Author's Note: I'm SOOOO sorry I haven't been able to update for so long! Anyway, I made this chapter extra long to make up for it, 'kay? Enjoy!

Yu-Gi-Oh: Wolf

Chapter 7

Seto awoke, aching all over. But he wasn't underwater anymore. He struggled to sit up and his eyes finally managed to focus.

He and the others were on a flat rock a few meters away from the Ice Plain. He was sopping wet and freezing, but alive.

He guessed that one of them had fished him out. But who-?

Niisama! You're awake! exclaimed Mokuba happily from behind him. He hadn't noticed that his brother was awake too.

What happened?

Well, you went underwater and we didn't know where you were, Mokuba said speaking very fast. Then when we realized there was a current we sort of calculated and were able to find you. So Bakura did something with that Millennium Ring thing and broke the ice. Then Joey jumped in and-

Wait a minute, interrupted Seto suddenly. Joey as in Wheeler?!

Mokuba nodded.

Great. Now he had to pay back Yami, Malik, Bakura AND Wheeler. Wonderful.

Anyway, Joey jumped in and grabbed you, continued Mokuba. He brought you to the hole and we had to pull you both out. It was hard, with the current and all…

Seto wasn't listening much anymore. He shook his head and glanced at Joey. Was this person…wolf…someone who would help him? Was this pathetic duelist, a wolf whose soaked fur was freezing into icicles, actually decent?

No. He wouldn't think about it. He would ponder on that some other time. Maybe.

((((()))))

The snow got so deep as they headed farther north that they practically had to swim through it.

This is the second obstacle, called Yami through the blizzard. Snow Canyon. It's a canyon filled with really deep snow. Whatever you do, stay together and keep to the top.

Right. We'll all doggie-paddle, muttered Seto.

Seto pulled his brother onto his back for safety, though with many protests from Mokuba, and plodded on. The signal that they had reached the canyon was that suddenly, instead of feeling firm ground under his paws, Seto only felt packed snow.

They made slow progress, as the snow kept crumbling under them, making them sink lower.

AAH!

Seto who had been following Yami saw him get swallowed up by the snow.

Pathetic, he muttered to himself, then he felt the snow crumble away from under him completely.

Wha-?!

He hastily backed up but couldn't get away. He fell into a hole hidden in the snow.

Seto flailed and tried to grab onto the vertical snow wall but failed. He made sure that Mokuba was still clamped onto his back before digging all four paws into the wall.

All he managed to do was dislodge a large amount of snow from the side of the pit. Apparently, this turned out to be a good thing.

The snow hit the floor of the pit before he did and he hit it with a flumph and flurry of snow.

Mokuba rolled off him and got to his feet, looking around. The pit was about 10 feet all around and very deep. The snow walls were tightly packed and there were no reachable handholds.

But where was Yami?

Seto looked up and saw his rival holding onto a jutting out dead tree root about halfway up the pit.

This was his chance to pay him back. He began sweeping the snow that had cushioned his and Mokuba's fall directly below Yami.

Jump, Yugi!

Yami strained to look down to see the pile of snow underneath him. He took a deep breath and released the root.

He fell…fell…fell and landed on the pile of snow, scattering it all over the bottom of the pit.

Thanks, he said, rolling over and shakily getting up.

Seto nodded and glanced up to the top of the pit, which seemed about as far away as the moon. He could just make out 3 tiny wolf heads peering in through the opening.

You okay? called Ryou down the shaft.

We're fine! Mokuba yelled back. But we're trapped!

Obviously.

Can you get us out?

I don't know, it's a bit deep.

Well, think of something, snapped Seto irritably.

There was a 10-minute silence.

I've got nothing, said Joey finally.

I know! said Bakura excitedly. I'll send you to the Shadow Realm!

Oh wonderful idea, said Seto sarcastically. That'll get us out of the hole, but then what?!

Yami looked thoughtful.

That COULD work you know…

No. No way.

Don't worry Kaiba, I can get us out afterwards.

Yeah, right.

Okay! I'm sending you to the Shadow Realm! announced Marik, grabbing the Millennium Rod in his teeth.

Hey! It was my idea! argued Bakura. I'LL do i-

Marik cut him off by sending some shadow magic down the hole. Seto heard Bakura call Marik something rude in Egyptian.

Stay close to me, said Yami quickly.

Seto grudgingly nudged against him and made sure to keep one paw on his brother.

All of a sudden he felt strangely suffocated and everything around them faded to black. A rushing sound came and then…silence.

They were in the Shadow Realm.

Seto could only see black around them. He could only just make out Yami's wolf self on his left. When he looked to the right he realized that he couldn't see his brother. But he still felt fur underneath the paw he had placed on Mokuba.

Mokuba? Are you still there?

Yeah, I'm right next to you big brother, answered Mokuba in a why-are-you-asking tone.

Just checking…

Ok, let's get out of here, said Yami, concentrating. The Millennium Puzzle glowed casting a dim light around them.

It was only then when Seto realized that there were indistinct shadowy figures all around them, reaching out.

He began to feel slightly dizzy and pulled Mokuba protectively closer.

