This story takes place after episode 30 of Wolf's Rain, however, I have left out spoilers and won't reveal anything that has not already been aired on television in America. If you do figure something out by reading my story it is only because you are a smart cookie and figured it out on your own and not because I gave it to you or spoiled it for you. I reloaded Ch 1 and 2 after fixing some errors.
Disclaimer: I do not own Wolf's Rain. Though I would be more than content to be a member of the writing team.
It was a cold day, even at noon, within this domed city that lay far to the north. People bustled about the streets going about their daily lives in the same monotony as always. No one seemed to notice the small newcomer to this frozen city. It was a small boy. He was half frozen from the cold outside and it wasn't much warmer inside the dome.
Any human who saw the boy would have guessed his age to be roughly around ten years old. He wore a small yellow jacket with a plain blue shirt underneath, a simple pair of blue jean pants, and ordinary tennis shoes. His hair was dark brown and shaggy. In the back, his hair's length only reached down the middle of his neck while in the front he let his bangs grow long enough to reach the tip of his nose so that it covered his right eye and upper cheek. His eyes were blue and they darted back and forth always searching for the ones he was looking for. His search had finally lead him here to this city in the middle of a frozen wasteland. The ones the boy was seeking just had to be here or all hope was lost for him.
He limped along the sidewalks clutching his left shoulder. His jacket was soaked with blood. Occasionally, a drop or two would fall and hit the ground. Every now and then the boy would stumble and fall against one of the walls of the many buildings he passed. He would wince in pain, and then regain his balance continuing on leaving behind a smear of blood on the wall, almost like a trail. None of the people he passed noticed the boy or the blood. It was almost as if they were unable to see him, not that the boy wanted to be noticed. It was easier to search when people didn't get in the way. The boy would stop and ask for help if he needed it, but he still felt he could go just a little further.
There was a strange kind of sadness that haunted the boy's eyes as though he had been to hell and back. Some secret horror was eating away at him in the back of his mind. It never left him even for a moment. Then, suddenly, his eyes widened and something resembling hope glimmered in them. He sniffed at the air. The boy could detect a familiar scent in the air. It wasn't the one he had wanted most to find, but still it was one he wished to find. He quickened his pace turning here and there following the scent wherever it lead him. The boy would bump into a wall occasionally, but he ignored the pain and kept running.
Eventually, he came to a large open area with huge tree growing amidst of a pile of stone rubble. There was a large hollow at the base of the tree just big enough for a dog or any other type of animal with similar size. The boy moved past the tree and followed the scent into a dilapidated old apartment building. He came into one particular room where the scent was strongest. There was an open window over looking the tree outside and minor debris scattered here and there. To the boy's disappointment the room was devoid of any people other than himself. Crestfallen, he tried to clam himself down while choking back the urge to burst out into tears. The scent was quite strong and still fairly fresh, so the person it belonged to would eventually come back. At least, that is what the boy hoped. He curled up in the middle of the floor laying on his left side and fell asleep. His strength and energy were gone. As he fell unconscious he prayed that the one he was waiting for would return soon.
In another part of the city a young man, or at least what appeared to be a young man, parked his motorcycle against the street curb. After dismounting, he headed towards the alley, but stopped when he heard a familiar voice call out his name.
"Hey, Tsume!"
Tsume turned around looking through his black sunglasses to see a young boy running up to him. Why does this kid have to follow me all the time, he grumbled inside himself. The boy stopped a few feet in front of him, panting slightly.
"Hi, so what'cha up to?" the boy asked after catching his breath.
"None of your business!" Tsume growled.
"Aw, come on. Can't I come with you?" the boy begged.
"No, you can't," Tsume answered sarcastically. "Now get lost!" The boy started to walk away when a strange sense of deja vu hit him. The boy continued to walk away when he noticed Tsume was watching him. Once Tsume saw the boy's brown hair, red shirt, and brown pants disappear behind the corner of a building he continued further into the alley.
"You're not ditching me this time Tsume!" the boy said with a smile as he peered back around the corner he just passed. Tsume was walking away, not paying attention to what was behind him any more. The boy cautiously followed Tsume hiding behind what he could to keep Tsume from detecting his presence. Eventually, Tsume came upon another individual who was wearing goggles on his head. Apparently he had been waiting for Tsume.
"Are the preparations for tonight's raid on the east side warehouse complete, Seto?" Tsume questioned the individual.
"Yeah, but a lot of the members aren't going to show up."
"Why not?"
"Well, you know how most of them were injured during the last raid and they still haven't recovered yet. Geeze, you've been driving us like dogs!" Seto complained. "You know, it wouldn't kill you or hurt the gang's moral if you showed a little concern once in a while." Tsume didn't respond. After a few moments the silence was broken.
"I'll come along." said a young voice belonging to a red headed kid standing near where Tsume and Seto had been talking.
"Fine, suit yourself, Gehl." Tsume answered.
"Hey, can I come?" the boy who had been following Tsume called out.
"Grr, I thought I told you to get lost!" Tsume shouted at him.
"Actually," Seto began, "with Gehl and and that kid over there that doubles the number I was expecting to show up. So, who are you anyway?"
"Heh, heh. My name's Toboe. Tsume is a friend of mine!"
"Well, Tsume?" Seto asked waiting for his leader's permission. Tsume stuffed his hands into his pockets, hunched his shoulders, and gritted his teeth. He wasn't going to make any attempts at masking his royal irritation with this turn of events. Tsume considered calling off the raid, but he wasn't the type to back down from anything.
". . . damn," he muttered and then growled through his teeth, "Fine. Seto, you fill the runt in on the time and place." Tsume stormed off past Toboe not even bothering to glance at his young admirer.
"Tsume . . ." Toboe whispered, "I . . . I didn't mean to make him so mad." The boy dropped to the ground with a pitiful look on his face.
"Aw, don't worry about it." Gehl said as walked over to Toboe and bent over patting him on the back. "Tsume, he's just like that."
"But," Seto began, "you gotta admit, I've never seen anyone get on Tsume's bad side in such a record breaking short time." Toboe only sulked more at this prospect. Gehl shot an irritated look a Seto.
"Well, you're the only person I've ever seen Tsume show that much feeling around. Usually, he's so indifferent like he doesn't care one way or the other about anybody."
"I suppose you're right, but . . ." Toboe hesitantly responded. However, before the subject could continue any further Seto changed the topic back to business.
Meanwhile, Tsume emerged from the alley and something caught his attention. An old woman was being shoved to the ground by two men. The one who pushed her grabbed the old woman's purse while the other man pulled out a gun. He was going to make sure she didn't scream for help . . .
