Warning: Toboe gets beat. A lot. Also, a cold hearted Tsume. That's all
for now. Don't forget to review!
(Toboe POV)
After being dragged a couple of miles my thoughts of being out of here were zero to none. And I was dragging a bit because my body wasn't on tip top shape since the pack and I traveled so far in a short amount of time. I mean, if I turned into a wolf, they would shoot me. If I would go after one the other would take out his gun, shoot me, than probably kill me because I would be hurt; of no more use to them. I began to wonder what they were going to do with me. Or who would they sell me too. I don't want to be hurt. I really don't. And from what they just did to my friends (Mental Note: When you get the chance, rip out their hearts and intestines) they wouldn't have any remorse of hurting me. They were both cold-hearted.
We suddenly stopped. I looked around. What was happening? There was nothing around here, well, with the exception of grass. Roi still had a strong hold my arm and it was starting to cut of circulation to the rest of my arm. It was beginning to really hurt! I tried to pull away but he just pulled harder to him. I couldn't keep it anymore. I had to say something.
"What the hell are we doing around here?! I want to know why your taking me and where your taking me!?! And you just hurt my friends you cold hearted things!! How could you!?" I yelled into the night. The two were shocked by my outbreak. "I hate you!!!"
"Don't speak to us that way your stupid brat!" Fujii said to me, he smacked me across the face. "Your lucky I don't make you pay for what your friend did to me. But it doesn't hurt all that much anymore. And if your a good boy and cooperate you won't get yourself hurt."
"I won't cooperate! I won't be a 'good boy'! I'LL NEVER GO WITH YOU!" I screamed and turned into my wolf form. I bit Roi who had still been holding my arm. It didn't seem to phase him at all. Guess my teeth hadn't grown in fully or something since I'm still just a pup.
Deciding that it wasn't good to stick around, I let go but he just grabbed me by the scruff of my neck and I was defenseless. I turned back to a human so atleast I could reach those bony fingers digging into my neck. If Fujii hadn't told him let go of me I would have choked to death. But it didn't stop there. Fujii threw me to the ground and started screaming profanity. When I started trying to run away he fired right at my feet. I was thrown off balance and fell back down. They continued to beat me from there.
"No more..." I begged in a hiss as I held my stomach of which they had repeatedly kicked. "Please....no more...?"
"Just be a good boy from now on and we'll consider it," spat out Roi. He picked me up by my hair and looked me straight in the eyes. "I wouldn't want to hurt that pretty little face that you have...or do I?"
I started visibly shaking. I was tired, lonely, and I don't know what they were going to do to me. Roi just kept a hold of me from my arm. My poor stomach took a horrible beating. It feels like the ribs in me are going to bust at any second. I don't know if I could take it if they were to do it again so I better to what they say until I can escape. And then I'll get them for what they did to my friends. They will pay.
That still didn't answer my question of why are we here? There's nothing here, dammit! Nothing! And we've been waiting for nothing for over an hour now. And Roi's looking at me strangely. Eeeeeewwwwwwwwww..... It makes me even more afraid of what they have in store. I want Tsume... even Kiba or Hige would do. Just somebody... help me. I don't want to go through this. But until I did see them again I would have to be more tough than what I am right now because if I'm a glob of jello than they'll pick on me even more than they are now. They'd probably love to see me shake in my boots. Well, I'm not going to do that, you freaks. I'm going to have to be strong. Strong like my friends would be in this situation. I know Tsume could handle it well. Heck, he'd probably be out by now!
So I have to be brave. Don't cry. No matter what they do to me I won't be afraid. I'll find a way out of here. That's what I have to keep on telling myself. I will get out. I will be fine. I will see Tsume, Kiba, and Hige again. Just wish I would have gotten to say goodbye....
"Our rides here," informed Fujii coldly as a car pulled up.
"Come on, kid, cheer up," ordered Roi sarcastically. "You don't even know if this is your last night of the living or not. So be happy."
I just let myself be thrown into the car with no response to him. I didn't feel like it. We drove away and I was crushed. My heart shattered into a million peices. From this point on I really had to fight this battle on my own. And...it was scary.
IIIII (Kiba POV)
Turning back to a human, my bruised body made itself atleast sit up if nothing less. I hold my stomach of which is doing turns and I groan in pain. It must have alerted Hige because he, in his wolf form, limped over to me. His wound was bleeding really badly. The bullet still jammed deep within his front right paw. I glance over to see what Tsume was doing. He was standing up in his human form, limping from a gun shot in his leg and a graze on his side. We really got our asses beat this time.
It runs through my mind at that second. Toboe!
"Toboe? Where is he?" I asked quickly, actually sounding worried, hoping that the answer was wrong. Even though I knew that it wasn't. They had taken him.
"You know damn well where he is," Tsume hissed. He must feel badly right now, I know from the look on his face, it's one of pure sadness. "So don't ask again."
Hige turned into a human and put his other hand over his hurt hand. "I think that we should get better and then look for Toboe. At this rate, we would be hurting ourselves, and be no use to rescue him when we get there."
"Who says we're rescuing him?" Tsume asked.
We stared at him like 'What are you talking about!?'
"You heard me. If he can get himself in trouble he can get himself out of it. I don't really care anyway."
My face went cold. My usual expression on my face. "Would you be able to say the same thing if Toboe was standing in front of you? Would you be able to say that you don't care? If you really don't then suit yourself, be the cold hearted bastard you are, but as for me I'm going to go get him. I'm not going to let him suffer. He's only a cub."
"..." Tsume didn't really have anything to say. I figured that much. I was beginning to get through to him. I waited for a reply but got none. Guess I would have to put more of a guilt trip on him.
"Do you know how much he looks up to you? He would be heart broken to know that the one person that he looks up to most in his entire life doesn't even give a damn that he's been taken. I want you to imagine Toboe's feelings. He's scared. Alone. And they probably wouldn't even hesitate to beat or shoot him if they need too. If I were Toboe I would want my friends to come for me too. And I know that you know that he thinks of you as an older sibling. So stop with the tough act and get with it."
