Author's Note:
Hi guys! Here is chapter 8. ^_^! I love writing this story. I got to another important milestone in the story. Yay! Anyway enjoy! This is earlier than I thought I would update.
Okay I don't actually know the migration patterns of any of the herd animals I bring up in this story. So I made some up that are not that detailed and just mentioned really.
I have started to put quotes in the beginning and end. I liked the idea. Somethimes there may be one and other times there may be two. I will also share what songs came to mind when I wrote and read my chapters. I don't know. I just felt like it. Oh a lot of the quotes are from Dr. Martin Luther King as he has a lot of great quote to fit here. There will be others. I will probably add them into previous chapters when I decide on some. Call me silly, I just like the idea.
Oh I drew a version of Naruto and I think I may put it up on my deviant art account in the next few days. I have t scan it. It is not colored and I am not the first person the shade something, but it still looks cool to me. Anyway, just thought I would share that. When I post it I will put the link on my profile.
Wow long author's note haha! Haven't had a long on in a while.
Acknowledgements and Thanks to Reviewers:
Note: If I could not reply to you via email I have my replies here.
- narutolover15
- KoTenshi
-sasuita95
-spazzgirl
-akatsuki-tenshi-kitsune
I would also like to thank the story alerters and favoriters!
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or anything pertaining to it besides the idea for this fan fic.
…On With The Story…
Jo:
Why do you want this so bad?
Carl
Brashear: Because they said I couldn't have it.
Chapter 8: Things Fall Apart(1)
It did not take Naruto too long to come to the ridge. He started trying to pick up a trail. He found recent scent markings. It excited him. It really had been a while. He howled and waited for an answer. Sure enough he got one within moments.
"Wow they're a bit out there huh?" Naruto mused trying to figure out exactly how far they were in the forest area of the territory. Well if he met them halfway it should take about half an hour. He gave another howl and went on his way. He trotted leisurely. There was no real hurry. It only took him about five minutes to give up that charade and break out into bounding leaps with fits of straight gallops. He was anything, but silent. The pack heard him before they saw him.
"He was always so energetic," A male sighed. He was a brownish-yellow, a custard color if you will. He was solid except his throat, muzzle, cheeks, and around his eyes was a lighter shade. Hige (2) was his name. His golden eyes laughed with mischief.
"Yeah he was always loads of fun," This one was smaller than the others. He was a dark chestnut brown with light markings like Hige, but he also had them on his chest, stomach, and legs. He was thinner than the rest, but getting filling out, the pup of the bunch.
The rest of the pack was silent. There would be a time to talk when they met up. There was much to catch up on. Knowing Naruto, when they met someone would end up on the ground.
Sure enough someone ended up on the ground. The surprising part was that it was Tsume. He was a dark grey with the same kind of lighter face marking, but it extended all the way down to his chest where a cross shaped scar resided. He never talked about it. Currently he was not happy at all. The stupid brat was so noisy, but he had suddenly went silent when they got closer. Next thing they knew Tsume was on the ground with a ball of orange sunshine on his back.
"Aw Kiba! You moved!" Naruto whined. Kibe was the leader, a white wolf. He almost had him that time, but Tsume would do. The sad part was that when he actually tried to get Tsume he always failed. The pack laughed, well except Tsume. Naruto wagged his tail in victory. "Oh well," He thought.
"Get off," Tsume growled. Naruto knew better than to not comply. Tsume had little patience for anyone. He tolerated Toboe the most. That was shocking as he was the most curious and he was slightly clingy. Tsume was the one who found the little guy. The pack was an interesting case. It was formed from lone wolves that formed an alliance. It soon became something they did not want to break. It was also a bit unorthodox.
