Chapter 12

Just a remaining, or telling you at least, that these italics mean that scene is either dream, flashback or Hotaru's mind space. Reviews at the end of chapter.

Enjoy!


(Third POV)

"A long time ago, when humans were animals... There were also evil monsters. But Fireflies fought the monsters, and protected animal-humans the best they could. But even thought they were able to fight them, they started disappearing, until there was only one Firefly left.

The Earth Mother sent wolves from Paradise to Earth. The wolves killed the monsters, fought evil along with the Firefly, making a bond between them. They taught the ignorant and selfish animal-humans a great deal.

Then, the wolves created humans from a part of their bodies. The last Firefly also gave his light to one human, so they could pass it on to next generation.

It's an old story that's been passed down in the Mon-tribe for ages." As he told wolves the story, The Eldest keep patting sleeping Hotaru's head soothingly.

"Humans were born from wolves?" Toboe asked, curious about this older man.

"That's right. It was around the time when this world had just been created." Elder spoke with his hoarser voice, "If the wolves have set out for the paradise, the time has come for this world to collapse. I don't know if it's because the wolves set out for paradise, or the other way around. When paradise is found, everything in this world will vanish." Elder looked at Toboe.

"Was it you that set out for paradise?" he asked, opening his small eyes. Toboe blinked before denying it.

"I didn't start this." Then Elder turned to look Hige.

"Was it you?" Hige looked thrown of by question.

"O-of course not." Lastly, Elder looked at Tsume, who didn't pat an eye.

"Was it you?" Tsume didn't say anything, the answer was obvious.

"We can't search for paradise?" Toboe asked feeling confused. "What happens to everybody if the world ends?"

'What happens to Hotaru if she can't come with us?' was unheard question, but two other wolves knew about it's existent. They also glanced at sleeping girl, before looking back at the Elder.

"That is something that nobody knows." Elder said. "We are just following nature's destiny."

It was quiet for long time, before Hige finally decided to ask the older man what had been bothering him this whole conversation.

"I'm sorry, but why is our friend over there so friendly and familiar with you?" older man looked at young girl that was sleeping next to him, her breathing calm and peaceful.

"This girl has ability to sense auras." it wasn't a question, it was statement. Wolves tensed slightly, waiting for man to continue. Elder kept petting Hotaru's head as he talked. "The Fireflies like her have always been guarding Lunar flowers for wolves. And to do that, they needed to some ability to recognise wolves. The different between a Firefly and human isn't noticeable at first, but as they grow, their abilities come out naturally. They share a special bond with wolves, and never will be able to come along with most humans. Which is partly the reason she reaches more to people's aura if they are close to her.

She reacts more to yours and to other strong auras than she does to normal humans." Elder sifted his eyes to look wolves, and saw look of recognise cross their eyes. "You are looking for someone, yes? Your aura's are unstable and they are constantly sifting. To her, who is sensitive to your auras just as it is, this is very exhausting. She is worried about your friend like you are, and she has been searching for his aura far from her reaching area, and it has tired her greatly. She seems to have been able to catch glimpse of his aura for a second in her dreams, before losing focus." he looked at wolves, and saw them looking worried.

They had realized that she was tired, but they hadn't thought anything serious about it before. They had seen those dark circles under her eyes and the she had been little out of it. They had just hoped that it would just pass in time, they didn't think that they would be part of they reason.

"The reason why your friend here is so relaxed right now, is because I'm balancing her unsettled aura right now. She is looking for traces of your friend's aura, without disrupting her body's rest. No worries, she should be better after you find your friend." Elder smiled when he felt girl's aura glow slightly, like a Firefly. Girl smiled in her sleep, looking relived. This was also noted by wolves.

"Seems like she found a trace. You should rest now, her body won't wake up till morning and you all have long journey ahead of you." Wolves nodded and dropped their illusions. Elder stepped away from Hotaru and retreated his aura from around her. Toboe went to lay next to Hotaru and threw his tail over her legs.

