Welcome back, to another wonderful Monday. I have several announcements to make, before we begin with this chapter.
Fist order of business, Ages: Serena (21), Kiba (22), Tsume (28) Toboe (16), Hige (22).
Second order of business, Warnings: Warning this chapter contains contents not suitable for children under the age of…(J/K!!) (But I am not kidding about the warning though…) This chapter contains; N, SC, L, (L for future chapters…)and G.
And no I don't mean, Nerds, Serious Constipation, Legelos, and Grapes… get your minds out of the gutter!
LMAO…
Third order of business, thank you so much for those of you who reviewed!!!! You are awesome!
Thanks goes out to: Machiko, Selene, jypsee, Dukes, Flame Dancer077, setsuna-3000, Lady Light, keika bee, me, unicorn87, Hacen, BlueFrost, Aeden Hale, GambitGirl2008, Kitoky, Kagero, Blood River, serena-bunny-hime, Serenity Komoshiro, kittydemon(usagi), Delphine Pryde, Anime Moon Gurl, Lady Heather, White Moon Universe Guard, Chaos, Sunshine Fia, Hn, pumpunita, Moon-n-Universe-Goddess, Concrete Tenshi, Serenity Moon2.
And finally questions will be answered after the chapter.
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Chapter eight:
The Full Moon
"We're leaving," he said flatly, as his eyes shifted over the two men, who were still eating from the deer's remains. Toboe was behind him, shuffling his feet, while he continually wiped at his mouth.
Reluctantly, Hige stood and licked his lips. "Now?" he asked. His burgundy eyes flickered to the bundle in Kiba's arms. "Is she okay?"
Kiba narrowed his eyes at other boy. Without saying anything, he tightened his arms around the small body he held fast to his chest. Turning from the pair, he started off North.
Whether the others followed or not, he didn't care. Getting to the next city was all that was on his mind.
His eyes fell to the girl who slept soundly in his arms. It had taken time, but he had finally gotten her to calm down. She hadn't eaten in two days. How long could a human go without food? He didn't know. He had never spent time with humans long enough to know.
Two days, he reminded himself. Two days, and the full moon would rise. Hopefully by then they would have found a city. Could a human live without food for four days?
They would have to move fast, and hard. There wouldn't be time to rest. If only I could travel by wolf, he thought. Then I could cover more ground in less time.
But that was impossible.
"Kiba, slow down!" a voice cried out from behind him. He ignored it, forcing his body to move swifter and harder against the wind. Whether it went against him or with him, he didn't plan to slow down.
A howl pierced the air, slicing through the wind, and reached his ears. He glanced back briefly. Three wolves crossed the terrain behind him. They scoured the Earth, their destination unknown to anyone but themselves.
It was a wonderful sight, one he wished he could partake in.
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"Kiba, we need to stop!" a voice shouted from a distance.
Turning, he looked back. The rough breeze ripped at his hair throwing it into his line of vision. With a shake of his head, he was given a chance to see, before the wind threw his hair back into his face. They had been traveling for two days against bitter winds. Even though it was June, the weather had not gotten warmer. Which was good at times, but then it was also bad. They didn't have to worry about dehydrating, but the cold weather made it hard for them to travel.
The pack behind him was at least a half of a mile back. Somehow they had managed to slow down that much, without him even realizing it.
Sighing, he looked down at the bundle in his arms. She hadn't gotten any better. The cold was getting to her, since she didn't have much cover, besides her clothes.
Kiba lifted his head to look ahead of him. They had yet to reach a city. The longer she went without food, the worst she got.
"Kiba," she said, her teeth chattering as she tried to talk. "You need to rest. I can walk." She tried to push herself away from him, but he held her closer to him. His body gave her some heat, and without it, he was sure she would freeze. "Kiba," she said, her voice firmer now. "They cant go on like this."
He shook his head, his face set with determination. "We have no choice." Even though he was still moving, his pace was that of a walk.
"Then put me down." She tried to shove at him again, but her feeble attempts were no match against his strength. "If you don't let them rest, then I'm going to order you to put me down, and I'll go back."
Kiba sighed, and finally he came to a stop. Looking at his surroundings, he replied, "There are some trees over there, we'll use them as cover for the night." He started moving again, letting his legs lead him to the patch of trees that still stood in this wasteland. When he reached the shade, which blocked the winds, he finally set his burden down.
She happily pulled away from him. "This is much better," she said, as she stretched her limbs.
Serena climbed to her feet, her knees straining slightly under her own weight. As the others began to arrive, she slipped into the trees.
If there are trees, then there must be water, she thought to herself. Her hand moved to touch her stomach. "I'm so hungry," she said aloud.
When she reached a small clearing, her eyes were greeted with that of a small pool. "How wonderful," she breathed.
