Sorry I've been out for a while, what can I say, the muse is fickle sometimes, but hey I'm back with a new chapter, and normal disclaimer follows:
I do NOT claim ownership or influence of any kind of Wolf's Rain or their characters, Bones and Bandai does.
Chapter 10
I don't know how long I stared at the sketch, but it was long enough for me to stop crying. The broken glass served for me to wipe the tear streaks off my face before I dared to step out of the room, leaving the book behind.
The others are waiting in the main store area. Their expressions ranging from grim and distrusting, to being absolutely worried, but everyone's excitement of the full moon had not dimmed in the least, but rather it had grown.
"It's almost sunset," Toboe announces looking to the dirt covered window, he twitches with the growing anticipation. I smile, I have no idea what will happen tonight, but I know it'll be worth it, Kiba grins towards the Flower Maiden and back to the descending sun as if willing it to sink faster. Hige's usual laid back self is completely contradicted with the brown haired street thief pacing the floor. Tsume was nearly as bad as the runt, he was tense like a tightening spring and his gold eyes were constantly wandering around the room, as if waiting for something to appear.
Toboe is the first to come up to me. "Kali," he perks up immediately. "are you alright?"
I shrug looking around at the others "I'm better than what I was,"
"I wonder what's going to happen, tonight," the pup remarks longingly, glancing out the window.
"Whatever it has you guys all high strung, I think it'll be worth it," I tell him, leaning against the doorway, a slight grin tugging at my face, "'cause I think Hige's about to wear a hole in the floor."
The brown wolf stops his pacing and gives a laid back grin. "You'd be bouncing off the walls if you were feeling this."
"I think I am feeling it," I nod cheerfully. "you guys are rubbing off on me."
Kiba's eyes narrow in question, but Cheza adds to the excited tension that has been growing in the room.
"It's almost time," the Flower Maiden announces, heading towards the door. "let's go." she ducks out of the door, Kiba trotting anxiously at her heels.
"Come on," Toboe urges turning towards us excitedly and follows after Kiba.
Hige shrugs but his eyes seem to be smiling as he slips under the boards.
Tsume tries to keep his indifference in tact, but the tense exhilaration leaks through the apathetic act. I hang back watching the pack through the boards, half wondering if I should follow them.
Cheza turns towards me smiling, encouraging me to come with them. Stealthily I step through the doors but still keep my distance feeling, very out of place with joining my pack. I look up at the twilight, the moon is exceptionally large tonight, as if I could reach out and touch it. My pulse starts racing as the fear and anticipation as questions trickle in and out of my head.
What this all about? Will we reach Paradise? Will I be abandoned? Am I truly wolf? the last question terrifies me, if they found out about this was true, I wasn't sure how they'd react, I would guess Toboe would be ecstatic, I had a feeling that Hige was going to be shocked if he found out. Tsume and Kiba were my biggest worries. I knew that Tsume had dealt and led humans in the past so I wasn't certain if he would hold any grudge when he found out. Kiba's reaction was the only one I couldn't predict, as much as I wanted to. I already knew that Cheza held my secret as well.
We stood at the fountain again looking to at the darkening sky. The evening's light was fading, but the moon was growing to its silvery-blue radiance. All the wolves are staring solemnly up towards the shy stars that appear in the dark sky.
"This is it," Tsume remarks as Cheza steps into the fountain's shallow pool.
"I really feel like I can do just about anything right now," Hige says, his excitement bursting though his words.
Toboe nods in agreement, putting his hands behind his head, "Even the full moon seems quite different, just because Cheza's with us."
"I just want to howl it all out!" Tsume exclaims, letting his anticipation out in a rush with his arms stretched to the sky.
I grin and I feel my skin tingle with exhilaration, as the moon's light bathes us in the feathery silver glow my skin drinks in the light like its been deprived. I feel like I'm about to be jolted by an electrical charge and cold all at once. "I think that I'm going to burst through my skin if I have to wait much longer." I tell them, my hands shaking restlessly, I could even feel my eyes glittering in anxiety.
"Something will happen," Kiba says softly, but no less excited than the rest of us.
Cheza starts twirling in the water staring at the sky, her pink cloak whirls trying to keep up with her and the moon catches the ripples making silver rings around her. The wolves climb onto the edges of the fountain, running and chasing each other like some kind of ancient ceremony. I watch them for a minute as they dart along the narrow ledge as the wind and moonlight stroke their fur.
Kiba is like a soft, silver mist dancing and leading them through instinct. Hige's brown fur is dimmed but the moon sharpens the outline as he passes in front of the huge orb. The light enshrouds Tsume to a keen steel gray, giving the sleek, scarred wolf the appearance of a worn knife, useful and appealing to the eye, but sharp and deadly just the same. Toboe is almost bouncing off the ledge as soon as he lands.
I stare at their grace and raw power leaping and running around. I focus my mind to embed and engrave this scene in my memory, then leap onto the ledge joining the pack. I land between Hige and Toboe, keeping my pace as steady as theirs. The collared wolf glances questioningly at me. The fountain's pool is soon drained and the moon reaches her peak.
