Disclaimer: I do not own any Wolf's Rain trade mark characters, I do however own Soui, my character. (Grumbles and wishes she owned Tsume)
akei- means brother
Chapter 3
"Kiba..."
"He's the chosen one...." Soui told Tsume... "and unknown to him...I'm his sister"
Tsume broke their tension as he sat back to look at her "What?" Tsume asked with his usual rash voice. Soui looked away, down at the ground. "How can that be? His family was killed off and he was left in a village years ago as a puppy"
"Exactly. When he was a puppy, our pack knew that he would be the one to find the lunar flower. Darcia knew that too. Our pack was not strong enough to fight off the many followers Darcia possessed, so to save ourselves and him, we left him in an Indian village. Those people, have special gifts, and could protect him. The Indians, respect us as superior beings, unlike the idiots within the domes. In the end, my pack was destroyed except for me, and I knew he was safe. It seems fate has brought us back together."
"Does he know?"
Soui shook her head "He was a little boy, and I was young too. But I've been brought up hearing his legendary story, the white wolf, when I finally did see him, I could tell it was him. I just fear, what troubles this information will bring. So I will not tell him. If I tell him, I'll be his distraction, and he needs to find paradise."
"You've been waiting in this domain all this time, in hopes that he would somehow find his way back, and now that you finally have found him, you can't even tell him"
"Yes...but I'll manage. He's here, that's all that matters, at least now I know my big brother has grown into a fine wolf." Soui smiled, hugging her knees and looked up at the sky.
"Soui..." Tsume looked at her. Why would she burden herself like this? Soui looked back to him and rested her head against his chest. Very cautiously, he wrapped his arms around her and he, smiled.
"As long as I have you Tsume, I'll be fine," she whispered gently closing her eyes.
"I'll protect you," he said softly as he moved aside a strand of her beautiful gold hair.
"You do know...that they can't know about us," she told him "I think Kiba would start to notice things. I don't want to do anything that would upset him, or delay your journey"
"....We'll just have to pretend like there's nothing here" he said almost sadly, he was only just starting to understand what he was feeling, and now he had to act like there was nothing at all. Then again, it wouldn't be that hard for Tsume, he always had the harsh outer appearance.
Their ears then picked up the sound of the group a few hundred feet away. "They're returning," he said quietly
"I know," Soui kissed his cheek one more time and then moved his hands away from her "Give me a few minutes to get down to the fire alright?"
"Sure"
Soui smiled gently and limped off down the hill. She was still rather weak from these past few days, and her wounds hand finally stopped their bleeding. She threw a few more logs onto the fire and watched them burn. After that she shook out her fur, and then curled up in a ball beside it just in time to hear the other's return. Little Toboe ran up to her and licked her face. She peaked open an eye.
Hey little akei.
We brought you food Soui, you have to stay healthy
Soui just chuckled lightly Alright, only because you worked so hard. Let the others eat, whatever's left I'll eat, I am your lowest member now.
Tsume appeared from on the hill, looking down at Soui, his usual frown on his face, and then he looked to Kiba with the same frown. Toboe curled up next to Soui, talking with her, while Kiba, Blue and Higue dragged their very large buck carcass. Tsume trotted down the hill and helped them.
Nice prize here, I'm impressed
Would you believe it that it was Toboe to grab the sucker by the neck? I mean talk about major improvement, the runt did great
Oh Higue be nice to Toboe, he's learned a lot being with us Blue told Higue
Indeed he has, he's starting to grow up Kiba started, his eyes fell onto Soui with Toboe How's Soui holding out
She's fine, her wounds stopped bleeding a long time ago. She's just cold.
I think we better stay here longer Kiba. It's winter, if she gets sick she'll die. Blue said quietly
Alright. We'll stay one more day, but that's it, we have to find Cheza.
The four wolves began to gobble the flesh of the elk, but they allowed Toboe the first bite because he had been the one to kill it. Those five ate quickly, swallowing as much as they could to satisfy their hunger. Soui fell asleep, but Kiba made sure to save her some. The others after having their fill went into the cave to sleep. Because Soui was the weakest link, she didn't really mind sleeping by the fire, she shivered as she slept anyway.
Kiba made his way over to her and sat down beside her as she opened an eye.
Can I help you? She asked him shivering in her furry ball. Kiba sat down in his human form beside her.
"You can go eat now, we saved you some food" He told her looking at the sky
Thanks, but I'm not really hungry....
"If you don't eat you'll surely die you know"
Soui growled Don't talk to me about death Kiba.
Kiba looked down at her "......" She turned her wolf head away from him and closed her eyes again. But the he-wolf only nuzzled his head against her neck in a whimper. I'm sorry... Kiba could not understand this feeling inside of him. No matter how much he detested her beliefs, he didn't want her angry with him. He pushed his head against her back with another whimper.
Kiba...would you not take everything so heavily. You try and carry the world on your shoulders but it is the world that's dragging you along.