Dropping to her knees, she cupped her hands beneath the clear surface. Greedily, she drank, letting the cool liquid fill her empty body, and restore some life into her. Once she had had her fill, she shifted till she sat on her rear. Pulling her feet close, she jerked off her shoes, and socks, and let them fall to the dirt.
Serena rolled her jeans up as high as she could, before dunking her feet into the cold water. Even though she was cold to begin with, the feel of the water was wonderful.
She let her eyes close, so that she could truly relish in the feel of it. Now here is something I really miss, she thought. There was nothing like bathing. It was one way to make her feel clean, whether is was warm or not.
Blinking her eyes open, she stared at the line of trees across from the small pool. The water couldn't have been more than several meters long. Its shape was more like an oval, the length of it was spread out in front of her.
A perfect place for a bath, she thought with some excitement. Looking back over her shoulder, she shouted, "Don't any of you come in here! I'm going to get undressed!" She waited for a second, listening to the silence around here. "If I catch any of you peeking, I'll skin you alive, and wear your fur as a coat!"
This time she was greeted with the sounds of rustling leaves, and snapping twigs that littered the wooded floor.
Serena smirked, her eyes shinning with mirth. Reluctantly, she stood, and moved away from the pool. Reaching up, she shed off her jacket, and tossed it to the floor. Next she unbutton her pants, and quickly slipped out of them. Just thinking of bathing, made her move faster than she had in four days.
She easily stripped to her undergarments. I wonder… Serena looked behind her, her eyes searching the trees. She wasn't to keen on giving a bunch of boys a show. But she didn't want to have to lay around in wet clothes, either.
Sighing, she took off the rest of her clothes, that including her bra, and underwear. When she was finally stripped naked, she finally moved back to the pool.
It was cold, very cold. Almost as bitter as the winds she had been traveling through for the last four days. Instinctively, her arms crossed over her chest, and she shivered. Taking in a deep breath, she held it, as she moved deeper into the water.
Soon she was knee deep, and then waist deep. She was nearly halfway into the pool, when the surface reached her collarbone.
Her teeth were chattering loudly, and it took all she had to ignore how cold the water was. If I move around, I'll get warm, she said to encourage herself. Trying to convince herself that the water wasn't as bad as it really was.
Swimming at first was much more like a chore. It wasn't until she was too numb to feel the cold, that it became much easier. Starting off she swam laps, letting her numb body heat up. After being immobile for two whole days, swimming was almost like a God send. It was almost like being caged in, she told herself. A feeling she hated more than anything.
When swimming the length of the pool began to bore her, so she tried floating on her back. After a few near drowns on that, she gave up, and swam back to shore.
As soon as her feet were able to touch, and walking in water was easier than trying to swim, she stood. She was about waist deep in water, when she started cleaning. With only her hands as her tools, she rubbed at her body to rid herself of the grimy feeling she had accumulated by being out in the middle of nowhere.
What I would do for a hot bubble bath. She smiled at that thought. And a hot cup of cocoa.
Serena sighed, a little wistfully. Turning around, she dunked her head foreword, letting her hair soak in the water, before throwing her head back. Her hair slapped against her bare back, causing her to wince some.
Her eyes dropped to the healing wound on her shoulder. It would probably scar, but she didn't mind. It was evidence that what had happened to her, was real.
The sound of a twig breaking, had her head lifting in the direction it came from. Déjà vu, she thought with slight annoyance. A white wolf stood near the edge of the clearing.
Mustering her best scowl, she quickly crossed her arms over her chest. "Didn't I tell you once before about a girl's privacy! I even told you before hand not to come here," she accused. Since he seemed unaffected by her discomfort, she ordered, "Well can you at least turn around!"
The wolf grunted, before doing as she asked.
Serena sighed, and since this would probably be her only chance to find cover, she hurried out of the water. Turning her back on the wolf, she quickly rung out her blonde hair, and then tossed it over her shoulder.
Bending down, she reached for her underwear, and tugged them on. Next she pulled on her bra. Once that was finished, she reached for her jeans, and shirt. As soon as she was dressed, she turned around to face her wolf.
But instead she was met with a man. "Kiba!" she nearly shrieked. Holding one hand over her heart, she shot the boy a smoldering look. "You scared the hell out of me!"
Kiba didn't reply. Instead, he turned back to the trees, and reached for something. "Hige found this. The others have already eaten, now its your turn."
Serena felt her body stiffen when she saw the remains of an antelope. It was obvious that something had already feasted on the corpse, since the wound in its belly was quite large.
"Kiba," she said, her voice hoarse. "I cant eat that!"
Blue eyes narrowed on her. "You have to. If you don't eat, you could die. We might not reach a city in time."
She was already shaking her head. "If-if I'm such a burden to you, then leave me here. I'll find my own way to the city."
