Disclaimer: I do not own any character's relating to Wolf's Rain. I do not own the Wolf's Rain story line. I do own the birds from the beginning. I also own…Pernicious whom you shall meet very very soon.
Author's note: Anyway, I would like to thank you for all the reviews. I am going to be away for a week, leaving the 12th. Hopefully I will get the next chapter up right when I get back. So without anymore-sad news, I shall present to you chapter 8.
Story starts:
We traveled through the tunnel in silence. There was no bickering or arguing we just go along for the first time. Actually, it was our thoughts that took us. The whole time we each just pondered over what we saw and what we had experienced in he past. We also pondered over what was to come. Well, that is what I assumed being that we were once again on the move.
As for myself, I couldn't stop arguing with myself over when and how I was going to tell the guys the truth. I knew if I did, the relationship between me, Tsume, Kiba, and Hige would change drastically. They were males after all. If they found out, mating would be on their minds and Kiba and Tsume most likely will fight over me, while Hige would back down. I mean, Kiba and Tsume did not get along as it was, but by adding me to the mixture would just make it far worst. I just did not want anyone to get hurt.
The other side of the argument was that I could not keep my secret from them forever. If I did try, most likely I would die of food deprivation or mal-nutrition. Not only that, but they were going to find out due to many girly things that they are bound to notice over time.
I did not have time to make up my mind because at that moment, Zali announced his departure. "I can't take you farther then this. All you have to do is head straight down this tunnel and you will eventually come upon the exist."
"Are you sure you don't want to come with us?" asked Kiba.
"This is my home, kid, whether or not the people in it accept me," he answered. I want to hug him, but I knew better. Instead I watched as Kiba and Zali shook hands. Afterward, we took off down the tunnel to the exit. Once outside, joy filled us. On top of that, within the sky, there was a ¾ moon.
It was an exceptional night, not only because we exited the sewer or the moon, but also because of the hope brought to us. Upon seeing the stars and the forest the feeling of hope increased in our hearts. The lightness filled the air.
Since it was night when we exited, the decision to sleep was already decided. We ended up sitting around a kindling fire that Tsume established. I couldn't not sleep, though. I just lay down upon my back and started up at the stars. The sky was beautiful and clear. I soon became transfixed to the sight.
When all were asleep, I snuck out of the campsite in hopes of finding a watering hole. This was the only time alone that I could get, which meant that I had to make the best of it. And that is what I did.
I sniffed aimlessly with much hope in my heart. After some time, I came upon a small pond with a cascading waterfall. It was beautiful. But before I headed in, I sniffed around to see if there was anyone around. Once sure, I stripped down and dove in. The water was a little chilly, but the cool wet feeling washed over my bare body within seconds. I felt almost alive being in this new element that I once loved so much. Still, the forest was my main element.
I guess it was a snap of a twig or maybe just an instinct, but something told me to get out of the water. Once dressed, I went fishing and pulled out one that was a decent size, about a foot long. This one I ate in hopes of being well by tomorrow. It was so good. The sliminess was a little gross, but the taste was amazing. So fresh and new.
I finished it, then went off on a search. What I came across was not any good news. There was a sent of another wolf lurking near where I had just been bathing. The ironic part was, the sent seemed familiar. It couldn't be, I thought. With in seconds, I had knocked the notion out of my head and was on my way back to camp in hope of getting some more sleep.
I reached the camp only to come upon the three guys I had been traveling with out cold on the ground. Hige's loud snoring was the only sound made. None of them seemed to have moved much except for a few twists and turns. Since all seemed well, I curled up in wolf form and covered my nose with my tail. I closed my eyes and drifted off into a dreamless sleep. All was well.
The next morning, I was brutally awakened by Hige. I had hoped the sun would have waked me. "Hay runt, wake up," he spoke while shaking me very roughly.
"What? What time is it?" I asked while getting up in human form and stretching.
"Well, lets see. The sun is up and there is food," Tsume answered in his normal sarcastic tone.
"Food?" I asked very confused.
"Ya food! You had better hurry before chubby eats it all," spoke Tsume.
"Oh," I spoke as I headed over to the mostly eaten carcass of a doe. All the guys were sitting away from it, waiting patiently for me to eat it. It felt weird to be the center of attention, so I quickly ate some of the food. "Ready?" I asked.
Kiba and Tsume looked at each other with worry then back at the carcass and I. It had been the first time in a long time that they had agreed. All this was confusing me more then I was already. "Hay runt, I thought you were hungry? It doesn't even appear that you ate much of the doe," Hige said in order to break the silence.
A part of me, deep down, wanted to scream out and say that I was ravenous. That if I ate I would devour the doe. That the reason I did not eat was in order to keep my weight down to hide that I am a girl. I wanted to yell that I hated being a female do to the inequality that existed. I wanted to tell them everything. I wanted to scream it out to the world, but I did not. Instead, I bit back my tongue.
