"Shit." That was all the disappointment I could muster at this moment, but it wasn't because I wasn't that upset. It was because I was in such a desperate situation that being distracted by that would've meant death.

Blue, the female wolf, was beside me, and she was certainly not your average woman. Strong, tough, I was glad she was on my side. But we were facing a veritable firing squad of Jagara's soldiers. I had a pistol with one clip of ammunition, a few shots spent already. Things looked grim. Blue didn't look discouraged, not by a long shot. I took confidence in this, and took aim at the lead soldier. A standoff occurred, were they afraid of Blue? It made sense, they had her caged. But I was ready to cover her, if need be.

But I didn't. For, a few seconds later, a massive explosion landed right in the middle of Jagara's troops. I didn't know that much about the military, but it was probably a shot from a tank. But, who were they? It would be impossible for Hubb, he was on the airship.

I was relieved a few minutes later when I saw that they were military troops. Lord Oakum's troops. The Captain was there. When I saw him, I was so relieved I nearly collapsed.

"Are you alright, Ma'am?" He asked. I nodded, smiling.

"You've survived."

"We had some help. From that band of boys we saw back at Darcia's Keep." He told me. I remembered them. The wolves who appeared like young men.

"Jagara took Cheza." I reported. "I broke out with another prisoner and we rescued her, but Jagara's airship took both he and the Maiden. Blue here and I were left here, but then you rescued us." He took everything in silently.

"Hmph. Well, we're headed back to Freeze. There's no sense in just sitting around. We're going to liberate it, even if that is where Jagara's forces are based. Care to come along. You're a tough lady." I figured he meant Blue, but when I looked around, she had disappeared. Where did she go off to?

It didn't matter. I was needed elsewhere.

"How about I take that car there. I'm headed to Lost City." I told him. Lost City, Jagara's Keep. Where Cheza, and Hubb, were likely to be held. The Captain looked at me like I had grown three heads, but a minute later, he nodded.

"You be careful now." He told me. Of course I would. What good would I be to either of them if I went in recklessly? Of course, doing this was pretty reckless, but this was something that I had to do, and damn the consequences.

When I went into the car, I found that Blue was already there in the passenger seat.

"I'm not much for driving." She responded. I only smiled. With her on my side, the scales were more balanced to my favor. I started up the car and started south.

We drove in silence for a while. Blue looked out the window every so often.

"So, how long have you known Cheza?" I asked.

"Not very long, I met her in that cage." Blue responded. "I only saw her previously, and that's when I realized I could look like this." I figured she meant wolves turning into humans. "After that, I just went after her, met the guys, and we went to that Noble's Keep together to find Cheza. That's when I met you. You've known her for much longer then me, I imagine. That's why you were there, right? At that Keep?"

"Ummm…yeah." I really wasn't sure why I went, so I might as well agree. "So, you lived with Quent?" At the sound of his name, Blue cringed a little.

"Yeah." She responded. "But not anymore. He'd…never accept me as I am." Blue seemed a little depressed.

"Because you're a wolf?" I wondered aloud.

"Half-wolf." She corrected. "But that really doesn't matter. All Pops has now is a hatred of wolves, and I'm everything he despises. And he's too hard-headed to change." That's what I figured. I remember him talking in the car when I was with him and Hubb, and I could tell he hated wolves with a passion.

"But, I am grateful. When…when I meet Quent again, I can talk to him like this. I always wanted to do this." She took solace in that.

"So, why are you coming with me?" I asked.

"I'm going to protect Cheza, no matter what." Her drive was admirable, and I respected her.

"What about you?" Blue reversed. "I would've gone with or without you, but this'll be easier on the feet and I can save my energy. Are you going for Cheza too?" Before I could answer affirmatively, her eyes narrowed mischievously and she got a small smile on her face.

"Or is it the Mr. Nice Guy you were with?" I nearly blushed. I wanted to say I was going for Cheza, but she would have seen right through it.

"Both of them." I responded. That way, I could say I wasn't going just for Hubb. Blue looked at me with that look, a look that meant she was satisfied with that answer, but she suspected there were more motives behind.

"Well, you wouldn't leave him there, would you?" I asked.

"If I found him, I'd rescue him, but I don't think I would forget about Cheza to go after him." Blue answered honestly, and it did discourage me a little. Would I be going after Hubb by myself?

"He's a real sweet guy. A little goofy, perhaps." She noted with a smile.

"All guys are like that." Blue clammed up again.

"Quent's not like that, not anymore. Back before the destruction of Curios, he was very happy. I was really small back then, but Quent, he loved his wife, he loved his child. And I was happy too, I loved being there with them, sharing in it all. But it all ended that one day." Blue sighed heavily.

I said nothing about that.

"So, tell me about Mr. Nice Guy." She said.

"Why do you ask?" I wondered.

"I want to think about something else. If I think about Curios, I feel really bad, like there was something I could have done but didn't." I didn't really understand, but I had never lived through major tragedies like the one she described. Her details were mercifully brief, and I could tell it was really painful to remember that.

"Well, we were married, once, but we're not anymore."

"When did you meet him?" She asked.

"I hadn't known him for very long after we got married. I suppose it was about a year and a half. I met him while he was investigating a homicide. One of the scientists was killed and I had to come in to identify the body. We hit it off pretty well, needless to say. I was happy with him, but then Cheza came along and I got so engrossed with that I couldn't even think about our relationship."

"So you broke up because you were too busy. Do you think that was a mistake?" Blue asked. I didn't answer. I don't think Cheza was a mistake, but I didn't think that abandoning my vows and Hubb like that was right either.

"It was just one of those difficult choices." I responded. Blue gave me another suspicious look.

"So, what would you do when Cheza is found?"

"I'd wait for the others. Well, first, I'd get her away from those troops, then the rest of them could just follow her scent. What about you? What would have happened if I didn't come, and you had Cheza?" That question gave me pause. Blue was insightful and intelligent, and so I liked her immediately, more then just because she was a strong woman.

"I…suppose I never thought that through. I just want to get Cheza away from those who want to abuse her." Blue smiled and I could tell she accepted my philosophy.

"But what would happen if you ran into Kiba? Oh, you might not know the name, the wolves?"

"I could imagine what would happen. I'd put Cheza behind me, and not let them pass, because I don't know their motives, and I'd rather Cheza miss out on something great then be subject to tortures." Blue smiled again.

"But we won't have to worry about that. Because I'm gonna be with you. Of course, I'd imagine Cheza would say some things to calm everyone down." Blue figured. I figured that would be true.

"What does Cheza do for you wolves?" I asked. I knew that she would open a Paradise for the Nobles should the Nobles use her.

"Paradise. I can't say I know much about it myself, but that's what she does. She will show us the way. The Paradise for the wolves."

"Rather exclusionary is it?" I wondered aloud.

"I don't know if I'll get in either, but I still have to go." She responded. "The part of me that is wolf is calling for it."

"I see…" I thought.

The car ride was long, but that didn't seem to deter Blue, and it certainly wasn't bothering me. Lost City started as a small speck on the horizon, but it got bigger and bigger. When I saw it, it was like a mountain climber staring at the summit. Itching to conquer, fueling the drive.

"I don't know that much about this city." I told Blue. "Keep your eyes and ears open, we may pick up some important information." Blue bit her lip and stared at Lost much like I did. She was ready, she wanted in. I figured Cheza would be in the Keep, but getting in there wouldn't be as easy as Lord Darcia's, where we just walked in. Jagara, after claiming Cheza, will have beefed up security. But that didn't matter. Man, machine, God, I didn't care. The two most important aspects of my life were in there somewhere.