Chapter 9

Shocking would not adequately cover the situation my pack and I were now in. In fact, I'm sure there is no word in the English language to sufficiently describe the stunning mess we currently found ourselves in. We had gone out searching for a lost wolf, only to be captured by said wolf's cronies.

That's irony for you.

I stare in amazement at the hidden wolf before me; his human guise is every inch the gang leader he was refuted to be. His well-worn leather jacket is cropped to reveal a set of muscles any man would be jealous of, and his tight leather pants show off legs a woman would kill for. His face is set in a remote and cool expression, and for some reason, it seems only too natural for him.

I squint at man before me, and slowly, he's replaced by a hazy outline of a wolf. I can't make out any defining features about Tsume's true form, besides the amazing bulk of him. I could see why Toboe referred to him as the beta wolf of their former pack; his haunches are huge, and his bristling gray fur only makes him seem larger. I stare harder, trying to push pass the haze of his amnesia, when a sudden force hits me like a ton of bricks. It knocks the breath out of me and leaves me feeling dizzy. I shake my head, trying to recall the image I'd seen before I was forced from Tsume's true form. Actually, it wasn't an image so much as a feeling… But of what? Something was blocking me, but what?

Tsume's golden eyes flicker to Toboe, his lips twitching into a tight line and his gaze hardening.
"How do you know my name, kid?" The beta wolf asks. His words are clipped and his tone is intense, as if he could intimate the answer straight from Toboe's lips.

"For the same reason I know why you're unhappy living with these humans." Toboe replies, meeting Tsume's steely gaze with his own warm, amber eyes. "I know what you're feeling, Tsume. I know the reason why you feel you have to dominate this pack of humans, why you crave your own territory. Why you feel as if you have indefinitely lost a part of yourself."

Tsume's expression is unreadable, his eyes cold. Unexpectedly, he throws his head back and laughs. "What are you, some kind of mind reader, kid?" He mocks. "Quit your rambling, before I decide to give you and your friends over to Kip and his crew."

Tsume's tiny gold earring catches the light and flashes brilliantly as he turns his back to us. "You don't know anything about me, boy," Tsume spits, not bothering to look back in our direction. "And you presume too much to even try to con me with that crap you spouted off."

Kip and the others chuckle quietly, afraid to incur the wrath of the bulky gray wolf. I steal a glance at Toboe, and I see the tension and disbelief in the set of his jaw. The pain he's going through at seeing his pack mate like this is unbearable to me.

"Tsume, he's telling the truth!" I say, hoping to somehow help Toboe with his cause. "You're not like the others you surround yourself with! Think about it; don't you have a nagging sense in the back of your mind? Something that tells you you're not like the rest of these morons? You have power, Tsume, but it has nothing to do with humanity—"

A sharp blow to my cheek stuns me and momentarily leaves me silenced. I flex my sore jaw and look up at Kip, who's grinning sadistically. I hear two growls behind me; the soft anger of Chanson and the thunderous ferocity of Toboe. I wave them off as best as I can with my hands tied behind my back, fearing that they'll be next if they show impudence. Fear of indirectly hurting them keeps me from saying anything more to the bully.

"Shut up, girlie." The brute commands. "Boss doesn't want to hear you're constant babbling."
At this, Tsume turns to look at Kip. A growl escapes his throat and his lips twitch dangerously.
"Did I tell you to lay a hand on the girl, Kip?" Tsume asks quietly.

Kip fidgets nervously. "Well no, but Boss—"

Quick as a flash of lightening, Kip is thrown across the room, landing with a hard thud against the opposite wall. I blink and find that Tsume's in the spot that Kip had occupied only seconds before.
"I didn't order you to do anything, so keep your hands to yourself." The gray wolf snarls.

I feel a sudden rush of thankfulness towards the lost wolf, and when our eyes meet, I dip my head in grateful acknowledgment.

He snorts. "Don't try to get on my good side, girl. I don't have one."

"My name isn't girl you know," I reply sharply. "It's Leara."

"Whatever."
Kip groans and manages to get to his feet. He watches Tsume warily.
"Boss, she's the one that the Nobles have been asking for," Kips says, trying to get back in Tsume's good graces. "The girl that murdered her father and some other chick. There's a pretty big bounty on her head."
I cringe at the false accusation, the injustice of it stinging me as if I'd been slapped again.
Tsume cocks an eyebrow and eyes me skeptically. "This is the Freeze City Murderess? I'm surprised. I expected someone more…vicious."

