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.

74. Appearances

Disclaimer: I do not own Yugioh

Update schedule: Hopefully biweekly

Chapter Warnings: Mentions/Implications of Self-Loathing, Mentions/Implications of Depression, Mild One-Sided Puzzleshipping, Mild Arguing/Skirmish, Cursing

I just want to say, math was never my best subject. But I'm pretty sure I got it right for the discussion Yugi and Yami have. If I didn't, feel free to point it out to me.

Yami says the territory is about 200 miles around, but technically it far exceeds that. During winter the pack expands further into the national park and the mountains and they often hunt and run about in all 800+ miles. It's just that the core territory is about 200-400 miles and they only actively mark that 200-400 mile range of space. In spring and summer they minimize their patrols and distances traveled in order to avoid catching anyone's attention.

Okay, so there are a couple of introductions for a few characters. And then I've got a much larger amount of introductions happening in chapter 85. So, for now, you get this handful, and later you get the wolves that Yugi and Yami have kind of been overlooking/ignoring. You'll get to meet the rest of the wolves in the pack as a whole. (And then eventually I'll have some drawings of them for you guys to see; still trying to get used to drawing again though so it's taking a little while longer than I originally expected.)

This chapter would have been posted a little sooner, but I realized during edits that I'd accidentally duplicated one of the characters and I had to go back and fix it. So it took a little longer because of that. Sorry for that. It also probably would have helped if I had backed up this chapter a while back when I did all the others.

And, unfortunately, I don't think this rewrite came out as good as the original, but I can't really identify the part that I don't like that's throwing me off the most and rereading it is just frustrating me more so… Here it is.

Chapter LXXIV: Appearances

Work Log Entry LXVI: August, 2008

August 1

Atem has shown no changes in development. His psyche seems unaffected by the experiments as of yet. He has not shown a single inclination towards behavior that he has not exhibited formerly.

August 12

Atem still exhibits a failure in change of any kind.

August 29

The boss has decided to end the experiments regarding behavior alterations with Atem.

The newest pack of wolves is to be placed in these circumstances instead.

August 31

The second youngest wolf, a hellhound, has begun to show a change already.

The lycanthropes of the pack have exhibited little to no change in manner.

Yugi passed his pencil back and forth between his hands, rolling it in his palms after a few moments, and narrowed his eyes the smallest degree. He considered the other teen who sat so quietly in the corner of his room. Yami had taken the spot again for whatever reason, seated comfortably and playing with a manga that Yugi knew was just a fluffy—and admittedly odd—romance. Anzu had left it at his house at one point or another and he'd put it on his bookcase and forgotten to give it back. It had been a year or two before and he was relatively sure she hadn't minded losing it.

Regardless, now he stared at Yami curiously. And the red-eyed teen carefully avoided looking up, though Yugi could tell that he knew he was watching him. His shoulders had risen the smallest degree and he looked uncomfortable and tense where he was seated there. He had his legs drawn up, the manga in his lap and one hand holding it open as he continued to read. But Yugi could also see the million different thoughts passing behind his eyes, shadows that didn't quite have a name and made him look equally flustered as he was interested.

He hummed and looked down at his textbook. The study guide was done. It had been for a couple of hours. He simply had not told Yami that. And he'd been spying on him for the last sixty or so minutes. He'd been admiring the way his lashes looked so long that they blocked his irises with his head down as it was. But he'd also been staring at him blatantly for the last couple of minutes.

And he knew Yami was not taking well to it.

"Can I ask you something?"

Yami flipped the page, ignoring him for a moment. His jaw worked briefly and then he huffed out a breath, petulant as he grumbled, "Am I going to like this question or is it going to be as unsettling as your staring?"

Yugi hesitated, then snorted and smirked at him slightly, shaking his head the smallest fraction. "You're aesthetically pleasing. Take it as a compliment and call it a day." He rolled his eyes when Yami snorted loudly and wrinkled his nose as he shook his head slowly. He did not look up from beneath his lashes, however, and Yugi barely resisted the urge to burst out laughing. Was he seriously so worried that he would keep staring at him if he did? "Anyways, no, I don't think you're going to be uncomfortable with what I'm about to ask."

"We'll see about that," Yami answered in a skeptical tone. He flipped the page and his eyes grew wide, brows furrowed as he scanned the page and turned back to look between the various scenes. His face screwed up in bewilderment and he abruptly shut the volume and tossed it a couple of inches away. "That big reveal made absolutely no sense."

Yugi burst out laughing. "Which one was it?"

"There are multiple?"

"You didn't notice?"

"They must not have been worth my acknowledgment then."

Yugi snorted. He rolled his eyes, shaking his head, and smiled at him lazily. "What am I going to do with you?" he mumbled. Yami shrugged in a distracted manner, looking towards the window after a moment. Yugi furrowed his brows, then sighed softly. So he really was that nervous about what he was going to ask him about. "I just wanted to ask you something about the hellhounds."

"Lovely."

He frowned and shook his head. "The gods are named Morrigan, Skoll and Hati…right?"

"As far as I am aware, yes. I do not know them to go by any other names."

"Okay."

There was a small moment of silence before Yami slowly turned his head and looked at him in puzzlement. "Is that all you wished to know?" he asked after a moment, narrowing his eyes. "I felt this conversation would be longer."

"You don't exactly look like you want to talk right now, so why would I force you to?"

Yugi wasn't directly looking at him, but he was watching him in his peripheral from where he'd turned back to his study guide again. And he could see Yami blinking wide eyes and tilting his head in confusion. He seemed absolutely bewildered and for a moment he almost appeared to deflate visibly. Then he shook it off and sat up a little straighter.

"I don't mind talking to you."

Yugi blinked, then turned his head to look at him in surprise. "I didn't think you did, Yami," he muttered, frowning and tilting his head. "I just don't think you look like you want to talk right now."

"But I don't mind talking to you."

The smaller teen's frown deepened and he shook his head slowly. "I know you don't mind talking to me. If you did you wouldn't talk to me to begin with. I can't see you doing something you don't want to, not if it's going to upset you." He paused for a long moment, then sighed and studied him. "Look, if you don't want to talk right now, that's fine. We can always talk about it later or tomorrow or something."

"I…have a lot on my mind," Yami said slowly, carefully. He looked flustered again, his red eyes almost feverish with his mounting frustration. "It does not truly have anything to do with you. I am simply… I'm sorry. I shouldn't have made it seem as if I did not wish to speak to you. I do…so…please continue, okay?"

Yugi blinked and shook his head again, frowning more pointedly before sighing. Yami wasn't going to let this go. And Yugi could not help the rush of fear that made its way through him. Yami was full of self-loathing; he didn't want to make him feel as if somehow he had made Yugi reluctant to speak to or be near him. And Yugi knew well enough from his own bouts of depression from the medication that it was increasingly easy to twist things around like that. He'd convinced himself his mother and grandfather were so exasperated with him that they were going to ship him off to boarding schools, after all. It was not hard to imagine that Yami was in a similar place, especially now when he was practically begging Yugi to keep talking to him despite his own unease.

"Okay, if you say so, but if you're uncomfortable with the topic or something, just say so. I don't want you to just keep talking if it's going to upset you."

Yami opened and closed his mouth twice, then looked away again with a shake of his head. "It's fine. Please, just…please…"

Where exactly was Yami's mind at the moment? He seemed incredibly agitated and perhaps confused and overwhelmed as well. Yugi furrowed his brows and shook his head again, swallowing hard as he looked him over. Yami seemed as if he wished the floor might open up and swallow him whole or as if he simply wanted someone to pull him close and tell him that things would be okay.

Something had rattled him pretty badly.

Yugi wondered if it was the fact that he had been staring before or if it was simply something in the manga that had upset him so much. Either way, the thought scared him. He frowned again as he looked away from Yami for a moment.

"Do you know what they look like?"

Yami blinked twice, then raised his head and peered at him quizzically. "The hellhounds?" he clarified, continuing only when Yugi nodded. "Yes, Morrigan is the smallest, but she's leaner and a bit nastier in battle. Hati is as large as Obelisk, with a broader chest and stronger back legs. And Skoll is almost identical to Hati but for his coloring. I believe I remember one time being told that their builds were almost identical. If I remember right, they are from the same litter and that's why they look so much alike…"

"You've never seen them?"

The red-eyed teen frowned at him as if he could not understand the question. "Why would I have been visited by any of them? Morrigan has shown herself to you but I have yet to meet her. And Hati and Skoll should still be in their slumbers. I don't know if they're awake in the sense of wandering Paradise, but I know that physically they've been resting for a long time."

Yugi shook his head the smallest bit. "Hati is awake—or he was…pretty recently. Valon and Kris are his children, remember? Kris is six, so that means he's been awake and moving about for a little while now."

"No, it merely means that he was active recently. There is no assurance that he still remains awake now, Yugi." Yami fell silent for a moment or two, then sighed loudly and leaned back against the plaster of the wall. He looked relieved when his scalp made contact, eyes hooded as if he were happy to feel the cool touch of drywall behind him. Yugi had the uneasy feeling that he was so relieved to feel such a thing because of the support the wall offered him. "Regardless, why are you asking about them, of all things?"

"I had a dream a while back and I figured it had to be one of their voices. They said they were looking forward to meeting me," he murmured, dismissing the thought of further explanation immediately. Yami didn't need more details; as he'd thought he would, the red-eyed teen merely narrowed his eyes faintly and considered the statement. "Anyways, so then what does Hati look like? Do you know?"

He frowned visibly, then moved to shift his weight and sit up. Yugi saw the sudden tension in his shoulders, as if his muscles were going through a spasm. And then he drew his lips back into an acute grimace, sat up, and looked away.

"Me."

Yugi blinked. "What?"

"Me."

He shook his head. "What about you…? He looks like you?" he clarified, confused. The idea was enough to make him nearly bristle, his throat feeling somewhat tight with tension. He had never even considered. And he felt terrible now for not having done so; it was no wonder Yami was so unsure and uneasy. "You're saying that you and Hati look alike?"

Yami nodded without looking up from the carpet. He ran a nail over it and Yugi thought briefly of bird talons where they tore gently at the threads there. "We are almost mirror images from what I can gather."

Yugi felt sick. His stomach tossed and he swore his throat felt as if it were closing for a brief moment. All he could think about was the fact that Joy and Aki had tried to convince the rest of the patrol to kill him. All he could remember was attacking Joy in retaliation for even saying such a thing, but knowing somewhere deep inside of him that she wasn't wrong in assuming it. Yami did look much more akin a hellhound than he ever could a lycanthrope. He was black with red eyes. And, had it not been for his pure lupine features, one could easily have mistaken him for a simple dog.

But no dog had a mouth as big as his. No dog had paws as huge. No dogs had such sharp almond-shaped eyes. No dog had such softly rounded ears. No dog had such a fierce stance or sharp features. No dog could manage to possess half the intelligence he did.

He fought away a shiver and licked his lips. "Okay, so you guys look alike. So what?" he muttered. "That doesn't mean anything. And, besides that, who cares? You're black and have red eyes. It's not a big deal."

But they both knew it was a huge deal for the pack. And it did not help in the slightest that Yami had once pretended to be Atem, had not spoken against it when it was assumed he was. He had not corrected them, nor told the alpha to leave him be. He had simply allowed them to attempt to worship him. And then he'd lashed out and fled.

In doing so he had tainted his image to them before he'd even gotten a chance to explain it all. He had done far more damage than Yugi thought possible to rectify. His stomach lurched as he shook his head.

"Whatever. We both know you're not a hellhound. So it doesn't matter. Anyways, what does Skoll look like?"

Yami blinked, then turned to him after a moment. "He is the polar opposite in appearance. He is bright white like snow, if I remember right. But I don't remember his eyes properly. I think at one time I was told they were dark blue but another I heard they were light blue, like ice, and in the shadows, they appeared to be green almost like seaweed."

Yugi shook his head. "Seaweed is pretty green."

"I'm only giving you secondhand information. It could be aquamarine for all I know. It could be teal. I do not properly know. Skoll is built exactly as his brother is, however. I know that much. They are both extremely powerful and look much more wolf than dog. I think Fenrir chose them especially for their builds when he made them into gods."

Yugi tilted his head. "That's the same as Lupa picking Slifer, Obelisk and Ra."

"No, from legend, Lupa chose them for different reasons. She chose Ra because she fostered pups after losing her own, which is why she became the goddess of life. She chose Slifer because Slifer knew death before the others did. And she chose Obelisk because Obelisk had never lost a battle and could take on twenty humans and their weapons and still find the strength, determination and cunning to win."

He frowned and considered him for a moment. "Do you believe that?"

"I believe that Obelisk is powerful and I believe that Ra knows how to love. I also believe that Slifer is incredibly damaged and so her perception of things cannot often be trusted." Yami shook his head and looked away again, reaching up to run a hand through his hair. "Regardless of that, however, I do not know what else I believe of them."

Yugi grimaced. "Okay." He felt as if the air had been sucked from his lungs for a moment. And he shook his head as he turned away again and closed his eyes. "Well, if that's the case, then I guess it's good to know what they were chosen for. I'm sure it must be offensive to them whenever they hear someone say something like I did a few seconds ago."

"I would hardly assume they should care. They are gods. Mortals worry about words, not the immortal."

Yugi considered him a moment or so longer. And then he turned away, smiling faintly and shaking his head. "I guess that makes sense," he murmured dismissively. Then he turned back again. Yami was not looking up and he could see the smallest hint of despair in his eyes where he caught them from Yami's peripheral. The mention of Hati was still on his mind, Yugi realized, and he was not recovering from it well. He drew in a deep breath, then forced a smile onto his face as he looked at him. "How about we go for a run?"

Yami looked up at him with a confused expression. "A run?" he muttered. "It's late. Why would you want to go on a run at this time of night? It's…almost midnight."

"I don't think I'm ever going to get used to you never looking at a clock when you say that kind of stuff. It's eerie." He was teasing but Yami still looked at him as if he had spat at him. Yugi felt immediately ill, considering him and then wishing he could swallow his tongue for a moment. He forced himself to smile again, praying to every god in existence that Yami did not notice the strain of it, and licked his lips. "I'm kind of restless though. I mean, why else would I be awake right now if I wasn't?"

Yami looked at him, scoffing, "Because you were doing homework and staring at me. That would be why you might be awake right now."

"And why would I be staring at you if I wasn't restless?"

"Because you're a teenage boy and you have hormones." Yami snorted loudly, turning away from him. He was not scornful when he said it, but Yugi almost felt as if he'd been slapped. He shifted his weight awkwardly and nearly flinched when Yami stretched his arms out in front of him and closed his eyes. His jacket tugged unevenly from the gesture and it exposed his neck on his right side.

Yugi really wished he could have licked the skin there, though he rolled his eyes and shook his head immediately at the thought. But at least Yami was understanding towards it. He seemed to just take it in stride. Though, Yugi supposed talking about hormones was easier than saying that he wanted to bend Yami over the bed or something crazy and ridiculous like that. He really shouldn't have watched so much porn…

When Yami opened his eyes again, Yugi nearly trembled. His eyes were darkened by the shadows of his lashes and the spidery formation of them made them seem almost to glitter. He licked his lips and turned away almost immediately again. There was something about the look in his eyes that was incredibly unsettling.
"We don't have to go too far. In fact, honestly, we could just try walking around instead." Yugi paused, then tilted his head and looked over at him. "I'm off school tomorrow. So we could actually just…you know, map the territory instead. Have you ever gone the full length of the territory before? We could both track around and meet at the middle of wherever we are and then we can go to the camp. Or we could come home. Either one."

