Disclaimer: I don't own Wolf's Rain. –sniff-

((Freakishly long author's note at bottom))

Before the Red Moon

Toboe gulped. She had said it with such certainty, he wasn't sure weather or not to doubt her words.

"What?"

It was the only thing he could get past the lump in his throat. The old she wolf looked up and laughed at him again, a dry, airless cackle. Toboe gasped when he saw her face. Her eyes had a milky film over them, making them glassy and dull. She was stone blind. An ugly scar ran through one of them.

"Yeah, keep lookin'. Aren't I pretty?" she said.

The young wolf felt sweat bead on his forehead and couldn't force words out. He didn't have to.

"What the hell—"

Tsume had just woken up. He shook his head and then glared at the blind wolf, a growl forming in his throat. "Who are you? What did you just say?"

The wolf sighed, as if weary and then said in a low voice. "Meral. And I just prophesised this one's most likely future."

Toboe blinked. "'Most likely?'" He repeated in confusion, some of his immediate terror subsiding a little. His breath still came in short gasps though.

"There are plenty of futures that could happen!" Meral snapped. "The most likely one right now is that you will both die. Another is that you'll escape. Another is that we'll be rescued."

Tsume allowed a low snarl to escape him. "A seer, eh? That's all hogwash. We don't have to believe you. I don't." He didn't sound completely confident though, and that really worried Toboe.

The young wolf's expression was far softer than the one Tsume had on his face. "No, wait," he said, quietly, his eyes on Marel. "What are you doing here anyway? A wolf like you?"

Marel raised her blind eyes. "I was part of Ryo's pack."

Kiba glared into the shadows, aware of the fact he, Getsuei and Hige were surrounded. His long hackles were raised, his lips pulled back to reveal his long white teeth which he had used to kill many a creature when the big, gray and brown wolf stepped from the largest alley.

She was skinny, but very big. Her ears were scarred and one had a large tear. One eye was yellow and the other was green, giving her a very ominous appearance. Most of her other scars were hidden by the long, wiry dust brown and stormy gray fur that covered her long, lean body. She bared her yellowed teeth at the three wolves and snapped at the air as the rest of her pack moved in to make a circle around them.

Kiba assumed that this one was Ryo, leader of the pack.

Completely ignoring Kiba and Hige, she moved to where Getsuei was, with the liquid grace of the long extinct panther. Shoving her muzzle into his face in a similar way that Getsuei had been hostile to them, she demanded in a low, harsh voice, "Getsuei! Why does a murderer such as yourself bring intruders into this city! I had the grace to let you stay, but now you come with enemies! Tell me why, little brother."

Kiba tried to hide the surprise on his face as his head whipped in the direction of the two wolves. Little brother? The only family resemblance was their builds, but it was hard to tell because they were so skinny.

"What?" Hige blurted, shooting an accusatory glare at their guide. "You're wanted for murder and your sister is the leader of the pack here? And she threw you out?"

A emaciated male almost as big as Ryo stepped forward and snapped at Hige's ear, who pulled away in time.

"Don't talk unless you're spoken to!" he snarled.

Kiba didn't like this situation, and since Getsuei wasn't saying anything, he stepped forward and faced Ryo. "We're not enemies." He said, keeping his voice calm.

"We're looking for the Lady. Not a fight."

Ryo's harsh, flinty eyes narrowed. "That's what they all say!" she retorted. But she seemed to reconsider, taking stock of Kiba's appearance.

"Took a beating from the noble troops, huh?" she seemed to be trying to deliberately aggravate Kiba, but he didn't do anything except continue to stare levelly at the big female.

Getsuei had found his voice.

"Ryo, I'm not a murderer!" he snapped, his hackles raised. "Marel is alive, I know it! If I don't bring her back in ten days, I'll show you my throat."

Hige turned to the brother wolf. Was he crazy? Who the hell was Marel anyway?

Ryo's laugh was callous and bitter. "Fine. But you'll be hard pressed to find another blind seer, Getsuei. Get out of here and take these dogs with you, or I'll change my mind."

That hurt. Kiba stepped forward and flattened his ears, starting to growl when Hige nudged him and jerked his head in the direction that Getsuei had already started off in. The big white wolf shot a proud look at Ryo, as if he was looking at some underling and followed.

A/N: ARGH! I guess you guys thought I fell into a well. Dang near right. Anyway, sorry about the UBERLY slow update and thanks to all who reviewed! –huggles- And I also apologize for the shty chapter. X.x; Writer's block strikes.