It was one of the most awkward, most dreadful nights she'd ever remember. How did she ever love him? Jiro was a handsome man but war had hardened his face making him look much older than he really was.
She stared with little appetite at her expansive meal then looked across the small table laced with delicate fabric to see Jiro almost finished with his meal. A waiter came by and refilled her third glass of champagne which was the only thing she could get herself to swallow that night. The lights in the restaurant were dimmed with live musicians playing on their stringed instruments to add to the romantic atmosphere. But she was not here for romance. She had said little while Jiro did most of the talking.
"Are you not hungry?" Jiro asked.
Cher put her glass of champagne down and picked up her fork. "I'm sorry. I've got a lot on my mind."
"Yes, I've heard."
Cher was finally about to take a bite of her meal until he spoke. She lowered the fork from her mouth and frowned. "And what have you heard exactly?"
Jiro was about to say but then shook his head. "Never mind. Forget I said anything," he said. He looked at her with his narrow slit eyes. "You know your job at the base is always opened for you. You created our crowned jewel after all."
Cher was only losing her appetite even more. Working for the military was one of her worse regrets. She had been one of the scientist who had studied the wolves up close and her passion led her and her team to inventing a special device. The military was just as interested in wolves and had supported Cher and her team but with devastating consequences. Obviously, no wolf would volunteer to be studied and ran tests on so they needed to catch one and be able to control it. For awhile, Cher could study them without really hurting them. She had been so young though and brilliant for her age. When the military offered her money to design the device differently for their use, she accepted without really thinking it through. She knew she was to blame for the wolves suffering but she blamed the military for using her. "I'm looking for a different line of work. A simpler life," she finally said. She sighed raising her head. "Is that why I'm here tonight? So you can try to convince me to work for the military again?"
"Look, I know about your family's financial situation and I want to help," he said and reached his hand across the table to rest it on Cher's hand which made her cringe. "I miss you, Cher and we made such a good team while you were working in the base. I want you to come back, no; I want you to marry me Cher Degre, like we once talked about." Cheryl's mouth dropped but he kept talking. "I could help your family get back on its feet and you'll have a permanent job and be right next to me all the time. You couldn't be in safer hands. You could have more than just a simpler life with me."
Cheryl tried to pull her hand away and for a moment he wouldn't let go. Once he did, she pulled back too quickly and accident struck her glass of champagne knocking it over and spilling it on her food. "I-
"I've already gotten your father's blessing," he said as if that's what would hold her back from saying yes.
She stood from the table. "We're not even dating anymore and you're proposing to me?"
"Cher, we're not kids anymore. We know each other well enough to not have to date again. We don't have time for such nonsense. You like getting to the point; so do I."
"I do get to the point and the answer is no." She started to storm off until he stood abruptly and managed to grab her arm and pulled her back. "Cher, you're not thinking this through. What about your family?"
"It's my business, my problem, not yours-
"Stop being so stubborn and let me in," he said and pulled her closer and kissed her on her lips.
Her eyes widened in anger and she shoved her hands in his chest to get him away and slapped the general across his face. "Our relationship is where it should be, in the past." She spat and stormed off leaving the humiliated General alone in the restaurant. She grabbed her coat, purse and umbrella on the way out.
She snapped her umbrella open not minding the torrential rain falling. It fell hard but it wasn't windy. It was just loud and the cars speeding by and honking their horns only added to the loudness. Since she rode with Jiro and had openly humiliated him, she was stuck walking the dark city at night in her high heels and formal gown. She had never felt so low in her life. She had no money, a low paying job and a hopeless father. Jiro was simply taking advantage of her situation. That's all he knew how to do was take advantage and control people and she was not going to be one of his victims.
"Oh," she uttered when she stumbled into two people trying to walk past her; or she thought. "Excuse me," she tried to walk around them before she heard a gun cock and pointed to her side.
"Hello pretty lady," the thug spoke. "Step in the alley quietly and I won't have to use this on you."
She raised her umbrella and saw the other thug reaching in his jacket and assumed he had a gun too. She also knew, it would be completely stupid to do as they said. She dropped her purse in the mud which immediately drew the thugs attention and she thrust her umbrella in their face before turning on her heel and running in the opposite direction.
"Get her!" The thug cursed.
She wasn't able to get very far before two large hands pulled her back. "Let go- she tried yelling before they smacked their large hand over her mouth. She was immediately dragged into the dark alley where two more thugs were waiting. Her back was thrown against the brick wall as one pulled out a knife. Another had her purse and was going through it searching for anything valuable. He turned out upside down dumping everything out realizing she had little.