Toboe growls softly in the back of his throat. "She didn't do it…I did."

Tsume's gaze swivels to him. "Really? A pipsqueak like you killed all those people?"

"I did it to protect my pack mate," Toboe answers, looking at me. His eyes are surprisingly warm, holding some type of emotion I can't name. "And I'd do it again in a heartbeat, if I had to."

Tsume studies him silently for a few uneasy moments, as if to gauge the sincerity of his words. He turns to Kip.
"Take them all to the basement," He commands. "Make sure they can't escape. After all, we can't claim the bounty unless we have the girl, right?"
My heart sinks to somewhere below my stomach, and for the first time in a long while, a true stab of fear clenches my heart. My breath catches as Tsume fixes me with his golden stare. I hear Broma and Toboe growl viciously as they're hauled up by their arms.

"And Kip? If I find that you've touched the girl, you're going to be sorry." He adds. I look at the gang leader, flabbergasted by his contradictory orders.
He sees the puzzlement in my eyes and quickly adds, "We don't want the Nobles to jip us on our due pay, and if the girl is hurt…well, then they can't play with her themselves then, can they?"

Kip grabs my arms—more gentle than the first time—and hauls me up. My shoulders scream in protest, but I ignore the pain. My concentration is on Tsume, and I feel compelled to try to bring the wolf from its hiding.
"Tsume, those memories that are pulling at your mind won't go away after you get rid of me," I say. "They'll just continue to gnaw at you, until you're driven mad. I hope you know that."

Tsume shrugs nonchalantly. "At least I'll have you out of my hair."
With that, he turns from his former pack mate and leaves us to our fate.

--&--

The basement isn't a wonderful place. I had been hoping that it would at least have a window or maybe even a bathroom, but instead, we're locked in a basement that could have been built in the Dark Ages. The walls are slick and covered in moss and God knows what else. The floors were made of dirt and bits of broken artifacts littered the area. The smell is the worse, though; the air stinks of rotten meat, vomit and the rusty tang of blood. My nose wrinkles against the smell, and for once I'm grateful that I don't have the senses of a wolf. The expressions on the pups' faces confirm that sometimes it's better to be human.

"Well, that went smashingly," Broma says. He casually tests the chains that bind his arms, yanking the chains viciously. "Nothing better than being locked up in a dungeon."

"It's actually a basement." I correct, trying to be light-hearted. Unfortunately, it's hard to sustain an optimistic attitude when your arms are bound to a wall by heavy chains and you're about to be sold to the equivalent of Satan's minions.

On the end of the row, down by Broma, I can hear Zari growling frantically. The soft sound of fang hitting metal reaches my ears, and I feel my own jaw beginning to ache.
"Zari, stop that." I say calmly. "You're going to break a tooth."

"What do you care?" The pup replies. "It's your fault that we're in this mess in the first place! If you hadn't come with us, then none of this would have happened!"

His sudden outburst stuns me and I feel my heart ache. I want to deny that it's my fault that the pack is in this fix. But the words won't pass my lips.
"Stop it, Zari!" Chanson cries, stung by her brother's words. "Stop trying to blame Leara! She didn't do anything wrong!"

To my left, Toboe intercedes on my behalf. "Quit it, all of you! We don't need to be arguing right now. We need to try to get out of here, before the Nobles come. We've got to reach Tsume."

"Toboe, he doesn't remember anything," Broma says. "We can't help him. We've got to move on."
"No, Broma. I'm not leaving here without at least trying one more time."

Broma grows quiet, before I hear him sigh. "Very well. Let's get out of here."
Without another word, the red wolf to my right drops his human façade, his lips pulled back to reveal his dagger-like fangs. He begins viciously chewing at the chain restraining his right paw. His gums begin to bleed, but that doesn't slow the wolf down. With one last clink, the chain breaks away, leaving the manacle tight around his paw. Quickly, he turns to his left paw and starts working on the other chain.

Toboe also has chewed through his restrains and swiftly comes to my side. "Stay still, Leara." He says.
He yanks on the chains, his blood dripping on my arms as he does so. After a moment, the chains fall away, leaving me with the wrist shackles still remaining, but I can't worry about that now. The marks of my capture will stay on my wrists. Toboe goes to Chanson's aid, as Broma finishes up releasing Zari.

