Chapter 14
We have been running for few days, and we are finally closer to city. I can actually see it from behind the hills. There is some kind of weird force shield around the town, and a pure white pillar that goes over the clouds at the centre.
As weird as it is, something isn't right.
Some old, even ancient sense in me is screaming not to take a step closer to that town, and i would probably normally obey that instinct, but we are speaking of Cheza here. Besides if my brothers are going, then i'm going too. No matter if it's a suicide run.
I feel weird energy from the city's way, and Hige's collar also has been giving off some strange wipes. I can feel a small nagging voice in my head when i try to study them. Hige has been fine so far, so i haven't thought much of them. But it IS bothering me, it's not normal for a collar. 'It could be a static collar...' i shiver at mere thought.
I had seen how few officers in Freezing city had taught some police dogs. They were given electric collars, and they would get a strike of electricity if they didn't do what they were ordered to. I had seen many of them die because of that, i had tried to help some, but they had just attacked me when I got too close, like they did to everyone else. I stopped watching them after that, i couldn't bare to watch them die after one other.
'No. No, Hige WON'T end up like them... I'll make sure of that!' I thought. Hige had found a sewer that would lead us to outer part of the city.
'Brings back memories..' I thought as i jogged lightly after Toboe. Memories of my first meeting with everyone run through my head and i smile slightly, before grimacing at the sore smell. 'The smell could be different from last time thought...'
"Hurry up Hotaru! We'll leave you behind otherwise!" I snap out and see Tsume calling me little up ahead.
"Coming, coming." I yell back as I speed up.
'I still don't like sewers.'
Finally, FINALLY, we make it out of the sewers. We only reached the outskirt of the town, but with the nagging voice getting louder in my head, i don't feel like i can make it any closer. Thankfully, the thick walls between two parts of the cities block most of whatever wipes there is coming from the centre.
"Ahhh... It's so warm!" Toboe sighs as we make it out. I jog out after him and Hige, and stretch my arms out.
"Hmmm... Feels good... After that frozen tundra this feels like a warm shelter." I sigh as let my hands to drop to my sides. Toboe smiles at me, seeing that i feel little warmer. I grin back, feeling much better when I can feel my finger tips again.
What? I maybe living with wolves, but it doesn't mean that i can handle cold as well as they do.
"See? Just as i told you..." Hige trailers of with smug grin. "Right?" He asks Kiba and Tsume, who follow after him.
"but what is this? It smells awful!" I laugh full heartily at Toboe's whining. 'Oh Toboe, you should have seen all the places i have been in Freezing city...' I seen and smelt much worse things than this.
"Don't complain." Hige says, sounding little peeved. I smirk at that. 'Oh, did that hit your ego?' Hige glares at me, like he could read my thoughts. I just keep grinning at him.
"How did you know?" Kiba asks, putting end to our starting bickering. Hige looks thoughtful for a moment, before shrugging.
"I don't know, myself. Oh well, let's chalk it up to instinct." Hige laughed it off. Something still felt very off to me, but i decided not to say anything. We had other things to worry about, than my unreasonable headaches.
"Instinct, he says." Tsume huffs amused, i grin slightly and whisper to him and Kiba.
"Well, an instinct to find food should count as something... " i trailer off and i see both of them also grin.
"What high walls!" Toboe exclaims, and i hop towards him and Hige. "I've never seen a dome this tall." i nod at that, neither have i.
"Freezing city doesn't have many tall buildings, so this is also my first time." I comment, and Toboe grins with me.
"What are we going to do now?" Tsume asks.
"Cheza is probably in the castle." Kiba says, before looking at me. "Can you sense where she is, Hotaru?" i shook my head, lightly massaging my forehead.
"There is some king of signals and waves coming from the city, and they are messing with me. These walls also seem to block my reach, but i can faintly sense her, so she is here." I explain. Kiba nods along with my explanation, and Hige seems to ponder something.