"Perhaps she keeps her valuables on her," one snickered.
The one with the knife clutched her coat ripping it open. "Let's find out."
She suddenly gripped his shoulders and kneed the man in his stomach hard enough that he caved over in pain. She attempted to run but was slowed when another thug grabbed her coat pulling it of her shoulders. She let them take it just trying to get back on the open city streets but was still pulled back by her waist. "We got a fighter!" The thug yelled with excitement.
Cheryl threw her head back hitting her skull against the thug's nose dazing him to where she could break free of his arms. She elbowed his side and stomped her heeled shoes on his foot making him squeal in pain. Still when she got free, the thug with the knife was ready and swung the hilt of the knife across her face with enough force, her head was thrown back against the brick wall with a thud and she collapsed to the ground. The thug raised the knife ready to take advantage of her before a gun shot was sound. The bullet went straight through the thug's hand holding the knife which made him drop it as he yelled and cursed in pain. All the thugs turned towards the mouth of the ally way to see a man wearing a tan trench coat and hat and his gun still raised. "Back away from her, now!" He threatened.
The thugs immediately started to cower but the one with his own gun remained still. As soon as he attempted to draw it, the man in the trench coat fired his gun hitting the thug's foot. The thug immediately was on the ground wallowing in pain but forced himself to get up when the man entered the alley still keeping his gun held high. He fired his gun again near the thugs as they scrambled to get away finally just leaving him and Cheryl.
"Mam, are you all right?" He knelt down next to her. It was Hubb Lebowski. "Miss Degre?" He said surprised to see her. She was completely sodden by the rain and her head was bleeding from how hard she had hit the wall and her face was bruised from being beat. He was quick to take her into his arms. "I'm going to get you to the hospital, all right?" He feared she had a concussion.
He put her in the passenger seat of his police car. "Don't close your eyes, okay? Cher look at me," he said trying to get her to speak.
She shook her groaning in pain. "Don't...take me to the hospital. I'm fine."
"I think you have a concussion, of course you're going to the hospital." He started the car turning the heat on full blast before shutting her door and hurried to the other side. He turned on the sirens and sped the car down the street.
"Hubb, I'm fine!" Cher raised her voice irritably. "I just want to go home."
"You know my name?" He asked surprised.
She turned her head giving him an irritable look. "Please, just take me home."
"I'm sorry, I can't especially since you have no one to look after you. You're going to the hospital."
"Hubb..." She groaned and touched her head where it hurt. She drew her hand back to see blood on her finger tips. At that moment, her eyes began to black out.
"Cher, stay with me," Hubb said.
It was too late. Her eyes rolled to the back of her skull and her head fell limp to the side. Hubb grabbed her arm shaking her. "Cher!"
"At last we're finally headed back down the mountains," Hige said and took a deep breath. It felt like it had been days since he had been able to take a deep breath. It was the next morning and the group was finally back on the road. "I don't know how any wolf can stand to live in the mountains."
"My pack dwelled in the mountains," Tala bragged as she skipped passed Hige and Blue. She skipped towards the front of the group to Kiba who was walking with Amaris. "I bet you're used to the mountains, Kiba."
He looked down and smiled at her. He nodded. "My pack lived on the top of the mountains in colder weather than now. Few humans travel to such places."
"Ugh, what did your pack eat then?" Hige muttered.
Tala giggled then gasped in excitement. "Hey, we're a large enough group to be a pack right?" She looked over at Toboe and Tsume who were closes to her now. "Ooh and when we find my pack, we'll all be one huge pack." She locked arms with Toboe. "We'll practically be family."
Toboe laughed nervously. "Yeah I guess so."
"Ooh! Oh! I recognize this place," Tala suddenly said with new excitement as they passed beneath a stoned archway. She pulled Toboe to her side and suddenly sprinted forward. "Come on, I want to show you something!" She dragged Toboe behind her.
"Ah! Well ok," Toboe yelled from behind as they passed Kiba around the corner.
Tsume couldn't help but watch the two and almost gave into a smile seeing how excited Tala was. "She's a bundle of energy this morning."
Hige passed Tsume carrying Russe on his shoulders and in Russe's hands was the stuffed animal wolf Tala gave him. The medicine Kiba had made for him had worked wonders but the child still coughed and sneezed every now and then and would get a runny nose. Tsume rolled his eyes at the sight of the toy and continued to follow from behind with hands in his pockets.
