Howl of the Wolves

Chapter 2

Of Cats and Wolves

Kiba approached the teenager demanding to see him. Once he got a clear view of the wolf, he realized he had seen the wolf before, walking in the same direction as himself and Hige. He watched Kiba carefully.

"Yo." He approached Kiba, showing no sign of caution. "I have a question for you."

"What?" Kiba growled at the loner.

"Have you seen any wolves with the smell of mahogany?" he asked, giving Kiba a hard glare that Kiba struggled to keep.

"Mahogany?" Kiba gave him a look of confusion.

"Yes mahogany. My pack has always carried the smell of mahogany. By the way, my name is Enmei."

"I've smelt one!" came a familiar voice. Sure enough, Toboe, the runt of the pack appeared, followed by a cat. "And this cat has met all four of them, which includes you. It talked with one, what was his name again?"

"Kouyuu." The cat answered. "He had a nice long chat with me about his sister, with her being injured and all."

"Sounds like them, but can I believe you Cat?" Enmei growled.

"Of course you can. I even know where the talkative one and the injured one are staying." The cat bowed its head to Enmei.

"Take me there then, and make it quick." Enmei started after the cat, but stopped when the other four wolves started to follow. "I believe I can take care of my self and my friends."

"Well, it's not everyday you meet a wolf in this dump." Tsume growled. Enmei glared at him, then turned and continued after the cat, which had not stopped.

The hotel that the cat led them to was a very fancy place that was pet friendly. Apparently the cat was a friend of Toboe's, and belonged to the old woman who owned the hotel, so he was allowed to wander the hotel. The room Toboe and the cat led them to was a VIP room, thus making it quite fancy.

"How did a couple of wolves get such a fancy place?" Hige asked Toboe.

"The lady who owns this hotel is a wolf." Toboe grinned.

"What!" Hige turned and faced Toboe, a shocked look across his face. All the wolves turned and looked at Toboe, even Enmei.

"Yeah, she's a wolf. An old one too." Toboe grinned. He passed the rest of the wolves and caught up to the cat.

"That was the last thing I expected." Hige told Kiba, who nodded.

Toboe knocked on the door. "Excuse me, this is Toboe, an I have a friend of yours here." Toboe waited as banging sounds were heard from the other side. The door opened, showing a boy with black hair, brown eyes, jeans, a jean jacket, and red shirt.

"Enmei!" the teen squeaked. He opened the door entirely, showing a girl sitting on the couch.

"Futeki, Kouyuu." Enmei growled. He stepped into the room.

"More wolves! Did you make a new pack without your sister?" Futeki asked from her place on the couch. "Come in!"

"Actually, we're our own pack." Hige explained.

"Well come in anyways." Kouyuu stepped out of the doorway. The four wolves and cat entered to room. There was plenty of room in the VIP room. Everyone sat down on the couch, except Enmei and Tsume, who struck up a conversation about motorcycles. After everyone was settled down, did introductions take place.

"Are you okay, Foo-" Toboe started.

"Foo-t-heh-key. I'm okay, except I'm a bit worried." Futeki sighed. "Our leader disappeared a few days after I was injured. Enmei went after her while Kouyuu and I came here to recuperate. We've been a bit stretched by the hunter who shot me."

"Hunter?" Kiba asked.

"Yeah, an old man with a big rifle in a big over coat similar to Enmei's." she shifted, "He also has a big black dog with blue eyes. Her name is Blue."

"Blue and Quent!" Toboe and Hige gasped. "How is Blue?"

"I don't know, I got to talk with her a bit, and she said she was searching for her love." Futeki answered. "Do you know her?"

"She's my mate." Hige grinned proudly.

"Then why did you leave her?" Kouyuu asked.

"Hige here hasn't seen her since our hunt for Paradise ended." Kiba answered. "We all died."

"Paradise eh? Wasn't Arai leading us there?" Futeki asked Kouyuu.

"You were going to Paradise?" Toboe asked.

"Up until Arai, our leader, disappeared." Kouyuu sighed. "Enmei is her brother, so he's more worried about her than us."

"Are you two related?" Toboe asked.

"Yes, this good for nothing is my brother." Futeki smiled.

They laughed for a minute. "So what now?" Kiba asked the siblings. "You could come with us and find your leader."

"That's a good idea, but it's up to Enmei. He's boss in Arai's absence." Kouyuu shrugged.

"Enmei, we've got an idea!" Futeki called to the current leader.

"An idea for what?" Enmei paused in his talk with Tsume.

"On our next move, of course!" Futeki chirped.

"What?" Enmei growled.

"Well, since Arai seemed to be headed off to get to the entrance to Paradise while we waited, maybe we could follow her with Kiba and his pack." Futeki explained to her temporary leader.

Enmei was silent for a moment, and then spoke up. "Please leave, I must speak with my pack. Meet us on the Full Moon at the park near to the city wall."

"What? Quent will be onto you like a starving dog to fresh meat!" Hige growled. "You can't wait-"

"Fine. We'll be there." Kiba growled. He then turned and left the room, Tsume close behind him. Hige sighed in defeat, and then followed.

"Watch out for Quent!" Toboe warned them, and then picking up the cat, left the room.

Enmei turned to his pack. "I've gotten wind of Arai, and she is trying to find the entrance to Paradise. But…"

"So, Toboe, can we meet this old wolf friend of yours?" Hige sighed. They were sitting in the lobby, watching people go by. Even a lone wolf or two would pass, glancing at them before disappearing in the crowd.

"She's on vacation right now. A human is taking care of the hotel at the moment." Toboe leaned back against the wall. But before he could fully settle, he sat straight up, his eyes as big as saucers.

"Quent…" he gasped.

In the crowd, a tall burly man in a long, light brown trench coat passed by the bench the four wolves were sitting on. At his side was a girl in a fancy black jacket, a skirt, tall black high-heeled boots, and a red scarf around her neck. She had lighter black hair and brilliant blue eyes.

"Blue!" Hige started to jump up, but Tsume grabbed his hood.

"Shut up, Porky, or Quent will see you!" he hissed.

But it was too late. Both Quent and Blue turned and saw the four wolves. What happened next, no one thought would happen.