"Shutup!" Tsume shouted. "You don't know anything! They're probably going to kill him anyway so we'd be wasting our time!"
He still didn't get the picture! I stood up and walked over to him. I hit him to the ground and said "Talking to you is a waste of time. Precious time that could help Toboe before he does get killed. Saving him is worth it."
IIIII (Tsume POV)
I knew that Kiba was right. I knew it. But...I don't know why I don't want to save the kid. Not that I don't care it's just that he's always dragging us down so we should be happy he's gone. Right? After being hit to the ground I knew that he was being dead serious with me. I stood up. I wasn't going to fight anymore. We should save him.
"No more arguing?" Hige asked me.
"Shutup. I'm only doing this because-" I was rudely cut off by Kiba.
"Because your worried," He said. I looked to the grass. "It's okay to say it. Come on. Let's get our wounds taken care of and by tomorrow night we'll get going. I know their scent. They won't be that hard to find."
"They said that they were going to sell us," I informed as I sat back down next to the others near those trees. I looked down at the bird of which Toboe had caught for me. To make me proud of him. To try to show that he'll be okay.
(Toboe...I'm not going to let you die out there) I thought to myself.
IIIII (Toboe POV)
In the backseat of the car, I considered unlocking the door and then jumping out. Then turning into a wolf and run for my life. But Roi, since Fujii was driving the vehicle, kept a close watch on me through the rear view mirror. It creeped me out. I looked out the window. We were on the rough back road so it was rather bumpy and I kept bouncing on the seat. When we hit a particular large bump my head hit the ceiling and it started giving me a headache. I guess that they didn't want to take the main way because there were to many people to see us. And that I would be able to signal for help anytime that I wanted to.
I rubbed my head which started to get worse by the minute. It was beginning to hurt really bad so I needed some headache medicine. Or something. Plus the fact that these jerk's laughs were booming loudly through out the car. I had to ask for something to help my headache.
"Excuse me," I said to them. Roi looked in the rear view mirror to see what I wanted. "I was, ummm, wondering if you had any headache medicine. I hit my head on the ceiling and, well, it hurts."
"Deal with it," Roi replied.
"But it really, really hurts!" I snapped back.
"Didn't you hear me?! I said deal with it!"
"I don't want to!"
Roi turned around to look at me. He took my chin in a bruising grip and hissed "If you make one more noise I'll make sure that you'll feel pain like you've never felt it before. Got it, you little pup?!"
I was angry, so I shouted "I'm not little!" and then I slapped his hand away. "I may be a pup but I'm not little!"
"Fujii, park the car," ordered Roi.
"Why?" he asked.
"Just do it. I need to teach the boy who's boss!" Roi hissed back.
My heart stopped as the car slid to a halt. I didn't want to be hurt again. I was already bruised from head to toe. And there was no one out here, in this dirt area, to hear me scream for help as that man beat me.
He got out of the car and opened my door. I tried to escape the grasp of him pulling on my leg but he pulled me roughly to the ground. Roi sat on my back so I wasn't able to move. I screamed out in agony for he grabbed my right arm and bent it backwards to the point of where it was going to snap. Trying to move to ease the pain didn't help much either. It just began to hurt worse and worse. I thought he was planning to break my arm but he then gave my wrist the same treatment. A whole another pain flowed through me then.
"Nooo! Stop it! It hurts!" I shouted, trying to get out from underneath the man. "Let me go or I'll bite you!"
"Do you want me to snap your wrist, pup?!" he threatened me, making the pain more unbearable as I could feel the bone begin to break. "I will."
"Please..." I whimpered out, giving in. "Just make it stop!"
He let my wrist go, out of mercy, I guess. I thought it was all over but a new pain began as he used a pressure point on the back of my neck to make my head throb. My headache boomed painfully. Feeling like my head would explode I tried to move but he would just increase the pressure with the thumb so I stopped moving. I wouldn't cry. I wouldn't cry. I kept telling myself that I wouldn't cry. Knowing that Tsume would refuse to too gave me some strength to keep it all inside.
As I thought I was going to pass out since there was so much pain he suddenly stopped. I was fearful for everything now. My whole body ached, my head pounded angrily at me, and I feared that he would try to find another way to put me through hell. But...he didn't do anything more.
"You better listen to me when I tell you something, brat," Roi ordered. "Or I will break your arm. Now tell me your sorry."
I sobbed out "I-I-I'm sorry..."
My head hurt just from anyone talking. It felt like it would explode. My whole right arm was sore, my whole body was sore actually. I guess that if I wanted to stay alive that I would have to do what they told me too. Or, atleast, if I didn't want to go through that kind of pain again. I began to wish that Tsume was here. Or Kiba. Even Hige because they would help me. Wouldn't they?
IIIII (Around seven in the morning....still Toboe POV)
All alone, sitting in a small room, I could hear people outside. We had came to this big city and a warehouse. When I came in here I saw other children wolves, about seven others, pulling a huge thing of boxes on a sled into the warehouse. It was horrifying. Seeing them sweat just to pull that heavy weight. They must be so tired. It ran through my mind of how long have they been doing this? Where were their families or friends? Did they do this for work or were they slaves to these humans? Now I understand what they want to do with me, and what they said when they were going to sell us, sell us into slavery. But there had been only kids. Some a little younger then me by the looks of it. In this small room there was a window looking outside. I already tried the door and smashing it in my wolf form but neither worked. I was still bruised and beaten. My head had gotten better atleast.
This room had three beds, a sink in the corner. Though, the beds weren't all that comfortable, neither were the pillows, both rock hard, but they had nice and furry blankets. There had to be other wolves in here because there were two book bags by the bed that I was sitting on. I looked out the window. A black wolf with white paws was getting whipped because he was getting tired and was slacking. It made so mad. I wanted to go out there and protect him but I couldn't. I could hear them all growling and that black one whimpering. There was nothing I could do...Then a brown wolf jumped out of what it seemed like nowhere and tackled the man down. She was kicked off by another person. Then it all just stopped. The wolves were released from the harnesses and turned into humans. There were five boys and two girls. The black wolf was a boy and the brown one was a girl. I watched as they all went to their own little parts. Ours seemed to be the only ones closed off. I don't know why though. Maybe they trusted those other wolves more than the others.