"Then, if your going to castle, i think it might be that way." I look at Hige confused, along with Toboe.
"How do you know?" We ask at same time, before Hige can answer, his stomack lets out loud grumble. I stiff my giggles with my hand. 'What a timing.'
"Hey, let's slip up into two groups. You guys look for a way inside, while Hotaru, Toboe and i will gather information..." i grin at Hige when Tsume finishes the unsaid part.
"And you'll snack while you're at it?" He asks with raised eye brow, but i can tell by the way his aura is moving that he is definitely amused.
Hige laughs nervously and raises his hands in defeat. "There, there. I'll get some for you, too... Okay?" he asks as he turns to look at us.
"Yeah, leave it to me!" Toboe says with smile. I grin and look at Kiba and Tsume.
"I would also go if you don't mind. I get a headache from those waves, and i would like to stay as far as possible." i explain as i cross my hands behind my back, trying to look innocent.
Hey, I would like to avoid new headaches, thank you very much.
Tsume and Kiba turn to look at each others, thinking about it. "We'll draw less attention if we split up." Tsume agrees. Kiba nods and turns to us.
"Hige.. We'll investigate around the castle." Kiba says. I grin, lightening up at the thought of exploring this part of the town. 'No more splitting headaches!'
"Okay! Then we'll meet back here around the time the moon rises." Hige says and runs off of to find food.
"Hey, wait up Hige!" Toboe and i shout as we run after him. I put up my hood as we catch up with Hige, it's better if we attract less attention. As we run around, i feel a grin spearing on my face.
There isn't much people, but it remains me of those markets in Freezing city. Even if i hated the city, i loved the markets there. The food, subtleties, clothes and many other things that they sell there had always interested me. I also liked to see different kind of people there. There were mostly people like me, homeless, unwanted. It was bity that they were all so tired of life and that there wasn't more colours. Then it wouldn't look so depressing.
'I would like to see that... A market full of happy and lively people, bright colours and different sounds...' i thought as i slowed down with Toboe.
"Hey, this place has food and drinks and other goodies. See, Hige?" Toboe says, sounding little exited like i. Hige thought didn't seem to be listening...
"Once we turn this corner, there is a flight of stairs leading up... And then..." Toboe and i look at each others confused.
'I have a bad feeling about this...' i feel those wipes from Hige's collar getting stronger. Toboe and i follow Hige, and sure enough, we find stairs leading up.
"It's really here!" Hige sounds surprised, and i look at him, very confused.
"Hige?" i ask unsurely, this is getting rather strange, and i don't think it's just coincidence. Hige is also acting like he wasn't really here, it's like someone was giving him the directions, but Hige wasn't aware of it.
"What's going on Hige?" Toboe asks when he doesn't answer to me. We are snap out of it when pair of boys jump down the stairs with skateboards. I yelp surprised and rather frightened, and I froze for a second. Hige yanks me close to him, right before one of the boys lands on the spot i was standing on. As they flee, i hang on to Hige, feeling rather light.
"Jackasses! Watch where you're going!" Hige shouts at them, holding me close and supporting my weight. I hear them just laughing as they go.
"I guess there's people like Tsume here, too." Toboe comments and i give him a betrayed look, recovering little from the shock.
"Tsume and his gang aren't nearly as bad as those two! I should know!" I exclaim, and two of them look at me surprised, before it turns into a concerned smile.
"You alright there shorty?" i take a shaky breath, and nod.
"Little shaken and out of breath, but alive." I chuckle, and they smile at me. "Well, let's go before some other local gang decides to run over us." Hige jokes and we nod and start to climb the stairs.
'Is it just me, or are those wipes getting stronger?'
We're following Hige on an alley, still confused as ever.
"Hold on Hige!" Toboe shouts as we try to catch up with his rather fast walking pace.
"Hige, where are you going? Hige!" i shout, only to be ignored. I hear him muttering something under his breath.
