The look on Kiba's face when he realized Cheza was taken, tore through Toboe's already fragile heart like a missile. Without a thought about it, the white wolf ran after her, leaving Toboe to sob. He was so broken, he couldn't help it.

Toboe stopped for a second What are you talking about Hige, it was my fault too. Hige told Toboe to stay and care for Tsume, and he followed without question. He watched as half his pack left, hoping it wasn't the last he'd see them. Toboe quickly got to work. He may have lost Cheza, but he'd be dammed if he lost Tsume as well. Meshawa and Shilaze came in and tried to comfort the young wolf, but his mind was now on a one track idea.

"Shilaze...could you please find some water, Tsume needs water."

Toboe then began to try and stop the bleeding. "Don't worry Tsume, you'll be fine in no time. Kiba will find her, it'll all be ok."

Shilaze gave a nod seeing how bad the other wolf looked she cringed slightly. She walked out looking nothing more then a 16 year old human wearing a black tank top, blue jeans with the knees ripped out, a blue jean jacket and sneakers. She sniffed the air; the scent of blood was overwhelming, focusing on the scent of water alone she managed to find some not to far form where she was.
Once she reached the small source of water she looked around for something to carry it back in. She found what looked like an old plastic bucket. "That'll work..." she mumbled to herself. She scooped up some of the water and headed back to Toboe.
"I'm back..." Shilaze sounded as she walked in caring the bucket of water over to Toboe. "Is there anything else I can get to help?" she asked seeing the worried look on his face.

Tsume lay quietly at Toboe's lap. His face was starting to pale. He didn't shift or stir and the blood smeared on his face was starting to crack into his fur. He was flopped over awkwardly and didn't shift or move at the sound of Toboe or Shilaze's voices.

…meanwhile...

The humans brought Cheza into a huge room. Another human carried a huge bucket of water to a chair and set it in the floor. He straightened up, wiping his hands. "Ok, bring her over."
The humans did as they were told and they set Cheza's feet into the bucket of water. Then they scratched their head. "So, what do we do with her?"
"We wait. Miss Degre will be here soon."
"I was under the impression that Lord Darcia wanted this."
"But aren't we suppose to take her to Lord Oakum?"
Quickly, the quartet got into an argument.
After five minutes of arguing, the other man threw his hands in the air, defeated. "Whoever gets here first, can have her."

Cheza felt empty. She was separated from the wolves and could no longer sense their presence. It unnerved her. She felt as she did when she was in the holding tank in the laboratory. She could hear the humans talking, but she didn't focus on what they were saying. A chill went through her. The water they placed her feet in was too cold. Someone placed a blanket over her shoulders. She didn't acknowledge them.

Toboe took the bucket from Shilaze.
"Thanks" he said quietly. He began to try and get Tsume to wake up. "Tsume, Tsume, I have water here, please wake up and have a drink. You need water."

The grey wolf didn't stir. Toboe didn't know how to make him drink, and he began to panic a little. He searched everywhere around the shack until he found a small ragged cloth. He placed the rag into the water, and then bit down on it a bit to allow some water to reach Tsume. He knew too much would hurt him, so little by little was all he could do. After several minutes, Toboe looked at Shilaze and said "I hope that helped...I-I don't know what else to do."

With that, the young wolf lay beside his companion and watched for signs of life. Tsume needed rest, lots of rest. Toboe placed his head on his paws and fought off the ever present danger of drowsiness.

Tsume lay quite motionless for a long time. After a moment or two he shifted and stirred, blinking the water from his eyes. Then quite suddenly he bolted, tearing behind Toboe and standing on all fours, breathing heavily and glaring, teeth barred he snarled and looked around him, outraged. It took him a while to realize where he was and to realize that Toboe was in front of him. He breathed out heavily, tendrils of breath seeping from his nostrils. Finally he edged back to the ground, noticing the bucket of water. He quickly shoved his snout in the water, drinking quickly and hastily. Finally he drew back, eyes half lidded and gazed at Toboe.

