Zs99: Heh-heh, I feel like an idiot, but I finally figured out how to put the line thingy here. I kinda found out by accident, heh-heh... Anyway, I'm actually trying to get Ryne and Flippy together, but, if you know me from DA, you'll know I have a hard time at it! BUT, I have two people to thank fro their help: Adderstar and Pcaara. Thanks guys! Now I have an idea of how to get it started and, get this, I've had another idea for a LONG time, like, 'before-I-put-the-very-first-chapter-up' type of long time. 'Course, I never thought it would work, but now I see how I can get it to work! But, that's still a little while in coming, so enjoy this one!

Alam turned his head, his mutilated ears perked up as he stared downstream. He sniffed, the air whistling wetly through the slits on his mutilated muzzle. Fyre turned his attention from his sister, who was talking to Flippy's brothers, Switch and Slip. "What is it, Alam?"

The Shepherd flinched and turned to face Ryne. "Nothing, I just thought I heard something..." Ryne flicked her ears and stared at him, her red eyes boring into his blue ones. "What do you think you heard?" Alam shook his head back and forth wearily. "For a second, I heard a laugh, but I think it was the river." Flippy looked downstream. "Since when does a river laugh?"

Alam snorted impatiently. "Let's just pretend I didn't hear anything, okay?! Anyway, we should be getting back. Sarge's probably bit all his claws off in his worrying, especially since Kuro appeared and vanished with a sword." Switch suddenly glared at Flippy. "That reminds me! I want my sword back, thief!" Flippy glared back. "I'm no thief, you sad excuse for a murderer!"

Switch growled and reached for his sword, but remembered that it was on the ground, the blade coated in Slip's blood. Switch stared at it in horror. "How can I ever use that again?" Slip blinked up at him. Slowly, he bent down and picked up the sword, driving it into the ground. The black bear pulled it out and handed it to Switch, the traces of blood cleaned from it.

Switch tightened his paw around the handle and looked at Slip. His brother smiled up at him, something he hadn't done ever since their mother was killed. "Well, in order to use a sword, you have to hold it, silly! I'm sure you can figure it out from there." Switch stared at his brother, then nodded.

Everyone turned their heads at a sudden thud. Flippy laid on the ground, gasping for breath, his eyes half open. Fyre crossed his arms and nudged his body with a paw. "Oh, come on! Stop playing around!" Ryne bent down and laid a paw on his head. He wasn't hot or anything. "He just exhausted. He'll be better with a little sleep. Give me a paw, Fyre."

Ryne bent down and placed one of Flippy's arms around her shoulders. Fyre did likewise and grunted. "Why don't we just leave him here? He's like a dead weight!" Alam smiled, then whipped his head around, staring into the bushes. "Someone's coming...I sense..." He relaxed. Silver suddenly leapt from the bushes and grabbed Alam's head, her eyes closed. "Take that, you old dirty canine! I wont let ya hurt my friends! I-!" "Ahem!" She stopped moving and opened her eyes. "Oh, Alam! So, you're not Viktor?"

Alam snorted and lifted his head, talking funny because Silver was now suspended in the air, both of her paws gripping Alam's lower lips, pulling them down to reveal his bottom jaw and fangs. "I'll give you two options, either you leave with your paws, or they leave you!" Silver smiled and quickly let go, plopping onto her tail. She pulled a face and quickly wiped Alam's slobber back onto his neck, to the Shepherd's dismay.

Silver's ears suddenly perked and she turned towards Switch, cocking her head in a quizzical. Cautiously, she walked over to Switch and stood on her hind legs, even though she only reached Switch's chin, and sniffed him curiously. "Hey, shouldn't this guy be dead? He's the enemy, no?"

Kuro walked over to her. "They joined us." Silver blinked her red eyes and turned to Ryne. "Really?" The red Akita nodded. Silver smiled and turned back to Switch. "If that's the case. Hi!" She extended a paw. "I'm ShirubaKaze, but call me Silver," She smiled "or I'll knock your teeth out!" Switch cautiously shook her paw. When he let go, Silver darted over to Slip.

"Hiya, bear! I'm Silver, and you are?" Unlike his brother, Slip smiled and shook her paw without hesitation or the help of a threat. "I'm Slip, nice to meet you, Silver!" Ryne sighed. "Let's hope that everyone'll be like that...but, for some odd, yet incredibly reasonable, reason, I think they won't be happy."

