Chapter Eleven: Song of Sleep
Disclaimer: 'Wolf's Rain' is the property of BONES.
We came to a stop, and waited for the probe to leave. Once it did, we came out into the open and ran down the mountain path.
"Agh!"
I turned at the sound Toboe made, and saw Cheza at the very edge of the cliff. My breath caught in my throat, and let out in a gusty sigh when she turned and continued down the path.
Toboe sighed in relief. "She can tell?"
"She's a Flower Maiden, isn't she?" Hige said.
"Yeah…But how?"
"She uses her antenna!"
"She doesn't have any of them!"
"Sure you can't see them, but I bet they're there."
"Flowers don't have antennae, you dummy," I said, stretching up on tiptoes to bonk Hige on top of the head.
I turned to see Cheza had stopped a few feet away, staring at us.
"I wonder if she's on edge around us…" Toboe wondered aloud.
"It's because you're all on edge around her," Kiba stated.
"Who the hell wouldn't be on edge?" Tsume asked, and we all looked at him. "She's not a human or a wolf, or even a flower. How are we supposed to trust something like that? Especially when she was created by a Noble."
Kiba stared him down before he kept leading us down the path.
"Are we really takin' her with us?" Tsume asked after a while.
"Yeah," Kiba replied.
"What for?"
"I don't think there's anything wrong with it. Besides, it'd be mean to just leave her here," Toboe said. "Plus, it'd be nice to always have the scent of Lunar Flowers around."
"But isn't that why it makes her a danger to us?"
Kiba came to a stop, and the rest of us froze while Tsume continued.
"If she stinks up the place while we're movin', we might as well give up our location."
"Humans don't have a sensitive sense of smell," Kiba argued.
"But my eyes tell me she's trouble. What good is she to us?"
"Cheza is more important to us than anything else! If you were a wolf, Tsume, you should know this!"
"Sorry, but I don't!"
"She's gonna get us to Paradise!"
"I'm gettin' so sick of that word!"
By that time, the two of them were practically in each others' faces. I jumped forward.
"Come on, you two. Break it up," I said, placing a hand on each of their chests, futilely trying to push them apart.
The air filled with the sound of a really sweet voice. We all turned to see Cheza standing in a patch of moonlight, almost glowing. The song continued, and I swayed on my feet. I stumbled over to Toboe, who had sunk to the ground, and practically fell onto his lap.
"I feel…really sleepy…all of a sudden…" he murmured.
Through half-closed eyes, I could see Hige leaning against a tree, and Kiba at the base of another one. Tsume was the only one still standing.
"Damn it, Toboe! Don't fall asleep!" he growled, holding his head.
"Too late…"
"What the hell is goin' on?"
"I have no idea…I just…" Kiba's voice seemed to fade away as the song lulled me into a deep sleep.
I was running with my pack, my parents flanking me, keeping me from straying away from the path the Alpha had set for us. A full moon was above us, and the scent of Lunar Flowers was in my nose. The forest around me was familiar…It was home…
"Kegawa…"
Someone gently shook my shoulder. I opened my eyes to see pale sunlight filtering through the canopy. I sat up suddenly, the blood rushing to my head.
"Whoa…" I put my head between my knees.
"Hey, Kegawa." I looked up to see Kiba staring at me.
Looking around, I noticed that Tsume was still asleep, and Cheza was kneeling by him, petting his head. Toboe and Hige were gone.
"Where'd Toboe and Hige go?" I asked.
"They went into town to find some food. I was going to see how many soldiers are there, that way we can keep moving."
"I'll come with you," I said, rising to my feet.
We entered the town, keeping to the back allies to avoid being seen. There were a few too many soldiers for my taste. Kiba peeked around another corner, before nodding to me. We ran back to where we had slept the previous night.
As we approached, I could see that Tsume had finally woken up.
"It's no use. Those people are covering every road off this mountain," Kiba said. "We're going to have to find another way out of here."
"Next time, don't leave it here alone with me," Tsume growled. "I'm not gonna be responsible."
"I tried to wake you up, but you didn't budge. Besides, you seemed pretty happy, wherever you were."
I bit back the urge to laugh.
"Oh, shut up! I was tired, that's all." Tsume stalked off.
Glancing over at Cheza, I noticed she was smiling. After a while, I heard running footsteps, and scented Hige and Toboe. The two burst into the clearing.
"Man, that was rough," Hige whined, doubling over.
"We're back," Toboe announced breathlessly.
"You two sure took a long time," Kiba remarked.
"The runt kept wandering off," Hige said. "Here." He threw a paper bag to Kiba. "Some food."
"We picked up some other things, too," Toboe said, holding up some sort of fur cape, and approached Cheza.
"What the hell is that for?" Tsume asked.
"It's a present," Toboe said proudly, and went to put it on Cheza's shoulders. "Here." He stepped back, smiling.
Cheza looked down, frowning.
"I guess…You don't like it?" Toboe asked, crestfallen. I went over and gave him a comforting squeeze.
