Chapter 7

When i wake up, it's already night. I'm still on Hige's back and my head is on his shoulder. We are walking slowly through city, and it's quiet and peaceful. I open my eyes slowly and raise my head from Hige's shoulder. He looks at me and gives me grin.

"Slept well, sleeping beauty?" i huff at his teasing, but nod anyway. He stops slightly and let's me off of his back. I look around and see everyone here. Tsume is little ways from us, but i can clearly see grin forming onto his face.

'I won't hear end of this from him, huh?' Toboe on the other hand is smiling happily at me and i smile back, thought, with less excitement, i'm still little sleepy from my nap.

Kiba is behind us, soft smile on his face, and Cheza is next to him, pink cape's hood over her head. Her cape reaches her knees and has hood on it. It also has this upper layer on it, making it look like short sleeves over her shoulders. It looks almost like dress.

I smile brightly at her and she smiles back. I walk next to her as we move on. 'City is surprisingly peaceful at night..'

Freezing city is completely opposite, there is gangs, thieves, drunk dealers, drunks, homeless people... Whole city rarely rests, if ever. I know this best, since i have travelled over years from town part to another. It's pretty much same everywhere, but people just chance. But for a street rat like me, it hardly matters. I become quite good at pick pocketing over years, and i even stole some food from Tsume's gang members! And on top of that, they didn't even realise it!

I'm bulled out of my thoughts, when i sense unusual presents. 'Whou, This guy has REALLY strong will, even at his age, pity that he seems to be drinker.. A scientist too, that woman from forest! And... Whoa...' both Cheza and i stop to look at bluish black dog who is growling at us, or at others at least.

I walk amazed closer to her, she growls, but it's more confused than anything. I don't bay any attention at Kiba and Cheza who are also coming closer. I kneel down and I look in awe at blue eyes and smile slightly.

Cheza joins me soon and tries to pet wolf-dog, but Kiba stops her. She looks at him with calm smile.

"It's fine, they are also this one's friend." Kiba hesitates, but gives in when i turn to smile at him. Cheza turns to wolf-dog and speaks to it.

"Don't you know? About yourself..." wolf-dog just stares at her with her blue eyes, that are stunning, if you don't mind!

"That there is a wolf within you as well."

"Whau, your aura... It's simply amazing! It's half dog's, half wolf's, and most amazing thing is it's colour! I have never seen a BLUE aura! It's beautiful, it's same colour as your eyes, actually!" wolf-dog looks shocked at me, and simply stands there staring at me.

Cheza tries to pet her again, but she backs away. "You've always been all alone, right?"

I feel my aura glow slightly, i'm so amazed by her aura. It's just, that colourful aura's are rare. Kiba has cream white, whit tips of gold. Tsume's is dark grey, but in good way. His aura also has slight blue and green in it.

Toboe's is warmest of all, and it's reddish brown, like his fur, but it has little bit of green in it. Hige has mix between light brown and light gold. But blue aura... It's something i have NEVER seen. I try to memories it best i can, it has three shades of blue, dark blue, and little lighter shade, and almost teal coloured edge. 'So beautiful..'

Suddenly, Kiba takes Cheza's hand and starts running after others. "Come on Hotaru!" i nod and go after them, without asking anything. I look fast over my shoulder as i hear wolf-dog whimper after us. I hear soldiers shout at us, and thanks to my break, i'm able to keep up with others again. Before the sun roses, we are on edge of town, in abounded buss, that has holes on roof.

Hige glances around us and turns to us.

"Is this perfect place or what?" Kiba, Tsume and Hige turn to look me, Cheza and Toboe.

"We will be back as soon as we check out the enemy's movements." Tsume explains.

"Cheza, stay here with Toboe and Hotaru." as she nods, i and Toboe look at each others and nod.

"Leave it to us!" we say as others leave. I lay down to one of buss benches and put my hands under my head.