Tala led Toboe around the mountainside leading to the lower altitude. Just as she pulled him around the corner, it suddenly revealed open flat land surrounded by trees gently shading the area with its naked branches laced with ribbons of snow.
"It's beautiful," Toboe said.
"This is one of the sites where my pack would dwelled," she said. She released Toboe's arm and suddenly ran up to a mound of snow Toboe thought was just a bundle of dead wood buried underneath. She fell to her knees and began clearing away the snow covering the surface. The others finally came around the mountainside and paused to see the beautiful scenery. Toboe approached her and sat on his knees beside her as she dug. "So we just wait here until they return?"
She shook her head almost sadly. "This is where we were ambushed. My pack is long gone from here now."
"What are you doing then?" He asked. What she was uncovering did look just like old wood...until Toboe took a closer look. The others approached them from behind to see what she was up to. Toboe reached in and pulled out a colorful piece of wood that was painted with intricate designs.
"It's called a vardo," Tala said softly. "Or was."
"What's a vardo?" Hige asked.
"For a long time, our pack could live and travel by day as humans using vardos to store our food and treasures...even sleep in them if we couldn't find shelter under the trees."
Hige still couldn't picture a vardo but he looked closely at the ruined vardo before him. "Is there food in there?"
Tsume elbowed his side. "Idiot, this is where her pack was ambushed and you're asking about food?"
Tala grabbed a plank of wood covered in debris but struggled to lift it aside. Toboe got closer and clutched the plank of wood and helped her toss it aside. He suddenly gasped in horror and Tala let out a cry of remorse covering her mouth. Kiba stepped forward over their shoulders and his eyes widened in the same horror. Beneath all the debris, was a shattered bones of a wolf including the skull.
"Was it...crushed?" Hige asked.
"It can't be," Tala cried She began to shake as tears began to stream down her face and held her fist to her teeth choking on a cry. She reached her hand down gently stroking her fingers against the wolf head that was nothing but bones. She shook her head in disbelief as her tears fell upon the head and she sat back away.
"Tala? Who is it?" Toboe asked as he gently grabbed her shoulder. "Your mother?"
She turned on her knees towards him and shook her head. "It's my father," she shook her head like she was trying to deny it herself but she couldn't.
Kiba knelt down beside them getting a closer look at the shattered bones. He shook his head. "This thing might have collapsed on him but it isn't what killed him." He noticed the head was not attached to the body at all.
Tala shook her head. "I was in it when it caught fire. He got stuck rescuing me and told my mother and me he'd be fine and to just run while he helped the others."
While there was bits and pieces of of bones surrounding the head, it looked like the rest of the body was still intact but just buried underneath all the debris. "He was...beheaded." Kiba said a little surprised.
"What?" Tala lifted her head but still wouldn't turn to see the remains of her father.
Tsume knelt down beside Kiba to also confirm it. He frowned with a growl. "And the humans think us barbaric."
"Was your father leader of the pack?" Toboe asked.
Tala nodded. "Yes...why?"
Tsume looked at Toboe realizing what he might have been hinting to. "He was killed as an example to the other wolves in the pack. Tala, are you even sure there is a pack?" Tsume asked the question a little harsh than he meant.
"Of course," she yelled.
Kiba stood from the remains. "Even if they aren't, there are survivors and they are bound to be close by."
Toboe looked away touching the back of his neck feeling the scar. It was no doubt the military attacked her pack. Could the survivors have been taken away and made to suffer like he and Hige once did? Hige noticed Toboe feeling the back of his neck and knew what he was thinking. None of the other wolves seems to know what the military was truly hiding and Hige wasn't ready to come open with it. Toboe simply didn't have the heart to say what could have been the fate of the survivors in her pack.
"You guys smell that?" Hige asked suddenly catching a new scent.
"Please tell me it isn't more humans," Tala whispered.
Hige shook his head. "No..." He put Russe down and started to walk towards the trees surrounding the mountains. Just before he entered into them, another wolf suddenly jumped in front of Hige and lunged at him. "Ah!" He cried before it jumped on him slamming his back against the ground. The wolf snarled and showed its fangs about to bite into Hige's neck before Blue ran up in her wolf form slamming her head into the wolf threatening Hige. The wolf was thrown aside off Hige and the others quickly gathered at their side.
"Clearly this stupid dog can't count," Tsume spat and stepped forward ahead of everyone else ready for a fight. He loved them and it was the first exciting thing to have happened in days.
The wolf growled. "Leave this place. You're trespassing."
