Hige craned his head back, hollering in pain as electricity surged through his body. It stopped abruptly as he slumped over in pain still cringing. He was seated on his knees with his wrists chained each to a metal pole that were embedded to the ground. Around his neck was an electric collar being used to torture him for information. He had been dragged from his cell to a Sergeant Col's tent and being questioned on how Kiba escaped, refusing to believe he bit through the metal. But mainly they wanted information on the flower maiden. Two other soldiers were present to aid in the torture too.

"This is a reminder to help you remember the dog you are," the sergeant snickered as he paused the torturing for a moment. "Is she a wolf?" He continued to question Hige. "Where are you keeping her? Your friend abandoned you, they obviously don't care for you."

Hige just kept silent. Sergeant Col nodded to the soldier holding the control to Hige's collar and activated it once more. Hige arched his back screaming in pain once more, violently rattling the metal chains on him. The collar sent electric bolts coursing down Hige's body showing the power and energy surging through him. Had it gone for a few seconds more, Hige thought he might have died. The torture finally stopped before Col approached Hige with his gun in hand and suddenly struck the end of the gun across his face, kneed him in the stomach and swung the gun across his face once more. "What are you keeping from us?"

"Not everything belongs to you!" Hige hollered, spitting out blood. Sergeant Col only struck the gun across Hige's face once more. "If you don't speak now, you'll be dead within the hour, then we'll find that pretty maiden anyway and strip her bare, cut her open to find out what she is. Is that what you want?"

"Search for her at your own risk! You'll end up dead!" Hige yelled.

The sergeant stepped back, panting from his violent beating on Hige and getting ready to have him shot. Right before he was going to give the order, another soldier entered the tent approaching Col whispering quickly into his ear. The sergeant looked at Hige cracking a smile and nodded to the soldier. "Perhaps we should try a different tactic. It's proven to work when others haven't."

A moment later, two soldiers including Amis entered back in the tent with Toboe restrained in their arms. "Let go of me!" He yelled trying to shoulder their arms away.

Hige raised his head and shook his head in disbelief. "No!" Hige yelled in horror. Toboe gasped, realizing the beaten and bruised person in front of him was Hige. Blood was streaming down Hige's nose and mouth and over his swollen skin. Toboe tried to shake off the soldiers holding him down to approach Hige but was held back tightly.

"Hige!"

Hige looked at the Sergeant Col begging with his eyes already to show mercy. "What are you going to do?"

Soldiers approached Hige and unchained him from the two poles and dragged aside. Hige feebly tried to resist.

Toboe tried to resist as the two soldiers forced him where Hige had been and trying to shove his knees against the ground, but Toboe fought hard against them yearning to be near Hige. One quickly grew impatient and hit the end of his gun between Toboe's shoulderblades throwing him over his knees.

Hige tried to stand before the others quickly restrained him. "Toboe! You dumb bastard! What the hell were you thinking?"

Toboe was forced to sit up as they chained his wrists to the poles and the shock collar was taken off Hige, then pulled tightly around Toboe's neck. "What are you doing? Let go!" Toboe cried trying to maneuver away from the chains on him.

"Let's try this again," Sergeant Col said out loud walking between Toboe and Hige but only eyeing Hige. "What exactly...is that silver haired girl and where are you keeping her? I've never heard a wolf or a human make such a shrilling sound like she did. What else could she be? A fairy perhaps?" He cackled.

"I don't know where she's at. Please I don't know!" Hige yelled.

Col rolled his eyes and gestured to the soldier with the control.

"I don't know!" Hige yelled desperately.

The collar was activated anyway now electrocuting Toboe instead. His head was tossed back as he screamed in agony, pulling the metal chains taut in an effort to bear the pain.

"Stop it! He's got nothing to do with this!" Hige screamed.

The torture on Toboe stopped momentarily. His back slumped over, and he cried softly, immediately trying to fight the metal chains off once more.

"Then answer the damn questions!" Sergeant Col yelled impatiently.

"Where's Kiba?" Toboe cried softly. "Is he already dead?"

