Title: The Price of His Past
Author: Ladye Black
Rating: Stupid new fan-rating system, screws me up…
Warnings: Nothing that hasn't been said before
Disclaimer: Oh the many ways to say: "No, I don't own the characters…"
Notes: Um…I think winter is on off-season for me…
Chapter 10
They awoke early the next morning, well-rested and ready to face the enemy that was now slightly less mysterious. However, there was one thing that was a complete mystery.
"So," Hige started casually. "Any idea what that earring is a 'Key' for?"
Tsume looked at Hige for a moment, trying to think of an answer to the younger Wolf's question. "…Maybe."
Hige's face went slack with surprise. "Huh? Really?"
Tsume moved restlessly. "Some of my memories are returning, slowly, but they're coming back. It's like they were locked in some box in the back of mind, but now the box has been opened slightly and the memories are creeping out. I don't remember anything definite, but…I think I have an idea as to what the Key really is."
The rotund Wolf's countenance changed to a look of impatience. "Well, what do you think it's for?"
The older Wolf hesitated, unsure of how to explain the reason for the Key's existence when he himself didn't even know for sure. He settled for explaining as best he could about what he knew of the Key.
"A long time ago, there was a race with superior technology. They knew things that no others knew…in fact, they were so intelligent they'd discovered the technology to create a planet. They'd worked out all the variables; temperature, position to a star of the right size, the gravitational pull…everything."
Hige frowned, even though the other two were listening with rapt attention. "Does this story have point?"
"I'm getting there," Tsume glared at the younger Wolf.
"Okay, okay, geez, ya don't havta be so nasty."
Pulling his glare away from Hige, Tsume focused inward, trying to recall a story he had learned long ago.
"It takes a lot of power to make a planet; it can also destroy all life around it. Other planets could be wiped from existence."
Kiba frowned, "You think this Key has something to do with making a planet?"
Tsume nodded, relieved that at least there was one smart Wolf in the Pack. When'd I start thinking of them as Pack? He shook off the question as unimportant, especially in light of recent developments.
Like the fact that the three from yesterday were at the door to make sure Tsume and the others left.
"You ready to go?" Furukizu asked.
Tsume looked around him at the others, receiving a nod from each of them as he looked at them. Kiba held his gaze the longest, giving him silent support for what the younger Wolf knew would be a hard road ahead.
"Yeah, we're ready"
"Then, it is time to leave." Furukizu, Yuttarishita, and Ayumikata escorted the four Wolves to a different entrance/exit than the one they had used to enter Akemi. "This will lead you to a city about 20 miles south of the one you entered from."
Tsume nodded and started to head through the door, but Furukizu stopped him. "Perhaps, once you've cleared yourself of this mess, you would be able to come back."
The grey Wolf looked into the other's eyes, searching for the truth behind the words. Finding it, he nodded in acceptance. "Perhaps someday."
Furukizu stepped aside to let them pass, he watched as they disappeared into the darkness that would take them into the world beyond the haven of Akemi. "Good luck to you, Tsume, for in the days ahead, you shall need it."
After a few minutes of walking in pure darkness, Kiba, who'd been in the lead, bumped into a wall. Tsume, walking directly behind Kiba, bumped into the Wolf in front of him when the other suddenly stopped. Hige and Toboe, who had heard the two thumps, saved themselves from any such embarrassing encounters.
"Anou, Kiba, is everything okay?" asked the ever-worried Toboe.
"Aa, there's a wall here."
Tsume shouldered himself against Kiba to get closer to the wall. "There should be a trigger somewhere to open it. This passage is one of the least used to get to and from Akemi. That's probably why Furukizu sent us this way."
Carefully, Tsume felt around him for the trigger he knew to be there. After a few minutes, his fingers finally brushed over an uneven piece of the wall. "Aha, there you are," he mumbled to himself. He applied a certain amount of pressure to the release, and slowly shifted his weight, causing the wall to move outward.
"All right, I'll hold this here, the rest of you go through. This has to be closed in a certain way. Be careful, the room beyond isn't very big."
Slowly, the others went by him, Kiba last. As the white Wolf went by he brushed against Tsume, causing the older Wolf to shiver slightly at the contact. Once they were through, Tsume prepared for the tricky part, getting himself through the doorway. The piece of wall had been specially made so that someone had to be holding it in an exact way to get it open and for it to stay open. When using this door, one person would usually stay behind, waiting for the others to get back.
However, things were not to go that way today.
Tsume tensed, preparing to leap through the doorway before is snapped shut. Three…two…ONE! Tsume pushed himself as hard as he could through the doorway. He landed on his stomach on the other side, barely making it if the way the wall scraped against his paw was any indication.
Standing up, he shook himself slightly to make sure he was unharmed. "Well, everyone ready to go?"
One-by-one, each Wolf gave his answer to Tsume's question. "Ready," was the unanimous answer.
"All right, then, let's go." Tsume pushed open the door in front of him, and started out into the bright, clear day of the beginning of an uncertain near future.
TBC...
Hmm, well,whatcha think?