"We're just passing through," Kiba tried to say calmly. "There's only death for us in the direction we're coming from. Just let us pass."
"Get out!" The wolf snarled.
"You get out of our way!" Tsume snarled and charged the wolf in his gray wolf self.
"Tsume stop!" Kiba yelled.
Tala pushed her way in front of everyone until she was standing where Tsume had been. "Annachie?"
Tsume lunged at the wolf but the wolf met him halfway and they collided in the air in a viciously before hitting the ground where they continued the fight. Tala started to intervene before Kiba grabbed her arm."Stay back-
"I know him," Tala said. She shook off Kiba's grip and ran towards where they were fighting. "Stop! Annachie! Tsume!"
Tsume stopped fighting when the wolf responded to Tala's voice. Tala smiled approaching the wolf. "Annachie, it's all right. These are my friends."
"Tala?" The wolf said in surprise. "I thought you were dead." Tala got on her knees before the wolf and hugged its thick neck with her dainty arms and buried her head in it's furry chest. She had tears of joy.
"You have no idea how happy I am to see you." She cried happily.
The wolf finally relaxed and rest its head on her shoulder. Tala pulled away still smiling and stood and turned tho face everyone. "Everyone, this is Annachie. Annachie, this is Kiba, Hige, Blue, Toboe, Tsume and Amaris." She pointed to each of them as she said their name. Russe stepped forward curiously making Tala frown. "Ooh yes...the human child Russe." Annachie looked at Tala when she pointed out Russe. "It's a long story," she muttered.
The wolf seemed to scoff. "They aren't welcome here. Tala, come. The rest of you may turn back where you came from."
"What?" Tala spat.
"You have a lot of nerve telling us to leave," Tsume growled. "Especially when you're by yourself."
"I told them they could join our pack. So we could find paradise together. They have the flower maiden!"
"Forget paradise, Tala," Annachie snarled and turned his back to them walking away. "They are not welcomed in our pack. Paradise has become a lost dream-
"It is a lost dream without Amaris!" Tala yelled. "These wolves saved my life. Can't you at least thank them by welcoming them?"
Annachie stopped walking and lowered his head in defeat. He turned to face everyone again and saw the great concern in her green eyes. He fought it a bit longer. "We don't welcome humans."
"It's just a kid. He couldn't be a threat to us if he tried," Hige said.
"We're not leaving without him," Blue said bluntly.
"We're not looking to join your pack," Kiba said. "We just want to pass through. Tala is free to return with you."
Tala looked at Kiba almost looking hurt that he said that. She shook her head. "No..." She couldn't imagine her life without them now and without her parents, her life would be completely empty without them...especially now without Toboe and Kiba. It sounded like what little wolves were left of her pack had given up on paradise but now she was with the very wolves who could get there. That what her parents wanted. "I'm staying with Kiba," she said and backed away from Annachie.
Annachie growled. "You'd choose them over your own pack?"
Tala was being driven into guilt. She knew for sure she wanted to stay with Kiba and the others but it did feel wrong to choose them over the pack she had been raised in. "I..." She started to say but stopped.
"Enter at your own risk. Wolves out here do not take kindly to humans," Annachie said. He started to leave until Tala stepped sadly towards him.
"What about my father?"
The wolf paused and looked over his shoulder at her. "What? Is he with you?"
She looked over her shoulder towards where the vardo once stood. Annachie slowly approached it until he saw the remains of her father and whimpered sadly and his tail dropped gently against the snow. "We had no idea he was still here."
Tala followed until she stood behind him. "Kiba said he was murdered."
"Us living apart from the humans isn't enough anymore," Kiba said. "We can find our own world in paradise or slowly be wiped out by the humans. What do you say?"
Annachie just stared sadly at the wolf remains with head bowed in respect to who had once been his leader. Everyone seemed to give it a moment of silence.
General Jiro slammed his office door shut. He was back at the military base and had not gotten over being rejected and humiliated openly just the night before. He had everyone else on their toes once they knew what kind of mood he was in. There was much work to be done and he was anxious to get started but had so much anger built up that he didn't know how to release.
A reluctant knock came on his door.
He bit his tongue quickly becoming impatient. "What is it?" He yelled.
The door slowly opened to reveal a soldier who had documents in hand.
"General Jiro, the implant on the wolf dog was a success. He has been placed in the tank for healing." The tank was not exactly used for healing. It allowed time for the victim to recover and for the torque to work its way in the nervous system so they could have full control of the wolf once it was released from the tank. The victim was fully conscious as they were placed in a small tank filled with water with only a mask attached to their mouth to give them air. It worked well to break their spirits to be locked up in such isolation.
