Toboe jumped up in alert as he smelled the two females coming near. He yipped to let them know his and Cheza's hidden location. He saw them coming up the way, both looked tired, and beaten. His heart sank some at the thought of them out there, fighting tooth and claw with the humans. Dodging bullets...Toboe absent mindedly scratched his old and crusted wound. Cheza's warmth had soothed it, and he was grateful for that. I am glad they are ok. I was worried... but he broke off when he realized with a bit of worry that No one else was with them. Maybe the others would show up soon. As long as nothing had happened.

Toboe greeted them with a wagging tail. He had to do his best not to leap on them and jump around excitedly. "Hey! Your ok!" he said with obvious relief in his voice. He turned to Shilaze. "Where is everyone else?" He furrowed his brow a bit, hoping to hear good news.

Shilaze sighed with relief as she saw Toboe but it was soon ended by his question.
"Where is everyone else?"
Shilaze shook her head slowly "Hige is back there" she motioned with her head "But Kiba and Tsume... I don't know where they are." She looked down "I'm sorry it's my fault. I should have been more careful" Meshawa nipped at her "No it's not so stop saying so" Meshawa barked as she walked over under a tree and laid down resting. Shilaze wanted to believe her but deep inside she still believe it was her fault. She sat down looking to the city ignoring the pain in her shoulder as she waited for the others to return.

Cheza could sense the two she-wolves returning. She hadn't gotten to know then very long before she had been taken. She was glad to have met them, though. She was always glad to meet new wolves. She heard one of them mention they didn't know where Kiba or Tsume were. She could hear Hige slowly making his way towards them. He was injured, just like the others were. She stood and slowly went to them. She could sense their apprehension as she drew near, but she exuded such calm and gentleness towards them.

There were two remaining humans walking around scanning the area. Neither had been attacked by the wolves, but they did see a few bodies of their fellow humans.

"These wolves are true murders. I swear, if I see one more, I'll shoot the damn thing through the heart," one human said to the other who slightly chucked.

"-if they don't get to you first."

They scanned the area some more, walking, looking for survivors. Turning the corner both stopped in their tracks. One pointed his rifle toward the brown wolf lying besides the building. The human with the silver hair pushed his rifle down. "Don't. I think its dead."

The one squinted his eyes. "It's not dead, it's breathing."

He nodded, bent down and yanked the brown wolf's tail. "No response," He chuckled, running a hand through his silver hair. "It's gone alright. Let's take it in for a reward; you know they pay lots for wolves that are alive."

The other nodded in agreement. The other human took out a needle and stuck it in the wolf. "There. He won't wake up for a few more hours. Let's go."

He heaved the wolf over his shoulders and began walking away from the site.

Shilaze sat waiting for anyone to come they should have been here by now... she thought as she gave a worried look to Meshawa only she was sound asleep That's usual... she glance over to Toboe he seemed as worried as she did "Hige should be here by now..." she said quietly to him. She didn't want to worry him but at the same time he needed to know. But what if... NO… she refused to think that way. She strained her ears for any sound and sniffed the air trying to catch the scent of any of the three wolves.

Toboe felt very, very uneasy. Something was a miss. Tsume and Kiba had not yet returned, and Hige was missing too. Shilaze said Hige should have been here by now. Where are they? He whimpered a bit, sniffing the air for any scent, wither it be hide or blood. He saw Meshawa resting under a tree near Cheza. He eyed Cheza, seeing her made his spirit soar. He knew what he had to do.

"Shilaze...please, please watch over Cheza. I am going to go find Hige and the others. I know their scent really well; I just know I can be careful enough to find them. Cheza needs protecting, and someone to keep her company. You and Meshawa rest here, I promise I'll come back for you."

He looked at her with his big eyes, trying to put as much confidence as he could in the air. He walked over to Cheza and gave her a quick nuzzle. "Don't worry Cheza, I'll find them real quick." He turned to go, but before he left, he placed his paw on Shilaze's paw. "I promise."

With that the young wolf ran back out towards where the others were. His heart hammered in his chest as he smelled for any scent that would lead him in the right direction. He snuck around a building, following the scent of Hige's blood. It was thick in the air and almost made Toboe sick. Before Toboe could reach him, two humans approached. He watched in horror as they examined him, even pulled his tail and still Hige didn't move. Then the humans stuck something into him and picked him up! Oh no! Oh no!

Toboe knew he had to get Hige help. He needed to find Tsume and Kiba.

