Thank you to Crystal-wolf-Guardian-967 and Viviene001 for reviewing.
Chapter XX: A Soldier's Mission
Deep in the center of The Lost City, near the very heart of a keep no one knew existed, sat a beautifully lit room. There, amidst books and furniture, before a long mahogany desk sat the Lady of this fine city. Many called her the Noble of the East but really she preferred Lady Jagura. That was her birth name after all.
She had been sitting in silence for quite some time now, doing nothing but watching the still creature splayed out on the couch before her desk.
When her men had reported their findings Jagura almost dared not hope. So many times over the years her men returned to her thinking they had succeeded only to bring Jagura failures. Small children, young maidens with golden hair, and old crones. All were human, all were guesses based on the looks of the Flower maiden. There had been so many failures, Jagura felt herself lamenting that perhaps Darcia the first had been right, perhaps this famed creature was lost forever.
But...then #23 had finally found his way back home. When Jagura's men found him that beast proved far more useful to Jagura's ultimate goal than her own men.
And now, here she was.
A petite, slender maid looking no older than 18. She looked so weak and dainty but anyone with eyes could see sculpted muscles lined her body. She looked weak but she had power hidden under that maiden cloak. Her pale skin was lined with wounds and scars—many that needed immediate attention upon her arrival to the keep. These were the only showings to Jagura's naked eyes of the true nature of this maid.
If it weren't for her short locks being black, Jagura would have thought her to be Cheza's carbon copy.
One of the last puzzle pieces to the Nobles master plan.
'...She wakes.' Jagura heard the comment and it broke her from her thoughts quick enough for her to notice that her subject of interest was—indeed—stirring.
The room was silent as a tome as the maiden quietly groaned. Her slender frame extended across the couch as she stretched and the relaxed before-finally- her eyes opened. Jagura resisted the urge to grow tense as the now awake maiden drowsily took in her surrounding with strikingly red eyes.
As red as the moon had become recently.
Just as Jagura had read.
"You're awake" the noble spoke up pleased to see that the maiden, at least visibly, did not appear to be in any pain. She did, however, become more aware of her surroundings. Jagura watched from her seat, amused as the maiden sat up right and bared her teeth threateningly.
"You…" she spoke " you stink of noble"
And Jagura would have found the comment offensive with how much venom it was spat with. She would have, but she knew it was warranted. Truthfully, Jagura knew she deserved the hate of all the beast of this maidens kind. The noble smiled proudly at her company though.
"Are you comfortable?" Jagura questioned and a low growl was the answer she was given.
"Where am I?" Crimson eyes darted across the layout of the office, no doubt trying to find an escape. "Where is Hige? What did you do to him?!"
Hige? Who?
"..." Jagura was lost for a moment and the she remembered. That's right, #23 had been found with this maiden. So he went by Hige to the beast. "#23 has served his purpose" the noble hummed, even now she was so very pleased with her remaining two beast. They would be honored for the end of time for their deeds.
"#23…" the maiden stopped growling in favor of curious its "...purpose? What purpose?"
"Why, you my dear" Jagura chuckled "Bringing the white wolf to me and just as importantly you"
"...me?"
"I tell you now the words of Red Moon…" Jagura spoke slowly pushing herself up from her seat "From the Great spirit was born the wolf, and man became its messenger" the maidens expression was painted with confusion at the words spoken to her but it didn't bother Jagura as she rounded her desk and spoke on "they're the words from humans long ago who worshipped you beast as gods. They were fools if you ask me, placing faith in wolves" Jagura spat venom from her words "Serving them, praying to them, hoping to one day be accepted into paradise-"
"Paradise doesn't belong to the likes of man" the maiden snarled out "it belongs to wolves"
"... precisely" Jagura hummed leaning against her desk now "Or at least … it was"
For so long it was, but not for much longer.
Jagura smiled at the thought. Soon enough.
