Disclaimer: I don't own Wolf's Rain
Chapter XII
The first few days with Darcia were content but awkward. Every time she woke up from the limited amount of sleep she could absorb she'd always forget where she was. Twenty seven days passed and Soui woke up in a scream and held her head as she cried.
"Soui wolf?" Darica panted standing in her doorway. He was in shirtless in black pants. She held herself and rocked back and forth. "Soui wolf?" he asked again in a, gentler, voice.
"The dream again...oh the dream..." She cried softly. Since the day she came to this keep she had the nightmare. Soui couldn't tell if it was memories from Kiba and her own passed or if it was just haunting visions of the future. Soui's slender legs folded and she buried her head on her knees. She was in her human form way more than her wolf one lately. But when she looked down at the mural in the ballroom she was always a wolf.
"Tell me the dream again Soui wolf, aid me in understanding," Darcia begged softly, the bed shifting under his weight, he wrapped his arm around her in means to counsel her.
"All the wolves are lost in the darkness, each one overcome by their greatest fear. We're pulled apart in different directions until we're brought back together. The soil is a deep red and we're running towards something. I can hear Cheza singing...but I can hear Kiba crying. There's a monster, a horrible monster, it's coming to take us all away. Then there's a rifle, then I'm drowning in an ocean of black and crimson. There's taunting, laughing, my husband, then cold. When I open my eyes again there's this painting, a huge painting. Cheza and the others are there, and a knife being driven through a wolf. Then there's this...strange creature again...reaching her arms out for me. Pain...then I awaken."
Soui closed her eyes, remembering the dream so vividly, but lacking the ability to explain the overall trauma and fear involved.Darcia rested his head against her cheek with fondness, "It was only a dream Soui-wolf, just a dream."
Soui's tears began to ease but she still sniffled lightly, "Why...why do you call me Soui wolf and not just Soui?"
Darcia smiled and wiped away a tear, "I must remind myself that you first are a wolf before you are a human, and I am first a man before I am a wolf."
"Whatever for?"
Darcia smiled lightly and stroked the side of her cheek, "I must remind myself of this to prevent my heart from growing even more fond of you. You are a wolf and I am man. There's nothing I can do."
Soui felt her heart give a tug and she gasped, "That's right. I have my mate, one I miss dearly, and I'm carrying his children. Your fondness is only to replace the emptiness Homina left you. Don't worry, soon you will not have to live with that heartache."
Darcia let out a small chuckle and shook his head and kiss her on the lips lightly and then pulled away. He left his spot on the bed and walked to the door, "Forgive my actions Soui wolf," and with that he walked out of the room.
The Pack
Toboe sat up and stretched her arms over his head, "Man, I couldn't sleep at all, what about you Tsume?" Toboe looked beside him, "Tsume?"
Tsume was already up, sitting under a pine tree, his elbows resting on his knees as he stared at the sunrise. "Tsume?" Tsume didn't turn to look, "Hey runt..."
"Tsume, did you sleep okay?"
"What do you think?" Tsume ran his hand down his face, "I couldn't sleep a wink. I'm so worried about what that bastard is doing to Soui..."
"You know Soui is strong, she went with him to save Cheza and Kiba. She's saved them, all of us, a lot. She'll be fine, don't worry."
Tsume smirked, "Hey Runt?"
'Yeah Tsume?" Toboe's eyes widened hoping for a happy smile or something.
"Did you know you're gonna be a big brother?" Tsume turned and smiled.
Soui
Soui got out of her bed and wandered down the corridors. She'd be forced to wear another gown, Darica insisting that those old clothes of hers were beyond repairs nor worth wearing. She made a turn down a hall, looking for the mural, but she must've taken a wrong turn. She stared at two mahogany colored doors nearly twelve feet tall.
"Something...Something on the other side, it's calling me...it's telling me to come in..." Soui ran her hand over the door handle and it opened without her even trying. There was a bright light as the doors flung open and Soui covered her eyes in brace.
Ahead of Soui she saw nothing but two eyes and two arms reaching out for her, and then it all fell dark again.
"Soui wolf! Soui wolf! Soui!" Someone was calling her name, someone's hands were gripping her shoulders and shaking her. Someone was calling her back again.
Her eyes fluttered open slowly to see Darcia above her with panic in his eyes again, "Hey there Darcia..." She whispered quietly.