Tsume's reaction was instant. He flew across the street and whacked the gun out of the mugger's hand. The crook yelled in pain drawing back a mangled and bloody hand. Tsume had reverted to his wolf form for only an instant to teach the guy a decent lesson about guns. Immediately following this, Tsume hammered him right in the stomach. The mugger fell to the ground unconscious. Then Tsume turned his attention to the mugger's now terrified partner. The other crook tried running away, but Tsume jumped straight up and over landing right in front of the fleeing man.
"H-h-here, take it," the man cried throwing the old woman's purse at Tsume. It bounced off him and fell to the ground.
"Humans like you disgust me," Tsume said just before delivering a straight handed chop to the guy's neck rendering him unconscious, as well. Tsume plucked up the old woman's purse and stretched out a hand to her, "You all right?" She took hold of his hand as he helped her back to her feet.
"Why, thank you young man--oh ow!" the woman stumbled in pain. While still holding onto Tsume's hand she grasped his arm with her free hand as she shifted her weight, "My ankle, I think I've sprained it." The old woman glanced around on the ground looking for something and finally responded when she found the splintered pieces of wood on the ground. "Oh my, they've broken my walking stick. I-I hate to be a bother, but could I ask you to be a dear and walk me home?"
Damn, how do I get myself into these kind of things, Tsume thought as he rolled his eyes. "Let's go," he relented.
"Oh, thank you so much." The old woman looked up at Tsume for the first time she was wearing a shawl and a scarf around her neck and held it together with a broach. Tsume noticed her gaze was kind and appreciative. "Oh, you're a tough looking one. Did you stop those nasty men all by yourself?" The old woman hadn't seen Tsume make short work of those pathetic excuses for thieves. "Well, anyway you shouldn't hide you eyes with those dark sunglasses," she commented while removing them from Tsume's face. "There, much better!" The woman nodded to herself and decided, "Yes, you're much to handsome to hide behind these ugly things." Tsume just looked at her with a raised eyebrow, slightly confused. He brushed it off and started walking with the old woman placing most of her weight on her young escort. As they continued, the old woman took notice of a few more of Tsume's features. "Hmm, white hair . . . and a cross shaped scar on his chest . . ." she mused silently to herself. "Hey!" she said directing her gaze at Tsume.
"What?" he locked eyes with her.
"Your name . . . is it Tsume by any chance?" He grunted and gave a slight nod. The old woman's eyes widened, not with fear, but joy. "Oh! You're my little Toboe's friend aren't you?!" Tsume almost missed a step. He was definitely surprised. "I've heard so much about you. He never stops talking about you." Tsume gave her a shocked looked as he caught the implications of this. It meant she knew. She knew what he was. The old woman could sense the tension in Tsume's face. "Don't worry, I have no intention of telling anyone. This explains how you got rid of that riffraff back there."
"Lady, you do realize what kind of danger you're in, don't you?" Tsume said trying to get some of though guy dignity back.
"Yes, I do. The same kind of danger that comes from living with Toboe. Both you and he are wolves. Although at times you might resemble tame dogs, you both are still wild at heart no matter how tame you appear to be. I have always kept this in mind while raising Toboe. No matter how much I want to think of him as my son or grandson he is still wild at heart. I can't hold on to him forever. But, I am so glad that he has made such fine friend."
"We're not friends," Tsume insisted.
"Well, I would chide you, but I do have to respect the fact that you are wild at heart just like my little Toboe." The old woman looked up into the sky and that is when Tsume noticed it. She used the scarf to hide it, probably for Toboe's benefit. There was a scar on her neck that just barely missed her jugular vein. The old woman caught Tsume staring, "Oh, you weren't supposed to see that," she said fixing her scarf pulling it further up.
"Toboe did that?"
"He just didn't realize that's all. He didn't know that humans can't play that way. And that . . . was when I realized that I needed to give Toboe the respect a wolf deserves. But regardless of this, I want to thank you for being his friend." Tsume started to protest, but Toboe's granny just talked over him. "He finally has someone else like him and someone else to look up too. He was . . . always so lonely. It was a void I could never fill, and I want to thank you wholeheartedly. You have made Toboe so happy."
I'm gonna be sick if this woman gets any more sappy on me, Tsume thought as he listened to Granny prattle. Though really it was to mask the tiny pang of guilt that had hit him as the old woman praised him; he knew that, on the whole, he had been rather mean to Toboe. "Look lady, you shouldn't go making a saint out of a sinner." The old woman chuckled to herself.
"It's funny that you should choose those words. I know all about the gang activity your involved with. However, I know that you can't always believe everything you hear. And besides if all that here say and conjecture were true I don't think you would have walked me all the way home and saved my life." Tsume hadn't noticed, but they were standing in front of a quaint little house. He walked the old woman up the stairs. She opened the door and grabbed a cane from the inside near the door and let go of Tsume. "If you ever want or need anything you are always welcome here." The old woman reached a hand up to Tsume's face. She moved slowly to give him the opportunity to protest. When she received no objections, she stroked Tsume's head running her fingers through his hair and down the back of his neck. Tsume just stared at her awkwardly and then turned to leave. "Oh wait, you forgot these," she said holding up Tsume's sunglasses. She had been holding them the whole time.
"Keep 'em," he said as continued walking and waved without turning around.
Toboe, you have made a very good friend indeed, Granny thought to herself as she turned and went inside her home.
It was still early in the day. Tsume decided to find Seto and call off the raid. Perhaps tomorrow night would be better. It didn't take long for Tsume to track them down. In fact, they hadn't moved from the spot where he left them. Gehl and Toboe were chattering away about why they liked Tsume or what it was they thought was coolest about him. Tsume stood there watching them for a while and then sighed, "Great, now I have to deal with a fan club."
"Oh, Tsume." Seto had noticed his leather clad leader standing close by.
"I'm calling off the raid. We'll do it tomorrow night. And you tell the others they better be ready!" Seto nodded obediently.
"I gotta go," Gehl said and ran off. Seto also walked off leaving Tsume and Toboe alone.
"I um, guess I'll be going," Toboe said looking at the ground and started walking past his idol. Tsume rolled his eyes and sighed.
"Need a ride?"
"What?" Toboe was completely taken off guard.
"Ugh, I'm getting pissed off. Just answer to question. Do you need a ride or not?" Toboe smiled and nodded. A few moments later he was riding behind Tsume on a motorcycle with the wind blowing through his hair. Toboe didn't even notice that Tsume knew the way to his granny's house. The young wolf was just enthralled by the whole experience. This was the first time that his role model had actually seemed to accept him. It took a while for them to reach Toboe's home, but it was over far too soon for him and even though he would never admit it, Tsume liked the experience, too.
