Hey guys! Sorry about the delay in updating, I've been having troubles with inspiration lately :( I'm not giving up the story though so please bear with me! Sorry if this chapter isn't as good, I had trouble incorporating my characters into this part of the series. Please review and let me know what you think! Any ideas or constructive criticism are appreciated! Thanks and enjoy! :)
I awoke to the sound of growls and snarls filling the cave. I shot up quickly and my eyes locked on the source of the sounds. I saw Kiba and Tsume pacing around each other, the rest of our makeshift pack pacing nervously except for Ilyana and Claire. Ilyana was watching with careful watchfulness while Claire huffed every now and then with annoyance.
"I'm better off on my own! This Paradise is a stupid dream for pups!" Tsume growled out as his wolf form continued circling Kiba. The white wolf let out an angry growl, golden eyes piercing as he glared at the larger gray wolf.
"Paradise IS real. And I'm going to find it." He said determinedly. I walked up next to Toboe and Livy, who were both dancing in place anxiously as they watched the argument, heads low and tails tucked. I nudged Livy with my nose and she whined nervously.
"Don't worry, they just have to work it out. Nothing we can do about it." I sat on my haunches just as Tsume took off into the blizzard.
"Tsume, wait!" Toboe called. When he received no answer he whimpered and paced a little before sending us a determined, yet nervous look. "I'm going to go bring him back."
Livy groaned a little and walked up next to him. "I'm gonna go with him." I raised my head, ready to argue, but she shook her head at me. "Don't worry Tori, I'll be okay. We'll catch up to you guys, don't worry!" She sent me a wolfy grin and bounded after Toboe into the snow.
Hige walked up to me and bumped his shoulder against mine. "Don't worry so much. They may be small, but it's so desolate out here I'm sure there's nothing that'll hurt 'em." I groaned at his very unhelpful attempt at comfort and walked up to Kiba, who was still tense from his standoff with Tsume.
"So, where to?" I asked tentatively as I sat next to him. He looked at me briefly before sighing quietly and walking out of the cave.
"We keep going. If they want to come with us they'll find us." With that, he started the trek through the snow. Missy and Claire walked on either side of me behind Kiba while Hige bounced between us and him, trying to keep everyone in good spirits. Ilyana brought up the rear, glancing watchfully around us for any signs of danger, occasionally taking a small detour off to the sides as she tried to catch any signs of her missing sister.
After a while of walking, Kiba suddenly stopped, glancing down at his feet and I saw him tense visibly. I trotted up to him and looked to see what he was looking at. What I saw caused fear to course through me. A sticker from an army weapon sat menacingly, uncovered from the snow and taunting me with its hazard warning. I looked at Kiba and saw that uncertainty filled his features.
"Kiba, we have to go find them. They could be in danger!" I turned to head back, but Hige stood in front of me, stopping my advance.
"Whoa whoa whoa, we can't just run after them without a plan! If there's something dangerous there then we have to be prepared!" I growled at him and walked around him.
"Stay here with them then. I'll be back." I took off at a sprint, following our tracks back to the cave and following the tracks of the three missing wolves in the shallow snow. Before long, I heard padding paws behind me. I turned my head to see Kiba and Ilyana running to catch up to me. When they approached, Kiba gently butted his shoulder against me before taking the lead while Ilyana licked my chin and fell into step just behind me as we rushed to our companions.
With Tsume, Toboe and Livy
Toboe shivered as he desperately tried to find a way to help Tsume. "Tsume please, there has to be another way!" He howled as he watched Tsume distract the machine from the two smaller wolves. Livy whimpered, her small gray form shivering with fear as she huddled next to Toboe.
"Dammit runt, just get her out of here!" He snarled as he dodged another round of gunfire from the large machine that was chasing him. Toboe tucked his head before bolting across a large icy bridge with Livy right on his tail. After seeing them make their move, Tsume followed quickly behind them.
When the machine saw them gaining distance, it shot the bridge they were running across, causing it to crumble and the three wolves fell to the ravine below. Tsume grunted with pain as he looked to his side, seeing blood from a bullet wound oozing from his shoulder.
Toboe and Livy shook off their soreness and made their way over to him, whining and pacing as they heard the machine approach. Toboe huddled next to Tsume and growled, trying and failing to scare the machine away. Livy just whimpered as she squeezed between the two wolves. Just when they thought they were done for, a loud, powerful howl resounded through the ravine.
The wolves and the machine turned up to the sound to see a large white wolf standing proudly from above.
I prayed we had made it in time when suddenly we heard a chorus of yips and gunfire. I picked up the pace as we approached a deep ravine. Kiba motioned me and Ilyana over to a slow decline leading into the ravine while he stood at an overhang and released a deep howl that echoed throughout the ravine.
We ran down the incline, seeing the injured Tsume and the two small wolves next to him. I let out a bark to get their attention while Ilyana slunk along the side, creeping up to the three wolves.
At the sound of my bark, the three whipped their head over to me. Toboe and Livy immediately perked up and ran over to me in excitement while Tsume limped slowly along behind them. I looked up when I heard the grinding of gears and saw the machine turning to take aim on the injured gray wolf.
"Tsume! Move your furry ass!" I yelled as I led the two small wolves away. Ilyana ran up to the machine, biting at the gun to distract it. She was quickly thrown off, hitting the icy cliff and fell to the ground with a yelp of pain, desperately trying to stand up.
Just as the machine was about to finish her off, Kiba snarled and latched onto the gun of the machine, snarling and glaring at the camera. The machine twisted rapidly, trying to dislodge the angry wolf. While the machine was distracted, I ran up to Ilyana and helped her to stand and leading her back to the entrance where the two smaller wolves were waiting with Tsume and Ilyana.
By the time we made it there, Kiba had led the machine away. Fearing the worst, I told the others to stay there and followed the path of destruction that led to the still feuding pair. When I approached, the machine was being carried away by an avalanche while Kiba watched, ensuring that the machine wouldn't attack again.
When he was satisfied, he turned and sighed before leading me back to our companions. We approached them and Tsume sent Kiba a calculating look. "Why did you help me?"
Kiba just stared for a moment before he answered. "I don't know. It was just…instinct." Tsume considered this before he shrugged and walked off, back towards Hige and the others.
I watched the rest of the pack making their way back, sighing with relief that we got Tsume back. As annoying as he could be, we needed him and I couldn't help but feel like he needed us a little too.
When we made it back to the others, they sent us curious and worried looks, but choosing not to say anything due to the sour look on Tsume's face.
"Don't worry guys, we're all okay." I saw Claire send a worried look over towards Tsume's injury, but quickly masked it with annoyance when she turned to me.
"Would you quit doing stupid shit please? I would rather not have to bury you after just finding you again." I chuckled at her worry and sat down next to her. Missy and Livy were having a rambunctious reunion along with Toboe, wrestling and playing as we waited for what to do next.
"So Kiba, where to next?" Ilyana asked as she lay down next to Hige. I turned to Kiba, awaiting his response.
"Yeah Kiba. Where is your 'instincts' telling us to go?" Tsume huffed in annoyance. I couldn't help but smile at the tough front Tsume tried to put on for everyone.
Kiba led us away, continuing on our wild chase for the ever elusive Lunar Flower.
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