"How long is recovery?" Jiro mumbled.
"About a week, sir." The soldier replied. "Also we've been tracking a small pack of wolves. They managed to escape the city of Listra before the police could deal with them but another military base near in the mountains has been tracking them. It's only a matter of time before they're caught."
Another pack? Jiro thought. That wasn't terrible news at all to hear. "I wasn't most of those savaged beasts slaughter. Bring in only the strongest."
"Yes Sir." The soldier saluted his general and hurried to get out.
"Wait." Jiro said calmly before the soldier could leave. The soldier slowly turned around. "Bring Mirima to me."
The soldier looked unsure fur a moment. "The wolf?"
"Of course! Bring her to me!"
"Right away sir."
Just a few moments later, the soldier returned with her in hand and shoved her in the room. "Leave us." He told the soldier.
"Yes sir."
She stood alone before him with her head down. Her spirits had long been broken but she always had this fire about her that could be seen in her golden eyes. Jiro approached her and laid his hand against the side of her face and made her look up at him. She had long red hair that fell at her sides but being locked up for so long had made it lose its sheen and the suffering she had endured made stands of get long hair turn white. It made her all the more beautiful to him. She wore only a ragged dress.
"What are you going to do with the wolf dog?" She asked just above a whisper.
He lowered his hand from her face pressing his palm into her chest. "He's going to lead us to a pack of wolves."
"His pack? You're going to make him kill his own-
He clutched her neck choking her and pinned her to the wall. "They're getting what they deserve. I didn't have you brought in here to relay military business." He said pulling her dress off her shoulders and kissed her neck while running his fingers through her hair pretending it was Cheryl. He wanted what Cheryl wouldn't let him have. Mirima could only close her eyes and bare it.
Cheryl groaned shifting her head finally gaining conscience. The last thing she remembered was passing out in Hubb Lebowski's car. She awoke in time to see him enter the room with fresh flowers in a vase. "Oh, good morning Cheryl," he said nervously and placed the vase on a ledge before the window. "I was going to get these in here before you could awake."
Cheryl looked at him a little surprise. "You got me flowers?"
He turned to face her with flushed cheeks. "Was that okay?"
She stared at the flowers and finally gave into a gentle laugh. "Thanks Hubb."
He blushed when she said his name again. She could hardly believe this man just saved her life. He seemed like such a goofball compared to the man who saved her in the alley. He approached her bedside. "I've already let your father know you're here. I'm afraid work has him tired up though."
She scoffed. Busy gambling probably, she thought.
"Weren't you suppose to be with that General?" Hubb risked asking.
"How did- then she remember Hubb had been standing there when Ansgar spoke of the dinner. It suddenly infuriated her to know that Ansgar and her father were trying to marry her off. She looked away exhaling sharply. "Last dinner I'll have with that amateur."
"Oh really?" Hubb sounded a little too excited.
She looked back at him raising a brow.
"Actually Cher, I was thinking once they let you out and you're well enough, maybe I could take you out...on a...a drink? I mean to get a drink."
Seeing how nervous he was made it difficult for her not to chuckle. "I don't know Hubb. I've got a lot weighing on my mind."
"I insist. You owe me for saving your life and I'm still willing to pay for any meal for you. What do you say?"
"I thought it was a drink?" She said more to just tease with him.
"Well-I mean-Yeah we could-
"I accept," she smiled.
He looked at her surprised. "What?"
"I accept Hubb."
"Really?"
She frowned and he chuckled nervously rubbing the back of his neck. "That's great. Um, I should let you rest. Get well Cher." She rolled her eyes when he left the room but little did she know, Hubb Lebowski was practically dancing down the hospital hallway. He was finally going to go out with the girl of his dreams.
Tala sat away from the vardo while Annachie had taken the lead in burying back the remains of her father. She could not stand the sight of the bones of her father. What was left of the vardo was buried back over the remains. It had begun to snow again with thick flakes falling and burying the vardo remains within the hour. There was no particular relation between Tala and Annachie but he had just been part of the same pack since before Tala was born into it. He seemed more like a big brother to her. No body else obviously knew her father but felt the same sadness and felt the same wrath for the people who murdered him.
Annachie, in his human form, had dark tan shin and brownish-black hair that brought out his golden eyes. He was knelt down on one knee before the vardo saying a silent goodbye to his leader. Kiba stood beside him while the rest sat in silence. Annachie finally stood.
