Chapter 3

Late the next morning, Toboe sat next to Tsume, simply watching him sleep; he hadn't moved from Tsume's side the entire night. Kiba walked over and sat beside Toboe. "You should get some rest. You're the only one who hasn't slept."

"...I'm not sleeping until Tsume wakes up."

"You need to stop worrying about him so much. He'll be fine. He's tough."

"...It's my fault. He wouldn't be hurt so badly if I'd been paying attention to where I was going."

"Don't blame yourself. It was his decision. He could've just as easily let them kill you." Toboe remained silent, refusing to look at Kiba for the tears in his eyes. "...Anyway, Hige and I are going to get some food. We should be back in an hour or two." Toboe watched Kiba stand and leave the building before returning his gaze to Tsume's sleeping form.

"..." He began to change his bandages, trying his best not to cry at the severity of his friend's wounds. "Why did you do that, you idiot?"

"Call it instinct." Tsume forced himself to sit up, wincing in pain.

"Tsume! You're awake!"

"Yeah...kind of wish I wasn't, though." He glanced at Toboe. "Where are the other two?"

"Getting food."

"Good. I'm actually willing to admit that I'm hungry, for once."

"...So why did you help me?"

"Would you rather I had let those dogs kill you?"

"...No."

"That's why I helped you. If I hadn't, you'd probably be dead, everyone would be all depressed, and that's something I can't stand."

"...I'm sorry, Tsume. I was scared."

"All the more reason you should've defended yourself or fled. Fear gives us the strength to do either." He closed his eyes for a moment, clearly in pain. "You need to start sticking up for yourself, Toboe. You won't always have someone you can rely on for help."

"I know that. It's just...I'm so little. I don't see how I could defend myself from one wolf, let alone five."

"You can't if you have that attitude. Being small and acting small are two entirely different things." He opened his eyes to gaze at Toboe. "I think your problem is that you were raised as a pet, so you're used to having everything handed to you on a silver platter. Real life doesn't work like that. If you want something, you have to get it yourself! Be assertive! Go after what you want, and don't give up, no matter what!" Toboe hesitated before suddenly kissing Tsume. Tsume's eyes widened in surprise, but he didn't attempt to pull away, nor did he respond in a positive manner.

Toboe backed off after a moment, refusing to make eye contact with Tsume, his cheeks a bit flushed. "...Sorry, Tsume. I...I couldn't help myself."

"...It's fine. That's...not exactly what I had in mind when I told you to assert yourself, but...what on earth possessed you to do that?"

"..." He started to answer, but stopped himself when Hige and Kiba wandered in.

"We come bearing food!" Kiba rolled his eyes.

"Shut up, Hige." He walked over and handed Toboe a box. "Lucky for us, there was a street vendor not too far from here selling Cornish hens..."

"Yup. He thinks two stray dogs stole them." Toboe glanced over at Hige before opening the box and beginning to eat. Kiba handed another box to Tsume.

"Glad to see you're awake. How you feeling?" Tsume gazed at him through half-lidded eyes.

"Two guesses, Einstein."

"Stubborn and ungrateful?"

"Wrong. Painful and hungry. Thanks for the food."

"...No problem." Toboe suddenly stopped devouring his food.

"Kiba...what are we going to do about those wolves? There's no way we'll be gone by sundown. Tsume's hurt too badly."

"How many are there?"

"Well...there were five, but Tsume killed one and blinded another, so I think there are only three now...but there could be more."

"We'll have to fight them." Toboe started to protest, but he fell silent when he saw Tsume watching him.

"...Okay."

"Don't worry, Toboe. The moon will be out tonight. We'll be fine."

"..."

"You get some rest...and I'm sure you could use more sleep, Tsume. Hige and I are going to see if there are other wolves in this town besides the ones you ran into." Tsume nodded.

"All right. Be careful."

"We will." Hige and Kiba then ran out of the building once again. Tsume lay back down with a sigh.

"I can't wait for tonight. I'm really hurting."

"..." Toboe curled up on the floor nearby. "...I wish we didn't have to fight." Tsume glanced over at him.

"It's the way of the world. Fight or die. Those are the only choices you have."

"...Tsume?"

"Hmm?"

"...Never mind." The young wolf rested his head on his paws with a soft whine and closed his eyes, silently praying for night to never come.