-My True Identity-
Final Chapter
Part One

By a Midnights Dream

Disclaimer: All characters, items, places and themes mentioned within this story have been created and are licensed by Bones Productions, Kieko Nobumoto, and Toshitsugu Iida. So if you're with SOPA then get off my ass.

The sounds of our footsteps echo off the tall, tan walls of the seedy town we enter. A whole bunch of lowlifes mingle on the sidewalk and watch us arrive with hungry, tired eyes. I distinctly hear one of them whistle as we walk by and my skin crawls in response. I can't be certain the call was aimed at me but…still…it rubs me the wrong way.

I huff out a whine and sink back down into my sea of melancholy. It's been about a day and a half since we entered and escaped the Forest of Death. I say escaped because it was more like a deathtrap than anything else. Things were so crazy and scary in there that I really haven't had time to lick my wounds about Youji. Time itself has offered a little healing, the pain now a dull, throbbing inside of me. I sigh and try to look on the bright side of things. If it's one thing I've learned from my adventures with these guys it's you never know who you're going to run into again. Who knows? We may just cross paths again someday. And if not…well…There was always paradise.

For now I'm going to try and forget about him. There's no use in dwelling on things you can't change, right? I push the thoughts to the back of my mind for the better and instead open my mind to think about something else.

Oh yeah, that's right.

Tonight is the full moon. Not only do I know because last night there was only a sliver of darkness covering the moon's pretty face, but I can also feel it coming. It's hard to explain, it just feels like…an occasional tickle in my chest, I guess. Excitement bubbles up from the pit of my stomach and I have to resist the urge to giggle because it makes me feel funny. I know it sounds really silly but I can see the others fighting back smiles too. Even Tsume. It's what happens when the moon releases its light in full force.

Kiba leads us to a not so crowded portion of the street and I know what he's going to say before he even opens his mouth. I'm sure we all do, it's written all over his fierce blue eyes.

"Well guys, I'm sure you know what tonight is." He starts.

"That's right!" Hige interjects with an eager smile and Cheza beams at his enthusiasm. "Tonight's the night of the full moon!"

"Yeah. We can bask in the moonlight all we want and get enough energy to last us the rest of the week."

"Heh heh we sure will!" I add with a big goofy smile. "Not to mention we left those humans far behind us in the forest of death. So we don't have to worry about them chasing after us either."

Kiba nods. "We have all the time we could possibly want tonight to relax and enjoy ourselves. Let's rest here for tonight while we can."

"Yeah, alright!" Hige cheers and I see Tsume smirking with his hands shoved in his pockets.

"Well it's about damn time." He says, connecting gazes with our leader. "I'm tired of runnin like a fool looking for this paradise. Seems like this place is filled with danger." A corner of his mouth quirks into a wolfish smirk. "My blood's on fire."

"Do whatever you feel like. We'll meet up at nightfall on top of that tower over there."

We all turn and I instantly know which tower Kiba's talking about. Off in the distance looms a giant stone…well it's not exactly a tower I would say. I'm not really sure what to call it. But if I had to describe it, it's kind of like a really big cliff…I guess. Either way, it easily towers over every other landmark in the city and would be a perfect spot for basking in the moonlight. That way no matter what time it was we would never be cast in shadow by any of the other buildings.

Eager to depart, Hige turns and trots away with a goofy grin on his face. "Sounds good to me! Later. I'm out to look for all the babes~"

I roll my eyes and Cheza chuckles in response.

Oh, this is so fun! Finally, after months of running around, tracking and being on the run we can at last have a little relaxation. Hnnmm…but that begs the question: what should I do? I assume that Kiba's going to be spending time with Cheza for today. Maybe I can go with them. My face brightens with a smile as I think, maybe Tsume will wanna come too, and then we can all have fun together!

"Hey! Tsume!" I call, enthusiastic, but feel the excitement drop right out of my stomach when I spin around and see him staring at me. And it's not a good kind of stare either. The steel grey male stands with his arms crossed over his broad chest, and the expression under his hooded brow practically screams trouble. I swallow. "Ts-tsume?" I ask again, my voice sounding as delicate as an egg shell.

"What is it?" He asks, his tone flat.

"I was, uh, wondering if maybe you want to umm, you know spend the day with me?"

The steel grey male arches a silver brow at me. But underneath them his eyes are half lidded and incredulous. "Spend the day with you, hunh? Aren't you forgetting about something?"

Oh jesus…I know precisely what he's talking about, and no, I haven't forgotten at all…well, maybe I did forget for a little while when I was thinking about the full moon just now. But this subject has been on my mind ever since we've been on the run through that deathly forest. I wish I could go back to forgetting about it. About my blundering confession I made to him outside the forest of death. And I didn't forget his stricken reaction when I blurted it out and, while I never looked up to see what his face looked like, I'm sure it wasn't a good expression. Of course he must think that I'm still expecting his answer, but honestly I'm not entirely sure I want to hear it. So, like the coward I am, I try to brush it off by looking off to the side and hoping he doesn't smell the waves of fear pouring off of me. "Uuuhm…I-I don't know what you could be talking about."

"Don't play that game with me." He snaps, and any hope that was left that I might have been able to throw him off is dashed. "Cut the crap, Toboe. You know exactly what I'm talking about." He stops to cross his arms over his chest and gives me a reproachful look. "Or do I have to remind you of the little 'confession' you made to me before ol' lover boy showed up?"

My cheeks sting as if someone has slapped me and I being to feel my eyes water from both a mixture of anger and embarrassment. Being reminded of two of my mistakes in one sentence is like an iron hammer obliterating the rest of my fragile self respect.

"N-no, you don't have to remind me…" I say glumly, if only as a half hearted attempt to defend myself a little bit. But I know I don't have much to defend myself with…everything he's said is true.

"I better not." Tsume narrows his gaze at me until both his eyes are nothing but golden slits. "Honestly. What is your deal lately? I haven't said much over these past few days but, damn it, I've got a lot on my mind. And I think it's high time you shut up and listened for once." Tsume uncrosses his arms and starts walking in the other direction from what's left of our small group; as if to say he wants to take this conversation somewhere else. "Let's go." He says in a stern commanding tone, making my heart sink even further. "We're not through talking yet."

I…I can't move. His tone is commanding, but for once it has the opposite effect on me. Why do I feel like Tsume is going to lead me away to a private spot, away from all of our friends so he can turn me down gently and give me the curtsey of sobbing my eyes out before joining back with the group? Fate has not been kind enough to allow me to think that he might be spiriting me away to tell me he returns my feelings. Just the way he was looking at me, and the tone in his voice, makes me think that whatever he wants to say to me he'd rather not say it.

Tsume notices I'm not following him and stops to glare at me over his shoulder. "Hey." He barks. "I said let's go."

I panic. I can't take the idea of possibly being rejected by the man that I love. I would rather be anywhere else, doing anything else. I will not be led away to what I know is the death of me. In the heat of the moment, I make a decision…really, the only decision I ever make. To run away.