"Are you sick, Toboe?" asked Kiba. His concern somewhat annoyed me and saddened me. I just hated lying to them, but it had to be this way.
"No, Kiba, I am not sick. Just not hungry." I answered with a partial truth. Their eyes told me of their disbelief
"Come on. Let's go before sunlight runs out," spoke Kiba as he continued to walk. As usual, I fell behind due to thoughts that I pondered. Only when I was so far behind that Hige took notice.
"Hay runt. Catch up. Don't think you want to be lost in this forest do you?" Hige yelled back to me. They never did stop, just continued on. I had to run and catch up.
Silence was all around us as we continued to walk. It was really annoying me, so I broke it. "Why are there no animals in this forest?"
"Geez runt. Don't you know that we are wolves?" answered Hige. He appeared to be the only one to hear my question. The others just continued on ignoring all.
"So, where are we heading?" asked Tsume.
"To paradise," answered Kiba.
"You want to give us a hint on how you know where we are heading?" asked Tsume.
"I am going on instinct." Kiba just continued to walk as though nothing was different. We, that is Tsume, Higa, and I, all stopped abruptly. We, well, I should say I because I don't know what the others were thinking, was very confused. I could not see how so many things could be so wrong. Still, who knew what was truth or not.
Before the guys could fight, a loud buzzingt noise broke out over head. Upon viewing, we say two ships battling each other. One was being fired upon by lasers, while the others was trying to flee. Much of the forest was being destroyed by missed beams.
The ship being fired upon was slowly chipping away. We watched for sometime, paralyzed to our spots not by fear, but by curiosity. It was Kiba's movement and Tsume's yells that woke me from my hypnotic state.
"We shouldn't get involved," yelled Tsume. Naturally, Hige and I followed. Tsume joined in after sometime then wizzed past me.
"Why are we running?" asked Hige. He was too bamboozled to know why.
"Don't you feel it?" asked Kiba. We all looked confused. I thought I could smell something in the air, but said noting. Only when I looked up did I notice the girl flooting down from the sky. Her sent was faint, but good.
We all continued to run and when we came to a rock wall, we climed. As time passed I asked Kiba, "I have this feeling in the pit of my stomach. Is that what you are talking about?" He just nodded.
The other two were talking amongs themselves. By the expression upon Tsume's face, it seemed not that great. Still, talking was better them nothing.
After sometime, we reached the top. It was beautiful. There was a huge forest and a very high water fall that was clear as the eye could see. We ventured through the forest, speaking very few words. As we neared the water, all hearts skipped a beat.
"I think my heart just skipped a beat," I said.
"The feeling in me is that of which you get before pouncing on a pretty she-wolf," Hige spoke. As he said it, we came upon the lake that the water fall cascaded into. The ground around the lake was covered in grass and many colorful flowers. On top of a rock with feet dangling in the water, sat a young girl with purple hair and pink eyes. She was thin and the smell of Lunar flowers lurked around her. How she drew the eyes of the guys. We stopped and stared. The guys drooled over her, though they tried not to show it.
Kiba was the first to approach her. Hige, though spoke the first words. "It can't be. It's Cheza."
"What is she?" Tsume asked.
"She is a flower maiden," Hige answered. Kiba had just reached Cheza and started to talk. Then she started to pet him. A feeling over ran me and my mouth formed words that I could not believe. The guys had to have been rubbing off on me.
"I wish she would pet me like that," I said.
"Ya, me too," said Hige. As he said that, Kiba and Cheza took each other's hands and walked off together into the forest. The rest of us closely followed. We talked amongst ourselves since there was nothing else to do.
Tsume conveyed his distrust towad Cheza while Hige revealed his information about her. I, on the other hand, tried piecing the puzzle together. What I got was this land we were in was Darcia's palace. That Cheza was created from Lunar flowers by him. Another piece of information was that some scientists stole Cheza from Dacia and had been holding her captive for some time.
After some time, we came upon a building. Cheza departed from Kiba a ran into one of the rooms screaming, "Everyone, this one is home." She was full of such joy and cheer. There were no tears held in her eyes till reality settled in. Within this room was a broken glass case and broken technology and control panels. There were overgrown vines that flowed from ceiling to floor, while others slithered across the ground. Some were even growing over the broken machinery.
When Cheza saw this, she fell to the floor upon her knees with tears in her eyes. Kiba went to her side, while Hige and Tsume walked in with worry on their faces. "There are soilders outside," said Hige.
Tsume walked over to Kiba and Cheza with anger within his very soul. Kiba jumped up to protect her. "She is not responsible. Just leave her be," spoke Kiba. Then he grabbed Cheza and ran off away from the soldiers. Hige and Tsume went toward the soldiers. I went with the leader, though a part of me wanted to be with Tsume. Killing was not something liked to do after all.
