Ten women in a lamp lit chamber. The scent of incense. Chain hanging from the ceiling, glinting in the light and the shadows that adorned the walls. The small sound of singing, a beautiful song the likes of which had never been seen before. The singing growing slowly louder.

The cries outside the walls. The fall of men and women alike. the clatter of useless weapons as they fell to the floor. The swooping sound of birds. The howl of a wolf that was far, far away, loud and clear and filled with blood lust. the drip of blood and the fury of ear splitting explosions.

The sudden cry of fear from a terrified coyote and the roar of a lioness as she leapt into the path of an oncoming attack against the corote she knew she couldn't stop. The victorious cry of the people drowned out by the angry and alone growls and howls from the coyote.

And the sudden cries of fear from the warriors as houses and swords, trees and even their own dead rose into the air. The coyotes angry howls could not cover the warriors now as the rising items attacked, crashing and stabbing, tearing and ripping, the night mare the battle had become.

The singing of the women escalating into a chant as the tried to keep the Lioness at bay. The glowing chains that restricted her movement, wrapping around her and each of her tails. The scream and flash of light and she disappeared.

The cry of a very unfortunate child.

Iruka sat there in the morning darkness, kneeling by the stream, reapplying the dye on his skin that gave him the look of a gypsy. The dye made his skin itch for quite a while after he applied it, and he couldn't touch his face, arms or any visible portion of skin until it dried for about an hour at least as it would easily smudge, but if he wanted to survive the add on to there group, he had to cover up his face. Just one of the problems with being a wanted criminal with money on his head, he supposed. Though with his hair grown as long as it was, and out of its old pony tail upon his head as well, he was harder to recognize.
Temari sat up quickly, sweat pouring down her face. She put her head in her hands, hardly noticing she was hyperventilating. "No ..." She whispered. "No - n, it can't be true ... no."Gradually her breath slowed to a suitable pace and she dropped her hands into her lap. She smiled nervously to herself, and fiddled with her shirt sleeve.

"Don't be silly, Temari," she scolded. "He isn't - he couldn't be. Relax."

-The sound of pounding feet. Pushing leaves aside with one hand. The other hand holding onto her collar, dragging her body-

"No," She shook her head and her blond hair fell from it's tie. "No."

-The howling of wolves. The hiss of a voice, his voice, in her ear, whispering, taunting, threatening-

"I - I'm dreaming. I must be dreaming." She tucked herself back into the blankets, but she knew she wouldn't be sleeping tonight.

A growl came from outside. The shook badly. That was surely not her imagination.

Another growl and she pulled the blanket to her neck. But suddenly the growl was a voice, a voice she didn't know. Of course, it sounded a lot like a growling wolf. Low, deep and husky. Another voice. This time she knew who it was. Her eyes widened. Husky? But - but who's he talking to? Temari thought. She listened closely, trying to work out what they were saying.

"Look," she managed to catch from Husky, "I know who you are. But I must know ... why? Why didn't you say anything?"

Temari understood much less of what the wolfish voice said.

"My life ... don't you dare ...! You don't know what happened to me ... No one does."

A new voice, another one Temari knew this time, entered the conversation, and suddenly things got a whole lot worse.

"You two!" Kiba shouted quietly, and it came out as a hiss, "Gaara! Husky! Why the hell are you two here! Husky, you should be in bed, and Gaara - Gaara you just happen to be directly in front of Temari's tent! If you're caught by her, we don't know what could happen - not only to you, but us! And Huskys group! And - and Moegi, Udon, Konohamaru! You're sacrificing us all!"

From in front of Temari's tent, Akamaru barked a warning. But sadly enough, Kiba didn't react fast enough to stop Temari's terrified shriek

The shrill sound woke up everybody. Not a single person stayed in the tent, each one slowly piled out to stand, staring at the scene. Temari just kept screaming, and Kankurou from the back of the crowd, proceeded to push his way through. As he passed, he knocked Naruto forward. Naruto landed with his face in Sasuke's shoulder and Sasuke could've sworn Naruto was crying quietly, if the growing wet patch on his shirt was anything to go by. He subconsciously pulled the blond boy into a half hug, but Naruto struggled slightly from his arms.

"Ga - Gaara!" Kankurou ran to his sister and pulled her into a hug, but her screaming just grew louder. Tears streamed down his face and pain was showing itself in her eyes.

"Ka - Kankurou! It - it's Gaara! I told you! And - and Kankurou! Kankurou, they - they know him! Gaara and Naruto and Kiba and Nana and Husky and Deidara - They work together!"

Silence. Noothing but silence.

As Iruka ran towards the camp and the source of the screaming, he tripped. A branch slapped his face as he fell and when he brought his hands to his face, he realized the dye was smudged. The paleness of his skin and the scar across the bridge of his nose - he would look almost exactly the same as the wanted poster save his long hair. But he didn't care. He had to reach the campsite before something bad happened, like some farmers or other travelers ventured to the river and saw them.

Little did he know it was so much worse.

8D Xmas special! I WROTE THIS ENTIRE THING ON XMAS DAY! LOVE IT! I may also write an Xmas sasunaru and or leegaa oneshot! Squeeee! I GOT TWENTY BOXES OF POCKY FOR XMAS AND THAT'S LIKE, SO MUCH SUGAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Merry Xmas, Kawa-chan +Hearts AND presents!+