Hige slumped down to her other side, nuzzling her hair slightly when she sifted slightly in her sleep. Girl relaxed immediately, and Hige fell asleep. Tsume stayed little further away, but still close to other three.

The Elder looked at four with a smile before going to sleep himself.


Kiba listened as strange, but familiar voices called out for him. He was sure he knew those voices, he just couldn't remember them. He opened his eyes and tried to look into the ever lasting darkness. Then suddenly, he saw small lights flying around, circling him like bugs did to flowers.

'Kiba... Remember us...' Kiba didn't understand what those little lights whispered. 'Remember who?'

"Who are you? Where are you?" when he asked that, lights disappeared and he hear an owl's call ring through the air. He turned to look at the strange owl, who turned his head as he talked.

"Where are you? Who are you? I don't know." Kiba watched as strange owl soared into darkness, he couldn't hear those voices anymore.


(Back to Hotaru's POV)

I feel something soft tickling my nose, and slowly i open my eyes. I see Toboe laying next to me, and from a corner of my eye, I see glimpse of Hige's light fur. I slowly stand up, and see both Hige and Toboe laying on both of my sides. Tsume is laying little further away, but he is watching us with keen eye.

"Morning, Hotaru. Did you sleep well?" i grin and nod at his question.

"Um! And you never guess what! I found small trace of Kiba's aura!" his head shots up and his ears face me as i explain excitedly about my dream.

"It was faint, but it is definitely there. I can use it to give us right direction!" i know my eyes are particularly shining with excitement, i'm going to be useful for once!

Tsume puts his illusion on and comes over to me. He doesn't bother to hide his grin as he ruffles my hair little roughly.

"Well done, light head. Lets wake these two up, and get going." i nod with a grin of my own and i start to shake Hige.

"Hige, wake up! We are going to leave now!" it takes little effort but i manage to shake him awake. He and Toboe are little dazed, but focus on me and Tsume.

"What is it?" i grin at Hige.

"We're going to leave now. Get ready!" Toboe and Hige glance at each others, confused. When we leave the tent, Tsume glances at me, making me slow down my pace. Hige and Toboe are walking little ahead of us, looking for Ihk.

"Why didn't you tell them?" i glance at Hige and Toboe little sadly before answering at him.

"I don't want to rise hope for nothing. It's true that i felt his aura, but there is no grantee that we find him any time soon. He could be moving forward by now, or the trace i found would be old and he would have changed his course by now."

"But you told me." he points out, little calmed down now that i told bad side of things.

"Because it's fine to tell you. I knew that if i told you, you wouldn't start useless whishing, and be disappointed at the end. You would take the information and analyse it before using it. Your also the one that is bulling us forward right now. It's only expected if you know that we now have better chances of finding him." Tsume looked surprised at my explanation, but he nodded.

"Which direction you say we should go?" He asked as we walked to catch up with Toboe and Hige.

"I would go towards those mountains, and the deserve behind them. Trace is strongest there." i but my hood up when we finally reach them. We find Ihk taking care of his horse.

"Ihk." Toboe calls. As Ihk turns to look at us, i stand behind Tsume, using him as my cover. I was never good at saying goodbyes.

"We're heading out." Tsume explains and Ihk looks at us surprised.

"Already?" I look at the ground, i feel how his aura sifts like it was disappointed or sad. It confuses me. 'We haven't known each others even as long as a day...'

"We're looking for a friend... But we can't pick his scent up anywhere." i know that he isn't going to say anything about my discovery, he understood my reasons perfectly.

"What's beyond those mountains?" i smile lightly under my hood as we turn to glance at the mountains. 'He is confirming my words. That's exactly why i told him.'

"It's a dangerous place where no one goes." Ihk answers. 'Yep, definitely where we could find that bone head...' Tsume looks at mountains with a thoughtful expression, before meeting my glance for a second before turning them back.

"A place nobody would ever find." i smile lightly. 'We are going then.'