Kiba was the pack leader. His mate Cheza, a white wolf with purple-ish tinted red markings on her head and down the back of her neck, was usually silent, but when she sang it was beautiful. Her eyes were unusual for a wolf. They were a crimson red, gorgeous. She truly was an exotic creature. Kiba was very protective of her. The strange part was that Hige was very much in love with Blue, the blue eyed black wolf dog that he met and became fond of. It was allowed within the pack. Not your traditional pack behaviors. Naruto loved it. It was different and gave free choice. He even suspected something between Tsume and Toboe, but that could be brotherly love. He wasn't going to ask. Tsume would kill him for suggesting it even if he was right.
"Rash as always Naruto," Kiba commented, by passing the usual 'checking of the 'intruder' performed when an outsider entered the territory. Naruto was practically family.
"Teehee!" well your lives are boring without my rash-ness!" Naruto laughed.
"Hey squirt we're not all boring!" Hige snapped batting Naruto in the head. He considered himself quite lively. Maybe a bit of a coward, but that was another matter entirely. Naruto proceeded to jump him and scuffle for the whack. The pack shook their heads. Those two always broke out into scuffles. While they tussled the others wondered about the blondes wounds.
"So what have you been up to kid?" Blue asked when the scuffle ceased. "You look like you've had a pretty rough time of it lately." She said glancing at his appearance. He still had scabs and some wounds may even scar.
"Ah just a recent run in with some dogs in town," Naruto said. Naruto had told them the town was not fond of him. Wolves were very wary around people as they tended to hold ill intentions for wolves. An age old conflict between dogs and wolves made dogs pretty much of limits as well. "My friends are in a race. Sasuke finally gets to race that big race I told you guys about. He is leading! I go with the others tomorrow down South to the finish town." Naruto chirped.
"I assume that is good for your friends," Hige said, but quickly moved on, "When are you gonna leave that town altogether? You are welcome here." Kiba could not agree more, surprisingly. He never understood the blondes taste for humans and their pets. Blue and Toboe were similar. At first he thought it was the dog in Blue that made her think they weren't so bad, but Toboe was all wolf. It had to be the fact that they were both raised by humans. Toboe was raised by an old lady who died in her house and Blue by a hunter who died in a hunting accident. They mourned the loss of their owner even now. Kiba could not sympathize much with their losses. He had never had good experiences with humans or their dogs. Naruto and Blue had wolf in them. They belonged to the wild.
"I can't." Naruto said gaining a sad look. A blue black dog that he would miss very much came to mind. "Besides I don't go to town much. I visit my friends who live outside of town." Naruto said perking up. He had no reason to be sad. He wasn't leaving.
"So a rare visit to the town did that?" Tsume asked. He could not believe the whelp's stupidity.
"Actually I had accidently wondered to town. Game is scare and I tracked a rabbit to the unpopulated end of town. Unfortunately, I also ran into some unpleasant company. I am fine now." Naruto reassure. He did not want to go too in depth.
"I see," Kiba piped in intending to change the subject. It was obvious that Naruto did not want to say much about it. "What of your future plans?" He continued.
"Future plans?" Naruto asked.
"Yeah! You know, what do you plan to do? Do you ever plan to strike out on your own? If you don't join us then are you hoping for a mate?" Tobe asked excited. Naruto was older than he was and he could technically start his own pack by now.
"Ah, I see. Well I haven't really thought about the future yet. I guess I just planned to keep doing what I do. You could say I have three families that I don't want to leave." Naruto said a bit unsure. He had never planned to change anything. He was quite happy.
"But what about a pretty little mate?" Hige asked.
"Adventure?" Tsume asked.
"A family of your own?" Blue inquired.
"Well the adventure part is never lacking and I already have a family of my own." Naruto mused. "A very big family," He mentally added. He did not see the difference. Besides, a family like what they said was not something he was looking at in truth. He adored pups though.
"Then you…already…?" Toboe asked.
"Wow, so who've you been hiding and why didn't you tell us?" Hige asked.
"Huh?" Naruto was confused.
"Oh come on, tell us. Is that's why you can't leave? You found yourself a pretty little dog and don't want to leave her with your pups. I don't smell any prominent female smell on you. Dude, how long have you left her alone?" Hige teased and praised all at once. He was also a bit confused about the lack of distinguishable scent.
