Disclaimer: I don't own Wolf's Rain or any of its characters.
Author's Note: I am truly sorry for the long wait. I will make no excuses. Happy reading!
Na
Rakuen Where are You?
Chaputa-san
Preparations were made for their new journey Toboe had insisted that Tsume settle things with his club and gang. Tsume only agreed it seemed so Toboe could get used to eating raw meat. Kiba requested some time to prepare Cheza for human life, as much as was possible. Blue and Hige were about to leave the hospital with a sly look on their faces, but the stormy colored wolves made it quite clear that there were to be no new born pups on the trip.
On the night of the waning moon in a field of tsuki no hana there was a sight never seen before at least for this particular time of the month. Five free and proud wolves stood at the edge of a massive forest, with them stood an albino maiden. They were praying for some form of luck this time 'round, for Rakuen.
"Well at least we won't be hunted this time around, it is illegal," said Hige. He was right there was neither dying world, nor wolf hunters in this world and here they were about to go search for something new and better. But these wolves were far from having an easy trip, there were things beyond the trees that needed to be seen and learned.
Kiba lifted up the pack, of needed things for the now human Cheza, in his teeth and motioned for the pail girl to take it. Slender fingers curled around the fabric and slowly took the backpack. After a few seconds she situated the backpack on her back, with a bright smile, "This one is ready now."
The underbrush was crushed under foot and paw, as branches parted for the pack. And that was the beginning of what was yet to be proved to be a successful journey to paradise.
With high spirits the group traveled in relative silence for the evening. As dawn approached Kiba called that they would sleep the day in a natural den made of thick brush. Cheza settled down on the ground reclining against Kiba, while not far away Tsume found some more thick brush to sleep under. And of course at his side was Toboe who had gotten used to the body heat of the elder wolf during the more recent nights.
Hige stood between the split group and said, "I'll go hunt some rabbits."
"No," came the curt reply of Tsume.
The tan wolf smirked, "And what the great Tsume will hunt our meal?"
"No," growled Tsume, "Toboe will."
"You can't be serious! He is just a pup!" exclaimed the ever hungry ookami.
Yellow eyes bore into Hige, "Tsume is correct, Hige. Toboe needs to learn the finer points of our life and that includes fending for oneself. The pup will hunt."
"Oh I see- And I'm figuring that Tsume will teach him, since he is Tsume's pup. Tell us Tsume are you teaching a pup, or are you looking out for a lover? Or maybe you wish to harbor the pup into a worthy lover? Which is it, Tsume?" asked the agitated Hige.
Claw chose not to answer the incessant Whiskers' question, but at that moment Howling settled the dispute himself. With a large yawn, Toboe's eyes drooped staying closed for a few seconds too long, and when they reopened the effort was visable. With a smirk of triumph Hige went bounding off following his superior nose.
Blue shook her head having opted to stay out of the dispute although she knew her mate was in the wrong. Regardless of Tsume's feelings for the young wolf, Toboe need to be a wolf and not a sheep, rethinking her logic she decided even after he learned to hunt successfully he would be a wolf in sheep's clothing for the pup would still be his loving self even after he could break the neck of a fluffy rabbit. Moving over toward the reclining Cheza; who had recently retrieved an apple fro her bag for her own meal, the midnight wolf also settled down.
Tsume watched the young wolf, as he tried to keep standing as if to wane off the sleep before Hige returned with dinner. Tsume sighed, "We'll be getting up extra early tomorrow, so that you may hunt our breakfast."
There was no answer, it was understood that there was no choice in the matter. The remaining five waited for to Toboe at least seemed like an eternity for his over worked body. Hige finally broke the brush a human, finding that it was easier to carry five rabbits by their ears in two hands than all five in his maul.
Hige tossed the two rabbits in his right hand at Tsume and Toboe, while the last three were thrown near Kiba and Blue. Seconds later the five wolves sunk their canines into the succulent meat. Toboe hacked a bit as a hunk of rabbit fur slid down his throat, rut after the sickening moment he was able to get to the meat with in. After the rather small meal the ookami relaxed and lay down to sleep. Cheza curled up to Kiba and blocked from outside eyes by the mates. Across the way was a sleeping Toboe, subconsciously nuzzling the irate Tsume.
Chubby's words rang in the scared wolf's head, but the warmth of the young pup seeped to his heart. And no matter what Hige said or says, no matter which angle you looked at the situation, Toboe was Tsume's. No one would question this fact, because even before Toboe was only truly loyal to the scared grey. Howling was Tsume's to do as he pleases; son, brother, friend, mate no matter what the grey decided, Toboe would lovingly follow. The only question was what did Claw want?
A few hours before dusk the majestic grey nudged the sleeping pup awake. Droopy honey eyes met gold and the young pup whined. But he made no further comment as he stumbled to his feet and followed the elder wolf to a near by field.
"Tsume what are we doing? It is not even dusk yet," asked Howling.