Ihk is quiet for a moment before he turns to us.

"Come with me." he takes his horse and turns to look at me. "Would you want to ride with me?" i just shook my head.

"I run with my friends." he looks little surprised, but he looks utterly shocked when he sees my amber eyes that are shining under bright sun. Then he just smiles and nods his head.

We follow Ihk to the mountain road. Red stones are looking so similar that I can't say which is up and which is down. I look to the road and I wonder if Kiba has used it.

"Behind those mountains is a deserve of bones." I resist a want to facepalm when i hear that name. 'Of course he would be there where no one in their right minds would go...'

"A deserve of bones?" Tsume sounds mildly interested at the name, probably thinking the same as i do.

"If he has gone there, it's no use searching." I feel small ball of odd pride bloom in me when i think about Kiba. 'Yeah, if it was someone else. Kiba has survived far worse things, surely he would be fine... Right?' "Why not stay with us?"

I feel little threatened when he says that. I know he doesn't mean anything bad, but i don't want to be pounded anywhere. 'Not after Freezing city..'

"It's not that easy..." Tsume groans, but i know that he is just as happy about the trace as i am. "He's the one that set us out for paradise, along with this midget here." Tsume casually says as he pats my head. Ihk turns to look at us, but i just start moving forward.

"Well, let's go." Tsume says and falls into steps with me, Hige step behind us. I feel bang of tread when Toboe doesn't catch up.

"I'm ... not going." We turn to look at Toboe. I look at him, feeling betrayed and frustration. 'Come on, i just found the trace of Kiba. I can't lose second family member now...'

Toboe is looking down to dirty ground, looking defeated. "I..." when he looks up, i'm surprised by the fire in his eyes. 'Toboe...'

"...Want to stay here!" i just look at him, before turning around. I just can't look at him anymore.

"Stay here? Does that mean you're leaving us?" After i hear Tsume asking that, i start walking forward. I don't want to know the answer. I march forward, tears streaming down my cheeks.

'I don't want to lose any of them, but if Toboe wants this... Then i have no right to demand him to stay... I wonder if Kiba left us too for something like that...' i shake my head and start to vibe away my tears.

'NO. DON'T think like that, Hotaru. Kiba wouldn't do something like that, he isn't like that. And he gave you a name. Trust him.' i smile slightly when i feel Tsume and Hige catching up. Tsume ruffles my head a little, even thought i have my hood on. I fall step behind Tsume as we walk on the road. No one says anything for a long time.

"He... He's always wanted to be with humans." i look at Tsume as he starts to talk after long silence. Hige doesn't expect him to say anything either.

"Tsume.." Tsume just looks forward as he talks to us.

"He likes humans." i don't point out that i'm a human too this time, but i DO think about that. Hige looks at the ground as he answers.

"Of course i realize that." i feel little offered that they forgot my excitant here. 'Maybe i should remain them a little...'

"I thought you had given up on paradise also." Tsume comments. I don't say anything, i don't think my voice would even last if i did.

"If you don't want to go, that's fine too." I feel little surprised by Tsume's actions. 'So he does care...' i hear that Hige stops, and i stop to look at him.

"Tsume, will you keep going even if your alone?" Still feeling little offered that they forgot me, but i know that Hige wants to hear Tsume's answer so i don't interfere. Tsume stops walking too, but he doesn't turn around.

"I want to be sure..." i feel little tension built up as we wait for him to answer. "If they say that us wolves are going to end the world... I want to see it." i feel small grin make it's way to my face. 'He isn't going to give up!'

"Besides..." my grin widens when he turns around and i see him smirking slightly. "Having met that guy, i can't give up now." Hige and i look at Tsume with new found respect.

"That's why i'll search for him." my grin turns into a smile as he looks at me. "Besides, i can't leave our little bug to search him alone." Then Hige turns to look at me with this strange look.