As Toboe got off the bike he turned to his friend. "Tsume, I know this sounds kind of weird, but it feels like we've been friends for a long time." Tsume revved up his motorcycle's engine and speed off. Truthfully though, he felt the same way.
On the other side of town, another pair of wolves were having a causal discussion. The two walked along the back alleys munching on some hot dogs one of them had lifted from a not too observant merchant.
"Hige, why do I let you keep talking me into eating these things," a young man with dark brown hair and blue eyes complained to his friend.
"I told you already, Kiba, in the city this is just about the best you can expect." Kiba was too able a hunter for his own good. After his first hot dog he swore he would never eat another one. However, Kiba hunted out all the rats in the sewers, of course Hige ate his fair share of them as well, and was forced to fall back on what his friend showed him to scavenge.
It was about one week ago that Kiba had blown into town and he would have blown right out, but he got into a scrap with Tsume and eventually encountered Hige. Hige convinced Kiba to stay around for a while. He said there was a strange flower scent, but something was masking it. This immediately caught Kiba's interest and so he stayed. The pair would search for the scent and food during the day. Though only a halfhearted effort was made to find the scent because Hige's main priority was food. Kiba just couldn't figure out why he even hung around Hige. He was lazy and didn't take anything serious. But on the other hand, Hige did get Kiba to lighten up once in a while. Maybe that's why they became friends, they were opposites that complimented one another in a weird sense.
"Hey is there anything you haven't told me about the flower scent?" Kiba wanted to get down to searching. For some inexplicable reason, he had a growing sense of urgency.
"You know now that you mention it, I think there is some sort of project going on in the lab at the center of the city. They said something about a flower maiden, I think." Hige struggled to remember the name.
"Cheza," Kiba breathed.
"Hey yeah! that's it, but how did you know that?"
"I-I don't know . . ." Kiba's voice trailed off.
"Is it just me or does this feel familiar?"
"You feel it too, huh?"
"It's like some kind of deja vu."
"What?"
"Never mind. Anyway I think that flower maiden project is being run by a noble. There's no way the two of us are going to get inside there."
"We have to try."
"Kiba are you nuts? That hot dog must have fried your brain." A chill ran up both their spines. This was feeling too familiar.
"Let's get going," Kiba decided. They didn't have anywhere in particular to go. The two would just amble around the streets going through sections of the city they hadn't checked before. Suddenly, both wolves caught a scent that startled them.
"What the heck is that?" Hige said as his head jerked straight up.
"It . . . smells like blood," Kiba noticed.
"Yeah, but there's something else mixed in with it." Hige lead Kiba in the direction he smelled the blood coming from. Eventually, the two found themselves staring at a red stain smeared on the wall of a building. "I can't tell what it is," Hige groaned in frustration. "Kiba what do you think? Is it human or wolf?"
"It . . . smells like both, but . . ."
"But what? It can't be both. A half-human half-wolf? That's not possible."
"You're right. It's faint, but . . . there's also another underlying scent. Can you smell it? It smells like lunar flowers."
"Damn, this isn't making any sense. Blood that has the scent of human, wolf, and lunar flowers, too."
"Come on, there's a trail of it." Kiba started to follow the scent trail when he felt Hige grab his arm and drag him into an alley. "What are you doing?"
"Look it's that's guy and his dog again." The wolves peered around the corner watching the man Hige mentioned.
"You got somethin', Blue?" he asked the dog. Blue sniffed the air some more and looked up at her master. "Come on, Blue." He gave a light tug on the leash and the dog followed her master's lead staying right next to his side.
"I think we should stick it out here for a while," Hige advised.
"Why?"
"Oh come on, the scent isn't going anywhere." Kiba finally gave in and the two resigned themselves to the roof top of the near by building.
The man with the dog turned around and watched the two wolves climb up a ladder just outside the alley where they had been hiding.
"All right, I can play this waiting game, too." The man continued walking away. He didn't want to wolves to know he had seen them. He was going to catch them by surprise. It would be easier to kill both of them that way. If he attacked them now, he might get one, but the other would run, or come after him.
At the same moment, there was much activity going on inside the lab. A man with indigo eyes, swept back shoulder length blue hair, and an eye patch that hooked onto his left ear stood questioning a woman, the lab's chief scientist.
"Dr. Degre, I chose your facilities for this project because they were the best, and I funded you research because you promised results, but so far I have yet to see those results. Care to explain yourself?" the man demanded.
"You can call me Cher, you know. Anyway, things like this take time. Believe me when I say that I understand your need for urgency. Everyone here is working as fast a they can, and we sympathize with you desire to find a cure for you wife's illness. However, if we rush we'll lose everything. I promise that I will do everything in my power to ensure that the project goes as smoothly and quickly as possible, lord Darcia." Cher explained to the noble.
Darcia calmed down a bit and sighed, "Yes, but of course, you have been working hard all along. I have faith in your abilities Dr.--I mean, Cher." He looked down and Cher could see the sadness and hurt in his eyes. Darcia drifted over to the large cylindrical tube where Cheza slept suspended vertically in a sparkling green liquid. He placed his hand on the glass and gazed up at the flower maiden. "I must save Harmona. You are my last hope, Cheza." Then Darcia redirected his gaze at Cher, "and you, as well." Cher knew that Darcia was powerful man and he could be ruthless when it came to getting what he wanted, but the way he looked at her with that forlorn love in his eyes. It reminded Cher of her husband, Hubb. Even though they had been divorced for quite some time now, she still felt something for that hopeless romantic. Cher knew he still carried a torch for her and showed no signs of giving up.
In fact, her jealousy earlier this morning had surprised her. Hubb was walking with a young woman on his way to work. Cher later questioned him about his new girlfriend and he looked hurt that she had chosen that exact term. The young woman turned out to be the kid sister of one of Hubb's friends, thought later on Hubb did look flattered that Cher had noticed. But that fact still remained, why did she care so much, if at all. Cher had to admit that she still liked him and maybe even loved him. Especially after Hubb's reaction to her little interrogation. After telling her that his affairs were none of her business, he pointed out the fact that she had been spending all her time with that noble. Hubb went so far as to imply that Cher was dating him. Her response was sharp and cut right to the point, "Don't be an idiot, Hubb. My relationship with lord Darcia is strictly business. Apart from the project, we have nothing to do with each other." But at that moment she was angry that Hubb actually had the nerve to question her integrity.
Ah, what am I doing? I'm spacing out right in front of a noble, Cher thought as she snapped back to reality. Her conscience could not stand it any longer. "Darcia, there is something I need to show you." The noble was surprised by her sudden seriousness. Cher joined Darcia at the terminal in front of Cheza's tank. "Please just stand right where you are." Cher began tapping on the controls furiously. "There, that should kill the audio feed."
