Shadows That Bleed

by YamiYugiPuzzleshipper

Pure-Bloods are said to be myths, not even well-known within stories. "A specialized genetic coding of the moon and the dire," their spoken lore proclaims. They are creatures beyond the power of mortality, gifted by the gods themselves. Known as the Eternal Ones, their existence once extinguished, resurrection foretells a powerful omen.

68. Balance

Disclaimer: I do not own Yugioh

Update schedule: Hopefully biweekly

Chapter Warnings: MILD Bloodshed, Mentions of Death

I apologize PROFUSELY for the lateness of this chapter. I had a lot of issues at work that had to be resolved before I could update. And I wanted to make sure that some of what happened in this chapter made sense. So it took some careful planning and restructuring of the outline (for about the fifth time since I started publishing this story haha) so that everything could come full circle later.

So, news for Blood Sky's sequel goes like this. For those waiting for it, I'll likely try to post it sometime around or on the sixteenth and use the same schedule as before. So, rest assured, I'm still working on it. But for right now editing is a slow process due to work and things of that nature.

Chapter LXVIII: Balance

Work Log Entry LXI: July, 2006

July 2

Atem and my look-alike have crossed paths again. The bloodbath was immense.

It started out with the two of them walking near each other in the hallway.

The wolf had to have said something to the boy. Because Atem stopped short and turned around with huge black eyes. And Atem does not often react to others around him. When the wolf turned around, Pegasus didn't bother to stop him.

The wolves do not communicate out loud. And they often shield their own thoughts from others.

So I could not hear any of it.

But Atem became so upset that he outright attacked him.

And then there was fur and blood and skin and screaming from the guards and Pegasus was trying to zap his wolf into submission and Atem was going through a seizure from the voltage.

Things have only calmed after twelve hours of extensive care for him.

I have given him transplants, supplements, and even fluids to help him heal.

Atem has not outwardly expressed a change.

But the heart monitor has finally calmed down from when he has been sitting in the clinic with me.

July 6

Atem did not recover.

He did not recover at all.

He simply slowed his heart rate down.

He would not have collapsed upon leaving the clinic had he recovered in even the slightest.

Yugi felt as if the world were too silent, the air eerie in the way it seemed to drape itself forcefully upon his form. He was small and tired beneath its touch, stomach knotting as he continued forward. His ears were pricked and he felt sick and nervous as he came closer to the entrance. The waterfall was roaring loudly within his eardrums and he wondered at the way it seemed more immense than ever. He sniffed at the air but he could not find any trace of what made his fur rise in a terrible bristle. He had no idea what it was he sensed at the moment.

There was no reason for him to feel this way…

He was not even near the camp just yet. They were not in its immediate vicinity and he could sense none of the other wolves. So the source of his alarm evaded him entirely. Yugi shuddered, shaking his head, and looked around slowly. He saw nothing out of the ordinary, but the air still felt heavier than ever. And he could not sense any of the other wolves around either. He did not even think that the fresh snowfall had left the smallest hint of their smell left for him to find, in truth.

He glanced sideways towards Yami. And, as the black wolf looked around them slowly, he wondered if he sensed it as well. But his heart was hammering in his chest now. And he had the abrupt desire to do nothing more than hide Yami away altogether. He wanted more than ever to tell the black wolf to run and hide back at the house. He swore in some part of him that he needed nothing more than that at the moment to make himself feel better. But he did not want to do more than look now, as the words were stuck in his throat and he could not find a way to push them forth.

Yugi drew in a deep breath. His ears pricked forward again. His eyes grew narrow once more. His muzzle twitched as he tried harder to draw in even a stray hint of the wolves' scent. It was possible that he could sense something, right? It was possible that he was overreacting, right? It was possible that perhaps he was simply scared and so projecting it outwards…right?

But he felt sick again. And he did not think it was possible for the fear to have claimed him so completely if it were not true something was happening. And he could not stop from looking over at Yami again. The black wolf remained staring at the falling sheet of water. He did not look inclined in the slightest to go any nearer it. But the white canine wondered at the idea. The larger wolf pricked his ears forward and his lips twitched faintly. He stared back at him for a long minute. They could not stop facing each other now, something that Yugi felt was more daunting than anything else.

The wolf blinked and flicked his tongue over his mouth after a long moment. Then he turned away and flattened his ears over his head. He felt abruptly exhausted, a new sense of realization coming through him. Yami was not going to leave him no matter whether he told him to or not. The canine would fight him tooth and nail simply for the fact that Yugi was upset. Yami was not going to leave him to face whatever it was there that made him so upset at the moment.

But Yugi had to wonder. He had to consider what it was that might have happened. He had no idea what it was that upset him so much. He had no idea what it was that caused him to feel so anxious as he continued to approach the area. He wanted to stop and simply turn around, to convince Yami that they didn't need to actually go to the camp any longer. Something about it made his skin crawl. And he didn't know why. He had no idea what it was that lurked beyond the waterfall. But he was still scared.

And he truly did not want to expose Yami to anything that wasn't benevolent.

But then he wondered, despite himself—when had the wolves within that pack ever been completely benevolent?

Even before he had come there, the wolves had been killing one another. They had been fighting and attacking and sacrificing one another. Regardless of the fact that the sacrifices might have been the wolves from the experiments, asking for such mercy, Yugi could not find it in himself to consider the original pack to be anything of the softer nature. He could not imagine that they did not all bare teeth and snarl and snap and bite at each other like savages at times.

The newer packs, he could certainly see otherwise. But the former? He could not think of anything much worse than them many times. They had been violent. They had spilled blood in an effort to "summon" him. They had assumed to bring him there by way of bleeding chosen victims. It did not matter if perhaps they were right in their manner of killing for what they deemed a worthy cause.

It mattered that they had spilled blood and done so rather ruthlessly.

He flicked an ear, shaking away the initial memory of Annie's voice leading their chants to bring Atem to them. It was stunning and overall more horrifying than he cared to admit. He remembered the blood, the loud cries. He remembered the way they'd seemingly been desperate to bring him forth. And he recalled their disappointment in seeing him as well. They were not impressed with him when he was the one they'd found. They were not happy in the slightest.

Yami, Yugi muttered, turning to him now. The black wolf blinked and pricked his ears forward. His head turned and tilted slightly to the side. He looked confused and bewildered now as the two of them faced each other. The white canine wondered at the way the wolf stared back at him curiously. I want you to stay behind me, okay? Don't go too far from me when we get back there. I don't want anything to happen, okay? Just stick by me and don't get too far ahead. I don't want you to get hurt.

Yami blinked back at him, confused. But then he flicked his ears and nodded slightly. He did not look as if he might turn away from him anymore, Yugi realized with relief. But Yami was clearly inclined to listen, it seemed. The wolf blinked and considered him for a long moment or two. Then, finally, the black wolf flicked his ears, nodded again, and tilted his head. The two of them studied each other for a moment longer.

Then Yugi turned away and began to make his way closer to the edge of the cliff. He moved about the smooth stones with dark eyes. His claws clicked against the stone as he continued. And then, bunching his muscles, the wolf sprang forward. The waterfall cascaded against his body harshly. He landed hard on the other side, nearly stumbling a few feet with the impact. He shrugged it off, struggling to stand again, and then shook himself out.

He turned back to look over his shoulder. And his body felt sickly and weak for a brief moment. He wondered if Yami was even going to follow him at first. There was a long minute and a half which passed before the black wolf came through as well. The canine hit the ground chin-first, fumbling over his own paws. Then he shuddered and pricked his ears. He struggled weakly for his paws. He was shaking for a moment, exhaustion making his eyes cloudy. Yugi could see this more clearly than perhaps he could anything else.

And, as Yami finally got to his feet and moved a step forward again, Yugi frowned and tilted his head. His ears flicked and water droplets fell away with the movement. He shook himself out again, then blinked. He licked his nose slightly, fur fluffed up from the water along his neck. And, as he looked towards Yugi, his red eyes seemed to grow a little brighter.

The pale-furred wolf moved forward to make his way towards the back wall to find the ledge. It looked sharp and scraggly. He was surprised by the hard indentation of it before him. And, as he raised his paw and pressed it upon the stone once more, he wondered at the acuteness within his eyes now. He was surprised by the power of his senses. He could hear Yami's heart like a war drum. He could hear his own lungs stretching and collapsing. He could taste the icy winter air resting upon his tongue. He could feel the smallest touch of stone beneath his paws. His claws scraped hard against the rock. The white wolf flicked an ear, then looked over his shoulder at Yami uncomfortably.

Would he be okay? Something was incredibly wrong here. And he was leading him into something that could possibly be a threat. So, at the end of it, would Yami be okay?

The thought was horrifying to him. He did not want him to become hurt again. He did not want him to regress in any manner. He did not want him to be harmed. He did not want him to feel sick. He did not want to see Yami suffer in any way.

Yugi looked at Yami more pointedly now. The other wolf blinked up at him, balanced fully on the ledge and leaning slightly against the stone. He blinked and flicked his ears forward pointedly. His nose was tipped upwards. The canine was staring back at him with darkened eyes. The two of them looked between each other. And then, as they considered one another, Yugi nearly trembled.

Stay with me, okay? he demanded again. He was not sure if it came out as harsh to Yami as it seemed to him. It was enough to make him want to vomit. He was almost as he looked back at Yami once more. And the two canines continued to face one another curiously. The black-furred canine tilted his head. Stay with me—as close as possible, okay? Stay as close to me as you can. I don't want you to get hurt. I don't want you out of my sight. If something goes down, I want you with me.

Yami blinked. His ears flicked back and forth. Then he nodded slowly, eyes narrowed. He moved forward a cautious step but did not say anything further. The two of them watched each other for a long moment. Yugi wondered if he felt the same dread in his bones as he did. But the black wolf slowly tilted his head, hesitating, and wagged his tail slightly as if to appease him. He seemed rather unhappy at the moment. He looked almost bewildered by the reasoning and his request. But he did not speak and Yugi felt winded.

He would listen to him, he knew. Yami would follow him as he'd requested of him.

The brambles seemed unusually thick and sticky now, pressing harshly upon his fur. It tugged hard on the long strands. And Yugi slipped from the harsh knots of thorns with what felt like jagged cuts to his skin. He bristled faintly as one broke in his coat. But he did not feel that it mattered for much longer than the second it took to move forward. He shook himself out just as Yami began to pad up behind him. The black wolf made it to his side, flicked his ears, and turned to him with a tilted head.

His nose was working furiously. The twitching of the dark muscle was harsh and erratic. His ears were flicking again. His mouth opened slightly as if to drink the smell in on his tongue. But then Yami turned away, stepped forward once, and bristled. Before Yugi could entirely stop him, the darker-furred canine took off in a trot. He did not move fast enough that he lost sight of him, but it was enough to make Yugi feel increasingly discouraged. In an instant the white wolf chased after him. The snow flashed upwards in long and bright jerks of white within the air. It was enough to make Yugi bristle as he hurried to his side.

Where are you going? he demanded in a harsh tone. He bristled more than ever, then snapped his teeth. But the reaction he got in turn was nothing he had expected. The dark wolf glanced at him sideways, bore his teeth, and then turned and ran faster. Yugi snarled under his breath, an abrupt urge to lunge forward and knock Yami off his paws coming through him. But he fought this instinct away as they came over the small incline which led more fully into the camp and towards its center.

Yugi stumbled and fell over himself, horrified.

Yami, beside him, came to a stop and bristled, ears pricked and nose wriggling desperately. The black wolf turned to him with wide eyes and his paws moved back and forth for a moment, almost kneading in his anxiety. He was restless, Yugi knew, but it was impossible to gain his balance again. Yugi could not move, eyes wide and heart in his throat once more. He could not stop staring, feeling dizzy as his exhales left him in white puffs of air. He wanted to vomit as the seconds passed, confused and bewildered.

How was there…?

How had someone…?

Yugi looked slowly towards Yami. The darker canine had begun twitching and shifting his weight more erratically now. Stay close, he finally growled, forcing himself to his paws again. He bristled, stalking forward a step. His alpha blinked, flattened his ears against his head, and ducked his muzzle towards the ground as he arched his back and looked away immediately. I need you to do that for me, aibou. Stay. Close.

Understood, Yami answered reluctantly, voice tired and strained. But Yugi could sense the more acute nervousness coming from him now. He wondered if Yami truly thought he might strike out against him. And, so, with a sick feeling, Yugi moved forward enough to lick his ear in a comforting manner. He watched him for a moment, then nudged him gently in the shoulder. He rested his head there for a long heartbeat, closing his eyes as he leaned into him.

If I can't see you, I want you to tell me exactly where you are, all right?

He pulled away to look at him now, hoping more than ever that he had not done anything to truly upset him. He hardly wanted to have done that. So, when Yugi backed up, he considered him a moment, studying.