"What about you Hotaru, why you are looking for him? Since you are a human, you can't go to paradise." i smile and take my hood down before looking at Hige.

"Because i don't have anything else to live for. I was no one before i met you guys. Before i met Cheza, i didn't have a reason to live. My father was a coward who left when he found out that my whore of a mother was pregnant, and my mother hated me." I looked up to sky, so i didn't have to look at their shocked faces. My smile turned into bitter one when i thought about my mother, she really was like a poisonous snake.

"If my dead grandmother hadn't made my mother promise to keep me, i would have been abounded to street and died there...My mother died week before my sixth birthday, and even in her death bed, she cursed my very existence. I was left to live on the streets, alone and lost." i looked at Hige again, this time my smile turned into a real one, even if it was sad.

"I would had been dead long time ago if i hadn't met her then. And after i met her, i started having these dreams, dreams about wolves. Those wolves would come and take me and Cheza away from my prison, and show us the world. I have never felt so home with anyone else, than you guys." i gave him a serious look, fire dancing in my eyes.

"I will follow you guys anywhere, even if it means that have let go at the end of the road. Because that's how important you guys are to me."

Silence falls for a while before i start to walk forward. Tsume and Hige start to follow me again soon enough, and i feel Tsume ruffling my hair, and Hige patting my back. I relax then, they aren't going to treat me any differently. I smile little by myself.

"I love you guys..." i whisper so quietly that it could be covered by wind. But they hear me.

"You know, Tsume, you're starting to be... Like him. And if i didn't know better, i would think that Hotaru was older than me." while Tsume doesn't say anything, i decide to play along with Hige.

"Are you saying i'm that i'm old, or admitting that you are immature?" i ask with teasing grin. Hige and i keep teasing each others for a while, and Tsume joins us for some time too.

Before we even realise it, we are on top of the cliff, looking at the desert.

"There really is nothing here." Hige comments as he reaches the cliff.

"I wouldn't put my moneys on that." I say as my eyes focus on some strange plant in middle of desert. They follow my gaze and look at it too.

"Is that it?" Tsume asks. I can't say anything, because suddenly we feel bad aura coming our way.

"It's them." Hige confirms when we look at the tank that is going towards the plant. We start running down, trying to get there before they can possible take Kiba away.

"Those bastards are acting as if they knew the wolves' locations." Tsume snarls.

"Man, that means that running and hiding is useless." Hige points out. I take my staff out as we reach them. Tsume and Hige jump on two armoured men, while i run behind the plant and strike on third with my staff. I manage to nock him out, but the guy with stronger armour sees me, and i run to hide behind the plant. I see that fourth guy was shot by Ihk's arrow, and is dead.

Ihk is shooting at the soldiers with their own guns and they are forced to bay attention on him. When i get on the other side, shooting stops suddenly. Tsume, Hige and i rush to that hole that they were studying. I drop my staff when i look inside the hole. I see Toboe coming running to us, and looking at the same sight we see.

I have hands over my mouth and tears are streaming again. Under plants leafs is unconscious Kiba. His stomach is hollowed out and i can see his ribs. His fur has lost it's shine, and it's full of tangles and he looks so skinny...

"Kiba!" Toboe and i squid out and try to reach out, but Ihk calls out to us.

"Don't get closer!" we turn to look as he covers his face with his hand. "Get away from it right now. This poisonous plant is paralyzing him."

True enough, i feel little numb, but that isn't because of the plant.

"This... Can't be happening!" Toboe sobs.

"He isn't dead yet!" Tsume snarls, but i can hear that he is just as desperate.

"That doesn't matter! We've got to get him out of here!" Hige puts in as he turns to them. Then Ihk walks past us, we watch as he kneels down and throws Kiba over his shoulder, before running to his horse and putting Kiba on the saddle. He turns to look at us with serious look.

"We'll ask the elder to look at him. I'm sure he can recall his spirit." i don't hesitate as i crap my staff and start running with others.