"What-no!" Naruto protested. He tried very hard not to look embarrassed. They thought he meant that he mated and had pups. That was not what he meant.
"Explain Naruto-kun," Cheza said soothingly and a bit questioningly. It was like she gave him permission not to answer.
"You guys don't understand." Naruto did not snap mostly for Cheza's sake. He could never yell at her. She never gave him reason and there was just something subduing about her presence. "I don't have a mate or pups. And maybe I never will," Naruto said smiling sadly. Images of dark ebony eyes haunted him now of all times.
"Why do you say that?" Toboe asked tentatively. Even Tsume was curious at that one.
"It's just a hunch I guess." Naruto said. It didn't help when you wanted someone that everyone else, who had more appeal to them than you did, wanted too. He could not win in that area. Wolves mate for life and Naruto had chosen his. "Man I chose poorly," He mentally mused. It was funny, but horribly depressing, bittersweet.
"You shouldn't say such things. We know not what the future holds," Kiba said attempting to cheer his companion up.
"Yeah, brat don't throw yourself out of the game. You're still young yet," Tsume said. The others nodded.
"Well, enough about me. What about you guys?" Naruto said trying to pretend nothing was bothering him. If he did it right he could trick himself into actually being happy again.
"Well the game trail was good for most of the winter. It was long and hard, but we made do," Blue said. They had followed the migrating herds of caribou. Caribou, also known as reindeer, big game common for wolves in this area. The pack came back because the herds had turned around. Unfortunately the herds from their territory had not yet. They must have left later than usual. Now they had to keep following this herd until they were ready to return to their own land a bit closer to or in the spring.
"The herd we followed passed by heading for another territory. We will have to follow to stay alive. We will head back in a couple of weeks as our herd should be back by then. If not, it will be safe to say that they aren't coming back this year." Tsume added.
"Ah, well let's hope they return then yeah?" Naruto said coming out of serious mode. "I want to be able to see you guys again," He added.
"Then come with us, at least until next spring. You will love seeing places you never saw and there is more to eat. You have never seen elk or bison right?" Toboe chirped.
"What are they?" Naruto asked interested in all of it. It did sound like a great adventure.
"They are large like the caribou, but the bison look very different while the caribou are very similar," Kiba provided.
"And taste great!" Hige added mouth watering.
"It sounds great, but I don't know. I'll think about it." Naruto said. It truly sounded like fun and a great experience, but he just didn't know if he could leave for that long. He would miss his dad and the dogs; He'd miss Sasuke, that irritating teme.
The rest of the visit was spent playing and a bit more catching up. Soon Naruto had to head home. He bid goodbye hoping to see them within a couple of months. They were headed out when he left. Getting home was uneventful and Naruto was bored, but for once grateful. He was quite tired and had a lot on his mind. He thought about actually just falling asleep once in the yard. It was still daylight and he managed to get home before dark. Not that it really mattered. He actually loved night travel. The forest had an entirely different nightlife to behold.
He walked into the barn and was surprised to see his fox parents curled up talking to Iruka. He had thought they went home when he did not see them in the yard. He went over and lay next to them.
"Naruto, how was your visit?" Sinopa asked as he lay down.
"Great, they all look okay considering the harsh winter," Naruto said grinning, "following the herds kept them in good health."
"Ah, maybe you should go with them," Kyuubi said, "You don't get much around here in the winter." Itachi stopped in the doorway at hearing the part about leaving. It startled him.
"Why does everyone keep saying that?" Naruto thought. He liked his life. He had a hard time finding food and keeping from fights, but he was more content than upset. "Naw, they offered, but I'd miss you all too much." Naruto finally said nuzzling his father.
"Your life is your own. I guess wolves are more pack animals. Leaving home is not the first thought on their mind. I am surprised though. You were always wondering off. I prepared myself for the day you would not come back." Kyuubi said. He was a fox and kits leaving was normal, but he was still sad at the thought.
