Disclaimer: I don't own Wolf's Rain. –whimpers-
Before the Red Moon
Toboe's head hurt, and the top of it was damp—and it wasn't sweat. There was blood oozing from the cut he had received on his neck the previous day, reopened and bleeding anew. His body ached from the various bruises and blows he had taken and was still enduring…
Tsume was in similar shape, only worse. He had a bad wound in his lower arm, bruises all over, a shallow head wound and some awful cuts on miscellaneous parts of his body.
Maron was holding his spear, his eyes having lost most of that crazy look, but there was some still present. Toboe wondered blandly if he was completely sane to begin with. His thought remained unfinished as Kem rammed the end of his spear into Toboe's gut, causing the young wolf to double over and hold his midsection, gasping in pain.
Maron chuckled. "Hit him again, Kem—I like the funny sound he makes."
Tsume, beaten and tired snarled and kicked out at the noble's feet, knocking him from his standing position so he landed right on his behind with a thump. His big knife went flying and clattered against the far side of the room.
"Bastard." Tsume grunted scornfully.
Toboe looked up just as Kem pole axed him with a punch on the side of the head, and then rewarded Tsume with several blows to the head with the end of the spear, and the noble troop wouldn't let up.
Toboe's face twisted into an expression of concern and hopeless anger. "Stoppit! Just stop you stupid—"
Kem stopped. And Maron got up. Tsume's face was a bloody mess at this point.
"Dammit, Toboe, don't—" he started, his voice rough and rasping with pain, but his words were cut off when Maron kicked him viciously in the head with his metal-toed boot. The big wolf crashed over on his side, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth.
"Good, he's down. Probably won't come around until we get to the Lady's Throne room inside the damn Keep," Kem muttered.
"This sure as hell ain't," Maron growled, taking several steps forward and unsheathing a small, four inch knife. "He called me stupid. And he told me to stop. I want to see his blood. Hey wolf, you know what color your blood is? You're about to find out."
Toboe wondered how many freaking knives this guy had and backed up against the wall, his body shaking and sweat dripping down his brow, but he refused to give Maron the satisfaction of seeing him terrified…but it wasn't working that well.
The troop brought the knife back wards, and then aimed it for the young wolf's chest and then stabbed downwards, but Toboe moved at the last second. But the blade drove down deep into his left shoulder, causing him to cry out with pain as blood seeped from the wound.
Kem laughed as Maron backed up after wrenching his knife out. Toboe gasped in pain as the sharp, cold metal was extracted.
Maron seemed unaware of what he had done as he examined the bloody knife that dripped onto the cold floor. "Red, huh? Just like everyone else's, I suppose." He turned to Kem. "Cut them loose and let's take 'em to the Lady."
Toboe looked up as Kem yanked off Tsume's collar and chains, picking up the huge gray wolf by the back leg and dragging him off. Now that he was unconscious, he no longer appeared human.
Toboe felt his own sight fading a bit, and when Maron struck him with the hilt of the dagger, the pain, blood, and the force of the blow left his with no choice but to….close…his eyes.
His head thudded to the ground as his body went limp—in completely dead faint.
Kiba, Hige and Getsuei were at the doors of the Keep, having a friendly chat with the guards. Well, it started out as one anyway. There were only nine of them guarding the entrance, and Kiba had his fangs in the throat of the one last standing.
Once he was dead, the big white wolf moved away, his body streaked with blood and grit, as were the others.
Hige was eager to get inside the damn structure. "Come on," he gasped, wondering if it was too late.
Getsuei's eyes seemed focused on something far away as Kiba nodded and started to run inside.
A/N: Thanks for all the reviews, Saberwolf, and Lonegreywolf! –glomps both of you- Thank you, thank you…HAWHAW! I got to see episodes 11 through 22 for the first time! –dances around throwing confetti- Wow, Darcia's a forking BASTA—Mustard. o0 –cough- Anyhow, thanks again guys! Glad to hear you're enjoying the story. And Lonegreywolf…if you don't mind me asking, how old are you?