"Quiet Toboe!" Hige yelled. Hige looked back into the sergeant's cold eyes. "Let him go and then I'll tell you everything."

"No! Hige you can't!" Toboe sat up straight on his knees. "Don't tell this bastard anything!"

Sergeant Col immediately replied to Toboe's insult by striking the end of his rife across his face. "We don't negotiate with animals anyway. Activate the collar."

"No!" Hige hollered but he was held down tightly by three other soldiers. Amis neither helped, nor added to their pain. He just stood watching. For one grueling hour, the sergeant repeated his questions hurting and torturing Hige and Toboe for any information. Usually such tortures were successful against humans, but wolves were stronger in every way, and neither would say a word to the military for the sake of the flower maiden and keeping other wolves safe. Finally, the sergeant himself had to take a break and had to report his progress, if any, to a higher official.

Hige was tied down while Toboe was kept chained where he was. He was beginning to look like Hige. He was bruised from where Sergeant Col had hit him and blood dripped down the side of his face. He was hunched over cringing in pain, suffering from the after effects of being electrocuted.

"It will pass," Hige whispered.

Toboe let out a soft cry and slowly sat up. "Are we going to die here?"

Hige looked away sadly and exhaled. "Don't talk Toboe. I'm sure they're still listening."

Toboe raised his head when he saw another soldier enter the tent. He entered the tent with a wooden bucket and ladle in hand, first approaching Hige. Toboe clenched his fists, turning his head away from him. He had never wanted to be far away from humans like he wanted to be now.

"I got permission to give you two water." It was Amis. The only one who seemed to have heart towards the wolves.

"Permission?" Hige spat.

Amis knelt down scooping the ladle in the bucket of water holding it up to Hige's mouth. Hige jerked his head away with a scoff. Then he shook his head.

"Do the kid first."

Amis nodded, then approached Toboe offering the water, but Toboe stubbornly kept his head away. Amis sighed, but held much more patience than the other soldiers had. Toboe looked back when he let out a gentle chuckle. Toboe arched his brow irritably. "Forgive me. Its just you remind me of my younger son. You hold that same stubborn look in your eyes."

"Excuse us if we don't find this as amusing as you do," Hige spat.

Amis' smile fell from his face. "I'm sorry."

Toboe grunted in discomfort and feebly tried to pull away from the chains on his wrists. He stopped and closed his eyes, crying softly as a tear fell. He looked back at Amis. "Please, I don't want to be tortured again. Just let us go."

Amis shook his head. "It's not up to me." He held up a ladle of water to him again. "Drink. You at least need the strength to...continue."

Toboe looked at Hige ready to be defiant to the man, but Hige only gave a nod of his head. "Go ahead runt, you'll regret it if you don't."

While Toboe could finally drink, Amis looked at Hige, almost angrily. "Why won't you just say what and where that girl is? Why does she have to be worth both your lives?"

"I really don't know where she is," Hige spat. "Our pack got split up because of you guys. I don't even know if she's alive."

"She's safe," Toboe whispered closing his eyes and lay his side against a pole after he drank enough water.

Hige glared at Toboe clenching his fists. "Keep your mouth shut," he hissed.

Amis looked back at Toboe in surprise. "Even a child like you wants to keep her safe?" He was simply asking out of curiosity.

Toboe's eyes snapped open angrily. "I'm not a child! Yes, I'm keeping her safe! Only I can find her!"

"Toboe!" Hige yelled angrily, but it was too late.

Within moments, Sergeant Col with his entourage returned, his beady eyes on Toboe. Amis stood in front of Toboe, raising his hands protectively. "Wait a minute! This changes everything-"

"It changes nothing. Step away!"

It was then Hige noticed the black bud in Amis' ear, a listening device. He glared angrily at Amis. "You didn't come here because you felt sorry! You tricked us!"

Amis couldn't even stare at Hige, only showing his guilt more clearly. The sergeant approached Amis getting in his face. "Step away. Now. That's an order, soldier."

"Sir, it's one thing to torture a man for information, but a child? That collar is not meant for someone so small. It could do permanent damage!"