He dropped the leg he had been holding firmly in one hand. With a low growl, he stalked towards her, and grabbed her by the shoulders. "You will eat," he snarled. His blue eyes burned into hers, causing her to jerk back in fear. His image was fading in and out, so that his wolf form came and went.
Seeing that his hold on her was hurting her, he released her. Turning he moved back to the body, and plunged his hand deep into the gaping hole.
Serena gagged, her whole body shaking like a leaf. "Please Kiba," she begged. Her eyes followed him, as he tore out a chunk of meat, and made his way towards her. She started to shake her head, her feet moving her back, and away from him. "No Kiba, no." Her eyes flickered from his face, to his hand and back again.
She was jolted when her foot stepped back, and she suddenly felt cold. Looking down, she realized she had reached the water.
"You wont survive without food," he said, as he advanced on her.
"I'll be fine, Kiba. I'm sure there's a city close by." Her eyes were frantic, their gaze moving about her, looking for an escape.
"No you wont. There is no guarantee that there will be a city even close to here," he replied. He was nearly on top of her, when she turned around and fled.
Gritting his teeth, Kiba lunged. His body crashed into hers, and they hit the water with a loud splash. When they came up for air, he was holding the squirming blonde with one arm. "Eat it!" he ordered. The chunk of meat was gripped tightly in his other hand, as he tried to force it into her mouth.
"NO-" her shout was cut off, when the raw meat was pushed into her mouth.
Her eyes widened, and her thrashing grew worse. It came to a point, where he had to hold her with both of his arms, to keep her from getting free.
Kiba feared that she might just spit the meat out, since both of his hand were busy trying to keep her from drowning them both. But he was completely thrown off, when she suddenly moaned. Her thrashing ceased, and she laid still in his arms.
With raised brows, he looked down at the girl in his arms. She was laying there content, her eyes closed, as she licked her lips, greedily. Wha- his confused thoughts, were cut off, when she opened her eyes.
He was so used to seeing a pair of bright blue eyes, that when he found himself staring into a pair of silvery ones, his grip on her slackened.
She easily slipped from his arms, and stood in the knee deep water. "You're a real jerk," she grounded out. She turned around, and her now blue eyes shot him a nasty look.
"Wha-what…," he tried to ask, but found himself fumbling over his own words.
Serena stormed out of the water, her arms wrapped around her middle. Her eyes trailed towards the carcass, and her stomach growled. "Why did you make me eat that?" She tore her gaze away, and turned towards him. She didn't look any different now, and he wondered if maybe it had been the lighting that had affected the color of her eyes.
Carefully, he climbed to his feet, and slowly made he way out of the water.
His skin bristled.
Wearily his eyes lifted to the sky overhead. The sun was setting behind the trees. Pink, orange, and yellow sprayed across what was once a gray blue.
Tonight is the full moon, he realized. What heat the sun had given was quickly dieing, as it disappeared. Never had the sun set as quickly as it did now.
Either time passed by them all too quickly, as they stood there near the pool, or it had been much later than he had first realized.
His skin tingled, causing his body to quiver in delight. Tonight was the full moon, he thought in wonder. Tonight his body would rejuvenate. Already his body was wanting to take its true form, to become the wolf he really was.
"K-Ki-Kiba."
He frowned, his eyes blinking, and the golden orbs turned back to blue, as he looked over at the girl who stood in front of him. She was shivering in the dimming light.
Reluctantly, he moved towards her, willing to give her his heat, even if it meant putting off his true form a bit longer. He had hardly taken several steps towards her, when he caught a whiff of something. Stopping, he sniffed at the air, and a frown knitted his brows.
Kiba looked at the girl sharply, when he recognized the scent. It seemed much stronger than usual. Testing the air again, he nearly growled.
Worried, Serena glanced around, "Is something wrong, Kiba?" He was acting strange. Stranger than usual, she thought to herself.
When he grabbed at his head, and shook it hard, she took a step back in alarm. What's wrong? she asked in a slight panic.
Her hands formed into fists at her sides. Forcing herself foreword, she asked timidly, "Kiba?"
Again he shook his head, this time more roughly than before. "Get away from me," he growled at her. Hurt by his tone, she stopped moving towards him. She fought back the sting of tears, and forced herself to try to figure out what might be wrong with him. "Kiba, what's wrong? Are you hurt?"
This time the growl held a hint of a howl to it. Whether it was from pain or not, she couldn't tell. He dropped down into a crouched position, still holding his head. Worry filled her, shoving back fear and hurt.
As she started towards him, the area became bright, as the clouds overhead made room to show off the full moon. It was then, she started to feel faint, her body tingling all over, as if it had fallen asleep.