"It sure looks that way," Kiba said.
"What'd I tell ya? Now, these are great." Hige set down a pair of pink rubber boots in front of Cheza.
"I wouldn't be so sure about that…" Tsume warned.
Cheza's face lit up and she slipped them on. She stood up and spun around in a little circle, giggling.
"You like 'em, huh?" Hige said with a laugh.
Cheza's giggles filled the air as she spun around, but she suddenly stopped and looked to the path.
"Cheza?" Kiba asked, before following her gaze, as did the rest of us.
There was an old woman leaning against a gnarled walking stick, her face covered by a hood.
"Who are you?" Cheza asked.
Without answering , the old woman approached us. We silently watched her.
"You're wolves," she stated.
We gasped.
"Old lady, who are you?" Kiba asked.
She took off her sunglasses, and slowly opened her eyes. They were the same red color as Cheza's. We were speechless.
"Tell us, who are you?" Kiba asked again.
"They used to call us the Hanabito."
"This one could tell from your scent," Cheza said. "But you are not like this one?"
"That is true. You are not like my kind. You are a perfection creation."
"Perfect creation?" Kiba repeated.
"You must know I have been here waiting for you for a long time."
"I guess she wasn't a ghost," Toboe whispered to Hige, and I rose my eyebrow in confusion.
"That stench!" Hige suddenly exclaimed, whipping his head towards the opposite direction.
"It's those soldiers," I murmured.
"I got a feeling we shouldn't hang around here anymore," Tsume said.
The older Flower Maiden ran off, and we followed her.
"Do you think it's safe to follow her?" Toboe asked as we ran.
"If she's like Cheza, then we shouldn't have to worry," Hige replied.
She approached a tree covered with vines and flowers, and opened a secret door. We ran inside, and she closed the door behind us. We were in a dim room. The older Flower Maiden got a chair for Cheza, and sat down on a second one. We stood around the two of them.
"I felt them within my body. The terrible events that occurred. Those Hanabito who were the unfortunate and imperfect ones had no choice but to wither and die. I was fortunate enough to escape from the castle. In the forest at the foot of the mountain, I stayed in hiding for a long, long time. Before I knew it, I was left all alone. Even if you know nothing about yourself, I do. I know you very well, indeed."
"All this time, this one has been asleep, waiting just for him." Cheza smiled at Kiba, and he smiled back at her.
"The wolf seeks out the flower. The flower seeks out the wolf. And yet, no matter how you feel, you must not go with them."
"But why?"
"It will only lead to destruction!"
"Are you crazy?" Kiba growled.
"I'm not talking to you!" the older Flower Maiden snapped.
Kiba growled softly. "Let's go, Cheza."
Cheza stared at the ground, not making a move to leave. Was she okay?
"The faintest scent of a flower can offer is all I have left now, and soon, it, too, will fade completely."
"What should this one do, then?"
"You have the ability to sustain the life of a Hanabito. Stay here…"
"Cheza, don't listen to her!" Kiba insisted.
"Wolf, just what do you hope to achieve by taking this precious girl with you?"
"To get to Paradise," Cheza said.
After a silent moment, Tsume shushed us. "Be quiet!"
We looked out the window, and saw a blond woman approaching the tree.
"I smelled her back at the castle," Hige said. "I know I've seen her before, but I don't know where…"
"What now?" I asked, turning to face Kiba.
"Let's go," he replied. "Cheza, let's go."
We stepped out into the open, and jumped up into the treetops. The woman stopped in front of the tree, but seemed confused that the device in her hands had led here there. We jumped down, surrounding her.
"You're the kids I saw…Who are you? What's going on here?" She looked over, and noticed Kiba and Cheza coming out of the tree. "Cheza!" she gasped.
Kiba, holding Cheza's hand, jumped up to a ledge, momentarily dropping his glamour as he turned to stare at the woman. He resumed his glamour and turned to leave. We followed, running towards the town.
Cheza slowed down and came to a stop. "She's crying."
The rest of us stopped and stared at her.
"She will wither away…"
"You mean the old lady?" Kiba asked.
Cheza nodded and looked up at him. "Kiba, is it alright if this one stays with you?"
"Cheza, you have to stay with us."
She turned to Hige. "Hige?"
Hige laughed. "Sure! Why not? The more, the merrier."
"Toboe?"
He grinned in reply.
"Kegawa?"
"Of course!" I exclaimed.
"Tsume?"
We all looked at him.
He took a deep breath. "Fine, you can tag along. I can put up with you if it gets us to where we're going."
Toboe led us back to the place he had gotten the fur cape, and chose a pink one, putting the hood up so that it covered Cheza's hair. We walked through the crowded street, leaving the town.
"This one will be back," Cheza called, running off in the direction of the trees.
We sat down to wait for her. When she returned, she went over to Kiba and took hold of his hand. They watched the waxing moon that was still visible even in the daylight.
"Did one of you tell her about Paradise?" Tsume asked.
"I didn't."
"Nope."
"Unh-huh."