Yami blinked and tipped his head up just enough to run his tongue over his chin. Yugi nudged him again, then straightened as the black wolf slowly did the same. He looked tired rather than restless now, but he was clearly still crestfallen. He did not seem as if he were inclined to run from him, however, and so Yugi forced himself to relax once more.

He would have to have faith that Yami would listen to him now and not run as he felt he might moments before. He flicked his ears and wondered at the urge to vomit. Then he turned away and looked about the area, eyes narrowed into near slits. He wanted more than ever to flee right about now, feeling horrified by the mere thought of moving forward through the snow again.

The earth was soaked red in areas, splattered with harsh lines and puddles of blood. The ice was drenched in it, some of it so fresh the air was still steaming. And then he found himself stiffening, bristling, as he stepped forward again. He flexed his claws for a split second, then pressed them deeply into the snow. He pricked his ears forward and looked about the snow before him, the trees stretched in front of them like gray and brown pine trunks. The canine blinked and tilted his head in consideration as he looked around once more for a few long minutes.

The trees were littered with darker shapes amongst the snow, beneath the shadows of them. Some of their trunks were tangled and splashed red. And others were caught with tufts of dark fur. Yugi blinked and crept forward again, Yami moving slowly towards him as well. He brushed against his side lightly, almost as if he could somehow offer him a sense of strength in this manner. The touch was soft and gentle where they brushed and Yugi almost trembled with satisfaction.

Yugi nodded at him slightly, then turned away again. His fur refused to fall back into place, however. He could not shake the bristle in the slightest. The camp stunk hideously of blood, metallic and suffocating. The hints of decay which came forward amongst the trees made him want to vomit. But he continued forward, ears pricked and stomach knotted. The shapes were clearly bodies, broken and disheveled. Some were stripped bald along the throats. Others were cut so harshly that it was clear their necks had been torn open violently…

But none of them looked entirely of the wolves within the camp. Yugi glanced at Yami sideways. Many of the bodies were black and dark gray. His ears flicked and looked towards the trees again. Hellhounds? he muttered, confused and stunned by the very thought. Yami looked back at him without much expression, then turned away and trotted forward without a second glance. Yugi bristled at the unenthusiastic acknowledgment of his words.

They moved forward as a pair, steps almost completely in sync. Yugi flicked his ears and looked at him sideways. Then Yami lowered his head and sniffed at the air. For a moment Yugi could not tell what scent it was that came through to him. It was enough to make him bristle once more and Yami stopped after a moment. There was a single second of confusion for Yugi, who had come to a stop a few inches away from him. He was looking at one of the bodies, a mess of broken sinew and muscle and torn tendons. The blood was dark against the ice, splattered and terrible.

Yugi turned, however, when he heard the harsh noise of his paws crunching against the snow. He blinked and pricked his ears again. Then he looked in the direction it seemed to be coming. The air seemed stuffy and too crisp, falling upon his body like a harsh sheet of water. He shivered and tipped his nose up slightly, bristling furiously. Before his eyes, a wolf was coming through the trees. He startled, confused and bewildered by the sight. And Yami did not so much as blink as he did the same, head tilted and eyes on Yugi in turn.

The wolf coming towards them was mostly tawny in color, but for small splashes of gray along the muzzle, a tangle of brown along the bridge of his nose, and white to make up the shape of its large cheeks. The wolf was slender but large, with long limbs which were almost as pale as the snow itself. The canine slowed sooner rather than later, then snarled and lunged at Yami as he got closer.

Yami snapped his teeth and bristled. His tail rose like a war flag. His eyes were wild and dark. His ears were pricked. His fur was a set of jagged spikes of black. He squared his shoulders and set his muscles. He quivered, snarled, and lunged for him.

Blood was drawn in an instant. Yami had done nothing more than clip him. But the wolf backed up warily with a yelp. And Yugi faltered, stiff. He shivered and bore his teeth. Then he licked his lips and flicked his tongue over his nose.

Jonouchi, he breathed, feeling as if he might stumble and falter, what happened here?

The tawny-colored wolf startled. His eyes grew wide, confused, and shot to Yugi with a somewhat horrified expression. His ears flicked and his head tilted. He glanced at the wolf and then back slowly. And then he stared at Yami with a confused expression before looking to Yugi in turn. Y-Yugi? He sounded more confused than the white wolf could understand at the moment. And, as Yugi stepped closer, his best friend stiffened with eyes wide and full of horror and shock. He backed up a step, as if he did not quite recognize him in the slightest, ears flattening against his skull for a split second. When he looked t Yugi, he almost seemed to be squinting in order to properly identify him. What…?

Yugi blinked and pressed forward a step. Jonouchi flinched back, snarling. Yami flicked his ear and lost his bristle. His head turned away and his nose lowered to the snow. He sniffed lightly at the air there, the ice seeming to tremble and fall away beneath his exhales.

What's going on? What happened here? I don't understand how this…

But he did. He could remember thinking before of how they had neglected to consider the open terrain which could have led to the back of the camp. He had mentioned it to Marik and the wolf had brushed him off as if it were nothing more than a simple and idealistic concept that Yugi had come up with for some indiscernible reason. Yugi wondered now if perhaps that had been the way they'd come across the camp. Surely none of them had gotten through the waterfall and through the thickets and caused such damage so easily like this…

They would have known had someone entered through there…

Ambush, Jonouchi grunted. But his eyes were on Yami and they had grown narrow as he curled his lips back. Hellhounds.

The simplistic words made Yugi feel sick. He looked toward his alpha for a moment. But Yami was paying neither of them the slightest bit of attention. His head had risen and his ears were pricked forward. His eyes were sharpened. His nose was twitching furiously. He looked about himself for a moment, then took a few steps forward. Yugi wanted to snap at him to remain there, but he could see a strange glaze to his eyes. The black wolf was not scared, but rather perhaps resigned or even confused, and Yami did nothing more than move forward after a moment.

Tell me where it is that you go, Yugi instructed after a long moment. He felt sick with the idea of letting Yami leave his side as it was. But he could see that there was nothing that was going to stop the canine from doing as he wished. And so, as Yami looked towards him, he nodded slowly. Remember to tell me immediately when you get there. I want to know that you're okay. If you end up running into someone else, tell me. I'll help you if it comes down to a fight. I'm not letting you get hurt any worse, understand?

The black canine was silent for a long moment. Then he dipped his head and pressed his nose briefly into his shoulder. He turned away and trotted off before Yugi could rethink his statement. The white wolf bristled, watching him go, and then turned back to his friend with shaky resolve.

What happened? How did they find the camp?

Jonouchi hesitated. His ears flickered back and forth. His nose twitched. His head tilted. He did not look away from where Yami was heading through the trees. He looked uneasy and exhausted and Yugi could see the blood on his flanks now. He could also see the small scratch upon his nose where Yami had struck him. It was nothing compared to the heaving wounds on his sides, however. And Yugi swore he could see nothing but red along his fur, soaked through entirely.

They…came along the river. The tawny wolf began to pace forward now. He took a few steps as if to follow Yami. Then he turned shakily to his friend again. He breathed hard, shivering. Then he looked back and forth a few times. You were gone. Why were you gone?

Yugi blinked, confused. His friend's voice was frantic and breaking, high-pitched. Jonouchi stared at him with horrified bright brown eyes. The white wolf could not tell if he was scared of him or if he were shocked by what he might have witnessed. He was amazed that the canine in front of him was still here. Jonouchi was a violent scrapper in his human form. But he had not known if that had carried to his wolf shape as well. He had no idea if such instinct came forth in them both like that. So now he simply stared at his friend for a moment, cleared his mind to force himself to think, and flattened his ears against his skull.

Yami needed me. He shivered at the wild look in Jonouchi's eyes. There was something disassociated there, as if he could not understand. He seemed bewildered, if nothing else, and the sight made Yugi feel incredibly nervous. He thought perhaps Marik had worn a similar expression upon realizing he was not Atem as he had initially believed for so long… I had to help him and I came here to see how you all were…

Jonouchi turned away from him abruptly. He was watching the place that Yami had disappeared once more. His ears flicked. His eyes shot to Yugi and then back again. He looked as if he might run after the darker-furred canine at any time. But he looked too exhausted as well.

The hellhounds followed the river. They came…after the patrol that had left to hunt. They killed them and then got into the camp. Jonouchi blinked. His eyes shot to Yugi again now. His gaze was darker than ever. His expression was colder than Yugi had ever witnessed it. And then all hell broke loose.

Yugi could not think straight. How had the hellhounds gotten to the patrol? Had no one been watching and making sure something like that wouldn't happen? When had they decided to become such an obvious force in this war to begin with? Why had they decided such a thing? Had they been released from the labs with the orders to do this?

But they had been after him initially. Even Slifer had said so. So why would they have sent them after the entire pack? Was it to bring him out in some way? Had they expected to find him there? Had they been released simply in order to do this? Or had they simply had the same mentality as Noah had before them? Were they all able to poison the wolves here as the ones that attacked Yugi and Yami had been capable? Would they be bleeding and writhing and going through seizures as Yami had? Would he see more of it than he had before? With so many wolves, would there be hours of agony rather than the mere minutes he'd seen of Yami?

Yami looks like them.

The statement was confusing to him. He couldn't focus as they looked at one another. Jonouchi flattened his ears but did not repeat himself. And, as he looked away again, his eyes fell on the path Yami had gone once more.

They got a lot of us.

Yugi hated the statement. He hated the way Jonouchi sounded so cold and disassociated from it. He felt sick as the words echoed in his ears. And he wondered rather abruptly when it was that Jonouchi had begun to consider himself so much more alike them than human any longer. But he did not want to ask a question like that. And instead he grew quiet and narrowed his eyes.

How many?

Jonouchi blinked and looked over. At least ten of us. I think we took out a lot more of the hellhounds.

Yugi nodded slightly, feeling dazed. He shivered and looked over his shoulder. Then he turned away from the direction Yami had gone and hurried forward. Come on, Jonouchi, let's go. I want to see how much damage has been done.

Jonouchi hesitated, however, looking over in the direction Yami had gone once more. He stayed staring there for a long handful of seconds. Then, slowly, he turned to follow Yugi as well. Had he been able to follow Yami as he'd wanted, he would have found the black wolf slowing to a stop a few feet away from another dark-furred wolf. The female was laying on her side, breathing hard, blood across the snow in a puddle and head arched somewhat backward. She'd sensed him coming, he knew, and she had been trying to see him before he might come too close.

You… She was wheezing as Yami approached and the male hesitated for a moment as he stopped in front of her. They were staring at each other for a moment, gray eyes against red. Yami flicked his ears and came a step closer. She looked too tired to snarl at him, but her voice was dry and hateful. Come to watch me die?

He considered her, tilting his head. No, he answered quietly. But his voice was softer than usual, and the timbre of it came out deeper than he'd heard it before. The female in front of him responded immediately, head tipping further back. Her gray eyes grew wider than ever. Her jaw opened slightly as if with shock. And Yami knew immediately that she was seeing something that was not there. He had expected this of her, as he would have anyone else. But he also knew her desperation in the need to hear his words, to understand him as well.

Yami was silent for a moment. Then he inched forward another step.

You asked a question a while back, he said softly, lowering his head. Her eyes were glazing over, but they were not as glassy as they might have been had death come upon her any faster. The glassy touch upon her eyes was not immense, was not growing too terrible yet. But he knew she would not last longer than a few more minutes, perhaps twenty at the most. And I was not the one to answer you.

She stared up at him, unblinking and demanding.

Yami shook his head after a moment, lowering his nose towards hers. His eyes flickered across hers for a handful of heartbeats. Then he moved to lie down before her, paws stretched out almost as if to touch her. He stared back at her, unblinking and unsure of himself. But the seconds continued to pass and he almost could not fight the instinct to simply turn away altogether.

So I'm going to answer it now, Echo.

He spoke quietly to her, so softly that he could almost no longer understand his own words. His heart was in his throat and blood coated his tongue. He felt dizzy with the statement which left him and his ears flattened against his head as his heart seemed to stutter and break beneath the pain. Rushes of guilt and shame came through him. Pain and hate crept through his senses. Wave upon wave of disgust lashed at his insides. Yami stared at her as he spoke. Her eyes bore into his, stunned and silent. And she did not speak out against him, as if she understood the truth in his words. And, as he fell quiet, she finally began to lose the light of attentiveness in her eyes.

And, when he finally moved to stand again, she was long dead. Her flanks had heaved a final time minutes before. And Yami had only then found the strength to rise to his paws again. Her gray eyes were closed. Her features looked relaxed now. She looked abruptly peaceful, as if she had not suffered fear or pain or panic of any kind in her life.

Yami turned his head away, lowering his nose to the snow. He wondered who had retrieved her to take her to Paradise. It was not hard to believe that perhaps many of the wolves had come to lead her back. He wondered at the thought, feeling sick and imagining the lean pickings which might come to his aid in leading him to Paradise upon his own passing. And the thought made him want to sob with disbelief.

