Gurgle… gurgle

Toboe hugged his stomach to try and hide his hunger from the others. It seemed to him like all they did now was walk. And no one ever seemed up to talking, what with Kiba being preoccupied with Cheza, Hige now had Blue, and Tsume...well Tsume was himself. It was times like these that Toboe thought back to his former companion, the kindly old woman who took care of him. Tsume said all Toboe was to her was a pet. But Toboe didn't feel that way. He liked how she was kind to him, and fed him. She didn't OWN him, he could come and go as he pleased, he just, and well he just didn't feel like leaving her.

He now felt that way around Cheza. There was something special about her. Something that made Toboe feel happy and stronger. Made him want to protect her. Made him feel alive inside.

"I wonder if the others feel this way too."

Realizing he said this out loud, Toboe quickly stared at the ground only sound was his growling insides.

Tsume stood in his usual sulkiest pose, looking off into the distance. A lot of things have been happening very quickly ever since he met Kiba. "Humph..." he said quietly and started walking away."Uh... wait! Where ya going'?" Toboe shouted. "I'm going to find food" said Tsume. "I want to come!" the young wolf screamed, "NO. You'll just...get in the way of things", so with that Tsume ran off into the setting sun. Toboe just watched him leave. He was hungry too, and both hadn't eaten for days. Tsume spotted many things that would be great to eat, but played no attention to them. He was thinking. Thinking about Kiba. "I wonder what the hell made me just leave with him and those other like this. Whatever." He sighed in thought as he walked on.

Kiba sat together with Cheza in the bus, waiting for Hige to return. Tsume and Toboe had wandered off as usual, and being who they are, probably would not return until the next day--but Hige was expected back soon. Kiba leaned slightly against Cheza's arm, nuzzling his nose into her soft violet hair. It had been a few months since they'd left Freeze City, but only about a week since they'd met up with Cheza, and the finding of Paradise seemed to be becoming a reality. Quick footsteps echoed on the stairs to the bus, and a fluffy, somewhat chubby wolf appeared, holding a bag of stolen goods. 'Oh, Rakuen's back...' Kiba thought. After a moment, he mentally smacked himself; He'd been thinking of Paradise so much lately, that the word had been taking random places in his thoughts.

(AN: Rakuen Paradise)

Hige walked in, tossing Kiba the bag of goodies. It was nothing more than a few slabs of meat and a link of sausage. "There are a lot of humans in this city with attitude. I could have sworn I heard someone attack a dog." He made a seat beside Kiba. "Where are the others? Probably off looking for food," Hige guessed out loud. "Leaves more food for us, eh Kiba?" He smiled, but didn't reach for the bag.
Leaning back against the worn bus seat, Hige thought about the dog cry he heard today. He felt guilty that he didn't find where the yelp came from. He searched till he remembered Kiba and Cheza at the bus. The cry from the female dog would have to wait. Still, the thought of rescuing the so-called 'damsel in distress' excited him.
Hige let out a sigh, closing his eyes. 'Damn my luck.'

Toboe returned to the other two, looking somewhat down and a little hurt. Tsume had ditched him yet again, and Toboe didn't feel like being alone for very long. Besides, Tsume always came back, he wouldn't leave the group. At least, Toboe hoped he wouldn't. Toboe flopped down next to Cheza, one of his new favorite spots, and ignored the ever critical stare of Kiba. There was something...something about Kiba that made Toboe shiver, yet feel protected all at the same time. Why did he trust Kiba so much? Their meeting was a fluke of nature, yet deep down inside Toboe knew it had to mean more.

A waft of flesh scent brought him back from his thoughts.

"Hey Hige! You got some food...can I have some? Please?" Toboe tried to put on his best face in hopes it might convince his new friend to let him calm the aching in his belly.

Kiba raised an eyebrow at his two companions. He couldn't smell the scent of Tsume anywhere near the bus. After a moment of silence he asked Toboe, "Where's rak-...Tsume?"

Hige tossed Toboe the bag and gave Kiba a perplexed look. He shrugged, brushing aside the comment. "Donno. I saw Tsume earlier, but he ran off."

"I dunno where he went, he never tells me. Just told me to buzz off." Toboe sighed

With a sad face Toboe did his best to catch the bag Hige tossed his way, just barley making it. As he began to gobble up his meal, the air shifted and a familiar yet most unwelcome scent came his way - human.