Serena stopped, when she reached his side. She was reluctant to touch him. If he was in pain, he could lash out at her. Clearing her throat, she struggled to find her voice. "Kiba," she breathed, her voice not even sounding like her own.
The reply given to her, was a low growl. Not as menacing as the last, but sounding more like a warning. Fighting back the rising hysteria, she asked, "C-can I help? Should I get the others?"
Her panic escalated, when fur rippled over his skin. Looking up, she wondered if the stories about werewolves were real. Did the moon effect them? The idea scared her deeply. How could she protect herself against a wild animal, if it decided to attack her?
Her chest, rose and fell, in heavy pants. Three sets of howls pierced the air, causing her to jump. Her eyes flew back to the boy who held his head in his hands, and trembled as if in pain. "I-I'll go get the others, they might know wha-"
"NO!" the growl rippled through the air between them. Before she could act, he threw himself at her. She didn't get the chance to scream, before her back hit the ground, and the air was knocked out of her lungs.
He was in his wolf form, his golden eyes glowing with the moonlight overhead. He gave out a dignified snort. "Kiba," she gasped, unable to breath with his paws pressing down on her chest, pinning her to the ground.
When he moved forward, she closed her eyes expecting her throat to be torn open like the antelope's had been. Her eyes flew open, when the white wolf slid his tongue along her neck, instead. She stared at him in shock, even after he changed back into his human form.
"Kiba?" she questioned, unsure of what she was seeing. Was this real? When he nudged her face with his nose, her brows lifted. "What are you doing," she asked him incredulously. He still held her firmly to the ground, his hands planted at her sides, and beneath her arms. He leaned his face back down to hers again. Rubbing his cheek against her cheek, he breathed in deeply.
Serena's eyes widened, and her back stiffened slightly. Turning her head towards him, she tried to find her voice. But before she could say anything, he beat her to it. "I told you to get away," he growled softly. "Now its to late."
It would have been a threat, had it happened at any other time. Serena broke out into a fit of giggles, as she squirmed beneath him. "Kiba, that tickles!" she cried out. Twisting beneath him, she tried to evade his nibbling.
Laughing like she was, brought tears streaming from her eyes. "Kiba!!!" she shouted, giving him a look. "What has gotten into you?" Since the day she had met him, he had never done anything so outrageous like this before.
Smirking, Kiba jumped to his feet. Reaching down, he pulled her up against him. He buried his face against the crook of her neck, and nuzzled her there. She squirmed at the strange touch, as she fought off peals of laughter. "Will you stop that?" she begged.
When she managed to wriggle her way out of his reach, she sighed in relief. Reaching up, she touched her neck, where he had nibbled on her skin. It still tingled.
Serena looked over at the boy, and caught the playful look in his blue eyes. When he jumped at her, she let out a shriek, and ran. She stormed into the water, spraying it everywhere as she went.
Looking back, she gasped. He was moving much faster than she was in the knee deep water.
Not wasting another moment, she dove into the cold depths of the pool. Her arms and legs moved as one, propelling her through the water. But she didn't get far, before arms wrapped around her, pulling her against a solid form beneath the surface.
Through the haze, she could barely make out his form. His thick hair floated around his face, which moved closer to hers. His eyes were open, and she was sure he could see fine even under water. So much for staying dry, she thought. They both had neglected to undress, before prancing into the water like that had just done.
With her lips pressed tightly together, to keep in her needed air, she cupped his face with her hands. She had done this several times before, but the only difference, was that this time she leaned towards him. Serena crushed her lips against his, as their heads broke the surface. She lingered a second longer, before she broke off the chaste kiss.
When she pulled back, she was mildly pleased to see the shocked expression on his face. The corner of his lips lifted, as if he wanted to smile, but was unsure if he should. Tenderly, she brushed her fingers behind his ears.
His eyes fell closed, and his breathing quickened. She laughed, glad that the caress had the same effect in both of his forms.
Suddenly, he growled, and his arms pulled her tight against him, so that they touched everywhere. He pressed his mouth against hers, like she had done. Only when he pulled away, he licked her lips, before kissing the hollow of her throat.
Serena moaned, the feeling sending heat soaring through her veins. Where she had been cold, now burned with fire. She threw her arms around his neck, wanting to be even closer to him.
He growled against her throat, before he nipped her skin. Pulling back, he looked at her with dark eyes. "Serena," he managed, his voice sounding thick. Shaking her head, she pressed her lips against the side of his throat, and nibbled his skin, like he had done to her.
She pulled back just a fraction, her hesitation only brief. With her fingers tangled in his long hair, she murmured, "Now is not the time to talk." Then to keep him from saying anything, she kissed him on the mouth, hoping to silence him for the rest of the night.