"You want to go to the camp?"

"I just think if we're out there, we should…visit, I guess?"

Yami stared at him for a long moment. They considered each other for a long handful of seconds before Yami slowly turned away. "You think so?" he hummed in turn. He nodded after a moment, then moved to sit up straighter. His legs fell away to stretch in front of him and his fingers tapped against his thighs for a long moment. He narrowed his eyes, tilting his head, and studied him as the seconds passed. "I suppose if we are truly near it, we should do so. There is no reason not to, right?"

"Right." But Yugi could name quite a few. If he were honest, he thought there were a million and one to explain the necessity of keeping Yami from the damn camp. He chewed the inside of his cheek, smiling at him when he realized that Yami was studying the action with eyes as sharp as those of a hawk's. "I don't see why not, right?"

---

Yami pricked his ears forward as they passed through the trees. It was not nervousness which kept him alert, but he did not know any other name for it. He could not say that he was truly unnerved, however. He did not know what it was that he was truly searching for, either, at this moment. But it was something of a struggle. He was unsure of himself, of what might be said and how he might approach the idea of explaining this to Yugi. Perhaps it was simply paranoia.

After all, there was nothing he could see when he looked around to spot anything that might be wrong. He could not see a single thing that should have alarmed him in any manner. He fought away a bristle and looked to Yugi.

I suggest that we part ways here, he announced quietly, though he could not decide if the way Yugi stared at him made him feel dread or mild excitement. The wolf was looking at him curiously or perhaps in abrupt frustration. He shook his head after a moment and Yugi tilted his head, studying him. There was something in his eyes that made them darker than Yami was used to seeing. It set him on edge. So he turned away again as quickly as he could, ears pricked towards the snow and muzzle pointed downward. We can make a lap around the territory and meet somewhere in the middle. It's a couple hundred miles but we should be able to get through it without too much trouble.

A couple hundred? Yami, it's impossible to travel that much in a day!

Yami snorted as he turned back to him, lowering his eyes to stare at Yugi's nose. He flicked his ears and studied him curiously for a long moment. Well, a human is capable of traveling up to three miles per hour while walking. They can travel up to ninety-six miles a day at this rate if they were to try. That would take about twenty-four hours to accomplish, however. Now a wolf can trot anywhere from five to eight hours a mile. If one were to do the math, for up to the ninety-six miles a human can travel, a wolf can go about…one hundred and twenty at five miles, one hundred and forty-four at six, one hundred and sixty-eight at seven, or one hundred and ninety-two at eight. So, either way, we can definitely move faster and for far longer than you might expect.

Yugi huffed. I don't know how you got those numbers, but you didn't take into account that we're not staying out here all day. So if that's the case, then how quickly do you think we could make it to the end of the territory without taking all day to do it?

Yami tilted his head. How many hours do you think we'll be out?

I want to be home by the time I would usually go to school. I don't want to worry Mom or Grandpa more than necessary by staying out longer than that. So I guess we have five and a half or six hours to do it.

Yami tilted his head and considered the statement for a few moments. Then he seemed to puzzle over it for a long minute before finally pricking his ears forward. Let's see…in order to do that, we would have to travel…about…thirty-four miles an hour steadily.

The white wolf gaped at him, horrified. Oh fuck no. What? I can barely keep up with you as it is! How the hell are you going to ask me to try to run that fast for up to six hours? he groaned. I mean, Slifer and Obelisk made me run the tunnels a few times and I built up some stamina, but I don't think it's nearly enough to do that!

The black canine snorted in amusement, wagging his tail in delight at his beta's horrified expression. You're adorable, he muttered. I wouldn't ask you to travel that quickly. How about this? You can go ahead and travel at whatever speed you might so desire. But I will travel quickly enough to meet up with you. You can choose your own speed and I will double it in order to meet you sooner. Does that work for you?

But… Do you think you'll be okay to do that? You won't hurt yourself or anything like that? Yugi requested after a moment, studying him closely. Yami ignored the scrutiny, pricking his ears further forward as if there were some source of noise in the snow in front of them. I mean, you won't stress yourself out or something just so that you can meet me over there, right? You won't push yourself more than necessary?

I would have you come to me before I would bother doing such a thing. He was not sure why the words sounded so hollow to him. But Yami did know that he found it hard to believe in them in the slightest. It was easier to simply push himself than to explain to Yugi that he was hurt or exhausted. They may have been close. He may have cared for him a lot. He may have even wished for Yugi to survive more than he did himself at times, but that did not change anything. He was not sure he could promise such a thing when he was so against the very idea of it.

You've lost a lot of your poker face capabilities recently. I can't tell if it's because you're upset or if you're wounded or if you simply feel guilty about things. Yugi hesitated, but then he stepped forward and Yami nearly flinched when he felt his cold nose against his ear. But, Yami, I'm serious about this. If you think it's going to harm you in any way to do it, then we can just try it another time. Hell, maybe I'll see if I can run that full speed and meet up with you before you would me. How about that?

Yami flicked an ear, ignoring the peace offering Yugi was extending to him. We need to learn the territory as quickly as possible. If the hellhounds are so brave that they're going to venture in and attack again…

Are you honestly worried about that right now? I wouldn't have guessed it.

Yami drew his lips back into a silent snarl, looking away pointedly to prevent himself glaring. I worry about such things often. Whether I comment on them or not is another matter entirely.

I wasn't trying to make you feel bad, Yami. I was just pointing it out. Yugi nuzzled his cheek and Yami fought the urge to flinch away once more. But I'm serious. We can do this, but if you're going to push yourself too hard, I don't want to risk it.

When would I know if I'm pushing too hard if I don't at least try?

Yugi huffed. When you become uncertain or too frustrated to keep going, that's when you know you're pushing too hard, he mumbled. You might not like to admit it, but you're likely to push yourself far more than I've ever been.

Yami shot him annoyed look and shook his head. I wasn't aware we were keeping tabs on such a thing, he said spitefully. He pricked his ears forward and turned away with a huff. He moved slowly at his side, eyes narrowing the smallest degree. He shook himself out after a moment, turning away and glaring at the snow once more. If I had known, I would have kept better inventory of the many times you've done the same.

Yugi sighed loudly. You know that's not what I meant.

The black wolf shot him an irritable look. Is that so? I know that? Are you so sure? he sneered. I wasn't aware that I know so well what you mean at all times.

I almost regret ever opening my mouth to invite you out like this in the first place, Yugi snapped, flicking his tongue over his nose. Yami blinked, startled by the declaration, and slowed a step with wide eyes. Yugi shook his head and glared at the snow in front of him, ears pricked and a snarl on his face. If I had known you were going to be so damn petulant I wouldn't have bothered.

Yami hesitated a step, then turned away. We might as well mark the territory again, he said by way of ignoring him and dismissing the conversation. They'd end up at each other's throats soon enough if he let this continue. They used to claw the tree bark apart to show claw marks as a way of doing it. That way the humans couldn't find their excrements and potentially track them down.
Good to know I'm not peeing on any trees, Yugi said in a thankful tone. He shook himself out and smiled at him, ears pricked and eyes bright with something almost akin amusement. That would be embarrassing, especially if anyone ever saw me doing it.

The black wolf snorted and turned away pointedly. You're embarrassed by such bewildering things. I do not understand why you might be so upset with something as simple as that. You lift your leg and pee on something, it smells like you, and from there wolves don't normally want to cross it. He refused to look back at Yugi. Actually, most animals will not cross into another predator's territory for the most part. It does not matter, however, considering that it is only the wolves here that we must truly fear. The bears are hardly something we should have to worry about.

Okay, but I'm human. We don't do that.

Yami flicked an ear and considered him for a long handful of seconds, bewildered by the way Yugi appeared so flustered by the simple thought. He tilted his head and then snorted and looked away, ears pricked forward as he mumbled, I could see a human doing such a thing. Besides, you all posture well enough to be considered animalistic if you consider it. Sometimes the way you all do that is like pissing on a female's leg regardless. I would not be surprised in the slightest if someone pees on their partner for the sake of keeping them in their possession and making the females think they were owned.

The white wolf let out a sharp huff of a noise, shaking his head. That's not how things work with humans. Don't even start with that. You've only ever seen posturing with humans on television, he growled. You can't say anything about thinking that kind of thing when you have no idea.

I've seen you posture before. You did so with Anzu when Fuwa was interested in her.

Yugi blinked, his head turning with wide eyes. Did I? he asked in surprise. And Yami had the abrupt thought that perhaps it surprised him only because of who he might have sported the behavior towards in a sense. And he was relatively sure that Yugi was well aware of the fact that he had displayed such posturing among the wolves when Yami himself was mentioned. The white wolf peeled his lips back slightly, then shook himself out again. Okay, but that doesn't count either. I was already infected and a werewolf by then so that doesn't count. You can't tell me that's an example. Wolves are territorial. Humans aren't.

Yami faced him for a moment, then turned away abruptly, sneering, No, of course not. Humans are too terribly perfect for such a thing to happen. They could never show any animal qualities like a wolf would. That would make them less human and more animal and that just could never happen. He scoffed. It's not like they run experiments on innocent animals and other people at times. Or that they might kidnap and torture them. Or that they might force another to have sex with them when they are unprepared. Or that they might kill someone for the sake of their own greed or something of that manner. I don't suppose that any human has ever come about killing their own children or molesting a child or—

Okay, okay! Yugi blurted out desperately. His ears were flattened against his head again when Yami looked at him angrily once more. I'm sorry, all right? I wasn't saying that to be derogatory towards wolves, okay? I was just saying…

Yes, well, then next time you might wish to clarify better, he growled. He paused and turned to him abruptly, flattening his ear. His stomach was in knots and his chest felt oddly constricted. He swore his breathing had grown heavy and somehow labored from the immense pressure. I am sorry. I shouldn't be so unkind to you. I'm just frustrated and flustered. I am not happy and I am growing restless. You have my apologies for such behavior. I should not snap at you like I have. It is not your fault that I am unhappy right now.

Yugi shook his head, eyes softening. It's okay.

The black wolf stared at him, then sighed and turned away with his ears pricked forward once more as frustration crashed through him. Of course Yugi would say such a thing. He never seemed to be angry with him for more than a moment. No, he mumbled in disgust, it's not. But thank you for lying.

It took another long minute of them walking before Yugi finally turned back to him and nudged him with his muzzle. Listen, aibou, he said quietly. Yami stopped and turned to him, surprised by the desperation in his tone. And then he blinked, tilted his head, and frowned at him in response. I don't want you to feel bad for not being okay about certain things. Sometimes snapping at someone else is necessary. Bottling up your anger isn't a good thing to do. You'll eventually lose your mind and lash out when you don't mean to. So, I would rather you snap at me now instead of later when you feel cornered and unable to do anything else.

He stared at him for a long handful of seconds, ears pricked forward and eyes locked on him for what felt like a lifetime. And then he looked away, flattening his ears again, and shook his head. I should have known you might say such a thing. Yami shook himself out and turned back to him, desperate to end this conversation. Let's go ahead and split up here. It shouldn't be too hard to find our way around and meet up at the camp.

We can meet up at the edge of the territory instead, not at the camp. I don't want one of us to show up before the other does. I have no idea how they might react so I don't want to tempt them to lash out or anything like that. Yugi was searching his face for a moment, then leaned forward to lick his forehead. There was the smallest hint of concern in his eyes and Yami wondered if he was considering a patrol crossing paths with him before Yugi did. We'll meet at the other end of the territory and then we'll go from there.

Yami nodded after a moment. That works for me, he mumbled dismissively. When he turned away from him, Yugi was still watching him for a moment. They locked eyes when he glanced over his shoulder and then the black wolf turned and wandered off on his own without a second look. He could hear Yugi taking halting steps forward in the snow, as if he were constantly glancing back to make sure he was okay. Yami did not want to think about that, however. So he shrugged it away and moved towards the trees once more with a dismissive feeling in his gut.

He stopped and glanced around only once, considering the trees for a few seconds. They were tall, spindly, with a stunning lack of bark due to the harsh temperature. They looked almost completely bare for the most part, what had once been of their outer layering buried deep beneath the snow. He looked about the trees again, then approached the one closest him, sniffing once to ensure that it was not outside of the territory, and slowly moved to stand on his hind legs. He reached out with his forelegs, his paws pressed against the frozen flesh of the tree. And then he flexed his claws and dug them into the trunk, tearing downward in a sharp cutting motion. The wood folded beneath his claws as if they were knives, dropping in shreds. He wrinkled his nose and shook himself out.

When he looked back at them, they were angry, sharp exclamations across the flesh of the tree. And he thought it looked almost as if it were stringy muscle that was splintered there. Yami shook it away and turned to look across the small line of the trees he was within. He did not think that it would be wise to mark each and every one he came across. It would do badly for him to make it so obvious, he was sure. It did not look like bear markings, he knew, and so to do each tree as he had once seen them made him nervous. It was likely that it would do nothing but encourage any hunters or lab workers that had come looking for new victims to take notice of the territory as a whole. The thought made him bristle and he glanced around after another moment.

Something was there. Something had to be there. He could feel it. Something was cutting into his skin like claws. Their stare made him nervous, anxious enough that he was almost winded by the weight of it. And the source was nearby. It had to be. If it could see him, he could see it. But for the moment he was blind. The snow was falling too quickly and his nose was buried in crystals within seconds. He bristled and shook himself out, straining his ears for even the slightest hint of noise he might be able to gather from the sound. He tilted his head and listened once more.

But there was no wind to carry sound to him. And he could not think straight as he tried to consider the sounds in the woods beyond the soft fall of the snow crystals around him. They sounded like thunder as he strained his ears so forcefully. And that made him snarl low in his throat for a brief moment before he turned away and looked at the snow. He wrinkled his nose and sniffed at the ground for a moment, but there was nothing there either; the snowfall did too well to cover what little scent might have remained there. So he shrugged it away and pushed further into the trees. He traced the line of the territory, a long and curvy one which almost followed the river in shape.

He clawed another tree trunk and shook himself out as he settled on all fours once more. He bristled, then relaxed again. But the feeling of being watched did not change. And he felt as if he were winded as the air grew heavier with more abundant snowfall once more. He turned to look about himself, nearly snarling, and paused for a brief moment to consider the air in front of him. He blinked against the ice that landed in his eyes, squinting for a heartbeat before narrowing his gaze further. His lashes were too short in this form, he thought with a flustered feeling. It was perhaps the only downfall to being a wolf. But it was a small one, if it was even that, he thought with mild approval.

And, as he craned his head back and considered his surroundings, he swore he saw the smallest shadow against the snow, beyond his immediate sight. He tilted his head, pricking his ears, and waited a moment for the snow to lessen. When it didn't, he inched slowly towards the shape. It was off-gray, some shade between silver and black and white. And it made his lips peel back as he considered it.

