Zs99: Well, I proof read this at...4 A.M., so, if there's any mistakes, don't blame me! Anyway I don't think I put any timeskips in this one, which is a first. Enjoy! P.S.: My computer still have a virus --'...

The early morning sun rose above the mountain line, bringing light to the forest. Ryne ignored the beauty around her as she surged through the tree tops, intent on getting back and preparing the others. The blood from the earlier kills was drying, tightening and pulling uncomfortably on her fur. Suddenly, she stopped. Claws skidded on the bark behind her as Fyre and Flippy came to a halt.

She turned around and listened. There was no sound of anyone following. She breathed a sigh of relief. "That was close. I don't want the location of HQ to be given away just yet." "Wait a minute, what do you mean by 'just yet'?" Her brother asked, barely keeping the suspicion out of his voice. Ryne merely waved her paw. "Never mind any of that. Come on."

Fyre grabbed at her tail, wanting to know what she had meant, but missed. He growled, then started following again, turning to look at Flippy. "You wouldn't know anything about that, would you?" Flippy shook his head. "I don't know what she means. She never told me anything." Fyre grunted and faced forward again.

Flippy flinched and looked back. The area was quiet and nothing seemed to be out of the ordinary. Still, it felt like someone was watching him. He shook himself and sped up, bypassing Fyre and ran alongside Ryne. "Ryne." She looked at him from the corner of her eye. "Yes?" The look in his eyes made her slow down, coming to an eventual halt. "What's wrong?"

"Yes, what is wrong? You seem...disturbed." Fyre said as he landed on a higher branch and looked down at them. "Not that I care or anything. But the way you've been acting is far from your normal." Flippy looked over his shoulder at the silver Akita, then whispered into Ryne's ear. "I need to tell you, and only you, something." Ryne's ear flicked and her tail thrashed, but she stayed silent.

Moments went by and still she didn't answer. Then, Ryne nodded. "If you must." She looked up at Fyre. "You go ahead and warn everyone of the danger. I'll join you shortly." Fyre glared suspiciously at Flippy. "Fyre." He turned to his sister, anger dancing in his eyes. "Go."

Fyre laid his ear back and snorted, then took off like an arrow from a bow. "I'm sorry, Ryne. He's still slightly suspicious of anything I do." Ryne rolled her eyes and snorted. "If Mom came down from heaven and offered him a cookie, he'd think it was a plot to poison him." Flippy had never heard Ryne talk about her mother before, even if it was, for lack of better words, comical. Still, he decided not to press the issue. Ryne laughed slightly. "Anyway, what did you want to tell me?" Flippy looked around, then shook his head. "Not here." Ryne sighed, then nodded. "Fine. Follow me and tell me when."

They swung to the right and continued through the trees. Finally, in a clearing, Flippy was ready to tell her. "Okay, this is good." Ryne leapt from the tree and landed cat-like on the ground, sending up a small cloud of dust. She shook herself and faced Flippy. "So, what is it?"

Flippy took a deep breath. "Will you make me a promise?" Ryne blinked, then nodded. "Sure, and that would be?" "That you won't hate me after I tell you something." Ryne perked an eyebrow, then closed her eyes and shook head, gently laying a paw on Flippy's shoulder. "Flippy, there's no way I'd hate you. You're a good person, even if you are a bear. You have nothing to worry about. Heh, after all we've been through, you'd be mad to think I'd hate you." Flippy looked Ryne in the eye. Even though they were red, there was a strange gentleness within them. Flippy's heart pounded in his chest as he stared into those red orbs. "Hey, what did I tell you about staring?"

Flippy blinked and looked to the side. "Sorry..." "Now, what do you want to tell me, for the third time?" "Well, I've been hiding this for a long time, but only because I was afraid of what everyone would do if they knew." While he spoke, his paw was slowly moving towards his beret. 'You know,' Ryne thought to herself 'I've never seen him without it...what COULD he be hiding?!'

He gripped it and was about to lift it off, when a voice drifted through the area. "Well, well, well. When I heard you were alive, I just had to see for myself, but to think that you'd actually joined the enemy...you've certainly gone down in the world, Flip." Ryne watched as Flippy stiffened, freezing completely.