When we reach the camp, Elder is already waiting for us. He waves for us to come to him quickly.

"Quickly, take him inside. Firefly, i will need your help." i nod and put my staff away and give my bag to Toboe. As Elder sits in front of Kiba, i sit behind him.

Elder starts the ceremony and i close my eyes as he starts to chat. I feel Tsume's, Hige's and Toboe's overwhelming worry, and it unbalances me, but Elder's calm aura gives me balance i need.

I let my aura glow around me as i reach out.


(Third POV)

Kiba and Myu are sitting on the slope next to small pond, when sand starts to blow at them. Kiba tries to cover his face with his hand, but it's useless. Kiba can hear strange chatting at the background, and it makes his head hurt.

"Stop it." Myu begs and Kiba turns to look at her concerned.

"What's wrong Myu?" Myu has closed her eyes, and lowered her head.

"It seems someone's found you." She states. Kiba looks at her even more concerned now.

"What do you mean?" slowly, Myu opens her eyes, and sand storm disappears from around them. Suddenly, Kiba is standing in the middle of the dark space, like in his dream, and he can hear chatting getting stronger now. He looks up and sees Myu standing in front of him, smiling sadly. Kiba can see the pond and everything else behind her.

"I wanted to stay with you forever..." Myu whispers. Kiba just looks at her, confused. He can feel something bulling him away, and it's getting stronger.

"But... You can't stay here." small lights start to circle Kiba again, whispering his name. "You see, this isn't really paradise."

Kiba feels little bull getting stronger, and lights around him are trying to call him louder now. "This is a world where time has stopped." Myu explains as she starts to fade along with the background. "At some point, everybody forgets why they are here. I can't remember anymore, either..." she says with sad face and faces the ground. Kiba can't help but just look at Myu.

"What are you?" Background is getting further away, and Myu along with it. She looks up with a sad smile.

"You have to go." she says, almost in tears. Kiba doesn't say anything.

"You should come too." He finally says. Myu just shakes her head. "Myu..."

"After all, you and i are different things you see." Myu comments, she isn't far from crying now. She turns around, so she doesn't have to look.

"Myu!" Kiba calls. Wind starts blowing against his face and background is almost faded now. Small lights around him brighten up, and he can hear them whispering his name.

"Goodbye. Goodbye, Kiba" Myu says. Kiba tries to call out to her, but he can't.

'Kiba... Remember us now, it's time to come home.' lights whisper. Scenarios of that place start to fade away, leaving only darkness.

"Kiba." he looks over his shoulder when soft voice calls him. "Can you hear this one? Kiba. Remember." Kiba watches as white flower starts to bloom and his eyes widen when he remembers voice's name.

"Cheza." he calls out. Lights around him fly in front of him, and the same small girl with a long brown hair and amber eyes appears. She has the same white dress as last time, but she isn't crying anymore. She smiles at him and turns her head to right.

"I found you at last... Can you hear me now, Kiba?" she asks. Kiba's eyes widen when he looks at her, finally remembering her.

"Hotaru..." girl beams and makes a small jump.

"You have to come back now, everyone is worried! So wake up okay?" when he nods, everything is covered by Hotaru's light.


Hotaru's aura stops glowing and she falls back, unconscious. "HOTARU!" wolves call out when she falls back.

"No need to worry, she and your friend are both safely returned. She is just very tired." Elder says. Others turn to look at Kiba, hoping that old shaman is speaking true. Kiba's eye stirs and slowly opens up.

"Kiba!" Toboe whispers, afraid that he would break whatever spell brought their friend back. Kiba just looks at them, and boys stare back, tensed up and ready for the worst.

"Do you recognize us?" Hige asks, worried about how quiet his friend is.

"Kiba...Kiba!" Toboe is about to cry as he calls out Kiba.

"I haven't seen you guys... For long time." Kiba finally gets out. Wolves sigh in relief and visibly relax.

"Oh, give me a break!" Hige snaps, but there isn't really any bite in it.