"Toboe, I'm going to catch some sleep, but wake me up if there is anything suspicious." He looks at me and smiles.

"Okay, sleep well Hotaru, don't let bugs bite you!" he teases me, i huff but close my eyes, and soon enough, i'm out.

When i open my eyes, I'm not in buss anymore, I'm in middle of grass field with colourful flowers all over it. There is night right now, and i can see millions of fireflies flying up from grass. I look at them in awe and laugh as one of them flies on my nose.

I run around the field, playing with fireflies as i go. I feel myself glow and see my light yellow aura glowing like all other fireflies. Before i know it, i'm flying on the night sky along with other fireflies, my laugh being only sound that is heard.

I lay down to grass, and watch as fireflies keep dancing around me.

"This feels nice,.. if others could see this too.." one firefly lands on my nose like before and i look at it crossing my eyes.

"Hey there, what's wrong?" it starts putting it's light off and on, and i can tell it's talking to me.

"Hm? You.. looked...sad... and.. i.. Wanted.. You.. To.. Smile.. Again.." i smile at it. "See? I'm smiling now, i was just thinking that i have to leave soon.." it starts giving me Morse codes again and i say the out loud.

"Why.. You.. Have to... Leave?... You could.. Just.. Stay.. With.. Us." i look at small firefly as it hovers over my head.

"True, i feel at home here, but my friends are waiting for me, and i really miss them too. So i can't stay." if i didn't know better, i would swear that firefly was pouting at me.

"So, bye!" and i close my eyes.

I open my eyes and see Toboe and Cheza hovering over my face with curious looks. I stand up slowly and turn at them.

"What?" they look at each others then at me.

"You looked very happy in your dream, and Cheza said that even she didn't know what you were dreaming about, so we decided to wait until you wake up." Toboe explained in one breath. I blink at him before smiling mischievously.

"Nothing much..." Toboe pouts at me and Cheza and i laugh. I sit at back of buss when Kiba comes back, and Toboe and Cheza try to scare him. It obviously doesn't work. Toboe plays it like it was nothing, by putting his arms behind his head.

"You're late!" he laughs nervously. Hige follows soon and Toboe and i greet him.

"Welcome back!" he gives us small wave before turns to Kiba. "How did it go?"

Hige groans as he speaks. "Every nook and cranny is being watched." he grins and i can mischief in his eyes. Even his aura gives spark of playful wipe. "Our best bet is go at night." Kiba nods, and turns to us as we look at him confused.

"There is place that locals call "Forest of death" I groan as i hear the name. "Let me guess, we are going?" He nods at me, slight amusement sparking in his eyes.

"Once you get lost, you can never get out again." Kiba explains, and i decide then, that i will most definitely stay close to them when we go. 'I don't want to trapped there, thank you very much..'

"But, for us, that's not a problem.. Right?" Hige says and looks at Kiba. He smiles and nods his head. "Yeah."

At particular moment, Tsume comes back. I look around others and greet him. "Welcome back Tsume!" he nods his head in acknowledge and turns to Kiba and Hige. Hige is first one to talk.

"What are the defences like?" Tsume gives swung grin and answers. "I found a perfect way out." Kiba nods and states.

"Then it's set, we will leave tonight." Toboe grins and almost shouts. "We can finally get out of here!" i turn to look at him with frown. I whisper quietly, but they hear it clearly as day.

"Toboe, keep it down! Walls have ears you know.." others understand my hint and quietly go to back window. Hige slowly opens it and Kiba beckons Cheza and me to go first. After Cheza and i are out, Toboe jumps out surprisingly quietly. Then Hige and Tsume come out, and Kiba is last. Kiba motions us to move away quietly.

I stay close to him and Cheza, when they decide that Hige and Tsume will go to enemy camp as distraction, while we go ahead and meet them at city. I put my hood up and take my staff out, just to be careful. I stay close to Cheza, she will most likely need cover. When we see soldiers retreating, we start running through the town. I run after Cheza, and Toboe comes close behind me. Kiba is leading, i feel many unnerving presents around us as we run, but decide not to care.