"Uh-u-uhhh." My mind grapples to find an excuse to have to leave so suddenly but comes up with nothing. My amber eyes jump over to Cheza, who's been standing off to the side with Kiba this whole time, and I make a decision right there on the moment. "Cheza!" I call. Before the maiden can even fully turn around I wrap my paw around her delicate hand. "I-uh-just remembered! I-I have to talk to you about something!"

"You want to talk to this one about something?" She repeats, blinking her blind crimson eyes.

"Yes! In private! Like, right now!" Feeling worse and worse every second I quickly turn around and start running in the opposite direction. I feel a little bad for pulling poor Cheza along so suddenly, almost making her stumble. But I can't afford to stop now.

"Hey! Wait! Toboe! Where do you think you're going?" Tsume yells after me in an outraged growl and I resist the urge to hang back like his tone commands. "Get back here!"

Both me and Cheza's soft breathing fill the empty space of the deserted alley we find ourselves in. I feel like a coward for running away but I…I just couldn't do it.

"Toboe." Cheza says, her tone hard to read.

"Huh? Uh, yes?"

"Why did you do that?" Her blind eyes look at me unclouded; without scorn but without curiosity either. I'm guessing she knows why I ran away, but doesn't know why I would go through with it. "Tsume will be upset with you now."

Yeah well, what else is new…?

I puff out a whine and dip even deeper into the self-loathing maelstrom raging inside me.

"I…I'm really sorry, Cheza…" I'm starting to realize now not only how immature it was to run away from my problems…again, but also how inconsiderate it was for me to just abduct Cheza like this. Kiba probably had plans to relax with her today, so now he's probably pissed at me too. And again, it's not as if I know for a fact that Tsume was going to turn me down, but how can I not-

"Toboe…"

The sound of Cheza's gentle voice and the ghostly presence of her pale hand on my shoulder snaps me out of my spiraling. I look up and find empathy and openness in her deep rose colored eyes.

"You're hurting, is that not right?"

I gasp, but in reality I shouldn't be surprised. Cheza seems to know everything about us. She can read our happiness and pick up on our suffering and sorrow. She can ease our discomfort with just a caress and can even sing us to sleep. And yet it still surprises me how startlingly accurate she is about how I'm feeling.

"Yeah." I sigh.

"Is it about Tsume?"

I nod my head while avoiding eye contact. Though I know it's pointless to look away from her gaze, she can't even see me. Just an omega instinct to always try to appear meek, I suppose.

Cheza is silent for a while. So much so that I think our conversation is over and she is going to start walking back to Kiba. Instead, she slips her smooth, alabaster hands into mine and meets my gaze with a smile.

"Come." She says, in that beautifully sweet voice of hers. "Let us go some place where the sun can warm our bodies."

"Is that enough, Cheza?" I ask as I adjust a rusty pot of clean rain water underneath her feet…er, I mean, her roots?

The flower maiden beams and dips her head in a nod. "Yes, Toboe. This one thanks you. It is very refreshing."

Her words make happiness spread through me. Ever since I was little and all I had in my world was granny, I've noticed that I like to please people. Perhaps that should make me hate myself a little, knowing that I'm so submissive that I would rather serve than be served. But I can't deny how happy it makes me feel to see a smile on someone's face after helping them. I know that I made their day a little bit better by being nice. I suppose it is just in my nature as an omega.

Sadly though this rusty old cooking pot with luke-warm rainwater collected in it is the best thing I can find for my flower maiden right now. But the blissful smile on her face and the way her skin is glowing from the sunshine tells me that she doesn't mind at all.

Content that milady is taken of, I allow myself to sink down next to her with a troubled sigh. Fetching Cheza something to drink was a nice distraction, but now my troubles are back, haunting me again.

"Toboe," Cheza starts. "You said you had something you wished to speak to this one about?"

"Well…" In the heat of the moment, I just said whatever came to mind as an excuse to run away. But if I'm completely honest with myself, I think I do have several things I would like to ask Cheza about. Preparing myself for a long talk, I bring my knees against my chest and wrap my arms around my legs. "Actually yes. It's about Tsume…"

I wait for Cheza to say something, perhaps an 'aaah' or an 'mmhmm' to encourage me to continue or to at least let me know that she's paying attention. But the flower maiden stares forward with a stoic expression. I continue, apprehensively.

"The other night, when we were leaving the city. I-I told him that I loved him. But…" My hands clench around the fabric to my pants. "He didn't say anything back. He just said we'll talk about it later. He just…seemed so surprised. I don't know what to think. Was he…was he surprised in a good way or in a bad way?" I'm rambling now but I don't care enough to stop. It was all just gushing out of me like blood weeps out of an old punctured wound. "And then back there when he said he wanted to talk I just…why do I get this feeling like he's going to reject me?" My vision blurs as tears form on the brink of my eyes. I bite on my trembling lower lip and allow a few drops to escape my sparkling amber jewels, slipping down my pale cheeks in privacy of Cheza's blindness.

I gasp as Cheza places her hand on my knee. When I look her smile is small and understanding.

"You should not worry, Toboe." The flower maiden assured and placed a hand over her chest. "Even though this one has no sight, this one can still feel when you are crying." She looked to me then, and said, "This one also feels what Tsume is feeling too…This one feels that Tsume has been…excited lately."

"Hunh? Excited?" If Tsume was excited he sure as hell did a good job of hiding it. Though I suppose that by now Tsume would be rather good at masking how he really feels. But still…I had no idea…and it isn't like Cheza to lie. "Well, what's he excited about?"

Cheza smiles and looks as if she's about to say something but we both don't get a chance to say anything. Around the corner of the building to our far left wafts a scent that I'm only too familiar with. A scent that makes me freeze with fear and the hairs on my neck stand on end. I know what I'm smelling but I don't understand. How can he possibly be here? My body is poised like a spring applied with pressure; my muscles are coiled to spring away rapidly any moment should something happen.

"Toboe?" Cheza asks, her dainty nose not picking up the scent. "What is it?"

My amber eyes are fixed on to and do not leave the corner of the building. I know I should run, should attempt to get as far away from this smell before they find me. But at the same time I don't want to risk making any noise or stirring up our scent. Maybe if we're quiet he'll wander off in another direction. He's so awfully close…

…I'm suddenly confronted with the reality of the current situation: I'm the one who took Cheza away, I'm the only one with her, so I'm responsible for her safety.

It's close now, so close I can even hear their footsteps. I've had enough waiting. I can't stay here any longer, why didn't I run sooner?

I wrap my hand around Cheza's wrist and spring upwards, pulling her up with me regrettably a little too rough as she stumbles.

"Toboe." She cries. "What's wrong?"

"I'm sorry Cheza, but there's someone coming. We need to leave now."

But by the time I pull Cheza up and we're ready to leave I'm too late.