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With a yawn Toboe arched his back, and stretched lazily. He had never gotten such a blissful sleep as he had, since embarking on this journey. The full moon had done wonders at healing all of his aches and worries throughout the night.
Standing, he looked around at the small group. It appeared he was the only one awake. Tsume was curled up near a tree, his back towards the rest of them. Hige had fallen asleep close to the smaller wolf. They might have sought shelter in the trees, but that didn't mean it kept the cold from penetrating them.
He stretched again, his mouth opening to let loose another yawn. Once that was over with, he allowed his wolf form to change into that of his human one.
Now that he was on two feet, he searched the tiny clearing for two more occupants. "Kiba?" he asked aloud. The white wolf was missing, along with the girl they had brought with them from the city. Turning this way and that, he frowned. "Didn't they come back last night?" he wondered.
Starting for the trees, he thought back to the night before. Serena had went in search of water when they had first arrived. It hadn't been long, before Kiba had went after her.
Scratching his belly, he worked his way around the tall trees in search of his companions. It wasn't long before a familiar scent assaulted his nostrils. His brows knitted together, as his frown deepened. Hige had managed to find a herd of antelope before dusk. With Tsume and Kiba's help they had managed to catch three of them.
Toboe pushed a low hanging branch out of his face, so that he could see. The first thing he saw, was the rotting carcass of one of the antelopes they had caught. Tilting his head slightly, the younger wolf tried not to let the sight of partly skeletal form bother him.
His stomach grumbled, warning him that he hadn't eaten to his heart content the night before. Two antelope between three wolves was hardly enough to appease them. With a small sigh, he pulled himself out of the trees, and entered the spacious clearing.
In the light of the day, it was quite beautiful, almost like a paradise in itself. Too bad Kiba was too thick most of the time to realize that paradise could be as simple as a pool of water surrounded by a thicket of trees.
The ground might not be littered with sweet smelling flowers, he thought with slight resentment. "But there is some heaven still left in this barren world," he said softly under his breath.
Brown eyes shifted away from the clear water, to look at the rest of the serene clearing. It was quiet here, hardly a bird spoke out of tune, as if not wanting to disturb someone in a deep slumber.
Walking further into the area, he linked his fingers behind his head in a lazy but comfortable manner.
He would have started whistling to a tune his old owner used to hum, when something peculiar caught his eye. He raised a brow in wonder at what he was seeing.
It wasn't like he hadn't seen it before, since he had woken twice to find them lying together. But there was something different this time.
Toboe stayed where he was, not willing to move any closer to the two bodies that laid near the shore of the pool. Diligently, he sniffed at the air, and snorted. His nose twitched, and he had to shake his head, as if to stop himself from sneezing.
A hand fell onto his shoulder, causing him to jump about a mile. "Tsume!" he hissed, his brown eyes narrowing on the older wolf. "You scared me," the younger wolf accused.
Tsume didn't look at the angered boy, but stared at the two still fast asleep. His golden eyes narrowed slightly, but unlike his naïve companion, he didn't sniff at the air. "Come little one, we are not welcomed here."
Turning, the silver haired man started back in the direction Toboe had come from.
The younger boy watched the older man walk towards the trees. Hesitant, he glanced back at the lake. Not welcomed, he wondered to himself.
"Toboe." The steel in the older wolf's voice caused the younger one to follow, even though he was quite reluctant to do so.
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Serena opened eyes to feel the sun basking her in its warmth. Smiling languidly, she stretched her arms above her head, and yawned lazily.
The feel of something snuggling against her middle, had her lifting her head to look. She was lying on her back, in the clearing from yesterday. She was close to the water, but far enough that she was dry. Frowning, she tried to think why the sight of her body nearly blinded her.
Her head tilted, and she winced when her hair was pulled. Looking back, her eyes widened in shock. My hair! she cried out in alarm. While her hair had been cut at a decent length before she had gone swimming, it had grown. That was what was covering her naked form.
With one arm to hold her up, she gingerly touched a long strand of her blonde hair. What happened last night, she asked herself. She didn't remember anything about her hair growing.
Something cold touched her side. Blinking, Serena looked down to find Kiba nudging her gently with his black nose. She stared at his thick white fur, before she reached out, and scratched him behind the ears.
With out moving, his wolf form changed into his human one. With a wild look in his eyes, he moved closer to her, touching his nose with hers. Serena smile goofily at him. "Morning to you too," she said faintly.
Last night was like a hazy dream, something too good to be true.
Swallowing hard, she had to work around her parched throat, that needed water in order to work right. "My hair…" she held up a handful. "Do you know when…" she licked her lips, trying to work enough salvia in her mouth to talk right.
Kiba smirked, and he bumped noses with her again, causing her to lose her train of thought. "Well I remember last night, I mean how could I-" she broke off, when he nibbled at the skin over her vocal box. She laughed, the feeling tickling her. "Kiba!"