It was in the branches, not too terribly high over his head. He peered upwards with narrowed eyes, curious and slightly bewildered, and then moved forward a single step more. At first he could not tell what it was, but the form was vaguely avian. He sniffed at the air but there were no clues and, as he looked at them, the animal seemed to hardly care that he might see it as well. But he knew it to be watching him. There was no way it wasn't; it was the only thing that possibly could have.

It dove at him abruptly. Yami snarled and lunged at it. Talons, small but hooked, came for his nose, and he snapped his teeth. His jaws closed on air and snow. And the bird dodged away with a cry that sounded somehow like laughter. Yami spun immediately to see it. The feathers were glossy and laden with water, slicked to the point of looking almost like a darkened stream. The wings were not too terribly large, nor too long. And the tail was rather short for the most part.

It disappeared into the snow again and for a moment Yami saw nothing else. There was only the ice that fell before him and the thinnest of branches. The snowfall worsened seconds later, as if beckoned by the bird's flight. The thought was a mildly surprising one but not enough that he cared for more than a moment. He turned away a heartbeat later, ears pricked forward and lips drawn back to show his teeth.

The bird made no move to swoop down again. In fact, if he was not wrong, it was settled on a branch nearby, watching him as it had before. He could not see it, however, and so he remained still, trying his hardest to strain his eyes and catch sight of it. When he found nothing, he looked away and pricked his ears forward once more disdainfully.

The more he watched, the more curious he became. The anger, driven by his mounting paranoia, slowly slipped away. And he breathed in deeply as if he might somehow catch the scent he needed to help him better identify the animal before him. He didn't know the species but it had been large enough that swooping down at him had startled him. He considered this for a few moments. Then he tilted his head and wondered what it was he should do if it might somehow be a threat. He did not know what he might do if it were to follow him for much longer.

He could climb the tree, but if it took flight it would lose him entirely. And it was not hard to imagine that it could fly faster than he might run. Even if he broke into a full sprint and moved as quickly as he could, he did not think he would be able to keep up entirely. It would lose him in the snow; that was already incredibly obvious to him. He could not chase it in this blinding weather, regardless of how well adapted his eyes were for such a thing. Its presence in the air would be its saving grace. And he did not think that straining his ears to catch the sound of its wings would do him any good either.

The problem was that he could not hear past the snow crunching beneath his paws or the flakes bunching up together when they landed. If he could not get past such background noise, he would never be able to focus on the bird and that would make it impossible to keep chasing. And the loss of energy was nothing he was in favor of either. To do so would be foolish to begin with.

He could not afford such a thing.

Yami shook himself out, turning back to the trees. If the bird remained following, he'd have to take another route and hope he became lost to it. He could not afford to have it follow him to the camp. Despite not knowing if it was dangerous or not, Yami could not be so stupid as to lead it to the camp or to Yugi. That was far too foolish for him to even consider. He pricked his ears forward and listened a few minutes longer. But there hardly seemed to be much of anything to listen for. And the air was so still now that it was amazing to him.

He picked his way down another row of trees, scratching the wood for a moment. He flicked an ear when he thought he heard the sound of a branch dipping, then tilted his head upwards. The bird had landed above him, had its head angled down to peer at him. Its beak was long, sharp, with a slight hook at the end that looked as if it might pierce through his chest. Yami stared straight up at it, taking in large circular eyes as deep as a well but as lifeless as a pair of buttons. The head of it was glossy, black, a dark shadow against the falling snow. It looked like an immense ink stain against the white, as if it were a smudge that could not be erased.

He wondered if he himself looked like that at times, if from far away he was nothing but a shadow. If one could not see his eyes, did they think he was but a normal dog? Or did they think he was just a shadow in the snow? Did he even have definition and shape when one could not see his features? Or was he nothing but a black hole against the ice?

Yami didn't blink. The bird let out a sharp, low cawing noise. And then it perked up and shook itself out. When the snow fell away from its feathers, it was apparent that it was not completely black. The solid color was cut through with a blazing gray across the center of the chest. He stared at it, bewildered, and thought briefly of Noah. He thought of the way his eyes had shown and he'd had a silver undercoat that had looked much like this bird's own markings.

He allowed himself to consider this but for a moment. Then he turned away again. It was not worth his time to try to figure out what the bird was doing there. And it was foolish of him to consider it for longer than necessary. He just had to be aware of where it was at all times. He did not want it to follow him to the camp. Because he knew there was something incredibly wrong with the fact that such a large raven was there before him. If he remembered correctly, they were not prone to migration, however, so it was perhaps reasonable that it was there.

But the way the raven peered down at him seemed to assure him that this bird was not a natural avian. And that was something he could not afford to overlook. If it followed him to the camp…

But the hellhounds already knew where the camp was. So what was this bird following him for? Had they decided to simply trail him for whatever reason? Or was there something else entirely? Yami tilted his head, staring up at the bird for a long handful of seconds. Was it so simple as to say that it was just lost and had come to follow him? Or was it something more sinister? Was it looking to follow him to the camp? Or was it looking to follow him to Yugi?

How long had it been there? How long had it been following him? Had it even seen Yugi? Or had it simply noticed him when he was alone and so come to follow him? But why follow him in the first place? It was not as if he had anything of value for it to find in doing so.

Yami shrugged it off and turned away, ears pricked and eyes narrowing into near slits. He ignored the snow which fell into his eyes and covered his muzzle. His fur was laden with it and he felt as if it were pressed entirely into his skin with such pressure that it was smothering. He shook it off and trotted forward a few more steps. When he glanced over his shoulder, the raven had turned around entirely to face him. Its head was tilted, an eye focused entirely on him. There was nothing inconspicuous about the action. Instead it stared at him almost gleefully now beneath his attention.

The black wolf flicked his ears again, turning away. The snow was too heavy, he decided with a small tinge of bitterness. It was stupid of him to feel that way. He loved snow, after all, but some part of him was resentful and angry about it now. Some part of him could not truly understand the heaviness of the weather around him. And he thought briefly of what the world must have been like when it had been only ice formerly. He thought of the Lunar Ascension, of how the earth had been frozen entirely and the sun gone. He thought it must have looked much alike what it did now, with a sky of white that was tinted with silver and slight grays and rapidly falling ice crystals.

His paws were covered to the hocks. His forelimbs were coated above the wrists.

The snow was so deep that he was amazed he could keep moving in it. He had not sunk completely to the bottom, he knew, but he was weighted down and inches deep in the ice. Moving became a slow and tedious task now, as he waded through it. It was flung up and about as he trotted and he found himself panting a few minutes later. The air was so cold that his lungs were burning and his nose felt frozen for a brief moment. He considered the trees around him a moment longer, then looked away again. His ears pricked forward and he shook himself out once more. But it was hard to push forward again and he was tired as he considered it.

He glanced over his shoulder. The raven was hunched into itself, head twisted to stare at him. But it did not look as if it might follow him again anytime soon. He had the feeling that the hellhound was suffering for its avian form. Yami assumed that it could not be easy for a bird like this to sit in such dense falling snow. From what he knew ravens tended to remain in large groups during winter. He was far from an expert on the dark-feathered avian, but he felt he remembered hearing such a thing from his cage mate once when he'd asked about the outside world. The birds were smarter than most would assume, his cage mate had told him, and they remained in large groups in winter but only couples in warmer weather.

He took a seat for a few minutes. The snow came almost to the tops of his knees. And he peered into it for as long as it took him to truly catch his breath. When he'd recovered, he got to his paws and shook himself out once more. He got up, wandered forward, and began to make his way to the trees he'd been formerly marking. He clawed one, glanced back to find the raven still bunched up against the cold, and picked his way forward in the deep snow once more.

He did not pause as he continued making his way throughout the trees. It took a few more minutes for him to mark another three of them, and then he scented the air slowly. The wolf shook himself out, pricking his ears. He watched the way the air crystallized before his nose, though it faded away and was destroyed when the snow passed through it. His right eye stung as a flake landed in it and he squinted against it for a moment. But he swore somehow the shape of it looked like a wolf's face for a split second. He thought of his cage mate, then of Yugi, and then briefly he considered that perhaps it had looked more like one of the gods. Maybe it had been Obelisk, or possibly Skoll or Hati instead.

Yami shook himself out once more, then began to move away. He wrinkled his lips back slightly, showing his teeth, and flicked his tongue over his nose. His stomach knotted as he forced his way through the snow. But he felt as if he were moving through water. And the task of moving was burdensome. He closed his eyes a moment, huffing out a breath.

And, when he opened them, he swore he saw something large and pale moving about in the shadows. It was a fast, brief flicker of movement. And he pricked his ears forward, for he thought he saw the smallest flash of some odd color that lay between silver, green and blue. He could not see a trail to follow, however. And the odd misplaced color was long gone when he tried to trace the path the animal would have gone. He considered it, ears pricked, then turned away with a small grunt. That was not what he had been expecting. It had been nothing he would have thought likely to happen at any moment.

The animal had been so pale, however, that even had he followed it he did not think he would have found it. He considered that for a moment, blinking once and then twice, and finally shook himself out as he had before. Yami lowered his head, sniffing at the air. But there was nothing to be found, and so he waited a moment longer. When he saw nothing else, he pushed through the snow as he had before. He didn't glance around even once, and when he heard the sound of snow falling from a nearby tree, he flicked an ear but ignored it beyond that. He did not bother for even a moment to think about it.

The shape could have been nothing but a change of wind. And, even if Yami had not felt it, it could explain the sudden appearance. No werewolf had eyes like that, he knew, so he doubted it could be a hellhound. And he did not think that there was much reason to follow him. And what kind of foolish wolf would this one be to show as a canine rather than appear as a bird like the other had?

He shrugged it away. He had to meet up with Yugi at the other end of the territory. And, at this rate, it would take him forever to get to such a thing. He shook himself out, huffing a small breath from his nose, and pricked his ears forward. He considered himself for a long handful of seconds, looking around slowly but surely, and scanned all of the things surrounding him. The trees were so thin here, as if they might give way to fields in the spring. And maybe they did. Yami couldn't know. He had not explored the entirety of Hokkaido in the time that he had been free of the labs. It made little sense to him to worry about such a thing. Maybe, if the gods did not kill him when Yugi's purpose as Atem was over, he might come back to find out.

Now, however, he clawed another tree and continued on.

For ten minutes he did nothing else. And then he paused. Something about the air had changed. He looked immediately over his shoulder, snarling almost fearfully. But the raven had taken off in the other direction, almost as if it had been scared away. The thought made him circle around twice, head lowered and a snarl on his face. But nothing came. And so he finally raised his head again, scenting the air and pricking his ears, and turned away. His breathing came slow, even, as he shook himself out once more.

I'm slowing myself down for no reason, he thought petulantly, nearly snarling at himself in mounting disdain. He could not meet up with Yugi like this if he was going to stumble and act so foolish as he was at the moment. But he was abruptly sure that something was wrong now as well. He felt more acutely than ever that paranoia he'd experienced when the raven was there. And now he snarled, circling once more, and finally forced himself to continue. His ears were flicking every direction now and he felt oddly cold, as if he were frozen beneath a block of ice.

He thought of the lake for a moment, of how Noah had dragged him beneath the surface with him. He thought of how cold it had felt, the way the water had seemed to freeze upon touching his skin. And his heart hurt for a single second. He thought of the panic he'd seen in Yugi's face, of how devastated he'd seemed when he'd not immediately risen from the water.

Yami shook this thought away, something like grief burrowing its way through his veins, and continued forward as quickly as he could. Yugi was waiting for him. He would have to meet up with him sooner rather than later. He did not want him to worry, after all. That would only be foolish and cruel of him to do so.

He made it another few minutes without stopping. But it was not the sense of being watched or a flash of shadow against the snow that stopped him now. Yami stood before a fallen tree, covered in feet of snow, but its sides just barely apparent against the white there. There was the thinnest patch of wood to be seen, where the two piles of snow did not touch. And, beneath it, was a thin fracture of blue against the white, where the branches seemingly disappeared into nothingness. He blinked, looking at the upraised roots of the fallen trunk, where they were splayed and snapped from the cold. The slight gurgle of water alerted him to the truth of it, that he was not wrong in his assumption of knowing where he was.

The tree bridge cut over a portion of the river, leading almost into the heart of the territory. One could use it when it was warmer, but now its sides looked slick with ice crystals where they were visible. And he didn't have to think to know that it would be a disaster to attempt such a thing at the moment. Not only that, but he felt as if the trunk might bob as it once had before, as if it might threaten to dunk him underwater. It had done so before, had thrown him into the darkness underneath but for a moment. He had been panicked and frantic, falling beneath the current of the river for a split second. But his dew claws had caught onto the bark that it seemed to barely possess now and he'd been able to quickly and almost effortlessly pull himself back out again. He'd been exhausted, however, but had continued to run regardless.

The wolves had been behind him, he remembered. The entire patrol had followed him for miles, after all. And they had been yards behind, but he'd still been fearful and hasty, panicked that something might come to happen, that he might slow and become their prey. He'd witnessed them moving about as they had…

The black wolf shook this thought off now, pricking his ears forward. The snow was deafening as it fell, just as it had been formerly. And now he could barely hear his own heart in his ears. The thought was almost alarming to him for a brief second. But it passed again and he shrugged it away. It did not matter, he knew, and so he shrugged it away as he considered. The trunk would not sway now. He would not be using it to cross the river. He did not have to. To do so would ruin the path he was meant to follow. And he had offered to mark the territories. He needed to do so, as he'd said he would.

Yami turned away from the tree bridge and trotted through the snow once more. It was annoying now rather than too terrible. But it was still slow and tedious and he struggled to claw again at another trunk. He fell back into the snow once more, then did so to another three past. He shook himself and pricked his ears. His eyes narrowed, his head tilted, and he glanced over his shoulder slowly. But there was nothing to be found in the slightest. The raven was long gone and he saw no shadow of off-white in the snow behind him.

Yami scratched one last tree an hour later, forcing himself into another run. He was not outright sprinting, but rather moving as quickly as he could without doing so. A trot was no good now, as he felt the time he'd wasted formerly was catching up to him. And so he rushed himself, shaking from the speed he used, and stood panting when he stopped again. His head was lowered and his shoulders were shaking finely as he closed his eyes for a moment.

The territory was too large, he decided in annoyance. He'd taken a shortcut to make his way there in time, bypassing a larger section of trees which would need marking once more. He shivered and shook harder, then gasped for air. His lungs felt swollen and inflamed for a split second, his stomach lolling. He shook himself out once again, bristling, and padded through the snow for a few minutes longer. Then he stopped. His head snapped up. His ears pricked. His lips peeled back. He spun around. His jaws opened wide. And then realization slammed into him.

Just as something else hit him in the side. It was gentle, a tap of a body against his. He stumbled and panted. He swayed for a single second. And then he shook himself out. The white wolf draped his long forelegs over his shoulders, leaning forward. He was wagging his tail happily now, gazing at him. His bright blue-violet eyes were glowing with affection. When he leaned forward, it was to lick his forehead. And his breaths were warm against his nose when he exhaled.

I caught me a Yami, he declared in a playful, childish tone. He pressed his nose into his ear for a moment. And then he lowered his chin to lie between the blades of his shoulders again. He was wagging his tail harder now. And guess how I did it!