"These things you see aren't the real thing, you weak minded fool. They're just dogs, now get out of my way!" He shoved Amis aside. "You speak out of line again, you'll be shot as a traitor."

Amis reluctantly stepped aside unable to meet Toboe's or Hige's eyes. Immediately after he stepped aside, the sergeant kicked his heavy boot into Toboe's face. Toboe snapped his head to the side, grunting out loud in pain and trying to cover his face, but the short length of chains around his wrists prevented him. Hige tried to stand before he was quickly restrained by the other soldiers. "Leave him alone! He doesn't really know!"

After Toboe grunted and panted from short of breath, he slowly raised his head, seeing the tall man stare down at him. "Ready to talk?"

"My father speaks highly of you, Mr. Yaiden," Jiro started.

Quent just stared intensely with his black beady eyes. General Jiro returned his attention back to Quent's paperwork from the prison he arrived from, and his history with the military. "I have little use for you, old man, but my own men are failing me and I'm running out of options."

"So what exactly do you want me to do?" Quent spat.

"Ah, getting straight to the point are we. I like that. If you are as good as my father is saying, I do have special use for you. You used to track wolves, did you not?"

"It was a long time ago," Quent uttered.

"How did you do that?"

Quent stayed quiet, not wanting to admit his wrong dealings in the past. The things he made her do.

"For your son's sake, you better start talking."

"I...had a dog once. Half wolf; half dog. I found it as a pup and raised it. I used it to hunt other wolves and it was very good at it."

"If it was a military dog, it had to have had the torque-

"It...did."

"Where's this dog now?"

"Gone."

Blue had also been a military dog but she was not aware of the past she had. The torque had blinded those dark memories, not even allowing her to remember her years as a pup but she had never questioned it or even found out about the scar on her neck.

"Well fortunate for you, we have captured another half-breed. He's a young wolf still in the healing process." Healing process meaning, allowing the torque to fully embbed in to his body and take over when ready. "By the time he's ready, you won't even need to put a leash on him. He'll listen to the words of your voice."

"Look, I'm retired. I'm not the same man anymore. I can't guarantee the same results."

"For your son's sake, you better...or he'll die."

Quent was stuck. He would love to go in and take his son back, but the cost of it was proving too much. Many wolves were going to be slaughtered.

Jiro stood from his seat exhaling and walked around his desk. "My father said you would need a little persuasion." Just as he spoke, he tightened his fist and thrust it into Quent's gut. Quent fell over his tightened fist groaning in pain before Jiro grabbed his neck and thrust his forehead against the desk and shoved Quent off the chair to the floor. "I always get what I want, Mr. Yaiden. Fail to do as I say, I'll have you killed as well as your son. That I can guarantee."

"Is she human?" Sergeant Col yelled impatiently and shocked Toboe. "Is she a wolf?" He shocked him again. Toboe shriveled in pain, screaming whenever he activated the shock collar.

"Please Stop!" Hige begged like he was the one receiving the torture. In a way, he was. "You're going to kill him!" He continued to try and fight off the three soldiers restraining him, which was only tiring him out more. No matter how hard Sergeant Col struck or tortured Toboe, however, Toboe would not speak, not even to beg for the pain to stop.

The sergeant looked back at Hige. "One thing for sure, she must be important if you two are so ready to die for her." The sergeant began to realize.

Both Hige and Toboe glared at him threateningly, as if daring him to even touch the flower maiden. He knelt down grasping Toboe's neck and pulling him close trying a different tactic. Toboe closed his eyes grunting in pain.

"You want the pain to stop? I only want to know about that girl. Just answer one question and the pain can stop. Tell me where she is. I can give you a special reward." He began to stroke his hair aside and touched his fingers to the back of his neck, like he was petting a pet.

"Stop it," Toboe shuddered at his touch and tried to maneuver away.

"There's this special device I can give in return for both you and your friend." He raised his hand and touched it against Toboe's face with a shuddersome touch. Toboe looked away.

"Get away from him," Hige growled. This was no better for him to watch.