She tried swatting at him, but he caught her wrist in his hand.
Serena felt her face burn. "Y-you know, I bet the others are wondering where we are."
The boy let out an annoyed growl at the mention of the others. Rolling her eyes, she pulled herself out from underneath him.
Climbing to her feet, she stretched her limbs, causing her toes to curl. "Wow, I feel great." Shaking her head from side to side, she lifted her arms up over her head again. "I haven't slept that good for like a month," she admitted aloud. Moving towards the water, she knelt down at the edge. Cupping her hands beneath the surface, she splashed the water into her face, and rubbed.
When she pulled her hands away, she could make out a small amount of blood, just before it vanished within the pool. Shaking her head, she quickly drank from the water, trying to fight off the images she kept getting from the night before.
Once she had had her fill of water, she climbed to her feet, and turned away from the pool. Serena looked around herself, searching for her clothes. Spotting the pile, she quickly dressed.
As soon as she finished, she turned around, and found her white wolf waiting near the trees for her. Smiling, she hurried after him. She had to pass the remains of the antelope to get to him.
She shivered at the memory of her eating off the carcass. She couldn't chalk it up as dreams, because of her lack of food. Glancing down at her stomach, she winced. She wasn't hungry any longer, not like she had been last night.
Only parts of the night before had been a complete haze to her, while others were sharp and clear in her mind.
Her cheeks burned as she thought about the things she knew had happened.
Kiba disappeared into the trees, and she quickly followed him. They easily made their way to where the others waited. The guys were all awake, and seemed to be waiting for them to arrive.
"Serena?"
Hige jumped to his feet, as soon as she left the dense trees. She flashed the older boy a smile. "Morning everyone," she greeted, as her eyes swept over the group.
Toboe climbed to his feet, when she spoke. "Morning Serena. Are you better?" he asked, his eyes moving over her.
She watched as his brows lifted, and she knew it had to be because of her hair. Looking down at it as well, she flushed. "I don't know what happened," she explained. The long tresses now reached her calves in length, a good several feet longer than the day before.
As if needing to take the attention off herself, she asked, "so are we ready to continue our journey?"
Everyone then turned to the white wolf, who had been watching the scene unfold, silently. His image changed into that of his human form. "Yes," he answerer shortly.
With that said, he started walking, leaving the shelter of the trees behind. He was heading North again, in the same direction as before.
Serena shrugged at the looks shot her way. Copying the boy's movements, she started after him. The other's followed the pair, but kept their distance.
----
It took them two more days, before they had reached the nearest city. When they arrived, the group was too exhausted to even to begin to search for food.
"We'll rest here," Kiba spoke carefully. Stepping beneath the bridge, he laid the sleeping girl down near the stone wall, before he turned to the others.
Toboe looked worst for wear, as he sagged to the floor. "I'm so tired," he mumbled weakly. Already the younger wolf's eyes were beginning to droop.
Kiba sighed raggedly, as the others settled down to rest beneath the stone bridge. He was just as tired as the others, but he felt reluctant to sleep yet.
Sitting down, he let himself relax next to the sleeping blonde. To his amusement, she shifted around on the hard ground, until she laid even closer to him.
"Kiba," Tsume warned him. "We can't drag her along with us any longer."
The older wolf laid down a little ways away from the others. Resting his head on his paws, he gave Kiba a serious look. "You know she cant come with us," he said tiredly. "She's a human, a human woman no less. There is no way she would survive."
Kiba watched as the gray wolf slip into a dreamless sleep, his body too exhausted to move anymore. He sat there silently, watching as everyone around him slept soundly.
What Tsume had said was true. Serena had been lucky to survive just the six days. What if their journey became more dangerous?
Lowering his eyes to the girl curled up next to him, he realized what he would have to do.
Moving carefully, he shifted till he was crouched next to her. "Serena," he called softly. The blonde hardly stirred. "Serena," he tried again, this time shaking her by the shoulders.
Blue eyes stared up at him through a haze of sleep. "Kiba?" she said thickly, her voice sounding tired. "What's wrong?" She wearily sat up, with a loud yawn. "We made it to the city?"
He stared at her as she looked around them. "Yes, why don't we go find something for you to eat," he said carefully.
Serena smiled, "Oh, can we get some noodles. Noodles sound really good."
Kiba felt himself nodding, even though something sharp tried to pierce right through his chest. He knew what he would have to do. "Come on, we'll get whatever you want."
----
"Kiba try some!" she offered the cup of noodles they had gotten to go at an Italian restaurant.
The older boy shook his head, refusing politely. Shrugging her shoulders, Serena moved ahead of him, as she greedily ate from the container. "Thank you Kiba, for everything!" She tossed her arms above her head, nearly spilling noodles everywhere.