By spotting me and circling and then coming up behind me? Yami snorted. He wagged his tail slowly in turn now. But he was distracted as Yugi looked back at him with bright eyes. Yami's gaze shot about the branches for a moment, as if the raven might reappear at any moment. But the hellhound had apparently chosen to long since fly away and refuse to come back. Perhaps the cold had gotten to it; he had always wondered if the change of physical body impacted the hellhound in any manner. Changing forms like that could not be easy for them.

No! Yugi huffed. And he seemed upset for only a second. Then he straightened and pounced away. He was wagging his tail rapidly. And he turned to him with a wide smile on his face. His jaws were hanging open, his tongue lolling. His whole body was shaking with an exuberance that Yami himself did not share. I did it with the alpha-beta bond!

Yami blinked. Then he tilted his head and sniffed at him. He circled him twice, sniffing at his face and eyes and then ears. He nudged at his shoulders with his nose, then stepped back and considered him. Yugi had a confused expression on his face, ears flattened against his head now and his eyes wide with momentary alarm. It took him only a moment to relax again, though he was bristling slightly against the snow.

What, uh, what was that? Are you okay?

Oh, I'm fine, Yugi. I was just wondering if perhaps you were not.

What? Of course I'm okay! Why wouldn't I be?

Yami tilted his head. Well, I had to make sure that your eyes and ears and nose still worked.

W-well, yeah, of course they do! Why wouldn't they? Should I be worried about them not working or something?

The black wolf looked down into the snow towards Yugi's paws for a moment. And the white wolf awkwardly raised them for him to see after a moment of his pointed staring. I was simply wondering if perhaps your senses had somehow failed you.

Okay, but why? Yugi stressed. He shook himself out, looking fearful now. His fur rose into a jagged bristle and his tail was raised halfway in alarm. Is that something that's going to happen? I don't understand why you're—

Yami chuckled after a moment, leaning forward to lick his nose. I do not see why you would use the alpha-beta bond to find me otherwise, he teased. But there was a slight warning in his tone as well, and he knew they were both aware of it. Yugi blinked and raised his head the smallest degree, though he shook his startled aggression off just as fast. When he sprang at him, Yami struggled not to fall into the snow.

Is it so bad that I wanted to find you like that? I mean, if it bothers you, you can tell me. But I want to be able to use it more often. I want to know how to use it in case something happens.

Right, as you have said before. Yami let him paw at his shoulder. He nipped him on the paw and wagged his tail. The white wolf growled. Then he pawed him again. Yami snorted. He shook himself out again, pricking his ears. I am not upset with you doing so. I simply had not thought that you might use it now. It is not something I was expecting.

But…does it matter?

Not quite as much as I might have made you think a moment ago, I suppose. I was simply surprised. It is not something that many wolves do. So it startled me to think that you had done so just to find me here.

Well, I wasn't in the clearing when I did it. I was actually a few miles back. And then I thought I should check for the hell of it and so I did. And here we are. He wagged his tail happily. His bright pink tongue was lolling again. I mean, why not? It might have been unnecessary but at least that way I got to see if I could do it by will, you know?

I suppose it is a good thing to know how to do. He hesitated when Yugi wagged his tail more exuberantly. I suppose at some point I will attempt to use it as well. I can try to find you in the woods one day like you did me.

But he wondered if he sounded as dubious to Yugi as he did to himself. There was little in the prospect which appealed to him. And one of the problems with this task was that he did not know if he could convince himself to do such a thing. It seemed as if it were encroaching on Yugi's privacy. And, while they might often be together and around one another, he did not wish to consider that it might turn another way in which he might be forced to use the alpha-beta bond to trace his location. He did not want to consider it in the slightest, in truth. It seemed painful to him for a moment.

But he shrugged it off again soon after. Yugi was simply trying to assure himself that if something happened he'd be able to find him. He knew that. He even respected it. But that did not make it easier. He did not know if it was a good idea for him to attempt such a thing as Yugi might desire. The thought made his stomach loll. His heart felt sick and he shook his head, turning away again.

We were to return to the camp, yes? he asked softly. He was not aggressive in any sense. But he wondered if he seemed so when Yugi stared back at him in near bewilderment. The look on his face passed, however, and he smiled at him after a moment. He butted him in the shoulder and licked his cheek before trotting past him.

Yeah, we need to go back to the camp for a little while. I want to speak to Ishizu, if nothing else, he answered. The black wolf stiffened, head snapping around. Yugi blinked at him, frowning, and looked at him in surprise when he noticed the movement from the corner of his eye. What? What's wrong? Did you hear something?

Yami blinked once, long and slow. You wish to speak to Ishizu? he asked slowly, narrowing his eyes. His ears flattened against his head and he growled low in his throat for a brief moment. Why would you wish to do that? That does not make sense, Yugi.

Why not? Yugi blinked at him, tilting his head with a confused expression. Why wouldn't it make sense? I wanted to know more about if she's really the only reason that the gods can see anything to do with us.

Yes, but…why? He stepped closer, lowering his head the smallest degree. A part of him hurt at the very idea of Yugi getting too close to the blue-eyed girl. He did not want him to do so. Ishizu was a disaster, in truth. She was related to Marik, which to him was warning enough that he should stay away from her altogether. Why would you want to do that?

I figured it would be smart to confirm it instead of us just wondering about it, you know? I mean, why wouldn't you want to know? he asked after a moment, confused and bewildered. The white wolf tilted his head further to the side, confusion making his blue-violet eyes a shade darker. I mean, it seems smarter to do that than anything.

Does it? Yami asked slowly. He huffed out a deep breath and drew his lips back into something of a snarl with a shake of his head. I would rather we both leave it alone. The gods may be blind to us, but if she is not, what more will this visit do but upset you should she say something you do not want to hear?

And what would she say to me? What are you so afraid of? Yugi inquired quietly, stepping forward. He was staring at him intently now, eyes sharper than ever, and narrowed his gaze into near slits. His head tilted once more, staring at him with a bewildered expression. But the white wolf did not speak for a few long moments. And Yami could not find the words to correct him of such an assumption for what felt like a lifetime. Yugi had struck the issue right on the nose, had laid it out bleeding and raw and wounded before him.

And it lay between them like a dying animal.

Yami stared at him a moment or so longer. And then he growled softly and turned away. His fur rose and fell in a sharp bristle. And he struggled for a moment to keep from lunging. He did not know if he would strike him or if he might simply snap his teeth at him.

Regardless, it was an urge that came through him all the same.

I wasn't going to ask her anything about you.

And does that ensure she will not speak of me regardless? She and the gods seem to find it so funny to bring me up to you regardless of what the former subject might be. They do the same when it comes to my conversations with them.

Have you ever spoken to Ishizu before?

Once, but not since then. It was not something that I wish to repeat.

What did she say to you?

Yami ignored the question, then drew his lips back to stare at him when he crept closer. His gums were burning with the chill of the winter air against them. He snarled low in his throat for a single moment, then turned away again. It does not matter, he sneered, what she said to me. It does not matter what I told her. What she said to me does not matter in the slightest.

No? Then why are you shaking? Yugi questioned. But his voice was gentle and soft, warm and beautiful. And, when he came closer, his tongue flicked over his nose affectionately. Yami flinched back and stared at him, feeling as if he'd been punched. Oh, aibou, don't worry, okay? You know I won't listen to anything she might say that might change my opinion of you. You know nothing can do that.

Yami bristled and lowered his head, drawing his lips back further to show his teeth. He shivered finely for a single second, then turned away. He forced himself to calm, shaking himself out, and closed his eyes as he sighed softly. No, I suppose it cannot. I cannot even make you change your opinion when I try to tell you the truth of our situation. So I know I cannot expect her words to do much in that manner either, huh?

You don't see yourself clearly, Yugi insisted now, huffing. So I don't believe you sometimes when you say things about yourself. I think I can do relatively well with figuring out which things you say should be taken seriously and which ones shouldn't.

Or perhaps you have the wrong idea about me and you should rethink who you value as your friends.

Or maybe who I value as my friends are worth it and you're just a negative furball who hates himself for whatever reason. Yugi huffed and turned away from him, beginning to move through the snow. Yami hesitated, staring after him with wide eyes, and wondered immediately if perhaps he should turn away and hide altogether. Perhaps he should leave him to remain where he was and not go with him to the camp. Maybe he should turn and hunt or leave altogether and Yugi should continue to the camp without him. But, abruptly, as if he sensed these thoughts, Yugi spun around to look at him. He stopped altogether, ears pricked and eyes locked on his, and then he turned with his tail up, silently instructing him to follow.

They stayed silent for a long handful of minutes. And then Yugi turned to him abruptly again, wagging his tail. I was thinking that we should introduce ourselves to the wolves at the pack again, he announced. I don't know when, yet, but I think that we definitely need to do it. I don't think it's something that we have to do today, but it's necessary for later on.

You do not say, Yami snorted. You know that it is necessary. I hardly know any of them now that many of the Japanese wolves are no longer there. I killed many of them, so I know that they do not remain in the camp now. But I know none of the pack members.

Yugi was quiet for a moment. You know Yusei, he finally mumbled, but he sounded as pathetic as Yami thought the answer was. And Zane, Chazz, Syrus, Yuya…

And then Yugi fell quiet. His eyes were glazed over for a moment, his pupils dilated and his head tilted slightly. He looked sick for a moment, as if he might open his jaws and vomit forth an immense river of bile. He shook for a single second, then looked up so that their eyes locked once more. Something in him seemed incredibly frayed, almost as if something inside of him had snapped entirely. It was as if Yami were looking at a hairline fracture that was slowly but surely spreading forward. He thought of a mirror breaking before his eyes, as if the glass were shattering. And he considered him as Yugi stared back with that same weak expression.

But it cleared. He wagged his tail after a moment. His eyes softened. His stance relaxed. And he came forward to lick his forehead and his muzzle to nuzzle his ear gently. He wagged his tail more pointedly after a moment. He nuzzled him gently in the shoulder, then his flank. You're right, though, he answered quietly, you don't know many of them and neither do I. I'm not the best at this. And I'm self-centered when it comes to how much I can handle where the pack is concerned. It's not a good quality to have as a leader. But I'm going to do this. We're going to figure it out. And we're going to get this done. The pack will learn to respect us again. And we'll be fine…okay?

Yami blinked once, then tilted his head. Yes. I understand. He paused. And I agree that we need to do this. I agree that we have to make friends with them, that we need to make sure that the pack is unified and ready to work with us. We have to assert ourselves again. We have to make sure that they will continue to follow us.

But he did not think that they followed them as it was. He did not think that any of them cared for them in the slightest. And he was unsure whether or not to say such a thing. So he fell quiet for a moment, turning away and shaking his head. He shook himself out again, glancing around slowly towards the trees and back for a moment. There was nothing there, however. And he was comfortable knowing such a thing. He did not see a single thing there waiting for his attention in the falling snow. The raven was gone. There was no flash of that strange color he could not properly describe.

He did not see another wolf with them anywhere.

And somehow that was more relaxing than anything he had ever felt before.

Let's go then, he murmured. He glanced around one more time, shaking himself out, and finally turned away to follow him. Yugi hesitated for a moment, licking his forehead once, and then turned and began to lead him forward. The two of them were silent for a long minute before he finally grunted, I will go with you to the camp, but I do not want to stay too long.

Huh?

It's nothing bad. I want to get water. But I also want to leave as soon as possible, he said quietly. His eyes grew sharper for a moment as he looked at Yugi, ears pricked forward and lips drawn back entirely to show his teeth. I do not want to interact with Ishizu. And I do not wish to interact with the others either. I do not care to spend time with any of them.

I know. I know you don't. Yugi was quiet for a moment. And I'm not going to force you to, either.

You couldn't even if you might have wanted to. Yami faced him now, eyes locked with his. His tail rose minutely, his ears pricked forward, and his lips wrinkled the smallest degree. And if you were so foolish as to try to, I would beat you into submission in order to avoid it. You have no idea how much I despise the pack…

And it's okay that you do, Yugi said quietly, though he tilted his head and considered him a moment longer. But we'll have to work around that. I know you know that. And maybe you won't be able to always be around them for long periods of times. And that's okay too. I don't think I want to stay around them longer than necessary either. I think it'll be fine either way, however. I think we can find some kind of balance or a way to work around it and ignore our unease with them for a while.

I should assume such a thing would be possible, yes. I do not think that it should be too terribly hard to do so. Yami turned away from him now, shaking himself out and pricking his ears forward. He walked slowly beside him, brushing shoulders with him once and trotting ahead of him for a few seconds. His stomach rolled once and he thought briefly of the pack, of just how many wolves existed in it. Their numbers had to be similar to those within the labs. Although, most of the wolves underground were likely dead as it was.

They continued in silence back to the camp, though Yugi didn't know whether he should label it uneasy or tense. Yami had lost what little bit of friendliness he'd had when they were together in the woods formerly, answering his questions with one word most often if he dared to ask anything. And he'd become completely silent soon enough, as if he were possessed by the need for quiet as they began to make their way to the camp. Yugi had gotten nothing from him but the occasional glance in his direction and short answers that begged for elaboration but were granted none.

When they got to the camp, Yami followed him long enough to make it to the center where Ishizu lay near Aki, the two she-wolves seemingly conversing about something or other. Aki had stubbornly gone silent, glaring at Yugi as if he were some kind of poisonous snake meant to strike out against her. And Ishizu had simply greeted him before turning away again. Yami gave him a simple acknowledgment of, I'm going to go get some water before trotting off in the opposite direction to head up the cliffs and towards the top of the waterfall. Yugi watched him go for a moment, then turned back to them.

Ishizu finally seemed to lose her patience with Aki's quiet anger, turning to him with a wag of her tail. Hello, Atem, she greeted in a softer, friendlier tone. It is rather surprising to see you here today.

Where is Yami off to? Aki sneered. I was so sure if he left, you'd stick your head up his ass and follow.

Yugi would have rolled his eyes had he been able to. Instead he scoffed and shook his head, eyeing her coldly. Yeah, that's great. It's nice to see you again, too, Aki, he growled. But he turned to Ishizu immediately after, studying her face for a moment as if he might find some hint of the conversation they'd been having formerly there in her eyes. How are things for you, Ishizu?

The question seemed to surprise her. The she-wolf blinked, blue eyes widening briefly. She shook her head, pricking her ears, and tilted her head the smallest degree. They have been relatively fine. Aki and I were just discussing what had happened to Marik. Her eyes had turned cold, crystalline, as if she expected him to speak out against her brother's name. But Yugi simply blinked and she curled her lip the smallest degree in response. But the time for the dead has long since passed, has it not? Shall we discuss the living now?

Yugi bristled faintly, tilting his head in bewilderment. Sure, if you'd like to.

Would you like to know who is about to cross paths with Yami? she asked, voice growing sly with laughter. The white wolf stood slightly taller, the hairs on his shoulders rising into a furious bristle at the teasing tone. He blinked and pricked his ears forward, glaring at her as he narrowed his gaze the smallest degree. Let's see. How many are there he might cross paths with?

Aki turned her head to look at her as if she had lost her mind. What the hell does that even mean, Ishizu? she growled. That doesn't even make any sense. He went to get water. It's not like he's run off to join the hellhounds as their ranking leader.

For fuck's sake, would you get off that? Yugi spat. He's not a hellhound!

And you would know this how? You've got your head so far up his ass I'd be amazed if you didn't breathe the same air as him, she snarled in turn, glaring at him furiously. As far as I'm concerned, you're both worthless mutts meant to bring about destruction for all of us.