"Or what-"

He was cut short when Toboe turned his head suddenly and gnashed his sharp teeth into the man's flesh on his hand that had been touching his face. Col jerked and pulled away screaming, only allowing Toboe's teeth to sink deeper in his flesh.

A soldier quickly stepped forward with his gun in hand and slammed the end of the gun into Toboe's jaw, which finally made him release the sergeant.

"Damn!" The sergeant cursed holding his bloody hand. He tightened his fist and punched Toboe repeatedly in his chest and stomach. "Forget you stupid beasts." Toboe closed his eyes, hollering in pain from the blows.

"Toboe!" Hige yelled, shaking at the gruesome beating he was receiving. The sergeant finally stopped his beating on Toboe and turned to face Hige.

"Make sure he receives the same treatment then make him watch his dog be torture shocked to death. Then shoot him. There's plenty of other wolves out there to catch and question." He gestured to the others to continue the torture while he left to get his hand tended to. Toboe only got to raise his head and glance at Hige before they activated the shock collar. He closed his eyes clutching the chains unable to hold in his screams of agony as bolts of electricity coursed down his body. "Toboe! Hold on!" Hige yelled trying to fight the three soldiers holding him down. He tried to stand but was weakened from being beaten and tortured and quickly collapsed back on his knees. He was hit on the head by a gun and laughed at as they hit him and whatever way they saw pleasing. Hige let out a cry of anger and remorse knowing both their lives were about to come to an end.

Amis had started to leave with the sergeant until he looked back at the wolves that were about to be murdered. He reached at his side pulling out a handgun, at first thinking he should put Toboe and Hige out of their misery; instead, he pointed the gun at his so-called comrades. He was good with the gun and fired three bullets each striking the three soldiers holding Hige down. One soldier instantly died while two lied on the ground wounded. Hige immediately sprung from their grasp in his wolf form and finished off the two soldiers brutally ending their lives. Hige then scrambled for the control to Toboe's collar quickly shutting it down. His cries subsided before he lied limp to one side against a pole he was chained to.

"Toboe!" Hige fell to his knees in front of Toboe holding him straight up. He pulled him close biting into the electric collar until he finally tore it off and threw it aside.

Sergeant Col had been going to get his hand tended to when he heard the gunshots go off, but something else was catching his attention. The sound of a wolf's howl filled the air around him. He paused and turned to face the woods behind him laced in fog as another wolf's cry joined in and another, then another.

"What the he-

Soon, the sounds of many wolves' howls could be heard together harmoniously. Other soldiers came running out of their tents and gathered outside hearing the wolves' cry. Sergeant Col then saw two golden eyes pierce the dense fog and the lining of the wolf's white fur could be seen closing in on their territory. A gray wolf could be seen moving close at his side before other wolves began to appear through the dense fog, growling viciously at their enemy. It looked to be an army of wolves invading the military.

"We're under attack!"

Kiba charged with Tsume and Dalibor following at his side all leading Dalibor's pack head on into what would be the first real battle between wolf and man. "Find your friend then sound the warning to retreat," Dalibor said as he ran by Kiba's side, "I want the fewest casualties as possible."

"I will."

"I'm looking forward to this," Tsume snarled and jumped ahead of Kiba confidently.

Many of the soldiers lined up with their rifles but were still preparing to fire them. These wolves had plenty of experience with the military and dispersed, circling the camp ground so the soldiers could not focus their guns straight into the pack. Kiba recognized one of the soldiers that had tried to shoot him earlier and charged straight for him. Gunfire was let loose and heavy machinery was being powered up. Kiba knew he had to make this quick. He and Tsume, however, weren't the only ones ready to fight the military. Other wolves had unfinished business with the military.

Kiba pounced on the soldier after having easily caught up with him. He approached the soldier in his human form clutching his sharp nails around the man's neck. He picked him up and threw him aside, tossing him into a tent. The tent dismantled from the force and collapsed over the man. Kiba picked up the heavy tarp, tossing it aside to see the frightened man. "Pl-please," the man begged before Kiba stomped his foot against his chest.