She turned to look at him, her face glowing with the near perfect moon behind her. The sky was dark, and the hour late. Giving him a grand smile, she reached out to take his hand.
His eyes followed her movements, before he looked back at her face. "Lets see the city," she said, her eagerness contagious.
He smiled in return, and took her offered hand.
After tossing the container in a nearby trashcan, she started to tug the older boy down the street. "Tell me Kiba," she said after a bit of silence. "Where are we going?"
Kiba shrugged, not really willing to give her an answer. "But you've been traveling North for six days, surely you have a place in mind?" She was looking at him, as they walked with the road. Letting it lead them to unfamiliar surroundings.
Dropping his gaze to stare at their feet, he replied softly, "Paradise."
Serena frowned, her brows drawing together in confusion. "Paradise," she asked. He couldn't be serious, she thought to herself. No such place truly existed anymore. Nodding, Kiba looked at her now, his eyes betraying what he truly felt. She was startled by the mixed emotions set in his blue eyes. Eyes that usually held little to no feelings at all.
A small smile found its ways on her face, as she continued to look at him. "Paradise, huh?" Serena tore her eyes away, and looked out at the sky. "It sounds wonderful Kiba."
He nodded, also looking out towards the moon. "It is. Flowers bloom everywhere, and everything smells wonderful."
Serena had a distinct memory form in her mind, as she stared up at the imperfect moon, as each day it receded into a new moon. In her mind's eye she saw flowers, and trees, and glorious colors. "Flowers are nice," she said softly. Hesitantly, she glanced at him from the corner of her eyes.
"We have to find Cheza," he confessed. He seemed suddenly willing to say everything, not holding back any longer. "Cheza? Whose Cheza," she asked carefully. She braced herself, waiting for something she didn't want to know, but had to know.
Kiba pulled his hand free from hers, and stuffed them into his pockets. She wasn't sure if he had meant to do it on purpose, but he seemed to be withdrawing from her. "The Flower Maiden. Only she can lead the way to paradise."
Serena nodded, her mind completely understanding everything he said. But her feet stopped moving, as if they were rooted to the ground. The Flower Maiden? she thought bitterly. Why do I have this strong dislike towards her already?
Touching her hand to her chest, she winced as if in pain. Clearing her throat, she asked, "And you know where this, uh- girl is?"
Kiba paused, his head tilted upward to look at the high moon. "Its hard to explain," he started saying.
Closing her eyes, she shook her head. "I see."
Slowly he turned towards her. His smile was rueful, his eyes playful. "Do you want to come to paradise with us, Serena?" The question had come out of the blue, startling her. Paradise, she thought, her mind already forgetting about the Flower Maiden named Cheza. Staring at the boy before her, she found herself unable to say no, but then, she couldn't say yes and mean it either.
What about her life? What about her family, and her friends? "I don't know Kiba," she said at last. Holding her hands up, she waved towards the city, and the people who still walked the streets. "I mean, this is all I've ever known."
Dropping her hands, she added, "I don't know if I could give that up."
----
Nodding to the hostess, as he passed the front desk, he started for the elevator. He had no right taking her with them.
She's a human, Tsume had said. Humans are weak, his mind growled, while another part of him disagreed. A woman couldn't survive the kind of journey they were on. A human wouldn't survive, not when there is a chance of going without food for long periods of time.
She'll be a burden, he tried to reason with himself. He pressed the button to the floor he wanted, and waited as the door shut with a soft thud. He stared down at the sleeping blonde in his arms. It was almost dawn, and they had spent the whole night walking around the city.
After he had asked her to come with them to paradise, they hadn't talked much. Her unwillingness to give him a straight answer weighed hard on him. She'll just distract me, he told himself. He was doing what was best for everyone. She can go back to her world, he argued stiffly. And we wont be slowed down, he added.
The doors opened when the elevator had finally stopped. Hardening his expression, he moved out of the elevator, and into the grand hallway. This is all I've known, she had said.
Looking back down at her, he sighed. "It'll be better this way." He stopped at a door. Using the keys given to him, he was able to unlock the door, and push it open. Walking inside the suite, he carried his burden to the soft bed, and laid her down.
He only hesitated for a second, before tossing the keys to the bed, and stalking out.
He refused to look back.
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Yes I know most of you are probably highly disappointed with the little fluff that appeared in this chapter. But please, this is a PG13 rated story, not much I can get away with under that kind of rating.
Also, you all are probably wigged out about Serena… And maybe a little ticked off at Kiba, but all will be explained in later chapters. Or if you ask questions, will be explained next Monday.