The wolves' human projections return, and I stand, rubbing my chaffed wrists. I eye the steel door to the basement.
"Any way you can chew through that?" I ask. Broma shakes his head.
"We're wolves, not magicians." He replies. "I'd rather not break my jaw."

Zari stiffens suddenly. "I hear someone coming."

Toboe and Broma cast a quick glance at one another before they nod in silent agreement. Toboe turns to the pups and I. "Hide in the corner of the room. Quickly! Broma and I will get whoever this unlucky guy is."

The pair of males positions themselves on each side of the door, while I lead the pups to the darkest corner of the room.
For a breathless moment, the footsteps fade away. Then the lock clicks; the door handle turns; and a figure steps into the room.

Without wasting time, Broma and Toboe pounce. The figure nimbly leaps aside, a snarl on his face and his golden eyes alight with fury.
Toboe halts his attack as recognition dawns, while Broma's stance remains aggressive, his fists clenched at his side.

"Pretty clever, brat," Tsume laughs. "Though I don't know how you managed to get out of those chains."

Broma answers with a steely gaze. "We got out the way that our kind can; we clawed our way out."
Tsume's eyes dart to the broken chains. "My guys must not have checked you for weapons, then," He says, "because it looks like those chains were sawed off."

"More liked chewed off," Toboe counters. He steps forward slightly and Tsume tenses. Toboe raises his hands up in a gesture of no ill wishes.

"Tsume, you've got to listen to me!" Toboe says. His face is so hopeful, so on edge, that for a moment I think there's something else there; a flicker of some emotion that sends a flicker in the pit of my stomach.
"Why should I? What have you got to say that's so important?" Tsume growls. The boys don't notice his left hand stealthily sliding down his side, toward his lower back.
"Tsume, can't you remember?" Toboe cries in dismay. "Can't you remember what you are?"
"I'm a leader," The gray wolf replies. "I am a loner, and I don't need you messing up my life!"

With that, the gray wolf lunges at Toboe, a wickedly sharp knife clenched in his fist.
"TOBOE!" The words pass my lips without thought.

I react instinctively and push Toboe out of the way as Tsume's knife comes down on the space where his chest had been only seconds before… and where I now stood.
I see the flash of silver seconds before I feel the pain that accompanies it. I gasp aloud at the sharpness of the steel, at the disbelief in Tsume's eyes and the cries of Chanson and Toboe.

I feel the warmth of my blood as it runs down my side, see the dark crimson stain my shirt, and I stagger incredulity. I look down and see a wide slash on my ribs that's more near my back than any vital organs. Tsume looks grim as he yanks the knife away from me. I'm proud of myself when the only sound I make is a tiny whimper. In an instant, Chanson is at my side, and I find myself leaning against her slight frame. The blue-eyed girl gasps as my legs buckle and I come crashing down to my knees. Broma's at my side, taking charge from Chanson, letting me lean on him while his true form supports me by letting me lean heavily on his back. My weight of 140 pounds doesn't even seem to faze him, nor does it bother him that my blood is staining his coat.

"Leara!" Chanson's tone is frantic, and she begins to lick my wound while her human projection squeezes my hand in fear. I give her a faint, reassuring smile.

"Why'd you have to go and get in the way, girl?" Tsume says. There's no sign of remorse in his words, but his eyes betray him. From what I knew of Tsume, he was a wolf with thief's honor; his quarrel had been with Toboe, not with me, a defenseless girl. And his eyes, those golden pools, say that he's deeply regretful and sorry. But before I can say anything, there's a ferocious snarl and I see a dusty, furry form fling itself at Tsume. Tsume crashes to the ground as Toboe savagely bites his arms. Tsume kicks Toboe in the stomach, gaining the advantage long enough for him to roll away from the snarling wolf. Tsume looks up, knife in hand, ready to face his opponent. When he sees the dusty red wolf before him, his gaze changes from one of revenge and anger to disbelief and awe.

"What is that, your pet dog?" Tsume manages to croak out. He stares at Toboe with appreciation in his eyes, and a flicker of recognition hardens the line of his jaw.
"So familiar…" Tsume's whisper strains the lines at the corners of his eyes. Toboe growls, a softly menacing sound.
"You may be my pack mate," Toboe says softly, "But you will not harm Leara. I'll tear your throat out myself if you do."

