The waiting room was the opposite of what I had expected, the fresh-smelling walls newly painted and unstained. The carpet was relatively clean, and all the chairs were decent quality; magazines piled up and various children's toys piled neatly in the corner. A nurse pushed through a door, her mouse brown hair piled up in a professional looking bun. She had warm brown eyes that gave her a friendly exterior.

"Excuse me? Are you all relatives of...?" She glanced at her clipboard. "Haruhi Satsuki?"

"Friends and sister." Kiba cut in before I could reply, and gestured to me. "She's the one you're looking for."

"I-"

"Very well. Please come with me Miss Satsuki." She turned and headed back through the door, and I hurriedly shuffled after her, leaving Toboe talking quietly to Kiba. I was still curious about the relationship between those two, but I was clueless, still, and they refused to give anything away. Passing past numerous doors we finally came to one that was slightly ajar, and the steady tones of a man drifted from inside.

"...will heal, there will be little if any scar tissue remaining after you have recovered."

"Where is my sister? Is she here?"

"Your sister? I believe she is in the waiting room, along with two boys. She seemed very worried about you."

"Of course she did! She is my sister." I smirked; at least she was feeling well enough to make smart remarks. I saw the nurse smile faintly beside me, and I felt a rush of kindness toward her.

"Doctor Seishin? Miss Satsuki is here to visit the patient." The nurse glided in, and smiled warmly at me to follow. I hesitated, and then took a deep breath. I didn't want Autumn to see me so nervous.

"Autumn! Took your time didn't you? You almost had me worried!" I strolled in, grinning widely. Autumn rolled her eyes, but smiled and waved feebly.

"Hey. Sorry for my... inconvenience."

"I forgive you, since you're flesh and blood and all." I said, faking a huge ego and swelling self-importance.

"Regrettably." Autumn muttered.

"Hey! Don't be unfair!" I pouted, although I knew she was joking. She smiled cheekily in return, and I rushed forwards to hug her tightly.

"Missed you sis." She whispered into my ear.

"Don't ever worry me like that again. Promise?" I replied, a lump forming in my throat.

"How can I guarantee when we're travelling with them lot?" She laughed softly.

"Fair enough." I sighed, pulling away. "But try, at least?"

"Will do."

"So," I said, addressing the doctor, who was looking rather out of place and uncomfortable. "Will recovery be smooth? Are there any medications you recommend?"

"Yes, her recovery should be uneventful. Although heavy lifting or extensive labour may cause fleeting experiences of pain. If this happens, normal painkillers and rest should do the trick. However, if the pain doesn't fade after 3 days, you may have done some serious damage and will need stronger medicines or medical treatment. If you require stronger painkillers, use this card to verify your cause." He offered a small, pale blue card.

"Thank you." I said, taking his card and putting it in my pocket, zipping it closed so I wouldn't lose it.

"If she can manage to eat something today and walk around without too much harassment, then she can leave tomorrow morning." The nurse added.

"Thank you." I repeated, relieved to hear she could leave so soon. I didn't think Kiba was keen to stay here long, and Toboe was getting restless, he knew every hour we spent here Katia was probably using to get to her next destination.

"We'll leave you alone then." The nurse suggested and the doctor hurriedly shuffled away, not bothering to say goodbye. Then the nurse stepped closer, her eyes suddenly very serious. "I suggest you don't stay here too much longer, there are wolf hunters prowling around. They'll find you if you don't get out of here."

"How do-" Autumn started, but was cut short.

"If you want to know more, visit the Drunken Traveller tomorrow at noon. Tell the bartender 'silence is the key to long living', he'll tell you what to do."

"Okay, but your explanation had better be good." I mumbled, my trust of the young nurse suddenly disappearing. She seemed a lot shadier now, and there was no telling what she would tell us if we did meet her at the Drunken Traveller, or talk to this bartender.

"I don't want to see you die out. I've seen death too much as it is already." The nurse straightened up and turned towards the door. She glanced back nervously. "I'll send those two boys in, but I'm not saying you have to meet me there. It'll just be easier for you to escape this hellhole. And Jagara." She left without another word.

"Who is she?" I asked, astounded at her offer.

"She isn't a wolf, so I don't see how she could possibly know about us." I looked at Autumn, her face set in concentration. I could see she was just as confused as I was.

"What if you accidently changed into your wolf form during your surgery?" Shock passed over her face, and then changed to relief.

"I don't think so. I don't see why I would have, seeing as I was awake and all."

"You were awake?!" I inquired, startled.