We'll make it to paradise, I don't care who gets in the way
Lord Darcia will try to kill you again, and he'll be back for me soon enough...I just never understood why he cursed me. You're the legendary white wolf, so why was I scared with his touch?
Maybe you're more important than you think
Heh, I highly doubt that, a long wolf who's been so wrapped up in her past she let her years slip by.
Soui opened her eyes as she heard an object hit the snow beside her, as her eyes wandered it was only Kiba's head, staring at her.
You seem familiar
All wolves look the same after a while, it's the scent that's different
That's not what I meant
Stop thinking about it and go sleep in the cave with the others. You're their leader.
I don't like sleeping in there, I like being outside, where I can see the stars. Sometimes I think they're other wolves watching down on us, guiding us.
The stars are too far away to be of any importance.
Soui closed her eyes again and tried to sleep. Again she opened her eyes in a startle as she felt his fur rub against hers, their faces beside each other. Kiba?
Something about you...how can you handle all these injuries, even I slow down after a while, how is it you can handle a bullet, dog attack, and falling through ice and you're still here?
I don't know, I just am, why bother wasting time asking question?
As Kiba began to pull and chew on her ear she rolled her eyes and then laughed. It was a weird sensation, it felt like they really were brother and sister. You think I'm dense Soui?
Well duh. It's in your eyes, people can peer into your soul and see an entirely different world. She said laughing. He pulled on her ear more and she laughed again Alright Kiba enough, you're acting like Toboe.
And what's wrong acting like him, at least he can spend time with you innocently Kiba told her with his own soft laughter as he chewed on her ear more, resting his large paws across her back, like a dog with its chew toy.
Soui pawed at his snout laughing still He can spend innocent time with me because he IS innocent. The boy's only a pup, still naive and gentle.
OH and I'm not? He asked her nibbling at her ear still
Well right now you seem pretty damn innocent, but when you fight you're a completely other person, especially when we talk about paradise and Cheza
How did you know about Cheza? Kiba had never mentioned Cheza to Soui, so how was it she knew Cheza's name
Everyone knows the flower maiden's name, it was passed down in my family for generations, as was your name, and your pack who would all journey to find our paradise.
Does that mean that you're in the legend, the one with the crescent scar?
....of course not. Soui said after a long pause I won't follow you....I will only bring you destruction, that's what this scar is, a curse, and I don't want to endanger the only wolves that can get us out of this horrible world.
I want you to come with us.... Kiba said gently releasing her ear
What's the point of dragging a cursed creature along with you? Darcia will only appear sooner.
But I think....you'll be important to us. Kiba told her softly licking at her muzzle, as a human it wouldn't really be a kiss just a sign of affection. Please come with us.
Oh Kiba...I don't think your pack is that fond of me. She told him nuzzling his face lightly, she wanted so much to tell him she's his sister.
Trust me, this isn't one big happy loving family. We all get along and then hate each other the next. The only two who are truly close are Blue and Higue
Well that's because their mates, of course they're close. Soul mates work that way, if they didn't it wouldn't be right.
So you believe in that soul mate stuff?
I had a husband at one point Kiba she said dryly A mate is someone who fits like a glove, who can know you inside and out and still end up being surprised by your actions.
Did you ever have cubs?
No. He died right before I was due to be in heat, Darcia... Soui looked the other way bearing her teeth Darcia...
Soui I....
Just leave me alone Kiba, I don't want to think about it anymore. Soui rose from her spot by the fire and wandered off into the forest leaving Kiba behind to stare at her empty place. Soui wandered about through the endless trees sad. Hagami had meant everything to her. She had found him injured a long time ago, and had been the one to heal him, in that time they had spent together, they fell in love. Just like that, once finally finding the happiness she wanted it was stricken from her in an instance, and she was left with nothing, but the mounds of dead carcasses and stained snow with blood.
Soui was unsure, of what Kiba was feeling for her, and he feared he'd adore her in ways forbidden to the world, and Tsume, Tsume....he had to watch from a far, only when they had a free moment. She continued her walk, and only left her lone footprints in the snow.
Her boots crunched with the snow beneath her as she wandered, but her ears picked up the sound of someone. She turned around quickly, her amber eyes darting around for someone
"Who's there?" She called out
From behind some trees a boy appeared. Compared in human forms, she and the boy would be around the same age. She glared at him nervously, she couldn't well change in front of him, and if she got into trouble she couldn't flee as quickly as she'd like.
"Sorry...I'm just out here for a walk, I didn't meant to scare you," He had short shaggy hazel hair, and deep blue eyes. He was wearing country close, but had a warmer jacket on. Soui stood there still, she wasn't sure what to do "Hey, are you okay, you're covered in blood!" The boy's voice sounded worried.
Soui looked down, and for the first time realized how much blood had really stained her clothes besides the ground. Even though her shirt was red to begin with, you could see the huge puddle in the back of it, her army pants too, she did not have a jacket.
"It's nothing...." She told him trying to walk away but she ached with the pain and he noted her limp. He walked up to her and took her hand and she looked to him glaring.
