Disclaimer: I don't own Wolf's Rain. –sniff-
Before the Red Moon
"Give it to us straight, Getsuei!" Hige said loudly after they were a few miles away from Ryo and her vicious pack. The snow was falling harder in mean, small flakes, the wind whipping at their fur and stinging their eyes, but there wasn't a chance in hell that they were going to stop.
Getsuei was visibly disgruntled with Hige, and snapped, "Fine. Marel is our seer. Ryo relied a lot on her, and whenever there was a possibly bad future coming up, she'd ask Marel what to do to fix it—because there's always an alternate future. For example, we could get out of this blizzard if we hurry, or we could die if we stay."
Kiba twitched his ears as he ran. "That's a lot of pressure on one's mind," he mused.
Hige wasn't satisfied yet. In attempt to catch up closer to the lean and fast Getsuei, he charged forward, snow flying out from under his paws and then asked, "Well, why the hell are you wanted for murder?"
Getsuei frowned. "We had a patrol on the edge of the city when the Lady's troops came in. Then, when we were leaving, they attacked us. There was blood all over the snow, and since I had killed like, four of the noble troops, there was some on my teeth and claws. They grabbed Marel, who was old even then, and not to mention blind and ran off. The wolves I had under my command were ones that didn't like me very much, and saw this as a perfect chance to ruin my favor with my sister. They knocked me out, dragged me back to Ryo and accused me of murdering Marel."
"And she believed them?" Kiba asked dubiously.
Getsuei snorted and then replied angrily, "Of course! Every one of us had been wounded, so they probably smeared my face and claws with her blood."
Hige scoffed loudly. What kind of pack was theirs? "Some pack of wolves you are! You behave more like a bunch of starving dogs!"
Getsuei didn't answer, and Kiba didn't comment. That was what made Hige sure that he was right and the others agreed. Getsuei wouldn't admit it if you had a gun, he seemed to Hige the only half-decent wolf in Ryo's pack, and even then wolves like Tsume were preferable.
"How much farther?" he asked after a while of silence. Then, the piercing ringing of a noble ship screaming in the sky made them all look up. The huge airship moved fast and sure overhead, it's colors a deep purple and red. It was headed for the tall black manor on the hill a few miles in front of them.
Kiba put on more speed, passing Getsuei. "Come on, hurry! We have to beat them there!"
Both Toboe and Tsume stared at Marel with expressions that plainly said, "Who the hell is Ryo?"
Answering for both, the old wolf sighed. "Ryo is the leader of the pack I was in. I was their seer, but the nobles kidnapped me. I'm a weak old fool and my existence here as been miserable. All I wish for is the point of a gun to my head."
Toboe's face was then set into an expression of genuine confusion. "But why, if you have the chance to escape?"
Tsume snorted rudely. "Well, she's obviously tired of living, but what the hell do we care?" he turned his back on the old wolf and forced his sympathy for her down.
Toboe cocked his head once more, and glanced from Tsume to the grizzled wolf and then sighed. It was going to be a long, miserable, scary airship ride…
Maron and Kem slowly entered the command center, where the commander stood at ease, watching the course of the ship.
Maron, being a senior troop didn't have to remain as formal as Kem did. "Any orders from the Lady, sir?" he asked, hoping that they were allowed to kill at least one of the wolves that had caused them so much trouble.
The commander, with his large bushy mustache, gray hair and sunglasses chewed a piece of gum and glared at them irritably. "No, not yet!" he said petulantly between his loud chews. "The Lady's saving them for when we get back to the castle. It's only an hour or so left. Oh yes, but I'll let you in on a little secret if you'll keep quiet about it."
Maron leaned forward, forcing an excited look on his face to keep from showing.
"I'm to pick two troops for the job…."
A/N: Gack. Sorry about the very, VERY slow updating, I'll try to be more consistent in the future. –dies- Very, very busy life I'm getting. –tears up schedule- Okies. Hope ya liked the chappie and that you can forgive me for being away so long! 0.0