Slowly, he turned his head, then his body, until he was facing behind him. Quickly, he stumbled back to stand next to Ryne. The Akita's eyes widened and her mouth gaped slightly as she caught sight of the speaker. Standing at the edge of the trees, was a bear. If Ryne hadn't known better, she'd have mistaken him for Flippy. His fur was the light green of Flippy's, except for one thing: The bright red crest of fur on top of his head between his ears.

"Flippy, I think I've made a summary of what's up, but, what did you want to tell me again?" The bear cocked his head. "What? He hasn't told you yet?" Ryne lost the look of shock, moodily crossed her arms and glared at him. "Does it look like he told me, you waste of space?!" The bear ignored the last part. "Hmph. Well then, why don't you tell her, Flip? Why don't you tell her who I am, or about the blood that flows through our veins?" Flippy sank to the ground, his eyes shut tight and his paws gripping at his chest.

Ryne's ears stood up, along with her neck fur. The bear toyed with the handle of a sword he carried at his side, appearing to enjoy the effects his words had. "You seem smart, Akita. I'm sure you already know what I'm talking about. Doesn't she, Flip? Why don't you take off that beret...brother?" Ryne closed her eyes and took a deep breath. "The only bear I know of with a red crest...is Akakabuto. You and Flippy are his sons." The other bear cocked his head again. "Yes, but you don't seem surprised."

Ryne opened her eyes and glared at him. "After all of the numerous, bloody campaigns I've been on, nothing surprises me anymore. Besides, the way you talk, not to mention your looks, I'd say you've already given that fact away." The bear spoke, slowly drawing his sword. "Oh, really? Nothing surprises you? Hmm..." He rushed at Ryne, his sword drawn fully, and swung it at her. There was a clash of metal as the sword struck Ryne's bowie knives. Both of them were crossed in front of her, catching the blade before it struck.

The bear jumped back and, avoiding a blow from Ryne, landing safely. "You're no ordinary dog..." He remarked as he wiped blood that flowed from two slashes on his cheek. Ryne flicked her claws, splattering the blood from them. "But, I was going easy on you there. This time, I'll make you kneel!"

The bear swung his sword. Ryne caught it like before, but flinched as the blade became two. The bear swung the other sword at her, knocking her knives from Ryne's grasp. A hind paw thudded onto her chest, knocking her backwards. Ryne's claws skittered, scattering pebbles, earth, and grass as her back struck a tree. There was a flash of silver and Ryne heard the bear's shout. "Now, you die, dog!" She moved her head aside and there was a thud as one of the swords thudded deep into the bark. "Dammit...this time, though..." Another flash of silver.

Ryne clenched her eyes shut and waited. She was cornered and couldn't move either way. Anger flared through her at her helplessness. Suddenly, there was a loud whack, then a thud. Ryne opened her eyes. Flippy was standing in front of her, shaking with rage. The other bear was laying on the ground, a trickle of blood running from the side of his mouth. "I won't let you hurt her, Switch! I'll kill you before you get the chance!"

Switch stood up and spat out blood. "Why would you protect her Flip?! You belong on Akakabuto, our father's, side! Not the side of a mongrels!" Flippy lifted a knife and pointed it at his brother. "Don't you dare call her a mongrel again! I don't belong to anyone! I choose to fight for Ryne and her army because it's the right thing to do! I've never agreed with Akakabuto and that's why I was sentenced to death! And don't forget, I know you, Switch! Both you and Slip have a great fear of Akakabuto, and that's the only thing that keeps you from leaving! You don't follow him out of loyalty, but out of fear, which is what Akakabuto uses to control you!"

Flippy turned to Ryne. "Are you okay?" Ryne stretched and felt her back crack. "Yeah, I'll be fine. Just do what you must." She stepped back, watching Flippy and Switch quietly. Flippy turned back to Switch, then slowly started walking towards Switch. Both of the swords had dropped and one laid between Flippy and Switch. Flippy picked it up, pointing it at Switch.

Switch stood still as the blade stood inches from his nose. Switch had a confusion in his eyes. "The right thing...how can you call going against family the right thing?!" Flippy glared down the sword. "When that 'family' massacres without mercy, splitting families and taking lives needlessly. Akakabuto is evil...and I know I'm not the only one who thinks that. Before Akakabuto tried to kill me, you shared that view too. But, it seems that Akakabuto has convinced you otherwise. Go."