"Just remember if you leave it doesn't have to be forever. You could always come back." Sinopa offered. Best to make sure he understood everything before deciding.
"I know, but I guess I am more wolf than fox huh dad?" Naruto said trying to lighten the atmosphere. Foxes were more solitary units of one or one family. Bigger bands were formed on rare occasions.
"We'd miss you too," Sinopa smiled.
"Yes and we would as well," Iruka said. Itachi deemed this a good time to continue walking in. He thought Naruto was actually gonna leave with how long he took to respond to them. Nods of acknowledgement were given, but of course Naruto was feeling bold.
"Miss me Sunshine?" He chirped. The glare Itachi sent him was so menacing that if looks could kill there wouldn't even be particles left. Naruto loved it. He deemed it his duty to invoke reactions out of the brothers. It was always priceless when they glared.
"Come again Naruto-kun?" It was a sickeningly sweet tone with an added kun suffix. Nothing good could come of it.
"Oh lighten up Itachi! Jeez," Naruto laughed.
"Keep pushing it Naruto," He warned half heartedly. That darn idiot could rile anyone.
By night Naruto had chosen a spot in the yard and dug himself a bit of a hole to lay in. He felt like sleeping outside tonight. Shikamaru would often fall asleep on his back outside at night. His head was always in the clouds. Naruto looked at the sky and even saw quite a few shooting stars. Normally he would wish to race or for his next meal, but tonight the only thing…one…on his mind was Sasuke and the team. Since he could not be with them he was praying for them knowing they would do well.
"Hey boy, didn't feel like sleeping in the barn?" Konohamaru wondered rubbing Naruto's head as the canine stretched and yawned as well. It was morning and soon time to head for town to get on the train. "Too hot in the barn for ya?" He continued as he stood and began walking to the trough with a scoop and a bucket. The bucket had scraps of tender raw meet inside to be mixed in with the dry kibble. Naruto lay back down, but a nip to the tail made him jump up immediately.
"Ow, ow, ow, what was that for Itachi?" Naruto yelled at the black dog. Kakashi stood next to him.
"Me?" Itachi droned as if uninterested.
"Last night!"
"Kakashi's idea," Itachi smirked. The grey dog only smiled and wagged his tail. Naruto just huffed.
"Eat," Kakashi said. The smile was still there. Naruto just stared at him blankly. "If you don't go eat right now I'll give you pain equivalent to a thousand deaths." He said, smile still in place. It made it more threatening to Naruto. If Iruka kept worrying about Naurto not eating he might serious suffocate the youngan. Meanwhile, Naruto debated on how much he wanted to die and decided to keep the "I'm not afraid of you" comment to himself. He got up and slunk to the trough right next to Iruka who was glad that he had decided to eat without much fuss that morning. Kakashi would cause him pain for Iruka, even if Iruka would get mad at him. They did not always act like it, but they were head over heels or each other. When you saw one you were almost guaranteed to see the other close by. Iruka was the one not big on showing it much. If Kakashi had his way…let's just say everyone would get quite a few shows every day, all day.
Food tasted good. He didn't have dinner the night before because he claimed he ate with the wolves. It was a lie they all knew it. He smelled nothing like meet. He ate little from the trough. He really wasn't that hungry. He was excited to get going though.
…
"Whoa!" Sarutobi called. Kiba looked like he was really struggling to keep up. He had developed an awkward gate and Sarutobi decided to stop and check his legs. When the team stopped Kiba favored his right back leg. It must be cramping or straining, he saw no blood. He dismounted to massage it and determine his ability to continue.
"There will be a storm soon. I can feel it," Shikamaru commented calmly. Shikamaru was good with predicting the weather. He could feel something coming before most other dogs. He never really knew how bad a storm would be, but he knew when it was coming.
"You sure Shika?" Chouji asked from next to him.
"Yup," He lazily responded.
"Joy, and it's only day five," Sakura muttered. Things were getting tougher every day.