The black wolf turned to face the inside of the camp again, moving forward uncomfortably. He came slowly, miserably, the weight of his own thoughts making his limbs feel like lead. He blinked and shook his head as he walked through the camp and approached where he knew Yugi and Jonouchi to have gone. The canine flicked his ears unhappily, miserable with sickness which clenched his belly as he came closer.

Yugi glanced up immediately, eyes brightening upon seeing him. He came to his side before he got within feet of him, moving to sniff at him. He clearly caught nothing of the smell of Echo on him, but he certainly did the blood. He knew that Yugi detected it, because he stiffened and narrowed his eyes, bristling faintly. His gaze grew somewhat cold and confused, and his ears pricked forward completely. He looked suspicious now, as if he expected to find that the blood might be that of his own rather than another's. He most likely assumed that Yami had gotten hurt with a lingering hellhound somewhere in the camp.

I am fine, he stated curtly, but he was exhausted. The weight of his words to Echo made his heart feel heavy and he could not find it in himself to even think of them again. Instead he looked away towards where Jonouchi was eyeing him with a darkened gaze that glittered with something almost like suspicion and bewilderment.

Are you sure?

Yes. Yami glanced at him for a moment, then took a seat in the snow. His eyes narrowed as he considered his beta, then looked back to Jonouchi as the tawny wolf came forward a step or two. He was halting in his approach and Yami was not impressed with these faltering movements. Yugi did nothing beside him but look away and face his own beta curiously, almost confused and bewildered.

Where were you? a new voice exploded. Yugi blinked and his head snapped around. Yami, however, did not raise his eyes from where they had fallen on the snow. He heard her approaching quickly, however. But it did nothing to make him come any closer. You let them do this to us! We were almost killed and you were not even here to help us!

Yami did not raise his head but his gaze shot to his beta now, curious as to his reaction. Yugi faltered, eyes wide and horrified at the declaration. The white wolf made no inclinations towards flight or response, however. He looked absolutely winded instead, as if he had been struck across the face in the time that she had spoken. Yami turned his eyes back towards the she-wolf that was standing before them.

She was raw muscle, a body of thick and powerful sinew. Her dark fur, a deep russet so dark as to be burgundy in color, was in a bristle. It made her body seem thrice its actual size. Her eyes were blazing, a hideous burning shade like ice. Her ears were pricked and her tail raised. Her entire body was rigid, her shoulders squared and her lips pulled back. Her teeth showed in bright spears of white.

You left us to die!

Yugi was shaking, stunned. W-what?

You left us to die, she snarled, chomping her teeth at him furiously. She pushed forward and bit at the air before him. Yami startled, bristling as his head snapped up. Jonouchi was glaring at him now, but the black wolf paid him no attention. Yugi was staring at Aki with a horrified expression. And Yami did not care to pay attention to her hateful expression. Instead he forced himself to his paws, moved forward a step with bristling fur, and bore his teeth. His eyes narrowed and his mouth opened wide to show his fangs.

Back away from him, Aki, he growled, stepping forward once more. Her eyes snapped to him, startled as if she had never noticed his presence there to begin with. They looked at one another and she faltered briefly before snapping her teeth at him.

You were never useful to begin with. You don't get to tell me what to do. She sprang at him but missed when Yami sidestepped her easily, shouldering Yugi gruffly with the action. But he did not care for the jostling and instead flicked his ears briefly. Aki snarled furiously, drool falling from her long teeth in her anger. You don't ever get the right to tell me what to do, you traitor. I know what you are. I know what you've done. I know that you brought this on us! And I refuse to listen to a wolf who would not even open his mouth and speak for months—

You should be silent before your beta, Yami growled, stepping forward. The action was enough to force Yugi back again as he moved to face her more fully. The white wolf backed away a few steps, eyes locked on Yami enough to make his skin crawl with the burden of his attention. Yami ignored this, however, then squared his shoulders and bristled with dark eyes. Listen to me, Aki. Bloodshed now will not help any of us. It will not bring back the deceased. And it will do nothing more than cause wounds amongst the rest of us. Is that what you wish for? I will tear your skin open should I need to.

Yugi blinked wide eyes. His ears flicked. He stiffened in the corner of Yami's eye. But the black wolf still did not pay him any attention. He was watching Aki, the way the she-wolf faced him with burning eyes. She padded forward a step, then bore her teeth.

A spectator like you doesn't get to tell me what to do. You were not here! You didn't see them die! You watch from the sidelines while others suffer in your place!

Yami was silent for a moment. Yes, he muttered, but it was more to himself as he stared back at her unblinkingly. I do watch from the sidelines. I see a lot of suffering around me.

Aki bristled, as if startled by his agreement. She looked as if Yami had bitten at her, however, and he wondered at the sight. He wondered if she saw him for what he truly was, but the thought was exhausting and he knew she would never have stared with such shock had she understood. And so he simply shrugged this away and kept his eyes locked upon hers. They faced each other simply, waiting for the other to make a move that could be potentially turned on its head. But Yami did not care to lunge. And he would wait for her to make the first move in order to retaliate.

You're not Atem, she spat at him abruptly, head snapping towards Yugi now. The declaration was enough to make Yami flatten his ears in annoyance. He was so tired of hearing those words directed towards himself. He hated them. He hated them all so much when they spoke of that name. How dare they. They had no idea what Atem was, nor what he meant for any of them. They believed fairytales and stories that did not need to be worshipped in the light that they so often were. He shook it off, drawing in a deep and resentful breath. I have no words for an impostor.

Yugi blinked and glanced at him but Yami did not pay him any mind. The immediate threat had been diffused. He lowered himself to the ground in a seated position again, no longer caring to think of the idea of another fight. Bloodshed would be avoided for the moment. Aki was an emotional creature, and she had been too scared by his agreement to continue the potential attack.

But I will speak to you.

Yugi blinked again. His eyes shot to Aki once more. But Yami merely raised his head and turned to her again. She was rigid before him, muscle and bone and raw strength. She had gotten wounded in various places, but the blood on her fur was already dried. And he was aware that she had healed already. She was not in pain from any former affliction. None of the cuts were fresh…

Because you were meant to help us! You were meant to protect us.

Yugi was quiet for a moment. Then, softly, pleading, dismayed and exhausted, he croaked, Aki…

The use of her name simply enraged her more, however, and she lost her temper in the way that she sprang at him. Yami did not rise to his paws, however, knowing that the fight would go no further. The she-wolf was not so foolish as to attempt that. She knew better than to challenge Yugi and go against Yami, though he was sure that she sensed the weakness within him.

You have no excuses! You weren't here! You were away and you cost us lives! The camp is littered with dead bodies and yours should have been among them!

Yami flicked an ear. His eyes shot to his beta's face. He should have prepared him, he realized. He should have told him that they would come to blame him for this. But the reality of it was that he had not been strong enough to consider it before he'd thought to speak to Echo. He'd wanted to tell her more than he'd cared to do anything else. And so he had not thought beyond then to do such a thing.

How many are—?

Yami? The voice was soft, cautious. Yami blinked and turned his head, twisting his neck almost completely backwards in order to see who had spoken to him. His ears pinpointed it from behind him and he considered curiously that perhaps they had left in a panic upon realizing that he was there. But then he noticed a small body there, standing near one of the trunks of a tree a few feet away. His softer ears were pricked forward. His dark gray steel-like fur was distinctively and his royal blue eyes were wide with surprise.

Yami rose to his paws and turned to face him entirely, stepping forward. Yugi snapped something at Aki and the she-wolf responded in a colder tone. But Yami did not look back. He came towards the gray wolf after a moment, quietly muttering, Yusei?

There was a long minute or two which the wolves watched each other curiously. Yusei flattened his ears against his head, murmuring, I need help with damage control. The words were so quiet they seemed almost eerie. Yami blinked and raised his head slightly, looked over his shoulder at Yugi, and began quickly to pad forward to follow the smaller male.

They were walking for a few minutes before Yusei turned around abruptly to face him. His blue eyes were wild and confused and his ears were against his head, fur ruffled with anxiety. Yami blinked, coming to a stop and tilting his head curiously as they considered each other for a long moment. I—I heard what you said…to…to Echo… He was shaking as he looked at him and Yami flicked an ear as he attempted to see if he had any others nearby to hear the younger wolf speaking. W-was it true?

The black wolf was silent for a long handful of seconds. He turned his head to look over his shoulder, then the second, and finally peered through the trees over Yusei's shoulders as well. You do not speak a word of what you heard to another wolf, do you understand me? he snarled instead, snapping his teeth at his face. Yusei blinked, stunned, and then looked away with a horrified expression. He seemed incredibly shaken now, but there was something in his eyes that was oddly fascinated and curious and excited as well.

Does Yugi know?

Yami tilted his head and then looked over his shoulder again towards where they had left Yugi with his best friend and an angry former beta. He does, he said softly, turning back to him with darkened eyes. He has always known.

He shouldered past the other wolf, lowering his head as he moved forward in a lazy pace. Yusei was silent for a long while after he had gotten to his side and kept in time with his steps. The smaller wolf flicked his ears towards Yami for a moment, then said quietly, Okay. There was a long pause in which Yami did not slow his pace nor did he so much as look at him. I just wanted to know if you meant what I thought you did… I won't say anything about it to anyone else.

You will not say it to Yugi or myself either, Yami corrected him a brusque tone, turning his head with his lips peeled back. I want you to agree to this now. Or I will pay you back tenfold for even speaking the words. Understand?

Yusei startled, eyes wide and bewildered. He pricked his ears, then flattened them. He lowered his head to the ground and angled his jaw to tip his muzzle towards the beta's. Yami blinked at the submissive stance but did not care for it beyond the task of watching him for a moment. Clearly the younger wolf understood enough of what he was saying. He probably did not understand why he would ask such a thing of him, but he was clearly paying attention now. Yami shrugged this off and allowed the yearling to run his tongue over chin. Then the black wolf turned away with a snort, shaking himself out and padding forward.

Just make sure not to speak of it.

The gray wolf wagged his tail slightly. Understood.

Yami supposed he had to thank the other wolf for being smart enough to understand that he would have done something far more drastic to protect such a secret. The two wolves glanced at one another for a brief moment and his ears flicked back and forth for a few seconds longer. Then he wrinkled his lips back and sniffed at the air. He could smell fresher blood now, not as dim as it had been before upon entering the camp before the liquid had begun to freeze. He shook himself out and moved forward to pad towards the outer expanses of the camp.

Many of them were gathered about nearby. Some of them were lying down and breathing hard. Others were licking busily at wounds along their shoulders and flanks. Chazz had his head down, breathing hard as he tried to still his tremors. He looked sick and exhausted, clouds of white leaving his muzzle with each breath. Beside him Yuya was lying in the snow and seemed to be playing the guard more than anything. He sat up the moment he spotted Yami, bristling slightly before recognizing him. Yusei slowed as a few of the other wolves looked up and collectively seemed to snarl in confusion. Some of the wolves reacted and others did not, however, and Yami shook himself out lazily as he approached.

Because it occurred to him only then that the wolves in front of him that none of them had ever met him before. Yusei had not even met him as a wolf but for once. And Chazz had seen him like this perhaps three times at the most. And though both of them seemed unnerved, Yami himself was not as he shook himself out once more and moved to look them all over.

Yami, a new voice muttered and he turned his head with a flick of his ears as the she-wolf made her way towards him. She had glossy black fur with tips of dark gray and silver and white along the bottom of her lean frame and he thought she looked incredibly ghost-like. He was almost bewildered by the sight of her approach before he tilted his head and considered her curiously.

Ishizu. He ignored the bewildered and stunned expressions that some of the wolves wore. Ishizu flicked her ears and wagged her tail briefly as Yami blinked at her. When her blue eyes seemed to simply bore into his, almost as if she were challenging him to react in front of the others, he simply glanced about them. How many were wounded?

More than half of us, Chazz breathed out, raising his head and looking at Yami with wide eyes. He seemed stunned that the wolf was there to begin with, confused as well as his gaze darted to Yusei a heartbeat later. I don't know the exact numbers but they're pretty bad.

Yami nodded slightly turning to face him more pointedly. Who's hurt the worst?

Yoko isn't looking too hot, he admitted. But his eyes flickered about them for a moment more. Then he bristled faintly, looked at his alpha a few feet away, and turned back. And I don't think Syrus really got out of it unscathed. I think he got a pretty bad wound on the side the last time I looked. And then there was…

He stared at him when he trailed off, turned to Yusei for elaboration the wolf did not provide, and then glanced slowly to Ishizu. There was…? he prompted, voice brusque. I need the names when I go to help them.