"How did you find this room?" He asked quickly.
"Took a wrong turn looking for the mural..." She told him lightly as he laid her down on the floor.
"But how'd you get those doors to open, I've tried everything to get them to give," he looked up at the doors, which were now firmly shut again.
"I'm not sure...I just felt like...I had to be inside...:"
He smiled and brushed aside a strand of her hair, "I guess it's because the new moon is almost here. Maybe it's just your wolf blood calling to you."
Soui closed her eyes again, "Maybe...I just...I heard a voice inside...it said... 'Don't worry Soui, the scars will be removed now. This is your destiny'"
"Interesting, come, let's go find that mural for you," Darcia took her hands and pulled her up to her feet. She nodded her head slowly and he pulled her down the hallways with a smile on his face.
She's changed me. I know longer feel the darkness in my heart. Homina no longer pains me, but instead the two are one in the same. They both have their loving eyes, and loving hearts. Was this what you wanted for me Homina? You knew after you died you still wanted me to be happy?
He brought his run to a walk as he pulled Soui to the center of the room, "You know, this used to be Homina's favorite place."
"Really?" Soui seemed intrigued.
"Indeed, she used to look up at the skylight and urge me to dance with her under the moon. I made this room just for her, because the moon's reflection poured through here all the time."
"How kind of you," Soui smiled sincerely and looked up at the skylight, "It's a lovely place. I'm sure she shone with the most beauty, you must really have loved her."
"Indeed, and I lost her to paradise. Her mind is forever locked away there, and Jagara killed her. That's why I will not have the humans open up paradise," Darcia replied sternly.
"As long as I don't die, then everyone is safe. I could die now, and prevent even the threat come to think of it..." Soui added sadly, looking at the ground, "Wouldn't it be doing you a favor, eliminating the threat. If you lose a piece of the key, the door won't be open."
Darcia shook his head and took her hands, "Why must you sacrifice everything? You deserve a life just as Kiba and Cheza have gained."
"I had my fun, I don't want to be responsible for the pain of others," Soui whispered.
"If anything you have relieved our pains, just as the scar has taught you. Please...Soui, dance with me here just as Homina did."
Soui looked up at him with her beautiful eyes, (I forgot what color...weren't they amber?), he took her hand in his and wrapped the other around her back. There wasn't any music, but the silence allowed Soui just to listen, listen to the sound of his heart beat against its cage. The waltz together in a circle above the mural and beneath the moonlight. When they finished, Darcia leaned in to steal her lips again, but she stopped him by grabbing her stomach in surprise.
"What's wrong Soui wolf?" He asked perplexed.
She giggled once or twice, "They kicked," She grinned with such joy, "They're starting to move."
Darcia smiled and embraced her lightly, resting his face against hers, "Forgive me please..."
Kiba and the Pack
"I'm going to be a brother! Hehehe!" Toboe hugged Tsume and nuzzled his cheek. Tsume was a bright red, it was kind of embarrassing since earlier the Runt was just shocked that Tsume and Soui had mated and everything.
"What's going on?" Kiba asked as he climbed up the hill.
"I'm going to be a brother Kiba and Tsume is going to be a dad!" Toboe chirped.
Kiba's eyes widened, and a small grin formed on his face, "Really now? This is some big news"
"What, don't tell me you didn't notice it before?" Blue asked hiking up with Hige holding her hand, "I knew a long time ago back in the spring! It's almost summer now..."
Tsume sighed, "I hate being away from her."
"We'll find her, I know we're close. We'll find sister," Kiba reminded Tsume patting his shoulder.
Soui
Soui had left Darcia to her own sanctuary of privacy. She was outside on the balcony that connected to her bedroom. It was still only the later hours of morning. Although the mansion was big, there wasn't a lot for her to do. Darcia drowned himself in books about the wolves seeing all the possibilities and outcomes. Soui leaned on the railing and stared out at the forest, "Oh...I want to go and run again...I want to be out there..."
She slammed her head against the railing once, leaving a red mark on her forehead, "I want to be back with Tsume, Kiba, Cheza, Toboe, Blue, Hige, I want to be with all of them. I want them to be here when my kids arrive." She couldn't help but growl in frustration as she paced back and forth, "They'll be here soon too, I can feel it."