Sasuke was in deep thought. If the storm was too bad they could all get lost or easily run into or over something that could injure or kill them all. It was Sasuke's job to make sure that didn't happen. And it would be his fault if anything bad did happen. He was worried. Sarutobi would race until he cannot anymore, trusting his dogs to guide him. Even at a slow trot or walk they could run into trouble. Sasuke was not as experienced as his parents or any of the older dogs. He did not want to let the team down so he decided t try not to worry about it. He needed to stay confident and sure, focused.
He moved his thoughts to Naruto to get his mind off his weakness. Naruto always made things better. The dobe was always optimistic and Sasuke envied him. The blind surety he possessed. It was aspiring and his personality made anyone feel better. He really did miss him. He always got this way when Naruto wasn't around. He found it irrational and silly. It did not take long for Sasuke to miss him when he was gone. He never missed someone like that. Sometimes he would not be in a race and Sarutobi would go to another town to race and it would take a few days to get there, race, and get back. He did not miss them like this. They would be back soon enough was what he always reasoned. If Itachi went he would miss him, but that was his brother. Naruto, what was Naruto, his annoyance, his headache, his best friend? More? That stupid dobe just couldn't leave him alone. "He isn't even here!" Sasuke mentally argued.
"Something wrong Sasuke?" Sakura asked noticing his stiff stance.
"Hn," He answered. Sakura was not as good at understanding the language as Naruto and the brothers themselves. She considered herself quite close to Sasuke, but honestly Sasuke tolerated her. She knew that. Maybe after a while he'll at least admit to liking her as a friend.
"Sasuke, we can't help if-" She started.
"I'm fine Sakura," Sasuke interrupted wanting to be left alone. At her saddened look he added, "Thank you though." She perked up in surprise and joy. Sasuke hoped she did not read more into it than there was.
"Well boy that should do it," Sarutobi said to Kiba having finished the massage. Kiba was not favoring the leg anymore, but Sarutobi imagined it was pretty sore. He went to unhitch Kiba, but Kiba shied away. He wanted to keep running. Sarutobi would watch Kiba to make sure he did not really hurt himself. He went to check some stuff since they had stopped. While he chewed on a piece of beef jerky he checked the equipment, supplies, and sled. When he was done he got the dogs moving again. Kiba was running much better.
Shikamaru's prediction was an understatement. The storm was a full out blizzard.
…
"It sounds bad out there." Naruto said. A storm had started about three hours into the train ride. It blew fiercely outside the car the dogs were stored in.
"Ah," Kakashi agreed.
"I have a bad feeling about this," Itachi said. Naruto nodded in agreement. He didn't know what it was, but he knew it had something to do with the team. He hoped they were just worried. They would know when Konohamaru got the paper the next morning about who showed up at the checkpoint. It would tell which teams had injured dogs or mushers.
"Try not to worry about it." Iruka said. He was the one that was pacing a bit. "Maybe it is better where they are."
…
The wind blew at 30 miles per hour and the snow was blinding. They had slowed due to visibility problems. Even if Sarutobi has told Sasuke to go faster he would have refused. No one could see more than a few inches in front of them and at times nothing at all. Sasuke could not even look back and see the team. He already almost walked into several trees, a few boulders, and some logs and it felt like they were walking in circles. He could feel that night was approaching and Sarutobi would have to try to survive the night. This was bad. Sasuke couldn't avoid the low branch he ran his nose into, the rough jagged bark scraping it and making him yelp.
"Sasuke?" Neji inquired loudly trying to be heard over the wind. He hoped he didn't fall off of a ledge or something. There was not tug, but he could have caught himself on the edge if he did.