Around the corner comes a dog with fur pitch black as the inky heavens on the darkest night of the year. Two crystal blue eyes glitter in its skull, standing out like two stars against the gloom. And they're both fixed directly on me and Cheza.

My body explodes into action. Cheza lets out a startled cry and is roughly pulled forward as I take off running at half speed. I would be able to run much faster if I wasn't pulling Cheza along but I don't have much of a choice. I'm not sure if I can carry her and there isn't any time to find out.

"Wait!" A feminine voice calls behind us.

Without slowing down I look back over my shoulder. But instead of seeing a vicious black dog rushing at us all I see is a tall, brunette, young woman with sun kissed skin following us. She possesses light blue eyes that contrast against her tanned skin in a breathtaking way. They're wide and innocent, pleading us to stop. That dog's scent still lingers, but strangely the animal in question is nowhere to be seen.

Is it possible that…no, that can't be right…Domestic animals don't possess the ability to cloak themselves…At least, I don't think they do.

"I said wait!" The woman behind us cries again, this time a bite of irritation in her tone.

But I won't let up. I'm not falling for it. What, does she think I was fricking born yesterday? I don't know who she is or where that dog went, but anybody that smells like that drunk old guy has gottah be bad news!

"To..boe!" Cheza calls, her voice choppy from being pulled along like a rag doll. "Stop…running. She…only wants…to-"

"Absolutely not!" I cry without slowing my pace. "Don't you get it, Cheza? That woman smells just like that old guy's dog! If we let her get her hands on us she'll kill us for sure. I just know it! We have to keep going!"

The end of the street is coming up fast. Cheza and I are sandwiched between two, towering buildings and the only means of an escape route is an alley coming up on my left. I don't like the smell that's coming from there: The air smells stagnant and musty, suggesting that no wind has gotten to it in a while. In other words, it smells like a dead end. But what choice do I have? There's nowhere else to go…

Saying a silent prayer in my head we turn around the corner and…

Sigh…Well, I guess I shouldn't really be is a dead end. But I at least thought that there would be a manhole or a caved in wall or-or something! Life can't just ever cut me a break can it?

The sound of heavy breathing echoes off the narrow brick walls and I whirl around to see the woman standing at the mouth of the alley catching her breath.

"Toboe-" Cheza starts, but I don't let her finish. I put myself in front of her and hold out my arm to prevent her from getting into harm's way.

"Cheza, get behind me!" I swallow a mouthful of dread that slides down my throat and sinks all the way to the pit of my stomach as I size up the person at the end of the alley. Oh crap…this person is bad news. Everything she is- her very presence is a testament to her unspoken vow to track me down and exterminate me. My heart starts fluttering with panic and I feel faint whines forming in my throat…my fingers are even trembling.

Oh god…I'm so scared…I-I don't want to fight. I don't even think I can fight against her!

But then the second voice in the other half of my mind snaps and shouts at me with her whip of rebuke lashing.

That's enough! Snap out of it Toboe! I know it's scary to fight but we don't have a choice! This person is here to harm you and Cheza and you're the only one here who can do something about it! You're the one who took Cheza, now it's your responsibility to protect her with your life. So stop being a coward and stand your ground!

The last three words of my thoughts bounce around inside of my skull and it sets off a switch inside of me.

…She's right. My other half is right. I've had enough of running…

Something ugly starts rumbling in the pit of my throat. Like a pot of water on a burner, it starts off at a low simmer but then grows to a vicious growl. My amber eyes grow large and wild, the pupils dilating. My fingers contort as my nails start to grow into wicked claws. I can feel my fangs getting longer. They poke into my skin as they grow long enough to pass between my lips.

"…Toboe…"

I can hear the concern in Cheza's voice as I shift to my wolf form before her eyes. But I'm not like my regular self: This time I'm not afraid anymore. I face the woman at the end of the alley way with my stance wide and my yellow-amber eyes fixed directly on her. I feel the skin prickle on the back of my neck and down my spine as my hair stands on end. My muzzle rolls back over my teeth as my growl surges into a snarl.

"Stay away!" I project my internal voice towards the woman. I can clearly tell from her keen blue eyes that she not only hears me, but knows that I'm serious. "I won't let you hurt Cheza!"

Just then I feel said flower maiden's hand come to rest on my furry shoulder and it's as if…It's hard to describe. It's as if all of my resolve, all my fight, simply leaves me all at once; as if someone has pulled the plug out of a bathtub's drain, I feel my ambition drain out of me; leaving me with this sort of calm, empty feeling inside. I look over my shoulder at Cheza and see her staring straight ahead at the woman at the foot of the alley.

"…Cheza?" I ask my voice perked with confusion.

The flower maiden turns her attention to me and she smiles. "It is alright. There is nothing to fear, Toboe. This creature is our friend and means us no harm. Is that not right?" Cheza lifts her head and directs this last statement at the woman across from us.

Her brow wrinkles in confusion over her startling blue eyes. Her mouth purses in to somewhat of a pout and she looks off to the side. "Yeah, I guess you could say that…But I'm not here to be anybody's friend. I only came here looking for answers…that's all."

I still can't even believe we're even doing this.

The light in the condemned house we're sitting in is dim. The sun is beginning to go down, casting the room in a half hearted, lazy, orange luminescence that streams in from the window on the far side of the room. It is the only window the room has. My fingers pick at the flaking wood of the worn out chair I'm sitting on. It's nearly as dilapidated as the table we've all gathered around. One of its legs is a bit shorter than the rest, making the thing wobble in a very annoying manner.

Well isn't this just peachy keen? Here we are, all gathered around the table like it's Thanksgiving Day, when only moments ago we were standing off in the alley way about to have a throw down. Not for the first time I wonder how I get myself into these sorts of situations.

My amber eyes are fixed on the girl across the table. This whole situation is just so very curious. She seemed so adamant about talking with us before and yet…this whole time she hasn't said much of anything. Her sapphire orbs are hooded with a sort of glum expression, but for the life of me I can't gather why.

Well, if she's not going to say anything…

"…ssoo…" I begin and her pretty brunette head perks up. "What's this all about? Why did you want to speak with us so badly?"

The girl bites down on her bottom lip and stares at the top of the table. Her Blue eyes quiver, as if she's searching the surface for the right words to say. Whatever she wants to talk about, it's obvious that it isn't easy for her to bring up. The atmosphere in the room is beginning to feel stifling…why won't she just come out with it already?

"…I've been wondering something." I continue, eager to break the silence. "That black dog back there on the street, the one that's been hunting us down lately…was that-is that you?"

I hang on the edge of my seat as I wait for her answer. Ever since I've looked over my shoulder back there on the street and saw her instead of the dog chasing us, I've had my suspicions about her identity. But to think…the animal that's been stalking us all this time, trying to kill us…is actually-

"Yes." She answers in her sultry, feminine voice. "That was me…"

I had my suspicions, but the news still takes me by surprise.