"It was because of man this book came to be" Jagura spoke on, reaching behind her to pick up the forbidden text she spoke of "All the secrets of your ancient messengers deciphered onto paper in a book called 'The Book of the moon' " Jagura held it up for the maiden to see only idly wondering if the creature could read. "With this book, we nobles unlocked the secrets of the world and charted a path to the heavens above and-thanks to Hose Darcia- a road to the famed paradise itself"
"..." the maiden was silent now, her once frantic gaze now focused as she tried to understand this information.
"Yes… Quacey Lumeria truly was a gift to the cause" Jagura spoke on setting the book down on the desk without so much as looking away from the weary, quiet maiden "even after Darcia the First not only failed to open paradise but cursed his house in the process. We all thought our efforts were lost with that house. Still that many- Quacey Lumeria- left us a parting gift"
"You see, 'The Book of the Moon' was not the only book he wrote in his life. He wrote another just as important" Crimson eyes followed Jagura as the noble walked across the room to her book case "one my love, Darcia, has failed to understand but luckily I have" she trailed her fingers along the row of books before finding the one she was looking for This world has been dying since the day Darcia the First tried to force paradise open but Lumeria believed the decay could be reversed by opening paradise properly. However to do so important things were needed… The chosen Wolf- whose birthright is to rule this world, the Moonlight Crucible- which gives power to my city by converting the moonlight its bathed in to energy, and the guide of the Lunar flower-awaken by wolfs' precious blood-"
"Cheza" the maiden spoke the name softly.
"So are the items needed to open paradise and trigger what Lumeria called a 'Lunar Healing'- a phrase he used to title the second book he ever wrote" Jagura held said book up before flipping it open and skimming through the pages.
Just then, a knock came to the door before it opened.
"My Lady" one of Jagura's servants entered with a cart "Your meal is ready"
Right on time.
"Send for my men" Jagura ordered as the servant left with a nod. The noble made no moves to approach the cart of food brought in for her. Instead, she watched her precious maiden.
The pale creature was staring at the cart, her nose twitching as her canine sense of smell picked up far more than the scent of cooked meat. Jagura was surprised, she didn't think such a pale face could get any Palmer as a look of disbelief crossed the maidens face.
"...no…" she whimpered, her body trembling and her head shaking "no, it can't be…" crawling on her hands and knees, the maiden made for the cart only to be stopped short by loud jangling chains she only now seemed to realized bound her neck and wrist.
Truly, if her hair was white and her cloths different, the maiden would look just like Cheza with her chains.
"Please no" The maiden yanked feebly at her chains trying to will what she smelled to not be true.
" 'To their credit, the nobles were quite efficient in utilizing the secrets I had stolen' " Jagura read from the book in her hand, strolling casually towards the cart the maiden struggled in vain to reach " 'They located an entity that was both fixed- yet free, before proceeding to dislodge it from its post and bind it to earth- forcing it to a physical form…' "
"..." the maiden whined loudly turning towards her bindings and yanked violently at the them while Jagura red on.
" 'and there I saw her, a body long and lender. Hair long and whiter than snow…' " Jagura loomed over the maiden casting a shadow over her frantic form and prompting her to gaze up at the noble with those big red eyes of hers. " 'Eyes a burning crimson, skin paler than the moon itself' " aside from her hair, there was no doubting it, this maiden matched Quacey Lumeria's words perfectly. She was the one. Humming, Jagura turned away and read on " 'she acted like the very beast she ruled over but we soon found the means to wake her true nature. She witnessed the horrors of man upon her kin… death and pain…' " Jagura uncovered her meal to reveal a perfectly cooked steak but again it was the maiden that Jagura watched.
Her dainty face was etched with horror at the meat. Her hands gripped the chains at her neck as if to support herself and her eyes were glazing over with unshod tears.
" 'and finally...blood' " There was a wine glass on the cart as well and with her free hand Jagura lifted it up and swirled its red content to help her precious maiden pick up the scent.
And she did effortlessly.
Inhaling through her nose, the maiden was on her feet immediately and truly trying to reach Jagura with teeth now bared.
"... Kileona" She spoke and as the name left her lips something began to happen to the maiden. Her short locks unraveled, racing past her shoulders and down her body like a wave of black ink. She clenched her eyes shut and groaned as the change came to her.