The two came in the room. The younger boy with short black hair to his shoulders was about thirteen, wearing a green T-shirt and tight jean shorts. His blue eyes darted at me with anger in his eyes. The girl was my age, fourteen, (A/N- I'm guessing he's fourteen. Not sure) long, dark brown hair to the middle of her back, but her big hazel eyes showed kindness, then I noticed that her clothes were an orange T-shirt with a red fish on it, plus white cargo pants. She and he looked over me.
"Your sitting on my bed," the boy informed me, coldly.
"Oh! Sorry!" I apologized, getting up.
The girl stepped forward "Don't mind him, he's just cranky. Anyway, what's your name, kiddo?"
"Toboe."
"Mind if I call you Toby?"
"Yes."
"Alright, but...I'll still call you Toby!" she squeaked out. I made a frown with my eyebrows. "What's with the long face? You feeling down or something? And your all bruised up....did they beat you?"
"It looks like it," the boy said. He came over and opened up his red bookbag, I sniffed. I was really tired still from the last couple of days. He pulled out a see through bag that had some ham sandwiches in them. Then he handed one to me, they were the size of my fist, not that big, but I was hungry! "Here. Eat it and be happy."
I asked with my mouth full of ham sandwich "What's your names?"
The girl sat next to me and smiled. She poked my cheek, that bulged from the food in my mouth, and said "Don't talk with your mouth full. It's not polite, you know."
"Sorry," I apologized after I swallowed. The boy sat on the bed across from me, they were only two feet apart at the most. "Names?"
"Tanis," the girl said with smile. I noticed that she was a little taller than me. She saw me staring and she asked "Yes?"
"Oh! Nothing."
"Something wrong?" She asked.
"I said nothing's wrong."
"Tell me?"
"No."
"Yes?"
"Tanis, don't drive him crazy on the first day," the boy said. Tanis just opened her blue bookbag and took out her pocky. She handed the boy and I one. "The name is Kuro. Nice to meet you Toboe."
"His name is Toby," Tanis said.
"It's Toboe," I hissed back.
"Riiiiight." She then bit on her pocky.
I could tell that this was going to be one long day.
IIIII (Around ten....Narrator POV)
Young Toboe had been sleeping, snuggled up in his blankets. His head had started hurting once again so Tanis suggested that he sleep. The other two heard a knock on their door so they answered it, saying it was okay to come in, since the door was locked. They had to say that they were decent enough for company and then the person would unlock the door. He unlocked it, the two wolves standing in the doorway. Roi.
"He's sleeping?" He asked.
"Yes," Tanis said, looking over at the young boy. She looked back at Roi. "You want something?"
"Wake him up," the man said to Kuro. The boy just stared up at the man with glaring eyes. He noticed this so he glared back a bit himself. "You have a staring problem?"
"No, I just want to glare you to death," Kuro replied.
Tanis hissed "Kuro. Shutup." Then she turned to Roi with a smile "Can you come back later...? Umm....he's not feeling good."
"No. We have to see how much he can pull."
"But-"
"Do you want me to wake him up?"
The young girl wolf pouted and decided to do as he asked. That man was such a jerk all the time to them wolves and he wouldn't hesitate to hurt any of them either. That's just the way Roi was. He's the only one that Tanis didn't dare to stand up too since Roi happened to be the only one that ever gave her the beating that nearly killed her.
She walked over to Toboe and shook him a little. He just moaned and pulled the blankets cutely over his head, mumbling a name that Tanis didn't understand.
"Toboe...pst! Toboe! Wake up!" Tanis said quietly, shaking him some more. She sighed. "Toby!"
He rubbed his eyes while sitting up. "Don't call me (yawn) Toby."
"Roi's here," she said, looking at the door.
Toboe's eyes widened. No...he didn't want to go with him. He was the one that put him through so much pain. His arm and wrist still hurt so badly from what treatment that he put him through the last time that he mouthed off. Maybe if he was a good boy this time he would be able to survive what he was going to make him do. Hopefully it wasn't anything to bad. Toboe got out of the bed and walked over to Roi. He allowed Kuro and Tanis to tag along. They weren't going to allow him to go alone with this guy since they knew what a mean one he could be. Looking around, Toboe got a good gist of things.
This was the first time Toboe got a good look around. All of this place was metal, and it was huge! Their little house didn't turn out to be the only one either. There was only two allowed to have their own beds, a nine year old girl and an eleven year old boy. It had many boxes lined up along the wide walls. Five other guys, not including Fujii or Roi, just wandering about the warehouse. Toboe was led to a sled with Roi while Fujii kept an eye on Tanis and Kuro. Obviously, they knew what was going to happen, and it wasn't good because they weren't happy about him doing whatever they wanted him too. It made the pup all the more nervous of what was coming. There was a harness connected to the sled. Now he got the idea. He was going to be checked if how much he could carry on his own. In his condition...not much.
"Turn into a wolf," the man orderd, taking a whip from another man that just handed it to him. He whipped it near Toboe's feet, the boy jumped. "Now."
Toboe turned into his beautiful brown wolf form. He was ordered to let him harness him. When he was all set, the men started stacking boxes. Toboe didn't even consider running with this on him. The only exit was a garage like door and it was closed. He looked up at Roi who ordered some more boxes.
"Okay, twenty boxes, that's eighty pounds. Pull it three inches, pup," he ordered once again.
Easily, without even struggling, it surprised even Toboe, he pulled it. (That wasn't so bad!) Toboe thought to himself. Then, when there were ten more boxes put on, that was a struggle. His muscles started screaming at them. (I jinxed myself...didn't I?)
"Oh, don't tell me that you've already given up!" Roi teased Toboe as he tried to pull one hundred pounds. He might be strong, but not that strong. Especially bruised and battered. "You should be able to do more than this. Though, I did hurt you pretty bad, but, that's not my problem. Now try again!"
He whipped it at Toboe's paw and he pulled back. He tried once again, no good.
"Again!" He ordered, whipping near Toboe's back feet.