How wonderful of you to say that, he snapped. But are you forgetting that Yami is the only reason you're actually alive right now? If he hadn't jumped in when Sartorius nearly killed you—

Right, because that wasn't an ambush that was caused by your friends at school. Because that wasn't one of your friends leading them or you following the scent of one and leading them straight to us.

You were there too, you idiot, Yugi spat. You saw them. They hid under the snow and leaped out to kill us.

And that's not something that you led us to? You were simply there.

I told you all. I was following Valon's scent—

Right, the hellhound you've formed allegiance with.

Why are you so pathetic? Why do you always have to pick a fight with me? Yugi sneered, shaking his head with growing resentment. You do this all the time. And there's no actual reason to!

Aside from the fact that you are worthless and useless and pretend to be someone you're not? You're about as capable of being alpha as deer droppings and you expect me to waste my time simply following you like a naïve pup?

It's not like you weren't raised to.

Aki sprang forward, snarling. Ishizu sighed loudly, shaking her head. Yugi stepped forward, tail raised and eyes furious.

I doubt the gods truly wish for the two of you to spill blood like this, Ishizu drawled in a dismissive tone. She did not even seem to believe her own words and Yugi almost spun on her in annoyance. She shook her head and tipped her ears towards the ground after a moment or so. I do not understand your hatred of one another, truthfully. You both are entitled to your beliefs, regardless of whether you consider him too weak to lead or not, Aki.

He deserves to have his throat ripped out for the hell of it. Half my family has suffered that fate because of him, so why not show him the same?

You kill a Pure-Blood and they just come back angrier than when they originally died, Ishizu huffed. But Yugi saw a glint in her eye and his stomach lurched as he realized that she understood that his immortality was something that was up for debate. She knew that he had not been killed and come back, that even the gods doubted his ability to return from the grave should something happen. Regardless, he is Atem. Leave him be.

Is he now? The Atem I was raised to believe in was worthy of being followed, of being held to higher standards. He was meant to be a god among the wolves. This little brat in front of me is none of those things.

Judgment should not be cast without reason. Ishizu sounded bored even as she said it. She hardly seemed to believe her own words and Yugi blinked in surprise. But what does it matter?

He's an imposter, just like that stupid infuriating beta of his— Aki abruptly turned to him, eyes seemingly wild and hideous as her pupils dilated and she bore her teeth. What of that time he went missing, Atem? What of all that time he was gone and didn't come back? You think it was coincidence that so many of our wolves were killed or left for dead in the woods during that time?

Yugi struggled not to snarl that it had been Marik to do it. He pressed his tongue into the roof of his mouth and drew his lips back to show his teeth in a snarl. He wouldn't slander him, not when he was long since dead and he'd spoken to him in Paradise as it was. If he could be forgiven there, perhaps it would do him well to try now that he was awake and in the living world as well.

Besides, he'd promised Ishizu. He'd told her to form the lie to protect him, to make Marik die a hero or a casualty rather than the traitor he'd been.

So Yugi shook his anger away and glared at Aki more pointedly. It doesn't matter where he was as far as you're concerned. I know where he was during that time, but it's none of your business. He paused. And I will gladly tell that to anyone stupid enough to ask.

So, is that what we are to you, Atem? she sneered. Just a bunch of stupid insignificant wolves?

He barely stopped himself from spitting that they were all significant in comparison to Yami. Instead he shook himself and turned to look solely at Ishizu. You said something about him crossing paths with someone?

Multiple someone's. She looked at him, laughter in her bright icy eyes. Perhaps a pack or two of them.

Yugi blinked. His first thought was of hellhounds. If there was a patrol of them, he'd have to make a run for it to help Yami. But the lack of tension in her form and how easily she spoke of it, the teasing in her tone, made him relax slightly.

Chazz and Zane are back then? They found some wolves?

Aki blinked. They managed to convince more of them to come here? Do they realize they'll be sacrificed like lambs? she snorted. How wonderful of them to choose to lay their lives on the line if that is what they've decided to do.

Yugi shot her a glare but she didn't seem to care in the slightest. He turned back to Ishizu as she looked at him with a slight smile on her jaws.

So then they're back? All went well? he demanded, voice slightly flustered with the need to be assured. She tilted her head and he wondered if she could see things at the moment or if she had known before he'd gotten there that Yami would be crossing paths with the new packs to join them. He shivered and she simply shook herself out as she got to her paws.

Why don't you go ahead and ask him yourself? He will be here in a minute.

Yugi blinked. Did she mean Zane or Chazz? Or did she mean Yami? The latter couldn't tell him anything, so asking him was a stupid idea. But Chazz or Zane could fill him in easily if he were to bother to question them about their journey to the states and their return…

I guess I will then. He turned to Aki. I hope you remember how to behave. I don't need them picking fights the moment they enter the camp.

How nice of you to worry about them.

I'd worry about you too, but you just seem bitter and I can't do much for someone who doesn't want help. He snorted and turned away when she snapped her teeth at him. He locked eyes with Ishizu. How many are there?

It's a surprise.

He really wished he could have rolled his eyes. Great to hear, he growled. I just love not knowing answers to questions I ask. Thanks for that. Keep up the good work.

Aki snorted at the response. Yugi almost glanced at her but thought better of it and turned to look away again. It took him only a moment to spot movement from the corner of his eye. He turned, blinking, and from the far end of the camp he could see Yami striding forward in a lazy gait.

Behind him was Zane, Yugi noted. The gray wolf had his head a centimeter lower then Yami's own, perhaps out of respect or simply because he was shorter than him; Yugi didn't honestly know. But his dark eyes were on the snow and behind him was a single file unit of wolves. Yugi could see about twenty of them, some or them lean and others seemingly packed with muscle. He shivered as the black wolf led them dutifully towards them.

Yami moved around Ishizu, though he did not pause to speak to Yugi. Instead he moved a few paces past him, turned around, and stood with his shoulder to Yugi's hindquarters. He blinked and looked at him, wondering at it, and reality slapped him in the face.

Yami had led them there as his beta. He had not done anything else, as was not his right. Yugi blinked and turned back to them, wagging his tail.

How were the states? he asked Zane, nodding briefly in greeting to Chazz. The yearling dipped his head, wagged his tail, and turned to wander off to lay down a few feet away. The other wolves all stood at attention, moving into a flanking position in order to see him more properly.

They were like they always are, he grunted. He shook himself out, gray eyes sharp and cold. I couldn't wait to leave them.

Yugi nearly snorted. Then he looked to the other wolves that had begun to scrutinize him. Some of them were respectful in the way they stared and others were blatant and cold. A male with dark gray and black fur was watching him, single eye glittering as it regarded him and then Yami in turn. A she-wolf with golden and gray fur and longer tawny legs looked away when he glanced at her. A somewhat larger but underdeveloped male with a gray and russet coat peered at him as plainly as the one-eyed wolf did.

Yami, he hissed after a moment, making sure that the others would not hear him. Yugi focused only on the black wolf as he continued. How many packs? And who are the alphas?

There are four packs. I do not know the alphas. I did not speak to them. I spoke to Zane. All he bothered to tell me was that they'd recruited four packs from four different states.

They aren't too big in numbers…

One of them is split in half. I think he said he left the others in Texas in case you were not who you claim to be. I assume he will send for them later…

Okay. He blinked. What should I do? What do you think the best way to do this is?

Ask the alphas to join you for introductions. Perhaps call the betas to do the same. But it will be simpler to have a smaller group before you bother to interact with the others. They have to be tired. I would assume they would like to rest more than anything…

Right! He turned to the one-eyed wolf after a moment, though he noticed that the darker-furred canine was focused solely on Yami over his shoulder now. He nearly snarled at him, but instead shook himself out and focused on the group of wolves in front of him as a whole. He could deal with the other alpha later if it came to it. I will meet with the alphas and the betas first. The rest of you must be exhausted so you're free to rest and we'll continue introductions afterwards. Chazz, get up and come with us.

The yearling blinked, sprang to his paws and hurriedly followed when Yugi turned to lead them further into the camp towards the alpha's den. Yami was a step behind him, he realized, and the thought comforted him against his uneasiness as he turned back to face the other wolves.

Chazz took a seat immediately after, ears pricked and muzzle slightly lowered towards the snow. Yugi could see the exhaustion in the lines of his form, how he looked as if he might fall asleep on his paws at any moment. No doubt he'd been hit with terrible jetlag, and he looked almost gaunt, as if he'd puked a few times before he'd come back to the camp. Yugi almost wished he could have dismissed him, but his rank caused him to forfeit such luxury for the moment.

All right, he announced, turning to the wolves in front of him. You've already met Zane and Chazz. And I'm sure you were introduced to Yami. So, those three aside, I am Atem. And you would be…?

The she-wolf was first to speak up, glancing around and then snorting when no one answered. I'm Mana, she announced. She stood perhaps an inch or two smaller than Chazz or Yusei did. Her legs were a solid tawny color, her undercoat similarly shaded though it faded and became white along her underbelly. Her face was mostly golden, though her muzzle was white along the bottom, and she had a brown bridge to her eyes. Her ears were red-brown, her forehead a similar but lighter shade, and her dorsal cape was colored silver. She had black and gray along her back, the latter covering the top of her back legs and coloring her tail. I'm the leader of the Minnesota pack. I'm thirteen, my pack is six strong, and this is my beta, Andre.

The other wolf huffed, raising his head. He was larger than Zane, with a gray muzzle with several stray brown hairs. His eyes were golden and piercing, though not as sharp as Valon's. Russet mixed with brown and gray crossed his features, merging beautifully beneath his eyes and along his forehead. It became a solid russet along his ears and the top of his skull, gray along his scruff, and his dorsal cape was a deep black. His undercoat was white, his legs and underbelly similarly colored. All four legs had black along the fronts of them, and his tail was a deep russet color as well. Pleased to meet you.

Six strong? Yugi repeated, more so startled by the lacking numbers than even her young age. There were only six of them? How was that possible? Why so small?

The humans were hunting us for a long time. And the territory we reside in is small, too much so for a larger pack. Many of us leave when we're old enough to stand on our own. They move into neighboring states and lose contact with us. After the massacre last year, during the hinting season, we chose to minimize numbers to ten and below in order to stop unnecessary bloodshed.

Last year? Yugi mumbled and he tilted his head as they looked at one another. Andre looked unimpressed with his shock, though he noted Zane shot Mana something of a scrutinizing glance. How long have you been leader?

My parents were killed in the massacre. I'm their only child so I took over the pack. She didn't sound malicious, but the anger was clear in her tone, as if she were offended by his question. So here we are. We're all here.

Yugi nodded after a moment.

Why is it that your beta looks like a mess of skin and bone? a voice sneered. Yugi blinked and turned to the one-eyed male with pricked ears, nearly bristling hatefully at the comment. He looks as if he's food for the crows rather than a high-ranking wolf.

I'm fasting, Yami drawled sarcastically in response. He looked at the one-eyed wolf as if he were one of the stupidest creatures he had ever met. I used to look fat and now I'm far too skinny. It's hard to find the right balance for my fur.

Zane snorted so loudly it made Chazz startle beside him. Yugi grimaced and shot Yami a flustered look but the black wolf ignored him altogether and shook his head. Mana tilted her head and studied Yami a moment and the one-eyed wolf scoffed loudly.

You might be his beta, but you're going against an alpha, boy, he growled. Yami blinked long and slow, clearly unimpressed. You'd be wise to remember that.

And you'd be wise to back off from threatening my beta, Yugi sneered.

Yami isn't defenseless, Jim, Zane interrupted with a smirk. The gray wolf sat up and looked more pointedly at Yugi, his eyes bright with laughter. He'll beat you into submission in seconds if you go against him.

Chazz shook himself out. He's a lot faster and nastier than he looks, he agreed. He narrowed his eyes as he regarded the black male, then wagged his tail at the two of them. I don't know if he can still hand you your butt on a silver platter like he usually does with everyone else, but he's still pretty dangerous.

I consider myself lethal, actually.

Jim burst out laughing. Lethal? You?! You look like you'd weigh twenty pounds dripping wet! he roared. His remaining eye was a deep glittering blue and he showed his teeth in a wide sneer as he peered at Yami. You can't seriously think you could take me on.

I'm a lot stronger than I look.

He's a beast when he fights, Chazz snickered. He wagged his tail at Yugi when the white wolf glanced at him. He'd hand you your butt if he got an opening.

I don't remember asking you for your opinion.

Watch your tone with my beta, Jim, Zane snarled. I let you speak down to him once. I won't stand for it again.

Bring it, Truesdale. I've nearly beaten you before—

Key word being nearly, Yami scoffed. His voice broke the two alphas of their argument and made them both turn to him. He shook himself out where he was beside Yugi and blinked lazily as Jim bore his teeth at him. But nearly isn't a word I know too well. I win. Or I back down of my own volition. Nearly is not a word I use when it comes to fights.

Yugi looked at Yami sideways. Was he truly provoking him?

You think you could beat me? Jim scoffed. I make a living off protecting my boundaries and fighting predators in my territory. I've killed boars in a single bite and disemboweled mountain lions. You'd be stupid to challenge me, boy.

I really wish you wouldn't call me that.

You sure as hell aren't a man.

No, certainly not. I'm only sixteen, after all. Yami flashed his teeth in what looked like a smile, but Yugi thought it seemed more a sneer than anything. His red eyes were almost glowing with hatred. But I'll be damned if I let you speak to me as if I am pup. I've experienced more in my short lifetime than you've likely ever known a wolf capable of.

Bullshit. Your bravado just makes you look weaker.

Yami nodded slowly. Fine then. I'll even let you make the first move. He got up and moved past Yugi to stand a couple of feet away from the Texas alpha. Jim got up as well, the two of them bristling. Yami did not wag his tail, instead watching with cold eyes and peering at him as if he were nothing but a pile of dung stuck to his paw. You can't even touch me, I'll bet.

You can't possibly be that fast. Otherwise you wouldn't be starving like you are.

Yugi bristled and shifted his weight. But he made no move to stand. He turned his head, watching Yami, and the black wolf glanced at him briefly. He did not ask permission, nor did he look slightly questioning. Instead the glance was a warning, one laden with power and threat. They only locked eyes for a single second. But Yami turned away from him to face Jim with glacial red eyes. The fur along his shoulders fell and he peered at him as if he were scrutinizing a piece of prey rather than a potential enemy.

Do you truly think you could fight me? Jim questioned, sneering at him. His eye glinted savagely and Yami tilted his head slowly in a predatory manner. Zane snickered and Mana looked uncomfortably between them. The third alpha simply blinked, studying them with little to no interest in the subject altogether. I assume you must imagine yourself to be a good fighter. But I'll beat you into submission so fast your head will spin.

Chazz, who had wisely remained silent before, now scoffed loudly. Kick hiss ass, Yami.

You know what I find funny?

The fact that having one eye makes you blind to threats?