"What . . ." Darcia started to ask something, but Cher cut him off.
"I don't want the camera to be able to see my lips in case they decide to spy on us." Darcia nodded. Cher was worried about someone reading her lips, and since Darcia was taller than her, he effectively blocked Cher from the view of the ceiling mounted camera behind him. "You had to form a partnership with lord Orkham in order to have Cheza created here, but I have been under orders from him to give you false information." Darcia's eyes widened with anger, not at Cher, but at Orkham. "The project is several stages ahead of what you have been told." Cher pulled up massive volumes of data on the terminal all of which held relevance to Darcia. "This file here is what I really want you to see."
"Project Shadow Gemini," Darcia read from the screen.
"Orkham is trying to duplicate Cheza. I just received orders this morning to begin dissection once you left."
"What!?" Darcia shouted.
"Data extrapolation for project Shadow Gemini is only a thirteen percent. Orkham is getting impatient because Cheza will awaken soon. He wants to dissect her in order to speed up the project. This was Orkham's real objective for forming a partnership with you."
"How soon will Cheza awaken?"
"She should wake up at any moment. If you stay for several more days I can delay Orkham's intentions. Then when Cheza awakens you can take her away from here."
"Thank you Cher," Darcia stroked her cheek gently. She had just saved Harmona and himself from Orkham's betrayal.
"I have one request . . ."
"Anything."
"When you take Cheza, take me with you!" Darcia was surprised at this. Surely, Cher knew that he couldn't have feelings for her. "It won't be safe for me here any more. Will you protect me?"
"Very well, if that is what you wish. But why?"
"I want to see this through to the end. I want to see how Cheza will grow and develop once she is awake. I'm a scientist--I want to unlock the mysteries surrounding her! And I have this feeling that something big is about to happen and I want to be apart of it." Darcia laughed gently and cracked a smile. He had to admire the woman's passion for her work and her fierce determination.
"So then, you wish to accompany me to Paradise?" he asked.
"That is if it even exists, Darcia. But there are many things in this world that can not be proven merely due to a lack of scientific evidence. Cheza, herself, is the product of an alchemy that can not be proven."
"Well then, we should act quickly if we are going to put this plan of yours into action." Cher nodded in agreement.
"Act natural when we leave. The audio interference can be blamed on a reaction with Cheza, it happens all the time. There are still a few things I need to take care of so, I might be difficult reach. If there is a problem call me with this and meet me at the lab, right here in this room." Cher handed Darcia a cell phone. It had her number programmed into it. "One last thing, Orkham has a partner in the Shadow Gemini project. I don't know much about him, but I would suspect we have to careful. I believe Orkham is working with a noble from the far eastern regions. The nobles there gather in large dynasties. If Orkham really has an alliance with them then we may be in far greater danger than . . ." Darcia placed a finger over Cher's lips.
"Shhh, it is all right. You need not explain the severity of the situation any further. I shall attend to this matter," he reassured her. Darcia gave a courteous bow and then departed. There was much he needed to do in order make sure they would have a clean get away. Cher would also have her work cut out for her covering their tracks. Now the plan had been set into motion it was too late to turn back. The only thing stopping them now was Cheza's awakening.
It was late now and evening had already fallen. Tsume had decided to spend the afternoon just riding around aimlessly. He was tired and it was time to go back to the abandoned building he called home. He parked his bike in a hollow space hidden from view. Then he heard a rustling coming from behind. Immediately, Tsume lunged at whatever it was that was trying to sneak up on him.
"Ahhhh!" A scream from a familiar voice pierced his ears has he tumbled on top of the person who sneaking around. Tsume glared down at the person he had pinned.
"Toboe! What the hell are you doing here!" he demanded. Tsume got up off the young wolf. Toboe climbed back to his feet.
"I um, uh," he stammered. Toboe held out a small bundle he was holding. "I thought you might get cold tonight and . . ." It was a blanket that Toboe's granny had knitted. Tsume took the blanket knowing that was the only hope he had of getting rid of the kid.
"And?" he asked irritated.
"You forgot these." Toboe held out Tsume's sunglasses. Tsume now realized that Toboe knew what had happened earlier today.
"I told her to keep them."
"Yeah I know but, . . ."
"I don't want them."
"Uh, can I have them?" Toboe asked a bit hopeful.
"Whatever." The gleeful pup immediately pocketed them. Tsume turned and walked inside the decrepit building. Toboe took a few steps and then hesitated. When he heard no objections from Tsume, Toboe happily bounded after Tsume. "Wouldn't you be more comfortable back at you granny's?" Tsume asked looking back at the pup.
"I don't mind." Toboe smiled.
"Suit yourself." Tsume opened the door to the room he usually stayed in and it was then that the two wolves found him. A little boy, unconscious, curled up in the middle of the floor. There was a pool of blood on the ground coming from the boy's shoulder.
"Oh my gosh, Tsume." The young wolf looked to his friend for what to do. Tsume moved over to the boy and removed the boy's jacket and shirt. There was a book tucked away in his jacket, but Tsume paid no attention to it. The boy's shoulder looked like it had been mauled. Tsume wondered what did this to him. If it had been a wolf, Tsume doubted that the boy would still be alive. Any wolf with decent hunting skills would have finished the job. At least Tsume would have, if the boy had been his prey, that is.
"Toboe, clean him up."
"Right." Toboe started cleaning the wound the best way wolves know how. He licked gently fearful of drawing out more blood. The boy looked so pale. Tsume returned quickly with some scraps of material. The rags were quickly turned into makeshift bandages once Toboe had cleaned away all the blood. Tsume tied the bandages tight and also checked the boy's pulse and breathing. Both were faint. The wolf put the boy's shirt and jacket back on him and then discarded the book in a corner. After all, what use does a wolf have for reading?
"We're going to have to keep him warm." Tsume took the blanket Toboe had brought and wrapped the child in it.
"Tsume, I think our fur might also help," Toboe suggested.
"No, it'll be better to stay human. Just in case he wakes up or someone finds us."
"Oh, Ok." Tsume propped himself against a wall with the boy in his lap. Toboe slid close next to Tsume. Toboe almost jumped at what Tsume did next. Instead of shoving him away, which is what the pup had braced himself for, Tsume put his arm around Toboe. Toboe snuggled against Tsume and hugged him around his midsection.
"Don't get too used to this, runt!"
"All right." Toboe agreed as he fell into a peaceful sleep.
I hate kids, Tsume thought as he sat there waiting for sleep to come. He looked at Toboe sleeping next to him. He did look happy just like the old woman had said. Tsume couldn't deny that he felt some sort of kindredship with the young wolf like they could almost have been related. Well, perhaps in another lifetime, Tsume chuckled to himself. Finally, Tsume too fell asleep.