" 'That was when we discovered the way to awake paradises beautiful maiden' " Jagura read on before bringing her drink to her lips and tasted copper on her tongue " 'The scent of wolfs blood awake her and unleashed her scent-like a meadow of lunar flowers' "
"Kileona" the maiden grunted on as she yanked at her chains as hard as she old. "No… Kileona!"
" 'They declared her the Flower Maiden of the stolen text, the being to lead all wolves to paradise and open its gates'..."
Quacey Lumeria proved to be right all along for when the maiden opened her eyes again The pupils had vanished, leaving a pool of red in its place. Tears streamed from her eyes and she tipped her head upward before opening her mouth in a silent cry.
It was one that Jaguras human ears could not hear but wolves could. It was a cry only a flower maiden should be able to produce and thanks to the whine coming from nearby, Jagura knew this slender maiden was making such a cry.
Jagura grinned.
Good, she thought, cry on my sweet maiden. Cry until your voice breaks, bring the king of Beasto me.
Eventually the maiden did stop screaming. She dropped to her knees before Jagura, those crimson eyes staring blindly ahead.
"Darcia believes that your death is the last piece needed to fully awaken Cheza as the Book of the Moon says" Jagura mused to the now silent maiden "but he, like many before him, are mistaken. It's not Cheza who will open the gates… it is you"
That was the last the maiden heard of Jagura's words. The transformation tired her out, her eyes rolled back before she collapsed at Jagura's greet.
'...It wasn't enough' The only other presence in the room spoke up. Jagura turned her gaze to the voice in time to see a hand grip the edge of her desk before a ember haired girl stood fully. Her honey eyes stared down at the unconscious maiden and she idly played with the collar around her neck. The girl sniffed the air twice "she melts a little more like Lunar flower but… not like the other one"
"It's enough" Jagura declared "So… #23 took the name Hige?"
"He didn't have much memory of his purpose when I met him"
"And yet he still lead all I needed here" Jagura chuckled "Just as you did with your …'pack' " she snorted out "#33"
The Alpha was very distracted after reuniting with her lost pup" #33 sniffed out "and with Kileona gone, it was easy to misdirect the whole pack into a trap…"
"#33…" Jagura turned to her most loyal beast "what name did you give them?"
"..." Honey eyes shifted to stare back at the noble emotional essay "does it matter anymore? You've killed all who know it"
"I'm curious" Jagura chuckled
"It was Kisa" #33 answered, her voice giving no sign she felt connected to the name she spent her whole life using. Jagura hummed in acknowledgment as the office door opened again revealing a fully armed soldier.
"You called, My Lady?"
"Take the maiden" Jagura motioned to the still form on the floor "place her with Cheza"
"Right away"
"There's still one more" #33 spoke up "He's older, more guarded against outsiders. He's with the white one"
"..." Jagura stared at her beast's human form before reaching out and pouring the content of her wine glass across #33's green sweatshirt "take care of him" she commanded "We only need the White Wolf"
"As you wish" #33 or… Kisa mused, not seeming to be bothered by the mess on her as she made her way to the door.
"Make sure the men follow #33's every command" Jagura directed to her soldier as the man carefully unchained and picked up the precious maiden.
"Yes, My Lady" the man nodded before turning to the door.
"One more thing" Jagura called just before he could leave "... When the beast is caught, you know what to do with #33"
"... Yes My Lady"
Kisa was not her given name.
It wasn't the name she recognized as her own.
She was #33. That's all, that was it. From the time she could open her eyes and walk, the female was known as #33. She had nothing but this number given to her.
That was just how it had always been, for her and 32 other loves like her. Because that had always been Jagura's plan. For as far back as #33 could remember, Lady Jagura had been rounding up wolves and bringing them to this city. Once here she broke them,trained them, made them loyal to her and her alone.
Why? Because Lady Jagura always thought ahead.
As time passed and the wolf population faded, Lady Jagura did not believe that these beast were extinct. She believed that the wolf was adjusting, getting smarter, learning to blend in with the human population.