"There is a little elevator up ahead... And also... " Toboe and i huff when Hige acts like we were just air. I feel that small nagging voice at the back of my head getting rather annoying as it tries to get my attention.
"Hey, Hotaru, do you have any idea what's going on?" Toboe asks me, and I just shake my head.
"I'm just as confused as you bro." We just continue to follow Hige, wondering where on earth are we going.
We walk to a smaller alley, and find an elevator at the end. Toboe and i are understandably shocked.
"There really is one..." Toboe mutters.
"This CAN'T be just coincidence." I mutter as we step inside. I feel nervous as the elevator starts to raise from the ground.
"This should take us to the top." Hige says, sounding surprisingly sure. 'This is NOT normal... Those wipes are strong as ever now...'
"Hey... Shouldn't we go back?" Toboe asks, and i nod in agreement. I don't like this, and what if we can't find a way back?
"It's okay. Let's go as far as we can." i look at Hige, feeling very unsure about this. I listen to old gears turning until we finally make it to the stop. Hige and Toboe kick the door open, and i just follow unsure. The annoying nagging is on an alarming level now.
Hige and Toboe goe ahead, but i hesitate. My head feels light, and that screaming danger that i feel is only thing grounding me right now. In the end, i follow them. I don't want to be alone here.
"Amazing! How? You've been here before, right?" Toboe says as we walk. The want to run away rises step by step, but i refuse to do it. I won't leave my friends.
"Nope. But when you're as good as i am... You have a feel for this kind of stuff." i don't believe Hige's explanation, and i keep glancing around.
'It feels like i'm being watched... And this place is so creepy, i feel people walking around, but it's like their all the same. Just shadows walking on the walls of empty town. And it's too clean, it's like a maze... And these waves are getting very bad...' i massage my forehead again, easing the ache.
We walk on the street now, but it doesn't really different from the alley. The only difference is that there is road for cars, and trees in the line separating the roads. I walk close to Hige, tugging deeper into my hood.
"This city doesn't smell like anything." Toboe says my concerns out loud. 'Nice to no that i'm not the only one seeing how strange this is...'
"Well, i guess this Jagara person likes to keep things tidy." Hige comments, but it doesn't sound like his normal voice. It's tired, little lifeless, and like it wasn't even him speaking anymore. 'More likely that person is trying to keep people inside here...'
Toboe and i look at each others. I nod to him, i'm also worried. We have to do something, now.
"Wait Hige." I crap hold of Hige's arm, stopping him. He looks at me with an empty eyes, that frighten me. He seems to recognise me, and small, but tired light comes back. I let go of his arm as he raises that hand to hold his head. Toboe asks when he gets to us. "What's wrong?"
"When i try to think, my head hurts." Hige grumbles. I nod in understanding, and i feel strong spike of pain in my head. 'Aw, not again!'
"Maybe you're trying to do something you're not used to." I glare at Toboe and he jumps back surprised. I turn back at Hige, when i see that Toboe understands that it's not time to joke around.
"Hige, i feel very strange wipes coming from here, and also from your collar. Do you think that it would have something to do with it?" I ask as i hold my own head. The wipes are getting clear now, and they are turning into some kind of voices. Hige doesn't answer, but both Toboe and i see his eyes narrowing.
"Hige, what's wrong?" i try again.
"Nothing." He grunts back, and my stomach sinks when i feel his aura spike annoyed. Without realising it, I take a step back. Toboe on the other hand does realise it. Toboe's eyes narrow and I see him frown. He takes a step towards me, so that he is little in front of me, before turning to pester Hige.
"That's a lie! What's wrong Hige? You've been acting strangely this whole time." Toboe asks and steps forward, only for Hige to snap at us. I step back again, and i'm aware of it this time.
"God, you two are so annoying!" He snaps and runs off. I stand dazed for a second but run after him with Toboe.
"Hige!" Toboe calls after him, trying to get his attention. I try to keep up, but i feel a spike of pain and the air is punched out of my guts.
