Disclaimer- I don't own Wolf's Rain. If I did, there'd be a new season already.
A/N: ARGH! Sorry for the lateness! This chapter flows mostly around Marel and Getsuei, but don't worry, it will return to mostly Toboe next chapter most likely…
Dedication: This story is hereby dedicated to the wonderful Lonegrey. Here's to you, friend.
Before the Flower's Call
Like Kiba had predicted, the moon was setting in the azure sky by the time the wolves reached the run-down little town. The stars were starting to fade as a lighter sky started to wash from the east, watering the color from a hard, dark blue to a paleish gray in the east.
Getsuei was thrilled to see the town clearly, and the fact that the streets appeared deserted made him want to wag his tail, but he didn't. Glancing over his shoulder, he saw Marel. His heart stung. Each stride looked laborious for the old wolf, her pink tongue lolling out of her mouth, her eyes rolled upwards towards the sky in exhaustion as she panted heavily. Her gray fur seemed whiter around the muzzle than it usually was, and the fact she was behind Toboe invited a wave of worry to crash over him.
None of the other wolves, not even the pup were showing signs of tiring. The only good thing about the situation was the fact that the city up ahead looked shabby, worn out and trampled. There wouldn't be too many people around here, and even then, they wouldn't bother the wolves in anyway. Too scared, probably.
"Kiba!" he called, accelerating the slightest bit to get closer to the white wolf far out front. To his surprise, Toboe's child-like voice finished for him.
"Kiba, we need to stop! Marel can't go on like this!"
Kiba halted, his sudden stop sending dust leaping from his front paws. Getsuei also skidded to a stop; the others did the same. Marel, for one, did not. Rather than just skid, she fell forward with a dull thump, her eyes closed.
"Marel!" Getsuei cried, distressed. He sprinted over to the fallen wolf's side, watching her heavy breathing, in out, in, and out, harsh and raspy. Her sides heaved like a pair of bellows, and the tip of her tongue stuck out.
"Is she okay?" Hige asked as Toboe crouched beside Marel on the opposite side of Getsuei. Tsume's face was creased in a worried frown that surprised Getsuei. Kiba looked down with wide, golden eyes, as if wondering what to make of the situation, but consciously or not, the white wolf seemed to keep them veiled at all times, so it was impossible to know what he was thinking.
"Marel, Marel!" Toboe cried, shaking the old female gently, trying to get her to open her blind eyes at least. "Please Marel, say something!"
Getsuei waited with bated breath for his surrogate mentor and good friend to open her eyes, the only indication he would have that she was okay. After what seemed like an age, with silence hanging over the six wolves like a shadow, Marel coughed violently and opened her eyes.
"There's dust in my mouth and gullet. And I just need rest." Marel's voice lacked the usual sharp barb of defensiveness that it usually had, and when she staggered to her paws, and then failed to stand up, Tsume caught her before Getsuei could. Getsuei threw him a dirty look for an instant, but then relented. Tsume was bigger and stronger than he was, and could carry Marel better than he could. Even though he knew he was being unreasonable, he felt a prickle of shame.
"Let's get into town. We'll find food and rest there." Kiba said tonelessly, turning his back, but he cast a worried glance over his shoulder before slinking up ahead, followed slowly by the pack as they entered the town. Getsuei trotted after them, noting with discomfort that Marel had closed her eyes again.
Dorjan gleefully walked towards the town at his leisure, carrying a full pack of food from the now dead family stupid enough to camp in this desolate region, water, and a cell phone he was currently using to contact his minions in the city.
"Six wolves are entering the South way. They're the ones Lady Sheshkemana's looking for. She wants them alive, but if you need to kill, kill. Except for a little brown one, that one needs to be alive. He's the one who wrecked the Lady's face. You're on it, Captain. Send your squads in." He hung up without waiting for an answer from the obviously surprised Captain Markus and pocketed the cell phone.
It wouldn't be too difficult to get in there, once the wolves were captured and claim the glory. It wasn't like Markus's troops could do or say anything to contradict him without getting…hurt.
Sometimes fatally so.
"Here, Marel," the old wolf heard Toboe say. "Drink this…" at the scent of water, Marel heaved herself forward and lifted her head with agonizing slowness, sticking out her dry tongue in the direction she knew where the water was. When the questing tip made contact with the water, she started to lap it greedily, allowing the replenishing substance to wash through her system, clearing her senses and making it easier to breathe.
She senses familiar presences around her, the pack. There was stone under her paws and stone over them—they were in a small shelter of stone, judging by the cool air and the feeling of shadows falling over them all.
It was quiet, except for the drip-drip sound of water that seemed to come from the far right corner. Marel assumed this was where they acquired her water, but despite the refreshment, she felt older than she was, sick, and weak. Her Inner Eye was spinning, telling her that it had a lot to tell her, and by the darkness that stifled her mind, the news was bad.
The old wolf sighed and then took a look, only to sag outwardly and feel her heart sink. She lifted her muzzle to speak, when an explosion rocked the shelter.
A/N: Okay, so I inadverntly lied about the meaty chapter thing. Argh, it looked so much longer on Word…anyway, I apologize for the shortness of both the chapter and the author's note, I'm getting screamed at… ;; Thanks once again for my FAITHFUL PACK OF REVIEWERS who have returned after putting up with the biggest most procrastinating, insensitive writer on the planet—me—and still dropping encouraging words. I luffs ya all! –glomps-