That was why they were becoming harder to find.
But that's what wolves like #33 were for.
They were anything Lady Jagura needed them to be: Spies, distractions, traps. If Lady Jagura needed it and she didn't have it another wolf was snatched up to fill that roll until a couple because a few and eventually many until Jagura had a pack of 33 wolf soldiers fine tuned to accurately spot wild wolves hiding among man.
It seemed like a shame, a wolf hunting wolves and leading them to slaughter but if any of #33's pack had ever felt that way at any point Lady Jagura made sure to remove such useless things from their minds in place of one constant reminder:
They were soldiers.
As a soldier, they must understand that they will kill and maim, that a river of blood flowed from their fingertips because that was their one true purpose.
#33 knew that well, just like the rest of her pack, just like #23.
Yes, she remembered #23.
Jagura had taken extra care in his development. He wasn't a fighter type like some of the others. Instead he was husky, designed to appear more approachable and harmless to more suspicious wolves. But that didn't take away from the males skills. #23 was remarkably fast with quick reflexes and a sharp nose. He was such a success that #33 was bred and altered specifically to be almost a mirror copy of him. Honestly, besides his size #23 and #33 where fairly similar. Many in their pack even thought #33 and #23 were siblings and who knows.. perhaps they were, not that it mattered.
What mattered most were results and #23 was good at getting those.
He had been deployed to hunt down hiding packs a total f 7 times before #23 went out on her first mission. 7 hunts that all ended in success and each pack bigger that the last. The chubby ember male was even arrogant enough to lead his targets right into the city.
Did that sound heartless? Maybe but that was his job, their job.
Find wolves acros this dying world, join their pack and either guide Jaguras troop to said pack or lead the pack into a trap.
With an army of 33 personally trained beast, Jagura made the population of wolves drop drastically.
This war against wolves had been how #33 gained this name she used.
Kisa
It had been something #23 told her to come up with before she went on her first mission. "No one's going to trust someone with a number for a name" He told her with an aloof shrug of his shoulders. That was how he came up with the name 'Hige' as his cover name.
He proved correct of course.
'Kisa' returned from two successful missions back to back and she quickly became Jagura's second best wolf under 'Hige'.
Well… second best until 'Hige' was sent out and never came back. It had to have been just before 'Kiisa' found herself in Noele's quickly growing pack of strays.
Normal packs would stop to mourn the loss of one of their own...but theirs wasn't a normal pack.
They were soldiers and death was a normality of life.
To have one of their own not return from a mission wasn't uncommon either, #15 used to be a male that was accidentally shot down by Jagura's men during a capture mission. #6 was killed by her targets the minute they spotted her collar.
Wolves died, it wasn't new.
The remaining pack just moved on.
Because that was what they did.
Because they were soldiers.
So when 'Kisa' crossed paths with 'Hige' almost a week ago, the female was both surprised and at a loss for how to react. She had been trained not to react to death, but she was never trained to react to survival. Perhaps just a bit, if only briefly at that, 'Kisa' had felt relief at the sight of 'Hige' alive and well but #33 reminded herself that she was undercover. As soon as 'Hige' showed no sign of recognizing her or her scent he was dismissed in 'Kisa's mind.
'Hige' and 'Kisa' went their separate ways and 3 days later 'Kisa' had completed her 11th mission- one mission shy of #23's record before he disappeared.
When 'Kisa' returned to Jagura, she was the only wolf of the pack left. The others… every single one of them lined a hall within the keep stuffed and mounted as trophies for Lady Jagura to gaze upon.
Did the she-wolf feel anything for this sight? No even if a part of her wanted to she reminded herself that she was a soldier, that all of those before her had been soldiers.
A soldier is he whose blood makes the glory of the general.
This had been their purpose from the start.
The female was placed on standby after she returned and remained so until today. That morning Jagura's men caught a familiar signal entering the city. It was #23's collar.
'Hige' had lead his pack right into the city like the soldier he had always been.
'Kisa' was taken off standby when half of the wolves entered the keep itself.
