Disclaimer: Don't own Wolf's Rain. End of conversation.

Hige's POV

"You're not alone, honey. Never. Never."

after Kiba ran off

"Where to, my lord?"

I blinked and turned to stare that the Priestess in shock. "Where to? You're asking me?"

"Of course, my lord. You are the leader, we are your pack." She gazed at me calmly. Creep. "Tell us where to go."

I thought for a moment, then shrugged. "How about the cafeteria?"

Her turn to blink and stare. "Surely you're joking…"

"No, not really. I'm hungry. There must be some chow around here somewhere…" I sniffed around for a moment, but all I could smell was that horrible stench. Sometimes having a good nose is a big pain. "Aw, piss. Either of you two pick up one of those tourist maps?" They stared at me in unbelieving silence. "Guess not."

"Is there a battle to be fought in the cafeteria? Is some scoundrel hiding there, waiting for us?" Priestess Lady was really getting annoying.

"Um, no. I just want some grub."

She laughed. "My lord, you are too funny…"

I laughed with her. "Yeah, I know. Let's try this way- my belly has a good feeling about it." Sticking my hands in my pockets, I started walking, Priestess Chick dead silent behind me.

"But- but your fellow Wolves are on great quests to…"

"Can it, lady. They aren't on any great quest. They're just doing what they need to do. I can't fight worth a crap, and I know it, so I don't fight." Glancing back at her, I grinned. "More than anything, I'm just along for the ride. Besides, they don't really NEED me. They don't expect me to do anything worth while. I'm just living up to their expectations." Stopping at a cross section of hallways, I glanced back and forth. "Hm…which one should we take?"

"You are NOT what I expected." Priestess Lady said it look I should be insulted.

"Ya can't always get what you want." My nose was useless- I couldn't smell a thing. "Hm…eeny meeny miney moe…" I ended up on the one farthest to my left. Where that really nasty smell was coming from. "Heh heh…just kidding. Um…that one!" I started walking straight ahead. "It's less smelly."

The Priestess rolled her eyes and followed me, Lackey Boy trailing behind us. "My lord, I really think you should consider…"

"Where's Cher?" I stopped in midstep, looking around us. "I could've sworn she was here a minute ago…."

"She said something about stalling," Lackey Boy squeaked.

"Like with horses?"

"I think he means, my lord—"

"I know what he means." I gave Priestess Lady an unimpressed look. "You don't have much of a sense of humor, do you?"

She didn't answer, just lowered her head. Crazy Priestess; she really was a nut.

"This way," I sighed softly, and started walking again. "This place is bigger than my school."

"More dangerous too," Priestess Lady murmured.

"Don't be so sure—high school can be a scary, scary place." I froze and strained my hearing. "Do you hear that?"

"Hear what?"

I closed my eyes and focused on the singing. A soft song, sounding distant, but I knew it was nearby. "Let's go."

"I don't hear anything," Priestess Lady argued, trotting along behind me. "Maybe you really DO need to eat something."

Turning several corners, I finally found what I was looking for- a door with someone singing behind it. A locked door with someone singing behind it. "So much for that…"

Priestess Lady sighed and rammed her shoulder into the door. It went flying open; she bowed low. "My lord."

I blinked at her, surprised, then turned to Lackey Boy. "Did you know she could do that?" He shook his head, eyes wide. "OK, just wanted to make sure that was completely random and unexpected." I stepped into the room, which was pitch black—someone had turned all the lights off. "Hello?"

"You weren't who I expected." The smooth, cultured voice made my hair stand on end. I took an involuntary step backwards, seriously thinking about running, but the door slammed shut behind me. The voice laughed softly. "Hm, yes, I remember you. The one who fought so futilely for the half-breed. One of Jagera's mongrels."

"What the hell are you talking about?" I could hear Priestess Chick and Lackey Boy pounding on the door behind me. "What the hell do you want?"

"What do I want? Paradise. And revenge."

"Look, if you're one of those teachers who I pulled a prank on, I apologize sincerely. But I know none of my teachers had a creepy voice like yours, so, you've got the wrong guy." I glanced around warily. "I've never even met you before." Which was true, though I had the distinct feeling that I knew exactly who he was.

"Makes sense that someone like YOU wouldn't remember." Something ran past me on my right; I jumped and whirled around, taking several steps back. "It'll come to you eventually." Another creepy laugh, more like a chuckle this time, sending a chill down my spine.

"Where are you?" Damn that horrible smell; I couldn't catch a whiff of anything. "What are you going to do?"

"That would ruin the surprise now, wouldn't it?" A soft sigh echoed around me. "Pity. I was expecting to have more fun today."

Something hit my stomach, knocking the wind out of me and making me double over. I struck out wildly, just trying to keep my unseen foe from hitting me. The next blow came form the side, hitting me square in the jaw and making me hit the wall. My mouth filled with blood; I must've bit the inside of my mouth. "Piss," I muttered. What else was I supposed to say?

I squeaked as I was lifted by my hoody and flung across the room. My back hit the table or desk or whatever the hell was in the middle of the room and I yelped involuntarily. Struggling to stand, my hoody got caught on something and ripped, but I still couldn't move. "Dammit!" I was caught, and creepy-voice dude- Darshia- was coming for me. Piss.

Something metal hit my head the next time around, ripping me upwards and causing whatever my hoody was caught on to rip into my flesh. I gasped in pain, managing to choke on that gasp as I was hit in the back with the metal thing. Hitting the floor didn't feel half bad as I fell forward.

"You give up fast." Darshia grabbed my throat and hefted me up. "Aren't you going to fight at all?"

It took all of my strength to claw at the hand around my throat. I was vaguely aware of the fact that I was whimpering pitifully. Little dots of light appeared before me, and I knew I was going to die.

Darshia let out another sigh. "No, you weren't at all who I was expecting."

Author's Note: Pardon the shortness. Let me make one statement: ITAI. Cursed wrist. Anyways, I might update again within the day, depending on how dead my wrist is. Ima, shinde.