Disclaimer: Again, no owny Wolf's Rain!

Author's Note: Yes, all you Toboe fans can hate me. I'm not saying anymore 'cause I don't want to give anything away...but I give you permission to flame me over this. I'm sorry! -cringes- I needed it for effect. Honest. Anywho, enjoy my pitiful work.

Chapter Two: The Emotions Encountered

The pack had long since reunited in the dismal cave, though Kiba found himself slightly worried about Toboe's health, as did Hige. His spirit seemed dented. He wasn't as jubilant as usual and that was how they often found out if he wasn't faring quite well. Maybe he just caught a cold from the harsh conditions for he was, after all, still a young pup. Nothing more than a few months old, and if that was the case, he should be close to recovery. Unfortunately, he seemed to worsen every night. Even the simple exclusion of a glance of admiration for Tsume presented a threat for he never ignored such a task. Now, he lay asleep upon the sodden earth, his wolven figure displaying the evident sickness he had been attempting to hide.

Releasing a sigh of many emotions, the white wolf trotted over to Cheza who stood just outside the mouth of the cavernous rock formation, his ears flat against his skull to portray his inner worries. "Cheza, I need to ask you something," he spoke softly, stunning blue eyes holding certain urgency within them.

"Hmmm? Oh, Kiba! Yes, of course. Is this about Toboe?"

"Yeah. You've noticed too?"

"Mmmhmm. He spoke to this one about death. This one thinks he is talking about his own," she replied, eyes that resembled dried blood darting over to the rust hued wolf as his body shook with labored breathing and random convulsions. Her hands were latched together in a sign of sorrow, in early mourning and confusion. She loved the wolves, they were what sustained her existence and to see one of them die...it would break her heart like it would the rest of the pack's.

The brute then sat upon his haunches and began to stare at the starless sky in an almost methodical manner. What could he do? Was Toboe's welfare not part of his responsibility? What if there was nothing that could be done? What if he had contracted a disease of some sort? Then they would all have to watch as he slowly faded away or at least began depressing suicidal attempts. At this point, it would be inevitable. Cheza knew more than any of them did. In a way, she was the messenger of death. "So, Toboe is dying. Is that what you're saying?"

A pause. "As much as this one hates to agree, yes, that is what this one is saying."

"Should we tell the others?"

"They will want to know, and it will help lessen the pain as they see his health deteriorate."

"Are you sure it won't worsen our feelings?"

"No, Kiba. There is no answer to emotions this one can provide."

Releasing a whine, his cranium was hung in unexplainable contempt. All these words, they seemed foreign, almost like none of them could possibly hold any truth. Could Toboe really die? In his eyes, no, all their eyes, he seemed immortal. Each wolf of the pack seemed immortal because of the unbreakable bonds they currently shared. Yet, it could be shattered by the death of one of them. Tsume would be affected most and Hige would follow a close second. Luckily, the brown wolf had Blue, but the gray...he had no one. Just what he probably considered a couple of strange kin, and sometimes it appeared like the pup was all that kept him in the pack. "Cheza...it's over?"

Kneeling onto the decaying terrain, the Flower Maiden's unusual lavender colored clothes were smeared with dirt as she wrapped her arms around the neck of the chosen wolf and snuck her cheek into the surrounding warmth of his fur. "Kiba, it will never be over. Toboe always has a chance. This one just has the feeling that he will not last long," she said in response, intricate fingers grasping onto the thick fur of the alabaster male's winter pelt. She could feel his frame shake, his bodice shiver uncontrollably as he came to the realization of a possible future demise of the youngest of their pack. The one that provided the most energy, and sometimes, the most sense. "Kiba..."

"Blue?"

"Hige?"

"Blue?"

"Hige? What's wrong, spit it out," she demanded, though in a rather loving tone. She had already been able to sense something was bothering the male, tearing at his thoughts and blockading any sense of relief. "Really. It will only hurt you more if you keep it inside."

Snorting, a look of unpredicted anger was now apparent on his visage. "What do you know? Look at him! Look! You can't tell me something isn't wrong with him! He's sick and his condition hasn't been getting any better!" Hige cried, scratching at a hole he had already begun to dig in the softened ground. He continued his action furiously, chestnut paws beginning to alter to a more ashen tone as they were shrouded in damp dirt on the verge of mud.

Hurt was evident in the dazzling eyes of the black half-breed as she watched her packmate and first and only love snap back at her for only offering assistance. Then again, this dealt with the Runt, the pup who was though of as a brother to Hige, and now his life was in jeopardy. Everyone knew that, but to what extent?

"Hige, Hige, calm down. Hush, you'll wake him," she urged softly, nuzzling the wolf upon the maw. They were in the far rear of the cave, but even a whisper resounded quite loudly, so a startling verbal assault the brown one had made just might have been enough to wake up Toboe. Fortunately, as Blue cringed and looked over at the whelp, there was no sign of him waking. Perhaps that wasn't fortunate. He could die in his sleep, couldn't he? What were they to possibly do?

"Please Blue, whatever you do, don't die on me, alright?"

"Hige." The female witnessed his sudden calming as he fell to the ground in obvious exhaustion. He lay there on his side, and feeling she needed just as much comfort as he did, she laid her slim frame next to his large one. Sharing their warmth and love for one another.

What the hell? Why did he have to do this now? Of all times, when he was gaining the most support from the stupid kid, now he chooses to lose his health. Tsume was no idiot! He knew quite well the Runt was on the borderline of death, in the path of danger that was in the form of sickness and disease. It was a dark shadow; one that came upon anyone without warning and then stole loved ones away. It had no eyes for it struck randomly, but it just so happened it decided to choose Toboe. Damn it! Damn everything!

A sour growl began in his throat, ascending and eventually emitting through clenched fangs. Was life this unfair? The only being on the entire damn Earth that actually respected him would die, and probably in a few days at that. What was with this? Everything was turning on him; it felt as if he had truly almost found Paradise, but no. Nothing was that simple. There had to be some heartache involved, but this was more than he had ever expected.