Tsume's remote and superior composure settles back in place again, and he sheathes his knife. "Look, I didn't aim for the girl," Tsume says. "If she hadn't gone all noble and shoved you out of the way, then—"
"Speaking of Noble," Broma interrupts. "I think I hear someone coming."
Toboe tenses and turns to the door, cocking his head to one side. His ears perk up, and he begins to tremble.
"I hear them, too." He says. He turns to Broma, Zari and Chanson. "We've got to get out of here, but we've got to protect Leara while doing so. Broma, you're a better fighter than me. Let me carry Leara, while you—"

"I'm fine," I object. "I can get out of here. Don't worry about me; I can take care of myself."

"You obviously can't," Tsume puts in, with only a tiny bit of sarcasm. "Otherwise you wouldn't have a knife wound to your ribs."

I fix Tsume with what I hope is a piercing gaze. "And whose fault is that?"
He snorts. "Not mine. You're the one who got in the way."
Broma adjusts his footing to better hold me up and says smoothly, "We can't stand around here playing the blame game. Unless, of course, you want to be a Noble's new fur coat."
Broma turns towards the door, and consequently, I do as well. "Can you stand?" He asks. I try to get my feet underneath me, but the combination of blood loss and hunger has weakened me more than I first thought. I wobble and fall back against the wolf, which catches me with ease.
Toboe's at my side, his human project up. Gently, he takes me from Broma's care—deaf to my protests--and has me practically laying on his back in an unwanted piggyback ride.
"Hold onto my neck, Leara," he instructs.
"Toboe just let me walk, please—"

He lowers his voice to a hiss. "Leara, if you insist on walking in your condition, you're making yourself a vulnerable target, and the pack will try to protect you. And if we're trying to protect you, then we can't concentrate on watching our own backs."

Realization dawns. I'm now a liability to the pack; I'm endangering them yet again with my humanity. I try to get stand up to protest--to prove that I can save myself—but my wound suddenly widens and a fresh trail of blood leaks down my side. I find myself grasping Toboe's fur and nodding weakly.
Toboe turns to Tsume, who's watching the proceedings quietly. "Tsume," Toboe says. Even now, after what he did to me, Toboe is desperate for Tsume to remember. "No matter what you think you know about yourself, you're wrong. You're living a lie, when you could be living freely. You surround yourself with humans, when you could be with your own kind. You're in a living hell, when you could be going to Paradise…"

Toboe trails off, and I hear the words catching in his throat. "Tsume…you're a wolf."
Tsume studies Toboe impassively, crossing his arms in front of his chest. "Look, you may be a wolf or whatever, but I'm not. I'm human."

The pain in Toboe's face is obvious, and he slowly shakes his head. "Even if you don't believe me, please come with us, Tsume. Come with us to Paradise."

Tsume turns away. "I've got it good here, kid." His voice is weary. "And it's the best I can probably ever get. I'll settle for it."
He looks over his shoulder at us. "If you go now, I can probably delay those Noble's goons for a few minutes. All this trouble isn't worth any bounty. What are you waiting for? Get going!"

Toboe studies the gray wolf for a moment, before nodding his head sadly. He lopes to the door, where the rest of the pack is already awaiting, and I jar against his fur.
"Go, Broma!" Toboe commands. The red and black wolf obeys and silently slips out the door, his human façade's feet making no sound. Zari follows behind, like a shadow, then Chanson. Toboe reaches the door and I inexplicitly feel the need to say one last thing to Tsume.
"This isn't it, you know." My voice is barely above a whisper, yet my words are strong. "This isn't your Paradise."
A strange and mournful look comes over Tsume's features. He gives me a lopsided smile. "It is now, girl."
With that, Toboe slips from our dungeon and out of sight from his former beta.

--

The wolves' paws don't make a sound on the titled floor as we make our escape. In the lead, Broma slides easily from wall to wall, his human head thrown back and sniffing the air for any sign of humans. Zari flanks Broma, while Chanson drops back to keep pace with Toboe and I. The concern in the she-wolf's eyes is plain and slightly overdone. I feel the need to comfort her, but there's nothing I can say. Toboe follows Broma silently, and I know his thoughts have turned to Tsume. I release my grip and give his neck and soothing, reassuring stroke. His only reply is to nudge my hand, telling me to hold on again.

