Chapter 2:

Water extinguished the already dieing fire. It hissed nastily before reluctantly giving in.

"Okay," Hige confirmed, putting the bucket back where he had found it: perked up against the wall in the depths of the cave. He took Blue's wrist and looked blindly out at the others before finally announcing that it was about time they left.

"But it's wet!" Toboe complained.

"And you're point?" he asked.

"I...don't wanna get wet," Toboe answered silently.

Hige sighed and shook his head in disgust. "Toboe, you're a wolf," he started, "wolves are wild animals. Dogs don't wanna get wet. Wolves love the rain!"

"Whatever you say," Toboe muttered, following Hige and Blue out into the cold, wet beyond.

Black watched them disappear as they rounded the bend, and sat down heavily on the floor of what they had called home for three days. He buried his head in his knees and listened as the footsteps went further and further through the snow.

"Are you coming?" Toboe asked, poking his head back into the cave. "Or do you not wanna get wet either?"
Black shifted somewhat so he didn't have to look at Toboe.

"Black?" The young wolf stepped gingerly into the cave and closer to his pack mate. "You okay?"

The black wolf stared angrily at the pup. A low growl filled his throat and his upper lip curled to reveal gleaming, deadly fangs. Toboe stepped back, alarmed. "Black?"

The older wolf lunged himself at Toboe and sank his teeth into his front leg.

The brown pup shrieked in pain and surprise.

The black wolf stood dangerously on top of him, teeth still bared to the fullest. He lifted a paw in warning; a warning, which Toboe took as "Get the hell out of here and don't come back!"

He jumped to his feet and sprinted out of the cave, holding his left arm and shaking slightly in terror. "Hige!"

Black quickly snatched up his bag and ran to the back entrance. He hurriedly dug out the small rocks that had gathered there just as Hige came running in, threatening to kill him. He leapt out the hole and jumped on top of the cave, ducking low to hide his presence. Hige burst through seconds later, panting angrily, fists raised, teeth bared.

He looked around the deserted grounds and called out, "Yeah, you better run! If I ever catch you near him again, I'll rip you're eyes out!"

His ears and tail dropped, and Black thought he heard what could have been a muttered, "and I trusted you with my life," as he walked back into the cave.

On his elbows, he edged slowly to the front of the cave, close enough to see the group, but far enough not to be spotted. His black coat didn't do much in the way of camouflage, either.

Hige emerged out of the cave. Toboe ran to him, still clutching his wounded arm, which Blue had rapped up with her orange scarf.

"What did you do to him?!" He asked eagerly.

"Nothing. I couldn't find him," Hige answered, looking down at his shoes.

"He didn't mean it! He was out of control! He couldn't—what?" Toboe asked.

"I said I couldn't find him. He had already gone. That coward."

Toboe let out a sigh of relief. His ears pricked up. "What do you mean coward?" he asked angrily. "He's as brave as any of us."

"You give him to much credit," Hige mumbled.

Five days had past since Black's attack on Toboe, and the small group had managed to catch up with Tsume and Kiba.

They wondered recklessly through the golden gates of the city Pershuva, looking for food and water.

"I'm starving," Hige muttered, falling on his knees on the gold-paved street. His stomach growled loudly. "See?" he added. "My stomach's talking to me. It's saying, 'Feed me Hige! I'm dyeing!'"

"Shut up, Hige," Tsume commanded. "We're all hungry and you're not helping."

Kiba stopped.

"What?" Tsume asked.

"Where's Toboe?" Kiba asked, looking around worriedly.

Hige jumped to his feet. "TOBOE!"

"I'm over here!"

They turned their heads toward the voice. Toboe's head was peeking out of a silver doorway. "Look!" he exclaimed, "Food!" and held up a beautiful, golden brown apple pie.

"Toboe, get out of there!" Tsume called, running to him. "If you don't I'll rip up you're other arm! If someone catches you..."

Tsume froze in his tracks. A boy between his and Toboe's age stood behind him on the doorstep. He had brown hair and light green eyes.

"Toboe, run," Tsume said softly.

Toboe shock his head violently. "I'm hungry! No time to run! Anyway, he's okay. He said he'd feed us if we help him out."

"I knew there was a catch." Tsume walked into the house, followed shortly by Hige, Kiba and Blue.

"What do you want us to do?" Blue asked, shifting her weight from one foot to the other.

"I need you to answer a question," the boy answered, staring at her, "and then I'll give you all the food you want."

"Shoot," Hige commanded.

"I'm looking for my dog—wolf, really. He's black, doesn't talk much. Mean looking, I guess you could say. But sweet all things considered."

Toboe straightened up. "Does he have a white paw?" he asked.

The boy nodded. "You've seen him?"

"That's Black!" Toboe said happily.

"He's YOUR dog?! Wolf?!" Hige said through gritted teeth.

The boy nodded. "What did he do?"

"Almost killed Toboe, that's what!" he snapped.

"What?" the boy asked. "No. He wouldn't..." he stuttered, looking sideways at Toboe. "Would he?"

"He didn't mean it!" Toboe snapped. "He was scared."

The group looked at him questioningly.

"Of what?" Blue asked.

"Of—of them."