The train makes a quick stop here, it gives the humans and us a chance to eat. It's the only way we can all make a living out here. We work for them and they feed us." he explained. "Scratching each others backs, just like Tsume use to do." Hige exclaimed.

"I may have used them but I was never used by them!" Tsume yelled back at Hige.

The Alpha spoke again "Your opinions don't change a damn thing."

We looked back down at the wolves, the old man finally collapsed. The human cracked his whip but, the old man couldn't move. He was dead. The Alpha gasped and looked further down, Kiba was there. I knew he would come back. He didn't look to pleased about what was going on, Kiba went wolf and ran at the dogs. The Alpha jumped down and stopped him.

Later at the cemetery we stood with the pack and watched the bury the old man. The Alpha started his lecture "I thought I told you not to interfere. We have our own way of doing things around here." I zoned out after that, lectures and fights just annoyed me. The next thing I heard was the Alpha telling us we were still young.