Disclaimer: I do not own Wolf's Rain. Though I would be more than content to be a member of the writing team.
Wolf's Rain: Cycles of Sorrow
Episode 01: A Whole New BeginningIt was a cold day, even at noon, within this domed city that lay far to the north. People bustled about the streets going about their daily lives in the same monotony as always. No one seemed to notice the small newcomer to this frozen city. It was a small boy. He was half frozen from the cold outside and it wasn't much warmer inside the dome.
Any human who saw the boy would have guessed his age to be roughly around ten years old. He wore a small yellow jacket with a plain blue shirt underneath, a simple pair of blue jean pants, and ordinary tennis shoes. His hair was dark brown and shaggy. In the back, his hair's length only reached down the middle of his neck while in the front he let his bangs grow long enough to reach the tip of his nose so that it covered his right eye and upper cheek. His eyes were blue and they darted back and forth always searching for the ones he was looking for. His search had finally lead him here to this city in the middle of a frozen wasteland. The ones the boy was seeking just had to be here or all hope was lost for him.
He limped along the sidewalks clutching his left shoulder. His jacket was soaked with blood. Occasionally, a drop or two would fall and hit the ground. Every now and then the boy would stumble and fall against one of the walls of the many buildings he passed. He would wince in pain, and then regain his balance continuing on leaving behind a smear of blood on the wall, almost like a trail. None of the people he passed noticed the boy or the blood. It was almost as if they were unable to see him, not that the boy wanted to be noticed. It was easier to search when people didn't get in the way. The boy would stop and ask for help if he needed it, but he still felt he could go just a little further.
There was a strange kind of sadness that haunted the boy's eyes as though he had been to hell and back. Some secret horror was eating away at him in the back of his mind. It never left him even for a moment. Then, suddenly, his eyes widened and something resembling hope glimmered in them. He sniffed at the air. The boy could detect a familiar scent in the air. It wasn't the one he had wanted most to find, but still it was one he wished to find. He quickened his pace turning here and there following the scent wherever it lead him. The boy would bump into a wall occasionally, but he ignored the pain and kept running.
Eventually, he came to a large open area with huge tree growing amidst of a pile of stone rubble. There was a large hollow at the base of the tree just big enough for a dog or any other type of animal with similar size. The boy moved past the tree and followed the scent into a dilapidated old apartment building. He came into one particular room where the scent was strongest. There was an open window over looking the tree outside and minor debris scattered here and there. To the boy's disappointment the room was devoid of any people other than himself. Crestfallen, he tried to clam himself down while choking back the urge to burst out into tears. The scent was quite strong and still fairly fresh, so the person it belonged to would eventually come back. At least, that is what the boy hoped. He curled up in the middle of the floor laying on his left side and fell asleep. His strength and energy were gone. As he fell unconscious he prayed that the one he was waiting for would return soon.
In another part of the city a young man, or at least what appeared to be a young man, parked his motorcycle against the street curb. After dismounting, he headed towards the alley, but stopped when he heard a familiar voice call out his name.
"Hey, Tsume!"
Tsume turned around looking through his black sunglasses to see a young boy running up to him. Why does this kid have to follow me all the time, he grumbled inside himself. The boy stopped a few feet in front of him, panting slightly.
"Hi, so what'cha up to?" the boy asked after catching his breath.
"None of your business!" Tsume growled.
"Aw, come on. Can't I come with you?" the boy begged.
"No, you can't," Tsume answered sarcastically. "Now get lost!" The boy started to walk away when a strange sense of deja vu hit him. The boy continued to walk away when he noticed Tsume was watching him. Once Tsume saw the boy's brown hair, red shirt, and brown pants disappear behind the corner of a building he continued further into the alley.
"You're not ditching me this time Tsume!" the boy said with a smile as he peered back around the corner he just passed. Tsume was walking away, not paying attention to what was behind him any more. The boy cautiously followed Tsume hiding behind what he could to keep Tsume from detecting his presence. Eventually, Tsume came upon another individual who was wearing goggles on his head. Apparently he had been waiting for Tsume.
"Are the preparations for tonight's raid on the east side warehouse complete, Seto?" Tsume questioned the individual.
"Yeah, but a lot of the members aren't going to show up."
"Why not?"
"Well, you know how most of them were injured during the last raid and they still haven't recovered yet. Geeze, you've been driving us like dogs!" Seto complained. "You know, it wouldn't kill you or hurt the gang's moral if you showed a little concern once in a while." Tsume didn't respond. After a few moments the silence was broken.
"I'll come along." said a young voice belonging to a red headed kid standing near where Tsume and Seto had been talking.
"Fine, suit yourself, Gehl." Tsume answered.
"Hey, can I come?" the boy who had been following Tsume called out.
"Grr, I thought I told you to get lost!" Tsume shouted at him.
"Actually," Seto began, "with Gehl and and that kid over there that doubles the number I was expecting to show up. So, who are you anyway?"
"Heh, heh. My name's Toboe. Tsume is a friend of mine!"
"Well, Tsume?" Seto asked waiting for his leader's permission. Tsume stuffed his hands into his pockets, hunched his shoulders, and gritted his teeth. He wasn't going to make any attempts at masking his royal irritation with this turn of events. Tsume considered calling off the raid, but he wasn't the type to back down from anything.
". . . damn," he muttered and then growled through his teeth, "Fine. Seto, you fill the runt in on the time and place." Tsume stormed off past Toboe not even bothering to glance at his young admirer.
"Tsume . . ." Toboe whispered, "I . . . I didn't mean to make him so mad." The boy dropped to the ground with a pitiful look on his face.
"Aw, don't worry about it." Gehl said as walked over to Toboe and bent over patting him on the back. "Tsume, he's just like that."
"But," Seto began, "you gotta admit, I've never seen anyone get on Tsume's bad side in such a record breaking short time." Toboe only sulked more at this prospect. Gehl shot an irritated look a Seto.
"Well, you're the only person I've ever seen Tsume show that much feeling around. Usually, he's so indifferent like he doesn't care one way or the other about anybody."
"I suppose you're right, but . . ." Toboe hesitantly responded. However, before the subject could continue any further Seto changed the topic back to business.
Meanwhile, Tsume emerged from the alley and something caught his attention. An old woman was being shoved to the ground by two men. The one who pushed her grabbed the old woman's purse while the other man pulled out a gun. He was going to make sure she didn't scream for help . . .