She found Kileona crawling around the keeps vents trying to scout the area like he was raised to do by his mother. He was here for Cheza but it was his unfortunates that he found 'Kisa'
It was too easy, He truly believed his family was alive and within the keep. Kileona followed 'Kisa' without a second of thought to question the situation, he even turned his back to 'Kisa'
That, at least, was probably for the better. This way he never saw the blade- didn't know he was in trouble until 'Kisa' had driven steel into the pups back. The look of betrayal in Kileona's eye's when he spun around to look at 'Kisa'... she wished she could actually understand it.
But… she was a soldier…
"Kisa…" Kileona had dropped to his knees, blood quickly pooling around him "...Why?"
"..." 'Kisa' hadn't replied, felt no need to. Instead, she stared blankly at Kileona as Jagura's men came upon them. "... Kill him" the female ordered, no emotion came to her face as she watched the color drain from Kileona's. "I will report this to Lady Jagura" and with that said 'Kisa' turned away and made her way down the long corridor to inform Jagura of what happen.
Like the good soldier she was.
"Kisa!" Kileona's voice echoed out behind her but 'Kisa' didn't turn back, she didn't flinch as a single shot resonated through the hall and she didn't hesitate as the scent of Kileona's blood damn near choked the air. Kileona had been 'Kisa's' good friend. Perhaps if she could feel in that moment she would feel sorrow, perhaps even regret but #33 had no friends, she only had missions to carry out. No matter how horrible the mission was.
Like a good soldier, she did just that.
That soldiers do terrible things should never be a surprise.
Her next target, however, would be more of a task. He was a grey wolf, a unnaturally large male with an 'X' scar on his chest and an air of a wolf that trusted no one. From the command center 'Kisa' watch this male trail along side the White Wolf, unaware of the camera's watching his every move.
Lady Jagura did not need the grey wolf.
'Kisa's' mission was clear and she would see it to completion. She had been watching the two wolves wander aimlessly for 10 or so minutes now- all the while carefully spinning her web around them. The corner of 'Kisa's' mouth curved up a fraction of an inch as the female used the controls in the room to shift walls and changed corridors around the two male wolves. As they entered one area of the keep the path behind them closed, forks were changed to one-way paths and without even knowing it, the two males were heading for their traps.
But first, the grey one had to go.
'Kisa' made sure to lead the two males close to the sight of Kileona's death before automatically opening a vent so the stench of his fresh blood could leak into the hall.
And one of them would smell it in…
"..." on the camera feed the grey one stopped walking ".. I smell something" he remarked unaware that the white wolf walked on.
"Perfect" 'Kisa' muttered and with a flick of her finger a wall silently slid in place between the pair, separating the grey one from the needed white wolf. That was half her job done already. "Lady Jagura has no use for the grey be" 'Kisa' remarked leaning back in her seat before her honey eyes turned to the guard standing beside her. The human looked at 'Kisa' with disgust in return. Whether the look was because the he-wolf was betraying her own or because he had to take orders from a beast 'Kisa' didn't know.
Didn't know and didn't care.
Jagura's orders were absolute and the noble declared that 'Kisa' was to be obeyed.
"What's next" The man asked, hard gaze watching 'Kisa' fiddle about with the controls, rapidly changing corridors and pathways now that the two wolves were separated.
"Lady Jagura wants the white one alive" The she-wolf remarked, her eyes never leaving the screen "I'll set up a path leading towards the flower maiden. Your men will cut him off in this room here" she pointed t the room the white wolf would eventually end up in once he found and followed the lunar flowers scent "You can cut him off there before he reaches the flower maiden. Just remember, Lady Jagura wants the white wolf alive"
"And what about the other one?"
"..." 'Kisa' watched the grey wolf on the screen for a moment before fiddling with the corridors again "I will lead him here, do what you will with him when he gets there"
"Understood" the man remarked stepping back as 'Kisa' stood up, stretching her limbs with a soft grunt.
"I'll handle the grey one, stay back until he gets to this room" and with that 'Kisa' was off with the scowling human soldier tracking behind her.