Switch blinked in confusion. "You're not going to kill me?" Flippy moved the sword closer. "Do you want me to...?!" A flash of black fur rushed out of a screen of bushes, colliding painfully into Flippy. Flippy was flung to the side, scattering pebbles and sand everywhere. Ryne dashed over to him, never taking her eyes from the second creature. He was a bear, with black fur and a crest of red fur. He was smaller than Flippy, but only by an inch. His black eyes had a fearful look to them, but he bravely stood between Switch and Flippy.

"I w-won't let you h-hurt Switch, F-Flip!" Flippy sat up painfully and stared at the black bear. "Slip. You've grown. I remember when you couldn't even budge me." Slip was shaking in fear, but he kept up a bold front. "I-I've trained." He shook his head. "But th-that doesn't matter! As I s-said, I won't l-let you hurt S-Switch!"

Flippy took a step forward. Slip staggered backwards, looking more terrified by the moment. Switch had retrieved one of his sword and stood next to Slip. "Stop that stuttering. You always do it when you're scared!" Flippy smirked. "Then he must be a stammering wreck whenever he's around Akakabuto." Upon hearing his father's name, Slip flinched.

Switch glared at him and held the sword, ready to rush Flippy...when howling filled the area. Larka crashed through the bushes and sank her teeth into Switch's shoulder, throwing him easily. Slip fell backwards and yelled, his stutter almost taking over his speech completely. "S-S-S-witch! I-I-It's a-a w-w-wolf!!" Larka's yellow eyes flashed as her blood coated fangs flashed. "Aye, I'm a wolf! And do you know what you are, little bear?!"

Slip sat frozen with fear as Larka advanced upon him. "Dead." She leapt at him, her paws stretched out, her claws extended, and her fangs bared. Flippy launched himself at her, knocking her to the ground and gripping her around the waist. Larka rolled and snapped at him, her yellow eyes flashing dangerously. Slip took advantage of this and rushed over to Switch.

Switch had stood up unsteadily, his hind claws gripping at the ground as he dug his right paw claws into the bark of a tree. "W-What are we g-gonna do now, Sw-Switch?!" Slip whispered hoarsely, his voice becoming rough from fear. Switch wheeled around and dashed through the woods, fast despite the wound. "Stop stuttering. We're going to retreat momentarily. It's three against two back there. I need to plan another strategy. Now hurry up or that wolf will catch us!"

Ryne stood between Larka and Flippy. The white wolf growled angrily at Flippy. "You idiot! You foul, loathsome, despicable, disgusting, repugnant, detestable, abhorrent, nasty, vile, odious, obnoxious, repulsive, revolting, offensive, sorry excuse for a maggot! Why did you do that?!" 'My God, Larka, you went overboard with the names, didn't you?' Ryne thought, slightly dumbfounded and amazed that she had been able to say that with only one breath.

"I couldn't let you kill my brothers! I was just trying to get them to leave!" 'Aw, so he was bluffing.' Even though she stood between them, Ryne relized it would be best to just let them yell at each other instead of butting in. "It doesn't matter if they were your kin! You still need to kill them! This is war, so what's the problem with killing your enemies!?!" "What's wrong with letting them live?! We came here to kill Akakabuto, not everyone else!" "Why you-!"

"You know, Larka, Flippy's right." Ryne cut in, mostly to stop Larka from launching into a long line of insulting names again. The wolf glared up at Ryne. "And how so?!" "If Flippy let you kill his brothers, then wouldn't that make him as bad as Akakabuto himself?" Ryne asked simply. Spit dripped from Larka's bared fangs. "And what does that have to do with me killing my enemies?!" Ryne shrugged. "Nothing."

Larka opened one eye more than the other, a habit she had when confronted with a confusing situation. "But, tell me this, if Fell had stayed with Viktor and you met him in battle, what you'd you do? Kill him, or let him go in hopes that he'd see the truth and join us?" Larka growled and turned her head, fixing her eyes on the ground. "Your logic infuriates me, Ryne. Fine." She swung her head around and started to lop back to the HQ. "Oh, and Larka..." She stopped, her ears cocked. "...don't tell anyone about Flippy being related to Akakabuto, okay?" Larka stood still, then nodded. "All right. I swear I'll keep it a secret." She started running, disappearing into the woods.