'Let's get out of here.'

Four of us are waiting for them at forests edge, under cliff. Toboe is standing with his arms behind his head.

"Are they late?" i feel familiar aura's running towards us from cliff. I turn to look up and smile and comment:

"Their here" Toboe puts his hands down and looks at me confused and asks: "Where?"

And then they both jump behind us. I launch myself onto Hige's arm and scold them lightly.

"Took you long enough!" i hear him chuckle and feel someone messing with my hair. I look up to see Tsume ruffling my hair, almost fondly.

"Sorry for wait." He simply sates, sounding surprisingly happy. I let go of Hige, and nod at them with small smile. Hige give thumps up and grins to us.

"Best strategy ever!" he comments with grin. We just smile, happy that their fine. Our happy moment is cut off by shot. I jump out of way on last minute, before bullet can pierce through my skull. We look up tensed and i froze as i recognise his aura.

'His that drinker with strong aura!'

"Damn wolves! You won't trick me anymore!" he shouts and starts shooting again. We start dodging them by running around, Kiba is staying close to Cheza, but i have to run other way to dodge bullets. I see one going WAY too fast for Toboe to dodge, and i bush him to side.

"Hotaru!"

"Aaargh!" i shout as i feel bulled slicing my left leg, but luckily it doesn't go in. I dodge as new set of bullets come my way, and run after Toboe, who is running with best of his ability, while trying to drag me behind him.

"Ah!" my heart almost stops, when i see Cheza falling down and man shooting towards her. But Kiba gets in his way before bullet can hit her, but it hits him instead!

"KIBA!" I and Cheza shout his name as we see blood. Old man stops to get fill his gun, but we run towards forest. I'm slower, because of my leg, but Toboe somehow manages to drag me into forest.

When we enter the shelter of trees, he lets me go. We hear how man shoots at sky with rage and i cover my ears, his desperate shout and guns noise hurting my sensitive ears. I lower my hands when shooting stops, and others relax. I see Toboe giving me concerned glances, and i turn to him.

"Are you fine Hotaru? From what i saw, that bullet got you good." he asks concerned. I feel pain shooting through my leg and grimace.

"Yeah, it hurts, but i should be able to walk after bandaging it. i use my aura to dull pain until it heals. How about you Kiba? You certainly got it worse than i do." i look at him, but see him just shake his head slightly.

"I'll be fine, you should take care of that leg thought, since you can't use moonlight to heal yourself." i see spark of concert in his eyes and nod. After bandaging my leg, Tsume helps me to sit up.

"Use that staff of yours for support as you walk, you shouldn't put much pressure on that leg if you want it to heal." i nod at his directions. I take out my staff and use it as walking stick. It takes while to get used to it, and i'm about to fall down, but Toboe catches me and bulls me upright.

"Thanks Toboe, and sorry.." I glance at the ground as we walk. ' I'm always slowing us down, even after i promised not to..'

"It's fine. And thanks, you really saved me beck there…" i smile at him. "Don't mention it."

"Let's go." we follow after Kiba as he leads us to forest.

'I would probably have it easier if i lived with humans, but i wouldn't never belong. Fireflies like being around friends, after all.' i thought with smile.

Bhuh, done! Yey, Hotaru some well deserved sleep! It took me a while to come up with a start for this chapter, but when I thought about what colour Blue's aura would be, it came out pretty smoothly. Thank you for all readers and reviewers/favourites/follows! Your support is what keeps me going!

now, Hotaru, if you would?

Hotaru: Well, since I got to sleep once in a while.. oh, why not. 14fox still doesn't own Wolf's rain, or original characters. Just me. Now, if you have any questions in future, I will be more than happy to answer! See ya!

Wou. I should have let her sleep earlier! She's much nicer when she has rested well.

bye!