"What... happened?" he breathed heavily, warily, as though danger was lurking somewhere around him. He smelled things in the distance, but most was too far. He only recognized Toboe's scent.

Shilaze walked over to the wall and slid down ageist it bringing her knees up under her chin Meshawa laid by the door keeping a lookout... She gazed out into space deep in thought, she knew the Hige and Kiba would be fine on there own but she still worried about them. Shilaze snapped back into reality and looked over to Toboe... The gray wolf Tsume was moving. She dared not make any movements. He doesn't know to trust me, but I'm not just going to sit here either... she thought to herself. Shilaze cursed under her breath, she knew better then to be doing this but for some reason she didn't listen to herself. "Uh...hi... I'm a friend of Toboe's... are you feeling any better...anything I can get for you?" she asked thinking that was the most stupid thing she could have said.

Toboe was exhausted. After a while, he began to slip in and out of dreamland. He dreamt about being back with the kind lady, He dreamt about eating a big feast with the others, he dreamt about Cheza...

That's when Tsume bolted up without warning, and nearly scared the life from Toboe. He didn't seem to know where he was. The grey wolf found the water and began to drink, which made Toboe sigh with relief. At least he now had some water, and most of the bleeding had stopped.

"What... happened?"

Toboe looked at Shilaze, who attempted to speak, and Toboe motioned for her to remain back. Tsume needed rest, and he didn't want him to get mad.

"We were attacked by humans. You and Kiba were hurt. We went to go find you, and the humans...the humans took Cheza. Sh-she's gone."

Toboe hung his head in sadness, feeling the pain of guilt pour over him. "Kiba and Hige, they left to go find her. I stayed here, to make sure you were ok." he motioned to the other female wolves, which Tsume did not seem to notice. "They helped us fight, and now they are helping me. They can be trusted."

He smiled back at Shilaze, thanking her with his eyes. He was just glad Tsume was talking. He was awake, alive. Maybe everything would be ok after all. Now all he needed was Hige, Kiba, and Cheza, and the world would feel whole again.

The humans had placed Cheza in a small holding cell. There were two guards watching her, as if they were expecting her to do something. She didn't. She simply sat with her feet in the water. She was still cold, despite the blanket that was still around her shoulders. The longer she was away from the moonlight, the colder and weaker she became. She knew why the humans had captured her. They wanted her to open Paradise for them. She also knew she couldn't help them. Her thoughts drifted back to Kiba. She knew he'd been injured. Tsume as well.

"This one hopes they are well," she thought to herself.

She knew they'd be looking for her.

Shilaze nodded knowing that Tsume would be better off with Toboe. She walked over to Meshawa who seemed to be asleep. Shilaze sighed and pushed Meshawa out of the way from the door and took guard duty herself.
Silently Shilaze waited watching for any movements but mostly waiting for Kiba and Hige to return. Shilaze was starving but didn't let on, she would be strong for her friends, and she had to be. Movement cached her eye, "maybe it was a cat" she silently told herself. A shift in the winds brought the scent of humans to her; they weren't coming towards them but moving in the other direction. She let out a sigh of relief; she had enough fights for one day.

Toboe was so grateful to have Meshawa and Shilaze around. They both hovered by the door to keep watch for humans. Toboe smiled a little to himself. Tsume was panting still, and Toboe quickly left the shack to fetch some more water. He knew Tsume and the others needed food also, not to mention himself. But he had no idea where to find any? He put his nose to the air and sniffed for anything remotely food-like. The wind brought to him scents of humans, which turned his stomach. But the humans were not heading their way, in fact they were just passing through. Odd...

He brought back the bucket of water and placed it near Tsume's side. He turned again, "Shilaze," he said quietly "I am gonna go look for some food ok? I'll be right back."