"The wolf you're holding captive here; tell me where he is!"

"Over there," he pointed at a larger tent further away. "They're over there in that tent."

"They?" Kiba questioned.

Before the man could answer the question, he was suddenly fired upon by another soldier. The soldier of higher ranking came walking through the fog in a long trench coat with a hand gun. He cocked the weapon and aimed at Kiba. "I've got no patience for traitors. You want your dogs, you'll have to go through me," he fired his gun repeatedly at Kiba. Kiba jumped ahead as soon as the soldier raised his gun. Like most did, the soldier underestimated Kiba, but Kiba for once was underestimating this man. He could not get close enough to attack, and he fired a little closer to Kiba each time.

"All this running and jumping must be tiring you out," the man mocked as he shot his gun, "What's wrong? Don't you want to see your little friends? You might make it in time to see them alive."

Kiba snarled viciously charging straight for the man. The soldier raised his gun with a confident smile. "Got you." Just right before he was going to pull the trigger, Tsume jumped in prepared meditation, gnashing his fangs into the man's wrist biting. Blood spewed out and fell to the cold white snow. The man was tossed aside to the ground with Tsume and without his gun. Kiba still came charging in and finished him off, biting through his neck killing him instantly.

"Come on!" Kiba yelled. "The others are over here." He ran towards the tent.

"What others?" Tsume yelled impatiently.

Amis ran back inside the tent to see Hige still holding onto Toboe. "We're under attack! You should go." He knelt down beside one of the corpses and found the key to unlock Toboe from the chains still locked around his wrists. He carefully knelt down sensing Hige's wrath even though he was trying to help them and unlocked the first chained wrist. Once he loosened both chains, he carefully tried to reach for Toboe's neck checking his pulse. "Is he going to be al-

"Get the hell away from us!" Hige hollered angrily and punched Amis. "Just leave us alone!" Amis fell flat on his back from the thrust of the punch. He sat up and watched soberly. Hige had not the heart to see if Toboe was alive or dead and just kept holding him protectively, clutching the ends of his hair and had tears brimming in his eyes. "I never thought I'd have to endure such pain again. Let alone watch someone else feel such pain." He knew how Toboe craved affection like any normal pup and pulled him in a tighter embrace. "Please, wake up. I can't bring you back to the others like this."

"You've been here before?" Amis asked.

Hige didn't answer him. He raised his head recognizing the sounds of a battle going on and the howls of many wolves before gunshots were let loose. "What's going on?"

"The biggest pack of wolves I've ever seen is here. Now would be the chance for you two to go."

Hige looked down when he felt his sleeve being held tighter. "Hi-ge?" Toboe uttered weakly. He clutched Hige's sleeve for better support and raised his head.

Hige pulled away seeing Toboe's eyes half open. Both wolves were beaten and bruised and had nearly died, but they still managed to survive. Toboe widened his eyes in surprise when Hige pulled him back close to embrace him again. "You're an idiot, you know." Hige chuckled weakly. "But a brave one."

"You two need to go now!" Amis said standing to his feet.

Toboe pulled away from Hige glaring at Amis. "I thought you might be different..." Amis had nothing to say. He regretted very much what he did and knew not to even bother with an apology.

Hige weakly stood. "Come on, runt. He's right. Now is our chance to run."

Toboe nodded and weakly stood making his way towards the entry way of the tent. He stopped. He already felt ready to forgive the man seeing what his true intent had been, and he wondered what would become of him now since he killed his own men.

"Toboe." Hige said when Toboe stopped walking.

Just before the two could exit and escape, a gunshot from behind went off. Hige whirled around and saw Amis standing with a stunned expression on his paling face before he clutched his stomach, collapsing on his knees. Blood bled through his uniform where he clutched the wound before he finally collapsed on his side. Behind him, a soldier Hige thought he killed had sat up weakly on his side with his gun shaking in his hand. "You low life traitor," he uttered as blood gushed out of his mouth and neck where Hige had bitten through.

"No!" Toboe cried in horror rushing and falling at Amis' side.