This place was like a damn maze and it was starting to piss Tsume off. He couldn't help but be on edge as he walked these dan halls on his own. This place just felt so wrong, no matter what corner Tsume turned it felt like the walls around him were shifting and changing, making him walk in circles. His nose had caught the scent of blood too, wolfs blood, vaguely familiar wolfs blood.
Tsume wasn't too familiar with the scent of the new runt Kileona but he knew it enough to realize that the scouting pup must be heavily injured. He'd follow the scent since he was no separated from Kisa.
But there was no sign of the runt as Tsume came upon another corridor.
Instead he was met with another, she stumbled around a corner Tsume was coming up on. She whimpered as she walked, looking like she was on the bad end of a street fight. The whole front of her body was covered in blood. Tsume's nose twitched, that's Kileona's blood. He tenses as the female before him tattered where she stood.
"Help… me" the female spoke before she tipped forward falling into Tsumes arms just as he rushed forward to catch her. She was young, had be around Toboe and Kileona's age if not maybe just a bit older. Her human shift was remained of a familiar porky wolf Tsume knew with her ember hair and the collar around her neck. She was almost identical to Hige. Her sweatshirt was soaked in Kileona's blood.
"Hey" Tsume gave the she-wolf a shake "hang in the-hey!" It took another good shake to stir the she-wolf. She blinked a couple of times, her honey eyes found Tsume and she quickly perked up.
"You!" She yelped reaching up to grip Tsume's arms "you're that guy! The..the one Kileona went with!"
"Kileona" Tsume echoed arching a brow, this she-wolf knew Kileona? Not that Tsume looked at the she-wolf, Tsume vaguely recalled seeing a similar collar Higes back at that tribe of humans. One of the wolves from Kileona's old pack. Didn't they flee east? What was she doing here?
"Jagura…" the he-wolf breathed as if she read Tsume's mind "her men, they snatched us up… Kileona found us in cages...but Jagura's men they… caught us trying to escape" the she-wolfs eyes looked about frantically and panicked "they attacked Kileona…"
Tsume hummed in acknowledgement, that would explain Kileona's blood on her and in the air. So, Kileona was captured while trying to save his family? Tsume couldn't say he was surprised, the runt had been reluctant to leave his mother behind. Well, since he couldn't find Kisa, Tsume might as well save the pup.
Marina would give him grief if he didn't.
"Are you okay to stand?" Tsume questioned the she-wolf before him "What's your name/"
"It's Kisa" Kisa replied before pushing herself up on shaky legs "please, you have to help me! He was bleeding really badly when I got away!"
"Alright, Alright" The young she-wolf was practically dragging Tsume by the time he verbally agreed to help. Quickly yanking himself free of her grip Tsume put some distance between him and Kisa. He didn't know the female well after all. "Do you remember the way? This place is like a maze"
"Yes! Yes! This way!" Kisa nodded her head frantically, her big honey eyes misted with unshod tears.
So Tsume followed her. Down the hall and around the corner, down more seemingly endless halls and through doors he hadn't noticed were doors until Kisa pushed them open. All the while Kisa continued to stress just how important it was that they hurried. Because her pack was in danger, because they had to save Kileona, because he'd lost so much blood.
...and yet Tsume couldn't help but notice the longer he followed this Kisa the fainter the scent of blood became.
"Hey…" Tsume spoke up after a while of running "how much farther is it?"
"It's not far!" Kisa remarked from ahead only glancing back to ensure that he was following "please hurry!"
"You know, I thought your pack had decided to go eat and as far from Jagura as you could get" Tsume continued to question as they ran "How did you end up this far south with a pack your size?"
This question made Kisa stop short, so abruptly so that Tsume almost ran into her. Her head was hung for a moment before she spoke out.
"Jagura…" she said "will hunt wolves until all of the are gone. She has no need for them in her paradise."
"Her...what?" Tsume questioned but Kisa was moving again. She ran ahead and harshly threw open a large set of doors.
"In here!" Her voice echoed as she ran into the room "quickly! There's Kileona!"