My brow furrows as her answer only spawns at least ten other questions. I hardly know where to start asking.

"But if that's true, then how can you-"

"Cloak myself? I don't know…" A rueful smile tugs at the corners of her mouth and she hangs her head. "To tell you the truth, I didn't even know I was capable. I don't even know how I figured out to cloak myself. There are so many things that I don't understand…when did things ever get to be like this…?" The last question seems to be intended for herself because neither me or Cheza knows what she's talking about.

But I'm not done with my slew of questions yet:

"So you are that guy's dog then?" I ask, my tone flaring with resentment. "Then just what do you want with us? Have you lured us here so your owner can shoot us in a hole or something?" Perhaps this seems a really rude thing to accuse her of, but honestly I can't expect anything less from her. Not after all she's done to us so far.

"No. I swear it isn't anything like that. I just…" She stops and sighs. Her tone seems honest enough, but if she isn't here for things like that then…?

"I have a lot of things that are weighing heavy on my mind. My entire life I thought I knew who I was-what I was-and what I was meant for. I was content to live out my days doing what I did with Pops because it gave me a sense of purpose, even though what we were doing may not have been a good thing. I guess, in a way following orders and serving him was a distraction that kept me from questioning anything…" Her voice trails off and she lifts her blue orbs to look at Cheza, but then looks away. "But ever since I met you all I've done is question things. That night, outside the pub…I took one look at you and it was like…it was…like-"

"You had awakened."

Both of our heads snap to attention and we look to Cheza. This whole time she has been silent: From the walk from the alley way, into the building, settling down into our respective seats, and even through the duration of our brief conversation. She had said nothing, but it was wrong of me to think she had not been paying attention for even a moment.

The girl's startling blue eyes are wide and staring at Cheza, orbs unblinking. "What did you say?"

"That night when we met, you had no idea of what you were. Is that not right?"

'That night when we met', 'you awakened'-what are they talking about? When did they meet? I don't remember that happening. Or could it…is it possible that Cheza could have run into this girl with Kiba that night when we were trying to escape from the city? Before I met up with them? It's possible…

The girl works for a moment to find her voice, but after a few failed attempts it comes out strong and true. "What do you mean 'awakened'?" She asks, as if she hadn't heard Cheza's last question. "'No idea of what I am'? What are you even talking about?" The girl raises her hands and looks at them with quivering blue orbs. "Why am I able to do these things when I wasn't before? Just…what exactly am I? Who am I?"

Cheza rises from her seat next to me and moves to a spot that is between me and the girl. She looks to me then and smiles.

"Toboe?" She says, offering me her hand which I take without even thinking. Only afterwards am I confused why she offered me her hand.

Cheza then looks to the girl and offers her other hand to her.

The girl hesitates…

"Do not worry." Cheza assures in her sweet sing-song voice. "You came here seeking answers. This one only wants to give them to you. Take this one's hand, and she will show you what you wish to know."

The girl bites on her lower lip as she contemplates, but then ultimately slips her hand into Cheza's.

"Now then…" The flower maiden closes her eyes and I feel a very sudden wave of weariness wash over me. I feel dizzy, my body feels hot and tingly, my mind feels like it is wrapped in layers of warm cotton, and my vision is fading fast…dissipating into oblivion….Cheza's voice floats to me as if she is speaking to me at the end of a very long hallway.

"Let us begin"

When I open my eyes again I'm no longer in the rundown apartment in the city. I'm floating, over rolling green hills and trees that are densely packed together in clusters near the foot of a mountain. I'm so high over head, like I'm a bird looking down at everything from above. My stomach drops from the sudden change in height and my throat lurches but nothing comes out. I can feel my heart racing, but I can't open my mouth to scream. I'm unable to turn my head or look in any other direction either. I'm stuck in whatever vision has come over me.

Suddenly I can feel Cheza's consciousness touching my own and I instantly feel this calming soothe wash over me, as if Cheza is stroking me from my nose to my tail. Without knowing how I'm distinctly aware of Blue's consciousness too.

Blue…how do I know her name? She never told me but somehow now I know…Could it be that Cheza is acting as some sort of link between us? Linking our minds, showing us this vision in unison so that we may understand one another? I've never ever felt anything close to this before. Having someone else's mind brush against yours…is a very bizarre feeling.

"We start here, in the sparse forests of Kurios County." Cheza continues. "This is where you were born."

I feel a wave of sentimental emotions flood out of Blue's consciousness. Pangs of sadness blossom in my chest and threaten to make me tear up, but I cannot say exactly why. But my tears don't blur my sight, because it seems that this vision is taking place in my mind or in a place that is independent of my body.

My perspective is moving now, slowly angling toward the ground as if I was a bird descending from the sky. The tops of the trees rush up to meet me and I can now see their trunks and the shadowy underbrush. We continue on going through the narrow spaces of the close tree trunks until we break through the line of trees to the mountain's edge. At first it looks as though there is nothing of import to see here. But then my perspective pans to the left and I see a form moving among the tall grass.

Padding along a well worn deer track, with its nose to the ground, is what appears to be a very handsome grey wolf, its fur peppered with speckles of black. Its fluffy ears prick up and it lifts its head to peer directly at us with startling gold eyes. But despite looking right at us, the wolf doesn't seem to know we're there. It cocks one ear to the side, then continues its march along the path.

"This wolf is known as Jarical. The base of these mountains are his hunting grounds. He is not like other wolves in that he prefers to be by himself. As far as he knows, there are no other wolves for miles around."

As Cheza talks the wolf in question rounds a bend and disappears out of sight.

"He would be your father."

The vision changes then and cuts to the image of what looks like a black wolf drinking out of a body of water. It has long black fur, and is built sort of like a wolf. It finished drinking and lifted its head to look behind itself, over its shoulder, right at us. I thought before that perhaps this could have been another wolf, but one look at the animal's features dismissed all my suspicions. This was certainly no wolf.

The dog had a white 'star' marking on the center of its beautiful forehead, and its blue eyes twinkled in its head like two precious jewels. Wolves are almost always a solid color, or a mesh of colors. Wolves do not have markings like this one does. That is something only known to dogs. But the dead giveaway was definitely its eyes. True wolves' eyes will vary from yellow to gold, but nothing else. No exceptions. Only dogs express different eye colors like this one. Plus, its tail is curled upwards. Wolves possess only straight tails.

"This creature goes by the name of Larka Ellesmere. She is lost, a very long way from home. She comes from a very prosperous estate from the north, and was separated from her master when out on a hunt. Only the blood of the purest hunting dogs runs through her veins. She is aware of an overpowering male presence. His scent is everywhere. She knows she will likely provoke his wrath from intruding on his territory but there is little she can do about her situation. She would be your mother."