After many of tries, Toboe wanted to just give up. He started panting for breath. His tongue hanging out. This time, Roi shouted for another try and whipped Toboe's back. The boy howled at the searing pain.
He pulled it a few more inches but had to lay down. He gasped for air as his lungs couldn't expand far enough. Toboe felt like he was going to pass out at any moment from trying to hard. The whip last on his back only began to burn badly. He looked up at Roi who was threatening to whip him again. Toboe just looked away.
"Look at me you little freak show!" shouted Roi, whipping the wolf cub on the back once again. He only whimpered this time, then started growling. "Oooohhh...think your scary? Well, you don't scare me."
He whipped Toboe once again, just hitting his front left paw. Tanis shouted "Stop it! He's tired!"
"Don't talk to me," Roi snapped back.
"He's new. Give him a break? Please?" begged Tanis, her hazel eyes showing only concern for Toboe. Toboe stopped licking his paw and looked up at her. Was she trying to....protect him? "I'll do extra work. I can take it! And if I don't do as good as expected I'll get five lashes. Is that good enough?"
Roi contemplated for a moment. "Hmmm..."
"Tanis! What the hell are you doing?!" Kuro said angrily. "You were already whipped twice today because you took it for other people! You can't keep doing this. It's not good for you."
"Okay. You can do it for him," said Roi with an evil smirk. He un-did the harness and let Toboe change into human form. The boy ran over to Tanis for protection and comfort. She let him stand behind him, she seemed to run the pack around this place, because she acted like it. And she had to be the oldest one here. "But it won't be easy. So get a good day's rest because tonight it's cross country."
IIIII (The hut? Umm...Where Toboe is staying with Tanis and Kuro Narrator POV)
Toboe had taken off his shirt, letting Tanis sew the lash holes shut, and was letting Kuro treat his wounds on his back first. The whip lashes hurt, burned, then freezes as he cleaned them out with spring water. He said that he was basically the doctor around here. If someone got sick he would help them. Wolf or not. Said that he didn't want to be here but they fed them, clothed them, took care of them, and only beat them or whipped them when they weren't doing their best. They admitted that they hated it but he said that his whole family was killed for their fur.
When Kuro started to put an antibiotic cream into the lashes. Kuro had said that it would make it heal faster than it usually would on it's own. Plus that Toboe wanted to be in tip top shape every day because they never got a day off. And that he should really be more careful to watch where the whip was going. To dodge it better or he would be killed. It stung and he gasped but it was just a reaction to the coldness on it. Well, part cold, and part pain. But mostly pain. Toboe didn't mind the horrible pain, all that much, but when he pressed to hard into one of the lashes on his back he had to say something.
"Ouch! Ouch!" Toboe shouted. "Don't press so hard!"
"Hold still," ordered Kuro as he wiped some more into there. "Do you have any family? Toboe?"
"Well..." Toboe thought for a moment. His thoughts flashed Tsume's, then Kiba's, then Hige's faces through his mind. "Yeah. I have three older brothers. But my favorite is Tsume."
"Cool," Kuro told him. He sighed as he finished with the cream, then proceeded to patch it up. "I had an older brother too. He was the one that saved me from being killed. Unfortunately, he didn't survive."
"What was he like?" Toboe asked as he turned to Kuro to let him treat his hand.
"His name was Ayakato and he was amazing. He was a beautiful brown wolf with thick fur. He was fast, smart, cool, and fun," Kuro sighed after he finished. He took Toboe's hand and then looked at his face. "He looked, well, I think so...yeah..from what I can remember of him he...sort of looked just like you. Only, not as girly looking."
"Girly?!" Toboe snapped at his new found friend. "What do you mean 'girly'?"
"Exactly what he said," Tanis added, sitting on the bed to the right of them. She handed him his shirt when Kuro began to treat his hand. "A pretty boy."
"Hey, Tanis, can I ask you something?"
"Sure. Shoot."
"Why did you do that for me back there? I mean, you didn't have to. But you did."
"We're all friends here!" Tanis said happily. She stood up and smiled at him. "Besides, I'm the oldest, it's my responsibility to take care of you all. If I don't, who will?"
Toboe smiled. It was nice to know he had two friends here.
Then Toboe thought for a moment. But she couldn't be older than him! "Wait, you have to be atleast my age, right? You can't be older than me."
"I'm fourteen."
"Me too," Toboe said, proving his point.
"When were you born?"
"September second." (A/N: I'm guessing on this one too!)
"Ha! I was born on July 30th! Besides, I'm taller than you," she said proudly. "Anyway, I should try to get to sleep. I do have to do that cross country thing. Night, you two."
She laid down in her bed and cuddled up. Toboe smiled. Well, now he knew atleast one thing, that he wasn't leaving without these two by his side. Or any of the other wolves. He was dead determined to get these other kids out of here. It's not good for them to work at such a young age. To tell the truth, Toboe didn't want to do it either. His train of thought was broken by Kuro putting the cold creme on him and it stung.
"Owww! That really hurt! Are you trying to hurt me or something?" Toboe asked, pouting. Kuro didn't say anything, he just sighed. He guessed that Kuro really wasn't the talkative type. He didn't seem like it. "Thanks."
"Your welcome Ayakato," Kuro said. When he looked up at Toboe who seemed to be shocked, and he realized what he called him, he said "I'm soooo sorry! I didn't mean to call you-"
"It's okay," Toboe said. He smiled. "I consider it a complement."
"Thanks..."
"What are you thanking me for?"
"For bringing back the memories of Ayakato and I. Thank you so much for that. And if you need anything, just say the word," said the black wolf with a wink. Toboe nodded. "Oh, and guess what?"
"Yeah?"
"You aren't girly. You're a tough kid, just like he was."
IIIII
Please review! Please? I'm trying hard! Should I continue? Or should I stop? Are the chapters to long??? Please do review. If anyone's wondering, NO, Toboe is not going to be in a relationship with Tanis.
Oh, and I want you to know that Tanis is a special appearance by my fantastic friend MalletWeilderofDoom (read her fics. Really, really good!) or, as I call her, My Kate-Kate. She's like that in real life too. ;; It's a good thing, really. I luvv you my Kate-Kate!
