(A/N) Oh my cake! I can just make out a plotline! *is excited*

Thanks to Alectify, JazzyWolf, and "Lady Quyn" for reviewing! *hands out cookies*

Hope everybody enjoys. ^^

I do not own Wolf's Rain.

"I was fine… being alone…" Hige whispered to no one, "before I knew she existed."

The Mexican wolf was once again sitting in the empty house, for Blue had once again taken off to work. All the games he used to play to keep himself amused had lost their appeal, yet he knew that there was more to life than waiting for Blue come home. Ever since… that day… For some reason, one of the most vivid images in his head was of that motorcycle he had cut off while racing to find Blue. Why should that…?

Rising with a sudden conviction, he gave himself a firm shake. Blue won't be home until five… I'm not gonna sit here doing nothing!

So, without even acknowledging it consciously, Hige set out to find that motorcyclist.

… … …

"Hang on," Tsume grunted, tightening his grip on the boy in front of him. Toboe, unaccustomed to riding such contraptions, hung on for dear life as the bike zipped down the street, weaving around cars and street signs. The grey wolf coughed harshly, blood spattering his side mirrors and soaking into the smaller form in front of him.

"Tsume…"

"I'm fine," the grey wolf growled, although his body gave a spastic shutter. Gotta… get to my safe house… my den… "Tonight's the full moon; my wounds will heal then."

"Then we should rest until nightfall!" Toboe urged, pulling at the tight leather stubbornly. Tsume only shook his head.

"We can't be found," he insisted, opening the throttle and shooting forward, much to the annoyance of surrounding drivers. A dinging sounded, a moment later, and he cursed loudly. "Kuso! The gas!"

Toboe's jaw dropped. "You're out of gas?"

"Almost," the grey wolf hissed, and then cursed again. "We're stopping." Pulling the bike into a nearby alley, he turned the engine off and shoved the metal beast into the shade of a dumpster. Clutching momentarily at his shoulder, he limped forward, hardly able to walk for the wounds and weakness. Toboe was there, instantly, offering his small shoulder for support. Tsume, after a heartbeat's hesitation, accepted.

"Something's missing…" the red wolf murmured contemplatively, one tentative finger tracing an x shape on the other's chest. Tsume scoffed.

"Yeah, and your bangles should be silver," he said, laughing. "Maybe I did have a marking there… maybe they were silver… in another life."

… … …

Blue gave a resigned sigh, trying to keep her mind on the paper in front of her. It kept wandering, however, to the wolf she knew waited at home for her. Finally she stood, stretching, and turned to her boss.

"I'm taking an early lunch, alright?"

"Fine," he said, waving one hand. "Enjoy."

Smiling, the girl picked up her coat and slipped out the door. No sooner had she left the office, however, than she nearly collided with a young boy of about fourteen, rushing past the glass door. He stumbled backwards, tottering momentarily and falling backwards.

"Oh gosh! I'm so sorry!" the she-wolf said, stooping hurriedly. She paused, however, inexplicably, and drew back. Wh-what…?

The boy blinked, as well. "Do I…?" he started to ask, and then swallowed. "Do I know you…?"

"I-I don't know…" the other replied slowly, her mouth hanging open. A wolf. "You're a wolf."

The boy started. "I-I am."

"So am I."

The two stared at one another, for a long moment, grasping desperately for the other's identity. When the memories weren't forthcoming, Blue finally dipped her head.

"I-I have to get going," she said. "Watch out for yourself now, Toboe."

"Y-you two, Blue."

The two wolves were about half a block apart before either realized that they had just called the other by name.

… … …

Hige made it about three blocks from the apartment before depression overcame him. He slumped against the red brick of a storefront, hiding his face in one elbow. What was I thinking…? I'm better off just waiting at home… I'm better off just waiting for Blue to come home. It's not like there's… anyone… else…

But is there…?

The Mexican wolf looked up, on some impulse, and saw the leather-clad figure standing opposite him. The silver-haired boy was blood-soaked, leaning heavily against a stop sign for support, and his head drooped as though he were on the brink of unconsciousness. But he smiled, wryly, golden eyes locked on the other.

"Yo, Hige. Don't look so depressed. They're just scratches, really."

Hige blinked. "Oh. Glad to hear that… Tsume." His eyes widened, and his mouth opened as if to repeat the name that had simply appeared in his mind. Tsume… "Tsume… my…" packmate… my packmate.

"You're looking full-fed," the grey wolf said, a bit contemptuously, and the other found himself smiling.

"And you're as scrawny as ever."

Tsume smirked, too, and then his golden eyes rolled back in his head. Hige lurched forward, instantly, to catch him, feeling his packmate's weight land heavily on his shoulder. The grey wolf wriggled weakly, but it was more reflex than anything, as his eyes were closed and his expression just a tiny cringe of pain. Hige looked down at his burden in sudden astonishment, realizing slowly why he had been so lonely ever since he met Blue. There… are others. My packmates. Not just Blue. My pack.

A red blur rounded the corner suddenly, panting; the Mexican wolf started as the boy, only about fourteen, exclaimed "Hige!"

"Toboe!" Tears were springing to the tan wolf's eyes as he called out to another of his packmates, instantly recognizing the runt that he had once cared so deeply about, and mysteriously still did. He motioned uselessly to Tsume, the situation doing little to dampen his joy. "What happened?"

The red wolf rushed forward, taking hold of Tsume's shoulder to relieve some of the other's burden. "A gang," he answered shortly. "They'll come after us again, and we've just got to make it to moonrise! Tsume says the full moon will heal his wounds!"

"Moonlight is…" Hige paused, trying to find the right words. "He's right," he finally said, "it probably will. But you think we can make it to nightfall?"

"I don't know."

"Let's get him back to my place," the Mexican wolf said suddenly. "Blue'll be pissed about the blood on the carpet, but..."

Toboe's expression eased with relief, then sharpened. "Blue? I just saw her!"

"Really?" Hige lurched suddenly out from under the grey wolf, and Toboe nearly buckled under the weight he was left with. Sheepishly, the other slipped back into place. "Sorry. I-I'll see her later. Come on, let's go."

... ... ...

"Kiba...!"

'...'

"Kiba...!"

'... Che... za...'

'... Cheza... and... Hige...'

'Cheza... and Hige... and... Tsume...'

'Cheza and Hige... and Tsume... and Toboe...'

And so the white wolf raised his face to the clear blue sky and howled.

(A/N) Yep. Finally. *jazz hands*