Help…? a new voice muttered. He looked over as he saw Chazz's alpha slowly raise his head. He was seated in a similar position to Chazz. But he had taken a more particular beating than his beta had. Blood dripped from his forehead, an ear was ravaged and torn away. His eyes were bright with hatred. His muzzle was cut, his cheeks bloodied. Along his neck the fur was missing, his right forelimb was shaking from his weight. His back leg was bleeding where he had it pressed against his flank. His shoulder in Yami's line of vision was colored sticky red, glued to his fur and clumped hideously there. You…plan to help…us…?

Yami blinked and pricked his ears forward. Is that a question? he inquired quietly, moving to wrinkle his lips back when the alpha did nothing more than raise his head and stare at him coldly. Am I meant to understand you question my motives or are you simply asking?

Chazz stiffened and looked at his leader uncomfortably. He squirmed in his seat and looked towards Yami and back. Yusei lowered his head immediately when the alpha glanced at him slightly. Then he moved to lower himself into the snow rather than risk another fight. And Yami pressed forward a single step. The two of them stared at each other, frozen as if locked in combat of willpower.

Yami! Fuck! The black wolf startled at his name, head snapping around before he could think it through. He had not heard Yugi curse so furiously in a while, and it surprised him enough to forget himself. In an instant he spotted the white wolf coming forward. And he also heard the sound of the other alpha coming forward. Yami spun around, snarling and bristling. He braced his muscles and bore his teeth. And the other male slammed into his side.

What the fuck?

Zane, oh shit… Zane… Chazz looked as if he might pee himself out of anxiety. Yugi noticed this only when he got closer. Yusei had scrambled for his feet and was rapidly moving away from the fight. And, as he came closer, he aimed for the spot the gray wolf had been. But, positioning himself and getting ready to spring proved useless. The fight was over before Yugi got within a full yard of it.

Yami had knocked Zane to the ground. And the gray wolf was too wounded to continue. He'd pulled tufts of black fur away. And he'd managed to nick him on the muzzle and nose. But he had done no other damage for the most part. Yami shook himself out when Zane finally lowered his eyes and turned his muzzle away. The black wolf released him immediately and wandered a few steps aside. Yugi hurried forward to check on him, sniffing once or twice. But the blood he smelled on the black wolf was not his own. He realized only after investigating for a moment longer that it was the deer blood and Zane's that he smelled on him.

There the faintest touch of another wolf's blood on him as well. But it was not Yami's either. And so he forced himself to relax slightly as he turned to Zane with a frustrated expression. What the hell was that? he demanded icily, bristling and narrowing his eyes.

The dark gray wolf shot him a furious look but did not speak, instead turning cold eyes on Yami. The black male shook himself out again, eyeing him in turn. But the humiliation of being pinned in front of others was still clear in his mind and so he did not come forward again. And Yami did not care to repeat the gesture himself. So he turned away lazily and took a seat in the snow without a second glance.

Well? Yugi snarled, bristling furiously and snapping his teeth.

Yami turned his head, mumbling, I started it. Leave him be.

The statement made Yusei, Chazz and Zane all look at him in surprise. Ears pricked, eyes widened, and looks were swapped for a brief moment. Then Yugi blinked, raised his head, and turned to his alpha with a confused expression on his face. He tilted his head, brows furrowed, and flicked his ears for a small second before focusing on him more pointedly.

You started it?

Yes.

Why would you…? Yugi trailed off and glanced at Zane as if he might suddenly proclaim the opposite. When that did not happen he turned back to the black wolf with wide eyes. Why would you start a fight with someone?

You know I have a sharp tongue, the other dismissed without a second glance at the white wolf. He shook himself out again, turning to Ishizu with a tilt of his head. Should I assume that you are helping to take care of some of the wounded wolves or is there something I'm missing in your presence here right now?

Yugi looked between them for a moment, clearly confused, then turned his attention solely to the she-wolf. Ishizu blinked wide eyes, glancing between them for a moment. Then she flattened her ears and turned to Yami. Yes, I am helping them with their wounds. I was going to lead you to see some of them before you started to provoke another wolf.

Yami flicked an ear. Color me surprised that I would do such a thing. He shouldered past her and lowered his head to the snow, starting to trot along by the scent she had left in the snow. Yugi glanced between them again, cast a single look at Zane curiously, and trotted after him as quickly as he could. Yami did not spare a glance at him and Ishizu hurried to take the lead to show them where she was keeping some of the wounded wolves. When they got towards the alpha's den Yugi was abruptly aware of just how strange it seemed to refer to it as such.

He wondered if they expected him to live in it at some point and bristled at the very thought. Then he shrugged it off in order to consider the way that the action might look to the other wolves in question. So he simply looked around them and shivered. There were a bunch of wolves lying around in the clearing, some of them bleeding profusely and others with ice packed into the biggest wounds. Others were running about and helping to pack more snow into the wounds. Some were simply cleaning the wounds to help stimulate the proper recovery. And some were running about to check on each other.

Yugi flicked his ears. It was oddly organized for them, and none of the clear distinctions between cultures seemed to be among them now. They were not considering that one was of the American pack and the Japanese. They were simply treating them as wolves in need of their help. Not one of them was turned away from except to help pack snow or to move onto the next wolf in need. Even Aki was helping to tend to one of the American wolves, a startling sight considering her initial hatred towards Echo and any of the others to have come with her.

And then he looked around at the wolves lying in the clearing, pricking his ears forward. Where's Echo? he asked, turning to Ishizu with wide eyes. He could not see the familiar tawny-undercoated black she-wolf. It was startling not to see her somewhere around them and it made him bristle faintly as he looked about. The realization of her absence made him bristle further and he looked around more frantically before a new thought occurred to him. She could have been fine and safe, wandering about on her own at some point.

However, when he looked at Ishizu, it seemed that she was staring at Yami with an expression that sent chills down his spine. His alpha cast her a warning glance, turned to Yugi slowly, and, in a calm and quiet tone, muttered, War breeds casualties.

The words were calculating and soft, as if he meant to say them in a way nicer than the truth of them. But Yugi was shocked by the statement all the same, frozen in surprise when he processed their meaning. His eyes grew thrice their usual size, ears flattening against his skull. He tossed his head back and forth in shock. W-what? he stammered, shocked by the very idea.

How was Echo…?

But she'd been strong and reliable and…

How was she actually…? He couldn't understand how it was that she had been killed. Why would she, of all of them, be one of the first to go?

But then he blinked and wondered, briefly, if perhaps she might have done it on purpose. And, when he locked eyes with Yami, the suspicion in his heart began to grow tenfold. He stiffened, raising his head slightly, and looked towards Ishizu with a confused glance. But the seer turned away from him entirely, ignoring him as if he had never existed to begin with. She did not glance at him again, instead flicking and angling her ears forward. Yami, on the other hand, considered him for a moment longer, leaned over to lick his forehead, and turned away again.

Yugi flattened his ears for a moment, then forced himself to pay attention again. If she had gotten into a fight she couldn't have gotten out of, he hoped that the green-eyed wolf was there to help her make it to Paradise. He hoped he was the first face she saw, because he knew he was the one she cared about the most. Yugi glanced sideways towards Yami, wondering if perhaps death would welcome him in the same capacity. Maybe Yami would receive him and they could remain there, safe and happy and…

His heart hurt.

You came back? How valiant of you, Aki sneered as she looked up from the task of helping one of the other she-wolves to heal a wound on her shoulder. She was facing Yugi rather than Yami and the black wolf had the feeling she'd managed to shock him into turning tail before they'd crossed paths again. The theory was only confirmed when Yugi flinched. Ishizu sighed as the she-wolf approached them with a snarl. The unworthy alpha is just brave enough to return to see us after he finds his little fuck buddy, huh?

Yugi blinked, then raised his head with a snarl. He lunged at her, but the action was merely a feint. Yami flicked his ears and looked at him curiously. He was vibrating with anger now, not the least bit undone by her. He wondered if it was the phrasing or her insult towards him which made him so violent now.

Must we shed more blood? Ishizu commented in an annoyed tone, turning to Aki with blazing blue eyes. I do not think you realize the implications of striking out against your own alpha. You are not so abundantly followed now that you will survive the repercussions of such an event. Hold your tongue and keep your teeth behind your lips.

The former beta stared at her, eyes glittering with anger, and then blinked slowly. Yami saw the look which flashed between them and his fur rose slowly before falling again in a shudder. He shook it off with a single glance at Yugi, wondering briefly if they did something of that same kind at times. He knew that they'd made Yugi's friends nervous with the way they'd made eye contact and seemed to understand each other silently. Had they understood anything of wolves, they would have known better the reasons they'd responded in those ways, but he could not fault them for that. After all, only Jonouchi seemed to have been infected in his time away from Yugi.

He flicked his ears and looked around them. He wondered where the blond was anyways.

Are you truly so upset that you might risk your life for the sake of proving Atem wrong? Ishizu continued in a lower tone. There was something almost tender in the statement but Yami did not care much to think of this. Instead he pricked his ears forward, considering the clearing of wolves being healed, and then shrugged it off again. He turned to Yugi after a moment, finding that the white wolf was staring at him in turn.

That was altruistic of you.

The small statement made him blink in bewilderment. What?

Lying about Zane, Yugi explained in a slightly cold tone. I was watching the two of you before I got there. You didn't start the fight.

I did not want you to fight with him for my sake. It is not a big deal.

You protected him.

Yami stiffened, then turned to face him more fully, eyes flashing. I protected you, he snapped. Zane might have been wounded, but he was also upset. You are still new to being a lycanthrope, so I will forgive the transgression, but you misunderstand. I protected you because you might wish to help me or protect me in whatever way you may wish, but to pick a fight with him? It would have been costly. And bloodshed is unnecessary now. The pack has been ripped up from the inside out. We have no idea the number of casualties. We have no concept the number of mortally wounded. We do not even know how many might heal properly and who might not.

Yugi stayed silent for a long handful of minutes. I don't think that many of us are going to even make it to see the end of this war, he admitted rather bluntly. The emotion in his blue-violet eyes was cold and distant, as if the thought had been haunting him for far longer than he cared to acknowledge. He shook himself out after a moment, eyeing Yami. I don't want to hurt anyone more than what's happened here. I just want to know what our odds are when the hellhounds have clearly struck us down.

We're not struck down. We're wounded. And so we'll get up again and heal and rally and fight again. You cannot show such weakness here. Be depressed and helpless at home. Not here. Yami turned away from him violently, head snapping towards the direction of movement he sensed. His fur rose into a bristle, then fell again. The gray shape heading towards them so briskly was one he knew well enough. The wolf stopped a few feet away from them, shaking himself out and blinking cold amber-flecked golden eyes.

About time the two of you made it here, he sneered but he sounded relieved as well, turning to Yugi with a pointed stare. The gray male studied him for a moment and Yugi met him with a similar stare, but his seemed shattered and hollow on the insides. And so the deity turned back to Yami, considering him. The wolf looked back at him with that familiar cunning he'd known him to possess. But now there was something different there, something that not even the god could name. It made him nervous but it was not enough to step away or back down in any manner. You're bleeding?

Zane and I had a scuffle. It is nothing serious. Yami's ear flicked. His eyes fell on Aki and Ishizu staring at the two betas. Obelisk bristled faintly, then curled his lip. The dark red gaze flickered to his face once more, curious and alert rather than aggressive in any manner. She seems very interested in you.

She makes ill choices, Ishizu chided angrily, turning to the burgundy-furred she-wolf with dark eyes. She is foolish and makes bad choices of all kinds.

Aki shot her an infuriated look, then turned to Obelisk with her tail raised. You were actually here in the fight, she declared. Her voice was loud enough that it made several of the other wolves raise their heads and turn away from their initial tasks at hand. You were here to help us fight and drive the hellhounds away. Yet Atem brings one among us and fails to aid us when we should need him most. I should think such an action alone is enough to make the gods furious. I know that many of us are questioning his choices and wish to see him removed from his role as alpha.

Yami blinked in surprise. Yugi stiffened and then stared at the black wolf with wide eyes, as if asking him if that was a possibility. Yami, truthfully, was not sure if he saw excitement or cold dread in those blue-violet orbs. And so he simply blinked and turned away, regarding the she-wolf that was staring at him so coldly now.

I see no reason for the traitor to remain here, nor a wolf who clearly could not be Atem and thus simply pretends to be him.

You question the gods' choice of a champion? Obelisk said softly, turning to her with cold eyes. The golden gaze sparked with hate and his lips peeled back to show the sharp incisors he flashed at her. When he sprang at her, she yelped and crouched low to the snow, teeth bared fearfully and eyes wide as they darted away. The gray wolf never made contact with her, but did not quite straighten from his position of looming over her, tail raised and shoulders squared. His ears were pricked forward and his eyes locked on her face. A moment passed before he turned to Yami abruptly, aggression lost in an instant. I do not understand why you fail to knock sense into any of these wolves. You're more than capable.