Soui's ears picked up on a sound and she lifted her head up, in the distance, very far away, she could hear the sound of an engine. "Oh no...Jagara..." Soui ran from the balcony past her bedroom and into the hallway. She had no idea where Darcia was she looked left and right, "Darcia! Darcia! Darcia, Jagara is — " Soui felt another kick in her stomach, but this time a heavy one. She fell to her knees and let out a sharp breath. "I wasn't expecting them for another two days..." Soui winced again under another contraction and whimpered as she shifted to a wolf. She managed to get herself back into her bedroom where the bedding was she had prepared and sighed. This isn't good. Darcia needs to know Jagara is coming... Soui lifted her head and let out a desperate howl. Please let that wolf inside of you hear me.
The Pack
Meanwhile, everyone was celebrating the announcement of Tsume being a father when something caught Cheza's ear. "Soui!"
"What?" Everyone turned around, already missing Soui's very faint howl, but Cheza was clasping her hands together and jumping.
"This one heard Soui! This one heard her!" She pointed to the horizon, "She isn't far. This one knows she isn't far. Soui wolf is having her puppies!"
"Aw man that isn't fair, I"m going to miss it!" Tsume complained getting up, but he was still grinning, "Let's go, she can't be much farther than the horizon."
Everyone nodded and took off, way happier now then ever.
Soui
Darcia was in the library. He was rereading the book of the moon by candlelight, his eyes skimming the pages. He knew the book inside and out, he'd already reread it maybe ten times. He ran his hand over his eyes, staring out the window. "This wasn't supposed to happen."
Darcia's thoughts were brought to a halt as he heard a howl from somewhere within the building, "Soui!" He grabbed the book, tucking it under his cloak, and fled the library. He flew through the corridors until he threw open her door and found her on the bedding. At first he was rather embarrassed, then concerned, then confused, "What's wrong wolf, besides, the obvious"
"...Darica...I heard a chopper in the distance...Jagara's men...they're coming back!" Soui winced as she panted. She closed her eyes in another contraction, "I'm out of commission with these puppies, even the aftermath I won't be able to defend myself. I wasn't expecting them for another two days, you need to make sure nothing happens.
Darcia nodded his head, "I'll go get our defenses ready, safe delivery Soui wolf," with that Darcia turned and sped out the room.
Soui sighed and then cried out again from another contraction.
The Pack
"Do you guys hear that?" Blue asked looking up at the sky.
Hige closed his eyes and listened, "I think I hear...a plane of some kind."
"The only buildings out here are probably Darcia's keep, that means," Kiba started aloud,
"That means they're going the same place we are," Tsume finished putting it all together.
"We better hurry, we want to beat that plane," Kiba added.
Although they were ahead of the plane, they sprinted onward.
Soui
A few hours later, Soui's pink tongue was stroking the coats of her four puppies. There were three boys and one girl. The girl's coat was amber like Soui's, and the boys were gray like Tsume. Ironic how that turned out. Soui marveled at her children as they suckled on her. She smiled, her eyes and whole body drained of their vigor and energy. She rested her head against her comforter when the door opened.
Soui wolf?
Soui opened up her eyes again to see a black wolf Hey...
He nuzzled and licked the side of her face as he laid down beside her They're beautiful
Thanks. Soui rested her head and closed her eyes again.
Everything's in set. They're still a few hundred miles from us, there's a barrier over the building and other necessary precautions.
That's good...she mumbled quietly.
Darcia nuzzled the side of her face and then allowed her to sleep, resting his head on her neck he remained watchful guardian for the four puppies.
"Don't worry Soui, the scars will be removed now. This is your destiny'"
Soui picked her head up from a startled dream. She looked around the room, her eyes blinking as the haze lifted from the sleep. Her pups were sleeping in a happy bundle, and Darcia was still beside her. She was still weak from the delivery, but she squirmed away and stood up on all fours. Her pads clicked against the floor and she walked through the open door.
Looking down the hall, she wasn't sure where to go, since she had only found that door by mistake. She trotted slowly, making random turns through the never ending maze of Darcia's keep. There was a feeling pulling her back to the door again, that same feeling as earlier. When she came to the door, she watched them open, just in time to have Jagara crash through the ballroom ceiling with her ship. She whipped her head around, "Too late!"