Insanity rise: Hello, just thought I'd come back and type up a quick chapter for this story, just so people realize I haven't abandoned it! Sorry if it seems that way, but I am striving to complete my Dosu story before I work on anything else, hoping I will finish it before school starts on the 20th! AH! Anyway, I've had most of this chapter sitting on my computer for around a month; I just suddenly decided to finish it in case people want to read it! Well here you are! Sorry if it seems rushed…thanks for reading!

Chapter 6

Merciless claws…

Kabuto sighed, staring up at the rain filled sky, the mark on his neck burning with pain. Rain pelted down upon the weary group, causing them to stumble on blindly. Kabuto couldn't help but wonder what Orochimaru was doing right now, probably safe at home laughing at how foolish of an apprentice he'd had. Secretly, Kabuto really did regret this, why hadn't he just stayed with Orochimaru, at least them he would be warm and dry. Nevertheless, he knew why he hadn't stayed, and that reason was the four trembling teens behind him. He knew they were terrified, even if it didn't show on the outside.

"How far do you think we've gone," Kimimaru asked from behind him, the howling winds nearly silencing his voice. Kabuto glanced back at him, seeing the desperate expression on his pained face.

"I don't know," Kabuto shook his head, "but we need to find shelter from this rain."

"I second that," Tayuya grumbled, her soaked hair covering her face.

"I know," Kabuto sighed, looking on ahead at the dark trees, "maybe we could find somewhere nice and dry in that forest."

"Worth a shot," Kimimaru nodded, following after Kabuto as he hurried in the shadowy trees. The sticky mud slipped beneath their feet as they trudged on, exhausted from their long day of running. Kabuto still did his best to lead, being the only one who knew the way to the leaf village in a flawless way. The trees began to thicken as they walked on, a dark mist shrouding over the path. Kabuto shivered as more sheets of rain poured down, soaking him to the bone. He heard a few shrill coughs from behind him, warning him that they seriously needed to get out of this rain. He hoped no one would catch cold, knowing that would only slow them down, but the disease was already beginning to show its signs of appearance. The woods continued to darken as the five stumbled on, their vision being clouded in the chilling mist. Tayuya whimpered and clutched to Kimimaru, making the boy feel rather uncomfortable.

"What was that," Sakon jumped, swearing he'd heard something creeping through the underbrush. Kabuto stopped for a second to listen, but didn't hear or see a thing besides swirling leaves and mist.

"Quit jo-"

Before he could even finish his sentence dark shadows leapt from the underbrush, sharp teeth glittering in the darkness. They snarled and growled their eyes full of a hunger for blood as they surrounded the surprised Nin. The wolves circled about, glowing red eyes full of hatred. Tayuya squealed with surprise and Kabuto felt chills run up his spine. Kimimaru held Tayuya close, knowing the wolves would take the tiny girl down quickly. Sakon clenched his hands into fists, glaring into the eyes of their enemies. The creatures snapped their jaws through the air, foam dripping from their mouths as they toyed with their prey. They took taunting lunges towards the surrounded Nin, swiping at them then drawing back before they could be struck. Kabuto winced as sharp claws met his skin, leaving a bloody gash on his leg. He knew the wolves wouldn't jeer forever soon they were bound to strike, and they would be goners once that happened. He told himself to think, there had to be a way out of this besides fighting, but running away seemed completely hopeless.

"KABUTO!" Kabuto heard Kimimaru warn from behind him, his eyes wide with fear. The wolves lunged in, their blazing eyes filling with excitement as they came down upon their prey. Kabuto jumped out of the way but felt sharp claws at his back. He whirled around, but three more wolves jumped him, sending him to the ground. Coughing and wincing as blood seeped from the heavy wounds, Kabuto thrashed about in the mud, trying to break free from his opponents' jaws but to no avail. The wolves had a strong hold on him, biting into his flesh with the intent for bloodshed. Kabuto cried out in pain, distressed as more blood soaked his clothes along with the rain. He choked, trying to call out, but found sharp teeth at his neck. His eyes grew wide as a wolf tore into his throat, quickly coming closer to tearing him apart. This was hopeless; he would surely be killed in the dark mud and rain. Blood gushed from the deepening wound as he choked for breath, his eyes growing wider and wider as the wolves only glowed with pleasure.

"Kabuto hold on!" A voice called out from the darkness, causing Kabuto to cough and thrash even more. Sakon burst from the dark swirling mist, giving the wolf at Kabuto's neck a sharp kick. The wolf let out a yelp, sprawled out on the ground in a motionless heap.

"Sakon," Kabuto choked, his wounds filling him with pain, as he struggled to keep his eyes open.

"Hold on,"Sakon told him, sounding almost scared as four more wolves approached from the darkness. The wolves growled menacingly, their claws already stained with blood as they crept through the darkness. Sakon glared at them with eyes filled with fear, but he couldn't give up, he couldn't give in…or he would be a goner. He let out a surprised squeak as the viscous animas lunged at him, their sharp fangs snapping at him and finding holds all over his throbbing body. Sakon screamed with pain and thrashed about, crying to shake the creatures from their strong holds as blood trickled all over his body. Pain tore at him like the raging winds, but he fought it, even as the burning throbbing numbed his senses, even as his heart beat loudly in his ears he fought it knowing if he slipped up even once, he would be at the clemency of these merciless beings.

"SAKON!" Suddenly Kimimaru burst from the shadows, striking out at the wolves with a sword made from his own bones. The wolves yelped and cried as they were struck down, their eyes glowing with a demonic light as they recognized their new opponent. Sakon slunk away as Kimimaru faced the snarling creatures, a look of fear on his face as they lunged at him. Nevertheless, they were no match. The second they came within striking, an array of bones erupted from Kimimaru's pale skin, stabbing into their mange-infested bodies and sending them crying to the blood-splattered ground. Kabuto could only gape as Kimimaru destroyed the viscous creatures, barely receiving a scratch as he fought with all the energy he could muster. Yet, it was pushing him to the limit. As the last of the wolves disappeared into the darkness, Kimimaru collapsed onto the cold ground with a soft groan, completely exhausted. Tayuya and Kidomaru appeared, hurrying over to Kabuto, but knowing there was nothing they could do to help him. Kabuto gave them a weak smile.

"I'll be…fine," he rasped, blood slowly trickling down his lips, "just…need…to rest."

"Kabuto," Tayuya cried, giving him a soft shake, "Kabuto?"

"Leave him be," Kidomaru sighed, looking down at Kabuto with sad eyes, "do as he says."

"But," Tayuya gasped, "we can't just sit out here in the cold."

But Kidomaru wasn't even listening to her; he simply walked over to Sakon and prodded him gently with his foot, receiving a pained groan. Sighing, he lugged Sakon to his feet and dragged him over to the shelter of a large tree, hoping the branches would provide some cover as he leaned against it. He was too tired to do anything else; he simply fell to the ground, already in a world of dreams. Tayuya shook her and did her best to drag Kabuto over to the tree, struggling with him as she did. When she'd brought him to a slightly dry spot, she went and helped Kimimaru, then collapsed herself. She stared up at the sky with hopeless eyes as she leaned against the tree next to Kidomaru, knowing she was the only person still awake. She'd never expected it to turn out so horribly, soaked with rain and praying to survive just to see tomorrow. Finally, her eyelids drooped, and she drifted off into a cold nightmare, a darkness where reality seemed almost at peace…