"Low branch!" Sasuke responded shaking his head. He made a move to find his way around the branch and knew the team would follow. What he didn't know was that just beyond that branch was a thin layer of snow leading right to a drop off. It gave way and it was like a domino effect. The first four dogs went down pulling the rest of the team and the sled down right off the ledge with them. The dogs landed only to slide down the ice hill seven feet below. Sasuke fell on his sideand all the dogs were barking and whining. He faintly heard the other yelps of pain and surprise near where they first started the sliding as he continued to tumble and slid trying to right himself, but he couldn't even turn over willingly. However, he wondered what happened when he heard another yelp of pain amongst the fearful barking and whining as they slid further down. It was a screeching yelp that even the wind could not drown out. There was a particularly hard jerk to the lines. Another yelp followed shortly after from another dog. Sasuke could not even hear Sarutobi. He wondered if the man fell with them or if he was seriously hurt and couldn't say anything.
Sarutobi had lost his handle and footing on the sled as he had been walking with it. The sudden pull had startled him and he didn't get a good handle before the drop. The sled fell on its side and Sarutobi on his back letting the sled go and twirling and tumbling down after it and the dogs.
When Sasuke tumbled into snow at the bottom of the hill he was relieved, and visibility was a bit better down the hill. It was enough to see Neji right before he tumbled full force into him making him roll a bit. Sasuke's tug rope hook had broke on the way down and he slid independently of the team and sled. Neji's had broken as well. It seems so did Kiba's as he was next despite being the third row back on the team.
When the sled did come down it tumbled and the dogs that were still attached rolled and slid being pulled with it. Sasuke, Neji, and Kiba were almost run right over by the back of the sled, but the increased visibility made the difference and they quickly moved. That was too close for comfort. Sarutobi came after the sled sliding right into a snow bank a bit more of to the side of the hill. He lay unmoving.
All was quiet except panting and a bit of confused whining and barking. Everyone was a bit shocked and surprised. No one was ready for that. Sasuke pulled himself together.
"Is everyone relatively alright? Here?" Sasuke asked yelling. If someone didn't answer then something was wrong. He was taking a head count.
"Here, but I'm not sure about alright," kiba yelled.
"Ah, I'm here as you may have noticed," If Neji was joking then he must be fine.
"Here and well enough Sasuke," Sakura called shaking snow from her fur.
"Same," Shiakmaru yelled helping Chouji get untangled from the lines.
"Me too!" Chouji yelled.
"Here, but I hit something on the way down. I think it was a log or a tree root. I have a pretty good gash from the feel of it, but my youth shall prevail!" Lee relayed, although not as enthusiastic as normal. Sasuke thought he heard a hiss of pain in his voice. It was quiet after that. That was not good.
"Hinata?" Sasuke called. He received no answer.
"Hinata?" Neji called next. "Hinata!"
"Can anybody see her?" Kiba asked a bit hysterically. It was no secret that if he did not like her many dogs would lose some prized bones. Naruto told them not to bet on Kiba's love life and the put up a couple of bones himself saying he was so sure that it wasn't betting. It was an investment.
"No one can see or feel her and she's not hooked up!" Sakura said. No dog was hoked up to point dog position.
"Do you think maybe she got lucky and managed to stop up the hill in a patch of snow?" Neji asked Sasuke. He was close enough that he did not have to yell so loud.
"If she did she should have answered! If she does not come down the hill in a few minutes we should try to find a way up," Kiba snapped. His frustration and panic was showing.
"We can barely see. Trying anything until this storm calms is dangerous. We don't want anyone else to get hurt!" Sasuke told him trying to calm him down.
"Shut up! If you were doing your job we wouldn't be in this mess. It's you-" Kiba yelled, but stopped himself when he realized what he said. Sasuke just stared blankly at him. He could barely see Kiba even now. His face was fuzzy through the snowy wind. It helped because he did not know how long he could keep a mask of indifference now matter how good he was at it. He knew even if it didn't fall it would crack and everyone would see it.
"Kiba…" Neji lightly said. He was shocked.
"S-saskue, I-I'm-" Kiba started. Sasuke was the lead dog, but that could've happened to anyone.