Hige stood to his feet and sniffed the air. "We might have to leave him though. I can smell humans all over right now."

Toboe gulped, he didn't feel like having to deal with them at all today.

"But Hige, we can't leave Tsume behind. I am sure if we just wait a little bit longer he'll come back and -"

Toboe stopped short when he heard a movement behind him.

Kiba spun toward the back of the bus. Humans had begun surrounding the bus, slowly advancing so as not to alert the wolves. One particularly clumsy soldier already had his rifle pointed through the window, straight at Toboe. 'How could I not have noticed?' Kiba berated himself. 'Cheza's scent must just be too strong.' "Toboe!" He yelled, grabbing the pup by the scruff of the neck and pulling him behind the seat by Cheza and himself, just as the gun went off.

Before Toboe knew what was going on, Kiba jumped up with bristling fur. Humans, they were coming, from every direction. Toboe fought the urge to tuck in his tail and cower, and instead tried his hand at looking tough. Needless to say, it wasn't working. Suddenly, Kiba shouted and grabbed Toboe's scruff, tossing him behind a seat next to Cheza, just in time to feel the breeze of a bullet by his head.

Guns were always a problem. It gave the humans a chance to shoot you from far away. Allowed them to get you before you ever knew it. Soon the bullets continued to fly, and Toboe watched as Hige and Kiba dodged and ducked each one. So many humans surrounded the bus, and Toboe could practically feel his heart leap from his chest. He looked at Cheza, who seemed to have a worried look on her face.

"Don't worry, I'll protect you." Toboe knew he had to do something, but he didn't know what. Suddenly, Toboe felt someone behind him, and looked up in enough time to catch the business end of a gun barrel pointed Cheza's way. Without thinking, without hesitation Toboe leapt at the man and began to chomp on his arm. The warm blood filled his mouth and the screams were loud. After he had killed the man, Toboe ran to the spot Cheza was to make sure she was ok. Never had Toboe done something so...so harsh, to anyone. His very core shook and his body trembled.

It seemed there was a lot of people, what were they going to do?

Hige quickly glanced over to see Toboe with Cheza, seeming somewhat relieved. He lunged at two guards, maiming one, and sinking his teeth into the other. Feeling all gutsy, he ran out of the bus knocking a few humans down. While they were still in surprise, he took out a few necks to make it so the others could get to a safer area.
"Hey! Come ON!" He barked.
He turned to see a gun barrel snap across his neck. Hige staggered briefly, then leapt out of the way before more bullets started to fly around his feet. He danced around them, further away from the bus.

Kiba grabbed Cheza by the wrist, holding her close to shield her from bullets- the humans wouldn't try to harm her, surely, but they could accidentally shoot her nonetheless. The girl stayed quiet, allowing Kiba to maneuver her toward Hige...and the humans. Hige needed help, and Toboe wasn't much of a fighter... quickly he turned, shoving Cheza into Toboe's arms. "Run!" he shouted, turning toward the humans and ripping out a jugular.

Toboe didn't need to be told twice. He took Cheza's hand and bolted down the dry road, dust flying behind the two. Toboe could hear Men's screams mingled with gunshots and growls. Toboe had to think fast, where to hide? There had to be someplace! There! A stack of barrels were lined up next to the town wall. Toboe quickly pulled Cheza down, making sure to pop up for a quick check to see if they were followed. When the coast was clear, Toboe leaned back against the wall to catch his breath. In the back of his mind, he thought about Tsume. Where did he go? Why hadn't he come back...was he - hurt? When the hand touched his face, he nearly screamed. It was Cheza; she was trying to soothe Toboe. Even in times like this, she cared for wolves. It was...amazing. She looked between the barrels and whispered "this one is worried about Kiba".

Toboe sighed and whispered back "Me too Cheza, me too."

What would happen if Hige or Kiba were hurt? Or even...No, no. They'd be coming back to get them. They just had to.