My perspective changes then to that of the dog, looking over her shoulder. I feel the dog's dread ripple through her as I register a pair of golden eyes peering at us through a dense curtain of grass. I can tell from the scent that registers in her nostrils that it is this male known as Jarical.

The vision changes then and I'm looking into the mouth of a cave. The black dog from earlier is outside the cave and is placing something into a hole in the ground. Her ears are pressed flat against her head. She then turns around and begins whining softly as she kicks the up-turned dirt back into the hole behind her. My perspective pans forward…peers into the hole…and I feel my stomach lurch with grief.

In the hole are the carcasses of two, freshly born pups. Their bodies are still wet and their eyes aren't even open…will never open. The vision does not change, and I'm forced to watch as the earth slowly but surely covers the two small bodies of the puppies.

"Larka and Jarical took to being mates. Larka gave birth to three pups, two of which were still born. There was one though…who survived…"

The mother dog, still whining, begins to saunter back towards the cave after giving the fresh patch of dirt one last glance. The vision follows her inside to a mat of soft straw and grass were a black and blind bundle of fur yips and tumbles around, looking for its mother's warm belly.

I feel realization hit Blue's consciousness like a wall of iron, and it makes even the hairs on my neck stand on end.

"That lone pup who survived was you, Blue."

Out of anything that Blue could be feeling right now, the most she feels is shock. As if she can't believe any of this is her story.

But it isn't over yet.

The vision changes again suddenly to what appears to be a farm. It is dark outside, late at night. A few other cabins can be seen in the distance…I feel something come from Blue's mind…Déjà vu I think. She feels that she has been here before. Is this…I hear the word Kurios float through her mind. Without knowing why I'm suddenly aware that this is a village of sorts, though it doesn't look as if anybody is up.

Suddenly I hear something that sounds like rapid gun fire off in the distance. It is rather faint, I doubt it would even wake a sleeping human. A feeling of uneasiness ruffles in my belly but I'm not sure why yet.

Then over in the distance I see a dark figure burst through the line of trees. It looks to be animal, because it is running on four legs and is low to the ground. It is getting closer and it slowly becomes clearer that it is the dog mentioned from earlier, Larka Ellesmere. She is carrying something in her mouth…the little dark bundle of fur from earlier.

It's Blue.

"A Noble by the name of Jaguara has ordered the extermination of all wolves and their associates. A wave of drone soldiers are combing through the forests of Kurios County. They have been given orders to terminate wolves and anyone standing in their way, even humans if necessary. Your father Jarical has lured the drones away from your mother and you. Though he has been killed in the process. Your mother knows they will come for her, then you next."

My perspective follows behind the mother dog as she makes her flight through the small village. Eventually she comes up to a barn with its door slightly ajar and stops. I can see her sides rapidly going in and out as she pants around her child in her mouth. After only a moment's pause she slips between the doors of the barn and her fur blends with the darkness that's inside the building. When she emerges she has nothing in her jaws. She looks over her shoulder and whines, just like that day when she buried her two still born pups in the ground. Then she takes off and becomes one with the night. A howl rises up in the far distance and shatters the still air. It is abruptly silenced by the riveting of a machine gun…

The scene changes then to the perspective of the barn's floor. I can hear the puppy's whimpering close in my ears, and I know I must be seeing things through her newly developed puppy eyes. My belly growls with hunger and I cry out for a meal, hoping someone will hear me.

'Hunh? What was that?' The small voice of a child says, then a moment later a young boy pokes his head around the door of the barn. I can see his blue eyes round with wonder and excitement even behind his dirty blonde, neatly trimmed bangs. His freckles stand out against his cheeks as his mouth shifts from a surprised O to an uncontainable smile. 'A puppy! Dad, come see! There's a puppy in our barn!'

My eyes roll open and I'm back in the run down room with Cheza and this girl, Blue, with our hands still linked.

I look across the table to Blue to see her staring with her mouth popped open at Cheza. Her blue eyes, which I realize now are identical to her mother's, sparkle and her cheeks are stained with wetness.

"You know the rest of it…"

Cheza squeezes our hands and a barrage of images flash behind our eyes, making me gasp in surprise. I view everything as if I were a third party watching from all these scenes.

A boy holding up a fluffy black puppy to his father, the boy and the puppy playing as the mother hangs the laundry on the line outside in their yard, the boy giving the growing puppy a bath outside…

Then they change to darker images…

The father and the young dog watch as the cabin from earlier is engulfed in flames. The man watches helplessly while the dog whines by his side. The man screams in rage and fires his rifle into the inferno at nothing-

"Stop it! Stop it right now!" Blue wretches her hand out of Cheza's and the connection is broken. The images stop, and we're left in the desolate room in the gloom of dusk with only the sounds of Blue's hysterical breathing.

Wow…all this time…That old guy…Blue, I had no idea…

"There is no reason to show me those things. I remember them very clearly…" She says, viciously wiping away the wetness on her cheeks.

I'm speechless, and evidently so is Cheza. The room settles into a recovering silence as Blue's breathing slows and returns to normal. I…I can't think of a single thing to say. I'm floored on many levels. First of all, what did I just experience? Second of all, how on earth did Cheza…? I mean, I know she is a-a deity of sorts among us wolves. But to transcend the flow of time, to show us images of stuff that happened so long ago that neither of us knows about…how is that even possible?

And Blue…poor Blue. I can only imagine what's going through her mind right now…but I can't even imagine what she must be feeling.

"What does this mean…?" She asks, her voice faint at first. "Does this mean…that Jaguara's soldiers that destroyed our lives that day…they had come back looking for me? Had come to take care of the one 'wolf' they thought they'd left behind?" Her voice is slowly rising with hysterics the farther along she goes. "Are you trying to say that I'm responsible for what happened that day?"

Cheza connects her half lidded gaze with the girl and holds it there for a few long moments. To some, it might look like Cheza's silence was her answer. But from the way Blue's orbs are quivering, and from what we just experienced and also from my knowledge of Cheza, I half expect her to be telepathically telling her something.

Blue clamps her mouth shut and takes in a long breath through her nostrils. She stands abruptly, nearly toppling her chair over. "Thanks for the info." She mutters under her breath and swiftly walks past me and out the open door before I can even get up or say anything.

"Blue, wait-" I call out and rise to go after her when I feel a slight tugging on my elbow. I look back and see Cheza grabbing on to my shirt sleeve and looking at me with a sort of pained expression.

"Toboe…" She murmurs. "Let her go…She must figure things out for herself…She must come to terms with the truth and decipher its meaning on her own. No one else can do this for her."

I have half a mind to argue with Cheza, but I do suppose she's right…I mean she must know what she's talking about right? I reluctantly let my arm to fall to my side with a defeated sigh. Poor Blue…to suddenly have to be hit with all of that information…and all about herself too. It must be so hard on her, it's only natural that I would at least want to say something to her…but if Cheza knows what she's talking about.

"…Wwwell, then what should be do now?" I ask hesitantly, unsure of how to break the silence that comes over us.

