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

Before the Red Moon

"What?" Hige shouted. "Toboe?"

Marel ignored him and started to sprint as fast as she could down the prison wing corridors, her gait, despite the fact it was amazingly fast for a wolf of her age, was labored and stiff, her breath came in short gasps.

"No time!" Kiba told him, pelting off after Marel, closely followed by Getsuei.

Hige lurched forward, his paws practically flying. Toboe…dead? Tsume maybe? Not going to happen, it just…

Kiba's face was set in a snarl as they ran, desperation to reach his friends lending wings to his paws. He hated having to stay behind the old wolf, but he had no clue where he was going, and there was something in the air that obscured scents…

"This way!" Marel cried, rounding a corner and staying perfectly straight, like an arrow, as she ran.

"How the hell does she know where she's going?" demanded Hige of Getsuei as they ran.

Getsuei couldn't shrug, but he replied, "I dunno! Shut up and run, it's your friends that are going to die!"

This comment made Hige want to hit Getsuei, and he probably would have if it weren't for the situation. "Tell that to Marel!" he retorted.

Their claws made rapid clicking sounds on the hard floors, the sound magnified by the high ceilings. It was a damned maze in here! Marel must have another sort of sight to be able to maneuver her way—

Hige's train of thought halted as they came to the huge double doors. But there was at least a score of guards waiting, with shiny, just sharpened spears for them.

Kiba didn't even stop running. He charged the nearest one with tinpot amour and leaped, grabbing his neck. Blood dripped from his muzzle as the first one fell with a clang and he attacked the next one without a thought.

Hige himself slammed into the nearest guard, flailing and tearing, desperate to get these stupid flunkies out of the way. Getsuei attacked with similar ferocity, and even Marel started to fight, but she was faring badly due to her age and lack of sight.

They had to finnish fast—The lives of Tsume and Toboe were at stake!

Lady Sheskemana was tiring of Toboe's resilience against her, even with the fact that she had him pinned against the wall…with her gloved hand around his throat.

Toboe's eyes were shut tight, his left hand trying to pry Sheshkemana's away from his neck and the other trying to yank it off, but his struggles were definetly weakening…he could barely breathe, it was as if there was Sheshkemana's hand was made of iron, shoving the air out of his body. His heart pounded violently against it, ringing in his ears.

Tsume's struggles were accompanied with snarls and the pained cries of Maron and Kem as they struggled to subdue him enough while Sheshkemana tried questioning Toboe.

"You damn noble, let him go! Gerroff me!"

"Maron, hold his muzzle, he's tearing my ass to pieces!"

"Tie up his paws, get his paws! That's gonna scar!"

Sheshkemana ignored them and casually squeezed Toboe's windpipe a notch harder. She could feel the life in his neck, pounding away, desperate for air. At this point, his efforts were failing and his eyelids weren't shut as tight as before…they were starting to flutter.

"Tell me!" she hissed. "Where are your friends hiding? Where are the gates to Paradise hidden?" her voice steadily rose until it was practically a shriek.

Toboe coughed and moaned, trying frantically to get her hand away, but it was like trying to catch smoke…and the same went for holding onto conciousness. It was just slipping away…his heart's relentless hammering was starting to slow down a little, it's vicious slamming against the walls of his chest letting up a little…how good it would be to just…forget the pain….and just close…his…

"I…won't…tell you!" the words were spat out as they sapped his strength, causing him to wilt completely. Sheshkemana completely lost patience with him and screamed, "Then you've just chosen your death!"

She slammed him down violently on the floor, knocking whatever air there was from his lungs. Stars exploded behind his eyes, the pain felt was almost distant…his shoulder wound reopened again…he closed his eyes and sank into the dark embrace of unconciousness.

"Toboe, no!" Tsume screamed, fighting with all his strength to get away, lacerating, biting, but his strength was failing, due to the energy sapping ring around him.

Sheshkemana took out her sword, a long, black blade, it's edges curving gracefully to sharp point. She tipped Toboe's head back with it and prepared to stab downwards when the double doors boomed open once more, causing her to drop the blade near Toboe's prone body.

Four very pissed off wolves stood in the doorway, Kiba, bloodied, but at the front with Hige, Getsuei and Marel with him. All sported wounds, but all bore snarls as well.

Kem was unconscious by the time that the wolves made their appearance, so Tsume took advantage of Maron's surprise and knocked him out with a swift blow to the head

"Wolves!" the Lady snarled, picking up her sword again, her smile cruel. "I was hoping you'd come to visit."

Kiba had seen Tsume sneak behind Sheshkemana, but feigned ignorance of it. "Let them go!" he demanded.

Sheshkemana laughed. "I'm afraid that's quite impossible, wolf. Now that you're here…" Tsume started to creep up behind her and when he lunged, she twisted around, snakelike and used the flat of her blade on his forehead, effectively knocking him out.

Kiba and Hige lunged forward, but were put down quickly by red beams from those armored shock troops, as were Marel and Getsuei before they could move.

Shehskemana laughed and told her troops, "Get them in the cells. I'll deal with them later."

A/N: Wow, that was quick you guys! –hugs- Hardyhar, two updates in one day, my record! I couldn't go to school due to my stupid cold…-sniffs- Thanks so much Lonegrey and Saber for your comments. - -grins- Those dword transcripts are evil, I've looked on Google already. –slams- DARNDARNDARN. I suppose I'll just have to make my own then… thanks for the life-advice, Lonegrey!