"Where have you been until now?!" Toboe scolds, relief washing over him.

"In a good place... It could have been ... A paradise." Kiba says. Others stay quiet for little, before Tsume breaks it.

"But it wasn't was it?" It's not really a question, more like a statement.

"Yeah. I got kicked out." Kiba says before closing his eyes again. Guys are startled, but Elder soothes them.

"No need to worry. He has returned." Guys sigh again, relieved. Wolves move Hotaru closer to Kiba, laying her next to him. Girl's hand reaches out automatically and she puts her hand on top of Kiba. Wolves smile at scene before they move outside the tent.

Everything is fine now.


(Back to Hotaru's POV)

My eyes open slowly, and first i only see white fur. I blink and let my mind catch up with my eyes. Then memories hit me. 'KIBA!'

I shot up, but i regret it immediately. I raise my hand over my face to soothe the pain that goes through my head. After i'm sure i won't get a headache if i move, i lower my hand and look at sleeping Kiba. He looks much better that he did when we found him. I smile slightly, and reach my hand to pet his soft fur.

'He's so tired that he doesn't even react to my petting..' i let my hand run through his fur, wondering what he is dreaming about, or his dreaming at all.

I retreat my hand, when i see Kiba's ear twitch. 'Kiba...' i hold my breath as he slowly opens his eyes. He turns his gaze to look at me, and i meet his warm golden yellow eyes with my own concerned amber ones. He stares at me for long time, not saying anything.

"Kiba... How you feel?" i finally ask, not being able to stay quiet any longer. I see small spark in eyes return and i swear he looks amused by my anxious person.

"Much better. Do you know how long I've been sleeping?" i just shake my head, i see a question in his eyes and decide to answer.

"I helped the Elder to bring you back, but i fainted as soon as i was done with my part." i see his eyes widen as he realizes how much energy i must have used to succeed. I smile lightly at his concert and try to resume him.

"I'm fine now Kiba, i got plenty of rest, and Elder's aura has been helping me to recover faster." He hesitates little, but nods anyway. I smile and pet him between his ears. Kiba doesn't seem to mind as he puts his head down, letting me pet him.

We stay like that for a while, before Kiba rises his illusion, and stands up. Elder has been quietly sitting there whole time, watching our reunion. I smile at him as we walk out, Kiba being last. I stand next to Elder as i watch how Kiba enjoys the moon light. We walk to others, who are sitting on some rock.

"You two are better already?" Tsume asks with light tone, but it has warm in it. I nod and go to Toboe, who gives my bag back. I sigh as familiar weigh settles on my shoulder.

"Yeah, i overslept." Kiba answered with a same light tone. "I feel like i've had a really long dream. A strange, but happy dream." I smile and i cross my hands behind my back, feeling happy that everyone are together again. 'Long dream indeed.'

"That place you saw was the Garden of eternity." Elder explains.

"Garden of eternity?" Kiba repeats. Elder nods slightly before continuing.

"You must have felt a calmness, a joy you boys have never felt before." i look at Kiba to see if it's true, and if his surprised face is anything to go by, then yeah, it's true.

"Yeah" he confirms. Elder smiles friendly at Kiba as he keeps talking.

"Most people are satisfied with just that. And for them, everything ends there. But you came back. To this world." i listen carefully Kiba's answer.

"There is a place that i must go." i watch as Elder's smile drops and he looks at Kiba and me seriously.

"Why do you desire to reach paradise?" i smile and look at Kiba, showing that his answer is also mine. Kiba answers with equal serious voice.

"So i can live on."

Elder looks at us for a while, before smiling again. "I see." he says goodbye to me with his aura, and i answer it as he walks away.

"What happened in there?" Tsume finally asks Kiba, as older man has left. Kiba turns to look at our curious faces.

"Nothing. I just met a nice woman." i choke out, not expecting that. I look at others and seemly they didn't expect that either.

"EH? A woman? You?" Hige gapes dumbfounded. We just stare at him for a good while.