Broma stops suddenly, the fur on the back of his neck bristling. His ears flatten against his skull, and his tail rises into a hunting position. The pups stiffen and I feel a growl building in Toboe's chest.
"Yeah, they're this way," Kip's voice precedes him from the corridor to our left, and I hear footsteps follow.
"Our Boss went to check on them about thirty minutes ago," He continues. "Making sure that we hadn't ruffed them up too much for ya."
Another voice answers. "Indeed. It would be…unfortunate if that had occurred."
At the sound of this new voice, my spine tightens and I feel my breath stop. That voice! I think. It sounds so…Familiar…

"I do hope that we find Miss. Leara in a…suitable condition." The voice says in a nasty tone. The voice makes me cringe; it's like nails on a chalkboard, it sends a tremor down my spine and into my very being. It sends a message to my brain: DANGER.

Broma resumes leading us in the opposite direction of Kip and the unknown male, his pace quicker and hurried. The others catch the hint, and they too start to pick up speed. We round the corner--

Only to find that we've stumbled upon the gang's lounging room.

They notice us instantly.
"Hey, what the--?"

"How did they--?"

"CATCH THEM!"

The twenty men rush at us like a tidal wave, reaching for weapons of every sort, but Broma doesn't give them the chance. His human façade drops as his concentration switches from maintaining the illusion to defending his pack. He is a terrifying sight to behold; with his blood red coat and his dangerous golden eyes, Broma reminds me of an old legend I'd once heard about a wolf who wanted to devour the world. Broma launches himself at the nearest two men, his fierce beauty frightening. He tears out a man's throat and moves to the next man before the body even hits the ground. Zari follows suit though he's less fierce than his idol. He snaps at the men's legs, tearing muscle and leaves them paralyzed, rather than finishing them off.
I watch helplessly as even little Chanson shows her wild side. She's a quick flash of black and gray as she nimbly evades any who try to block her way. Toboe, meanwhile, takes me away from the action, and heads to a door on the far end of the crumbling room. We're almost at the doorway when a figure steps through.
A tall, wiry man blocks our way. The sight of him sends an unnamed terror through me, and I feel as if I'm gazing at Satan himself. Most of his body is covered by a black, skintight body suit, though I can tell it's toned.

and well muscled. What skin I can see is covered with scars; some seem like bite marks, and other seem almost like knife wounds. His face is what sends a jolt of fear and hazy recognition down to my very core; his face is pale and pasty, though it could have been handsome once upon a time. His cheeks are shrunken, his lips are thin and his eyes…oh, his eyes send such sparks of hatred through me that I find myself trembling. They're dark, dark holes that seem to swallow my very soul; they're merciless and cold and filled with such evil, unnatural cunning.
"Ah.. the Wolf-Speaker," The man says in a hollowly amiable tone. His voice is the one who was with Kip!
I hear pawsteps behind me, and I see Broma, Zari and Chanson come behind us. Chanson is whining frantically, her eyes wide with fear, while Zari's fur stands on end. Broma eyes the man with an enigmatic gaze, though there's something flickering behind his eyes.
"Who are you?" My voice barely trembles. "How do you know me?"
The man smirks in amusement. "My, my…has the Wolf-Speaker forgotten me already? Ah, well. I guess I'll just have to reintroduce myself..."

Toboe growls beneath me. "Stay away from her!" He snarls. The man looks at Toboe as if seeing him for the first time.
"Ah, I see you've found him. I expected as much, though Lord Darcia didn't believe you could bring them back."
Toboe's snarl is thunderous. "Lord Darcia?" He spits. "He's dead."
The man laughs mockingly. "Oh, but he isn't. He was brought back, just like you were, Toboe." He eyes me scathingly. "Brought back by Leara."

"Who are you?" I ask again.
The man gives a sweeping bow. "Forgive my rude behavior. My name is Jaxt; apprentice to Lord Darcia the Third, the One who will Save Us All."

Jaxt. The name sends a primitive warning through me, and I find myself snarling like a wolf.
Jaxt laughs. "Ah, such a wild one you've turned out to be, Leara!" He says. His pitiless eyes bore into mine, and I feel as if I'm drowning.
"Come with me, Leara," A seductive voice echoes in my mind. "Come with me willingly, and I will not hurt your wolf pack. It will be so much easier on everyone; they won't have to put up with you, a mere human. Don't you owe them that, Leara? Don't you want to save them from what's coming?"
It would be easier…I concede to the unseen voice. I could stop putting them in danger…they would be happier without me…My heart swells with sadness, and I feel myself falling deeper into a void I know I won't be able to escape.
I should just quit now…