Tsume had his doubts, one doesn't live as long as he has ithout healthily doubting all walks of life around him. However, Tsume had ears and he could hear the frantic desperation in the he-wolfs voice as she loudly streaked out Kileona's name. That was enough to spur the grey wolf on to at least confirm that Kileona was there. Tsume ran in after Kisa but…
But Kileona wasn't there…
The cages Kisa spoke of weren't;t there…
...in fact… as Tsume skidded to a halt in the center of the room the grey wolf realized there were no wolves in this room.
Not… not alive anyway.
"What…" Tsumes eyes went wide as he suddenly found himself surrounded by a small pack of contained wolves. None of them moved in response to his presence, each of them looked stuck, frozen in time like statues or … "Trophies" the realization came to the grey wolf quickly but it was too late for him.
Without warning, a cage dropped from ceiling and trapped Tsume in his place.
"You know, you should really be more careful when some unfamiliar wolf suddenly ask you for help" a voice spoke up a moment later earning Tume's gaze.
Kisa stood before the cage, her once frantic expression now blank as she was shadowed by a human dress in that familiar armor that belonged to Jagura;s troops.
"You" Tsume snarled out gripping the bars of the cage "You tricked me!'
"you trusted me" Kisa countered idly playing with that damn dog collar around her next. A collar that looked just like Higes...and all the other stuffed and mounted wolves around him. "you trusted #23 too…" Kisa spoke on a the look of realization crossed Tsume's face and then confusion "...oh… right… you know Him as 'Hige' right?" She mused, that blank stare wandering to look off to the side, Tsume looked as well.
Two of the displays were empty with already established placards at their base. One had a symbol that matched the one on Kisa's collar and the other was an X...just like what could be found on Higes.
It was making sense now, how Hige knew how to get into the city undetected, how he somehow knew where the keep was despite never being here before.
"Hmm yes…" Tsume must have spoke out loud because Kisa hummed this with a nod and another tug on her collar "we caught the signals from #23's collar enter the city not long ago… I can't say I'm surprised...this is his favorite method of trapping"
"Trapping" Tsume didn't like the sound of that word.
"Yours is the 13th pack of wolves #23 has lead to Lady Jagura like this… he's quite good at it too" if there was any sign of emotion on the females face it was n this quick second in which the corner of her mouth twitched slightly "That's what he does, what I've done"
"Where is Kileona?" The question came out in a snarl that Kisa blinked lazily at.
"..." there was another tug at her collar "Kileona is no longer of this world" Kisa breathed emotionless lay
"How can you do that to your own kind?! Betrayed them and lead them to slaughter!"
"Do not mistake me for the likes of you, wolf" the female s words were sharp in their deliverance, Tsume could feel by her tone Kisa meant every word she spoke "you are not of my kind, #23 and I are not wolves. We are soldiers. Soldiers in this war for paradise… a war Lady Jagura is about to win"
There was movement behind Kisa as she spoke. The human behinds her was reaching behind himself to pull something up.
"And as a soldier, I do what I'm told, fulfill my masters wishes" Kisa spoke on thought now Tsume's gaze was on the human as he pulled out a gun. Kisa didn't flinch as the sound of it cocking reached her ears "Lady Jagura has no need for wolves in her paradise" the female spoke calmly and though Tsume's eyes grew wide Kisa's remained stoic even when the human pressed the gun to her back "be them soldiers or not…"
BANG!
#23 had never been shot before. She tried to avoid the experience as best she could so having a gun fired into her back at point blank range was new. Perhaps its was poetic justice for what she had done to Kileona. All the same it was blindingly painful. The force of the shot sent her jerking forward into the cage bars. She gripped the, braced against them as blood heaved from her mouth and coated the metal.
She stared into the horror stricken face of her last mission and smiled before sliding down the metal bars to the floor.
Yes… Jagura had no need for wolves in her paradise.
#33 would comply… like the good soldier she was.
Tsume was taken away after that, knocked unconscious by Jagura's men before being dragged off to the cells below the keep.
The little she-wolf known as #33 was left where she lay on the floor of the trophy room with the others of her kind.
A room full of soldiers in a war for paradise.