Hige had started to charge the soldier that shot Amis before the man gave out his last breath and his gun feel from his grasp.

"Mister?" Toboe cried softly touching his arm.

Amis slowly turned his head to face Toboe. "I was...expecting something like this...just not...so soon."

"You can't die!" Toboe yelled. "What about your son? He needs you!"

Amis shook his head. "Both my sons...are...dead. I guess that's why I...couldn't bare to watch you two...die. It would have haunted me and grieved me just the same."

"Toboe, let him go," Hige said. "There's nothing we can do."

Toboe had closed his eyes, shedding tears for the dying man. He opened them when he felt Amis gently grip his arm to get his attention. "Do as he says. Don't let me...die for ...nothing." He said before finally letting out his dying breath. His hand fell from his arm and his eyes were frozen still.

"Why does it have to be like this?" Toboe cried softly.

Hige impatiently got down by his side and pulled Toboe to his feet. "It just is Toboe. That's why we're going to paradise. Come on, now!"

He pulled Toboe behind him knowing he would still be reluctant to look behind and be slow to continue to move. He pushed aside the flap of the tent to see the on going battle between wolf and man. A soldier ran in front of Hige with a loaded rifle, who then stopped abruptly to gaze at Hige and Toboe. It was Sergeant Col, and he was not happy to see the two still alive. "You beasts just don't die!" He hollered raising his gun. The second he did so, however, Kiba rushed into the scene taking a leap in the air and gnashing his fangs into the barrel of the gun just as it fired. Kiba only managed to throw the bullet of track but it still shot Hige clear through his shoulder. Hige fell to his knee clutching the wound, cursing to himself as blood bled through his shirt.

"Hige!" Toboe cried.

"It's nothing but a sting," Hige muttered. "I'll be all right."

Kiba finished off the sergeant and it wasn't long before Tsume rushed in after the shot was fired. He at first glared angrily at Toboe, approaching him closely. "You stupid dog! Don't ever do that ag-" he paused realizing how hurt Toboe really was and looked at Hige seeing he was in the same state. Toboe looked away trying to hide his bruised face and said nothing. Before Tsume could question them, Kiba spoke up first. "Toboe, do you know where Amaris is?"

Toboe nodded. "She's safe with Russe. If the military had her, we'd know by now."

"They're going to start coming after her Kiba," Hige said. "They know she's worth a lot to us."

"What have you said?" Kiba said angrily.

"Nothing," Toboe uttered softly.

"They know we're willing to die for her," Hige explained further, "as Toboe and I nearly did."

Kiba looked horrified now that the military's focus was going to be on their last hope for a better life. Before more could be said, Annachie approached them with Dalibor by his side.

"You were to howl once you found your friend," Dalibor said.

Kiba said nothing in reply. He was taking the danger seriously now Amaris would be in as they traveled. He never thought they would want to come after her.

"Kiba!" Tsume yelled. "We need to go."

Kiba raised his head more alert and nodded before taking off in a run. The others followed as he threw his head back howling for the rest to retreat.

They ran for miles ahead making sure no one would follow them from the military base. They had left it in complete chaos setting fire to tents and vehicles loaded with their precious weapons.

After awhile, Dalibor took the lead over the whole pack guiding them back towards where the rest of the pack resided. The pack that ran with Kiba and Dalibor was swift and quick running through the dark woods, making little sound as they ran through. Kiba finally paused and looked back to see Hige and Toboe falling behind. Toboe had stopped, laying his aside against a tree breathing heavily and seemed to be on the verge of tears. Tsume stopped beside Kiba, looking back at Hige and Toboe seeing the pain they were in and traveling like this was only adding to the pain and exhaustion. Without a word, Kiba and Tsume approached them. Hige had already approached Toboe's side. "Come on. Just a little further and I'm sure we can eat and rest all we want."

Toboe gave into a smile but kept his back to Hige. He could barely hold himself up, let alone take another step. Not only was the pain great, but grief and regret also consumed him for the human that had died for them.

"Hey you two," Tsume said as they approached them. "You're slowing us down."