You've got these two saying you're capable of beating me down. But your own alpha is keeping quiet and doesn't even seem slightly inclined to agree with them, Jim snorted. Standing as he was, Yugi could finally see the markings in his fur. He was mostly black and gray on his face, though his muzzle was a deep and dark brown. There was a single ringlet of deep black along his neck, where it came down in a small patch that looked like a star. Along his shoulders he was predominantly dark gray, though his dorsal cape was black and this color traveled the length of his front limbs halfway to his paws. His back legs were pale, and there were strips of a similar color along his neck on both sides, mixing in the darkness there. His tail was a deep black color, though the underside of it was white and tawny. Atem doesn't even think you can do it.

Yugi almost answered, then snorted and looked away, shaking his head. Yami chuckled beside him, sneering, I don't need a cheerleading team to say I'm capable of doing such a thing. Atem doesn't care one way or another if I deal with you. Zane and Chazz are trying to warn you away from being humiliated like you're pushing me to do. But if you will not heed their cautions, then I will show you why they feel so strongly on the matter.

You speak like you're a damn thesaurus.

Is it too much for your pea-sized brain?

Yugi sighed when Jim lunged. Yami stepped closer to him, dodging the attack easily. But Yugi could feel his leg hard against his side. He huffed out a breath, turning his head. Yami was merely watching. Jim had landed beside him, exactly where Yami had been seconds before. The black wolf turned his head, pivoting his weight. And then he struck as quickly as a cobra. His teeth sunk into flesh. Jim yelped and struggled, trying to pull away. A sickening crunch filled the air. Blood made Yugi's breath taste of metal. For a moment or two longer Yami held him there.

And then he released. Zane burst out laughing. Chazz snickered. Yami plopped into a seated position, side pressed into Yugi's. Jim stumbled to his paws, clearly stunned. He shook himself out, glaring. And then he huffed out a deep and angry breath. The red-eyed wolf watched him with cool eyes, dismissive. Jim growled and shook himself out again, then turned to make his way back. He snapped at Chazz when the yearling laughed harder and Zane smirked as he shook his head.

You should have listened, the alpha chuckled. I warned you. Chazz warned you.

Yami turned his head abruptly towards him and Yugi blinked and he looked at him curiously. My apologies, he said softly, I had not realized how close I was to you when I pinned him. I didn't mean to bump into you.

Yugi snorted loudly at the apology, wagging his tail and shaking his head. You're ridiculous, he teased with another wag of his tail. He tilted his head and Yami grinned back, but where he could feel him relax slightly into him, he did nothing further. Yugi wished he would have relaxed further, fallen back until he was leaning into him. But even he knew better than to expect such a thing. It would have been foolish for him to do so. It would have showed too easily how close they were and Yugi was sure such a thing would not be received favorably.

So he forced himself not to feel as hurt as he wanted to, turning back. Mana was frowning as Chazz continued to laugh. Jim snapped at him again but Zane merely shook his head with a smirk. And Yugi realized that, had Jim lunged at the beta, Zane would have intercepted. The dark gray wolf looked relaxed for the most part, but the muscles were readied in his haunches, prepared to spring between them. He would have launched himself immediately had Jim so much as advanced a centimeter.

Yugi wondered if he should have had a similar stance seconds ago. But it occurred to him that Yami would have likely become resentful had he. It was not that he did not appreciate the help, Yugi knew, but that he would not need it and thus he would be frustrated by the weakness it might show to the others in turn. So he was actually glad to have remained where he was rather than bothered to move. It was not as if Yami could not handle the situation himself, after all…

He turned to look over at Yami for a second. The black male had closed his eyes halfway, his gaze entirely dismissive of the wound he'd inflicted on Jim. He'd caught the base of his muzzle with his teeth and forced him down. But he had broken skin and he was sure the popping noise had not been bone. Jim would have screamed otherwise. But he did think Yami had managed to dislocate his jaw with sheer brutality. But it had healed when they'd separated. Because Jim did not seem hurt and the blood was dried, the holes in his muzzle closed and his skin a soft raw pink.

Yugi smiled faintly when he saw Chazz flicking his tongue over his nose in a goading manner. Jim bristled and snapped his teeth again, but the yearling merely wiggled his rump in his seat beside Zane. His alpha was struggling not to laugh, he noticed, and the third alpha, another yearling much like Mana, was smiling widely at the antics.

He was baiting him to move closer, knowing Zane would get between them. Yugi smiled and shook his head. Yami pricked his ears and wagged his tail again. Finally the three of them relaxed, Zane telling Chazz to stop around his laughter. Jim growled, glaring a moment or so longer, and turned away with a sneer. Yugi smiled wider and Yami snickered.

I'm Ute, the third alpha announced when they had all finally settled again. He was smaller, with a more compact shape to his body. He was leaner, with thinner legs and a somewhat longer and sharper muzzle. He had a dual-color coat, with a gray and russet combination. His ears were bright red, his muzzle streaked cinnamon, his cheeks full of dark gray. His scruff was russet, his neck to his shoulders shaded similarly. The insides of his legs were colored red, his back saddled with dark gray almost like black, his back legs to his hocks the same. His tail was streaked with black along the top, his undercoat russet. I'm alpha of the Wisconsin pack. We're over twenty strong, but I only brought a few wolves. It wasn't out of disrespect, but it was such short notice that we could not uproot completely like we were asked. My apologies.

Yugi shook his head. That's okay. Don't worry about it.

He nodded slightly, watching him a moment. My beta, Hugo, will bring them later on in the month, he continued quietly. I chose to leave him there to take care of the rest of the pack. But Moon Shadow is my gamma.

Yami blinked and raised his head, turning to the younger male with a curious look. Moon…Shadow? he repeated, as if the words were heavy and awkward on his tongue. Yugi admitted it was an odd name but it nearly made him howl with laughter when Yami continued to stare blankly at the other male. Is that… a nickname or something…?

I chose to call myself that, the gamma said with a shake of his head. He had some of the strangest and most beautiful markings Yugi had ever seen. His coat was a mottled gray, almost bluish as Obelisk's was along his cheeks. Darker gray and black streaked his ears and along his dorsal cape. His entire back side was saddled with the color, his back legs tinted with soft reddish-gray to his hocks. There was a small patch of mirroring color, twisted and swirled amongst a bright silver along his scruff over his shoulder. Each of his long legs was deep black towards the middle fronts. His shoulders were streaked silver, his chest colored bright white like the snow, his underbelly a similar color, and his toes a mirroring shade of silver to his shoulders. I stopped using my given name.

Yugi nodded. He could see how the name might fit his physical features, even if part of him was struck with laughter at the idea of calling someone else by such a name. Yami blinked and then turned to Jim with a curious expression. And your beta?

Declan Akaba, the wolf stated in a somewhat cold tone. He peered at Yugi as if he were some kind of creature he did not quite recognize. And then he snorted and turned away with a shake of his head. Beta of the Texas pack.

He was a standard-sized gray male. His face was mostly dark gray, though he had splashes of chocolate brown, and his eyes were circled by white. His ears were that same rich brown color and his face seemed fuller for it. His large cheeks were white about two inches beneath his eyes and it encircled only his muzzle before falling away. The underside of his neck was ribbed with dark brown against a lighter shade, and his legs were tawny along the front, white along the back, his entire undercoat beyond this a deep charcoal gray.

I thought you said Jim had left half the pack at Texas, Yugi said to Yami quietly. Did you mean that Ute has left them in Wisconsin?

No. Jim left half of his pack in Texas before he came. Ute might have done the same, but he only came with only four others besides himself and Moon Shadow. He hesitated. What kind of name is that?

Yugi turned to him with a wide grin. Yami, the name you picked for yourself translates to small forest of darkness. I don't think you really have room to crack jokes.

Yami shot him a look of pure betrayal. How rude.

He wagged his tail. You're adorable.

The black wolf snorted, looking almost as if he might lean forward to lick his forehead. But he seemingly changed his mind at the last moment, turning away again and pricking his ears forward. He turned to look at Ute after a moment, then tilted his head as his eyes grew narrow. You can't be more than twelve, he commented in a cool tone, one that sent shivers down Yugi's spine and alarms blaring in his head, so how is it that you are the alpha of your pack?

Ute was silent for a long moment. His eyes flashed and he looked as if he might snap at him, tell him to shut up and mind his own business. But then his eyes flickered to Yugi, studying his expression. Whatever he found there seemed to make him reconsider his anger and he straightened from his slumped seated position and raised his chin.

I usurped my parents, he announced. His voice was cold and deadly like the snow surrounding them and Yami tilted his head the smallest degree further. Yugi, however, felt his stomach twist in knots. He had usurped his parents? Did that mean he'd killed them? Yugi didn't know enough about how the ranking structure worked for werewolves. He didn't know if that meant he'd killed them or simply fought them for dominance and won. Usually in the wild, should it happen, the parents were chased out of the territory. On the rare occasion, depending on how hard they fought back, they might be killed by their wayward children. Yugi did not know if that held the same for werewolves. Having the human instincts, he could not decide which was more likely. Some people killed, others were merely territorial. He didn't know which to expect. They began to abuse their power as alphas and I took over after I fought them.

The vagueness of the answer did nothing to help Yugi to want to ask the question that made him so uneasy. The thought that he might truly have killed them made his skin crawl. What kind of kid did he have to be to do such a thing? And he was only twelve, if Yami was correct about his age.

You seem upset, Yami commented to him wryly. Why is that?

Yugi blinked and shot him a glance from his peripheral. Yami was an expert on almost everything wolf-related, wasn't he? He could ask him and Yami would likely give him a truthful answer, unless the reality of it was so horrifying that he felt the need to hide it from him, he knew. What is more likely, Yami? When he says usurped, what are the odds of him having simply run his parents off rather than killing them?

Killing would be rather extreme. But he obviously had help within the pack, I'm sure. None of them would have accepted the rank battle if he had not had help formerly when he took to fighting them. I do not know what he might have done. But he looks capable. Yami got to his paws and shook himself out. And Yugi watched Ute's eyes narrow briefly and study the darker wolf with a somewhat curious expression. And then Yugi noticed something he had not before. There was a small scar on the inside of the younger wolf's leg, the smallest tuft of fur missing there and the strangest patch of gray skin as if it were perhaps charred. He likely killed them. I would assume he was forced to. Most wolves do not accept that kind of battle's results, especially if they were abusive as he mentioned. Most wolves that become power hungry and resort to violence at their own discretion do not usually back down from such fights, even when they might lose.

Yugi shivered. That's horrifying.

It is sometimes necessary, Yami dismissed. He turned abruptly to look at Chazz. You look as if you might pass out on your feet. Go get some rest. You're making me tired and I'm not even jetlagged.

The yearling got up with a respectful nod, wagging his tail, turned to dip his head to Zane, and trotted away without a second glance. Yugi watched him go, surprised by the leniency Yami had shown him, and then turned back. Ute was looking at Moon Shadow and the other wolf was peering at Jim as if he thought the Texas alpha might leap at him at any moment. Yugi wondered if he truly feared such a thing or if he was simply seeing something that was not there. He shrugged it off and found himself looking towards Mana. But the she-wolf was watching Yami as if he were some kind of cobra that might strike out against her. And when he looked beside her, Andre was staring at his paws as if he were nervous. But Jim was watching Yami as well, his single blue eye glittering.

Yugi did not think he was foolish enough to come after him again, but he had to wonder. He'd been humiliated when Yami had so quickly put an end to it, had he not? Clearly he was not happy with the results. And he frowned as he considered it a moment or so longer. Yugi turned his head to look at Yami.

You really are extremely thin and small, aren't you?

Yugi glanced up from his observation of Yami's features to look over. The speaker was beside Ute, head tilted and eyes sharp and glittering. He did not look as if he might lash out at any moment. But he did seem to be observing him as if he were a piece of wounded prey. Yugi nearly bristled at the sight, hateful for a brief moment. But he shrugged it away and narrowed his eyes.

Do you not have anything better to do than shame me for my skinniness? Yami growled, but he sounded more amused than anything. The other wolf snorted and Yugi wondered how he had missed him sitting between Ute and Jim. Had he been so quiet that Yugi had truly overlooked him? But then, Yami had said there were four alphas and he'd only been introduced to three, he realized. This had to be him, then. I can show you why my physique doesn't slow me down or keep me from being able to mutilate you should you so desire.

No, that can wait for another day, the other commented dryly. He shook himself out. His coat was a glossy black, his undercoat one of bright silver that almost made him look as if he had stars in his fur. The wolf's legs were longer and his paws larger, his mouth slightly longer than usual. A couple of scars littered his face, the fur jagged and cut away. And his cheeks were lined with silver as if with stardust. We can fight it out another time, but for now, I guess I'll finish the introductions. I'm Shay Obsidian, alpha of the Michigan pack. I'm the only one who came. My beta stayed with the pack.

Mana looked annoyed, sneering, You should have stayed behind instead. No one would have missed your company.

Ute's ears flicked forward as he shook his head. Introductions are done, right? he grumbled. He looked as if he wanted to sink his teeth into Shay's throat for a split second. Then he breathed in deeply and shook his head slowly, eyes narrowed. I would rather like to rest.

Shay flashed them both looks as if they were insignificant bugs. Then he turned to Yugi and raised his head as if to loom over him, smirking. I had them stay behind because I need to figure out if you're worth a shit before I have them come here. I have to watch out for them, after all. A good alpha always watches out for his subordinates. Yugi blinked. Zane bristled, Yami tilted his head, Mana snarled low in her throat, Ute looked away, Moon Shadow frowned and Andre shook his head. Jim glared at the younger alpha, narrowing his eye and peeling his lips back to show his teeth. But the teenager didn't seem to care in the slightest, wagging a tail that was raised over his back and sneering, My pack is over twenty strong. I have the most fire power in the lower forty-eight states. We're a force of nature.

You know what else is a force of nature? Yami asked quietly. He and Shay locked eyes and he tilted his head minutely, peering at him icily. My teeth when they rip through someone's throat.

You couldn't do shit. You're too puny.

Yugi frowned and looked at him for a moment. He cursed so much it was ridiculous. Did every other word need to be a curse for him? It was against what Yugi himself had been raised with. He cursed, but it was rare and only when he was truly afraid or so angry that he felt he was seeing red. To hear the words dropped so casually made his skin crawl. He shook his head. He didn't know enough about American culture to sum it up to differences in such things. But he had the striking idea that it was one of the main reasons this younger kid truly was cursing so much and spitting at him as if he had no respect for himself or anyone else in the world.

Shay raised his nose, then turned to look at the other American leaders for a split second. He wrinkled his lips, sneered at them, and turned away. But he paused a few feet away, laughing, I don't fight wolves that are too weak to even challenge me. If you ever get to a fighting standard, then maybe I'll whoop your ass and make you remember my name.

He was gone seconds later. Yami didn't so much as blink, instead watching him go and turning to Yugi. They peered at each other for a moment. And he felt sick for a second when he thought he saw laughter in the other boy's red eyes. But he couldn't read his expression, as Yami turned away again almost immediately. He sat facing the snow for a moment, ears pricked as if he were listening for something that Yugi did not know to look for.

What do you think we should do now?

Yami turned to him with a confused expression. What?

What do you think we should do now? he repeated uncertainly. I mean, what do you think we should do with them? I mean, they're clearly really tired and I think they should probably get some rest sooner rather than later, right? But they look tense. And I'm kind of wondering if there's bad blood between Mana, Shay and Ute. If you've noticed, they haven't acknowledged each other even once. And I might not know the states very well, but I'm almost a hundred percent sure that Wisconsin, Michigan and Minnesota are next to each other.