The Millennium Puzzle's light grew brighter and brighter and the sennen eye appeared on Yami forehead.

There was a huge bright flash; followed by another loud rushing sound then the Snow Canyon came into view. They were standing on the Northern side of it.

Good you're safe, said Ryou smiling.

Darn it, muttered Marik, sounding slightly disappointed.

Can we get going then? asked Joey brightly.

Yami shook his head.

The next obstacle could take us a while to cross and we wont be able to stop in the middle.

Wolves have good endurance, pointed out Mokuba.

I know, said Yami nodding. But we still need to get some more food.

Another hunt? asked Bakura, starting to get excited.

All right! said Marik happily. Let's go! He took off, keeping the Snow Canyon on his right towards a dense forest.

((((()))))

They had just tracked and downed an elderly caribou. As they ate their fill, Seto noticed movement in among the pine trees just ahead of them.

A millisecond later a wolf, a large silvery white one with matted fur and glaring green eyes leapt out from the foliage. They stared at it, not moving.

Soon, the wolf was followed by it's pack, about a dozen more wolves. The Alpha wolf growled and showed it's teeth.

We're in their territory again, realized Seto. And we just ate one of 'their' caribou.

The Alpha wolf continued to growl at them and it's pack soundlessly formed a semi circle behind their leader.

Seto remembered seeing wolves do this before.

It's a challenge. That wolf is challenging…OUR…Alpha wolf.

Okay, said Yami, stepping forward.

Don't Yami! exclaimed Ryou.

/-C'mon, let the Pharaoh get himself killed if he wants to.-/

/-No.-/

/-Darn it…-/

Yami, it didn't become Alpha wolf by LOSING fights, Mokuba said worriedly. It's got experience.

Seto didn't say anything but merely watched as Yami and the Alpha wolf began squaring off. They circled and growled, trying to make the other run away.

Don't worry, I'll be your tag team partner if you get in trouble, promised Joey as he watched them.

Don't be stupid Wheeler, said Seto though without taking his eyes off the 2 wolves. You're not the Alpha wolf and they outnumber us. And we help our…leader…they'll help theirs and we'll all be dead.

Right, so we'll let Yami die so we'll be safe?!

Seto didn't answer him.

The Alpha wolf was staring Yami right in the eye, growling as ferociously as it possibly could. Suddenly, it leapt! Yami only just managed to dodge him and the wolf's teeth just missed grabbing his neck by centimeters.

Yami swung his head suddenly and the Millennium Puzzle swung and struck the wolf across the muzzle.

Though with all it's experience, Seto was sure the Alpha wolf had never fought a wolf with a heavy metal puzzle around it's neck. He just had to admire Yami for thinking on those terms.

Yami dived and his teeth closed around the wolf's front leg. It yelped and bit into Yami's back. They rolled in the snow, ripping at each other.

Seto glanced at the others who had their eyes glued on the battling wolves. He felt Mokuba fidget nervously next to him. It wasn't exactly the kind of thing that he'd want his brother to see but he couldn't help that now.

Just then, the wolf managed to get a grip on the back of Yami's neck and throw him off. Yami skidded on the snow where wolf blood had frozen into ice.

The Alpha wolf took advantage of this and lunged. A long gash appeared in Yami's side. He lay on the snow bleeding, and unable to get up.

YAMI!

Joey started forward but Seto moved in front of him to stop him from going closer.

Kaiba get out of the way!

He has to do it on his own, Seto told him as he watched as the wolf bore down on Yami, about to give the finishing bite.

The Millennium Puzzle gave a sudden flash and the wolf rolled away and onto his feet. The Alpha wolf missed and turned sharply to face his supposedly fallen opponent who was glaring at him with somewhat more innocent purple eyes.

Yugi?

Seto shook his head. He hadn't expected innocent Yugi Motou to be willing to fight for his other self. Well, he would do anything for his little brother, so he supposed that it was the same for them.

Yugi leapt and landed on the wolf and grabbed the back of it's neck. The wolf whirled and tried to snap at Yugi but couldn't reach. Yugi clawed at the wolf and tried to stay on at the same time. Snow flew everywhere as the wolf twisted and thrashed. Nevertheless, Yugi held.

Desperate now, running forward as fast as it could, the wolf turned and rolled over in the snow. Apparently, it worked.

Yugi scrambled to get out of the snow. The wolf barked triumphantly and pounced towards Yugi. Unable to get out of the way fast enough, Yugi changed tactics and crouched low. As the Alpha wolf flew over him, he looked up and slashed at it's stomach.

The wolf flailed and fell, whimpering. Yugi wobbled to his feet, breathing heavily.

He did it, Malik said, disbelievingly, staring at Yugi with very wide eyes.

The others, including the wolves from the other pack, gaped at Yugi. Then on wolf from the pack started barking in a way that sounded like cheering. Soon every wolf, except Seto and the former Alpha wolf, were barking.

Yugi smiled wearily and Seto remained silent as the others ran up to Yugi to congratulate him. Yugi, little Yugi, was the new Alpha wolf of the wolf pack.