"No wonder it seems like you have grown a bit." Tsume comments amused. I don't bother to hide my facepalm as Toboe looks at Tsume confused.

"Huh? What does that mean?" Hige, Tsume and i just give him a blank look.

"You don't have to understand it." Tsume states. I sigh at my naïve brother.

"Honestly, You are the older one from two of us Toboe..." he looks at me confused.

"What?" i just sigh.

"I wish that i'd been there too." Hige whines and i give him a glare.

"AND that's enough, i don't want to know what goes in your head any more than that." he gives me mock offered look.

"I'm wounded Hotaru, didn't you just earlier say how important we were to you?" He asks teasingly. I blush red as tomato as others look at me amused.

"SHUT UP HIGE! I TAKE IT BACK, I HATE YOU, PORCY!" I shout at him, but Hige and Tsume just laugh at me. Toboe looks even more confused and Kiba is just smiling warmly at us.

"What, What now?" He asks and i blush even redder and turn to him. "NOTHING YOU NEED TO UNDERSTAND!" those two just laugh harder as Toboe grumbles himself.

"Why don't i have to understand?" finally, Kiba takes pity on me and talks.

"The whole time, i felt as if i had lost something." We stop our bickering and look at him. We smile warmly, expecting him to say that.

"You mean Cheza?" Tsume asks.

"Not just that." Now we're confused. "I'm talking about you guys." I'm very sure that our faces show our surprise right now. 'Huh?'

"I thought you were already dead." We stare him a long moment, before i and Hige break the silence.

"What the heck are you talking about? Do you have any idea how long we looked for you?" Hige complains.

"YEAH! I know you think i'm weak but REALLY?! Any idea how much energy i put on finding you?" I scold, feeling offered.

"Is that right? My apologies." Hige and i just sigh defeated when he says that.

"For someone who's grown, you're still pretty slow." Hige commented. "I'll say..." I sighed in agreement. We chuckled slightly, before it turned into full blooming laugh. We laugh for good while before we calming down.

"Let's go." Kiba calls. Tsume, Hige and i turn to look at Toboe. Kiba seems to understand that there is something going on, and just waits to see what Toboe has to say.

"I..." Toboe mumbles. We stare at him, waiting for him to talk. "I...i won't whine anymore." i smile slightly, fire is burning in his eyes again.

"I won't run away again." Hige gives him sceptical look. "You wanna bet?" Toboe gives Hige a nasty look.

"No." i smile as Tsume and Hige give him blank look, before Tsume flicks his head.

"Let's go, there's nothing else to do." Tsume says with a smile. I grin and turn to look at Kiba, who is also smiling.

"Yeah." Ihk comes to say goodbye to us as we leave the camp.

"Is the paradise far?" Ihk asks.

"I don't know. But, i'm sure we'll get to it." Kiba says. I smile, i have missed that confident tone.

"Is it alright for us to search for it?" Toboe asks. We turn to say goodbye to Ihk, who smiles at us.

"The spirit is with you." I huff at that, offered. 'Like i didn't know that. It's the very reason i set out with them.'

"See ya." Kiba says as we start to walk ahead, Letting Toboe say his goodbyes. We are some ways further away by the time Toboe reaches us, and we start to run.

'Feels good...' I can't help but think it feels great to run with everyone again. I'm running next to Hige, as a howl rang through the air. Toboe stopped for a second before catching up again.

I smile as wind catches my hair and throws it into air. I look at the horizon looking at the raising morning sun.

'Cheza, we're coming! And this time, we WILL stay together!'


Hello again! Thanks for reviewing fantasy.92 and Devin sands (guest).

For fantasy, i'm happy you liked Elder's and Hotaru's bond! I couldn't resist writing it down.

For Devin sans, As you can see, Hotaru got to tell her backstory to two wolves. The idea was great by the way! I was stuck with that scene, and you just helped me out greatly!

See you guys soon!