Yami flicked his ear unhappily. Bloodshed isn't always the way to solve a problem, Obelisk. He blinked and looked over his shoulder towards where Yusei and Chazz were hovering. Both of them looked incredibly concerned and shocked. And he raised his tail just enough to wag it at them before turning back to the gray deity who was giving him an unimpressed look. It is not my fault that you are a war deity. You jump to conclusions too quickly for your own good. We with mortality tend to try to think otherwise and find better solutions.

Obelisk eyed him for a long moment, the silence stretching uneasily like an elastic band. Yugi stiffened and looked between them, nearly bristling with disbelief. But then he shook it away, realizing how foolish it was that he had assumed Obelisk would not know such a thing. He was a god and the three of them were heavily involved in the entire thing. They all had to know by then. Not every manipulation they produced was for the sole sake of their own entertainment. He understood that where he'd formerly ignored it, though to dwell on it now was simply foolish.

Very true, I suppose, Obelisk said dismissively, turning away from him with a sniff. He did not seem inclined to continue for a moment, though he did turn to Aki and narrow his eyes slightly. Must I explain to you that a bitter former beta does not choose the champion which the gods produce? You shall follow him as you were bred to or you shall find your death by his teeth and claws. It is your choice what you might do, but to so foolishly attempt to come against him is your death wish, I suppose.

Yugi blinked in confusion, though he glanced at Yami sideways. The black wolf was not paying either of them mind now, eyes set on a wolf further in the small clearing. Yugi wondered at the sight of his ears pricking forward and his nose wiggling with such intensity. But he did not care to ask and so turned away again after a moment. He looked at the war deity again, curious as to why he and Aki were still watching each other. He did not think she was brave enough to attack him. She may have been brave enough to bark at him but he doubted that she was courageous enough to turn on the deity as well.

You're okay? Yami muttered seemingly out of nowhere. Yugi turned his head immediately, confused as to why he wasn't looking at him when he spoke. But then he looked at the wolf beside him was and relaxed visibly. He wondered if perhaps he might faint with relief. In front of them Mai and Otogi were heading forward with their heads lowered slightly and their paces somewhat slow. The she-wolf in front of them came towards them both, wagged her tail, flattened her ears, and tipped her muzzle to lick at their chins. Otogi came a second later, both of them submissive in their greetings.

Yami shook himself and sniffed at them both. You both seem rather well for a fight to the death, he commented wryly, teasing the she-wolf with the statement. She straightened, wagging her tail, and Yugi got the smallest hint of a musky sex scent which made him startle and bristle slightly. He wrinkled his nose, then turned away with a flushed sensation creeping through his body. He was thankful that wolves didn't blush or show such embarrassment as he felt at the moment. Glad to see you're all right.

Amazing what you miss when you're having a romp, Obelisk snorted, though he looked at them with amusement rather than anger. He shook his head slightly as the two of them wagged their tails hesitantly.

You were out fucking around when you should have been here? Aki snarled, spinning on them both. Mai flattened her ears but didn't look away from the long stare that the former beta gave her. And Otogi simply lowered himself to the snow without looking up. Yugi wondered at their positions in the pack and shook it off. It didn't matter, did it? It only truly mattered that they were both all right. What a lucky coincidence for you, huh? While we could have used some extra help, the two of you are getting off on each other.

Enough, Aki, Yami snapped, turning on her with darkened eyes. You do not get to punish them because you're angry.

No? Says the wolf who stood by and allowed us to be all but killed off, right? she spat. Do you honestly think that you have a say in any of this? You were not here! You do not get to say a word when it comes to what we've gone through. I'll discipline them however I feel.

Yami pricked his ears forward and turned a cold stare on her, entire body stiff. Obelisk may have stopped before he drew blood, but I'll gladly rip your throat out, he answered slowly, turning to her and pacing forward a step. Instinctively Mai and Otogi backed away a few feet, then turned back with horrified expression. The deity in question backed up a few steps and took a seat, interest glowing in his eyes. Yugi, however, stared between them for a moment, then leaned forward to press into Yami's shoulder.

Let's not hurt anyone anymore than they already are, okay? We don't need to do that. It's fine. She can talk as much crap as she wants. We have to check up on the others, remember?

Yami ignored him for a moment. He squared his shoulders, raising his tail, and leaned forward with his teeth bared. Every fur on his back was a rigid line of jagged black peaks. For a moment they stared at each other, neither wavering in eye contact. But then Yugi pressed a little harder on his side, nipping insistently now. Yami huffed, dropping his aggressive stance. Then he turned to Mai and Otogi with a flick of his ears.

If she turns her sights on either of you, I want to know. They nodded at him and he trotted around them to lead the way further into the clearing. Yugi felt winded as he continued to his side. He felt sick for a moment, then forced himself to relax. Yami was acting as he was supposed to as the beta, right? He felt paranoid, he knew, that others, much like Aki, were looking to replace him with another wolf. But he doubted any of them would attempt to make Yami his replacement. As far as they were concerned, Yami was his beta. They had no idea the reverse was true. And he had no plans to tell them, after all. He shivered and shook himself out.

They would have to figure things out later. He'd have to find a way to sort this all out before things blew up any further. But first he needed to find out what the death count was. If it was too terrible he did not think that his leadership was truly going to recover…

Where is Jonouchi? Yami asked after a long moment. Yugi blinked, halting in his steps, and looked around them for a moment. Behind them, Obelisk was still talking to Aki who was glaring at the ground. Yusei and Chazz were hovering a safe distance from them, but both of them were watching Yami and Yugi. And, beyond them, Zane and a couple of other wolves were speaking and checking on each other. Yugi turned away again.

I don't know where he went off to.

Yami flicked his ears. I'm sure he won't be too happy when he finds out that Otogi and Mai are only alive because of their having sex in the woods wherever they were, he commented rather wryly. He shook his head slightly as Yugi stumbled a step at his side. He was much slower than him now, ears flattening against his head and eyes wider than ever.

H-how did you know about him having a thing for her? he demanded, feeling flushed. Had he told him at some point? Yugi couldn't remember doing so. He didn't even think Jonouchi had ever come into a conversation between them before now.

She seems his type.

Huh? How would you know?

Yami was quiet for a moment. I watched one of your tapes, he finally grunted. And then I realized that they didn't look like Anzu so I figured you must have been borrowing them from Jonouchi. You're into brunettes and he has a thing for blondes. Am I correct?

Yugi nearly fell over himself. In his embarrassment, he stumbled harder than before. Yami paused and turned around, eyes wide and ears pricked. Then his eyes lit up with laughter and he turned away, trotting forward with his head held slightly higher. Yugi hurried to his side, feeling nervous as he brushed his flank as he had earlier. The thought made him nervous for a single moment before he shook his head.

I can't believe you just said that.

What can I say? I pay attention to the people my friend is friends with.

Yugi hesitated for a moment. Then he wagged his tail. It wasn't more than necessary but it wasn't quite what he had wanted to hear. He took it anyways, shrugging away the rest of his desire at the moment. He let out a loud sigh instead. I hope that he isn't looking for Mai right now, he muttered, unnerved. If Jonouchi found out, it would hurt him a lot more than he would likely admit. Yugi bristled slightly, then shrugged it off uncomfortably. He shivered and turned to Yami. I really hope that's not it.

Well, he should have an idea of it by now, yes? They spend the most time together.

Yugi was silent for a moment. That doesn't mean it won't upset him some.

Well then he should reconsider who he becomes attracted to. Yami turned away with a huff now, moving a little faster. The smaller wolf blinked and looked at him for a moment, surprised by the cold tone. It is not Mai's fault that she met Otogi long before she ever came to know that Jonouchi existed. And it is not her fault either that she decided to take on a companion for the sake of sating her own loneliness. Many wolves do it. He should not think to consider that he is the first wolf to cross paths with her, nor will he ever be the last.

The white wolf hesitated again, then quietly, he muttered, Did you ever do that?

Do…? Yami's voice broke drastically now. He shook his head violently and tried again. Do what? Take on a companion out of loneliness?

You wouldn't have done that—at least not physically, Yugi muttered, slowing a step. But Yami continued without a glance in his direction, his pace steady and sure-footed. Yugi wondered at the sight, bristling slightly, and then forced himself to continue. But you might emotionally.

Yami slowed now in response to the quiet words. Then he came to a complete stop, pricking his ears forward. He turned to him now, slow in the action, and faced him with cold eyes. His ears were angled sharply towards him and his breath came out in a large puff. I have not forced myself to bond with another emotionally or physically, he sneered after a moment, turning away and trotting forward again. I am so sorry to disappoint you, Yugi.

The smaller wolf flinched at the harsh words and hurried to follow him again. I didn't… He was exhausted even thinking of defending himself now. I just…I just wanted to know. I'm sorry.

The black male ignored him, turning to face one of the wolves closest him. They had had ice packed into their wound for what seemed like the umpteenth time and they were looking about themselves wearily, frustrated and tired. Yami stopped in front of them for a moment, considering before turning away again. His voice was too tired to carry a conversation. The task was too immense and his concentration was too frayed. If he forgot himself here, it would be a problem of which Yami could not judge the magnitude. So he simply continued padding along, checking them to make sure there was no infection or death among the whole of them.

Yugi followed him as silently as the grave. Yami wondered for a brief second if death could be a physical manifestation and nearly snickered at himself. But then his mind wandered immediately towards a face of leathery skin and a mask of sharp plastic and cardboard and he had to stop himself there. He staggered to a stop, breathing hard for a brief moment, and shook himself out as thoroughly as he could. But his skin felt as if something were crawling upon it and his mind felt swollen with the initial thought. The image would not entirely leave him in this way and he felt as if he might vomit and break away into nothingness within the snow here and now.

But then he forced it away again.

These thoughts were for another time, not then.

They were not for checking on the living.

They were for resting with the dead.

Yami flicked his ears, nearly snarling, and trotted a small step faster than before. Yugi kept pace behind him, trailing rather than coming to his side. He wondered if he'd answered him so harshly as to break the narrow bridge which was reforming between them. He shivered and stopped short, turning around to face him for a moment. But the words failed him when the smaller wolf turned to him with his head raised and widened eyes. They considered each other and then Yami turned away again abruptly.

I want you to stop coming here, he found himself saying before he could think it through. He was shaking and he swore he was sweating beneath his fur despite how impossible it was. He turned back to Yugi again, shivering. The other male raised his head, confused, and the concern in his eyes made him want to vomit again. I want you to stop coming here.

Stop coming here? Yugi asked softly, clearly surprised by the demand. He peered at him for a long moment. Then his ears flicked back and forth for a long moment and he considered him with darkened blue-violet eyes. What are you talking about right now, Yami?

The suddenness of the conversation must have been what surprised him so much and Yami felt stupid now for not considering this. He had not led into this topic, had simply sprung full force into the thought. He'd said it after over thirty minutes of silence. And now the other boy was staring at him in clear concern and bewilderment. He wanted to reassure him that he was okay but more importantly he wanted Yugi to agree that he would not come back here. He wanted him to swear it. He wanted him to swear on his life or pledge his blood or just—somehow he wanted him to make an oath never to return here.

He wanted it more than he'd ever wished for another thing.

And the thought made him quiver as he faced the smaller wolf again. To the pack, he elaborated, and his voice sounded frayed and broken and almost died on the last word. Because was that truly what they were to begin with? He didn't know anymore. A pack was meant to be beautiful. And this fate these wolves all shared was anything but. And his heart hurt as he looked at the other boy. Because Yugi was caught in the middle of it and he wished more than ever that he could somehow help him to escape this…

Yami, what—?

We'll run off together, he blurted out, feeling exhausted. But he tried to convey his seriousness in his tone, the severity of the words that he was producing. Yugi stared back at him with a horrified expression, eyes wide and stunned. We'll run off together and we'll…we'll survive. We won't have to see this all of the time. We'll make another pack. We'll escape this entire thing. We'll…

Yugi stared at him, surprised by the declaration. Then he flattened his ears and stared at him blankly, stunned by the very idea. The wolf in front of him was all but shaking like a leaf. He felt as if he had been punched in the gut. And the way Yami stared back at him made him want nothing more than to somehow agree to do such a thing. He wanted nothing more than to make the panic and desperation disappear from the dark red eyes. He wanted to make him stop shaking, to calm him and make him relax and feel safe again, because he was so clearly haunted by whatever was going on in his thoughts that he was unable to hide it.

The white wolf took a step forward, leaning towards him to lick at his forehead once. Then he lowered his head and pressed into his flank lightly. Aibou, you know we can't do that.