"What brought you over here?" Kiba asked.
"A strange scent. I wasn't expecting it to lead back to this place though."
Kiba looked over at Amaris making Annachie follow his gaze. He acknowledged her with a nod. "The flower maiden."
Kiba nodded.
"I told the others I would report once I found out what it was."
"Are you sure they wouldn't be interested in seeing her? It would mean a lot to Tala."
"I'm still struggling with the thought you're letting a human travel with you. Especially after what his kind did to our pack. What they do to all wolves."
"Russe didn't kill your pack," Kiba said and couldn't believe he was defending a human either. "You can't blame a human child for the murder of our kind."
Annachie had nothing more to say on the matter for now. No one had admitted it yet, but could feel danger approaching them. It was only adding to the stillness around them. Each argued with themselves that there shouldn't be any danger nearby and that they were the biggest predator on the mountain. Nothing would attack a pack of wolves...except humans.
Tsume was the first to finally speak of it. "We should keep going. Something doesn't feel right."
"Hey, give them time," Hige spat. "Do you have any heart at all?"
"Do you not feel something strange in the air?" Tsume asked looking around at the others.
Kiba looked up at the sky that was darkening and heard the distant cries of the wind passing through the mountains. The quiet was almost unbearable to feel any longer. It was like the calm before the storm.
Tala sat away from the group hiding herself behind a tree crying silent tears. Toboe had tried giving her a few minutes to grieve but finally couldn't bare it anymore and now sat beside her. He said little and hoped just staying near her would at least comfort her a little. He still held the colorful piece of wood he found in the rubble from the vardo coming to adore the artwork.
"My parents aren't going to be in paradise," she finally whispered softly. "Why should I go?"
"Don't say that!" Toboe yelled a bit louder than he wanted to. He looked away exhaling sharply. He thought about his mother and how she gave everything for him to just live. "Your father saved you so you could live and so did your mother. Why wouldn't they want paradise for you?"
"It doesn't feel right!" She snapped then sniffled. She stood from him and finally approached the ruins of the vardo now that the bones were covered. Toboe followed and knelt down before the ruins to place the broken piece of wood back in it then stood to walk away to leave her.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to snap," Tala said.
"Forget it," Toboe smiled. He walked away making Tala feel even more regretful. Toboe then looked up at the sky hearing a strange sound resonating in the sky.
The clouds choked the tips of the mountains making it feel like the sky was almost in reach. Everyone else turned their attention to the dark sky as the sound grew louder so that it felt like their insides were shaking until finally, a black aircraft emerged from the dark clouds. It was a triangular shaped ship coated in black and driven by only two pilots.
"What the hell is that?" Annachie yelled.
"Get back!" Kiba yelled. He and Annachie were standing closes to Tala. The ship roared as it neared them and suddenly fired a missile. Tala only managed to step back before the missile defused opening into a huge wired net and slammed into Kiba, Annachie and Tala against the ground all in a matter of seconds and barred itself to the ground.
"What is this?" Tala cried trying to pull the net off. The other two tried to pull the net off before it began to hum loudly. Tsume started to charge in to aid with getting them free before Hige pulled him back. "Don't!"
Just as Hige spoke, the hum stopped and a bright light flashed before electricity was surged through the metal net electrocuting its victims. The sound of three wolves cries from suffering filled the air then was silenced. The three now lied completely unconscious against the cold ground.
"Kiba!" Amaris cried and started to run towards them yearning to aid them.
Hige quickly grabbed her around her waist. "Stop! Go near them and you could be electrocuted too!"
"Hige, the ship!" Blue warned.
Hige looked up as the ship pass over them and circle around towards where the rest of them were standing. Instead of firing another net, it fired a machine gun making it clear they wanted the rest of the wolves killed.
"No!" Toboe thought the ship was going to kill the wolves it trapped and started to head straight into the line of fire to get the net off.
"Toboe don't- Tsume grabbed him and jumped just in time out of line fire towards the trees for cover. Hige and Blue also helped the others and ran for the trees to cover. They realized it was a grave error when the ship circled around and shot into the trees showering them with huge broken limbs. There was really no safe place to be at that moment. A huge branch snapped from above and crashed in to the other branches headed straight towards them.
"Move!" Hige yelled. He pulled Blue and Amaris deeper in the woods. "Get them out Blue. We've got to try and get the others free."