Cheza rises from her perch and her pink cloak flutters as she dusts herself off. "We should return to the others. It is growing late. The moon will be at its Zenith in a few hours."

Oh yeah, tonight's the full moon. I forgot all about that in my troubles and then the issue with Blue…Oh…and that realization is accompanied by the unpleasant reminder that both an unhappy Tsume and Kiba are waiting for me…and I'm sure Tsume's choice of words will be even worse now, if it wasn't terrible already.

"Hhhaaaaww." I puff out a whine and slouch. Cheza's right though. We have to reunite with the others eventually. I can't just keep running from my problems forever.

I'm so absorbed in my thoughts I hardly hear Cheza's faint footsteps approach me. The light touch of her hand on my shoulder brings me out of my spiraling thoughts and I'm met with one of her signature smiles.

"Shall we return now, Toboe?"

I feel dread heavy in my mouth as I swallow.

"Y-yeah. We better get back…"

The short walk back to the area where we last saw Kiba and Tsume is a silent one. I'm feeling nervous, and I know Cheza knows I'm nervous, and strangely that knowledge itself is a little comforting. Like, I know she's ready to be there for me if I really need it. I don't feel so alone.

We round the corner of the building and I'm a little shocked to find the guys basically right where we left them. They don't exactly look like they've been shooting the breeze over warm tea either. Jesus, I bet they've just been sitting here this whole time simmering in their frustration; condensing into a more bitter anger every minute we weren't there. The guys hear our footsteps and look over in our direction. My gaze connects with Tsume's and I freeze.

Cheza keeps walking then stops when she doesn't hear my footsteps any more.

"Toboe?"

…I…I still don't know what to do.

The steel grey male regards me with half lidded golden eyes. It isn't a glare, which is a good sign but it isn't exactly an 'oh-my-god-I've-missed-you-babe' look either. Tsume hops down from his perch on a stone wall and starts to walk away in the opposite direction…

…uuuhm…Does he…want me to follow him?

I look to Cheza for an answer but curious enough I see Kiba approaching her from behind. Too focused on me to notice, Kiba wraps his arms around her waist. The flower maiden starts, and looks back to him with wide, questioning crimson orbs.

"Kiba?"

"Cheza…" The look of fondness on my leader's face is enough to send a small flush of warmth through me. The warmth spreads to my cheeks and I have to look away as he affectionately buries the tip of his nose into her sakura pink hair and inhales. I…I feel like they're having an intimate moment that I shouldn't be watching.

"Hey."

I hear Tsume call off to my left and I look despite myself. He's half facing me with one of his hands raised with a finger crooked, beckoning me.

"Let's go. I'm not taking no for an answer this time."

Even though I know I probably shouldn't, I look back to Cheza. Whether it be for a look of comfort, or some reassuring words I don't know. But I feel the same way I did when he first said he wanted to talk: panicked and afraid. I need some moral support here!

"It is alright, Toboe." Cheza softly encourages. The flower maiden's smile broadens so much so that her crimson eyes have to close. "It will be just fine. Trust this one."

Well, it's hard to argue with that coming from Cheza. I don't even have a chance to thank her or anything, because now Kiba is starting to whisk her away down the street…

"Come on, Cheza." He says. "I have something I want to show you."

…leaving me completely alone with Tsume.

"Come on." I physically flinch upon hearing the growing impatience in his voice and turn to look at him with dread. He's glaring at me now, a bit irritated but nothing too bad from what I can gather. Feeling he doesn't need to say anything more, the male turns on his heel and continues his walk to god knows where with his hands tucked in his tight, black, leather pockets.

With a resigned sigh I follow behind him at a comfortable distance, all the while feeling as though I'm being marched off to the gallows.

I somehow find the courage to trot up next to Tsume to walk by his side. But that's as about as brave as I get. I feel the silence looming over us gripping my throat like a noose. I feel the longer the quiet continues the harder it is for me to break it. I can't tell if Tsume feels the same way, but the tension is enough to make me start feeling a little queasy. I'm not sure what to say, or if I should even say anything. Should I try to hold his hand or…? No, that's stupid…Nothing I can think of seems the right thing to do, but just walking here in this unrelenting silence is unbearable…ugh.

By now the full moon is making its climb into the sky, casting certain things into brilliant twilight while some other things are lost in the stark shadows of the buildings and rubble. There's something different about the full moonlight for us wolves. It's not like any other form of moonlight. On nights were the lunar rays are at their strongest it makes a sort of chemical reaction happen in our bodies. It excites our cells and can make energy out of basically nothing. The result is this sort of giddy feeling in our chests which makes us hyper. And not only that…But I also heard the night of the full moon is supposed to be a good time to…to c-copulate. Because I think female wolves ovulation cycles coincide with the spring full moon. But anyway…

The feeling of the silver light striking my skin…it's a bit different from anything I've ever felt. I mean, of course I've basked in full moonlight before in my life, but it's a sensation all its own; nothing really I can compare it to. My skin crinkles with goose bumps and I feel my heart beat quicken.

Tsume leads us to a deserted portion of the town. I can't hear anything for quite a distance, and all the insides of the houses (if you would call them that) are dark. They must be empty. By the looks of things we must be on the very outskirts of town, because I can even see a line of trees from gaps between the buildings as we pass. I don't know what Tsume is planning on talking to me about, but he sure is taking me out an awful long way just to say it. The very thought of that makes me nervous. I'm not sure what to think. Earlier today I was dead set on thinking that Tsume was going to turn me down, but after what Cheza said…it makes me question things. I dunno. I'm not confident about this, but I'm not hopeless either, you know what I mean? I feel like this could go either way…

Tsume comes to a stop suddenly and I do as well a couple paces behind him.

"…Tsume?" I ask hesitantly.

The addressed male turns on his heel and looks at me from behind his midnight shades. That's odd, when did he put those on? Oh whatever. A tense silence stretches out between us and I'm tempted to say something, anything, just to break it. But before I can open my mouth to Tsume finally breaks it.

"Toboe." He says. "Let me ask you something." The steel grey male slowly removes his sunglasses and shoots a golden glare sidelong at me. I feel my insides quiver and melt, both in a bad way and in a good way. "Just why the hell did you run away like that earlier?"

His words make me flinch and I have to look away as a feeling of extreme guilt overcomes me. "…Gee…Tsume I…" I bite down hard on my lower lip as the words I'm sorry form on my tongue. Even I'm sick of hearing myself say that. But…it's true, I am sorry that I ran away like a coward.

My silence only irritates Tsume further. "Where the hell do you get off running away like that when I specifically told you to come, hunh?" He says, his gaze narrowing and his tone turning to a growl. "You've got some nerve, you know that, Toboe?"

I want so badly to defend myself, but every word out of Tsume's mouth is like a slap across my face; making my cheeks sting and my resolve fumble.

