A/N: Sorry it took awhile for me to finish this. I've had a busy month and a lot of problems popping up. I hope I've made up for it and I'm sorry if this chapter seems a bit boring. ok enough talk. Hope you enjoy. :)

Chapter 9

Disclaimer: I do not own Wolf's Rain.

Pain was what was paralyzing me. At first I began to fear I'd never walk again and be able to get to Paradise, but that was before I woke up at one point and walked just far enough to fall down next to Tsume.

Before I passed out again, I felt him brush his fur against mine, almost in a comforting way.

Now feeling another body pressed against mine, it felt different. This other wolf was tense and the fur was shorter and softer rather than short and rough.

I kept my eyes shut, both listening and feeling the wolf's breathing pattern. It was shallow yet unsteady. Judging by how quiet it was, the wolf was sleeping.

No. More like the whole world was asleep, waiting for me to awake first.

Shifting my head sideways a bit, I squint one eye open, adjusting to the dim light, to see other sleeping figures. Some I didn't know, others were familiar.

Turning my head more to the side, I could make out light fur by the moonlight but I couldn't tell if it was white or gray. I sniff the air, finding that even I had forgotten what my pack smelled like.

Shifting more towards the wolf, I burry my muzzle into his side.

Kiba.

Of course he was the one laying beside me. He was always trying to protect me as if I was a pup.

Kiba moves, turning his head to face me.

"Akiela? Are you awake?"

I sigh. I couldn't fake being asleep. Might as well.

"Yes." My voice cracked from not being used in a while.

Kiba touches his nose to my shoulder. "It's so good to hear your voice again."

I move away. "When the hell did I ask you to lay beside me?"

"You were cold. I was keeping you company and warm-"

"I don't need you warming me up!" I get up and try walking away. My legs were weak and stuff from laying down for a long time.

Somehow I end up stalking right past my pack and the stranger wolves into the trees.

"Kiba, you bastard. I don't need you treating me like I'm a dumbass", I growl to myself.

I slump down under a tree and rest my head on my front paws. A sigh is released,stirring the leaves in front of my mouth.

I close my eyes and listen to the sounds around me. It was quiet like I was used to. Then I hear a distant crunch as something makes its way through the trees.

Breathing in deeply I smell a musky scent of a wolf. It was unfamiliar but yet, it was.

"What are you doing out here?"

It was a male.

"Taking a break from the insane wolves. Why are you here?"

"I had to relief myself and then I smelled another wolf. That's why I'm here. "

I open my eyes and turn to see a dusty black wolf standing over me. His cloudy green eyes seemed to watch me intensely.

"Are you-?"

"Blind? Yes."

I turn away and stand up.

"Are you one of the newer wolves?"

"Yeah. Lakota, the wolf that attacked you and saved is my kin. My name is Sinshi. "

"Sinshi...," I echo. "I'm Akiela. "

"That's what that white wolf said. "

Silence lingers between us.

"He cares about you,"Sinshi says, lying down next to me.

I swivel my head to look at the male. His muzzle was in the air, bringing in the scents around us.

Changing the subject I ask,"so how do you get around?"

Sinshi looks down at me and smiles a little. "My sense of smell is a lot stronger than an average wolf. Also I just listen to the sounds around me. But during a fight, I rely on scent and vibration through the ground. "

"Vibration?" I shift a bit to lean against the tree.

"Yeah. I feel the vibration as the other wolf moves and I just guess where they're trying to do next. It's harder than it sounds. "

I nod before realizing he can't see that. "I figured. " I look up and see the almost full moon through the leaves.

"We should get back. " Sinshi stands and shakes out his medium length fur.

"It doesn't matter. Maybe we could-" I trail off, discovering my mistake.

"We could what?" He catches the shortened end.

"I was going to say hunt but..."

Sinshi laughs, startling me.

"I can hunt you know. Hunting isn't always about sight. It's more about hearing and scents. "

"Oh. Well what are we waiting for?"

I get to my paws, stumbling as I take my first step.

"You ok?"

"You heard?"

"And felt the vibrations. Be careful around here. " The black wolf brushes past me and into the shadows. I run to catch up, cautious of where I set my paws.

"This is a good spot." Sinshi quickly stops. I skid to a halt behind him, nearly colliding with his rear.

I scan our surroundings. "Are we hunting together or separate?"

Sinshi turns and stares down at me. I flinch a little from his empty gaze. "Lets hunt together. Gives us an opportunity to learn about our allies. "

"Allies?"

Sinshi laughs. "Oh sorry I forgot you were unconscious when we were discussing to merge our packs. "

"Merge...our packs? But that means that idiot wolf would join us!"

"Your leader knows that but Cheza still wanted it. She especially loves Lyfa's pup. "

"Hold on! There's a PUP?!"

Sinshi nods, seeming happy. "His name's Engris. He was just born last spring. "

I dig my claws into the ground. That meant we'd definitely be off track. The small pup would need a lot of breaks to be taken care of. Also, there was Sinshi's blindness.

In my head I curse ever running into Lakota and saving him. We could've been at the entrance to Paradise by now. At least we had Cheza.

Sinshi speaks, snapping me from my thoughts.

"Huh?"

"I said are we going hunting or not?"

"Oh. Yes."

"Then come on. " Sinshi turns and strides into some bushes.

As I follow, I think, 'was this even a good idea?,' before leaping through the bushes.

This time I'll make chapter 10 thrilling and long unlike the others. Hopefully I don't procrastinate. XP anyway remember that reviews are HIGHLY appreciated :)