Title: The Price of His Past

Author: Ladye Black

Warnings: None, really, I make up stuff.

Disclaimer: Nope, not mine.

Notes: I am absolutely sorry. It's been over a month since I updated this and I feel extremely terrible for it. I don't really have a reason except that I was working on so many things at once I just never really had the time for any of my fics. Hopefully, this next year will come in a little better. And sorry for shortness, this fic doesn't seem to wanna come along anymore.

Chapter 8

Hige was the first to break the silence that had descended upon the pack. "Hey, something smells really good here."

Tsume snorted in amusement. "You would be the first to smell that, Porky. Game animals were brought along with some wolves when the scientists came. Supposedly, wolves were endangered by the time this place was made livable so after some testing they made it so that wolves could live here." He stopped suddenly, and stared in the direction of the village entrance.

The others looked to see what he was staring at, and found themselves looking into the feral eyes of three other wolves. The first was very big and had multiple scars covering his dark-furred body, suggesting he had been the winner of many fights and also the leader. The one to his right was mottled in browns and greys, and seemed to not be able to stand still. Tsume disapproved of that one. The third was behind the other two and looked slightly like Tsume in coloring.

Tsume nodded slightly to the leader, who growled in response. "I didn't think you'd have the guts to show you muzzle here again, Tsume."

The grey Wolf looked unconcerned. "Yeah, well, some Wolves only become afraid once in their lives while others will always live their lives in fear, Furukizu."

The other Wolf growled in response. "I've never left my pack for dead."

Tsume merely looked bored, "Is that what running away with your tail between legs means?" The other Wolf leapt for him. Tsume calmly dodged out of the way.

"I will have my revenge on you, Tsume." He glanced at the others that had come with Tsume. "And they will share in your pain."

"No! Leave them out of this. They have nothing to do with what happened so long ago. Besides, I didn't come here to fight, but give you warning."

The mottle one spoke up. "Why should we believe anything that you say, Tsume?"

"Traitor!" the third Wolf spat. And charged Tsume, who dodged again, trying to keep his temper in check.

"Because, all of you remember well what happened more than ten years ago!"

They froze.

The dark-furred Wolf, Furukizu, stared hard at Tsume. "What do you mean?"

"Don't be more stupid than you already are, you know well of what I speak. The strangers who came to this place, who attacked the Pack, and killed Te. I know you remember!" For some reason, hot liquid was running down face, but that was stupid; Wolves can't cry, perhaps it was his human illusion that was crying.

The other grey Wolf spoke up. "What are you getting at, Tsume?"

Tsume looked at him in relief. "Thank you, Yuttarishita."

"I didn't say I'd believe you," the other Wolf said, slightly amused.

"No, but at least you're giving me a chance to speak."

"Get on with it," the mottled one growled impatiently.

"They're back," he said simply.

"Who's back?" Furukizu asked.

"Those that attacked us so long ago. They want a 'Key' and I want to know what this 'Key' thing is." Tsume's face was twisted into a snarl. "Who. Are. They?"

Furukizu looked thunderstruck. "They're back, but why-?" He caught sight of the earring that Tsume wore in his human form. "The earring!"

The mottled one looked, too. "Oh! I see, I see!"

Tsume snarled in frustration. "See what, Ayumikata?"

"You're wearing the Key," Ayumikata replied.

Tsume was confused.

"Uh, Tsume," Toboe said softly. "I think he means your earring."

Looking resigned, Furukizu nodded toward the village. "Why don't we go there and talk. There are some things you should have been told a long time ago, Tsume."

Hesitating, Tsume looked to those who had become his Pack. Kiba nodded reassuringly. "We'll be right behind, Tsume." Toboe and Hige echoed the sentiment.

"Thank you," and walked into the village with his old Pack in front of him, and his new one behind him.

TBC…

Sorry, I've been having trouble writing this recently.

Furukizu- scar, old would, old unpleasant incident

Yuttarishita- calm

Ayumikata- move, way to play