"Look, my name is Adam, I live a little deeper into the forest, there's a small remote village there, I'm not going to hurt you, but you need to get those wounds check out before you get really sick. What are you doing out here?"
"...I got lost that's all." Soui said quietly looking away as the boy grabbed her hand and walked her through the forest. She shouldn't be with this human, but the pain was overwhelming, she didn't need to be with the pack...she'd bring them trouble.
"Its easy to get lost here, we're at the foot of Death Forest." He said gently his eyes wandering back to her "You don't look like you're from around here"
"I am, I've just, run into a lot of trouble in my life, I'm, not a very social person"
"That's okay. You have a name?" He asked her gently
"Soui..." Soui now wondered if she should've used her wolf name
"I guess that name comes from the scar on your head, its rather unique"
"Oh sure its such a fashion statement" She said sarcastically
Adam laughed "You're funny." he smiled, and she felt calmer. A few more minutes of walking, they arrived at the town. It was indeed small, but the simplicity made her smile, these were not the horrible humans that she had been told about, these were, the better ones. "Come on,"
He pulled her to the door of a small wooden house, and he brought her inside. "Mother?"
"I'm here Adam" His mother appeared, he the spitting image of her, with the gentle eyes and soft hair. "Oh, we have company honey?"
"Mom, this is Soui. She needs help, she's been hurt" Adam still held on her hand but gestured to the many wounds on her
"Lets get you cleaned up Soui." She said gently
"You don't have to Mam...I'm not worth your trouble" Soui looked to the ground
"Nonsense dear, you're barely standing" She dragged Soui in the back and nodded to Adam. Adam went to his room, in search of clothes she could wear until she was clean.
"Dearie what happened to you?" The woman asked Soui
"Just ran into trouble that I'd rather not retell" Soui told her sadly
"That's fine dear, now lie down" Soui did as instructed and laid on the bed. From above, the women removed her shirt and whistled sadly "You sure are lucky" The woman walked to the medicine cabinet, and dabbed some cotton swabs with antibiotics. She wiped her back and Soui screamed
"Damn it that hurts lady!"
"I probably should have warned you, but I need to make sure it doesn't get infected." The woman said gently.
She told Soui to then sit up, and she wrapped the white bandages around her waist covering up the gun wound. As she examined the girl's back, she found the dog bites in her back, and she covered them too. The bandages wound around her so many times, they rose all the way up to her breasts. In a most awkward way, the woman too had to bandage the gunshot on her thigh, many hours later she finished.
"Dear, you really should be more careful" The woman said standing up. "Now come into our den and I'll give you something to eat"
Adam gave the clothes to his mother through the door, and Soui dressed in privacy into the new clean clothes. She emerged finally from the back hallway into the den. Adam was on the couch and stood up walking over to her "How are you feeling?" He asked her gently
"I'm fine...really...you're both too kind." She said guiltily. "I should go..."
"Soui its below freezing out there, in your condition, you'll be frozen in no time. Just stay here, please, for a little while" Adam looked at her with his blue eyes
"Fine." she said quietly as she sat down on the couch. Adam sat down beside her after wrapping a wool blanket around the two of them. The woman appeared with soup for the two of them, and she sipped at it gently.
"Why do you always have such a sad look in your eyes?" He asked her gently staring at Soui.
"Hm? Oh...I've just been going through a few changes" Soui said quietly, leaving the empty soup bowl on the table beside his.
Soui covered her mouth as she yawned. Adam, cautiously, even nervously wrapped his arm around her. Soui didn't react at first, but he lowered his head and whispered in her ear "Just sleep Soui, I'll protect you" Soui closed her eyes gently and leaned against Adam, until eventually, both of them fell into a deep sleep.
"Kiba?" Tsume asked walking out of the cave with Toboe "Where's Soui?"
Kiba was still staring at the stars, and still remained looking at them "She said she couldn't stay with the pack, and knowingly be putting the pack to find paradise in danger"
"What? So she left?" Toboe asked sadly
"That's right" Kiba said gently
"You idiot you just let her leave? She could be working with Darcia!" Tsume picked Kiba up by the collar of his jacket "Are you crazy"
Kiba looked to Tsume with vacant eyes "Did you know she had a husband?"
"What? Never mind what the hell does that have to do with anything" Tsume growled
"Let her go, and find her way again. Soui's lost everything she ever cared about. If she's meant to travel with us, she'll come back" Kiba said unemotionally
"You bastard! How can you talk that way about her?" Tsume knew Kiba did something to make her leave, because Kiba looked sad knowing she wasn't there. Tsume sat on the ground and let out a sad howl
"What's going on out here?" Blue and Higue emerged from the cave
"Soui's gone!" Tsume growled
"What? But why would she leave?" Blue asked worried
"Leader over there said she's just needed to clear her head, but that was hours ago"
"Well. Then lets go find her!" Higue said simply shrugging his shoulders "Blue and I will go look, you and Toboe, try to get Kiba out of his stupid daze"
So that was the agreement, they'd begin at dawn.