Shilaze, a white wolf with black tipped ears and a black tipped tail, walks the streets alone in search of food. She sighed and remembered how she came to be here... Half her pack was killed by human hunters. The reaming few blamed her for leading the hunters to them they needed someone to blame other then themselves so she was exiled. She stopped by a small puddle of water it smelled clean... well for the most part. She lapped up some water and laid down for a quick rest... The sent of anther of her kind drifted towards her. Her ears perked up straining for any sound. Her hackles rose as she pulled back her lips exposing her teeth and gave a low growl. Meshawa, a grey wolf with a black tip on the tail a black muzzle and black tipped ears with the right one in tatters from a fight. "Calm down short snout." She told the young wolf named Shilaze. "You know me; I'm the only one in the pack to protect you... other then your parents. Though I really don't know why I did. Things to think on right..." She walked over. "Come on we need to find you food." Shilaze let her muscles relax and clamed down "well I didn't know it was you..." she replied as she rose to her feet tail wagging slightly "oh I never got a chance to thank you for trying to stand up for me..." She sniffed the air the faint smell of meat lingered in the air. "Meshawa...why did you come after me anyway... I'm big enough to take care of myself... I'm not a pup anymore you know..." she asked as she followed close behind Meshawa.

Shilaze sighed lost in thought as she followed close behind her friend. She knew it was highly doubtful she would ever see her family again or anymore of her kind but there was this thing pulling in the back of her mind that they were not alone...

The two walked on after a quick stop to eat what they had found in the garbage. Shilaze didn't ask where they were going she really didn't care for the most part. She looked to the ground as she walked, litter covered the ground old tires her part of a car there they were in a junk yard...but why?

Guns were heard not to far away... gun that thought made her think back to that night... She shuddered at that thought. She quickly glanced around looking for the source of the noise but instead saw what looked to be a large brown wolf... her heart sank... was it the pack coming to finish the job and just kill her off..? She whimpered and tucked her tail as she back away slowly...

Kiba and Hige worked in perfect harmony, taking down human after human and covering each other's backs. Kiba could also smell a new, strange wolf nearby, who he hoped would help them disperse of the disgusting creatures--but there had to be at least 100 humans, and just two of them. Sooner or later if they didn't get out of there, one of them was going to get shot.

After what seemed like hours, the humans were taken out. Tsume still hadn't shown up, and Cheza spent the longest time petting Kiba and Toboe. Hige kept watch, every now & then sniffing the air. There was a scent of other wolves in the air, female ones. He kept looking towards every sound wondering if that was the wolf that he had heard earlier.
A clang in the junkyard caught Hige's attention. Oh crap, not more humans! This place has way too many smells altogether. He leapt down and jumped towards the sound, his teeth showing. He stopped in his tracks, staring back at the two wolves he smelled earlier.

Meshawa swiftly jumped in front of Shilaze seeing the other wolf she growled lowly her ears flat against her skull and her teeth bared. "Stay behind me Shi." She told the younger wolf still watching the other with her hackles raised and poised to fight if she had too.

Shilaze slowly began to back up and ran into a pile of garbage. She stopped dead in her tracks not wanting to make the other wolves madder then what they were already... everything she did seemed to make others mad at her. "I'm sorry for intruding on your land..." she began but stopped as a strange sent drifted towards her. "What is that smell?" she asked letting herself relax more feeling more at ease for some reason...

"This isn't our land," Kiba replied calmly, seeing the wolves as no more of a threat than little cubs. "Do you mean the scent of the flower?"

Shilaze nodded slightly "Oh sorry I thought it was..." she glanced down but looked back up "I think... but I've never smelled anything like that before..." She looked over to anther wolf only this one was more of a red brown. Shilaze got wide eyed at the site of so many wolves at once; a girl with pink hair followed the other wolf. The flower smell grew stronger and seemed to come form the girl. Meshawa took a steep towards the girl seeming like she was in a trance. Shilaze didn't know what to think so many things happening at once...

"Calm down short snout nothings going to happen as long as I'm here." She told the smaller wolf and looked at the girl she sniffed her hand and jumped back as the girl reached a hand out to pet her. She sneezed backing away slowly she had never trusted humans after the fighting when she lost her right ear to a knife and then to teeth when she killed the other two wolves after trying to go after Shilaze.

This second wolf was not as timid as the other. Toboe didn't like her eagerness to fight. He was tired and hungry and just wanted to be left alone. Why couldn't they just be left alone for five seconds! Kiba was also on edge and Toboe wanted to know what he'd do. Toboe made sure and stayed as close to Cheza as he could, just in case he had to take her away again. He hoped it wouldn't come down to it. In fact, he kinda hoped they would know where Tsume was, maybe they had seen him?

Toboe said low so only Kiba could hear "Maybe we should ask if they have seen Tsume?"