The silence is shattered when one of the wolves stopped and howled. Hige is next and his high, hollow voice rising into the night. Soon all of us were howling in delight, my own voice seemed shrill and short compared to the long windy howls of the rest of the pack, but all our voices blended into one beautiful formless song. In unison the wolves sit down, their eyes still latched on the moon, I crouch to their level, my head tilted upwards anticipating the unknown.
A moment passes and all of us are frozen statues until Cheza opens her rich wine colored eyes. As if on a cue, one flower blooms in front of us, with glowing white petals spread out and its deep perfume unfurling into the night.
The Lunar flower, I realize suddenly, and another springs to life, followed by several more blossoms, until a path is marked by the field of these legendary flowers leading to the horizon. The wolves and I stare in pure amazement.
"It's the road to Paradise," Hige almost splutters out, breaking through our thoughts.
Tsume stares wide-eyed, all doubt leaving his mind. "So this… is it?" he asks to be certain he's not standing in a dream.
"Amazing," the pup breathes behind us. "it's so amazing."
I bend and stroke one of the flower petals to confirm the reality. Cheza says nothing, but starts running down the road, and all of us race after her, our blood pulsing with rekindled hope. We are out of the town and soon on open fields, kicking up leaves and petals in our wake.
The odd thing is I don't feel weak, like I'm dragging everyone down. I run with them now, I felt like I was one of the pack, and the light of Paradise just over the horizon, it was euphoria. I smile and start sprinting until I am nearly beside Hige again. No words were exchanged, but the elation was tangible between us as Cheza led us for nearly an hour into the night. The joy that was nearly palpable since the flowers bloomed, vanished suddenly when something like a sharp wind erased the path of blossoms and shattering the road to Paradise.
"What… happened?" I ask looking around bewilderedly, feeling a sense of dread come over the pack and land in the pit of my stomach. I look up and see a small noble's airship descend towards us. Kiba looks annoyed. Hige is nearly panicked at the intrusion. Tsume is ready to fight. Toboe, the pup is just as confused as I was. Cheza is scared, which is strange, since I'd never seen her frightened before.
The door opens and I stare dumbly at the noble that comes out, the same noble who took Cheza to begin with.
"Wolf," he addresses Kiba our alpha politely. "it's been a while, hasn't it?"
"That stench," Tsume asks his tone irritated. "Could he be a noble?"
"Why are you here?" Kiba demands, eyes narrowed in suspicion.
The noble steps down the ship's stairs with grace and poise. "Did you have a nice dream?" he inquires as if he's taunting a small child. "About going to Paradise, that is."
My blood burns as this noble teases our alpha, but I say nothing. I just latch my eyes on him, my fingers itching to grab my knives.
"What?" Kiba inquires, the white wolf's frustration is growing now.
"It's not yet time for that," the noble replies easily, dancing around the issue that had been pressed, then turning to the Flower Maiden, eyes narrowed in demand. "let's go back, Cheza."
Cheza backs away from him, shaking her head in protest.
My blades are drawn and ready the instant I hear this noble's words, and I step between him and Cheza, my face trembling in rage.
"You want her?" I ask snidely. "then get these knives out of my hands and through me first," I challenge tightening my grip on the knives hilts. Kiba's fangs change and rushes towards the dark clothed noble.
"Don't get in our way!" he yells in fury, and leaps at the noble.
"It's no use," The noble remarks calmly, just before the white wolf smashes into an energy barrier.
The noble finally looks at me as if I'm a piece of road kill, disgusting and useless. "Why don't you learn your place, little one?" he inquires with a distaste. "Humans don't run with wolves."
I cock my head arrogantly. "My place is between you and Cheza, right here, right now." I reply in a slow deadly tone.
Kiba rolls to his feet, snarling in surprise to the trick, just a red laser flares into existence, aiming for him.
Toboe gasps in panic, and Kiba leaps away just as the ground explodes beneath him is consumed by the red light. The next blast goes after the pup, catching all of us off guard as it sends Toboe sailing limply through the air before he lands in a battered mess of burnt and bleeding fur.
"Toboe!" Hige shouts before the blast clears, the street thief rushes over to the young wolf, another laser bursts out, this time taking Hige.
My breath freezes and I start towards the two injured wolves, then look back at Cheza, who is nearly choked in sobs at the wolf's blood the same cry she gave when the noble first took her she let loose again then.
The wailing sends me to my knees, dropping both my knives to hold my ears to keep the pain out.
"Wolf's blood eh?" the noble remarks as if he'd seen a performance. "How brilliant."
I watch as Tsume and Kiba rush at the ship to stop the noble. I reclaim my knives and keep my guarding place in front of Cheza. I would not allow this bastard to take her again. The ship fires again, and the two split off, to everyone's shock, so does the beam.
"Tsume!" I yell after him in warning as the red light chases after him. The gray wolf sprints, twisting and turning his path, but the laser catches him adding him to the scattered wolves.
Kiba evades the deadly light once more. And I am now confused as to who needed to be protected, Cheza or Kiba.