(Toboe POV)
After being dragged a couple of miles my thoughts of being out of here were zero to none. And I was dragging a bit because my body wasn't on tip top shape since the pack and I traveled so far in a short amount of time. I mean, if I turned into a wolf, they would shoot me. If I would go after one the other would take out his gun, shoot me, than probably kill me because I would be hurt; of no more use to them. I began to wonder what they were going to do with me. Or who would they sell me too. I don't want to be hurt. I really don't. And from what they just did to my friends (Mental Note: When you get the chance, rip out their hearts and intestines) they wouldn't have any remorse of hurting me. They were both cold-hearted.
We suddenly stopped. I looked around. What was happening? There was nothing around here, well, with the exception of grass. Roi still had a strong hold my arm and it was starting to cut of circulation to the rest of my arm. It was beginning to really hurt! I tried to pull away but he just pulled harder to him. I couldn't keep it anymore. I had to say something.
"What the hell are we doing around here?! I want to know why your taking me and where your taking me!?! And you just hurt my friends you cold hearted things!! How could you!?" I yelled into the night. The two were shocked by my outbreak. "I hate you!!!"
"Don't speak to us that way your stupid brat!" Fujii said to me, he smacked me across the face. "Your lucky I don't make you pay for what your friend did to me. But it doesn't hurt all that much anymore. And if your a good boy and cooperate you won't get yourself hurt."
"I won't cooperate! I won't be a 'good boy'! I'LL NEVER GO WITH YOU!" I screamed and turned into my wolf form. I bit Roi who had still been holding my arm. It didn't seem to phase him at all. Guess my teeth hadn't grown in fully or something since I'm still just a pup.
Deciding that it wasn't good to stick around, I let go but he just grabbed me by the scruff of my neck and I was defenseless. I turned back to a human so atleast I could reach those bony fingers digging into my neck. If Fujii hadn't told him let go of me I would have choked to death. But it didn't stop there. Fujii threw me to the ground and started screaming profanity. When I started trying to run away he fired right at my feet. I was thrown off balance and fell back down. They continued to beat me from there.
"No more..." I begged in a hiss as I held my stomach of which they had repeatedly kicked. "Please....no more...?"
"Just be a good boy from now on and we'll consider it," spat out Roi. He picked me up by my hair and looked me straight in the eyes. "I wouldn't want to hurt that pretty little face that you have...or do I?"
I started visibly shaking. I was tired, lonely, and I don't know what they were going to do to me. Roi just kept a hold of me from my arm. My poor stomach took a horrible beating. It feels like the ribs in me are going to bust at any second. I don't know if I could take it if they were to do it again so I better to what they say until I can escape. And then I'll get them for what they did to my friends. They will pay.
That still didn't answer my question of why are we here? There's nothing here, dammit! Nothing! And we've been waiting for nothing for over an hour now. And Roi's looking at me strangely. Eeeeeewwwwwwwwww..... It makes me even more afraid of what they have in store. I want Tsume... even Kiba or Hige would do. Just somebody... help me. I don't want to go through this. But until I did see them again I would have to be more tough than what I am right now because if I'm a glob of jello than they'll pick on me even more than they are now. They'd probably love to see me shake in my boots. Well, I'm not going to do that, you freaks. I'm going to have to be strong. Strong like my friends would be in this situation. I know Tsume could handle it well. Heck, he'd probably be out by now!
So I have to be brave. Don't cry. No matter what they do to me I won't be afraid. I'll find a way out of here. That's what I have to keep on telling myself. I will get out. I will be fine. I will see Tsume, Kiba, and Hige again. Just wish I would have gotten to say goodbye....
"Our rides here," informed Fujii coldly as a car pulled up.
"Come on, kid, cheer up," ordered Roi sarcastically. "You don't even know if this is your last night of the living or not. So be happy."
I just let myself be thrown into the car with no response to him. I didn't feel like it. We drove away and I was crushed. My heart shattered into a million peices. From this point on I really had to fight this battle on my own. And...it was scary.
IIIII (Kiba POV)
Turning back to a human, my bruised body made itself atleast sit up if nothing less. I hold my stomach of which is doing turns and I groan in pain. It must have alerted Hige because he, in his wolf form, limped over to me. His wound was bleeding really badly. The bullet still jammed deep within his front right paw. I glance over to see what Tsume was doing. He was standing up in his human form, limping from a gun shot in his leg and a graze on his side. We really got our asses beat this time.
It runs through my mind at that second. Toboe!
"Toboe? Where is he?" I asked quickly, actually sounding worried, hoping that the answer was wrong. Even though I knew that it wasn't. They had taken him.
"You know damn well where he is," Tsume hissed. He must feel badly right now, I know from the look on his face, it's one of pure sadness. "So don't ask again."
Hige turned into a human and put his other hand over his hurt hand. "I think that we should get better and then look for Toboe. At this rate, we would be hurting ourselves, and be no use to rescue him when we get there."
"Who says we're rescuing him?" Tsume asked.
We stared at him like 'What are you talking about!?'
"You heard me. If he can get himself in trouble he can get himself out of it. I don't really care anyway."
My face went cold. My usual expression on my face. "Would you be able to say the same thing if Toboe was standing in front of you? Would you be able to say that you don't care? If you really don't then suit yourself, be the cold hearted bastard you are, but as for me I'm going to go get him. I'm not going to let him suffer. He's only a cub."
"..." Tsume didn't really have anything to say. I figured that much. I was beginning to get through to him. I waited for a reply but got none. Guess I would have to put more of a guilt trip on him.
"Do you know how much he looks up to you? He would be heart broken to know that the one person that he looks up to most in his entire life doesn't even give a damn that he's been taken. I want you to imagine Toboe's feelings. He's scared. Alone. And they probably wouldn't even hesitate to beat or shoot him if they need too. If I were Toboe I would want my friends to come for me too. And I know that you know that he thinks of you as an older sibling. So stop with the tough act and get with it."
"Shutup!" Tsume shouted. "You don't know anything! They're probably going to kill him anyway so we'd be wasting our time!"