Toboe looked at Shilaze and gave a kind stare in hopes she wouldn't feel so scared of the group. But he probably failed; he did at most things anyways.

"We mean no harm to you," Kiba calmly explained. "We're just trying to get out of this city." After a pause, and a glance toward Toboe, he continued, "Have you seen any other wolves here?"

"Yeah," Hige nodded, "like maybe a big gray wolf with a scar on his chest?" Hige was obviously bad at trying to hide the grin on his face, due to the fact there were female wolves around. Before they could answer, he took a step forward, "Are either of you hurt? Did a human attack you?"

Shilaze moved out form behind Meshawa "its ok I don't think they want to hurt us" she looked over to Meshawa "If they did they would have done so by now" she whispered quietly. Shilaze walked closer to the brown wolf and sighed shacking her head "No... I'm sorry but you guys are the first I've seen in a month... and no I'm not hurt... and unless you count being chassed off with a broom being attacked then no" she replied with a smile. For some reason she trusted these wolves and wondered why Meshawa didn't. She turned her gaze to the red brown wolf and waged her tail slightly "oh wait... I don't even know your names..."

Meshawa glared at the males then sat down watching Shilaze and her interactions with the others. "Fine I'll trust you, for now..." She looked at the others waiting to learn there names. "Don't worry I won't hurt you." She sighed her lone whole ear sticking straight up and her tattered one some what lying side ways. "I've also seen none other then you guys and Shi. She's in my care hurt her you will end in a fate worse then death."

Hige lowered his eyes, disappointed. "Oh." After a pause "I'm Hige," he returned a smile, quickly recovering from his disappointment. "Are you babes lost? Is there anything I can do to help? Did I mention that you are babes?" Hige's tail was wagging fast.

Toboe glanced at Hige, who seemed much happier now that females were around. Toboe rolled his eyes when he called them babes. But he had to admit, the young one was kinda pretty. Toboe quickly stared at the ground, hoping no one else could guess his thoughts.

The female asked their names. "My Name is Toboe" he replied with a sheepish grin on his face. He was definitely relieved they didn't not want to fight, that is, if the boys played nice. He could feel the distrust seeping off of the older one.

Toboe moved in closer and whispered to Kiba "Do you think we should ask them about Paradise?"

"I am Kiba," he said quietly. Seeing no harm in the question, he raised his voice slightly. "Do you two know of Paradise?"

Shilaze smiled at the two "nice to meet you and no... I don't... but it sounds nice...Paradise..." she sighed and thought out loud "That must be where humans, wolves, and all other animals live in peace and are happy... if such a place is real" she grinned hoping she was right. Shilaze turned her gaze back to the wolf named Toboe and smiled to him then looked back over to Kiba. Maybe they'll let us join their pack...she thought happily to herself. The pink haired girl come closer to her, Shilaze jumped in surprise and pulled back never wanting to trust a two-leggier again...

"Short snout stop it she's ok..." Meshawa sighed. "I think they all are; they don't seem to want to fight." She scooted the younger wolf forward with a foreleg and wagged her tail softly letting her ears perk and the snarl fade away she looked almost nice other then the blood dripping from her tattered ear which still hadn't healed. "Go on let her pet you she's nice."

Shilaze whimpered in protest but soon stopped getting the I don't want to hear any of that look form Meshawa and moved closer to he tail tucked still not fully trusting the two leggier. The pink haired girl reached out and gently scratched Shilaze behind the ears making her tail wag "she smells pretty..." Shilaze said in a sigh.

Toboe watched the two with interest as they warmed up to Cheza. Cheza was simply amazing, just the things she could do, the things she could make others do. The one called Meshawa had a torn ear that looked painful and it made Toboe wince. He hated fighting. Why did everyone have to fight all the time? All it did was cause pain. He tried hard not to stare at it, because it only made him feel worse.

He flopped down and looked off into the distance.

Tsume...

"I hope he's ok" he mumbled to himself. He curled up a little to try and hold back his worry, as if he could crunch it up into nothing.

Toboe noticed the two female wolves couldn't stop staring at Cheza. It made him a little uneasy, and he hoped Kiba didn't mind. These days, Cheza was all he thought about and never left her side. Maybe these two new wolves were also in search of paradise? Whatever was to happen, Toboe hoped it would end soon, because he was starving.