"Honestly," He continues. "First you run off with that kid in that mountain city, then you drop that bomb on me outside the forest of death; and then when I try to talk to you about any of it you book it out of there with Cheza like a deranged lunatic?"

"I-I know Tsume! I was just…" I take in a breath and clench my hands into fists. God I couldn't possibly feel any worse than I do now."I was just scared okay?"

Tsume's sour look effectively melts away and is replaced by an expression of mild confusion; with one of his silver eyebrows arched. "Scared…what're you talking about? Scared of what?"

I bite the inside of my cheek and look away. I hope to god he can't see the growing blush on my cheeks in the dim light. I dare not say it out loud: scared that you'll reject me. I don't want to give him any ideas on the off chance that he wasn't going to turn me down.

"Listen, Toboe." He starts, after I refuse to answer him.

Oh god here it comes. I can just tell what he's going to say by the tone in his voice. He's going to say no. That's exactly how I imagined him starting to turn me down: 'Listen, Toboe. You're nice and all that, but-insert the number of reasons he wouldn't want to be with me here: A. You're too skinny, B. You're too flat chested, C. You're gangly and homely, D. You're not my type and you're not much to look at, or E. all of the above. But I refuse to run away. Running away won't make this go away, it will only prolong my problems. Running away won't change his mind either…so…there's nothing I can do but…just stand here and let him deliver the news unto m-me…

Despite myself my vision starts to blur over with tears and I feel my face heat up. I refuse to whimper, and my lips quiver as I force them to stay shut. But I can't help it, I can literally feel my heart breaking in two. It feels like long claws are digging into my heart and I'm powerless as two fat tears slide down my cheeks, one after another.

The rest of Tsume's sentence dies in his throat and his features round with shock. "Toboe? What the hell are you crying for?"

"Go on. Say it." I nearly sob and I don't even try to stop the tears from streaming down my face now. "Say you don't want me. Say you'll take your chances finding any other female rather than me. That's what you're going to say isn't it?"

Tsume's mouth hardens into a firm line and his silver brow darkens over his golden orbs. He starts closing the space between us rapidly with his long strides. All I have time to do is take in a faint gasp of surprise before he is upon me.

"You really piss me off sometimes, you know that?" He hisses, leaning in close to me, but refuses to take my arm in his grasp like he normally does.

"Eh wh-wha?" What did I say? What did I say to make him so mad?

"Just where the hell do you get off assuming things like that? Did I ever say anything like that to you?"

"Uh w-well no but-"

Tsume continues on as if he hasn't heard me.

"You know? I think I remember something similar happening the last time you went on assuming things you had no right to assume." The male crosses his arms and gives me an indignant glare. "Or do I have to remind you about what happened?"

I shrink down, feeling smaller and smaller every moment. No, there's no need to remind me at all. I know exactly what he's talking about. He's referring to our time with the alpha female Mai in the Schatten Wald, as the lynx girl called it; and how I assumed that Tsume was more interested in her than in me.

"As I recall, your misassumptions put us all in a fair bit of danger." Tsume arches a silver eyebrow and regards me suspiciously. "Tell me, were your predictions true about those matters?"

Feeling like a chastised child, I silently shake my head no.

"And again, it doesn't appear as if your predictions were correct this time either. Tch…I don't know why I'm surprised. " Tsume says cynically. "It's not like you ever learn your lesson…I'm serious, Toboe." He says after a brief spell of silence, leaning in closer with his hands on his hips to emphasize his point. "Cut the crap with this negative thinking bull shit. It's getting fricking old, and frankly you're better than all that. Next time talk to someone before you go making wild assumptions like that."

"Mmmhmm…" I mumbled, nodding my head dumbly like a robot and kept my eyes fixed on the ground.

But…wait a minute…'My predictions weren't right this time either'…?

"So…does that mean…what I said to you earlier, in front of the forest of death, do you…"

Tsume crosses his arms over the flat planes of his chest and he looks away.

"…Feel the same way?" I finish. I feel my heart soar with hope out of the deep pit of despair it was just in. Why would Tsume start talking things like this if he was going to reject me? It seems unlikely…But I want to hear the answer straight from him. No blowing things off or second guessing. I want to know, right and here and now, what he feels. I will wait all night if I have to.

Tsume spends a few moments staring off into the other direction. Speaking openly about feelings has never been something Tsume's been good at. I can tell that whichever way he's about to go with this it isn't easy for him to put it into words. I'm trying to be patient with him but…the anticipation is killing me!

Then I see one of the corners of Tsume's mouth twitch up into a crooked grin and he chuckles. I nearly stop breathing just to make sure nothing stops me from hearing his answer.

"Who the hell am I kidding?" He sighs through his smile. "Yeah…I guess I do, don't I?" He says more to himself than he does to me.

I take in a faint breath and my face rounds in surprise.

"Y…You really mean it?"

This is-! I hadn't expected him to-But he did! He said yes! I'm helpless to contain the wide smile that graces my face and I feel my body moving all on its own accord. I close the small distance between me and Tsume with eager, racing steps and throw my arms around him.

"Hey! Toboe!" Tsume yells irritably as he stumbles backward from the force of my hug. "Would you frigging settle down!"

But I can't. I've never been so happy in my entire life, and all over four little words. I relish the feeling of my body pressed against Tsume's, of us being close like this. Finally, once and for all, I can hold him and not have to feel awkward or insecure about it. Knowing that I love him, and he apparently loves me…it makes all my nervousness melt away and instead leaves a warm, gratifying feeling inside of me. The warmth from Tsume's skin seeps through my clothes and warms me to my very core. I snuggle my face into the material of his jacket and I feel his arms slowly but surely wrap around me, returning my embrace.

My lower lip trembles as a new wave of tears threatens to spill over. I…I've never felt this happy in my whole life. A few sparkling drops escape from between the thickness of my eyelashes and slip down my cheeks on to Tsume's shirt. Before I can wipe them away Tsume tucks a finger under my chin and tips my head back to look up into his entrancing golden orbs. His sculpted lips have pulled up into a rare but dazzling smile as he peers down at me.

"What did I say about that crying crap, Toboe?" He asks, gently wiping away a stray tear off my cheek with the back of his knuckle. "I thought I told you to let me handle everything so you wouldn't have to be burdened."

His sentence trails off as we both get lost in each other's eyes. I feel his lips gravitating towards mine and mine towards his. My arms slide up his chest and I link my fingers together as they meet behind his neck. My amber eyes begin to flutter close and I tilt my lips upwards expectantly…

And then I feel warmth blossom against my lips as Tsume's mouth molds perfectly over mine. Something bursts inside of me, a wave of swelling emotions that threatens to spill out of me from every crack, every pore on my body. Tsume must feel the same way too, because his hold around me tightens and my surprised cry gets lost into his mouth as he picks me up and twirls me around. I feel his mouth curl into a smile against mine and my mirth turns into giggles that hum against his lips.