Tsume's reaction was instant. He flew across the street and whacked the gun out of the mugger's hand. The crook yelled in pain drawing back a mangled and bloody hand. Tsume had reverted to his wolf form for only an instant to teach the guy a decent lesson about guns. Immediately following this, Tsume hammered him right in the stomach. The mugger fell to the ground unconscious. Then Tsume turned his attention to the mugger's now terrified partner. The other crook tried running away, but Tsume jumped straight up and over landing right in front of the fleeing man.
"H-h-here, take it," the man cried throwing the old woman's purse at Tsume. It bounced off him and fell to the ground.
"Humans like you disgust me," Tsume said just before delivering a straight handed chop to the guy's neck rendering him unconscious, as well. Tsume plucked up the old woman's purse and stretched out a hand to her, "You all right?" She took hold of his hand as he helped her back to her feet.
"Why, thank you young man--oh ow!" the woman stumbled in pain. While still holding onto Tsume's hand she grasped his arm with her free hand as she shifted her weight, "My ankle, I think I've sprained it." The old woman glanced around on the ground looking for something and finally responded when she found the splintered pieces of wood on the ground. "Oh my, they've broken my walking stick. I-I hate to be a bother, but could I ask you to be a dear and walk me home?"
Damn, how do I get myself into these kind of things, Tsume thought as he rolled his eyes. "Let's go," he relented.
"Oh, thank you so much." The old woman looked up at Tsume for the first time she was wearing a shawl and a scarf around her neck and held it together with a broach. Tsume noticed her gaze was kind and appreciative. "Oh, you're a tough looking one. Did you stop those nasty men all by yourself?" The old woman hadn't seen Tsume make short work of those pathetic excuses for thieves. "Well, anyway you shouldn't hide you eyes with those dark sunglasses," she commented while removing them from Tsume's face. "There, much better!" The woman nodded to herself and decided, "Yes, you're much to handsome to hide behind these ugly things." Tsume just looked at her with a raised eyebrow, slightly confused. He brushed it off and started walking with the old woman placing most of her weight on her young escort. As they continued, the old woman took notice of a few more of Tsume's features. "Hmm, white hair . . . and a cross shaped scar on his chest . . ." she mused silently to herself. "Hey!" she said directing her gaze at Tsume.
"What?" he locked eyes with her.
"Your name . . . is it Tsume by any chance?" He grunted and gave a slight nod. The old woman's eyes widened, not with fear, but joy. "Oh! You're my little Toboe's friend aren't you?!" Tsume almost missed a step. He was definitely surprised. "I've heard so much about you. He never stops talking about you." Tsume gave her a shocked looked as he caught the implications of this. It meant she knew. She knew what he was. The old woman could sense the tension in Tsume's face. "Don't worry, I have no intention of telling anyone. This explains how you got rid of that riffraff back there."
"Lady, you do realize what kind of danger you're in, don't you?" Tsume said trying to get some of though guy dignity back.
"Yes, I do. The same kind of danger that comes from living with Toboe. Both you and he are wolves. Although at times you might resemble tame dogs, you both are still wild at heart no matter how tame you appear to be. I have always kept this in mind while raising Toboe. No matter how much I want to think of him as my son or grandson he is still wild at heart. I can't hold on to him forever. But, I am so glad that he has made such fine friend."
"We're not friends," Tsume insisted.
"Well, I would chide you, but I do have to respect the fact that you are wild at heart just like my little Toboe." The old woman looked up into the sky and that is when Tsume noticed it. She used the scarf to hide it, probably for Toboe's benefit. There was a scar on her neck that just barely missed her jugular vein. The old woman caught Tsume staring, "Oh, you weren't supposed to see that," she said fixing her scarf pulling it further up.
"Toboe did that?"
"He just didn't realize that's all. He didn't know that humans can't play that way. And that . . . was when I realized that I needed to give Toboe the respect a wolf deserves. But regardless of this, I want to thank you for being his friend." Tsume started to protest, but Toboe's granny just talked over him. "He finally has someone else like him and someone else to look up too. He was . . . always so lonely. It was a void I could never fill, and I want to thank you wholeheartedly. You have made Toboe so happy."
I'm gonna be sick if this woman gets any more sappy on me, Tsume thought as he listened to Granny prattle. Though really it was to mask the tiny pang of guilt that had hit him as the old woman praised him; he knew that, on the whole, he had been rather mean to Toboe. "Look lady, you shouldn't go making a saint out of a sinner." The old woman chuckled to herself.
"It's funny that you should choose those words. I know all about the gang activity your involved with. However, I know that you can't always believe everything you hear. And besides if all that here say and conjecture were true I don't think you would have walked me all the way home and saved my life." Tsume hadn't noticed, but they were standing in front of a quaint little house. He walked the old woman up the stairs. She opened the door and grabbed a cane from the inside near the door and let go of Tsume. "If you ever want or need anything you are always welcome here." The old woman reached a hand up to Tsume's face. She moved slowly to give him the opportunity to protest. When she received no objections, she stroked Tsume's head running her fingers through his hair and down the back of his neck. Tsume just stared at her awkwardly and then turned to leave. "Oh wait, you forgot these," she said holding up Tsume's sunglasses. She had been holding them the whole time.
"Keep 'em," he said as continued walking and waved without turning around.
Toboe, you have made a very good friend indeed, Granny thought to herself as she turned and went inside her home.
It was still early in the day. Tsume decided to find Seto and call off the raid. Perhaps tomorrow night would be better. It didn't take long for Tsume to track them down. In fact, they hadn't moved from the spot where he left them. Gehl and Toboe were chattering away about why they liked Tsume or what it was they thought was coolest about him. Tsume stood there watching them for a while and then sighed, "Great, now I have to deal with a fan club."
"Oh, Tsume." Seto had noticed his leather clad leader standing close by.
"I'm calling off the raid. We'll do it tomorrow night. And you tell the others they better be ready!" Seto nodded obediently.
"I gotta go," Gehl said and ran off. Seto also walked off leaving Tsume and Toboe alone.
"I um, guess I'll be going," Toboe said looking at the ground and started walking past his idol. Tsume rolled his eyes and sighed.
"Need a ride?"
"What?" Toboe was completely taken off guard.
"Ugh, I'm getting pissed off. Just answer to question. Do you need a ride or not?" Toboe smiled and nodded. A few moments later he was riding behind Tsume on a motorcycle with the wind blowing through his hair. Toboe didn't even notice that Tsume knew the way to his granny's house. The young wolf was just enthralled by the whole experience. This was the first time that his role model had actually seemed to accept him. It took a while for them to reach Toboe's home, but it was over far too soon for him and even though he would never admit it, Tsume liked the experience, too.
As Toboe got off the bike he turned to his friend. "Tsume, I know this sounds kind of weird, but it feels like we've been friends for a long time." Tsume revved up his motorcycle's engine and speed off. Truthfully though, he felt the same way.