'Damn it. This. Hurts. Like. A hell.' i thought as i digging my nails into my palms, drawing out some blood, as i try to held back painted gasp.
"Hotaru! What's wrong?!" I look at Toboe who is running back to me, and i realise that i'm leaning onto my knees for support and that my breathing is unnaturally heavy. I look hazily at the direction that Hige went to, and i click my tongue when i see how far he is. 'I got to get Toboe follow him, something is clearly wrong, and i don't trust him enough to leave him alone...' Deciding that it's for the best, i gather some of my strength and i take a deep breath...
"Keep going Toboe! I catch up! I'm just little tired!" I yell at him between my gasps for air, Toboe hesitates, glancing between my form and the direction that Hige ran off to. He hesitates, and i can almost see his ears dropping and his tail curling up under him. In the end he decides to follow Hige, he looks over his shoulder as he keeps running and shouts to me.
"Stay there! I get Hige and we'll come get you!" i just grunt in agreement, trying to catch my breath. It feels like i got my guts opened up after someone stabbed me and then punched me with full power.
I can't think straight, I can't hear clearly, let alone see. It's like someone had left thousand different songs playing, most of them out of tune, and the thrown different colours on a done painting, making it blurry. '...hurt... Need a safe place... To rest...' My "self defence mechanism" is kicking in, and the closest thing that my fuzzy brains come up with is the pack.
'Got to find the pack...' Taking in slow and steady breathes, the pain is lessening, and i feel like i can walk now.
Dismissing what Toboe told me, (Wrong, i had already forgotten what he said), I look for Hige's aura, and find him running some alleys away. I start to walk towards that direction, breathing little heavily.
'This is not normal city... Not only because of these wipes, and the city itself, but these people... They don't have souls, their acting like they were just shadows of the past. There is strange things happening on the street, and everyone act like they couldn't see us.' i thought hazily, trying to distract myself from the pain as i walk to an alley.
'It's so damn bright...' i feel like my head is splitting in two. The voices are getting louder now. I can hear whining, screams, pleas for mercy...
'Why? What is happening? Why are you calling me?' My head starts to spin again, and i lean on to a wall. The voice in my head that was yelling danger is drowned by those cries. It's deafening.
'No! Come, help us! You're our friend right?! Don't leave!' i whimper as the voices start to get louder. 'Aah! Help us! They are coming! It hurts!' i feel my knees hitting the ground and i curl up as i hit my hands over my ears.
"Ahh...W-what... Who are you-?" i'm cut off by my own whimper as new wave of voices hit me.
'HELP! Aren't you a firefly!? You promised to fight with us! It hurts! No, don't come any closer! Ahhh! Mommy! Don't shoot mommy! She will die! Nooo! ' i feel tears pouring out as i understand whose the voices are.
"Howls... Howls of death wolves..." i don't know how, or why, but i'm hearing cries of death wolves. Their all shouting over each others, all different genders, ages and types. Their screams are heart-breaking.
"No... Stop it... No more... I can't help you...!" i silently whimper. Hot tears are streaming out of my eyes, burning my eyes.
'Help! Gyaaaaaa! Stop it! Why did you leave?!' I cry out, feeling their pain. My hands are pressing against my head, and i feel my whole frame shaking.
'Why there is so much red?! Why it burns?! Why it hurts, Tell me FIREFLY!' i feel part of me breaking when barley year old bub cries for me.
'No... No, i don't want to die! Where's my pack?! Where is my mate?! Where is HE?!'
"Please... No more..." I feel someone crapping me by my nape and raising me up, and i cry out. They rip my hood off of my head, and i force my eyes open.('Huh? When did i close them?') I see Jagara's soldiers looking at me, grin on their faces.
"Wou, seems like that 300 year old trap still works." The other man comments. "It probably came in with the twenty-three. Other wise it's own natural instinct would have pretended it from coming here."