Fyre sagged, then stood up again. "Uh, can we get going? You know, before I lose the use of this arm and maybe even the shoulder?" Silver turned her gaze onto Fyre and stuck her tongue at him. Fyre glared and, if it wasn't for Flippy, he would've rushed after her. "When I get through with this, I'll kill you, you little ferret!" Silver covered her mouth and laughed. "Heeheeheehee! I'm a Mongoose, silly! I'm faster and stronger than a ferret!" Fyre rolled his eyes and looked pleadingly at his sister.

Ryne coughed to cover up a laugh. "Ah, yeah, I think we should get going. Silver, why don't you walk over by me." Silver's ears drooped. "That was an order, wasn't it?" Ryne smiled and pointed at a spot next to her. Silver walked in a depressed manner over to Ryne and stood, looking at the ground. Ryne nodded to Alam. "Lead on, you old dog." Alam growled, glared murderously at Silver, then padded ahead. KuroKaze followed him, then Switch and Slip and finally Ryne, Fyre and Silver, with both of the Akita's bearing Flippy between them.

(Timeskip--20 minutes)

Ryne continued through the woods, still carrying Flippy. Fyre had moved ahead and Switch had taken his place. Silver was still at her side, walking on all four paws like a typical Lera. KuroKaze was still walked behind Alam, talking, about something stupid, probably, with Slip. 'He sure isn't stuttering anymore...wonder what happened...' Ryne turned her head sharply as Flippy grunted.

He opened his eyes and shook his head. "Where am I...?" He turned and saw Switch, then jumped slightly. Switch glared at him. "I don't like it anymore than you do, but Fyre just dropped you and said that he did care enough to lug your sorry carcass around." Flippy pulled his arm from around Switch's shoulder, then turned to Ryne. "I'm fine. I can walk on my own."

Ryne nodded and slid Flippy's arm off her shoulders. She smiled at him, then turned her head. Silver was looking up at her, giving the Akita a smile and a wink. "Oh, no you didn't..." Ryne whispered to the silver mongoose. Silver smiled cheekily and darted ahead, walking beside Kuro and Slip, joining happily into the conversation. Ryne rolled her eyes and continued walking. 'No way that rat knows that I...' She shook her head, banishing the thought before she could finish it.

(Timeskip--Midnight)

Ryne perched alone in the lookout tree, thinking back on what had happened when they arrived. A few, especially Jaguar for some reason, were totally against having them stay. But, they'd put up with Switch, Slip and, now that his secret was out, Flippy, once they saw that Ryne and Fyre had okayed it. Sarge didn't seem to mind at all, 'course that was just like him.

But, the thing that bothered her the most was the look that Silver had shot her. It was kinda disturbingly knowing. It was a kind of 'Oh, don't worry, I understand.' type of look. Ryne slashed angrily at the bark. "What do you think you know, you little worm..." "Well, I know I'm not a worm, that's for sure!"

Ryne's head jerked up and, in a flash of silver, the knife left her paw, embedding itself into a branch, just a fraction of a hair from Silver's head. The mongoose's eyes were wide as she lowered herself down. "Gosh, you could've killed me!" Ryne glared at her. "Of course I could've! You must never sneak up on someone like that! Especially in a time of war! And, ESPECIALLY if it's ME!" Silver laid flat on the branch. "S-Sorry, I thought you heard me or sensed me..."

Ryne sighed. "No, I've-just been a bit busy..." Silver seemed to recover quickly. She leapt up and wrapped both her paws around the handle of the knife. She grunted as she tugged it. She growled when she wouldn't get it out, then virtually stood on the branch, tugging the blade while pushing with her hind paws.

Finally, the knife came loose, but with such force that it re-embedded itself in the trunk between Ryne's ears, which she had smartly moved out of the way. "I'd prefer it if you never do that again." Silver laid on her back, looking upside down at Ryne. "Heh-heh...oops..." Ryne reached up, yanked the blade out, and put it away.

"So, what do you want, why are you here?" Ryne asked as she lifted a canteen and took a drink. "Do you love Flippy?" Ryne's eyes flew open and she coughed, gagging on some water that was trapped in her throat. She pounded on her chest and stared at the mongoose, her voice strained. "What!? Why would you-" She coughed again "-say that?" Silver shook herself, scattering water droplets. She stood on her hind paws and cocked her head at Ryne. "Well, there was the way you looked at him earlier."

Ryne glared at her. "And what would that have to do with anything?!" Silver smiled. "I've seen that look on my mom's face when she used to love dad." Ryne cocked an eyebrow. "Used to?" Silver scratched the back of her head nervously. "Uh, long story, no time to tell it. But, still, I know what it looks like when someone loves someone else." Ryne rolled her eyes and snorted. "I have no time for such trivial emotions!" Silver swayed like a snake, her red eyes sparkling in the moonlight.