We could! he insisted. Those wolves who fled the experiments are running around alive and well somewhere, I'll bet. Why can't we flee to somewhere like the states or the middle east? We could go to Canada or travel to Russia. We could escape the war, the experiments, these crazy fucking wolves willing to put their lives on the line for yours. We could…

Yugi blinked at him, pulling away just enough to study his face. He looked more troubled now that he was speaking out loud again and the white wolf pressed his nose into his shoulder in an effort to comfort him. He wished he could press into his skin and burrow further into him, to somehow become one and the same with him. He could protect him that way, maybe heal the hurt that he knew Yami carried around with him like scars. But the canine never showed too much of those wounds and Yugi hated that he so often shunned them as he did. He didn't know if it was possible any longer for him to suppress those memories. He thought he could see the deterioration of his composure before his eyes more than ever now, even without the outburst.

You could tell them you're not really Atem. You could do that and run, Yami continued in a low tone. He was shaking harder than before and his voice was so fractured that Yugi only understood every other word. He felt like he was being pressed against a phone on vibrate as the other wolf continued to shake so heavily. We could take off on our own. We could just…

Yami, it's going to be all right, he stated, looking at him with wide eyes. He shivered as a cold blank stare was turned his way and his heart threatened to leap out of his chest and into his throat. The way Yami peered back at him was as if he did not recognize him in the slightest. He looked almost upset as well, as if Yugi had offended him so powerfully that it made him want to vomit. The black wolf pricked his ears and then turned abruptly away from him, the shaking still making him all but vibrate against the smaller male. I promise. I promise that you'll be okay.

Yami was silent for a long time. That's impossible, he finally muttered. He bristled as he turned back to him. Do not swear to me anything that you cannot follow through with. You have no idea how much a problem this truly is. You don't know at all. Don't you dare ever make a promise that you cannot keep, Yugi.

Yugi was quiet for a minute. Then he lowered and shook his head. I've done a good enough job so far, right? he pleaded. The other wolf blinked, then turned to him with wide eyes. But Yugi couldn't find it in himself to raise his eyes now. I mean, I've helped you, haven't I?

The words were so broken that Yami tilted his head in bewilderment. When Yugi still did not raise his eyes, the wolf inched closer. He could not fathom speaking for a moment, and so instead moved to lick his forehead. The smaller male flinched and turned away again, muttering, I tried, damn it. I really did. I tried so fucking hard.

Yami was quiet for a moment longer. Then he let out a deep sigh. I owe you much, he finally grunted. But that is not what I meant.

Yugi turned to him with fiery eyes, snapping his teeth. Yeah, well, I don't get the luxury to drown in self-pity like you seem to want to right now. I don't know what the hell is wrong with you that you're suddenly so fearful all of the time. And I'm sorry that I triggered this in you, I guess. But I…I can't have you falling apart on me right now, Yami, he hissed, pulling back a step and looking away again. I already have too many reasons to do that right now. And I don't want to… You can break and fall apart at home. But not…not here. One of us has to be strong enough for them…

The black wolf watched him for a moment. I hate your selflessness, he sneered. I hate it more than I ever thought possible.

Yugi looked over at him. And here I thought it was one of the reasons you saved me.

When I saved you, all it affected was me and you. He felt incredibly small and sick now, as if he had been strangled or the boars were… He shook the thought off and straightened as much as he possibly could. It was isolated back then. Your selflessness made me save you, yes, but I did not expect you to…

If you knew I was selfless before, why would you ever assume that I wouldn't be afterwards as well?

Yami fell silent and then turned away after a moment. He was right. The lycanthropy didn't change a person so much as to break their personality. It would not stop his altruistic nature. It would simply make him stronger, would only give him the instinct to be selfish as well in his need to survive. But it would not stop him being the way he was before the disease was introduced. Yami had known that. But he'd been hoping that perhaps Yugi would have grown a little from that, would have…

I saved you because I saw potential, Yami muttered quietly, turning to him. I didn't know what the potential was for, just that I saw it and I thought that I needed to preserve it. I trusted you to be worthy of the disease and I wasn't wrong.

Yugi shook his head, surprised and then delighted as he leaned forward and butted him in the shoulder softly with his forehead. I think we'll make it out of this alive, aibou, he muttered. But something inside of him was shaking and he felt sick as he pulled away to look him in the eye again. I'll make sure of it.

Yami stared back at him blankly for a moment. He told me that he'd make sure I made it out alive, he thought vaguely, a memory of familiar words crossing his mind with enough power to make him shiver. He kept that promise. And now…here I am again…in need of someone else to help me make it out alive.

The white wolf tilted his head, confused by his silence, but did not speak any further. He was not sure he wanted to know what it was that he might say to him at his rate. Because there was something in his gaze that was sad and lost and far from where Yugi himself was. He was in that forbidden territory in his mind, where the darkness seemed to eat at his thoughts and his instincts were far more scathing than ever.

Oh gods, I'm so sorry, the black wolf thought, looking off into the trees now. He half-expected them to stretch and become transparent where the branches met the sky, an immense river roaring near him. He almost thought it would be as brilliant and easy as looking there to find the gray wolf staring back at him with those soft green eyes. But he could find nothing in the shadows there and his heart ached as he looked away again towards Yugi.

One of us will make it out alive, he stated after a moment. He pricked his ears forward and Yugi blinked, raising his head in surprise at the declaration. Yami knew he understood the meaning behind the words and turned away before he might respond. And, as he'd expected, Yugi did not speak again when he followed him. But he did shoot him a horrified look upon turning his head to glance at him again.

---

Yugi jumped a mile when his door swung open. The sound of it hitting the wall and springing back made him flinch again. Then he blinked and rubbed his eyes before stiffening and looking into the doorway. The shape in the doorway was large and bushy as it trotted around to grab at the door and push it shut again. Then it turned and moved across the room to leap onto the bed and curl up at the end of the piece of furniture. Yugi blinked a few times, raised a brow, then reached out and muttered, "Uh, okay? What the hell was that about?"

He growled at him in response, not forming words to answer his inquiry. But Yugi prodded him again and the wolf turned around to glare at him in resentment. He was clearly tired but had chosen that spot for its distance as well. Yugi smiled in amusement and gestured him over.

"If you're going to sleep in here, you need to get over here. I'm not having you sleep at the end of the bed. You tried that before and it's still not happening."

The wolf wrinkled his lips back as if to bare his teeth but it seemed more as if he were sneering as he got up again, shook himself out, and moved to plop down beside him on the pillows. He lay down straight across the bed, resting on his belly with his legs stretched beneath the pillow. Yugi snorted at the sight and rubbed his scruff for a moment before rolling over.

"Don't break the door down next time, by the way."

Grabbed the knob. Didn't want to turn.

Yugi snorted out loud. "It's not that hard to do it."

You try with your mouth next time, Yugi. Tell me again.

The small teen snickered and shrugged. "That might actually be true."

It is true because I clearly had trouble with it.

He smirked in amusement, then reached back to pet him again. It was odd how warm he was, his fur still somewhat downy due to his healing. And it startled him how smooth it was despite the guard hairs that were steadily growing out of it. He wanted for a moment to roll over and see if he could mark out where it was on his coat that each hair was layered. But then he shrugged the desire off and curled his body up a little more tightly. "Good night, Yami."

Night.

When he woke, it was because he had paws on his back. Yugi grunted and moved to sit up, then huffed when he realized rolling over would throw him over the bed. But when he shifted his weight to swing his legs over the edge of the bed and sit up, the canine was stirring as well. He blinked and turned his head just fast enough to find that Yami had been splayed out beside him, paws stretched straight out and his mouth wide open. He sat up immediately, however, blinking sleepy red eyes, and then gave him a curious look when Yugi glanced at the pillows and felt along them.

"Well, I guess you didn't sleep with your mouth open too much of the night," he drawled with a raised brow, "considering the bed isn't soaked."

Yami blinked, flattened his ears, and then flicked his tongue over his nose. Yugi raised a brow again and the wolf sprang forward suddenly on unsteady legs. In an instant he'd leaned forward, tongue flashing out of his mouth to slip over Yugi's cheeks. The saliva was hot and sticky and he swore under his breath as he laughed and pulled away. The wolf wagged his tail, stretched lazily, and turned to jump off the bed without a second glance at him.

"You're a jackass," he muttered, rolling his eyes.

Yami shot him a smirk over his shoulder that looked almost human even with his canine features. Yugi determined it had to be his eyes because normally he didn't consider the guy he had a thing for to look so much like a dog. He shivered and reached up to run his hands through his hair as the wolf disappeared from his room. At least whatever memories Yami had drudged up the night before during their argument were not enough to make him resentful towards him…

When he got into the kitchen Yami was sitting near the table, licking and biting at his paw without a glance at him. Yugi wondered at the sight, but the odds were that he was suffering a sense of nerve damage from the cold and his lack of health from before. Most likely he was recovering the sensation in his paws where they had most likely been shunned for the sake of his organs or other more important areas of the body.

Yugi shivered at the thought, then reached up to rub at the back of his head when Yami glanced at him curiously and tilted his head. The two of them looked at one another for a moment, the small teen feeling almost sick for a moment as he considered their conversation from the night before. Yami had been so shaken and truly struggling. He'd asked him to run away with him, even, something that Yugi had never even truly considered before. But now he wondered if maybe there was some way to make that happen. If he could, wouldn't that be amazing? Yugi drew in a deep breath, looking at the other wolf for a long moment.

But Yami had not seemed as if he might run off on his own at any rate. And Yugi supposed he had to thank the gods for that small mercy. Because he had seen the truth of his desire to do so—to take Yugi with him and simply flee. And now, looking at the wolf, he wondered if he was thinking about the same thing as him. He found it hard to believe he was, however, when Yami seemed so relaxed. He was rather sure that the thought of that coming to light again would make him both nervous and anxious. He could almost be assured of that, in fact.

Yugi looked away after a moment. "You hungry?" he finally mumbled, unsure of what else to do or say. He could get Yami's food done and then he could make breakfast for himself. It was odd how exhausting the thought was at the moment, as if he were condemning himself to something rather than simply discussing hunger. He felt sick and could not find it in himself to look up again at the other male. Perhaps he was still shaken by the events of the day before. Maybe that was why he could not even think to speak or move as it was.

Yes. The word was croaked rather than spoken smoothly and Yugi found himself looking up before he could think it through. The wolf looked no worse for wear but he seemed exhausted as the seconds passed. Yugi searched his face for a handful of seconds, then relaxed again after a moment. Yami didn't look as if he were sick or upset. He simply looked tired. If that was all it was, then Yugi could understand why his voice had cracked, strained as it had been after the talks from the day before.

He wondered how much harder it was for Yami to concentrate now than it had been for him before. He wondered if Yami was resentful of the fact that he could not keep his focus long enough to speak in his usual, more powerful manner. He felt like he himself would have been frustrated beyond his own belief. He did not think he would have been consolable at a time like that, if only because of how annoying the thought of losing his voice would be for him. Yugi ignored the thought, then turned away again to head for the fridge.

"Boar or chicken?"

Yami was quiet for a moment Boar, he requested n a strained voice.

Yugi had to resist the urge to turn around and stare at him. He felt as if he had somehow been forced back a few steps now. It was strange to him, hearing Yami's voice crack so terribly. It made him feel incredibly discouraged, as if he would not be able to help him again at any point. He felt almost like he had just been bitten, like he had just met Yami and was trying to help him but was also trying not to lose his mind with the nerves that so often produced themselves in his presence. He drew in a deep breath to shake away the memories of it all.

He moved to the sink to put the cut of boar into his usual metal bowl to be soaked. He glanced sideways towards the canine who remained simply watching him, ears pricked and paws twitching slightly as he shifted his weight back and forth. He did not seem surprised by his scrutiny in any way and seemed almost amused rather than frustrated in any manner.

"Here you go," he muttered, turning away to go back to the living room. Yami hurried after him, claws clicking loudly against the tile floor. When Yugi glanced at him over his shoulder, the wolf looked at him with darkened eyes and opened his mouth to show his teeth. His tongue lolled from the side of his muzzle, his steps fast and powerful as he continued forward. The wolf pricked his ears, looking at the lycanthrope with a brightened gaze as excitement made him trot and shuffle his weight from paw to paw. Yugi snorted and smiled at him, tilting his head before shaking it slightly and putting the bowl down.

"You should have told me you were that hungry."

Yami ignored him for a moment, a loud clicking noise coming from the bowl as his teeth snapped shut for a brief second. He blinked, tilting his head, and looked towards the blue-violet-eyed boy with a small wag of his tail. I was not aware until then, he admitted. His ears pricked forward again before he turned away again to dig further into his meal. Yugi frowned for a moment, then moved to crouch next to him and reach out to pet along his shoulders.

When he ran his fingers through the fur, it was soft and smooth, almost like silk. He liked the way the long guard hairs were shining beneath the light from the window. His fur was beautiful in the way it laid against his hand. The wolf did not respond to him, though Yugi felt the way his muscles rolled beneath his touch and it made him nearly shiver. His shoulders were sharp, strong, and the twitch of his skin when he gulped down another mouthful was enough to send a jerk through his arm. Yami licked the bowl clean as Yugi moved to trail his hand down his spine to the base of his tail. The hair there was long, silky, smooth beneath his palm, but it was somehow rough and coarse as well, something that made him smile faintly with amusement. It was almost as much a contradiction as the wolf himself.