Yami blinked. I'll have to trust your limited knowledge of it. I do not know the states at all. He looked at him curiously for a moment. But bad blood between the three of them is not impossible. Perhaps Ute's decision to usurp his parents has to do with Mana's explanation of her pack being massacred the year before. Or something that Shay did triggered the events that led to these actions. It's entirely possible that whatever allowed him to take over his pack at such a young age is related to the other in some way. That might explain their cold attitudes toward each other.

Shit, I really hope I'm wrong. I don't want them to have drama already.

Mana and Ute both seem rather mature for their ages, he answered after a moment, though he cast a quick glance at them both again. Mana had turned to Andre and was talking quietly to her, Jim was sneering at Zane, Moon Shadow was glaring at Jim, and Ute was still watching Yami like a hawk. He blinked, catching the youngest alpha's eye and the other boy looked away immediately. He turned back to Yugi, pricking his ears forward. Shay is another story, but I think I can handle him easily enough. He seems more like a spoiled brat that blows hot air when he speaks. I doubt that Mana or Ute will allow their former differences to get in the middle of what they need to do for you or the rest of the pack. It's as simple as that, I think.

Yugi blinked. You think so? I'm not sure that's true. I'm already dealing with Aki being extremely prejudice to the American wolves in general, though Yusei is still her primary target. I'm watching Zane and Jim snarl at each other, Shay thinks he's going to make you his new punching bag, Ute and Mana and Shay might have a bad history, and Aki is convinced that you had something to do with the hellhounds attacking us in the woods. I don't know what to do with any of that.

Yami shook his head after a moment. I can fight Aki at any time. She does not bother me. I can sink my teeth in and not have to worry about her later. It is not a big deal to me whatever she might say.

Until she has the other wolves rallying on her side and you get hurt for it.

That has not happened yet, Yugi.

Really? Because I seem to remember Joy. And I don't know if you don't remember this, but the pack turned in on itself, remember? They killed each other over whether you were a hellhound or not and—

And your point would be? He was bristling before he could stop himself, nose mere inches from Yugi and his lips drawn back to show his teeth. His movement made the other wolves in the group freeze, turning to stare at them collectively. Yugi, however, pricked his ears forward and stared at him with an expression that spoke volumes in his annoyance at his aggressive stance. I can handle them should something happen. I can handle fucking Aki if it should be necessary. You underestimate my ability more often than I care to acknowledge. Do you understand how infuriating that is? You worry too much about me. But I can handle things myself. I am capable of doing things on my own. I do not need you to protect me as if I am some kind of wayward pup with no sense of direction who is too foolish to reconsider his choices and does not understand what is happening around him.

I never said any of that—

Yami huffed and turned away, growling for a moment. He shifted his weight, forcing the muscles in his shoulders to loosen, and mumbled, Whatever. You asked me a question before. My answer is this. I think that while you have these new packs, you will see tension rising with the ranks being stripped from them to follow you. I think your best bet would be to eventually attempt to hold them in some kind of council. You might ask them to meet and hold council in the manner of helping to make larger decisions that might impact all of us. You will have to be careful how you phrase it and how you might come off when you decide to do this. It is going to be a limited thing and sometimes you will have to make a judgment call of your own. The problem becomes then that they will still feel the loss of their titles. They are mere subordinates rather than ranking alphas or betas now.

Yugi blinked wide eyes, stunned by the sudden response. He went to answer, but the black wolf shot him a look that told him to hold his tongue. So he simply sat straighter and shifted his muzzle slightly towards the ground as if in deference for a moment.

You have not seen so much of a power struggle as of the moment because it has been but four alphas in one place recently. There is Nistro, Zane, and Yuya's parents. Echo is no longer here and Annie forfeited leadership to you. Because of that, you have had relatively simple success and little boundaries pushed. Zane still rules much of his pack with an iron fist, however, and that will cause issues with the packs that continue to come in. The problem becomes that his pack still defers to him as leader and that puts strain on your hold over them. They might listen to you, but you will eventually have one or two challenge you. And, for example, if someone like Jim were to watch him do such a thing, he might become angry that you do not discipline him for such double standards. At the end of the day, all of them are meant to follow you. It is one of the reasons Aki pushes so hard. She used to be beta and now she has been replaced and it is her bitterness which makes her lash out now.

Yugi nodded slightly.

Now, one way to isolate the issue and destroy it before it truly shows its face is to give the alphas an idea that they are all equals and have input on the situations inside of the pack. But you must realize that doing so means that eventually the betas will become testy as well. That is easily rectified, however, in including them in meetings such as this. Lower subordinates will not often care for such things. They are not held so high as to make huge decisions unless something should happen to the alpha or beta to make them take temporary leadership.

Zane had gotten to his paws. He shook himself out and turned to Yugi now. I am going to get some rest. Chazz spent the entire trip throwing up. And I spent half of it gagging when he couldn't stop vomiting. He cast a glance at Yami, clearly curious about something that Yugi could not quite read in his expression. I assume you wish for us to show the others where to rest as well?

Uh, yeah, sure, he answered in a distracted tone. Yami shot him an annoyed look, and Yugi realized abruptly just how clumsy and stupid he sounded in his answer. He whispered an apology and Yami ignored him as the other wolves got to their paws, dipped their heads, and turned and started trotting away. Wow, I'm an idiot.

Sometimes, Yami grumbled. But he still seemed relaxed enough now. But you can still change and outgrow that habit.

Yugi nodded slightly, smiling at him and wagging his tail. That's true. I can still always do that!

Yami turned away from him after a moment. He got to his feet, shaking himself out, and pricked his ears forward. As for Aki, I do not believe that it would be wise to discourage her former stance as beta, he said slowly. Doing so might cause collateral. She'll simply lash out harder than she already has. And that might lead her to become more violent than she already is.

So you want me to leave her to abuse you and make accusations about us both being hellhounds and how you're a traitor? he asked incredulously. He got to his paws now as well, growling when Yami started forward without a second glance. The sound made the black wolf pause and turn his head just enough to look at him from the corner of his eye. You honestly expect me to simply sit back and let her do that?

I can handle Aki on my own.

But you don't! You can! I know that! But you have yet to actually do it!

Yami bristled, turning on him furiously now. You think that I do not know how to handle her? You fool! I am not a trigger happy idiot. I know when to pick my battles and which are unworthy of me or my time. You seem to fail to realize that because I do not fight does not mean I am taking things lying down. You are too easily emotionally riled up. I am not so foolish that I spring into each and every fight when my temper is ruffled.

Okay, but if she hurts you—

If she hurts me, I will hurt her tenfold. It is as simple as that.

But it's not! I've watched you let her snap and snarl at you. And you do nothing!

Because it is not worth my time or effort to discipline her for it as of yet.

But she's allowed to talk down to you, to snap and snarl at you, to accuse you of things, and not expect anything in repercussion? he snapped. You really expect me to believe and go by that? Yami, that's not fair to you!

I do not need you to tell me what is fair to me. I can choose for myself what battles I must fight and which are unnecessary for me to go headfirst into. My fights are my own, not yours. He bristled furiously and tossed his head now, glaring at him. If I should have to deal with her, I will do it myself! Why must you meddle so much when it comes to things that do not involve you?

Because I care! I care about you, he spat. Yugi bristled in turn, mirroring his glare and baring his teeth. And you don't. You never stand up for yourself. You never fight back when she provokes you. You don't even tend to react when the wolves turn on you as a whole. You know that the wrist thing was a short-lived solution and one that won't last the longer she's got the idea that she has power in the pack.

She does have power, though, Yugi. She is the original alpha's daughter. She is sister to any of the original pack members. She has seniority over you and me in their eyes. The difference is that you are Atem and they will choose you over her. But it would be mutiny if I were to turn on her when she provoked me.

So I'm supposed to just let her keep doing what she does, saying what she says, and just turn a blind eye to it all?

You would be wise to do so, yes. You forget that you are not even sure of pack politics—

Oh, I'm painfully aware, he spat. You remind me of that enough times, don't you?

You're going to blame this on me? Yami sneered. Truly? You wish to blame this on me? You are the most infuriating bastard I have ever met. You blame me for the things that you wish you could control and know you cannot. You wish to push the blame on me when things might go wrong. And then you blame me for the fact that the pack is in disarray! But most of these problems stem from you, Yugi.

He blinked, startled. I never said I blamed…

Yami stopped short, his tail abruptly falling from where it had been raised seconds before. He turned his face away, his shoulders losing their bristle, and glared at the snow for a long handful of minutes. I did not mean that, he finally grumbled. I did not mean to say that. I know you do not blame me for such things. I just… You can be so infuriating, Yugi. And I have such trouble with it. I can't…

Yugi shook his head. Yami, I…I don't mean to be. I don't want to upset you.

But you always question me when I give you an opinion. I try to keep an open mind to your objections but you always seem to throw everything back in my face. And it upsets me so much that sometimes I just want to lunge at you. He lowered his head and sighed loudly, moving to take a seat and baring his teeth. I have said all I will say on the matter regarding Aki. You have my decision. You have my advice. You will just have to trust that I will put her in her place when it becomes too much.

Can I trust you do that, Yami? he asked after a moment, the air rushing from his veins when the black wolf went oddly still and a snarl rumbled in his throat. I'm honestly asking you. I'm not accusing you. I promise. I just… I want to know that you truly believe that I can trust you to do this.

Why must you always question me? he snarled, leaping at him. He was inches away, teeth bared and breathing harder than ever. He was shaking, furious and hateful. His ears flicked back and forth rapidly and his nose wriggled as he glared. Why must you always do this?

Yugi stepped back once, relieved when Yami did not seem to follow him in the slightest. He shook his head. Please don't be so upset with me, he finally mumbled. I just… I want to make sure you're safe, okay? I want you to be okay. I don't want you hurt or unhealthy. I don't want to come back to the camp one day and see you bleeding and wounded or hear that Aki truly hurt you.

The black wolf bore his teeth. If you would listen to me rather than question the advice which you requested from me, I would not be so harsh with you. Yami shook his head harshly, the irritation clear on his face as he looked at him. You do not listen to the advice you request and it frustrates me, Yugi.

He wanted to claim otherwise, that he had listened and would continue to do so. But questioning Yami in the way he was surely had to seem otherwise, and so he hesitated as he looked him over. Yami was angry, yes, but he was not going to attack him at any rate. Yugi relaxed at this realization, then shrugged it aside and shook his head a fraction.

The white wolf pricked his ears and slowly moved to wag his tail in a gentle arc. I listen to you more than I do anyone else, he said softly, tilting his head. You know that I value anything that you have to say where it concerns advice or anything regarding the pack or life in general.

Yami looked at him skeptically for a moment, but his aggression melted away. And he abruptly huffed, turning away from him entirely. I don't quite think that's the truest thing to ever leave your mouth, he grunted in a dismissive tone. But he did not seem angry any longer as he began to walk forward slowly. Yugi hurried to do the same beside him, moving to keep pace with him. Regardless, I do not think for even a moment that it will do much to allow Aki to resume her role as a lesser beta among the others that have come today or simply keep her as a regular subordinate. She will say things either way. And others will continue to back her up or argue her points in your favor.

Yugi pricked his ears. But not yours.

Hmm?

They'll argue in my favor, but not in yours.

Yami was silent for a long handful of moments. He peeled his lips back in a grimace, looking at him sideways and seemingly growing uncomfortable with the attention Yugi paid him. They do not need to speak in my favor. As well you know, I have bad history with the original pack. Much of it is still ignored and none of them forgiven. It boils down to the fact that I attacked their alpha. And my lack of helping the combined pack now does not aid my status among them. It is as it was meant to be, I suppose. I have hardly granted them my attention and so none of them favor me rather than you.

Yugi shook his head. That's not true, he argued immediately. That's not true at all.

No? Obelisk and Slifer do not count among those who like me, Yugi.

The white wolf paused, startled by the words. Yami sounded incredibly scornful even as he spoke the deities' names. Yugi faltered, flattening his ears, and struggled to think straight for a brief moment. Otogi and Mai like you—as does Yusei and…and…Ishizu likes you too. He faltered again when Yami shot him an amused look over his shoulder. And I like you a lot too, so…

The black wolf turned to look at him now, laughing softly. All of the biggest players like me, huh? he teased, turning away and shaking his head. You, Yusei, Otogi, Mai, Ishizu. The list is rather endless, hmm?

Yugi flattened his ears against his head. Jonouchi too. I forgot about Jonouchi.

Yami seemed to stumble upon hearing the name, as if he had been struck for a split second. Then he pricked his ears forward, the amusement drained from his features, and moved a little faster. I suppose so, he said softly in response.

Yugi bristled, moving to step closer to him. Why do you sound so skeptical and unhappy right now? Why did you hesitate like that? he asked immediately. Did something happen between the two of you?

No. I was simply thinking about the fact that he is your beta. It seems odd to imagine that you've bitten someone, Yami answered in a nonchalant tone, but the words were nothing but a lie. Yugi knew that without having to think about it. The black wolf was merely trying to make him feel better about whatever it was that had potentially happened between the two of them. And that made him bristle more than he cared to admit. But the aggression Yugi felt growing inside of him must have alarmed Yami, for the other turned to him with a small tilt of his head. I am not comfortable around him. Is that what you wished to hear? It is not him himself, it is simply that I do not quite know how I am meant to act around him.

Yugi blinked. Act around him? You act like you always do, Yami. There's no reason for you to act any differently around him than you do me.

The larger canine tilted his head and stared at Yugi for a long moment. I do not know him well. It makes me uncomfortable to be around him due to this. It is what has always happened when I am around people I am not familiar with.

But you've met him before and you guys were fine when that happened.

Yes, but he has changed—as have I. Things are different, Yugi. The circumstances have changed. I am not the same as I was when we first met. And he is a wolf now. You cannot say with certainty if that has changed anything as well. Yami tilted his head as he considered Yugi curiously. What does it matter, however? The truth of it is that there is no reason for us to interact more than necessary. And so far there has not been much necessity.

Yugi grimaced. Well, yeah, but…

I do not have a problem with Jonouchi, Yugi, rest assured. It is simply that I do not know him well enough to consider him much more than an acquaintance. Beyond that I have no problems with him at all.

Yugi shook his head after a moment. There was something else to that look on your face when I mentioned him. There was something else entirely. I saw your expression and I know that you're lying.

Yami turned to stare at him with a tilt of his head. Is that so? he asked softly. I was not aware that I was lying.

Look, if it's nothing that matters, then fine. I don't mind if it's something you consider stupid and unimportant. It's if it matters and you don't tell me that we're going to have a problem.

The black wolf studied him for a moment, then snorted. Is that so? he chuckled as he turned away and began to move forward again. I did not think that I was meant to tell you every little thing which bothers me. Whether you think something is important and I do is subjective. You have different definitions of such a thing than I do.

Yugi huffed. That's because you're much more adept at hiding things than I am. And I have different values, I guess. He stayed silent for a long moment and a half. But I guess it doesn't matter at the end of the day, right? I mean, as long as both of us are okay…

He stayed quiet and then nodded slightly. At the end of it all, he supposed that was truly the most important thing. Yami could not argue such a point. Yugi cared for him enough to try to make sure that he would come out of this alive and he himself was trying to ensure the same for the smaller teen. They were perhaps too focused on the other at times. It would surely explain the pack's cold shoulder towards them both. And it would explain the way Yugi tried so hard to put him ahead of himself when he did not need to. Yugi worried too much, however, and Yami would admit that he could not stand this quality about him. But he himself had more faults than he could count on both hands.