"But you're experiencing them, no?" "I-Why are you asking me this?!" Silver shrugged. "I don't know, just wanted to know." Ryne was silent for a long while. Gradually, Silver's features drooped and acquired a sad look to them. She turned and started heading out. "I'm sorry, Ryne...I just want to know..." "Love is such a strong word, isn't it?"

Silver turned her head. "Eh?" Ryne was looking to the side, her ears laid back and her arms crossed. "I mean, come on, the Leader of the legendary Suicide Corps loving someone? That's sounds as ridiculous as...I don't know, Akakabuto handing out candy to children or something." Silver turned towards her again and wagged her tail. "Does that mean that you-?"

Ryne nodded, then shook her head. "Why an I even telling YOU?" "Because you can't tell HIM." Ryne flicked her ears angrily. "Have you ever heard about words cutting deeper than a sword? Well, I don't believe in that, but they still hurt. Are you saying I'm a coward?" Silver held her paws up. "No! That's not what I meant! I'm just tryin' to help!"

"Well, I don't need help from a little rodent like you! Why don't you just crawl back to your mommy and leave me alone!?" Silver backed up. This little conversation wasn't going as planned. "But, just tell me, why don't you tell him that you love him?" Ryne glared at her, and Silver thought, for a second, that she wasn't going to answer. "Because, it shows weakness. And I don't want anyone, especially Flippy, to see me as weak!"

Silver sighed. "What's more weak? Facing any fear you have and telling someone you love them, or keeping it in because you're afraid of what'll happen?" Ryne looked at her, but stayed silent. Silver blinked at her, then turned and leapt to the ground, avoiding all the traps until she made it into the woods. Ryne looked up at the moon, thinking on what Silver had said.

A tickling sensation on the tip of her ear caused her to flinch and look up, but nobody was there. She turned her head forward, just in time to see a pure white feather float lazily by on a breeze. Ryne frowned as she watched it drift out of sight. 'Great, you solve one problem and start another one, don't you, mom?' Ryne thought miserably as she rested her head against the trunk.

Silver watched Ryne through a gap in the bushes. Kuro sat beside her, questioning her. "So, how did it go?" Silver shook her head. "I think I made her mad..." The cat flicked his ears. "Are you sure a dog with-" He held his arms out and flapped them "-great big wings told you to say all that?" Silver nodded. "Yeah. Trust me, I'd have never said it unless someone told me to." Kuro sighed then turned his head towards Slip. "So, any ideas from you?"

Slip's black eyes stayed on Ryne. "I don't know...I believe beyond a shadow of a doubt that my brother likes her, but, knowing him, he'd rather die than admit it." Silver held in a laugh. "Why? What is he so afraid of?" Slip put a paw to his chin and held the other paw up, sticking up a claw each time he named something different. "One: There's Ryne. He's afraid she would be insulted if he told her. Two: There's Fyre. I'm pretty sure the Tora-ge's just gotten over some form of hatred toward my brother and I'm guessing he's fearing to re-awaken said hatred. Oh, and three: Flip, er, Flippy's afraid of being hurt. Like, if A-Akaka-ka-kabuto," he paused and took a deep breath, "Akakabuto, kills her or something, he'd never live it down and he'd constantly blame himself."

Silver massaged her head. "Okay, this is a little stressful! That Angel person told me to TRY and get them together...but I didn't know it'd be this hard!" Slip shrugged. "Maybe we should just leave it to them. I mean, you can't rush such things or they'll never happen, right?" Kuro yawned and stretched. "Look, I'm tired, can we turn in for the night?" Slip stifled a yawn. "Darn it, Kuro, don't spread it to us." A light snore came from Silver, who was curled up in a ball, sleeping peacefully.

KuroKaze reached over and shook her. "Hey, awake up. We can't sleep out here!" Silver blinked her tired red eyes. "Oh, come on. I-yawn-I can't make it back home at the moment." Kuro shook her again as she laid her head down, but seemed to be overcome with a sudden weariness. He slumped down and curled up next to Silver. Slip blinked sleepily, yawned, then fell over with a loud-ish thud.

Ryne perked her ears and slipped silently out of the tree, sneaking over to where the three friends slept. Ryne stood up and looked down at them, shaking her head. 'Little pests...'

(Timeskip--8 hours)

Kuro suddenly jerked his head up and scanned the area. He was on a soft mattress, one of the few in HQ. He stood up, lost his balance and stepped backward. "Ow!" Kuro quickly removed his paw from Slip's stomach and stagger backwards, falling backwards over Silver. The mongoose's head darted up and she looked around in alarm. "W-what?" She yawned, revealing her long eyeteeth. "What happened? Where are we?"

