It would have been nice for the thugs to come quietly and slowly one after. Not that Tsume expected them to of course. Because that would make things too easy. What were humans if not a nuisance?

Tsume fought them all, slashing and biting and kicking. His adrenaline rose and he could barely feel the nicks and scratches that they, in turn, gave him.

It wasn't anything he couldn't handle. At least that's what he told himself. Because even the thought of giving up a fight could cause you to lose. Never show weakness in front of your enemy.

At least he knew that if he was killed, the others would be fine. Toboe was safe. Kiba could take care of Cheza. Blue was there to look after Hige when he inevitability got in trouble again.

Tsume didn't want to die. But there were so many humans and they never stopped coming.

From somewhere, he heard Toboe's voice. He was almost sure he was hallucinating.

There was a loud metal clang. Then the sharp howl of Toboe's voice again.

" Hey! Stop," he growled.

Surprisingly, they did. They all did, even Tsume with his knives held close struggling to regain his breath as calmly as possible.

" He already won," Toboe continues to shout. "Can't you see that, or are you that stupid?".

There were some angry mutters from the humans.

" I know there isn't any honor among thieves but still… If we have to call out more people to fight then we're all gonna be very mad."

Toboe steps further into the building. Only slightly visible in the darkness.

Tsume almost laughs. Obviously, he's bluffing.

" And if you don't want Lady Jaguara or Lady Cheza to be angry at you, then you'd best listen up and come with us."

Toboe pauses, for what seems to be dramatic effect " Unless of course, you want to die."

He stands there, looking surprisingly confident and threatening. Tsume can hardly believe it. Especially when he sees some of his old human pack members nodding and muttering in agreement.

Tsume goes to stand next to Toboe with as much nonchalance as he can muster.

" We're going to go help Lady Cheza assert her rule over this region. If we don't all show up then Jaguara will start a war that will probably kill all of you."

It seems strange for Tsume to hear these words, to speak them and find that they are not complete lies. He doesn't care anything about the human government. But if there has to be one then he supposes its better for Cheza to be a part of it.

" And as we all said many times before. There will be rewards for those in this new age."

One of the humans cried out. " You really believe that, Tsume?"

Tsume glances at Toboe. " I wouldn't even think of staking my life on something that I didn't think would benefit me."

He's angry and even wounded, still looking for a fight. Maybe that's because it's all he knows. He can't deny the relief he feels when everyone starts to agree and leave the shack behind them.

A harsh snow-filled wind practically hits Tsume in the face.

" Are you… are you ok?" Toboe whispers beside him.

Tsume nods.

With everything that Toboe's done, how could he not be? He realizes that it isn't what Toboe is talking about.

His wounds.

" I want to treat them later."

" Are you ok, Toboe? That.. was… I told you to stay away…" He looks at the ground and mutters. " I'm glad you did."

Toboe puffs out his chest and smiles. His tail wags and tail. Tsume fights between the urge to look away. It's quite cute.

" I'm glad I could help. Sometimes, you can fight a battle with words. Granny taught us all a story about that."

Tsume glances back at the humans. This is still going to be a long day.

" It'll probably be a while before we get back into the city. You could tell it."

Toboe's tail wags some more. " I will then!"

Despite the freezing cold, sting of his wounds, and irritating humans, Tsume is glad.


Hige -

" Ahh, Blue. How much longer do we have to walk?" Hige can't help but whine. It hasn't been that long but it's cold. They're walking towards the city. Snow has started to fall. There's excitement in the air but overall, the smell pf blood clings to the air.

Blue doesn't look in his direction when she replies. " We do not have any further to walk. You're following me."

" Aww well, I thought that maybe you wanted some company or something. I don't really mind walking… if it's with you." He winks. Besides, pretty girls shouldn't be walking around by themselves. "

Blue stares at him now. Eyes a little narrowed. She huffs and Hige is sure she's mad.

" Sorry um….I'm sure you could take better care of yourself in a fight then I could. You can really… You're really strong and stuff."

Blue blinks a few times. " You say a lot of things."

Hige nods. Unsure of what she's talking about. He waits, listening to the uncertainty in her voice

" I've wondered if you really meant them."

" Hmm well, I'm glad that you think of me." Hige smiles and she smiles back a little, much to his surprise.

" That's what… I mean. Sure there have been nice people. Though there were always more 0bad. What I'm trying to say is that I think you're funny but you're actually very kind. I guess I should have known that since the first time we met you saved my life."

" Well, technically the first time we met you tried to kill me."

Blue stops walking and s9ort of whimpers. He probably shouldn't have said that, even if he was teasing.

. " Sorry," Blue says in a hushed voice. It's been a long time but I was rude. I wasn't…right... I was wrong."

Hige laughs. He tries not to but it slips out anyway. He's let her kill him a hundred times over honestly

" It wouldn't be a bad way to go though. You don't need to apologize."

Blue stares at him and then looks back at the road.

"Why do you say those things, Hige?"

He likes hearing her say his name.

" Hmm, I mean… lighting the mood I guess. Talking about getting murdered is kind of a bummer. We should try to be happy I guess. If we can anyway… Things are going alright for a change."

Blue smiles but she sounds sad. Almost like she's in pain.." You think so, huh?"

The question seems rhetorical. Hige nods anyway.

She sighs. " I meant those things that you say to me… the other things." Her voice gets so quiet that he can barely hear it. " The nice things that you say."

" Oh um… Like when I tell your you're beautiful or that you smell good or how strong you are? Stuff like that?"

Blue nods.

" Those are compliments. I'm flirting with you. Hasn't anyone ever done that. I mean, you are beautiful so I'm sure someone had to-"

Blue shakes her head again. She looks off into the distance, troubled. " We always kept to ourselves when we traveled. It didn't stop people. One time these guys said they were going to attack me. They said I was hot too though. Was that... flirting?"

Hige frowns. He thinks that those guys are terrible. Not that it isn't easy to imagine doing those things to Blue.

" No, that's not right at all."

" Oh… They insisted that it was… so I kicked their asses."

" That's really good. "

They both laugh at this. Hige is always glad to see her smile.

Her smile fades again. " Anyway, Hige. You really should leave. The human that I used to travel with… I'm meeting him here. So- you shouldn't be here."

She looks scared but he smiles. " Don't worry. I get along with humans pretty well… most of the time. And if he's your friend I want him to be my friend too."

Blue frowns and mutters. " I don't think he would want that."

" If you really think that, I understand, Blue. Are you sure you want to meet someone who's been killing wolves for years?"

She glares at him and he knows he's made a mistake. " Ah I mean-"

" No, it's fine. Probably… I doubt it'll be fine for you though. I don't really know." She frowns again and stops. The city looms in the distance. Intermingling smells of humans, alcohol, food and other things ahead.

" I'll know soon enough, I think."

Hige can't help but worry about her. Who is he to say who others should spend their lives though?


Hello and thank you for reading my Wolf's Rain fanfiction! Commenta, follows and shares are highly appreciated (: Stay safe out there with everything going on