"Oy, tell others that we found the Flower keeper." i hear the one holding me laugh. "Yeah, sure. Take this thing and make sure it's unconscious. Mistress wants it alive."
'They speak... Like i was... An animal...' Even thought i'm in several pain, i'm still somehow aware of things around me. 'I think that i saw some cameras around... So that's how they found me...' There probably wasn't many people in the upper city who walked around with a hood, looking like they were about to faint or have a panic attack.
"Alright, you'll be coming with us." that's all i hear before everything goes black.
Third POV
At the same time, wolves around Lost city felt small but sharp pain go through their heads, like a warning signal. Cher looked at her companion worried as Blue suddenly held her head. Blue wasn't sure what it was, but her bad feeling about this city only increased.
"Blue, is something wrong?" Cher asked, putting her hand onto Blue's shoulder, hoping to ground the she-wolf. Blue shook her head slightly, and straightened up.
"What was that? You looked like you heard someone screaming right next to your ear." Cher stated, looking rather worried.
"I'm not sure, but it felt like someone warned me about the castle." Blue said as she looked towards the centre of the Lost city, where Jagara's castle was.
"Warned? What do you mean?" Cher asked, feeling very confused, and seriously worried. There was certainly something dangerous in the castle, but they had no idea what.
"It... It was a gentle voice... But so loud that i barley made out the words. 'Watch out!' and 'Be careful!'. She sounded very distressed." Blue explained, sounding rather faraway.
"It sounded like... Like..." Blue muttered frustrated, she knew that voice, she had met the owner of that voice. Voice was young, high bitched so a female...
"AH! That was her voice!" Blue exclaimed when she finally remembered a small girl with long brown hair and shining amber eyes. Smile so innocent that it could only be possessed by a young child.
"Whose voice?" Cher asked rather breathlessly. She had been surprised by Blue's sudden exclaim, and she had actually jumped in fright. Blue gave her sheepish smile, sorry that she scared the scientists. Becoming serious again, Blue told Cher about young girl who she had met.
"She travelled with Hige and others, and if i remember correctly, they said her name was Hotaru." Blue finished, feeling little proud that she remembered all of it.
"Hotaru? Like a firefly?" Cher asked, sounding little curious. She had known that there was another girl with Cheza and the pack, and she was very eager to learn more about this mystery girl.
"Yes, she is also a human like you. But from what Hige told me, she seems to be able to sense auras. That doesn't explain how she connected me in my head thought." Blue said thoughtfully. This was bothering her.
Why would Hotaru warn her about the castle?
Blue had actually like Hotaru from the second they met, even if it was just a brief experience. She had smelled like morning mist, gentle snowfall and... she wasn't quite sure what the last one was, but it was like she had many, many smells on her, but they weren't really hers. And then there had been Cheza's smell around her too, but Cheza had been right next to her, so it didn't really count. Hotaru's childish smile and wonder... It had startled Blue how much she was like Russe.
And when Hotaru had talked about her aura, she had been... Shocked. Girl had talked like Blue was someone unique and beautiful, and she had even praised her eyes.
"Hmmm... I guess it's one more reason to find the castle and solve this mystery." Cher said, trying to cheer up her companion. Blue smirked and laughed little.
"I guess so."
While Blue and Cher walked around the town, other wolves also got Hotaru's message. Toboe got worried and stopped chasing after Hige, and run back to check on Hotaru. only to find her gone.
'That can't be right! I swear she was here just a little while ago, and I told her to stay here!' Toboe started to panicking and tried to find Hotaru's smell. He started by walking around, but soon he was running, trying to find both Hige and Hotaru.
Toboe hadn't known Hotaru as long as she had known Tsume, (thought Tsume hadn't even known her back then), Toboe felt that he the most understanding towards her situation. At least, when it came to their age, he understood her the best. Toboe understood that Hotaru could get scared, and that she was afraid of many things, but she feared the most of being left alone. She had been alone so long, even back then when she had her mother, there was no one who cared. (She had told him about her life once, Toboe hadn't acted any different around her even after that. He knew that she would appreciate it). Then she met Cheza, someone who cared, but who she couldn't see, couldn't touch, just hear. That must have been frightening to a small girl, when she had realized that no one else could do the things she could.
