I'M SORRY I HAVEN'T POSTED FOR A WHILE! I've been put on comp probation. Sigh evil parents. 2 hours a day is soooo not enough time to type up chapters. Ok well on with the chappie!

"I heard that you two!" Tala growled around Kiba and Tsume.

"Ok…" My eyes widened and I turned back to the younger wolfs.

"She can be a little grumpy," mumbled Toboe.

"You can say that again," whispered Hige, as we sat down a good distance from the older wolves. I turned into my wolf form craning my head around to lick the deep gashes down my side. I raised my eyes to look over at the two boys who were staring at the star tattoo on my left flank.

"Can I help you?" I asked jokingly. They quickly averted their eyes and I laughed. "Just messing with ya," my lips raised into a playful smile.

"What does it mean?" Toboe blurted out and Hige pushed him with his snout.

I smiled and looked up from tending to my wounds, "You know… I'm not so sure, all I remember is the pain, burning iron pressing against skin hurts."

"Burning iron? I thought tattoo were done with needles…" Toboe asked like an uneducated child.

"This isn't really a tattoo, it's more of a brand. But however I got it, or even why I got it seems to always escape when I try to think about it." I sighed and bent my head back down to lick the gouges that would surely scar.

"Oh…" Toboe muttered not wanting to press any further.

"Idiot!" Hige spat under his breath at the younger child. He gave Toboe a acid filled glare and went to ask Kiba about food.

"It's ok, Toboe," I stifled my laughter standing up and stretching my legs out as the others prepared to leave.

Hige shook out his thick brown coat as I walked up beside him. My bedraggled black fur looked terrible next to his thick glossy coat. I looked around at the rest of them, all well fed, with smooth sleek pelts and conditioned muscles. I knew I was under fed and my coat was a little ruffled but I must have paled greatly in comparison to these healthy wolves. At that moment I became slightly self-conscious, wishing I had tried to smooth out my and gotten the caked blood off my side. I hung back as the rest of the pack charged out of the woods and across the snow covered highlands.

I stayed behind the others, partially because I COULDN'T keep up and partially because I felt inferior to the sleek well muscled wolves.

"You ok?" Hige's voice sounded distant even though it was right beside me.

"Ya I just… I'm not as fit as I used to be…" I shook the snow off my fur, trying to shake off my feelings.

"Ok," he looked over at me and it seemed like he was about to catch up with the group but he kept pace beside me. We ran almost all day, my paws were raw from the icy snow and my muscles were throbbing, by the time we finally took shelter in some bushes. I collapsed onto my side panting heavily.

"A little worn out?" Tsume loomed over me. I looked at him through half closed eyes but didn't say anything. He gave me an odd smirk and stalked over to a place where he could be alone.

Toboe and Hige looked over at me but I shook my head slightly, I just wanted to be alone. Once the other wolves were settled and I had my strength back I hauled my body out of the iced over snow and slipped of the bushy sanctuary. I looked over my shoulder and set out into the dark shrubbery. Something in my mind was telling me to press forward through the low windblown bushes. My aching paws and sore muscles didn't stop me from pushing my muzzle further and further into the maze of gorse and brambles.

Finally my sore nose poke through into a moonlit clearing and I sighed with relief. I cautiously stepped out into the pale moonlight that seemed to make the snow glow with moon dust.

"It's nice to see you again, Midnight Rain," A bone chilling voice that seemed to come from the moon its self floated over the clearing. My eyes widened and I started to back out of the clearing. "Where are you going my wolf?" the voice seemed to hold me in a trance.

AHHH SORRY IT'S SO SHORT! I'm having a bit of writer's block! Don't hurt me! I'll post more I promise! Please review!

Anei

Evil- It's my nature