"I insisted. I wanted to know what they used and how they did it. I was just curious." Autumn replied nonchalantly.

"If you weren't under the anaesthetic, didn't it... hurt?"

"A little, but the numbing cream they used was particularly effective." She smiled. "But if any of us meet another bullet, I'll know the basic procedure."

It dawned on me then the journey we had embarked upon was way larger and densely complicated than we had first predicted. Two days after leaving the relative safety of the city we had been attacked, my sister almost killed and had met a strange, aloof white wolf that had suddenly changed our journey into something more serious. Now we resided in a small town, where we had met a nurse who knew what we were, and was offering help; not to mention claiming there were wolf hunters prowling the streets. I sighed; it all seemed like a lot to take in. And now, my sister was already preparing for another battle, for more life-threatening wounds, as though she was used to it. I couldn't help thinking that battles and injuries would only be a small hindrance to the massive task that loomed ominously over us. What that task was, I had no idea.

"Autumn!" I snapped out of my daydream and caught Toboe skidding in, and I stepped forwards to stop him crashing into a defenceless Autumn. Surprisingly, Kiba caught him by the shoulder and held him back.

"Be careful. She's only just come out of surgery." Kiba glanced at my sister and I thought I saw his gaze soften ever so slightly. "You don't want to aggravate her injury."

"Oh yeah! Sorry Autumn."

"It's fine, really!" I noticed a slight red tint adorned my sister's cheeks, and I smiled to myself. I just hope she won't rush into something to soon, I thought.

"Summer?" I blinked, washing my daydream away.

"Hmm?"

"That nurse, the one who called you in before, she gave us a strange look when she sent us in. She seemed a little different." Toboe pondered, his golden eyes clouded with thought.

"Did she say something?" Kiba cut in, staring at me intently.

"Well..." Autumn started, but then looked hesitant. She glanced at me, and I nodded. There was no sense in keeping this secret, since they were as much wolves as us. "She did say something about Jagara and-"

"Jagara?!" Both Toboe and Kiba exchanged an alarmed look, and their expressions changed to a grave seriousness.

"Who is that?" Autumn asked curiously.

"Jagara is... a wolf hunter. We can't explain any further until we tell you the whole story. It'll be clearer then and maybe we can answer some of your questions."

"Why can't you tell us now?" I hissed, annoyed at being, yet again, denied the knowledge of their past, which still left me in the dark. I hated not knowing what was going on, especially if I was to play a part in it.

"Because we're not all together yet!" Toboe exclaimed suddenly. "The pack is still all separated, and Cheza is nowhere to be found."

"Cheza? Who's that?"

"She's... it's difficult to explain." Kiba muttered, his fists clenching.

"Evidently." I growled, pointedly turning my back on them. "The doctor said Autumn can leave tomorrow, as long as everything goes smoothly. I plan on staying here, where do you plan on staying tonight?"

"Summer..." Autumn whispered, shocked at my bluntness.

"It's fine. I saw a small inn across the street when we arrived. There should be a spare room in there." Kiba replied smoothly.

"We'll meet you here at half ten, that should give you enough time to wake up."

"Summer!" Autmn hissed.

"Very well. See you then. Don't forget to eat." He directed his last statement at Autumn, then walked out.

"Anou... Goodnight, Summer, Autumn." Toboe said uncertainly, and then hastily shuffled after Kiba. After their footstep had faded down the corridor Autumn turned to me, her eyes burning with anger.

"What the hell was that about?"

"What?!" I said incredulously, surprised anther ferociousness.

"Why were you so goddamn rude to them? They didn't do anything!"

"Because," I replied, trying hard to keep myself from shouting. "I hate being left in the dark! I don't know anything about what's going on, and you've been hurt because of it!"

"That's how you feel?" Autumns gaze softened and she shook her head. "I wasn't hurt because we didn't know something, and you know it. So don't try to place blame on anyone apart from that old beggar who held the gun. As for being clueless, I feel the same. I don't like not knowing anything either, but we're just going to have to get used to it. It's clear those two know something –and are part of something- bigger than we can imagine, and whether we like it or not, we've been dragged into it as well."

"I want to know who this 'pack' is, and who Cheza is. Who is this Jagara? And why is she so dangerous?" I sighed, feeling deflated. "I feel so lost, and I haven't got a foothold to steady myself."

"I know." Autumn replied simply, switching to her wolf form and jumping down from the bed, padding up to me and lying down. I leaned down and curled up beside her, the comforting warmth from her fur and rhythmic breathing finally lulling me into a light, fleeting sleep.