"No, you're right. I'm sorry. In ten minutes I'll help start looking. Or now I will find Sarutobi." Sasuke walked away a bit until he was alone. He couldn't really see anyone, but shadows and silhouettes. He had only walked a few strides, but the visibility was still horrible. The wind nipped at him as he tried not to fall into too much self loathing. They still needed to find a way to a town for help if not the checkpoint and see if Sarutobi was alright.
"Kiba that was uncalled for!" Sakura yelled.
"I know! I was just…arg!" Kiba said. He truly did not want to hurt Sasuke. He knew better than to think Sasuke was unaffected. Hinata did not show up in the time given. Sasuke had found Sarutobi and commanded the dogs to help him keep him warm. They piled on and around him.
"Kiba, Neji come with me." Sasuke commanded getting up shaking off snow and leading them away. The blizzard was slowly dying down into a strong storm and visibility kept increasing, but they still could only see a few yards in front of them. They searched around the wide icy hill trying to find a way up. The visibility was an annoying problem. They found the part of the hill that was covered in snow and began to climb. They were not too hasty, but not too slow either. They did not want any more accidents. They stayed as close to the ice as possible trying to catch signs of Hinata.
"Hinata!" Kiba yelled hoping for an answer. He got one.
"Kiba!" It was definitely Hinata, but her voice was pained and sharp, like a scream.
"Keep yelling! We'll find you!" Neji called. He was so relieved she was not dead. The pain in her voice worried him.
"Here! Please come!" She called. It took a minute, but they found her. She was behind a log sticking out onto the ice. It must be the log Lee hit on the way down. It did not look good. Hinata had slammed hard into the log on the way down and the jerk from the sled and dogs falling broke the tug line. She had a gash across her girth and her left back leg seemed to be broken. She lay in pain almost unable to move. The shock wore off of Kiba quickly as he went to assist her in standing. Neji went to help, but Sasuke had his eye on a branch near the log. It had many smaller branches on it. It was just big enough to drag her back down the hill. She would have trouble getting down on her own body power in her condition.
"Sasuke?"Kiba asked incredulously as he watched Sasuke's form move away.
Sasuke went to grab it. It was practically unattached to the tree, but clung by a few inches of bark and tree meat. It did not take him long to wrestle it off though his mouth was sore from the bark scraping against his gums. He drags it back. It was quite heavy. When Neji saw what he was up to he helped him drag it over while Kiba got Hinata completely on her feet and leaning against him.
"Lay here Hinata," Sasuke softly instructed. Kiba helped her do so. She panted heavily from the pain and effort. She needed medical help ad couldn't even get minimal help until Sarutobi came through, if he came through. They slowly dragged her down as the blizzard raged on.
…
The storm still blew hard still the next morning, but had calmed down to a lighter snow. Konhamaru went by to feed the dogs. It was a bit late, but at least they would eat. It was almost noon.
"Well at least it wasn't a blizzard." Konohamaru said while feeding the dogs. It had snowed pretty hard the day before and during the night. "I'm gonna go get a paper." Konohamaru said. The papers were in the office of the train station. They were in Rock Town. They were about a fourth of the way to the town on the sixth day of the race. The train had traveled all night at a bit of a slower pace due to visibility problems. If something was on the tracks it could be a horrible accident if they went too fast.
When Konohamaru returned he began to read. He wanted to be around the dogs to share the good news. What he thought would be good news. The blizzard was on the front page and he could have passed out when he read the title in the sports section. Teams Lost In Blizzard.
"Something's wrong," Naruto said at the look in Konohamaru's eyes.
"I can't believe it," Konohamaru whispered. "No one showed up to the checkpoint," He continued as if in a trance. He began to tear up, but shook his head. He continued reading. It said small rescue teams would be sent out when the blizzard calmed a bit more.
"He will be fine," Konohamaru said with finality. They would stop at another town the next day. Not the checkpoint, but not far. He would check the news then. Until then he would have to wait or hope news came through the radio. But since the blizzard started the radio was just static from that area. Te paper was produced through Morse Code, the only communication they had from that area.