Toboe ran into Kiba and Tsume a few moments later. Literally. Kiba stared down at the up with eyes filled with anger, pain, and a little bit of fear. The white wolf grabbed Toboe by the scruff of the neck. "You left Cheza? Come on, hurry!" He began dragging Toboe back to the woods, thoughts only on the Flower Maiden.

Toboe opened his mouth to talk, but Kiba cut him off by grabbing his neck. Kiba was pissed off, and his mind was only on Cheza. It scared Toboe half to death. The white wolf began to drag Toboe back towards the forest. It was the wrong direction; they needed to head back where the humans had taken Hige. He winced as Kiba bit down harder, causing Toboe to yelp out, and he shook till he freed himself from the vice grip. His neck stung horribly and he faced Kiba head on.

"Stop! Cheza is being watched by Shilaze and Meshawa! She isn't Alone! Kiba! The humans, they took Hige! They have him, he isn't awake and they took him! They want to sell him for money! I came to find you guys, he needs our help. If we don't, they'll kill him!"

Toboe broke down then, his neck slightly bleeding, tears beginning to overflow. "They'll kill him if we don't help him now!" his voice wobbled and he looked into Kiba's eyes, and then to Tsume's. He shook all over with the adrenaline pumping through his veins. He wasn't going to leave Hige to the humans. He wasn't going to let him die.

Kiba's eyes widened and he opened his mouth to speak, when a roar interrupted him. The wolves looked to the air, where the humans' airship was ascending. Before they could do anything, it began to move forward, out over the Forest of Death. "..." Kiba said as he stared after the airship.

Shilaze sighed and walked over to Cheza. The others were counting on her and Meshawa to protect her. Well at lest I'm trusted enough to do something... she thought as she sat down her head turned towards the city. A faint roar started to fill the air "what the...?" Meshawa asked sleepily "I don't know." Shilaze said as she turned to Cheza. Meshawa moved closer to Cheza hackles raised ready for a fight. This isn't good... She turned her gaze back to the city and cult a glimpse of what looked to be ship of some kind. It wasn't that close yet but she knew it was heading their way.

Cheza could hear the airship coming closer. It was almost deafening. Something had happened to Hige. He had stopped somewhere but she could still sense him. Now, she couldn't. The two she-wolves were standing in front of her, their attention drawn to the fast approaching airship. Cheza worried about the others. Had they been spotted? She could still sense them nearby, so she knew they were still on the ground. If the ship sees them, however, the humans would know that she was with them. Then, it would only be a mater of time. The others hadn't recovered from the last battle with the humans. If they were to fight again, they'd never make it. And with the airship, the firepower increased.

Oh no... A wave of sickness fell over Toboe as he watched the airship in the sky. It was gigantic. Massive even, with plenty of fire power inside it. Toboe couldn't hear his own thoughts over the roar of the ship. It was like a thousand thunder claps sounding as one. Without realizing it, Toboe had somehow placed himself very close to Tsume, tail and ears tucked. He was shivering.

The ship was heading towards the forest...towards Cheza and the girls. Panic and fear rose up inside of him faster and faster with each second. He looked to Kiba for answers. Kiba always had answers. But Kiba stood, opened mouthed, unable to speak. The young wolf's mind began to fire off random images, ones of Hige being examined, ones of Shilaze being hurt, ones of Cheza being caught. His mind began to scream what his throat would not produce. What now? What now!

Kiba swallowed. "We have to get back to Cheza," he murmured, limping quickly toward the forest. Before he could get very far, he realized that the airship wasn't stopping. It was flying away, over and past the forest. "...nani...?"

Shilaze howled in pain as the roar grew louder hurting her ears. Her eyes watered as the noise grew louder still but it stared to grow quitter. She looked up to the sky, the ship was passing over them, we're safe... but for how long? Her mind raced worrying about the others Toboe, Hige, Kiba... her eyes watering only not from pain but from tears of worry.
Meshawa moved closer to Cheza trying to comfort her "we won't let anything happen to you will we Shi?" Shilaze blinked her tears away and nodded "Right" she said trying to put strength back into her voice.

Toboe followed Kiba and Tsume towards the forest. They needed to get to Cheza! If the ship wanted her, she was in serious danger. And Shilaze and Meshawa would be killed if they got in the way! Kiba was limping horribly, his wounds were severe. The urgency in which he moved made Toboe wince with what must be each painful step.

He continued walking, head down trying not to look at the ship. It held darkness inside it. Toboe walked right into Kiba, who had stopped. He forced himself to look up at what Kiba was looking at, and dropped his jaw in amazement. The ship, it was passing over Cheza and the girls? It...It didn't see them? Or maybe it didn't want them? Toboe tilted his head in confusion. This day had been very, very long.