Now for the important news of all time… well to me anyway. Tomorrow I get to have my Wisdom teeth pulled, (pity me). So if by some weird luck I die, either by inhaling too much laughing gas, or my dentist pulls an oops on me, I wont be updating next Monday. But if all goes well, even with the remote chance that I may go numb permanently as my dentist told me could happen, I will see you all next Monday.
Now on to the questions that were asked in the reviews.
Reviews:
Machiko: thank you so much for the episode!! This actually works out, I wont even be spoiling anything, since the episode will come out before I even put up the chapter. YAY!!
Selene: You're right in a way actually. I was using that possessiveness to get them closer. Its kind of like he is having an inner battle. A part of him wants her, while another doesn't. sort of like how in the beginning he hated humans, but in order to survive, he had to become one. I will admit, that the real reason why Kiba brought Serena along, wasn't just to keep her talking. He wanted her along, because he didn't want to let her out of his sights again. And as you noticed when the others started to show interest in Serena, the part of him that wanted her charged into action. To him, Serena is his… he just didn't completely see that, until this chapter, when his wolf side took charge… I hope you liked it.
Dukes: I've seen 26 of the episodes. I still have four left to watch.
Hacen: thank you for your help I really appreciate it!
BlueFrost: Now here was a long review if I ever did see one. Actually I do have the phases of the moon. I have it all written out on my calander, hehe. Yes Tsume is a very distrustful wolf, and yet he follows the others even though there is no proof of paradise… makes you really wonder about his character… No none of them will ever be the bad guys. They may get into trifle arguments, but nothing horrid. Yes I guess she would eat anything if she was hungry enough… and as you can see in this chapter that does happen, only something else sort of helps her… you don't have to worry about me getting tired of posting. I've already written twenty one chapters. I think I have three more before it ends… thank you so much for the site!!! It will be a big help!
Kagero: I worried you because of the name change? I'm sorry about that. I wanted something different. Everyone uses Usagi Tsukino, or Serena Tsukino or Serena Moon. And I liked how Serena O'Donnell sounded so I decided to try something new. You know I think your right about the illusion… I think what I need to do is watch the episode about the Book again. I think it explained it in there. Yes I remember that episode, which was kind of weird. Tsume did the same with Toboe when they made a run for it… But then later on, Kiba is able to carry Cheza on his back like a regular human can, and can hold her hand… it kind of contradicts itself I think. Well I've glad you like my story so far, and I hope you like it till the end.
kittydemon(usagi): Lmao, I didn't even think of that jacket!! Haha. But I agree it wasn't very flattering on him. And I had to make a point that Darien is supposed to be drop dead gorgeous in this story… you'll see why later. Lol you're the first person to call me princess… it's a nice change. :D
Sunshine Fia: related to Cheza? Close, but not quite right… it does have something to do with Cheza…
Hn: actually I guess I can see where your getting at. But I was trying to affiliate him with his counterpart Nephrite.
Pumpunita: What chapter will they arrive in… not for a while I'm sorry, one makes a brief show, but the others I believe will come in Chapter thirteen. I know that's a long ways away, but that was the chapter I was working on, when you mentioned the sailors. As for powers, no… But I will say this, three of them will be wolves, and one is a Noble. Serena has some power. The one power I do show is of my own, and another is kind of like what happens when they are frightened. But no crescent moon forms, but energy collects, and packs a nice left hook..! You know I never considered adding the cats… but I think I will. If I do… they wont show until like chapter Twenty, since that is where I am at now.
Concrete Tenshi: Absolutely. But to be more specific, his wolf form was being possessive… as I'm sure you noticed in this chapter. He feels, that what is his, is being threatened by the closeness of the others. Wolves are very territorial… and we all know what Kiba thinks is his… Why did the boys change? There could be many answers for that. I could say it was because I wanted it to appear that they are warming up to her unconsciously… or they unconsciously wanted her to feel comfortable with them, so they donned their human appearances… but in my opinion I didn't really think about it. I just wanted to create a unique twist to the story where the boys feel like they are draw to her, as they are drawn to Cheza… Yes, the scent does have a little to do with it… the scent helps them warm up to her, and feel more comfortable in her presence. Even though Tsume wants to fight it the whole way… Why thank you… I love writing about Toboe… I donno its something about his character… you know he reminds me a great deal of Quatre… actually now that I think about it, I could probably base each wolf off the GW guys… But I have noticed that in the anime, Toboe was always worried about the others, wanting to help… he really relies on his emotions… thanks for the episode… yea I actually got to watch it.. Hehehe… I found time for once. Hehe. But this is actually perfect, I wont be spoiling anything. The episode I cross with is actually the next episode I believe. What are the chances hehe. Thanks again, I love reading your reviews!
A little tid bit of information… The top three people I believe you never want hear the word oops from. Your Surgeon, your Dentist, and your Cook…
I believe that is all, have a wonderful week, I know I wont!
LP