On the other side of town, another pair of wolves were having a causal discussion. The two walked along the back alleys munching on some hot dogs one of them had lifted from a not too observant merchant.
"Hige, why do I let you keep talking me into eating these things," a young man with dark brown hair and blue eyes complained to his friend.
"I told you already, Kiba, in the city this is just about the best you can expect." Kiba was too able a hunter for his own good. After his first hot dog he swore he would never eat another one. However, Kiba hunted out all the rats in the sewers, of course Hige ate his fair share of them as well, and was forced to fall back on what his friend showed him to scavenge.
It was about one week ago that Kiba had blown into town and he would have blown right out, but he got into a scrap with Tsume and eventually encountered Hige. Hige convinced Kiba to stay around for a while. He said there was a strange flower scent, but something was masking it. This immediately caught Kiba's interest and so he stayed. The pair would search for the scent and food during the day. Though only a halfhearted effort was made to find the scent because Hige's main priority was food. Kiba just couldn't figure out why he even hung around Hige. He was lazy and didn't take anything serious. But on the other hand, Hige did get Kiba to lighten up once in a while. Maybe that's why they became friends, they were opposites that complimented one another in a weird sense.
"Hey is there anything you haven't told me about the flower scent?" Kiba wanted to get down to searching. For some inexplicable reason, he had a growing sense of urgency.
"You know now that you mention it, I think there is some sort of project going on in the lab at the center of the city. They said something about a flower maiden, I think." Hige struggled to remember the name.
"Cheza," Kiba breathed.
"Hey yeah! that's it, but how did you know that?"
"I-I don't know . . ." Kiba's voice trailed off.
"Is it just me or does this feel familiar?"
"You feel it too, huh?"
"It's like some kind of deja vu."
"What?"
"Never mind. Anyway I think that flower maiden project is being run by a noble. There's no way the two of us are going to get inside there."
"We have to try."
"Kiba are you nuts? That hot dog must have fried your brain." A chill ran up both their spines. This was feeling too familiar.
"Let's get going," Kiba decided. They didn't have anywhere in particular to go. The two would just amble around the streets going through sections of the city they hadn't checked before. Suddenly, both wolves caught a scent that startled them.
"What the heck is that?" Hige said as his head jerked straight up.
"It . . . smells like blood," Kiba noticed.
"Yeah, but there's something else mixed in with it." Hige lead Kiba in the direction he smelled the blood coming from. Eventually, the two found themselves staring at a red stain smeared on the wall of a building. "I can't tell what it is," Hige groaned in frustration. "Kiba what do you think? Is it human or wolf?"
"It . . . smells like both, but . . ."
"But what? It can't be both. A half-human half-wolf? That's not possible."
"You're right. It's faint, but . . . there's also another underlying scent. Can you smell it? It smells like lunar flowers."
"Damn, this isn't making any sense. Blood that has the scent of human, wolf, and lunar flowers, too."
"Come on, there's a trail of it." Kiba started to follow the scent trail when he felt Hige grab his arm and drag him into an alley. "What are you doing?"
"Look it's that's guy and his dog again." The wolves peered around the corner watching the man Hige mentioned.
"You got somethin', Blue?" he asked the dog. Blue sniffed the air some more and looked up at her master. "Come on, Blue." He gave a light tug on the leash and the dog followed her master's lead staying right next to his side.
"I think we should stick it out here for a while," Hige advised.
"Why?"
"Oh come on, the scent isn't going anywhere." Kiba finally gave in and the two resigned themselves to the roof top of the near by building.
The man with the dog turned around and watched the two wolves climb up a ladder just outside the alley where they had been hiding.
"All right, I can play this waiting game, too." The man continued walking away. He didn't want to wolves to know he had seen them. He was going to catch them by surprise. It would be easier to kill both of them that way. If he attacked them now, he might get one, but the other would run, or come after him.
At the same moment, there was much activity going on inside the lab. A man with indigo eyes, swept back shoulder length blue hair, and an eye patch that hooked onto his left ear stood questioning a woman, the lab's chief scientist.
"Dr. Degre, I chose your facilities for this project because they were the best, and I funded you research because you promised results, but so far I have yet to see those results. Care to explain yourself?" the man demanded.
"You can call me Cher, you know. Anyway, things like this take time. Believe me when I say that I understand your need for urgency. Everyone here is working as fast a they can, and we sympathize with you desire to find a cure for you wife's illness. However, if we rush we'll lose everything. I promise that I will do everything in my power to ensure that the project goes as smoothly and quickly as possible, lord Darcia." Cher explained to the noble.
Darcia calmed down a bit and sighed, "Yes, but of course, you have been working hard all along. I have faith in your abilities Dr.--I mean, Cher." He looked down and Cher could see the sadness and hurt in his eyes. Darcia drifted over to the large cylindrical tube where Cheza slept suspended vertically in a sparkling green liquid. He placed his hand on the glass and gazed up at the flower maiden. "I must save Harmona. You are my last hope, Cheza." Then Darcia redirected his gaze at Cher, "and you, as well." Cher knew that Darcia was powerful man and he could be ruthless when it came to getting what he wanted, but the way he looked at her with that forlorn love in his eyes. It reminded Cher of her husband, Hubb. Even though they had been divorced for quite some time now, she still felt something for that hopeless romantic. Cher knew he still carried a torch for her and showed no signs of giving up.
In fact, her jealousy earlier this morning had surprised her. Hubb was walking with a young woman on his way to work. Cher later questioned him about his new girlfriend and he looked hurt that she had chosen that exact term. The young woman turned out to be the kid sister of one of Hubb's friends, thought later on Hubb did look flattered that Cher had noticed. But that fact still remained, why did she care so much, if at all. Cher had to admit that she still liked him and maybe even loved him. Especially after Hubb's reaction to her little interrogation. After telling her that his affairs were none of her business, he pointed out the fact that she had been spending all her time with that noble. Hubb went so far as to imply that Cher was dating him. Her response was sharp and cut right to the point, "Don't be an idiot, Hubb. My relationship with lord Darcia is strictly business. Apart from the project, we have nothing to do with each other." But at that moment she was angry that Hubb actually had the nerve to question her integrity.
Ah, what am I doing? I'm spacing out right in front of a noble, Cher thought as she snapped back to reality. Her conscience could not stand it any longer. "Darcia, there is something I need to show you." The noble was surprised by her sudden seriousness. Cher joined Darcia at the terminal in front of Cheza's tank. "Please just stand right where you are." Cher began tapping on the controls furiously. "There, that should kill the audio feed."
"What . . ." Darcia started to ask something, but Cher cut him off.