NO! Something inside me snarls. You can't give up! Everything, everyone depends on you! Don't let that cur trick you! FIGHT BACK, LEARA.
New strength bubbles within me, and I struggle against the overwhelming feeling of sadness that had overcome me. I blink, and I find myself on the floor with Toboe crouched protectively over me. I'm still looking into Jaxt's eyes.
"Clever girl," He sneers. "But you know I was right. It's only a matter of time-"

A streak of leather rockets pass and hits Jaxt squarely in the chest. Jaxt stumbles and Tsume turns to me and throws me easily over his shoulder
"RUN ALREADY!" He yells. He doesn't need to say it twice. The others follow him as he races towards the exit, as fast as lightening. A man tries to stop us, but Tsume dispatches him easily with a flick of his wrist, and we're free.
"I'll see you again, Leara." Jaxt's voice calls after us in an almost pleasant tone. His next words make me tremble. "I'll see you at the Gates to Paradise."

--

The pack takes no chances; we race away from the ruins of Spine City, not stopping for a good two hours. My side aches horribly, but I say nothing, eager to get away from Jaxt. He's just a Noble's puppet. I try to tell myself. But somehow I know that's not true. There's something about Jaxt that makes me want to claw, to snarl, to bite. Just his name makes me want to growl.
I lay my head against Tsume's shoulder, watching dully as my blood soaks his jacket. We say nothing, until at 

last we're miles away, hidden by a wall of rocks.
As soon as we stop, Tsume drops me unceremoniously to the ground, though I land softly. Toboe and Chanson lay down beside me, not bothering with their human disguises. Zari lies by Broma, who's sitting at the far corner of the shade provided by the rocks.
"Who the hell was that?" Tsume asks.
"He said his name's Jaxt," I reply quietly. "He claims to be the apprentice of Lord Darcia."
The name sends a sputter through the gray wolf. "Darcia…" He trails off, lost in thought. I blink, and for a moment, I think I see a clear image of Tsume the Wolf. But before I can say anything, that strange force is back, pushing my sight away from him.
"I got a bad feeling from that human," Chanson whimpers. She snuggles beside me. "He smelt like…like…"
"Like death." Broma finishes tonelessly. "I've heard about Jaxt. He's the leader of the Hunters. Though how he's connected to Darcia, I haven't heard…"

I shiver involuntarily and wince at the pain it causes my wound. "There's something evil about him…something I can't put my finger on…"
Tsume shrugs. "He probably has a big bark and no bite."
Toboe looks up at Tsume, as if realizing that he's here for the first time. "Why did you help us, Tsume?"
The gray wolf looks nonchalant. "I'm in the girl's debt," He says. "And, plus, I couldn't let that idiot kill you."
Toboe looks hopeful. "Really? Does that mean you remember me?"
"No! We have a score to settle, you and I. And I can't let someone kill you off."
Toboe gives a weak smile. "C'mon, Tsume, admit it; you do remember me."
Tsume scowls. "Don't push it, kid."
"Are you going to come with us, then?" Broma asks. He looks at Tsume with troubled eyes.
Tsume looks uncomfortable, but nods. "Didn't you hear me? I said I'm in the girl's debt. I'll stay with her until I pay her back…plus, there's nothing for me at that dump of a city now. I'm sure it's already swarming with Nobles, anyway."
Toboe smiles. "You won't regret it, Tsume."
"Whatever, kid."

A/N: Phew, that chapter was action packed, wasn't it? It was super fun to write, though.

I must say THANK YOU to all my reviewers; your reviews have helped me to tweak a few things. And though most of you are guessing as to the meaning of Leara's dream in from two chapters ago, I won't say as to whether any of your guesses are correct (that would ruin the story!)

AND, I must also say THANK YOU because this is my first story to ever reach nearly 50 reviews! Dances happily If this ever makes it to 100, then I will probably pass out from excitement.

And one last thing...
I may be a writer, but that doesn't make me an artist; and I've been wondering if my descriptions of my characters (even "my" grown up Leara and Toboe, though I use the word "my" very, very lightly) fit what I pictured in my head. So I was wondering if anyone who's skilled with drawing and such would draw them for me? I'd be eternally in your debt if you did (Though I won't follow you to Paradise like Tsume's doing for Leara...lol)
If you'd like to draw them, just send me a message telling me if you'd like to draw just one charrie, or them all.
I'd definately give the artist credit, as well as post links to the drawings on my profile.

Till next chapter!
-Madison