We went down hallway after hallway. Gunshot was heard in the distance, which meant that Tswume and Hige had met who they wanted. We, on the other hand, had a similar encounter. We ran into some soldiers. Kiba did the slaughtering, while I grabbed Cheza and protected her behind a boulder.
When the gunfire ceased, I turned around and saw Tsume and Hige standing in front of us with two limp bodies sprawled along the floor. Kiba seemed annoyed and that annoyance led to an argument amongst the three of them. Cheza and I, meanwhile, snuck off to find a way out. In a way, it was like they were leaving it to the girls.
In a way, it turned to Cheza leading me. I dawdled behind then headed back to fetch the guys. "Come on, guys. Cheza found a way out," I yelled at them. Kiba ran to catch up with Cheza, while the rest of us just dragged behind.
We ran passed a hole in the wall. One in which showed the army. Bullets whizzed past us as we continued to run. Their aim was horrible. In a good way, none of us got injured. The bad news, we ended in a room with no way out.
"We are trapped. There is no way out," said Hige.
"I knew she was no good from the first time we met her," said Tsume.
"Don't blame this all on her. There has to a way out," said Kiba.
"Well, we could always surrender," sid Hige. Both Tsume and Kiba gave him death glares. They actually agreed on something. "I guess we could fight then."
I could not stand watching them argue, so I looked over at Cheza. When I did, I noticed a hole in the wall. "Hay guys, Cheza found a way out."
The bickering ceased around me when I said that. Kiba, of course, was the first to leave. Hige and I followed for fear of being left behind. Tsume just followed because he did not want to battle soldiers on his own if he did not have to. At any rate, when we entered the newfound tunnel, the entrance we came through closed. It scared the crap out of me.
At one point in our venture, Cheza moved from being in the lead to falling behind us. We continued to walk until we came to an exit. Kiba led as always. As we reached entered into the starry night sky, I turned around to watch Cheza. The sight I saw traumatized me and my heart stopped.
Cheza kept walking straight and almost stepped right off the edge. She stopped her one foot in mid air, then turned her body towards us and continued walking. I breathed a sigh of relief as I watched the sight. I then turned to Hige and asked him a question. "Hige, how does she know where she is going?"
"She uses her antennas, of course," he answered.
"She doesn't have antennas, Hige," I said. As I said that, I noticed that she was very close to us, though she seemed very apprehensive. "Kiba, why is she nervous?"
Kiba turned around to me and spoke, "Because you guys are nervous around her. Now let's get a move on it before it gets too late. We are heading back toward the city."
As we walked, I noted something move in the forest we were walking in through. A new feeling in me was set off and I did not know how to handle it. "Kiba, something is following us," I spoke.
"It is probably nothing, Toboe," said Kiba. He was trying to make me forget it. It was not going to work, though, so I continued to stare into the woods as we walked. It was almost like my past was reoccurring. The shadow moved again. This time I was sure that it was growing closer.
"Kiba, I saw it again," I said. " I think it's a wolf." That made Kiba stop in his tracks. He looked around for a while, then started staring in one spot that seemed abandoned and yelled out.
"Come out, we know your in there." As he said it, a dark build gray wolf with black streaks in its fur came walking out. It shifted to human form and looked at us.
"Hello!" he said. As he came closer, I got a better look at him. He had short dark brown hair, almost black, and gray eyes. He was wearing jeans and a black t-shirt with green writing that said, "None own me, but myself." He was also wearing a black sweatshirt, which was tied around his thin, built waist. His slim figure made him appear more muscular. He definitely had a six-pack. Age had to be around 16 or 17
"What are you doing snooping around us?" asked Kiba. I think he noticed me studying the guy. To this day, I am still not sure. Tsume and Hige moved closer to me, while Kiba guarded Cheza. Their protectiveness was starting to get on my nerves. One day, they were going to get an ear full.
"I did not mean to startle the little one, but I just wanted to make sure you guys were not here to do damage," he said. His eyes wondered amongst us, but fell upon me the most. Something about him did not seem right. I did not think we could trust him, but I was not going to voice it.
"What the hell do you wasn't?" asked Tsume. He was not liking this guy much either. In a way, though, how many people did Tsume like?
"I want to know if I can join you?" he said.
"Whatcha ya name kid?" asked Kiba.
"My name is Pernicious, but most people call me Pice," he ansered. He moved closer, as did the guys toward Cheza and I. I caught a part of his sent. It seemed so familiar, like I just smelt it yesterday.
"What do you say Cheza?" Kiba asked turning toward her.
This one thinks it will be ok ot have a new wolf around," she answered. "This one also thinks we should rest. With that said, she started to sing. All of us drifted into dream filled sleeps.
That night, I dreamt that I was with my Grandmother and thatwe were in a bed of lunar flowers.
Author's note: CYA soon