Flippy wiped blood from a cut on his cheek where one of Larka's fangs had sliced him. "I'm sorry for not telling you sooner, but I was, to tell the truth, scared of what would happen or what everyone else would've thought..." Ryne shook her head and looked at the sword Flippy still held. "That's understandable. I don't think Fyre would've taken kindly to you if he knew." "Yeah, I wouldn't want to give him another reason to hate my guts."

Ryne laughed. "He doesn't hate your guts, he hate all of you!" Despite their situation, both of them laughed. Ryne wiped her eyes. "But, seriously, I don't think he hates you anymore. Still, you need to watch out for him, since he still has an instinctive hatred of bears. Now, answer me this, are you going to tell me about yourself, or are you still afraid?" Flippy stood still for a moment. Then shook his head. "No..." Ryne sighed and was about to say something, when Flippy continued. "...I'm not afraid anymore. I'll tell you."

"I was born into Akakabuto's family eighteen years ago. Back then, I was called Flip and I was the middle child. Switch was the oldest and, immediately, he was regarded higher than the rest of us, mostly because of his age, but also because of his red fur, which was brighter than either mine or Slip's. Slip was the youngest and he was always nervous, but it was mostly about Akakabuto. He refused to speak each and every time our father" He said the word with disgust "came around. Still, his fur was redder than mine, even if it paled in comparison to Switch's. Anyway, one day, maybe seven or eight years ago, Akakabuto decided to take us out and teach us about war. It wasn't like we thought it would be. He took us to a village, that had been captured earlier that day, and ordered us to slaughter everyone. I flat out refused to do it and Slip was just too nervous and he fainted on the spot. Switch, whether it was to get all the glory or distract Akakabuto from us, stepped forward and said that he could do it all by himself...and that he did."

Flippy went quiet, catching his breath, then continued. "After we got back, Akakabuto took us out to a spur of rock that jutted out over a steep hill that was dotted with jagged rocks. He told me to walk out and tell him what I saw. I describe the scene, but I can't remember what I said." Again, Flippy stopped for a moment before continuing. "Then, he told me to turn around. The second I did, there was a blur and sharp pain erupted through me and I was pushed off. I remember looking at Akakabuto as I fell, his claws stained with what I knew was my blood. Luckily, I didn't fall too far. Instead, I got caught on a rock and just laid there, too weak to even moan. Before they left, I remember what he told them. 'See how Akakabuto treats traitors and cowards? Remember this and never defy me again!'"

Ryne stared hard at Flippy as he finished. "What happened after that? How did you survive?" Flippy shook his head. "I don't know. I woke up in a hospital with these." He unbuttoned his jacket and held it open. Ryne's eyes widened. Across his chest, were four deep jagged scars. 'I can't believe I didn't notice them before!' "Flippy..." He closed his jacket. "I had amnesia for a long time after that and, when it finally lifted, I remembered everything. I changed my name from Flip to Flippy to distance myself from my previous self and I was determined to stop Akakabuto at all costs. Still, I knew that that incident is what kept my brothers from deserting, which is what Slip and I had talked about for a long time. Switch never really said anything, but I think he would've followed us if we did leave."

"But now, I'm not sure what to think about him." Flippy said sadly as he lowered his head. Ryne blinked, then laid a paw on his shoulder. "I feel for you, I really do. Even so, you're not the only one with a past that is drenched in sorrow and blood. Many of the Suicide Corps have a background such as yours. Many have had such a bad life, that they only joined to try and end it all. But now, many of them have changed and relized that the life they have now is worth more than it used to be worth. They want to make something of themselves, even if it means ending their life in the process. But you are different from them. You want to make the world a better place by ridding it of a demon."

Ryne moved her paw down and wrapped it around Flippy's. "Come on. We have to get going. Just remember what I said." Flippy closed his eyes, then looked up. "I won't forget. Thank you." Ryne smiled and removed her paw. "I just do what I have to in order to keep my comrades alive." "Ryne?" "Hmm?" "What was your past like?"

Her eyes darkened momentarily and she spoke the same words she had before, when he had asked her about Fyre's hatred of bears. "That is for me to know, and I'll only tell you if I want too!"