Then they had come. They understood her, they let her stay. She could see them, (their illusions and real forms), she could touch them, (she had a habit of snuggling closer to them when she slept. She missed the warm of being close to someone), and they cared for her. Hotaru hadn't had someone who loved her as she grew, like Toboe had had granny. So Toboe was determined to show Hotaru how much he and others cared.
'We will go to paradise, together.' Toboe speeded up a little, the faster he found those two, the better.
Hige, who had been trying to hide from cameras, stopped running. He was breathing hard, and his head was hazy. But he heard his little sister's warning loud and clear.
When he first met Hotaru, or a nameless girl back then, he couldn't help but think how strange the girl was. It wasn't normal for thirteen year old, girl no less, to be guarding a flower maiden, that was centuries old and blind. That was just screaming for trouble. But then again, no one of them was really 'normal'. Hige hadn't but much of fight against Hotaru joining them, since she had looked interesting. And the more the merrier? Besides, he had never had a little sister, and it was fun to tease her and Toboe.
He hadn't even noticed that she had become part of his pack. He had been impressed by how loyal she was, and how she cared deeply for each of them. After hearing her story, his respect for her grew. But it didn't change how he acted around her, after all, she was still the same little girl he met at the Freezing city. A girl that was ready to help them to reach the paradise, even if it meant that she couldn't come with them.
'She knows now... Oh what have I done...' Hige felt like he had betrayed her, even thought he wasn't even sure of what was going on. He started running again, where, he had no idea.
Tsume and Kiba had just found a way how they could get closer to the castle, and they almost fell over when they heard Hotaru's warning. They were confused and looked at each others.
"That... That was Hotaru... Wasn't it?" Tsume asked, hesitating. He had rarely heard their little bug sounding so desperate and afraid, that her tone alone made him wary.
Hotaru had known him the longest out of them, even thought they had never spoke back then. Even if she didn't realise it, she trusted her worries with him the most. Tsume felt a bond between them, and he knew he was rather protective of her. She was the easiest prey out of all of them, (after Cheza of course), and Tsume felt like it was his place to watch over her and the rest.
Hearing her like that... It made every straw of his fur stand straight up
Kiba nodded, thought he was hesitating. While Hotaru knew Tsume the best, Kiba felt like he was the one who had most responsibility over the young human. They also had a kind of bond. They knew, about the mission that they both had been given since the moment they were born. They could understand each others in a way that no one else could.
When Kiba had first met Hotaru, he had been... Surprised. He hadn't even noticed her when he had made his way to the tree. And when he had brought her down, even bared his fangs to her, she had barley shivered slightly when she had gazed into his eyes. Her face had been neutral, but Kiba had seen lights lighting up in her eyes. Those lights had danced in her eyes even when she had been threated by both him and Tsume. The lights had only disappeared for a second when Cheza had been stolen right before their eyes. And Kiba understood that. And to hear their little human pup sound so scared...
He was going to make the one responsibility for it suffer. For once, killing them wasn't enough.
"We better hurry. Something happened, and I don't like it. Hige and Toboe have most likely also heard her, and are coming too." Kiba decided. He had a feeling that answer to all their questions was in the castle.
Tsume just nodded and they continued to make their way, little faster now thought.
Hello people! I'm back again! Since you guys have been waiting the longest, I thought it was only fair that I update this first. Now, this time I got the start for the next chapter started, so you shouldn't have to wait this long again.
As you people are aware, 'Finding my destiny' is coming towards the ending pretty soon, so after I end this story, I will start a new one. Not a Wolf's rain fic, thought, but please go and see descriptions of three possible options for my new fic, they are in my profile. I will put up a poll for that, so please do vote if you like one of my ideas.