Aaaand, here's chapter ten, and without an atrocious wait. I'm somewhat surprised at myself.

Anyway, I got ZERO reviews last chapter, so how about we change that and give me a few for this chapter?

Seriously, I want feedback, even if that feedback is along the lines of "Your writing sucks and you ought to apologize for having the audacity to post something so gallingly awful."

REVIEW!

Disclaimer: I don't own Wolf's Rain or ever claim the contrary. I also don't make any money off of the amateur publication of this strictly fanmade work.

Chapter Ten

Worries and Monumental Decisions

"We're really running low on food," I heard Toboe worriedly announce. I rolled my eyes.

"I know," Hige groaned, "You've been making rations smaller and smaller."

"Wolves can go quite a bit of time without eating," Kiba inserted, "I've gone a month before, just basking in the moonlight."

I glared, but nodded my agreement.

"Worse comes to worst," I decided to joke, "we can always eat each other. First Porky, 'cause he's so fat, then Mr. Worrywart over there."

"You're hardly one to talk," Kiba defended, "I've noticed you've been falling behind when we're running,"

"Just shut up, you're totally full of crap," I snorted, brushing a falling lock of hair from my eyes.

"It's funny," Toboe said, noticing the gesture, "When the crows spoke of you, I always pictured you with short hair and a rat's tail, not long hair."

"Well sorry to destroy your stupid fantasy," I glared.

"You know what? Me too," Hige put in, "I dunno, it just seemed like how it would be."

I had a brief flash of an older version of myself with the hair cut they described, standing, horrified next to the still body of an oddly young Toboe, curled up next to a dead human. I shuddered and closed my eyes to the vision.

What the hell was that? I asked myself. Had my imagination really grown that perverse? No. I wasn't that dark.

But then where did that strange vision come from?

I decided that it wasn't worth my time to think about it.

"It still exists?" Cher asked Cheza blankly, "It's been trillions of years and it still exists?"

"Well, This One supposes that 'The Book of the Moon' is simply rewritten time and time again," Cheza supplied, "So no, it is not the same book exactly, but it essentially says the same thing."

"That makes so much more sense," Cher sighed sarcastically.

"Well, actually, it does. Otherwise, it suggests that a book maintained it's publication status even as evolution began anew," Cheza corrected. Cher sighed.

She could remember most of her most resent past life and she had the distinct impression that her I.Q. went down a point or two from one life to the next. She used to be the one backing up those sorts of theories.

She wracked her brain for some sort of idea, "I wish I could tell Hubb. I know he's worried about Tsume," Cher heaved a sigh, "How am I to tell him that his charge is a wolf?"

"How did you tell him last time?" Cheza inquired, and Cher thought long and hard. Suddenly coming up with an idea, she tapped 'The Book of the Moon' thoughtfully.

"What do you say we go on a trip, you and I?"

"This One was under the impression that we were indeed going to find the wolves, like last time," Cheza said wryly. Cher smiled before frowning.

"This is getting creepily like how events unfolded last time."

Cheza merely shrugged at Cher's paranoid words, and Cher found herself extremely worried about the outcome of the coming events.

"Good thing I set up that meet up with my brother, huh?"

"Indeed," Cheza smiled, "And Cher, do not worry. This One knows what she is doing," she gently rested a hand on Cher's shoulder, "This One will try to ensure the survival of the others, even if This One must die to renew the world."

Hubb looked at his watch, waiting. Ric's Cafe wasn't exactly fancy, but it still looked odd to sit there alone, and so far his sister and foster niece (is that what he should call the girl? He didn't know) were nearly twenty minuets late.

He heaved a sigh of relief as he saw them walking in the door, a small girl in a loose fitting red dress reminiscent of Little Red Riding Hood being gently steered by his older sister. He eyed the gentle but firm grip Cher held on Cheza's shoulders. Odd, his sister wasn't usually so controlling. He shrugged it off and waved them over to his table.

"Hey, sis, over here!" he called and Cher grinned, waving.

"So, Hubb, this is Cheza. Cheza, this is Hubb," Cher introduced as she guided the girl to her chair.

"Nice to meet you," Hubb said.

"This One is pleased to meet with you as well," Cheza said softly, face titled in such a way the he could not see her eyes, "It has been too long, has it not?"

"Errr... we haven't met, have we?"

"Not that you can remember, This One supposes," Cheza said brightly, tilting her face up. Hubb gaped at the color of her eyes. They were completely composed of different shades of red.

For the first time, Hubb noticed that her gaze wasn't focused on anything in particular.

She's blind, he realized, and looked to his sister for confirmation. Cher must have interpreted his look correctly for she nodded, allowing a tired look of affection that spoke of exasperation.

His phone buzzed in his pocket.

"Sorry," he said, pulling it from his pocket. A text from Cher. What? He read it and rolled his eyes.

She can't read a word of Braille either, I'm trying to teach her but, at the moment, it's a pain in the ass.

Hubb sighed, suppressing laughter over his sister's supposed discretion. He decided it was better that she hadn't said the words aloud, in fear of hurting Cheza's feelings, but there was something decidedly rude about the whole exchange.

"Anyway, Hubb, Cheza and I are going away on vacation, and I was wondering if you could water the plants in my house for me."

"Err, sure, Cher. Of course I can do that," Hubb accepted the key from Cher's outstretched hand. Not only did he have the strangest sense of déjà vu, but also the odd feeling that he had just made a decision that would change the course of his entire life.

Ending author's note: Just to reiterate what I said before, at risk of sounding like a whiny, needy, bitch: REVIEW!

Sorry, not much action in this one, but I've finally got a vague idea of where I'm going with this. Shocker.

Aaand, again: REVIEW!