Seven figures sit side by side, encompassed by a radiant shower of moonlight. The full Moon had restored the wolves' energy, leaving them refreshed and vitalized. Howling had come to a stop, the members of the pack gave their goodbyes to the strange wolf.
Blue gently pressed her head into the back of Hige's collar as the two sit silently. Hige adjusted himself to make them both more comfortable. Stillness canvassed the forest; not one animal made a sound. Cheza's voice breaks the silence as her beautiful song filled the hearts of her friends. Despite the sadness still being felt in the air, the pack couldn't help but to start to dance in harmony to the tune. It filled their entire beings with a warmth that none had ever felt. The Flower Maiden sang and the rest trotted circles around her. Kiba's senses were overwhelmed him; he could feel the power of Saisho waiting inside the Moon. It seemed like an eternity for the wolves to settle down. They temporary forgot about the men chasing after them, only caring about right then and there.
As the members found their sleeping positions, Kiba went and sat down next to Cheza. He couldn't help but stare into her gleaming eyes that shined like the stars. Up to this point he was making sure if it was the right thing to do, but now there was absolute certainty. He would confess his love for Cheza and always be there for her. He had never known anyone else in his life that he cared for more than her.
Kiba inches closer to Cheza and whispers into her ear. "Cheza, there's something I've been meaning to tell you." Kiba starts to get nervous, but he had to start what he finished. He couldn't stand waiting another day.
"Yes, Kiba?" Cheza said while looking into his eyes. God, Kiba was so mesmerized by her beauty he forgot the reason he was talking in the first place. He shook his head and cleared his throat, coming back to his senses.
"Cheza, it's just that I have always cared for you," Kiba says as Cheza listens intensively. "I just want to tell you-" Cheza gave Kiba a huge lick across his face, startling the white wolf enough to make him fall backwards. Cheza tried to hide her laughter but failed miserably.
"You don't need to say it, I have always know. I feel the same way," Cheza whispers back to Kiba.. A grin crept its way up Kiba's face as the two start to play like a couple of pups. They chased each other, occasionally laughing. A huge weight has been lifted off Kiba's shoulders; he now feels like he could protect his friends from any kind of danger. She would move left and Kiba would follow. They mimicked each other in the dance only wolves knew how to do. The chase ends when Kiba ends up rolling on top of Cheza, pinning her to the ground. They stay that way for a time; feeling the sensation of their bodies touching, until they feel multiple sets of eyes glaring down upon them. The turn their heads to see all their friends. Kiba was blushing heavily and a little embarrassed. The rest of the pack had been watching the whole spectacle, but luckily none noticed the blushing wolf.
"I knew you had it in you!" Hige snarked in a mocking manner. "You always have been a ladies' man. Who knew you two were together so many years ago; I think it's only fitting you ended up like this."
For the first time Cheza could feel herself blush as Kiba helped her back to her feet.
"Ah, don't worry about it. I'm only messing with you guys; I've got a rocking babe of my own. Right, Blue?" Blue tried to ignore Hige but soon gave in.
"Yeah, I guess your right," Blue said sarcastically and trying to act uninterested.
"Woah, hold on! Why did you have to say it like that!" Hige said looking flustered.
Blue started to laugh, and soon everyone joined in the fun. A few more conversations were struck up, mostly about making fun of Hige. When the laughter died down everyone gradually returned to their sleeping positions. Toboe and Myu congratulated Kiba and Cheza. Tsume kept to himself and had no comment except for the earlier laughter. Two balls of fur cuddled together; sharing the warmth between their bodies. They told each other goodnight and swiftly fell into a sweet dream.
~!#$#^&*()
Myu could feel something prodding her side. She opened her weary eyes half way to see who it was. "Hey, wake up! We're in a bit of a pinch here," Toboe said quietly as to not alert unwanted attention. Myu jolted up to see all the other members of the pack with their ears perked up. There were small footsteps from all around heading in their direction.
Kiba hunkered his body down close to the ground. "Stay down low and silent; they may end up passing us. If it comes down to a fight we break a hole through their forces and don't stop running. There is no need to kill these Humans unless one of us gets in trouble." The others mimicked Kiba and listened for the footsteps as they drew nearer.
Kiba now had someone in his life who was even more important to him than reaching Paradise. He would avoid all unnecessary peril if at all possible.
Myu was shivering with fear. She didn't understand why they were going to let the soldiers go; Humans had killed her old pack and left her to die. The only thing Humans were good for was using up all the Earth's resources. Despite her self doubt, she would follow Kiba's judgement. Kiba had said it, so she would not disagree.
The footsteps moved closer and closer. The wolves could hear the breath coming from their mouths as they moved through the forest; the clanking of their boots hitting dirt. Myu shut her eyes and didn't open them. She was paralyzed; Humans have always frightened her. A few twigs snapped and leaves crumpled. The men were now only a few yards away. To everyone's horror, they stopped moving. Seconds turned to minutes as they awaited to see their fate.
One of the men gave out hand signals for the others. Legs started to move again, and soon they disappeared into the forest. After Kiba had sniffed the air out to make sure they were really gone, Myu opened her eyes and gave a big sigh.
"You don't seem to hold much affection for Humans, do you Myu?" Tsume said. Myu's gaze drifted away and her ears flattened to her skull. Tsume scratched the back of his neck with is back leg.
"Hey, forget what I said kid." Tsume now regretted bringing up a touchy subject. " I don't mean half the things I say, so don't take it to heart."