He still didn't get the picture! I stood up and walked over to him. I hit him to the ground and said "Talking to you is a waste of time. Precious time that could help Toboe before he does get killed. Saving him is worth it."
IIIII (Tsume POV)
I knew that Kiba was right. I knew it. But...I don't know why I don't want to save the kid. Not that I don't care it's just that he's always dragging us down so we should be happy he's gone. Right? After being hit to the ground I knew that he was being dead serious with me. I stood up. I wasn't going to fight anymore. We should save him.
"No more arguing?" Hige asked me.
"Shutup. I'm only doing this because-" I was rudely cut off by Kiba.
"Because your worried," He said. I looked to the grass. "It's okay to say it. Come on. Let's get our wounds taken care of and by tomorrow night we'll get going. I know their scent. They won't be that hard to find."
"They said that they were going to sell us," I informed as I sat back down next to the others near those trees. I looked down at the bird of which Toboe had caught for me. To make me proud of him. To try to show that he'll be okay.
(Toboe...I'm not going to let you die out there) I thought to myself.
IIIII (Toboe POV)
In the backseat of the car, I considered unlocking the door and then jumping out. Then turning into a wolf and run for my life. But Roi, since Fujii was driving the vehicle, kept a close watch on me through the rear view mirror. It creeped me out. I looked out the window. We were on the rough back road so it was rather bumpy and I kept bouncing on the seat. When we hit a particular large bump my head hit the ceiling and it started giving me a headache. I guess that they didn't want to take the main way because there were to many people to see us. And that I would be able to signal for help anytime that I wanted to.
I rubbed my head which started to get worse by the minute. It was beginning to hurt really bad so I needed some headache medicine. Or something. Plus the fact that these jerk's laughs were booming loudly through out the car. I had to ask for something to help my headache.
"Excuse me," I said to them. Roi looked in the rear view mirror to see what I wanted. "I was, ummm, wondering if you had any headache medicine. I hit my head on the ceiling and, well, it hurts."
"Deal with it," Roi replied.
"But it really, really hurts!" I snapped back.
"Didn't you hear me?! I said deal with it!"
"I don't want to!"
Roi turned around to look at me. He took my chin in a bruising grip and hissed "If you make one more noise I'll make sure that you'll feel pain like you've never felt it before. Got it, you little pup?!"
I was angry, so I shouted "I'm not little!" and then I slapped his hand away. "I may be a pup but I'm not little!"
"Fujii, park the car," ordered Roi.
"Why?" he asked.
"Just do it. I need to teach the boy who's boss!" Roi hissed back.
My heart stopped as the car slid to a halt. I didn't want to be hurt again. I was already bruised from head to toe. And there was no one out here, in this dirt area, to hear me scream for help as that man beat me.
He got out of the car and opened my door. I tried to escape the grasp of him pulling on my leg but he pulled me roughly to the ground. Roi sat on my back so I wasn't able to move. I screamed out in agony for he grabbed my right arm and bent it backwards to the point of where it was going to snap. Trying to move to ease the pain didn't help much either. It just began to hurt worse and worse. I thought he was planning to break my arm but he then gave my wrist the same treatment. A whole another pain flowed through me then.
"Nooo! Stop it! It hurts!" I shouted, trying to get out from underneath the man. "Let me go or I'll bite you!"
"Do you want me to snap your wrist, pup?!" he threatened me, making the pain more unbearable as I could feel the bone begin to break. "I will."
"Please..." I whimpered out, giving in. "Just make it stop!"
He let my wrist go, out of mercy, I guess. I thought it was all over but a new pain began as he used a pressure point on the back of my neck to make my head throb. My headache boomed painfully. Feeling like my head would explode I tried to move but he would just increase the pressure with the thumb so I stopped moving. I wouldn't cry. I wouldn't cry. I kept telling myself that I wouldn't cry. Knowing that Tsume would refuse to too gave me some strength to keep it all inside.
As I thought I was going to pass out since there was so much pain he suddenly stopped. I was fearful for everything now. My whole body ached, my head pounded angrily at me, and I feared that he would try to find another way to put me through hell. But...he didn't do anything more.
"You better listen to me when I tell you something, brat," Roi ordered. "Or I will break your arm. Now tell me your sorry."
I sobbed out "I-I-I'm sorry..."
My head hurt just from anyone talking. It felt like it would explode. My whole right arm was sore, my whole body was sore actually. I guess that if I wanted to stay alive that I would have to do what they told me too. Or, atleast, if I didn't want to go through that kind of pain again. I began to wish that Tsume was here. Or Kiba. Even Hige because they would help me. Wouldn't they?
IIIII (Around seven in the morning....still Toboe POV)
All alone, sitting in a small room, I could hear people outside. We had came to this big city and a warehouse. When I came in here I saw other children wolves, about seven others, pulling a huge thing of boxes on a sled into the warehouse. It was horrifying. Seeing them sweat just to pull that heavy weight. They must be so tired. It ran through my mind of how long have they been doing this? Where were their families or friends? Did they do this for work or were they slaves to these humans? Now I understand what they want to do with me, and what they said when they were going to sell us, sell us into slavery. But there had been only kids. Some a little younger then me by the looks of it. In this small room there was a window looking outside. I already tried the door and smashing it in my wolf form but neither worked. I was still bruised and beaten. My head had gotten better atleast.
This room had three beds, a sink in the corner. Though, the beds weren't all that comfortable, neither were the pillows, both rock hard, but they had nice and furry blankets. There had to be other wolves in here because there were two book bags by the bed that I was sitting on. I looked out the window. A black wolf with white paws was getting whipped because he was getting tired and was slacking. It made so mad. I wanted to go out there and protect him but I couldn't. I could hear them all growling and that black one whimpering. There was nothing I could do...Then a brown wolf jumped out of what it seemed like nowhere and tackled the man down. She was kicked off by another person. Then it all just stopped. The wolves were released from the harnesses and turned into humans. There were five boys and two girls. The black wolf was a boy and the brown one was a girl. I watched as they all went to their own little parts. Ours seemed to be the only ones closed off. I don't know why though. Maybe they trusted those other wolves more than the others.