"In HQ, you little nuisances." Silver looked over, seeing Sarge propped up in a hammock with a book. Silver cocked her head to the side. "Do you read the same way we do? I mean, you only have one eye." Sarge went back to reading. "Just like I said, little nuisances." Ryne entered the area from another chamber and stared at Silver as she walked by. Silver gulped and hid under a blanket, her ruby red eyes staring cautiously out. Ryne's ears perked up, then she turned to Sarge. "Is it just me, or has the fabled Death Squad become a daycare?"

He chuckled as he flipped a page. "Ya got me Ryne. Ya got me..." Ryne rolled her eyes and grabbed the book and tossed it at Slip. He caught it and stared at the title. Kuro looked over and burst out laughing. "Hahahahaha! You were reading Romeo and Juliet!? Hahahahahaha!" Sarge frowned. "You little idiot! Can't you read?! The title's Raising Dragons! How the hell did you get Romeo and Juliet out of that?!" Kuro stopped laughing and frowned. "Why do ya have to ruin all the fun, Sarge?" Sarge swung his legs over the side of the hammock and leaned forward. "Because I'm a grouchy old dog with zero sense of humor!" Silver covered her mouth. "Yeah, and a terrible liar! Heeheehee!"

Sarge rolled his eyes and stood up, padding after Ryne as she gestured for him to follow. When they disappeared around the corner, Kuro turned to Silver and Slip. "Let's follow them and listen in!" Silver nodded her head enthusiastically, but Slip scratched his head. "I don't know..." Of course, that fell on deaf ears as Kuro grabbed his paw and pulled him along.

Kuro turned to Silver and shushed her as she was about laugh at what they were doing. Slip shook his head, hating and loving it at the same time. Kuro nodded and they darted around the corner and came face to face with Great. The Dane was guarding the chamber beyond so that the meeting being held wouldn't be interrupted. Great eyed the three petrified creatures, then pointed back the way they came. They needed no second bidding and left in a cloud of dust.

"We have to get a move on it! We can't wait any longer for the enemy to attack us! It's high time we did what we came here to do: kill!" Everyone nodded in agreement with Fyre's words, but Crow was the only one to voice an opinion. "Yes, but how do purpose we get started, Fyre?"

Fyre turned towards Ryne and nodded. Ryne stood up and went over to a map that was suspended from a root. She pointed at a large red X with a knife. "This is where the headquarters are for Akakabuto's Varg soldiers. If we can infiltrate it and plant a bomb, we'll be able to take out a large part of Akakabuto's forces."

"Is the Varg HQ close to Gajou?" Ryne turned to Jaguar. "Not really, Akakabuto has banned entry to Gajou and, to prevent them from getting any ideas about entering, he placed them further away." Jaguar crossed his arms. "Huh, why'd he do that? That's not a very smart move." Flippy turned to him. "When I still lived with him, I can remember him having a hatred for any creatures that were two things: Varg and non-bears. He only put up with my brothers and I because we were bears, and his spawn."

"As I was saying," Ryne said with a glare at Jaguar "We should be able to infiltrate the base and set a bomb, then high tail it out of there. But, for this mission to succeed we need creatures who will blend into the other Varg there, which, I remind you, are all black. Crow, you'll be one of them to go. Fyre, Flippy, and myself will dye our fur black and accompany you. And-" "Get back here, brat!"

Everyone turned as Kuro came running in with Great in pursuit. He looked pleadingly up at Ryne. "Let me go! I can act like a Varg and my fur's black!" Great stood in the tunnel opening, ducking down to avoid hitting his head. "I'm sorry, Ryne, but he just got past me!" Ryne nodded, then looked at Kuro. "The fact that you were able to get passed Great tells me all I need to know." Judging by her glare, Kuro lowered his tail and ears. "You can go. But, I'm warning you. It'll be dangerous..." Kuro smiled and spread his paws. "What type of dangerous? The normal dangerous, or the 'more-dangerous-than-a-normal-creature-would-be-willing-to-ever-attempt-in-all-their-lives' type of dangerous?"

Ryne rolled her eyes. "The last one, of course." KuroKaze jumped into the air. "Yes! The very best type! When do we get going?!" Crow crossed her arms. "Not until we're ready, and that's when we cover up that outrageous tail of yours!" Kuro laid his tail over his head in embarrassment. Ryne clapped her paws once. "Well, now that we're done with that, let's get this party started!"