"No!" I shout rushing the noble, my knife hilts slick with my panicked sweat. The next shot comes and I vault over the scarlet beam, a mere two feet in diameter, but the heat radiating off it chars my left side of the ribs. Tears sting my eyes as I clutch the singed sticky flesh. I roll to the ground, both my knives still intact. The tears prick my eyes like needles as I wipe them away, I look to Cheza who's now doubled over, nearly in pain herself. Then I see Kiba, falling to the ground like a shooting star, the garnet light had caught him and he skidded across the rubble in a heap.
I push myself up, ignoring the throbbing in my side and stand once again between the Flower Maiden and the noble. I stood the most chance against him, I had the least injured, I had to fight.
To my surprise, Kiba gains his feet as well, snarling as he did. Huge gashes and burnt fur decorated his pelt like a vicious snake.
"Kiba," I hear Cheza sob softly, just as another laser blast explodes at the white wolf's feet.
"Kiba!" I yell racing for my fallen leader, then in blind rage I lunge for the noble once more. The next blast comes, I crouch down low, the searing light rushes over me, but the blazing heat alone slices my back open, nowhere near the spine, but no less painful. I finally collapse in a heap, whimpering at the torment that now engulfed my body. The only thing that pushes the pain back is when Cheza speaks.
"Just stop it," she says firmly. It was hard to focus on anything besides the pain, but I hear the Flower Maiden's footsteps through the pulsing of my blood.
"Don't go," I manage to hear Kiba's weak and desperate voice. His words drone together when my breath refuses to come for several seconds.
"It'll be alright," Cheza replies sadly.
Kiba says something in protest but his voice is too soft for me to hear except the last part. "Our lives don't matter to us." then everything is all a blurred and muffled cycle of pain tormenting through my side and back. Cheza comes to me several minutes later, stroking my side, lessening the torture with her gentle fingers.
"Cheza, I'm sorry," I choke out, panting at the sting in my back.
"It's alright," she says, "This was my choice."
I shake my head slowly, then the vague idea sprouts in my head that the others were still alive. "The others," I ask desperately, "are they?" I can't manage to discern if the rest are dead or not.
"They live," Cheza tell me, giving me some hope that we may yet reach Paradise. Just as the Flower Maiden stands up, ready to leave us.
"Cheza," I call after her weakly, turning gaze to me. "Don't give up," I tell her sternly, then slip into oblivion for a while longer.
I wake up and the noble and his ship are gone, and so is Cheza, I look around and all the wolves are still scattered where they were hit. And a young man is standing looking angrily at the clouded skies are covering the crimson moon.
It takes me a minute to realize that the guy is Kiba I push myself up, the dark rugged man makes no answer, but I feel the rage flowing off him
Toboe, I realize, and rush over to the pup who's bloodied and burnt.
"Kiba," I yell to him, "We have to get them somewhere safe."
The guy gives no response. I was desperate, without the white wolf's leadership I didn't know what to do. I knew I could only carry one of them at a time. Kiba would watch over them while I carried them somewhere safe, I hoped that much. The runt had been down the longest, so I put Toboe on my shoulders and race for the town.
The journey back to the small town was neither pleasant nor short, I spent most of the time listening to Toboe's breathing.
The small city is dim and foreboding when I returned, the first empty building I saw I pushed to doors open, letting in moonlight, which had now turned to a sickening reminder of the battle as it showered us with crimson light. I set Toboe down.
"I don't know if you can hear me, pup," I tell him stroking his singed fur. "but I'll be back with the others soon, I promise." I run to retrieve the others.
Hige is next, he looks terrible I put him on my shoulders and I hear a faint growl, whether from the pain or in anger I can't tell. "Hige, it's me, Kali," I say softly trying to calm him, a squirming wolf wrapped around my neck was the last thing I needed. "Look I've got to get you and the other's somewhere safe," I hope he can accept the logic.
The brown wolf relaxes and I pick him up. For some reason Hige is immensely heavier, than the pup, I figured that he outweighed the runt by at least a good thirty pounds, but it felt like I was carrying lead bricks. I dump him gently on the floor, panting and gulping in my breath for a moment, then look back at the road I was paving. My sprint was declining to a slow jog. When I reach the barren field Kiba is standing next to Tsume.
Kiba is quiet for a moment looking back to the gray wolf. He turns to put Tsume on his back.
I grab his shoulder, stopping him. "No," I shake my head sternly. "You're not strong enough… I'll carry him, if you can walk, that's fine." my ribs were stinging from the burn again, but I hoist the pewter gray wolf onto my shoulders. Tsume moans when I shift him to a more comfortable position.
Kiba pulls out of my grip, and stubbornly squares his shoulders.
I stand up meeting his challenge. "I have to," I inform him, then retracing my steps on the path, for the sixth time, with Tsume panting in my ear and Kiba keeping his silent pace beside me.
This trip seems longer than the others, maybe it was my lack of speed, or the silence that stretched the road. Whatever the case we got to the abandoned warehouse, where Hige and Toboe already lay, still sleeping to heal their wounds.
After I put Tsume down, Kiba goes over to a secluded corner and lies down sinking into vengeful contemplation. I close the door and lay against them, finally letting sleep drag me into the darkness.