Yami licked his lips and turned to him after he'd finished his bowl of food. Yugi could see a small trail of water working along his chin, drizzling downward into the metal container. He watched the other lycanthrope for a long moment but did not care to seem disturbed by his soft touch. The wolf blinked at him a few times, tilting his head as Yugi kept watching him. The seconds passed before the small teen reached out to encircle his arms around Yami's neck and pull him closer. The wolf allowed him to pull him into his grip enough to lay his neck on his shoulder.

The embrace was awkward and heavier than Yugi cared to admit. But he felt sick with the need to keep physical contact with him. There was some part of him that was desperate to make sure that he was still there, within his reach, in his grip. He ran his fingers through his hair, knotting the digits in the soft undercoat. Yami flicked his ears and moved to press his nose into his side. The seconds passed in which he watched him with darkened eyes and his ears pricked forward.

Finally, after a few long heartbeats, Yugi released him. Yami shivered as if he had been touched by ice, then moved to step away from him altogether. He watched him with wide eyes, ears flicking back and forth and nose twitching. He seemed more distraught than Yugi wanted to admit and the wolf tilted his head uncomfortably.

"Do you think that running away from this would really solve anything?" he asked after a long moment, before he could stop himself and only because he had not thought it through. He stared at the wolf, biting his lip until it bled, and felt flushed as he continued in a weaker tone. "Do you honestly think that?"

Because I'll run with you. I'll follow you no matter where you lead.

Yugi couldn't say the words, but he wanted more than ever to be able to. He wanted for just once to have enough strength to say them, mean them, and stick with them as well. But he could not find the strength and he was too afraid of the repercussions to force the words from his lungs.

But Yami seemed far more stricken and nervous than Yugi could think to attempt to understand. The black wolf peered at him with red eyes that seemed more unnerved than the small teen could ever hope to imagine or fathom. The hollow pit of his expression, his eyes seemingly almost bitten away with tension and disbelief, made Yugi feel as if he might vomit. But the wolf did not answer him, turning away and shaking himself out unhappily as if to shed the thought of the words or the implications that they held as it was.

And Yugi hated the thought that he did not answer, that he had given Yami no words to speak in that time. The wolf blinked and looked away to stare at the bowl that sat between them. He licked his lips and stared at the metal as if it might hold some kind of answers, but Yugi could see that he was studying his reflection more than anything else. His ears were flicking back and forth and he tilted his head slightly from one side to the other with something of a lazy fashion. And then, abruptly, he raised his head and watched his reflection mirror this action.

Yugi knew this only because he'd watched him do it before. He had seen him and snickered in the time that the canine had studied his expression and moved his paw to press upon the metal to tip it backwards. He had thrust his nose in, flicking his tongue out to run it over the cold surface. He had flattened his ears, pricked them forward, flicked them about himself, and settled again a few minutes later when he had grown bored of the actions. He looked at the boy in front of him with a tilt of his head now.

"Are you still hungry?"

Yami flicked his ears once, then twice. He tilted his head again, blinking, and nodded slightly. He did not speak again, however, and Yugi wondered if perhaps he was too nervous to do so. He wondered if maybe he had hurt his sense of self in touching him as he had. It was possible that Yami had been attempting to distance himself, unsure of himself and growing undone with the sensation of his touch. Yami was not comfortable with physical touch, he knew, something that Yugi had ignored for the moment. The canine was healthy, something that his touch had proven beneath the guise of physical comfort.

"Chicken this time, okay? I think I need to get more meat later today."

Yami nodded slightly, watching him for a long moment. Then he turned away and looked about them as if he had never seen the room before. Yugi had the realization that perhaps the wolf was alarmed enough to be looking for a way to hide from him altogether. The sight of his eyes darting about the room made him somewhat nervous and the black-furred canine peered at the window for a moment as if he might leap through it at any heartbeat. It made him shiver as the canine shook himself out and began to move towards the small nest of blankets he had been resting on long before.

He got up again, dusting himself off and frowning as his stomach knotted for a brief second. He shivered and looked about the room for a brief second, then let out a deep breath. "I'm sorry," he mumbled, unsure of what more to say. The words made his ears flick and his head turn, muzzle tipped upward to face him in confusion. "About touching you like that. I'm sorry for making you nervous."

Yami tilted his head. It is okay. He sounded as if he were too tired to argue and Yugi hated it more than ever. Yami should have been full of life, passionate and fiery despite the many secrets he held away Yugi's curious mind. He should have been watching him and speaking. He should have been teasing him or asking if he wanted to play a game of some kind or even so much as requesting a smoothie of some bizarre flavor. Instead, now, the wolf peered at him with what seemed to be blank eyes of which bore through him and made his belly ache and roll for a brief second.

"I think we should probably go hunting at some point too, huh? That might be a better idea than me constantly grabbing some meat from the market for you, right?" he asked quietly, ignoring the urge to flinch when Yami blinked and tilted his head curiously. "I mean, you don't really seem too impressed with some of it. And the wildlife would be healthier for you, right? No plastic contamination, no issue of freshness…"

Yami flicked his ears. You would allow me to hunt again?

Yugi blinked and raised his eyes to his, confused. "Allow you to?" he repeated. "I wouldn't tell you no if you ever bothered to truly ask me, aibou. I mean, I would tell you that it was a good idea. You know that too, though. I honestly don't even know why you're so surprised and asking me that in the first place, Yami."

The wolf blinked at him in surprise, then shook his head slowly. His ears flicked back and forth for a brief moment before he looked over his shoulder at the window again. He looked down at the blanket he was lying upon and turned to him with a tilt of his head again. I did not think that you would want me to do so, he admitted with a flick of his ear as the small teen began to wander away with the metal bowl to pull the chicken out of the fridge as he had the boar before. I assumed you would be concerned.

"Of course I'm concerned." Yugi threw the chicken breasts into the bowl and soaked them, leaning against the counter and looking at him with a raised brow now. He shot him an irritable look as the wolf blinked at him and seemed annoyed rather than flustered as he had expected him to be. "I'm going to stay concerned on top of it, Yami. But I want to see that you're okay and if hunting instead does more for that than my buying meat all of the time, I figure it has to be a good idea."

The wolf blinked at him and shook his head. I would like to hunt again.

Yugi smiled faintly, then shook his head as well before turning back to soak the chicken and make his way towards the wolf again. The canine leaped up again but Yugi simply put it down near his paw and took a seat behind it. Yami hesitated for a moment, staring at him in surprise, before dipping his head in to take large bites out of his meal. Yugi leaned back on his hands, licking his lips and looking towards the window as well. He drew in a deep breath and closed his eyes.

"Then that's what we'll have to do at some point. We'll go ahead and do that soon enough…"

---

I don't know what to do about this, he admitted as he came to shake himself out and moved forward a step. The white canine looked about them for a long moment, glancing up at the sky where the sun was weak and the branches were shadowed heavily. The forest looked like a long stretch of skeletal bones, layered with snow which glistened and glowed beneath the faint touch of sun. He shivered and looked at the she-wolf again, head tilted and ears flattened against his skull. I don't know anything about what it is I am meant to do with the pack at this rate, Slifer. I honestly have no idea what I am supposed to do.

Slifer shook her head slowly, confused as she stared back at him. Are you truly speaking to me for some kind of guidance? You know that I do not have such things to offer you. I am not capable of giving you such truth. You know very well that I do not have the words to grant you the answers you so obviously desire, Yugi. She flicked her ears, glancing over her shoulder once before turning back with darkened golden eyes. Have you forgotten that I am a goddess rather than a simple mortal? If I were to tell you half of the things which I know, you would lose your mind. And you would come to understand that I do not fail to answer you simply out of spite. I do it to relief you of the burden I myself possess.

Yugi blinked at her, then shook his head slowly. I don't really care about that, he stated with a flick of his own ears. Some of the wolves were moving about, surely watching them in bewilderment. He wondered if she was there to retrieve the bodies or if she was simply moving about the camp in an effort to keep the wolves from losing their nerve.

Do you truly believe that? That you have no care in regards to that?

You're a goddess. I figure I should take half of what you say with a grain of salt.

Slifer tilted her head and seemed to smirk at him for a long moment. That is a very true statement, I suppose. It would be wise of you not to believe in half of what I might say like that, she admitted. It would not be wise of you to cling to any words I might offer you in any manner.

Yugi felt sick for a moment, then shook his head. Right, he agreed, hoping that he did not sound as flustered as he felt. He wondered if he should find that rabbit he'd buried and go home with it. He had planned to do so later, but now he felt perhaps it would better to leave sooner. Being within the camp now, after the bloodshed he'd witnessed the day before, made him anxious. The wolves were healing well, however. All of them were moving again. None of them were still lying about in the snow any longer. They were pacing about, were trotting and walking and some of them were curiously watching them while others simply considered them. They seemed as if they wanted to hear their conversation.

But none of them were so brave or foolish enough to venture closer for the chance to do so. None of them were so drawn by their curiosity to risk his or her ire. He wondered at the idea. He wondered if they truly thought he'd turn on them. Then again, he supposed he'd threatened them enough times to make them think twice about approaching him…

But what was I supposed to do? he asked after a moment. His voice sounded as desperate as he felt, as lost as he was, and he wanted to bury his face in the snow as the she-wolf blinked at him with a somewhat cold expression. Her ears flicked about and she tilted her head before eyeing him curiously. I had to take care of Yami. And it's only been a few days since he's come back. I've managed to basically heal him and bring him back from his feral state. And, while I'm doing this, an ambush happened on the camp. I can't be in two places at once. And I'm not bringing Yami back here when there is so clearly a threat like this. So what am I supposed to do about it?

Slifer blinked and tilted his head. You think that I have the answers? she snorted. You are sorely mistaken, Yugi. It is not my responsibility to tell you of such a thing. It is the fact that death shall stalk the paws of all wolves to be exposed to your existence that this will continue no matter what happens. You do not understand that you are not expected to be in two places at once. You are simply expected to choose.

Choose? he echoed. And how am I supposed to do that, Slifer? I'm not psychic. I don't see the future like Ishizu does. I have no idea how I'm supposed to help out with the hellhounds when I had no idea that they were going to be loose and running around in the mountains like that!

She blinked at him, then curled her lips back into something of a sneer. You say such a thing but you were attacked at the same time that Yami was. Both of you suffered an ambush from the hellhounds in question. And you were also there to see Noah drowned by your own alpha. Are you truly going to tell me something so foolish such as that you had no idea the hellhounds might be loose and running about? Are you truly so thoughtless?

Yugi blinked and curled his lips back in response. I didn't know that they would be loose and running around like that at any rate, he snapped. The attack in the woods was extremely organized. And even you said that they'd come to retrieve me! You didn't warn me that this was a possibility.

This is a war, borne of blood and sacrifice and death, Slifer replied dismissively. You should have known that possibilities are widespread and ruin comes from much of it. You do not honestly believe for even a moment that I shall tell you the outcomes that might come about them? You are being foolish again. Calm yourself. Your emotions are unwelcome at the moment, Yugi.

You're not—you can't be serious, Slifer. You're really trying to tell me not to care?

I am telling you to care, but to do so with a rational mind. Coming at me with such anger is not the way to solve your problems or the perception of such that you might have. Her words were cold and sure, so certain that it made him flinch as his eyes grew wide with shock. She was actually saying such a thing to him. But the words made his head spin and he swore he could not think straight nor stand on his own four paws for a brief moment. You are not listening to the necessary needs of which you harbor. You wish to know the truth, Yugi? Listen to me now then, yes?

I'm not sure I want to.

It would be wise to listen to a goddess, a new voice snorted, and Yugi glanced over as the gray wolf came running towards them. His muscles were rippling as he came to a stop and shook himself out in front of them. He looked larger than he had before, as if he had somehow grown an inch or two in the time that it had taken him to find him now. Yugi blinked at him, shivering at the thought, and the god flicked his ears before looking at him with keen eyes. She is, after all, more knowledgeable than you.

She also tends to have a habit of talking in circles and making me look stupid on top of lying.

Slifer smirked in amusement, moving to wrap her tail around her paws almost as a cat might. She shook her head and looked to her brother with brightened eyes. He thinks that I should tell him what he's meant to do, she told him with a tilt of her head. It was a joke between them, Yugi knew, and the sight of their laughter made him feel exhausted enough that he nearly collapsed beneath the strain. He tells me that he did not know that the attack would happen and what he should do now to help the wolves.

Obelisk turned to him with a flick of his ear. Truthfully, Yugi? I think that you should follow Yami's advice and perhaps run away for as long as you might be able. The truth of the world and all of its despair will come to find you in time, but before that happens, you would be able to flee and live your own life for a while. He could be there at your side the entire way as well.