The elder wolf gazed over the field of long grass before turning to reply to the growing pup, "You will need to learn to hunt first. As you are now the prey would hear you coming."
"Yes, but it is too early there is nothing to hunt," retorted Toboe.
Claw smirked, "You will hunt field mice."
Toboe was stunned, and quickly his honey colored eye turned to watch the field silently. It took but a moment to notice the blades of grass twitching. Tsume had been correct there were field mice and from the low growling of the two predators the prey was in frenzy.
Crouching low to the ground the red wolf gave his own smirk believing that the task he was given was far too simple. Eyeing the closest moving blade the young wolf's muscles tensed and he pounced- on grass.
A low growling chuckle sounded behind Toboe, and said pup turned to see Tsume reclining just outside of the field, "Quiet and swift pup."
Howling let a low angry growl fill the field; there were some frantic movements that filled the field. Over the grass a lone early raising rabbit froze hoping to not be spotted. "I am not a pup!" growled the red wolf.
Seemingly disinterested Claw replied, "Prove it."
The red wolf tried. Tsume watching him through half lidded eyes; he watched the slow progress and was pleased to see that with each failed attempt the young wolf was becoming harder to see. Toboe was swifter, and the grasses barley twitched as he crawled on his belly, slowly stalking his prey. It was only a matter of moments before he would catch a mouse. It was already a good hour of dusk by that did not matter, this was to help Toboe.
Losing sight of the pup, the grey closed his golden eyes relishing in the cool evening air and the lush smell that could only be described as life. Why were they here? Looking for paradise? All Claw knew was that he needed some sort of completion. To find his place in this new world, to help Toboe find his, to help everyone. Cheza now human, Hige and Blue and if he couldn't help it their soon to be pups, Kiba with no place his dreams perhaps shattered, Toboe to become the wolf he is, and himself to find where he belongs not in the human cities, but also not in a pack.
A dull sound of a stick scraping against a rock under the weight of a conscious paw, made the grey's ear twitch slightly, Toboe was sneaking up on him. Tsume remained calm and unmoving wondering wheat the other ookami would do. He had expected attack, but not the small mass to drop on his back and attempt to scramble away. Tsume opened his eyes when he heard a small squeak after he felt a red paw fall on top of the mass on his back. Golden eyes were met with smiling yellow-brown orbs.
"So you got your mouse," Tsume replied lazily, "good job, now let it go it can hardly feed five grown wolves." Toboe did as he was told dawning a large wolfish grin, His elder just included him within the 'grown wolves' and he could not be happier.
There was a quiet snapping of twigs as both wolves' heads snapped up and turned towards the far end of the field. There coming out of the under brush and pausing in the field was a stag and three doe. Golden eyes met honey in a silent agreement. Both wolves swiftly stood and quietly made it towards the deer. Tsume circled around to help prevent the deer from escaping as Toboe slowly stalked closer for the kill.
A sudden crash drew everyone's attention to where the deer had emerged from. A slightly younger stag stumbled out of the forest bring with it the smell of hot blood. The stag stumbled to stand with his broken and bleeding front leg. Toboe's nose wrinkled at the tantalizing smell and he let out a growl that froze all five of the deer. After a pregnant pause the young wolf swiftly moved towards the frozen and injured stag. The other four bolted and Tsume let them go. This was Howling's kill, the injured deer was just right for the young wolf.
In a brash leap that seemed to be all teeth the young wolf was splattered with blood the farther his teeth sunk into the stag's soft throat. Hot blood seeped down his throat to pull in Toboe's stomach. With the blood came a feeling that Toboe had done something right, that for once his instincts did not disagree with him. Sure he had killed the Walrus before but that was in self defense for survival, sure this was for survival as well but a different kind.
Tsume was very proud of the young wolf. The only thing was what were they going to do now? Even for the short trip back to the others Tsume was worried about leaving Toboe alone. Whether it is by the blood corpse, or returning to the others blood covered. The grey wolf sighed and trotted over towards Toboe in the still twilight.
"Come let's drag it back to the others to eat," said Tsume picking up the closest leg in his maul, and tugging it across the field. Toboe was silent but followed suit. The two ookami slowly brought the meal to their pack; the only evidence of this was the red grass that moved towards the forest's edge.
"I was just about to go and hunt our meal, but now you are here… Tsume it is so nice of you to hunt for everyone for once," sneered Hige, when the two wolves entered the clearing dragging the stag.
The hunters dropped their meal. Tsume glared at the brown wolf than turned to look upon Howling, "Toboe since this is your kill, made with no help of the pack. You may decide who gets to eat, this one time. Since you were shown such disrespect; as an active and important member of this pack."
Toboe looked around and if he had cheeks he would have blushed. Everyone was giving him encouraging smiles, all except Hige who was a bit slack-jawed. With a big wolfish grin, the young pup- wolf growled, "Let us all eat."
Author's Note: All reviews are welcome. I hope that I do not have a long wait on the next chapter.
Na