Toboe looked at Hige then back at the other trapped wolves. He finally put it together the other wolves were going to be taken to the military base to be used and experimented on. He didn't even want to imagine Tala going through such treatment.
"Damn it, Toboe!" Tsume yelled when he was failing to get out of the way of the falling branch. He shoved Toboe forward out of the way of the falling branch and sheltered him from the other falling debris. The ship passed over hissing and creating strong winds getting ready for another attack. Hige returned alone to find them nearly buried in fallen branches. Tsume sat up letting the debris fall off over him and glared at Toboe. "You imbecile! You're going to get yourself killed!"
"Stop it!" Hige yelled. "We've got no time for that. We need to get the other wolves before they take them."
"Take them where?" Tsume questioned. Before anyanything else could be said, the ship swooped down again firing upon the wolves forcing them back in the trees.
"They're trying to either kill us or get us to abandon them," Hige yelled over the chaos.
"We're not abandoning them!" Toboe yelled.
Tsume grabbed Toboe by his collar jerking him close. "We're not abandoning them but you're leaving. Get out of here!" He shoved Toboe away. When Toboe tried to speak, Tsume cut him off. "Now!"
Toboe finally did a reluctant nod and turned to leave towards where Blue and the rest went. Tsume turned his attention back to the ship. "How the hell are we suppose to stop that thing?"
"I'm not sure," Hige spat. "We leave everyone though, they're as good as dead."
Tsume looked at Hige questionably but held down the words. The ship was coming back around for another fight. "I'll distract it. Find a way to get that thing off the others."
"Wha- Tsume!" Hige yelled when Tsume charged into the open in his wolf form as the ship was coming in. The ship immediately fired the machines gun on him forcing Tsume to make a sharp turn back up towards the mountain.
Hige ran in the open towards where the others lied trapped and unconscious beneath the wired net. "Kiba!" Hige yelled but Kiba made no reaction. Hige heard something snap from behind him and whirled around to see Toboe had stepped on the many branches that fell. Hige frowned. "Do you ever do as your told?"
"You and Tsume can't carry them alone. I can at least carry Tala to safety."
That was a good point but Hige wouldn't admit it. He knelt down trying to pull the net off but it had been barred too deep in the ground. Only the humans could free them.
Tsume knew he could not out run the ship so he was constantly taking sharp turns to distract and confuse the humans driving it. He was trying to lure the ship as close to the ground as possible so he could jump and attempt to destroy the ship. He jumped onto a ledge attached to the mountainside as the ship released the machine guns once more on him getting ever closer to him. He jumped to another ledge now almost eye level to the ship and appeared to be an easy target to it. Just as they released the machine guns again, Tsume jumped straight towards the top of the ship. He skidded across the large ship digging his claws into the steel surface splitting it open. The ship immediately swerved to the side to get him off but it only allowed him to latch his fangs to one of the guns to keep him from falling. He gnashed his fangs harder into the barrel of the gun deforming the metal piece and finally was able to pull the weapon apart. The cockpit opened with a man ready with a gun aimed at Tsume and shot him in the chest. Tsume yelped but still managed to get on all four paws and lunged at the man snapping his fangs into the man's hand holding the gun. He dropped the gun off the side of the ship cursing in pain then clenched his fist punching Tsume in his chest where he had been shot. It was enough to make him let go but he still stood his ground growling with the man's blood seeping through his fangs.
"Savaged beast!" The man attempted to swing another fist at him but Tsume dodged the attack and lunged at the man sinking his fangs in his shoulder. The man tried to attack him again but Tsume dodged the blow making the man lose his balance. Tsume helped it along and slammed his head into his backside tossing him over the side of the ship. Tsume jumped in the cockpit in his human form and clenched his fist around the pilot's throat. "Lower this ship or I'll break your neck!"
Toboe, in his wolf form, was trying to bite his fangs through the metal net but could only bite about halfway into the thick metal.
"Uh runt," Hige said in concern, "I don't think you should be doing-
Toboe bit just a bit deeper into the metal and a surge of electricity zapped him. He yelped and jerked away slipping and falling on his stomach.
"...that." Hige finished his sentence.
Toboe stood in human form crossing his arms in frustration. "How are we suppose to get them free?"
