Disclaimer: Do I really have to say anything?


A/N: Chappie 11! Sorry it took so long! GOMEN! *bows* I'll try to get the 12th up as soon as possible but my life is hectic right now! Again GOMEN!


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Chapter 11: Lost and Thoughts


"How far?" Genki asked as he trudged along. Red and Yuri were in front of him.

"Not far. The cave's entrance is only a few feet ahead," Red mumbled as the blinding snow began to fall even harder.

"I can't even fly in this weather," Yuri muttered, "You sure where we're going in the right direction, runt?"

Red growled back at her. She was walking behind him and Genki was behind her. She had wrapped her fiery wings around her, but they didn't warm her up. How could any creature live in this weather?

"Where are the others?" Genki yelled, trying to be heard over the roaring wind.

"They are on their way back. Their probably already at the Great Den. This is their land, they know it."

"Yeah, damn Tigers. They took this land from us Pixies."

"That is not true," Red growled, glaring back at her, "Pixies never truly owned this land. They took it from us for only a couple of years. We took back what was ours."

"Yeah, go ahead, believe that!" Yuri sputtered out as Red turned to face her.

"You take that back!"

"What? The fact your people are liars?" Yuri replied smugly.

Red started growling intensely as Genki stepped in. He put up both hands to try to calm the monsters.

"Listen, we're lost out in the middle of a snowy nowhere. We need to work together to get to the Den and try to help Holly and Achika."

"Letting this Tiger guide us is getting us no where. Holly and Achika are probably all ready dead. I say we wait out the damn storm."

"You have no right to say that Yuri. Red, are you sure of our direction?"

Red looked away and said nothing.

Genki tried to hide the rising concern in his voice, "Red, do you know what direction we are heading?"

"Yes, but I can not tell whether or not we have all ready passed the Den."

Yuri started laughing wildly, "Oh, this is rich! While those human females are dying, the runt is leading us around in circles! We're going to die!"

"Knock it off Yuri!" Genki yelled as Red stiffened again. A slight rumbling was heard from above as Red and Yuri got prepared to settle their differences.

'What is that?' Genki thought as a large wall of white started to fall at them.

The three lost friends found themselves staring at a huge wave of snow that reached a height a tsunami would envy. They screamed as the snow washed over them.


***


Tiger, Yahiko, Lupin, and Taku walked into the Main Hall of the Great Den to see Lord Ginta, Lord Youji, Lady Ariana, Holly, and Achika interrogating the little evil hare. Lupin and Yahiko went to their dens while Taku and Tiger walked over to the others to find out what was going on.

"Hey, where's Genki?" Tiger asked, when he got close to the group. Achika looked up at him and smiled.

"Why are you asking us? He went with you," she replied.

Tiger looked at her with distress, "We lost him, Yuri, and Red on our way over here. An ice storm started and we thought that they were in front of us because they started coming this way before we did. Don't tell me they aren't here."

Holly looked at Tiger and Taku with fear, "They aren't here Tiger. No body has come back at all."

"Our packs are still probably hunting. Red, Yuri, and Genki should have been back by now. We will have to search for them," Lord Ginta growled as he walked toward an exit.

"I'm coming too!" Achika shouted, running after Lord Ginta. He turned around and growled at her.

"No. You will not come with me. Tiger, Lord Youji, come. We are going to find them. You must stay here, Achika. We need you to protect this Den."

Achika sighed heavily, "Fine. But, at least bring all of them back in one piece."

Lord Youji paused, "Why do you say that?"

Achika rolled her eyes, "Just trust me on this."

Tiger ran straight pass the two older Tigers and raced into the snow like a young pup on his first day out.

"Come on! Let's go! They are out there somewhere!" He yelled, trying to run quickly. His urgency made his feet sink into the snow.

"Calm yourself Tiger," Lord Ginta said as he placidly stalked pass him, "That is no way for a Lord of Tigers to act."

Lord Youji also walked pass him with ease, "You should learn to control yourself. You are acting like a two month old pup."

Tiger growled, "I can not help it! I was only reawakened a few months ago after all! Plus a very good friend of mine is lost out there."

"Remember to concentrate on the heels of your paws," Lord Youji murmured. Tiger did as Lord Youji said and found himself walking on the snow. He followed behind the other two slowly.

The three Tigers progressed slowly through the snow, each one taking turns in leading through the familiar and unfamiliar grounds. In the end, Lord Ginta decided to stay in the lead after having to back track several times to find the other two. Tiger followed the other two powerful Lords scanning the area with his young eyes to find anything they might have missed.