Myu lightened up slightly and mentally forgave Tsume for his words. Everything she had ever known was destroyed by Humans. She disliked them but didn't have the courage anymore to fight after her encounter with Darcia. If it came to real combat with them she would be useless.
"Let's get moving before we run into more, I can smell more groups moving in," said Kiba.
The wolves made it the rest of the way without any eventful encounters. They couldn't see the Noble's ship anymore; the vast emptiness of the wasteland stretched as far as their eyes could see. The feeling of nostalgia was so prevalent; Kiba felt like the majority of his life had been spent running towards Paradise. He dare not think how many lifetimes it took to make it up to this point. There would be no more do overs; Kiba's resolve what set on their goal.
"come on guys, let's go!" Toboe said gleefully running ahead. The rest followed Toboe's charge off into the unknown. For being a wolf pack they sure didn't act like one. Everyone was considered equal, so there was no real order (though Kiba often lead and was considered the Alpha). Kiba and Cheza traveled at the front of the pack after Toboe's energy had subsided a little. It would be a long next few weeks before another meal would be in sight.
~!#$#^&*()
Hubb and Quent pulled into the small shantytown, the remnants of the once prosperous town from long ago. The town was in the shadow of a huge mountain where the Darcia Family Royal Cemetery once was. No one dare try and climb the mountain for many years; there were rumors that the place was cursed.
The two get out of the car and close the doors behind them.
"I'm gonna take a leak," Quent said while almost stumbling over. Hubb's brows frowned and he shook his head.
"If you don't stop drinking that stuff you are going to end up dead in a gutter somewhere." Quent just waved his arm away at Hubb and continued on to find somewhere to relieve himself. Hubb went the opposite direction to look for a place they could stay for the night. How many days has it been since he left home, Hubb thought. He walked into a small inn run by an older man with a long beard sitting behind the counter. The old man squinted his eyes to see who was coming in.
"Oh, you looking for a place to stay boy? Where ya from?" Hubb paid the man money for the room and only told him he was looking for his wife. Hubb wouldn't tell him all the details, mostly because he was dead tired. There was also the chance that he was a wanted man now. The Nobles could have easily made the assumption that he could have been told information by Cher that he wasn't supposed to hear, and had run away to avoid being caught.
Quent was taking a leak inside some bar he had found. There were only a few men inside; the place seemed to be a ghost town. He exited the restroom and sat down at the table.
"Vodka," was the only thing he said as his hand laid out the money in front of the bartender.
The bartender complied and Quent placed his hand around the glass. Right as he went for a sip the doors slammed open and he nearly spewed the liquid out from his mouth. Three soldiers walked in, all looking snobby and slightly drunk. They sat down at a nearby table and talked to each other, laughing from time to time. The bartender brought them drinks and the men greedily gulped it down.
Quent decided he had enough with all the ruckus. He finished his drink and left through the door, shutting it behind him. Before he could walk away he heard something that caught his attention coming from inside the bar.
"So you think it really was wolves who came and took Cheza?" one of the men stuttered.
"Who cares, we get paid when we capture that dumb girl," another said. Quent put his ear up to the door to hear them clearer.
"I heard from someone that they saw six of em leave Freeze City not too long ago. One had a spiked collar on with a blue fur coat," the third man said. Quent's hands balled up into fists, his face turned angry and steam was rising off his skin.
"What, a collar? You might want to check your sources. I've never seen a wolf with a collar before, it was probably just a dumb dog," the second man said. The door slammed open a second time with more force than the first. The drunken Quent started throwing chairs and flipping tables over in a drunken rage and the men.
"WHAT DID YOU JUST SAY, YOU NOBLE DOGS!" Wood flew at the men, hitting their body armor but still causing them to feel the blunt force. One fell down and hit the floor hard, knocking the wind out of him. Quent continued to make a mess of the bar until one of the soldiers pointed a gun to his forehead. He was mid swing with his fist drawn back, but froze when he saw the gun aimed at him. The bartender came around from the counter and pulled the gun away from Quent's head.
"Now hold it just a minute! I will have no blood spilled in my bar, so I suggest you put that thing away." Looking towards Quent now, " as for you, get out of my bar and never come back!" The man flung Quent outside through the door, sending him tumbling down into the ground. He cursed under his breath and shut the door behind him with a loud thud. Quent held his head with his hands and moaned a little. He sat outside for what seemed like an hour until a familiar face came along.
"There you are, I figured this was were you would be," Hubb said. He helped Quent stand up and started to walk with him back to the room he bought off the old man. "Now when you are all sobered up in the morning we are going to have a talk about your drinking problem, understand?" Quent did not reply and just silently walked back with support from Hubb. Hubb hated every second of it, but something about this man struck him awe.
With some difficulty Quent made it to his bed and crashed. He was blabbering incoherent words in his sleep and growling from time to time. Hubb had a hard time sleeping in the next room with all the noise. He placed his pillow over his head to block out the sound. The men slept the night at the inn to prepare for their travels another day.
Author's notes:
Chapters are going to start and become longer and longer. I'm always trying to learn new writing techniques and make my work better. I'm going on a short break to polish the first ten chapters and make them more enjoyable to read. The plot and actions won't change really, so you don't need worry about that. If you have any suggestions or thoughts I'm always happy to read them. If anyone would like to design a cover image for the story your welcome to it. I would do it myself but it might take awhile for me to get around and purchase a new computer. Thank you all for your continued support, I'll see you next time!