Tsume sets me down on to my feet gently. Our lips part with a soft kissing noise and my eye lids flutter half way open to peer up into orbs of smoky gold.

Tsume brushes the rough pad of his thumb across my cheek and the same, warm rippling effect happens to me just as it always has. Except this time it's comforting and loving rather than mysterious and thrilling.

"Toboe…" He murmurs, voice thick and sweet like honey…like the color of his eyes.

I relish the warm feeling of being nestled in his arms. I feel nothing but love as I return his gaze. But then something occurs to me…

"But…wait a minute: if you were only going to tell me that, then why did you bring me all the way out here?" I ask, my amber orbs flickering to the decrepit buildings all around us.

A side of Tsume's mouth twitches into a smirk. "Well, call me a romantic or whatever you want, but it seems to me that this is the sort of thing you tell someone in private, know what I mean?"

"Oh…" Well that certainly explains his reason for bringing me out here. "Yeah, I guess you're right. I never thought of it that way before…Well, why don't we go back to the others?" I smile without giving Tsume's actions a second thought and go to pull out of his arms.

But the male holds me firm.

I look up at him with my amber eyes round and holding an unspoken question.

"Tsume?"

"You know, Toboe…" His sentence dies out as his smirk broadens. "That's not the only reason why I dragged your sorry ass all the way out here…"

My brow furrows in slight confusion and I feel a very odd feeling settle over me as I watch Tsume's smirk grow into a wolfish grin. Just what is he getting at? What does he mean…what other reason could he…

"I was thinking that we could officially become mates…you know, once and for all…"

It takes a few moments for the meaning of his words to sink into my dense, naive mind. But when I finally catch on to the message behind that wolfish grin a blush so pink it almost looks red flushes across my face.

"W-wait a minute Tsume. A-are you t-talking about…?"

"Yes. I am." The steel grey wolf leans in and presses a chaste kiss on the top of my honey brown head. "I'm serious, Toboe. I want us to be full mates. I want us to take this to the next level so nobody can question it anymore: you will belong to me, and only me." The last part of his sentence takes on a possessive growl that makes me shiver.

"Eeh? Y-you mean, like, right now?"

Tsume arches a silver brow down at me.

"You sayin you don't want to?"

"Well, it's just…I-I," I take myself out of his arms for some much needed space and wrap my arms around myself. Exactly what am I saying? I think to myself. Do I want him or not? If I'm honest, the idea of…of-with Tsume isn't an unattractive thought…in fact… My amber eyes flicker over to Tsume and coyly examine the male up and down. Tsume's privy my 'secret' observing and just stands there for my viewing pleasure with one of his legs cocked outwards and a hand resting on his hip which he's leaning all his weight into.

He's tall, lean and tan. His well kept silver hair contrasts exquisitely against the color of his skin, making it shine like moonlight. The rips in the fabric of his clothes provide a teasing window for the muscles and skin underneath…I feel my nether regions heat up with want at the very thought of seeing Tsume naked. And under me. His high cheek bones become more prominent from his smirk the longer I stare at him; revealing a smile as dazzling as the stars in the heavens. And his eyes- oh, god his eyes…Staring at me as if he's looking right through my clothes.

All of this visual info, plus the very idea of what Tsume is suggesting sends a flush of heat both across my cheeks and to my loins. I can't be sure if it's his musky scent that always follows him around, or if it's his warm body that was pressed up against mine; it could even be the full moon over head that's encouraging me to do these things but…I'm not so shy to the idea of what Tsume is suggesting.

However…

Things are moving too fast! I mean, for crying out loud. We literally just told each other our love and now he already wants to…

"Mmmmnn!" I whine and pull on my honey brown hair. I don't know what to do. I do want him but…I feel like this is going too fast!

That's just the way things are, Toboe, the other half of my mind, the ancient voice of my instincts, reasons. Wolves don't take these things the same way humans do. Wolves don't live as long. It is very obvious about how you feel for each other, and especially in these hard and uncertain times why waste any precious time you have with each other for 'going slow'? You must mate now, and affirm your union of being mates. After that you can take things as slow as you want.

I bite down on my lower lip, feeling the pressure of tension build between us. The silence stretches longer the more I remain silent; tossing the idea around back and forth in my mind like a tennis ball. The male waits patiently with his hands on his hips and is watching me with an expecting look. He's waiting for an answer, Toboe…Give him an answer already.

I realize that whatever I say will decide the outcome of this situation, and possibly the status of our relationship. The weight of this decision creates a heavy pressure on my chest, making it hard for me to get my voice out. Say something! Come on, just say it-!

"Y-Yes!" The word leaves my mouth sooner than I even realize and I gape in astonishment. My hand flies up to cover my mouth and I raise my gaze to look at Tsume with wide amber eyes. A look of mild surprise registers on the male's face but it is soon replaced by a look of perverted excitement.

Oh god…I said it…I can't take it back…

My knees start shaking as he makes his slow advance towards me but I hold my ground. No more running away. I'm tired of that side of myself. It's time to stay…and face the music…

Tsume waits until he's a couple paces in front of me then stops. I look at him confused.

"You know…" he says. "It's been an awful long time since I've had a good hunt. I can't even remember the last time I've chased something I even cared about…" His fangs get slightly longer in excitement at the mention of hunting. He starts walking towards me but this time I slowly back up, afraid of the glint in his golden eyes.

"Do you get what I'm saying, Toboe?"

"Uuuh…uh-uuhh..y-you…wanna hunt me?" I feel like a bumbling fool as I say it back to him. The words don't really making any sense to me as I say them.

Tsume nods his head slowly.

"That's right. I don't like having things handed to me so easily. Things are much more rewarding if you have to work hard to get them first." The male pauses and his gold eyes shift up and down over my person. "You're going to feel so much better if I have to chase you down before I have you…"

Am…am I really hearing him right now? Is Tsume actually saying what I think he's saying? A moment ago he told me to stop running from my problems…but now here he is deliberately telling me to run away…

Tsume takes a fast step forward and startles the crap out of me, making me jump backwards.

"Run, Toboe." His lips pull back into a grin and expose his pointed fangs.

That crazy look in his eye, and the sound of his alpha male voice makes something snap inside of me; making me promptly turn on my heel and book it for the line of trees I see through the gaps between the buildings.

End of part one! I know, breaking down the last chapter into two parts is irritating, I didn't like it either but previously this part and the next part were all one chapter and…it was just too frigging long for me, so I broke it down. I know I've kept you all waiting so long for this, but I'm gonna have to post the part two tomorrow. I'm just too tired and as I'm editing the last parts of part two I find myself not caring. And that's not fair. I will never put out something that's half a**ed or something that I didn't give 100% on. I owe that much to you guys. I know I said it before, but I promise I will upload the second part of chapter 12 tomorrow. See ya then!

p.s.

I'm not posting my crazy dream excerpt on this one because it's on the end of the second part…if anyone cares :T