"This is tiring. If we do not find them soon we shall have to go back," Lord Ginta stated.

'No. We can not go back without them. I do not wish to see Holly's face when we tell her we could not find them. They are out here. We will find them,' Tiger thought to himself. It was mostly to convince himself that everything was going to be okay.

Just when they were about to give up, Lord Youji's nose picked up the scent of fire. He paused in mid-stride, only to have Tiger walk straight into him. The two of them tumbled straight into Lord Ginta, who then went sprawling into the snow. All three landed in a jumble at the bottom of the unforeseen hill. They snapped and quarreled at each other until the realized they saw a cave. Within the cave, two monsters and a human sat around a fire.

"Tiger?" the human asked.

"Genki!"

"Why are you here?" Lord Ginta asked, walking into the cave. Lord Youji followed slowly.

"We got stuck in an avalanche. I found this cave and decided to wait out the storm with Yuri and Genki. Sorry for the delay and the worry," Red said simply.

"Do not worry Red. There is no need for your apologies. Just be more careful next time," Lord Youji said as he sat next to Red.

Lord Ginta glared around the cave and found the perfect spot. A shadowed corner away from the fire. He walked over to the spot, laid down, and turned his back on the others. In a few moments he was asleep.

"That looks like a good idea," Genki said, laying down by the fire.

"Best way to wait out the storm. We should have someone on watch though," Tiger said looking outside.

"Yes. Every two hours the watch changes. When Yuri is able to fly again, she will go ahead of us and tell the others we are all right," Red replied, laying down on his side.

"Who will take the first watch?" Lord Youji asked, hoping he wouldn't have to.

"I'll do it," Tiger whispered.

"I'll stay up as well," Yuri said as the others began to rest. No one realized that Red was actually still awake.

The younger Tiger stayed silent with his eyes closed, but sleep would not come. He only slept for an hour at a time, sleeping anymore then that would be hazardous. The accursed jewel in his back made him remain awake. Lightening was fast and furious, it did not rest. Yet, there was always that calm before the storm. His body reacted immediately to the jewel's will, his own too weak to fight it. He was never truly weary, just annoyed. He was tired of the way he was, and wished just to be normal, just to be able to sleep.

Genki slept for awhile. Dreams of nightmarish blurs and false prophecies danced through his head. Why he always had such strange dreams was beyond him. He just needed to stop eating right before he went to sleep. But, wait, he hadn't eaten for more then six hours. Then what were these dreams from. Were they true? Were they about his world? Or was he just going mad because of his homesickness? Why was he even homesick? So many questions.... Why weren't there more answers?

In his dark corner, Lord Ginta was half asleep. The battle with Garrone, the walk back to the den earlier, and the report he made to the council, still plagued the warrior's mundane mind. All this trouble over the damned jewels that no one knew how to use except for the young Daton by the fire. He needed to protect the humans and monsters that dared to go on such a quest. To meet people who were willing to even try to see Cal of Shadows, was a very strange thing. He was still learning in his old age....

Lord Youji slept soundly, the sanest most level-headed monster out of the tiny group. He knew what he was doing and was proud of it. He didn't even have to go on the main journey and though he regretted saying it, he was glad for it. For the first five years of his life he had to prove himself to everyone. He did it, and very well. It nearly took him his whole life just to get where he was, and he was tired. He was becoming old, but he wasn't the ruffled veteran of war Lord Ginta was. He was a wise monster, proud of his achievements. Although his actions maybe considered weak by the younger generation, Lord Youji knew that they didn't know the other half to his story. Maybe he ought to tell them. He was never really good with kids.

Tiger stared blankly at the world of white before him. He felt so young. He had memories of traveling with Genki and the rest of them, but he had been awakened from a disc only three years ago. His mind was still the same, but he was happy. He didn't have the hatred for humans he originally had. He had fought hard and still had his memories. He was the same Tiger of the Wind, wasn't he?

A yawn escaped Yuri as she watched Tiger. He seemed very young for one of his position. He seemed almost younger then Lord Satoshi. Why was this little monster so important? And how did Genki know him? She had heard that it had something to deal with Moo, but she still hadn't heard the whole story. 'This whole group is crazy,' she thought as she relaxed against the earth behind her back. It was going to be a long time before the snow let up...


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A/N: All right! What happens next? Review and I'll let ya know! ^.~