The two came in the room. The younger boy with short black hair to his shoulders was about thirteen, wearing a green T-shirt and tight jean shorts. His blue eyes darted at me with anger in his eyes. The girl was my age, fourteen, (A/N- I'm guessing he's fourteen. Not sure) long, dark brown hair to the middle of her back, but her big hazel eyes showed kindness, then I noticed that her clothes were an orange T-shirt with a red fish on it, plus white cargo pants. She and he looked over me.
"Your sitting on my bed," the boy informed me, coldly.
"Oh! Sorry!" I apologized, getting up.
The girl stepped forward "Don't mind him, he's just cranky. Anyway, what's your name, kiddo?"
"Toboe."
"Mind if I call you Toby?"
"Yes."
"Alright, but...I'll still call you Toby!" she squeaked out. I made a frown with my eyebrows. "What's with the long face? You feeling down or something? And your all bruised up....did they beat you?"
"It looks like it," the boy said. He came over and opened up his red bookbag, I sniffed. I was really tired still from the last couple of days. He pulled out a see through bag that had some ham sandwiches in them. Then he handed one to me, they were the size of my fist, not that big, but I was hungry! "Here. Eat it and be happy."
I asked with my mouth full of ham sandwich "What's your names?"
The girl sat next to me and smiled. She poked my cheek, that bulged from the food in my mouth, and said "Don't talk with your mouth full. It's not polite, you know."
"Sorry," I apologized after I swallowed. The boy sat on the bed across from me, they were only two feet apart at the most. "Names?"
"Tanis," the girl said with smile. I noticed that she was a little taller than me. She saw me staring and she asked "Yes?"
"Oh! Nothing."
"Something wrong?" She asked.
"I said nothing's wrong."
"Tell me?"
"No."
"Yes?"
"Tanis, don't drive him crazy on the first day," the boy said. Tanis just opened her blue bookbag and took out her pocky. She handed the boy and I one. "The name is Kuro. Nice to meet you Toboe."
"His name is Toby," Tanis said.
"It's Toboe," I hissed back.
"Riiiiight." She then bit on her pocky.
I could tell that this was going to be one long day.
IIIII (Around ten....Narrator POV)
Young Toboe had been sleeping, snuggled up in his blankets. His head had started hurting once again so Tanis suggested that he sleep. The other two heard a knock on their door so they answered it, saying it was okay to come in, since the door was locked. They had to say that they were decent enough for company and then the person would unlock the door. He unlocked it, the two wolves standing in the doorway. Roi.
"He's sleeping?" He asked.
"Yes," Tanis said, looking over at the young boy. She looked back at Roi. "You want something?"
"Wake him up," the man said to Kuro. The boy just stared up at the man with glaring eyes. He noticed this so he glared back a bit himself. "You have a staring problem?"
"No, I just want to glare you to death," Kuro replied.
Tanis hissed "Kuro. Shutup." Then she turned to Roi with a smile "Can you come back later...? Umm....he's not feeling good."
"No. We have to see how much he can pull."
"But-"
"Do you want me to wake him up?"
The young girl wolf pouted and decided to do as he asked. That man was such a jerk all the time to them wolves and he wouldn't hesitate to hurt any of them either. That's just the way Roi was. He's the only one that Tanis didn't dare to stand up too since Roi happened to be the only one that ever gave her the beating that nearly killed her.
She walked over to Toboe and shook him a little. He just moaned and pulled the blankets cutely over his head, mumbling a name that Tanis didn't understand.
"Toboe...pst! Toboe! Wake up!" Tanis said quietly, shaking him some more. She sighed. "Toby!"
He rubbed his eyes while sitting up. "Don't call me (yawn) Toby."
"Roi's here," she said, looking at the door.
Toboe's eyes widened. No...he didn't want to go with him. He was the one that put him through so much pain. His arm and wrist still hurt so badly from what treatment that he put him through the last time that he mouthed off. Maybe if he was a good boy this time he would be able to survive what he was going to make him do. Hopefully it wasn't anything to bad. Toboe got out of the bed and walked over to Roi. He allowed Kuro and Tanis to tag along. They weren't going to allow him to go alone with this guy since they knew what a mean one he could be. Looking around, Toboe got a good gist of things.
This was the first time Toboe got a good look around. All of this place was metal, and it was huge! Their little house didn't turn out to be the only one either. There was only two allowed to have their own beds, a nine year old girl and an eleven year old boy. It had many boxes lined up along the wide walls. Five other guys, not including Fujii or Roi, just wandering about the warehouse. Toboe was led to a sled with Roi while Fujii kept an eye on Tanis and Kuro. Obviously, they knew what was going to happen, and it wasn't good because they weren't happy about him doing whatever they wanted him too. It made the pup all the more nervous of what was coming. There was a harness connected to the sled. Now he got the idea. He was going to be checked if how much he could carry on his own. In his condition...not much.
"Turn into a wolf," the man orderd, taking a whip from another man that just handed it to him. He whipped it near Toboe's feet, the boy jumped. "Now."
Toboe turned into his beautiful brown wolf form. He was ordered to let him harness him. When he was all set, the men started stacking boxes. Toboe didn't even consider running with this on him. The only exit was a garage like door and it was closed. He looked up at Roi who ordered some more boxes.
"Okay, twenty boxes, that's eighty pounds. Pull it three inches, pup," he ordered once again.
Easily, without even struggling, it surprised even Toboe, he pulled it. (That wasn't so bad!) Toboe thought to himself. Then, when there were ten more boxes put on, that was a struggle. His muscles started screaming at them. (I jinxed myself...didn't I?)
"Oh, don't tell me that you've already given up!" Roi teased Toboe as he tried to pull one hundred pounds. He might be strong, but not that strong. Especially bruised and battered. "You should be able to do more than this. Though, I did hurt you pretty bad, but, that's not my problem. Now try again!"
He whipped it at Toboe's paw and he pulled back. He tried once again, no good.
"Again!" He ordered, whipping near Toboe's back feet.