He shook himself out after a moment, turning to him again after a moment. He went to speak but the white wolf had turned to him with something almost desperate in his eyes. Yami could not tell if it was fear-based or something of another nature. But it made him bristle slightly, the snow almost blinding him for a split second as Yugi dashed ahead of him and towards the back entrance of the camp.

Let's go hunting. I don't think we really need to stay behind for too much longer, right? I mean, the alphas have all met us and I can tell the betas about the plan some other time. So it's not really important that we stay here all day, right? He was rambling and Yami could not help but falter, eyes wide and ears flicking in bewilderment. Had he done something to make him nervous? Had he somehow set off a reaction he had not been anticipating? Perhaps his silence had set this off. He would have been likewise unhappy had someone failed to respond when he was telling them that they cared about them. He hated himself for a moment, but Yugi was dashing past him and into the snow again, ignoring him but to continue speaking. I'm hungry, too. So maybe we should go hunting? What do you think? Are you hungry? I'm pretty hungry right about now.

Yami flattened his ears against his head, moving to chase him as quickly as he could. He slowed a few steps behind him, huffing a breath out, and hurried to get to his side after a moment. But the white wolf seemed determined to ignore him, as if he were too offended or harmed by his silence that he could not find it in himself to let Yami truly join him for even a moment. He shivered and shook himself out again, flustered by such a thought. He was lost for a moment, unsure of how to fix this problem, but it did not seem that there would be any success in such a thing…

What do you wish to hunt? he asked uncertainly, slowing his steps to give Yugi more distance from him. The white wolf did not slow in the slightest, however, and he wondered if he had truly hurt him in some way by staying quiet as he had. His heart ached at the thought and he hurried forward again before he could think it through. He was at Yugi's side immediately, though this did not remain so for more than a heartbeat. Yugi took a single glance at him and began to trot faster. So Yami slowed down until he was a yard or two behind him, a sense of despair creeping through him. His tail fell and his ears flattened against his head again for a moment. It took Yugi a full minute and a half to even seem to realize that he was no longer beside him. And the reaction was instant.

The white wolf stumbled, then skidded in his swift run. He spun around, eyes wide and ears pricked. His fur was bristling with alarm. And he looked rapidly back and forth before his gaze fell on the black wolf. He blinked, tilting his head, and slowly moved to approach him. Why are you moving so slow?

Why are you running as if your ass were on fire? Yami shot back, irritable now. He shook his head sharply, ignoring the thought that perhaps he had somehow imagined Yugi's reaction from before. But something in his gut told him otherwise. And he knew that cowardice from his own ministrations of it. He knew it damn well. No one could tell him otherwise. He shook himself out, stopping a few feet away from the white wolf. Yugi looked confused for a moment, though not as if he did not know what he was saying. He seemed more perplexed by the idea that Yami was not coming to his side. The thought made him bristle faintly before he shrugged it away.

I do not depend on you so fully, he snarled before he could stop himself; Yugi's head snapped up, eyes wide and ears pricked, that I need your assistance to catch prey. If you would rather hunt alone, then do so. I will find my own meal without your help.

What? What the hell are you going on about? Yugi asked, somewhere between exasperation and confusion. I didn't say I wouldn't hunt with you.

No, but if you are going to act as if you did not run from me moments before—

Now the white wolf huffed. Can we pretend that didn't just happen? I don't want to think about it.

Yami snorted and moved to step around him, firm and stiff-legged in his growing irritation. Sure, why not? he snapped. But he recognized how childish he was being and it burned at his skin beneath his coat. And his heart felt heavy in his chest for a moment. Now what are we going to hunt?

The question was said so quietly that Yugi appeared to strain to hear it for a brief moment. Then he sighed and turned to follow him, his pace brisk once more as he got to his side. This time when he fell in place beside him, their legs were moving at the same pace and their eyes straight ahead on the trees surrounding them. Anything that moves? he suggested, though his eyes were sparkling when Yami cast him a sideways glance. I don't know. Do you want to hunt some deer? We could catch one of them or something.

The black wolf flicked an ear. I don't know if we should need to.

Well, if even Jim was saying that you look small and scrawny…

Yami pricked his ears forward and huffed out a breath in annoyance. He simply wanted to challenge me.

And Shay too then, I suppose? Because he mentioned you looked exhausted as well.

He huffed again. Really, Yugi? Why don't you just come out and say that you're concerned and we need to hunt deer? he muttered, flustered. I do not understand why you so often beat around the bush. You know that I will eventually give in. I want to get healthy again, not remain wasted muscle like this.

Really? I would never have guessed. You always seem to ruin yourself worse than you were before, Yugi grunted in an annoyed tone. But then he shot him an apologetic look and Yami sighed softly with a shake of his head. Sorry. I guess I'm just kind of rattled. I wasn't expecting them to notice that you weren't at your best and they all seemed to realize it and…and I just…

You do not need to protect me from such things. And I do not require protection as it is. I can handle things for myself, Yugi. I can handle a fight between some of the wolves if they challenge me. I have done it before and in far worse shape than I am in now.

Yugi growled softly, turning to him with a glare. Yeah, but you don't need to have to! That's not fair to anyone!

But sometimes it's necessary, Yami argued, ignoring his look with a turn of his head to survey the trees for a moment. He scanned the branches, wondering for a heartbeat if perhaps he might see the raven there again, and it made his insides twist briefly. Sometimes it is necessary to be challenged and to fight off others wishing to usurp you. It is not something that should be taken lightly, but it is never anything to be feared either. You worry too much about me and you forget that I survived on my own for six months before I even crossed paths with you.

Yugi bristled now. That doesn't mean anything. You were healthier back then.

I was not when I immediately escaped the lab. The black wolf looked at him for a long moment. When I escaped, I was in worse shape than you could ever imagine. Especially after…all that had happened leading up to the events that allowed us to run. I was in much worse shape than I am now.

What about when you escaped the greenhouse? I don't think you could fall into a worse state than that.

Yami was silent for a long moment, picking his words. Yugi could not imagine the state he was in then. If he thought the feral state he had fallen into was his worst… I suppose not, he finally mumbled, for he could not put into words how unstable and broken he'd been formerly. He couldn't think of that time any longer and he nearly trembled at the very idea. It was far from what he wanted to ever remember… I was in a…similar state, I would say. But not as…bad.

But Yugi heard his voice crack, shattering like ice for a brief moment. And he looked sick as he searched Yami's face for a handful of seconds. The black wolf turned away pointedly as he scrutinized him, as if burned by his eyes on him. And so Yugi forced himself to look ahead of them again. He didn't believe for a second that Yami could have been in a worse position, however. How could one be in a worse state than absolutely feral? Yugi did not think for even a second that such a thing existed.

Yami had seemed almost possessed, so hungry and scared that he'd attacked and tried to kill anything that moved around him. He could not imagine that it could be much worse. Unless he meant that he'd—

Yugi stumbled, hitting the snow as his paws crumpled beneath him. The force of the thought made his head spin, eyes wild as he considered. Then he forced himself up again, looking at Yam. The black wolf stopped a few inches in front of him, head turned and eyes curious. And, for a split second, Yugi almost wished he was human. He almost wished he could have grabbed at him and pulled him into an embrace. He wished more than ever that somehow he could have held him close. But he also realized that Yami would have recoiled from it all. He would rather flee those thoughts than recall them. And Yugi could not force him to do so without his heart potentially breaking with his as well…

So he forced the thought away, shook himself out, and offered, I think my paws are too big.

Yami snorted so loudly that Yugi blinked in surprise. The black wolf laughed a second later, then raised a paw to push at his shoulder gently. Or you're just a terrible runner. Such a shame, since you're perfectly built for speed.

The white wolf growled softly, playful as he glared at him. At least I'm not incapable of functioning normally, he huffed. I still consider you the most dysfunctional person I've ever met, wolf or human.

He chuckled and pressed harder into his shoulder, nearly forcing him sideways an inch. I think it's adorable that you think I'm insulted by that. I have no qualms admitting to such a thing. I was not made to be among humans whatsoever. But a shadow abruptly passed over his eyes and he dropped his paw into the snow again, peering at Yugi thoughtfully for a moment. Then he shook himself out again, huffing a breath, and mumbled, Let's just find something to eat. We don't need to find deer. I'll eat a boar or serow or anything we run across.

Yugi frowned, tilting his head. You sure? he asked softly. It wouldn't be hard for us to find a trace of the deer. They're overpopulated and they're normally towards the middle of the mountains when it gets so cold. It wouldn't hard to find them at all…

I am aware. Yami looked at him for a moment longer. Then he shook himself out again, pricked his ears forward, and considered him more pointedly. But I do not think that it would be worth the task of doing so. I am fine. I will recover well enough. You don't need to worry about me so much.

I want you back to full health, Yugi stressed, huffing and pricking his ears towards him with a shake of his head. I want to make sure that you're completely healthy. I've lost count of how many times you've gotten hurt for my sake, aibou. And I do not want you to be harmed any longer. I want you to be okay. I want you to be better than just "okay" or "well enough". I want you to be perfectly healthy again!

The red-eyed wolf blinked at him, then looked away after a moment, as if considering what more to say and how to respond. The seconds passed, as if he were confused and unsure. He frowned and considered him for a long handful of seconds before slowly shaking his head. Then he blinked again, considerate before tilting his head after a long moment. You worry too much.

Yugi narrowed his eyes and curled his lips back into a slight snarl. You wouldn't do the same if it was me in your place? If I was the one who was unhealthy right now, you wouldn't be as worried as I am and want to see me heal?

Yami curled his lips back to bare his teeth, leaning a small degree closer. His tail came up and his fur was ruffled along his spine and shoulders but laden too heavily with snow to truly bristle. Of course I would.

Then what's the difference?

You are worth the worry.

And you don't consider yourself to be?

Yami blinked and pricked his ears before curling his lips back further with a small shake of his head. He wanted to lunge at him for a split second. But he did not want to truly inflict any harm. And he was not sure what he was meant to say. A part of him wished to say that he truly did not think himself worthy such a thing. Instead he shook his head and narrowed his eyes slightly. You already know that, he said slowly, cautiously, feeling for a long moment that Yugi might lunge at him in turn. He looked more aggressive than Yami had truly expected but the truth of it was that he should have known. The blue-violet-eyed wolf's anger was something that always came when he said something of that magnitude. Yugi had a higher idea of his worth than Yami himself did. But he supposed the opposite could be said for them as well. Yugi was afraid of death, but Yami was not entirely sure that he believed he held much self-worth.

He shook his head after a moment and instead sighed softly. It does not matter. I mean to say that I would be as worried about you as you are me, he said quietly. But I can handle it myself, Yugi. You do not need to be worried about it as much as you are.

The white wolf shook his head, growling, and then moved to walk past him. I know you can handle it yourself. But you often don't. You have a habit of ignoring your own needs, Yami. I've seen you do it a bunch of times. And I hate that habit. You don't ask for help and you don't take care of yourself.

Yami flicked an ear. I do not always worry as you do. It's hard to find it necessary to take such care of myself when I care more about you than I do me, he said reluctantly. But I know my own physical and mental limitations and I can judge by that alone if I have to.

But you shouldn't have to. And I don't want you to do that when you're allowing yourself to stay unhealthy for no reason other than you can. Yugi huffed loudly, shaking his head and glaring at him. You should care about yourself more than you do. And I don't understand why you don't.

And I do not understand why you don't understand, Yami returned dismissively. He ignored the sideways glance Yugi cast him and shook himself out rather lazily. You are similar in your priorities. So I do not understand how it is that you're judging me right now.

Yugi blinked. I'm not judging. I'm… He bore his teeth and growled softly. Look, Yami, you shouldn't neglect yourself just because you know your limitations. You shouldn't bank on that and ignore the fact that you need recovery at times too.

Are you telling me that you've never put me ahead of yourself at one point or another? Or that you've never put your friends ahead of yourself? I know for a fact that you have. I know you too well to think for even a moment that you could say otherwise.

I have, but it's not for prolonged periods of time. He hesitated for a moment, then flattened his ears. It's usually in the moment, not for days on end. And you've done it for days, Yami. It's not the same at all to say that our situations are similar.

Yami huffed. It does not change the fact that you tend to do such a thing as well. Regardless of the time we spend doing it, the fact remains. It is something we both do. So you cannot exclude yourself from it. He fell quiet after a moment, glancing at him sideways. I did not imagine you to be hypocritical in such a manner, Yugi.

He grunted in turn, giving him an annoyed look. You're right. I'm not hypocritical. But maybe we both need to stop doing it, agreed? Maybe it would be better for us to simply apply this to both of us…

I don't honestly believe that either of us could do that. Not only is it part of our core personalities, but wolves are naturally this loyal. Yami stayed quiet for a moment longer, then shook his head slowly and turned to consider Yugi. He shivered and looked away almost immediately again, however, heart lurching as he considered. You are much more giving than I am, however. I do not imagine I would do such a thing for someone unless I cared for them much more than I did others. I cannot bring myself to sacrifice myself for anyone else.

Yugi pricked his ears forward, startled. I don't want you to sacrifice yourself for me.

And yet it should be okay for you to do so for me?

I… He faltered. I…I don't want to see anyone else hurt. I would rather be the one hurt than see someone else wounded. I… Y-you have to feel the same if you'd do that for me, though! R-right?

Yami blinked at him, surprised by the desperation in his tone. I do. I would rather keep you from feeling any pain. He paused. But you are also overlooking the fact that you are Atem. Your being Atem means that I should be careful of what happens to you. You coming back to life would be a disaster.

Yugi shuddered beside him, a shadow passing over his face and making his eyes darken drastically. He flattened his ears against his head. Have you ever seen someone come back to life? he asked softly, searching his face for a moment. It's one of the most painful things you can ever witness, Yami.

He looked him over, then turned away and pricked his ears forward. I have no doubt that it's horrifying.

No, Yami, it's heartbreaking. It's not just "horrifying". It's absolutely heartbreaking. He shook his head, looking away. And you're lucky that you've never seen it before, Yami. It's…devastating.

The black wolf watched him for a moment, then turned away, voice wry as he murmured, So I guess you're aware that I lied before, hmm? He eyed him sideways when Yugi blinked and raised his head, peering at him with a confused expression. You didn't believe me when I said that I'd come back after the greenhouse event when that hunter trapped us. I figured it would be easier if I told you I was just a Full-Blood from then on.

Yugi blinked at him, then shook his head. I don't care if you're a Pure-Blood or a Full-Blood or just a Half-Blood. I care about you, not what class of lycanthrope you are. He hesitated. I don't want to see you in unnecessary pain. And coming back from death is… It looks excruciating.

Yami was quiet for a moment. It is. It is excruciating. He paused. But I would imagine seeing it would be just as painful as going through it.

Yugi was shaking when he nodded and looked away, heart pounding as he shook his head a moment later. I don't ever want to see it happen again, Yami. He trembled harder a moment later, flattening his ears. It was horrifying the first time and it was devastating the second.