Kiba stared at the airship as it passed over the forest. He felt his eyes glaze over, and shook his head sharply. Kiba continued walking, turning his head to look at Tsume

Cheza could sense the others were coming closer. She could tell they were injured, but otherwise fine. She placed her hand on top of one of the she-wolves. Meshawa she thought her name was. Everyone was on edge. Cheza wondered what happened to Hige. She had suddenly stopped being able to sense him. Was it the humans again? It was hard to tell. The sense of humans had been around due to the battle and it disoriented her.

There were noises coming from the distance; lots of humans talking, shuffling papers, walking across a carpet floor, a fly buzzing around, and a distant dog bark.
Hige's ear turned in the direction of the sounds. He opened his eyes. At first, the scenery was blurry, scattered images crossing his path, a lot of human's feet brushing by in a hurry.

Hige found out he had the strength to lift his head and take a better look. It must have been a workplace. Humans were everywhere, drinking out of cups, walking in fast pace, others with noses in books.

The brown wolf stretched an arm, wincing at the pain. He realized two things; that he was bandaged and in a cage. It brought him back to the time when he found Kiba. He had pulled open the bars with his teeth, but Hige's were too sensitive for that.

Hige thought about using his teeth for escape for a long moment. There was no one around, well, not looking his way. He could easily escape.

The brown wolf wrapped his teeth around the bar and began to yank at it, until he realized someone was watching him. His mouth dropped open.

She was a babe.

"It's pretty tight." Blue stood looking at another wolf a chubby one; she had seen him before he smelled like her.
"I can help you, if you want me to that is..."

Hige gazed at her, his mouth shutting and opening as if he was trying to say something, but couldn't. He finally caught himself when she spoke at him.

"I can usually get out of these, no problem, but - I could use a little help

Blue smiled and nodded, she bit down and bar and yanked it forward a few good pulls and it was lose enough to get by. She heard talking and footsteps in the distance "hurry, run."

Hige carefully stepped out of the cage, feeling the stinging pain in his limbs. He forgot that he was badly injured. "Thanks. Where are we?" Before he could get his answer, there were sounds of humans coming closer. Hige knew he had to get back to his pack, and besides... how the hell did I get here anyway? This was very confusing to him, but he hoped this chick before him had answers. But she's already telling him to run away?
Determined, Hige looked directly at her, "Come with me."

Blue looked down the hall way towards the sound of movement. He smells like the flower she thought to herself, maybe I should go I... I don't know what to else to do Blue looked up and nodded "Follow me." and ran towards the opposite hallway.

Hige managed a broad smile as the chick took his offer, and began to lead the way. This surprised the brown wolf, as he followed, in his human image, limping quickly down the hallway. She was defiantly in charge; this might be the beginning of a wonderful friendship, or more.

Hige tried to follow as fast as he could, sometime walking to discourage curious humans. Some had to notice he was limping and bandaged, that wasn't too ordinary in this workplace. One or two humans nodded at the chick leading Hige, and it made him curious as to why she was working in a human area. It confused him.

A burly man crossed a hallway, paused, looking at the two of them. "Hey, Blue," Hige stopped in his tracks, it was obviously a boss. "Aren't you supposed to be outside helping your partner with those packages? That's in the other direction." He spotted Hige. "Who's the kid behind you?"

Hige tried not to give an indignant look. Kid? The burly man was waiting for the woman named Blue for answers. At least Hige now knew her name.

Blue put her hand on her hip "A new worker, already injured himself, How bout that?"
The Man smiled.
"I was asked to take him into town to get some stitches, won't take long at all."
"Alright, be careful," the man turned and continued walking.

That was slick, Hige thought to himself. He knew this babe had to be sharp as a tack in order to survive around these lanky and burly men.
"Your name is Blue? Tell me, have we met?"

Blue smirked, "You tell me, you were with a girl earlier, where is she?"

Hige seemed taken back, wondering why or how she could have seen him with Cheza. "In the woods, with the rest of the pack, I guess." He couldn't remember much before he blacked out. He scratched his head, still confused. "Where are we? Did you see how I got here?"

Blue shook her head, "I didn't see, as far as where we are were not far from the outskirts of town, middle of nowhere."

A few humans rounded the corner eying the two 'humans.' After they passed, Hige looked at this chick. "Will you lead me to the outskirts of this town? I know I can track the pack down from there." He paused, waiting for her reaction. "After that, you can do whatever you want to with me." He winked at her, hoping he wouldn't get smacked across the hall.