They looked towards the sky feeling the wind pick up again before the ship suddenly swerved around the mountainside blowing dusty snow everywhere. "Oh no!" Toboe started to run for shelter until Hige grabbed his arm. Hige saw the scratch marks from Tsume's claws when he skid across the ship and the damaged machine gun. The fact that the ship wasn't firing at them anymore made Hige decide not to run. They only stepped away when the ship began to land. It powered down and the cockpit was opened. They first saw the pilot before Tsume stood from behind clutching the pilot's shoulder, picked him up and threw him aside to the ground. The man tried to get up and run before Tsume jumped from the cockpit and kicked the man back against the ground. He bent down and pulled the man to his feet and dragged him to where the other wolves were trapped and threw him before Hige and Toboe.
"Get this contraption off them now!" Tsume demanded.
"Go to hell!"
Tsume pulled the man up by his collar and punched him back to the ground. "You're not really in a position to fight us so I suggest you do as I say or you'll end up like your little friend."
The man sat up bleeding from his mouth and nose from how hard he struck him. He reached in his jacket and lunged to his feet at Tsume swinging a knife. Tsume caught his wrist holding the knife, twisted his arm behind him pulling the knife from his grip and held it to his neck.
"Wait!" The man cried. "There's a control panel. You'll find it at the corner of the net."
"Hige."
"I'm on it," Hige replied even before Tsume would to give the order. Hige found the control panel exactly where the pilot had said having to uncover it by opening a bar that had connect itself to the earth. "It's passworded."
"Well?" Tsume growled in the man's ear impatiently. When the man failed to answer right away, Tsume bit the knife deeper into his skin drawing blood. "Answer me!"
"20568," the man choked on his breath fearing the knife cutting into his skin.
Hige typed the numbers and immediately the bars lift from the earth loosening the net so it could be moved. Toboe was the first to grab the net and could have sighed out loud in relief once he pulled the cage-like net off the others. Hige quickly aided him and tossed it aside.
"Make sure they're all right," Tsume said.
Hige checked Kiba and then Annachie while it was left to Toboe to check on Tala. He felt her pulse and nodded to Hige that she had also survived the torture. "They appear to be fine," Hige announced. "They're just out cold."
"It's meant to last a few hours," the man choked still in Tsume's grip.
"Why are you tracking us? What did you plan to do with the others?" Tsume spat.
"Whatever we wanted," the man cackled evily. "Look at you," the man hissed. "You're wolves; savaged creatures playing pretend. You deceive, take and kill what you want."
"And humans don't?" Tsume said and shoved the man back to the ground. "Get out of my sight!"
The man stumbled to his feet and made for the safety of his ship. Tsume kept the knife for safekeeping and first approached Kiba.
"Blue and the others found a cave for shelter. We should head there for cover," Hige said pulling Annachie over his back. Tsume pulled Kiba over his shoulder and looked over at Toboe who already had Tala in his arms. Toboe looked around the area sadly seeing what had been such beautiful land now looked like a disaster. "This way," Hige said and led the others back towards the trees."
Not too far into the thick woods they heard the sound of the ship taking off which made them feel uneasy. The cave became in view where Blue could be seen standing at the mouth of the cave waiting impatiently for their return.
"Blue get inside!" Hige yelled especially when they heard the ship approaching from behind. Blue wouldn't leave though. The ship neared opening a compartment at it's belly and began to drop explosive missiles. The land began to quake around them before it erupted sending chunks of earth and bark in the air and showering it upon the wolves slicing into their skin and clothes. A sharp piece of wood sliced into Tsume's leg causing him to collapsed over on his his knee. A chunk of stone struck Toboe between his shoulder blades causing him to lose his balance and fall over on Tala. Hige was the first to make it in the cave but still badly scratched up from the debris. He looked out to see Toboe and Tsume still struggling. "Come on you two!"
Tsume forced himself back on his feet stumbling back into a run. Toboe pulled Tala back close putting her arm over his shoulder and stood trying to ignore the stabbing pain in his back. Just as Tsume reached the cave it began to quake and chucks of stone began falling. He looked over his shoulder seeing Toboe's balance waver as he struggled to reach the cave. He clumsily fell over again once he finally reached the mouth of the cave.
"Come on Toboe!" Tsume yelled impatiently. For a moment he thought he would have to choose between saving Kiba or Toboe until Blue came in the picture. She fell at his side forcing him up and had to throw their bodies forward as a huge chunk of stone collapsed from the ceiling. The ship dropped one more missile right in front of the cave finally making it collapsed completely on itself.
"Move!" Hige yelled as their whole surroundings seem to shatter and explode.
They could only run hoping they wouldn't get crush and try not to choked or be blinded by the dust. What only lasted a few minutes, seemed never ending. The earth finally quieted; darkened around them and for awhile there was nothing but complete silence...
