Chapter 2: First encounters

Hicaru was held captivated by a certain curiosity about the large creature for a few moments but as a realization that this was her chance to escape a beating set in she quickly turned on her heel to leave. Even as she moved she could hear the scream of one of her comrades….even if she didn't like them she was loyal to them and so she turned around. The large dog leapt from its resting place beneath the large tree to bound after a retreating Tsume.

"Tsume…..running?"

Something about this didn't settle quite right with her, It wasn't really her nature to get mixed up in other's affairs but Tsume could be in trouble….and anyway if she helped him out maybe she could atone for her screw up this morning. She sprinted after the two, having quite a bit of trouble keeping up until they came to an abrupt stop. She knelt behind a large rock waiting to see if Tsume would need her help or not.

She listened to the two argue…..wait…she understood the dog, or from what the two were saying she understood the wolf. But Tsume wasn't a wolf…was he? And anyway they were supposed to be extinct….without warning Tsume dropped his human façade resorting back to his normal appearance a large mousy gray wolf……without the human illusion. She was to shocked to react as the two engaged in a fight, her mind reeling with all to many questions…But she did know one thing….that she better get out of there before they saw her.

She broke into an all out run; even though her legs already felt like jelly and her chest was heaving she pushed on. She had only made it a few feet when she felt something impact her hip, twisting her around to face her aggressor who's next move pinned her to the ground. She cried out in shock but her air was cut of as the immense weight of the white wolf atop her kept her from taking in anymore air. She struggled as best she could until she felt the warm breath from the white wolf's open mouth touch the tender skin of her throat. Hicaru's eyes slowly began to close as the need for air assaulted her lungs, the wolf slowly backed off of her his fangs still bared. His lips didn't move but she could hear him speak…

"Half-breed…"

She gasp for air, trying desperately to rid herself of the terrible pain in her chest. After a few deep breaths it started to subside and she rolled over on to her stomach then picked herself up to face the wolf….the wolf who had like the other called her a half-breed. Keeping a distance from him she began to speak slowly wondering if he could understand her to….but why wouldn't he be able to…Tsume did.

"Half-breed?"

She inquired trying to keep up a brave front….she felt like a giant noodle, and wasn't to sure just how long her legs would hold up. She had nearly fainted from lack of oxygen after all…Hicaru stiffened as she noticed the large animals head tilt ever so slightly to the side and an inquisitive look came to his chilling blue eyes.

"Your only half wolf…..and half dog apparently"

He said tonelessly, she could already see his wolf lips twitching slightly revealing rows of ivory teeth. He snarled,

"You don't have any pride as a wolf either do you"

He said referring to the gray wolf he had a confrontation with only moments ago, both these wolves…these proud creatures had in his mind degraded themselves by putting up this façade just to live with these humans.

"Ok….I think you have a few screws lose because I'm no wolf or as you so aptly dubbed it a half-breed, I'm a human if you haven't noticed"

Her voice had a sarcastic tone to it that she wasn't able to override, despite her attempts at being submissive and getting out of here alive her own nature wouldn't allow it. She wasn't a wolf! Tsume had always been rather secretive and now she knew at least part of the reason, but up until recently he had never bothered to give her a second glace…and suddenly today he went to the extent of calling her a half-breed, just like this wolf. Was it possible that this was all just some elaborate scheme? But it couldn't be…. neither of these wolves even knew her to want to trick her…did they?

Her thoughts were cut short as she noticed his growl growing in volume…to an almost deafening point.

"HOW DARE YOU DENY YOUR HERITAGE AS A WOLF!"

He snarled and before she could reply she was once again tackled to the ground, but this time she managed to get an arm up in front of her face. She felt the immense pain of his jaws clamping onto her arms and desperately tried to beat at his head with her injured hand….it didn't even faze him.

"….I've finally found you….YOU MESSENGER OF DEATH!"

Somewhere in the back of her mind she heard an older man yell, the sound of a firecracker,….then she was buried in an infinite wasteland of white…..