The dogs were uneasy. This only added to the worry. Teams were missing and there was a blizzard. That was never a good sign. I they didn't show up there was no telling if they were even alive unless a rescue team finds them. The train left within and hour, many heavy hearts on it. It was day six of the race, but none may finish.
"I can't just sit here!" Naruto snapped. All was quiet as everyone had been silently worried. Naruto stood and began trying to slip out of his collar that kept him tied to the wall of the train car. He could not chew through the chain.
"What else can we do? And what are you doing?" Iruka asked staring at Naruto weirdly and worriedly. He knew how Naruto thought and what he wanted to do. It was madness. He hoped he was wrong.
"I'm going to go find them," Of course not. Iruka knew hoping would do no good in this case.
"Naruto you are in no condition and you don't know where they are." Kakashi said trying to reason with the dog.
"I'll be fine and I will track them. We are in the area where the sixth checkpoint is about a day's journey from here. So we must be near the fifth right?" Naruto argued
"Naruto you cannot track anything in that blizzard. We do not know if it has passed yet." Itachi said.
"I have to…" Naruto started to say as he gave another good tug and shake and slipped right out of his collar, "try!"
"Naruto you can't even go anywhere yet. The train is moving." Iruka argued feeling a bit better. If someone above loved him, the paper the next day would bring good news.
"It's moving a bit slow though." Naruto countered. The storm kept the train cautious.
"You can't be serious!" Iruka yelled.
"I have to!" Naruto said standing before the slightly ajar door. If it was closed completely the dogs may get too hot with their thick coats and the hay they were laying on. The open door was part o the reason that they were tied down. Naruto had planned to jump.
"Naruto," Itachi called. Naruto looked at him for a minute. Itachi did not say more, but he did not have to. It was all in his eyes.
Bring him home.
Naruto nodded and prepared himself to jump.
"Argh, be careful do you hear me?" Iruka yelled in defeat and frustration.
"Will do!" Naruto said as he jumped. He had planned to land on his feet, but he tumbled a bit. He was fine, but he would have been prouder had that went how he imagined it. He began his trek into the wilderness, the snow blowing fiercely.
…TBC…
"Take the first step in faith. You don't have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step." –Martin Luther King Jr.
Author's Note:
Okay! Now I think I fixed everything. I completely forgot to write tha author's note for this chapter. I fixed all the stuff below, but not this part. Anyway, here it is. This is chapter 8. I hope you like. Very exciting stuff here. I will try to have chapter 9 within a week or so. I never have a clue when the chapters will actually be done. Lolol! Anyway thanks for reading. Stay tuned!
Notes:
Things Fall Apart is a great book. I forget the author's name, but I think it is African. I read it in two nights because I not only needed to read it quickly, but I just couldn't put it down.
I realize that
I forgot to do number 4 in the previous chapter. Therefore, I put
the notice in here. Manym of you probably know that these
characters are from Wolf's Rain.
Kiba: White wolf who
vehemently searches for the flower maiden to lead the wolves to
paradise from a world that they are believed to be extinct and they
are forced to disguise themselves as humans.
Hige: Custard
colored wolf Kiba meets in a city. He wears a collar with a 'H'
symbol on it.
Tsume: A grey wolf who lead a gang of
humans. He has a cross shaped scar on his chest.
Toboe: A
young wolf, still a cub really, who was raised by an old lady and
let alone when she died. He has some form of bangles on his right
front leg.
Blue: Belongs to a wolf hating hunter. She is
black with blue eyes and looks more dog then wolf.
Cheza:
Flower Maiden that is supposed to open paradise.
This is an extra note about the days. Even I get confused on where we are so here it is. We start out on day 5 and by the end of the chapter we are on day 6. Hope you enjoyed.
Songs I thought about wile writing or reading this chapter:
Could This Be Love That I Feel – Victoria Acosta
The Impossible – Joe Nicoles
Please: Read and Review
Until Next Time!
A Cheatah192119 Product
Ja ne! Adieu! Ciao!