"I don't want the camera to be able to see my lips in case they decide to spy on us." Darcia nodded. Cher was worried about someone reading her lips, and since Darcia was taller than her, he effectively blocked Cher from the view of the ceiling mounted camera behind him. "You had to form a partnership with lord Orkham in order to have Cheza created here, but I have been under orders from him to give you false information." Darcia's eyes widened with anger, not at Cher, but at Orkham. "The project is several stages ahead of what you have been told." Cher pulled up massive volumes of data on the terminal all of which held relevance to Darcia. "This file here is what I really want you to see."
"Project Shadow Gemini," Darcia read from the screen.
"Orkham is trying to duplicate Cheza. I just received orders this morning to begin dissection once you left."
"What!?" Darcia shouted.
"Data extrapolation for project Shadow Gemini is only a thirteen percent. Orkham is getting impatient because Cheza will awaken soon. He wants to dissect her in order to speed up the project. This was Orkham's real objective for forming a partnership with you."
"How soon will Cheza awaken?"
"She should wake up at any moment. If you stay for several more days I can delay Orkham's intentions. Then when Cheza awakens you can take her away from here."
"Thank you Cher," Darcia stroked her cheek gently. She had just saved Harmona and himself from Orkham's betrayal.
"I have one request . . ."
"Anything."
"When you take Cheza, take me with you!" Darcia was surprised at this. Surely, Cher knew that he couldn't have feelings for her. "It won't be safe for me here any more. Will you protect me?"
"Very well, if that is what you wish. But why?"
"I want to see this through to the end. I want to see how Cheza will grow and develop once she is awake. I'm a scientist--I want to unlock the mysteries surrounding her! And I have this feeling that something big is about to happen and I want to be apart of it." Darcia laughed gently and cracked a smile. He had to admire the woman's passion for her work and her fierce determination.
"So then, you wish to accompany me to Paradise?" he asked.
"That is if it even exists, Darcia. But there are many things in this world that can not be proven merely due to a lack of scientific evidence. Cheza, herself, is the product of an alchemy that can not be proven."
"Well then, we should act quickly if we are going to put this plan of yours into action." Cher nodded in agreement.
"Act natural when we leave. The audio interference can be blamed on a reaction with Cheza, it happens all the time. There are still a few things I need to take care of so, I might be difficult reach. If there is a problem call me with this and meet me at the lab, right here in this room." Cher handed Darcia a cell phone. It had her number programmed into it. "One last thing, Orkham has a partner in the Shadow Gemini project. I don't know much about him, but I would suspect we have to careful. I believe Orkham is working with a noble from the far eastern regions. The nobles there gather in large dynasties. If Orkham really has an alliance with them then we may be in far greater danger than . . ." Darcia placed a finger over Cher's lips.
"Shhh, it is all right. You need not explain the severity of the situation any further. I shall attend to this matter," he reassured her. Darcia gave a courteous bow and then departed. There was much he needed to do in order make sure they would have a clean get away. Cher would also have her work cut out for her covering their tracks. Now the plan had been set into motion it was too late to turn back. The only thing stopping them now was Cheza's awakening.
It was late now and evening had already fallen. Tsume had decided to spend the afternoon just riding around aimlessly. He was tired and it was time to go back to the abandoned building he called home. He parked his bike in a hollow space hidden from view. Then he heard a rustling coming from behind. Immediately, Tsume lunged at whatever it was that was trying to sneak up on him.
"Ahhhh!" A scream from a familiar voice pierced his ears has he tumbled on top of the person who sneaking around. Tsume glared down at the person he had pinned.
"Toboe! What the hell are you doing here!" he demanded. Tsume got up off the young wolf. Toboe climbed back to his feet.
"I um, uh," he stammered. Toboe held out a small bundle he was holding. "I thought you might get cold tonight and . . ." It was a blanket that Toboe's granny had knitted. Tsume took the blanket knowing that was the only hope he had of getting rid of the kid.
"And?" he asked irritated.
"You forgot these." Toboe held out Tsume's sunglasses. Tsume now realized that Toboe knew what had happened earlier today.
"I told her to keep them."
"Yeah I know but, . . ."
"I don't want them."
"Uh, can I have them?" Toboe asked a bit hopeful.
"Whatever." The gleeful pup immediately pocketed them. Tsume turned and walked inside the decrepit building. Toboe took a few steps and then hesitated. When he heard no objections from Tsume, Toboe happily bounded after Tsume. "Wouldn't you be more comfortable back at you granny's?" Tsume asked looking back at the pup.
"I don't mind." Toboe smiled.
"Suit yourself." Tsume opened the door to the room he usually stayed in and it was then that the two wolves found him. A little boy, unconscious, curled up in the middle of the floor. There was a pool of blood on the ground coming from the boy's shoulder.
"Oh my gosh, Tsume." The young wolf looked to his friend for what to do. Tsume moved over to the boy and removed the boy's jacket and shirt. There was a book tucked away in his jacket, but Tsume paid no attention to it. The boy's shoulder looked like it had been mauled. Tsume wondered what did this to him. If it had been a wolf, Tsume doubted that the boy would still be alive. Any wolf with decent hunting skills would have finished the job. At least Tsume would have, if the boy had been his prey, that is.
"Toboe, clean him up."
"Right." Toboe started cleaning the wound the best way wolves know how. He licked gently fearful of drawing out more blood. The boy looked so pale. Tsume returned quickly with some scraps of material. The rags were quickly turned into makeshift bandages once Toboe had cleaned away all the blood. Tsume tied the bandages tight and also checked the boy's pulse and breathing. Both were faint. The wolf put the boy's shirt and jacket back on him and then discarded the book in a corner. After all, what use does a wolf have for reading?
"We're going to have to keep him warm." Tsume took the blanket Toboe had brought and wrapped the child in it.
"Tsume, I think our fur might also help," Toboe suggested.
"No, it'll be better to stay human. Just in case he wakes up or someone finds us."
"Oh, Ok." Tsume propped himself against a wall with the boy in his lap. Toboe slid close next to Tsume. Toboe almost jumped at what Tsume did next. Instead of shoving him away, which is what the pup had braced himself for, Tsume put his arm around Toboe. Toboe snuggled against Tsume and hugged him around his midsection.
"Don't get too used to this, runt!"
"All right." Toboe agreed as he fell into a peaceful sleep.
I hate kids, Tsume thought as he sat there waiting for sleep to come. He looked at Toboe sleeping next to him. He did look happy just like the old woman had said. Tsume couldn't deny that he felt some sort of kindredship with the young wolf like they could almost have been related. Well, perhaps in another lifetime, Tsume chuckled to himself. Finally, Tsume too fell asleep.