After many of tries, Toboe wanted to just give up. He started panting for breath. His tongue hanging out. This time, Roi shouted for another try and whipped Toboe's back. The boy howled at the searing pain.
He pulled it a few more inches but had to lay down. He gasped for air as his lungs couldn't expand far enough. Toboe felt like he was going to pass out at any moment from trying to hard. The whip last on his back only began to burn badly. He looked up at Roi who was threatening to whip him again. Toboe just looked away.
"Look at me you little freak show!" shouted Roi, whipping the wolf cub on the back once again. He only whimpered this time, then started growling. "Oooohhh...think your scary? Well, you don't scare me."
He whipped Toboe once again, just hitting his front left paw. Tanis shouted "Stop it! He's tired!"
"Don't talk to me," Roi snapped back.
"He's new. Give him a break? Please?" begged Tanis, her hazel eyes showing only concern for Toboe. Toboe stopped licking his paw and looked up at her. Was she trying to....protect him? "I'll do extra work. I can take it! And if I don't do as good as expected I'll get five lashes. Is that good enough?"
Roi contemplated for a moment. "Hmmm..."
"Tanis! What the hell are you doing?!" Kuro said angrily. "You were already whipped twice today because you took it for other people! You can't keep doing this. It's not good for you."
"Okay. You can do it for him," said Roi with an evil smirk. He un-did the harness and let Toboe change into human form. The boy ran over to Tanis for protection and comfort. She let him stand behind him, she seemed to run the pack around this place, because she acted like it. And she had to be the oldest one here. "But it won't be easy. So get a good day's rest because tonight it's cross country."
IIIII (The hut? Umm...Where Toboe is staying with Tanis and Kuro Narrator POV)
Toboe had taken off his shirt, letting Tanis sew the lash holes shut, and was letting Kuro treat his wounds on his back first. The whip lashes hurt, burned, then freezes as he cleaned them out with spring water. He said that he was basically the doctor around here. If someone got sick he would help them. Wolf or not. Said that he didn't want to be here but they fed them, clothed them, took care of them, and only beat them or whipped them when they weren't doing their best. They admitted that they hated it but he said that his whole family was killed for their fur.
When Kuro started to put an antibiotic cream into the lashes. Kuro had said that it would make it heal faster than it usually would on it's own. Plus that Toboe wanted to be in tip top shape every day because they never got a day off. And that he should really be more careful to watch where the whip was going. To dodge it better or he would be killed. It stung and he gasped but it was just a reaction to the coldness on it. Well, part cold, and part pain. But mostly pain. Toboe didn't mind the horrible pain, all that much, but when he pressed to hard into one of the lashes on his back he had to say something.
"Ouch! Ouch!" Toboe shouted. "Don't press so hard!"
"Hold still," ordered Kuro as he wiped some more into there. "Do you have any family? Toboe?"
"Well..." Toboe thought for a moment. His thoughts flashed Tsume's, then Kiba's, then Hige's faces through his mind. "Yeah. I have three older brothers. But my favorite is Tsume."
"Cool," Kuro told him. He sighed as he finished with the cream, then proceeded to patch it up. "I had an older brother too. He was the one that saved me from being killed. Unfortunately, he didn't survive."
"What was he like?" Toboe asked as he turned to Kuro to let him treat his hand.
"His name was Ayakato and he was amazing. He was a beautiful brown wolf with thick fur. He was fast, smart, cool, and fun," Kuro sighed after he finished. He took Toboe's hand and then looked at his face. "He looked, well, I think so...yeah..from what I can remember of him he...sort of looked just like you. Only, not as girly looking."
"Girly?!" Toboe snapped at his new found friend. "What do you mean 'girly'?"
"Exactly what he said," Tanis added, sitting on the bed to the right of them. She handed him his shirt when Kuro began to treat his hand. "A pretty boy."
"Hey, Tanis, can I ask you something?"
"Sure. Shoot."
"Why did you do that for me back there? I mean, you didn't have to. But you did."
"We're all friends here!" Tanis said happily. She stood up and smiled at him. "Besides, I'm the oldest, it's my responsibility to take care of you all. If I don't, who will?"
Toboe smiled. It was nice to know he had two friends here.
Then Toboe thought for a moment. But she couldn't be older than him! "Wait, you have to be atleast my age, right? You can't be older than me."
"I'm fourteen."
"Me too," Toboe said, proving his point.
"When were you born?"
"September second." (A/N: I'm guessing on this one too!)
"Ha! I was born on July 30th! Besides, I'm taller than you," she said proudly. "Anyway, I should try to get to sleep. I do have to do that cross country thing. Night, you two."
She laid down in her bed and cuddled up. Toboe smiled. Well, now he knew atleast one thing, that he wasn't leaving without these two by his side. Or any of the other wolves. He was dead determined to get these other kids out of here. It's not good for them to work at such a young age. To tell the truth, Toboe didn't want to do it either. His train of thought was broken by Kuro putting the cold creme on him and it stung.
"Owww! That really hurt! Are you trying to hurt me or something?" Toboe asked, pouting. Kuro didn't say anything, he just sighed. He guessed that Kuro really wasn't the talkative type. He didn't seem like it. "Thanks."
"Your welcome Ayakato," Kuro said. When he looked up at Toboe who seemed to be shocked, and he realized what he called him, he said "I'm soooo sorry! I didn't mean to call you-"
"It's okay," Toboe said. He smiled. "I consider it a complement."
"Thanks..."
"What are you thanking me for?"
"For bringing back the memories of Ayakato and I. Thank you so much for that. And if you need anything, just say the word," said the black wolf with a wink. Toboe nodded. "Oh, and guess what?"
"Yeah?"
"You aren't girly. You're a tough kid, just like he was."
IIIII
Please review! Please? I'm trying hard! Should I continue? Or should I stop? Are the chapters to long??? Please do review. If anyone's wondering, NO, Toboe is not going to be in a relationship with Tanis.
Oh, and I want you to know that Tanis is a special appearance by my fantastic friend MalletWeilderofDoom (read her fics. Really, really good!) or, as I call her, My Kate-Kate. She's like that in real life too. ;; It's a good thing, really. I luvv you my Kate-Kate!