Yugi snorted loudly. You both are hysterical, he snapped, but a part of him truly wished he could listen to that. It truly wished that he could flee with the black wolf. They could live on their own, hunt and run about and just enjoy what little time they probably had before the death and destruction truly managed to catch up to them. I can't breathe, I'm laughing so hard.

The god snickered and moved to take a seat as well. It doesn't matter what you might do now. What it comes down to is the fact that the pack has suffered a rather immense loss. One of the more experienced leaders has been taken from them. Some of the stronger wolves have been struck down. Some of the better hunters have been killed. You do not have as strongly knit a pack as you were once able to. Now that they have suffered losses, none of them are quite as keen upon being shown such possibility. I do not think they realized that coming to battle meant that lives might be lost.

Yugi blinked at him. Huh?

Many young wolves are arrogant and think themselves invincible. Others are conscious and paranoid of their own lack of abilities. Some do not wish to think so much about their lives or their infections by any means. They have their heads buried in the sand or the snow or the pine litter of the regions that they live in. Slifer fell quiet for a moment. Then she tilted her head and turned to stare at him as a bird might before it dived at its prey. I do not believe that many of them were prepared properly. I have the idea that many wolves were under the assumption that the war might be won rather easily because they grew up knowing the story of the Lunar Ascension.

He stiffened. But it was mentioned that there was death throughout the time…

It was also mentioned that the gods woke from their slumber in order to help them, Obelisk cut in. Lupa and Fenrir woke then to help us to win. They will not do so now. And the burden of winning is something that cannot be passed on to them by way of myths and stories. But many of them believe that such a thing will happen. That is why they are willing to follow you as well, because you are capable of saving them in some way.

Yugi flicked his ears, wanting to vomit at the thought. I'm not…

You may or may not find yourself capable of doing such a thing later, the deity dismissed, flicking his ears again. It is not as important as you might imagine. You can inspire them to lay their lives down for you or you may call upon their necessity of it due to being lycanthropes which are forced by bloodline to follow you to war and provide you the army you will need.

That's disgusting.

Yes, but it is also truthful, no? You do not think that we have time to simply give you answers and allow you to shadow us as if you were nothing more than a pup. I am not patient enough to do such a thing and I do not have the love in my soul to bother with such antics. The facts come down to what they are. If you should desire something else, find another god to be your guide.

Yugi shook his head slowly, staring at him in disdain. Then he turned back to Slifer in order to keep from snapping his teeth bitterly. All I want to know right now is whether I can help them somehow, because right now, I don't see how. I'm still helping Yami and I don't want him here, where the hellhounds could hurt him even more and leave him for dead like they did the rest of the pack.

Slifer blinked at him. You are truly asking such a question? she returned quietly, almost scornfully. When she shook her head violently, Yugi felt as if he were going to be sick. But then the she-wolf opened her eyes again, focusing on him with a darkened gaze that seemed to cut through his skin. I do not care if you find understanding in your nature or not at this point, Yugi. But it comes to a very easy and very terrible thing. You shall have to choose what and who you will sacrifice. When it comes to war, one does not gain the ability to win all that they sought. If you seek to protect Yami, then do not worry about the pack. If you should wish to help the pack, you must find a way to turn away from Yami. It is necessary to give one for the sake of balance in another.

Yugi blinked, then snapped his teeth, bristling and glaring at her furiously. He squared his shoulders as if he might launch himself at her, but stopped when he remembered her power and status as the deity. He shook his head, drawing in several ragged breaths.

I don't want to choose.

Balance has to be maintained, Obelisk stated simply. You cannot expect to win all of this, to keep your alpha alive and healthy and not risk the lives of the others within the pack as well. You focus too solely upon one or the other. And so far your choice has been to help Yami rather than the rest of the pack. That is fine if you are truly committed to such a thing. But it will become a problem should you not understand that it is more than necessary to commit to one and only one thing in this war.

Division of your desires could cause far more devastation than you've borne witness to so far, Slifer stated, all but scoffing at him. She shook her head slowly as she eyed him coldly for a moment. You cannot save the pack and Yami as well. You may save the pack or you may save Yami. Perhaps, at times, you might be able to do them both. But it shall never remain that way. You push too hard at desires that you cannot achieve. Your wishes cannot be brought to fruition if they are so unevenly spread.

So unevenly spread? Yugi blinked at her. He just wanted them all to make it out of this okay. He just wanted not to see so many wolves die so meaninglessly. But as he considered it, he found himself blinking at Obelisk. The gray male was watching him with something of clear amusement. And he knew that the gray wolf was well aware of where his mind was wandering. It made him bristle to consider that the other might know him so well. But he was aware of it and it made his heart heavy to ever think otherwise. He shivered and looked away, ears flicking back and forth for a long moment.

I can help them both…

He could.

But that was only if he made another sacrifice, one which scared him too much to think for even a second to truly consider. He had been willing to do that long before, when it had come to only one possible exchange. And now he felt sick as he realized that he was still committed to only that, something that he could not even force into his mind fully. It was horrifying, terrifying in all truth, and he hated himself for it.

But he had always known and understood that, despite his fear and his initial reluctance. He knew and understood and hated himself even more for it. Yugi shook himself out after a moment, watching the two deities for a long moment. Then he slowly tipped his head up and looked to Slifer for a long handful of minutes. His heart was burning as he shook his head and lowered his eyes towards the snow again.

I could…

Slifer was quiet for a moment. You could, she supplied, but can you truly offer that?

He had already done it, hadn't he? Yugi felt as if he might vomit as another shiver ravaged his form. He turned to Obelisk, wondering at the way the male in front of him simply watched. He wondered if he'd ever had to do such a thing before, if he had made sacrifices so vile and powerful as the one that he himself had already set in motion. It was the only path he knew at the end of the day, Yugi realized, because it was the one that he had dug out for himself within the snow long before.

He looked to Slifer again. Not for that reason, he finally mumbled. I can't do it for that reason.

The she-wolf flicked her ear. Finally, you have become honest, she stated with a small smile. Her eyes seemed almost kind for a moment before she turned away from him with her ears pricked and her nose wriggling. It would benefit you well to remain that way with yourself. It will do wonders for your needs in the future.

I thought you couldn't see the future?

She looked over, eyes glinting. I can't see it. But I know when death is coming for one. She tilted her head as Yugi stiffened. Then she blinked a few times and looked away, snorting softly. I know my domain, in other words.

Obelisk hummed thoughtfully but did not seem as he might have anything to add to the declaration, though he seemed rather bored with the conversation now. Yugi wondered at this, looking between the two of them curiously for a split second. He could not imagine that the two of them had bred for the sake of having the pack that lived here in this camp. It seemed odd and beyond the realm of reality. It just seemed impossible altogether. Obelisk and Slifer seemed far too comfortable around each other, as if they had always known each other. They acted as acquaintances rather than lovers of any kind. Yugi could not picture it being much more than a union of accommodation rather than affection.

He wondered at the thought, then flicked his ears. If it was for the sake of someone else, for the sake of another's life, he could see doing the same. He could understand taking that step if only for the sake of saving someone in need. And these two had done much more than simply save one life. They were saving multiple. They were saving what could potentially be millions if he were truthful with himself. After all, not all of the wolves would know that he was there in Japan. Not all of them would be brave enough to come running to his aid either.

Do you wish to know something, Yugi?

The white wolf blinked, startled out of his reverie, and turned his head to face the she-wolf as well. He flicked his ears and tilted his head, confused by the question. The russet-furred female leaned forward, as if perhaps to tell him a secret, and the words she spoke made his ears prick forward in bewilderment.

Brooke, Ayukawa, Joy, Mayday, Gloria, Zuzu, Syrus, Mai, Jack, Yusei, Otogi, Aki.

Yugi tilted his head, confused and bewildered. Had she just listed twelve of the wolves' names? He frowned at her, flattening his ears against his head, and peered at her. There was mocking laughter in her eyes, her golden irises burning. He stared at her, then blinked as a chill ran down his spine in alarm. His head snapped around and he bristled in alarm, eyes wide as he looked towards the wolves hidden further within the camp.

Those twelve wolves…

They were going to die, weren't they?

He could sense it simply by the way she stared back at him with such laughter. Her lips were quirked upwards slightly at the edges and her gaze burned into his with pure amusement. There was something mildly hollow and dead to echo her laughter, however, and she soon looked away with her ears pricked forward. Yugi shivered, shaking himself out, and then stiffened.

Had she said Yusei? And Syrus too?

He didn't know the first six wolves, he realized, and his heart ached with the realization. He knew them only from the smallest, most minute exposures to them. He knew Brooke because she had often helped keep Aki away from Yusei when she'd turned her frustrations on other wolves. She was with the yearlings the most often in the pack. Ayukawa he remembered from her introduction, where he'd thought she was broken already and he'd wished for a moment to flee from her. Joy was a name that he did not recognize, which meant that she had to be from one of the newer packs. Mayday he knew only by name as he was supposedly Brooke's mate. As for Gloria, he only knew because of the fact that he had once or twice spotted her with Aki. But he had only seen her, never spoken to her. And he knew Zuzu because of the fact that she was such a strange shade of silver and gray, much like Ishizu in appearance at times.

Yugi bristled. But he knew Yusei and Syrus. He knew Otogi and Aki. He knew Mai as well. Jack, he didn't quite recognize the name of. But he understood that he had to be among the pack already. He had heard the name more than once. Yusei had mentioned him once or twice, though he had not seemed too incredibly happy when he had done so. Yugi had the feeling the two of them had butted heads at some point.

He spun on Slifer now, snarling. What the fuck? Why didn't you try to warn me when Marik was off killing all of the others like that? You could have stopped it! he spat, though he lost his anger when she blinked slowly and turned to him with her ears pricked and her head tilted slightly.

Because, Yugi, Yami was not here to stop you from doing something drastic and stupid, she answered in a quiet, even voice. Now she smiled and he thought of sharks and the dull eyes of a buzzard looking to peck into dead flesh. He narrowed his eyes slightly and she stared at him with a mildly disgusted but amused expression. Without Yami, you are rather thoughtless and hateful at times. And he is the only one capable of stopping you should you come to attempt to save the others. I trust in that much at the very least. But without Yami to balance your impulses, I cannot trust that you will not attempt foolish actions. You would have gone after Marik. It did not take you very long to put two and two together, after all. You suspected it long before it even happened. You were always wary of him. And he turned on you just as you suspected he would. Why you did not go after him when you first suspected him is beyond me, however.

Yugi flicked his ear and his heart squeezed inside of his chest. Shame crawled through his system. He shivered and looked away, shaking his head. He knew that she was right. Yami had the ability to talk sense into him even when he was persistent and determined to do otherwise. If Yami were to truly ask him to do so, Yugi knew he would buckle and back away from them without trying to save them. And it was terrifying to know that, but he could not help it.

Yami was blunt and blatant. He showed his disdain towards Yugi's selflessness without thought. And he had, more or less, taught him something of the meaning of self-preservation when he had so often ignored it. He shivered at the thought, but another came as well. And the shame that came through him now almost knocked him off his paws. He wished for a moment to run from the two deities.

He truly had suspected Marik before he had come after him. He had suspected him, but he had known as well. He'd rightly assumed him to be a killer without conscience. And the tan and gray wolf had proven him right time and time again. He had known it deep within his bones that something was wrong with the other male. He had not known how to address it, or how to put a label to it, but he had known regardless.

It was the fear of fighting him, of facing him alone and potentially pushing Marik over the precipice, that had held him. He'd been at a stalemate due to it, unable to confront him but sure that he was not wrong in his judgment. He had not been brave enough to turn on him. He had not been brave enough to challenge him.

Yugi was not stupid.

He had known that Mikiyo had been close to Marik that day on the cliffs. He had no doubt that the tan and gray wolf had had the discretion to prevent attacking her. And so he had instead turned and whispered in her ear. He'd likely played on her insecurities within the pack, whether it relied on rank or how she was treated there or something else. But he had persuaded her to charge ahead despite his orders not to. He had convinced her to go against him and he had gotten her killed for her recklessness.

From there, Marik had whispered into the ears of anyone who would listen. He'd instilled fear in the pack. He'd said that the gods had punished her for her disrespecting Atem's leadership. He'd forced many of them to cower at the thought of some divine punishment for the fact that they'd thought to disobey him. He'd forced them into a more submissive state, paranoid that so much as speaking against him would get them killed. He'd even attacked Aki for it…

He had not seen him with Patty, but he was sure that Marik had had a paw in her death as well. She may have been a yearling, but none of the wolves had survived through sheer stupidity. She would have known better than to charge at the boars as she had. It made no sense that she had gotten herself killed like that…

Perhaps, Yugi, the she-wolf commented quietly, startling him to attention again, making him bristle faintly as their eyes locked, you should pay them more attention while they still have time to spend with you, yes?