"Just give us a few minutes," Hige said irritably, not realizing Tsume was just teasing. He looked at Tsume and Kiba seeing the concern on their faces. "Just go ahead of us. I'll watch the kid." He let his back also fall against the tree, folding his arms across his chest. He was cold and cringing in pain as well and now had a wound from being shot.

"Yeah?" Tsume spat. "Well who is going to watch you?"

Kiba approached Hige taking his arm and putting it over his shoulders. "How long is it going to take for us to realize we need to stick together?"

"Probably another lifetime," Tsume joked. He placed a careful hand on Toboe's shoulder. "Come on, push a bit further."

Toboe finally nodded and turned to face the rest. He took a step before he tripped on the root of the tree. Tsume caught him easily before he would have taken a painful fall and kept him supported at his side.

They dragged behind the rest of the pack but it wasn't long before they finally arrived to what they have been searching days for. As soon as Tala saw the rest of the pack return, she rushed to meet them, pushing passed the other wolves to see the other four left behind. She cried tears of joy as she approached them. "Thank goodness! I was beginning to think the worse," she said. She did not hesitate to throw her arms around Kiba's waist, even though he was trying to support Hige. Kiba gave her a gentle pat on the back. "Tala, we need medical aid. Hige and Toboe are severely hurt."

She pulled away looking up at Hige seeing his bruised face stained with blood and the his beaten body. "Wha-

She looked over beside Tsume who was helping Toboe just to stand straighter so he could walk. For a moment, she ignored the fact he was in so much pain and threw her arms around him having missed him severely. "I'm so glad to-

Toboe grunted in pain and shouldered her off. "Stop it! Please, give me space."

She backed away a bit embarrassed. "I'm...sorry. What happen to you two?"

"Tala," Kiba tried to get her attention.

She looked back at Kiba. "Yes, of course. Elya is a healer. She'll gladly take them in."

As she walked ahead, Tsume looked down at Toboe, a bit surprised himself to see him act so harshly to Tala. "I can understand your pain, but it's not like you to act like that."

"I know," Toboe said softly. He stopped walking, making Tsume stop beside him too. "I like her a lot. Almost to the point it's difficult to say she's just a friend. She means more to me. If her pack knew that...I can't imagine they would accept that. Annachie has already made it clear that she deserves better than a little runt like me, and it's hard not to agree with it." He looked back up at Tsume when he scoffed.

He shook his head. "Don't let that 'wise-ass' scare you."

"It's not that. I'm afraid getting closer to her would divide the pack and ruin the chances of others to follow us to paradise."

Tsume rolled his eyes, shaking his head still. "You're too young to be thinking about these things anyway." He looked back down at Toboe when he began to laugh softly.

"Hige!" Blue yelled. She came running from the same direction the wolves were approaching, but where the pack resided was not yet seen. Hige's heart skipped a beat at the sight of her running in the snow towards him. He pushed Kiba's support away and ran to meet her halfway. She threw herself in his arms despite the pain he was in and unaware of what he had to endure but unlike Toboe did, he held his girl close. "I'm glad to see everyone is together. I was so worried." She cried softly.

"I see you found the pack anyway, that's good you've been safe all this time."

"Yes, I found Amaris and Russe before Elya found us and brought us here."

Kiba was most relieved to hear Amaris was completely safe too. "Let me see her."

Once they turned a corner, it opened suddenly to flatter land with an opening in the trees and small ledges on the side of a small incline where many of the wolves slept on and were sheltered from the falling snow. Small pups ran across the open land, wrestling with each other while other wolves were bringing in their fresh kill for the pack to feast on while the rest were returning from the battle with the military. Two wagon-like carriages rested under the thickness of the branches from the tall trees where Elya was exiting one to meet the rest of the pack. Kiba spotted Amaris in the middle of the open land where small pups surrounded her, thirsty for her attention. One pup had let himself fallen flat on his back across her lap so she could stroke his chest. He looked like he was going to pass out from her tender affection. For a moment, it looked like they had stumbled onto a bit of paradise.