He headed down a path back into the city. His sensitive nose brought him to a sausage cart. His mouth watered, and he needed a distraction to get the vendor to turn his back. Almost as if an answer from the heavens, a young thief ran up and grabbed a woman's purse, causing chaos. Perfect. Toboe grabbed as much of the links of sausage he could grab and ran, leaving the screaming vendor behind him.

He quickly hid to make sure he wasn't followed, and when the coast was clear, he headed back to the shack. He dropped the sausages on the floor and handed some to the females, and the rest to Tsume. He hoped it was enough to help Tsume get some strength back. He then laid down, tired. Kiba, Hige, please be ok.

Hige caught up with Kiba, glanced to make sure he was still standing on his legs, and walked ahead. A human rounded the corner with a soda and a hot dog and tripped over the brownish wolf. Hige jumped with surprise, lunged and sunk his teeth into the human's thigh. The two of them hit the floor, soda spilling over, and the hot dog rolling down the hallway.
The human whacked Hige on the face with his fist a few times before he let go. Hige about grabbed another bite but stopped, as the man stood up, grabbing his now bleeding leg and began to limp to the hot dog. Hige's mouth fell open.
FOOD!
Hige's claws scrapped on the laminate green floor a few times before he could take off in speed. The human turned, his eyes widened. Hige flew under the human's feet, throwing him into the air and knocked him on his back. The man winced, grabbing his leg again, as he watched that damn brown wolf swallow the hot dog whole.
Hige glared at him and let out a ferocious series of growls, snarles and barks. The human stared back, in shock, he began to turn pale, realizing he had no weapon. Hige snorted, walking over the man and down the hall, licking his chops.

Kiba continued down the hall while Hige fought for the hot dog, eyes dark and blank. He turned into another long corridor, heading toward the scent of the flower maiden. She was close...

Hige stopped in his tracks and turned in his human form. He decided to play stupid with the man on the floor. He was struggling to his feet, with the wall for support.
"Hey!" Hige called. "Are you ok?"
The man about jumped out of his skin. "Jez, kid, you scared the crap out of me."
Hige took a few steps closer. "What happened to you?"
"Damn wolf jumped me and took my hot dog. Little bastard." He finally chuckled, "I thought he was going for my jugular."
Hige shrugged, trying not to smile. "So where are they keeping that flower thing?"
The human tied a thick cloth around his bleeding leg. "Why do you want to know? Who are you, anyway?"
Hige thought quickly, changing the subject. "Where did you get that hot dog?"
The human shifted his eyes. "Downstairs."
Hige's eyes brightened. "Great! I'll see you there."

He turned and went down the hall, found some stairs and went down them. At the bottom step, he stopped quickly, as the scent of Cheza was much stronger here.
Hige quickly ran up to tell Kiba the news.

The man stood there completely confused "who was that kid" he asked not really wanting an answer. A group of armed guys came in guns ready "get your weapon...wolves have been sited...they most likely want-" he stopped and looked down to the man's leg "gees what happened to ya frank?" The man met his eyes and glared "A wolf got me...they are in the building already..." The group got wide eyed "You heard him... get a move on secure the area!" the group quickly dispersed and roused the others.

Hige ran upstairs and found Kiba. "Oi! Come on, Cheza's downstairs."

"...get a move on secure the area!"

Hige heard this as his eyes widened. He turned to Kiba, who still looked zombie-fied. "Kiba, damnit, come on!" Hige growled under his throat and grabbed Kiba by the shoulder and began to pull him downstairs.

The humans guarding Cheza became alert. There was a commotion in the hallway. The guards scrambled to discover where the source of the commotion was coming from. Cheza looked up. Another feeling was coming over her. A sense different from the humans. She recognized it almost immediately.

"Kiba!"

She stayed in place, however. Recent events and lack of moonlight had left her weakened. However, with the discovery that Kiba was nearby, her spirits were lifted. And he wasn't alone. Hige was with him. A dark thought worked its way into her mind. Kiba was still injured. Badly.