A/N: Chapter 14 of Ginga Densetsu Alayus. Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters except my own. GDW belongs to the rightful owner.

Special thanks to the reviewers, I truly appreciate it.

Chapter 14: One more to go

Rocket padded into the clearing, a squirrel hanging limply from his jaws. Looking around, he noticed that the other dogs were busy resting, most of them full from their own successful hunt. Jerome, who had his head resting on top of his paws, lazily opened an eye and watched Rocket pick a place to eat his food in peace.

I better keep a close eye on Jerome. Who knows what is going on in that skull of his. Rocket thought as he watch the German Shepherd walked over to have a quick chat with Weed who was sprawled out against the snow, a bliss look on his face. After a few minutes, Weed nodded his head and addressed the group.

"Guys!" He stood up and shook the excess snow from his pelt. "We're ready to leave since everyone returned safely from their hunting trip. With good time, I'm sure we'll reach the next town by nightfall. Jerome, please take the lead."

"As you wish Weed. Everyone follow me, and try to keep pace!" Jerome got up and trotted up to the lead. The rest of the group followed him before Weed's voice called them back.

"Hang on…..has anyone seen Blue anymore?" He looked around for his friend. "Rocket, Blue was with you the entire time right? How come he hasn't come back yet?"

"That's uhh…I don't know." Rocket looked down, finding his paws more attractive than Weed's pleading eyes. "We decided to hunt separately but I haven't heard back from him. I thought he would come back by himself."

"We'll probably see him down the road sometime. We should hit the road right now." Jerome said, afraid that if they took the time to search for a team mate, they would waste daylight.

"We can't leave without him! C'mon, we have to search for him! Blue!" Weed took off shouting for his friend's name. The rest of the army broke up in groups and shouted Blue's name. They looked everywhere for the mutt but there was no reply.

"I found him!" GB's voice called up and the dogs rushed over, staring at Blue's motionless body half covered with a blanket of snow.

"It looks like his death was not too long ago; his body still has a tiny bit of warmth." GB said. "The wound on his neck looks like a dog's bite."

"Well that's too bad. I really wanted him to finish this journey with us." Weed sighed. "That's a shame. Whoever did this to him is unacceptable!"

"Wait! I found something in between his claws." GB gently lifted Blue's paws and pulled out tuffs of fur. "It looks like he got into a fight with someone and rip their fur out….Alayus, you're missing a few clumps of fur on your back." Now that he mentioned that, all of the dogs looked at her and waited for her answer.

"W-what?! How could you guys speculate that I killed Blue?" She looked around, innocence written all over her face as she tried to plead not guilty.

"Look here," Rocket put his voice into the matter, "The signs are very clear, the evidence is right in front of us." He looked around noticing that he had every dog's attention. "You and Jerome were hunting this way correct? Of course, it doesn't take a monkey to visualize what happened next. You guys could have hunted separately and you could've mistaken Blue as a rabbit. Realizing your mistake was a bit too late; you killed Blue, covered your tracks and washed the blood in a nearby stream. It makes sense!"

"And just HOW in the world did you know where WE were going?!" Jerome snarled, baring his teeth and snapping his jaws. "Admit it, you just wanted to get RID of the TWO of US from the start! I have never accepted you in this pack but now I am CERTAIN that you don't belong with us. Alayus is innocent! In fact I believe you ripped her fur this morning on purpose for this act you son of a bitch!" The surrounding dogs looked at one another in confusion, torn between who was the real culprit.

"Me? How could you accuse me of murder? Alayus must've snagged her fur against some prickly plants after the fight." Rocket huffed in fake hurt. "Honestly why would I want to kill my hunting partner?"

"Jerome, are you protecting a murderer?" Weed asked, astonished and confused at Jerome's actions.

"Weed you have to believe me!" Alayus looked at him, nervously pawing at the snow. "I didn't kill him, honest!"

"Shut up you! Weed doesn't want to talk with a killer." Someone interfered but Jerome growled at him immediately.

"Don't talk to her like that! I'll kill you all!"

"Everyone stop." Weed planted his paw down to gain attention. "This has gone far enough. I have seen the evidence with my own eyes as much as I hate to say this but….." He looked at the German shepherd straight in the eyes, "Alayus you have to go." Most of the dogs cheered and even Rocket grinned.

"WEED! Please reconsider!" Jerome was shocked at the leader's decision.

"Jerome, there's no need." Alayus placed her paw on his shoulder.

"But—!" Jerome looked at her but she shook her head.

"It's okay. I'll be fine. I should probably get going."

"Get out of here! Don't come back!" Some of the other dogs jeered and used their paws to kick snow and dirt in her face. Whirling around, she took off running, the pelting of snow and dirt against her back made her run faster until the jeering died down.

"You bastards!" Jerome grabbed the nearest tormentor and threw him aside, making sure to draw a little blood to make a point. He whirled around to attack the next nearest dog however everyone backed up in fear.

"Jerome! Calm down!" GB and a few others held him down but he shook them off, his rage erupting out of his body like a massive heatwave.

"Why won't you guys believe her? She was a comrade long before HE showed up! You guys are lower than shit!" He took off running in the direction Alayus disappeared but stopped. There was no way he'll catch up to her and if he did, what would he say. Sadly, he sat on his haunches, his head hung low. After a while, Weed padded up behind him and silence hung between them.

"Jerome…I'm sor—"

"Weed…..leave me alone for a minute." Jerome interjected a bit harshly. "I don't want to talk to you at this moment. Please give me some time." Respecting his wishes, Weed hung his head and padded back to the group. With a shake of his head, he ordered for the army to rest for the day until Jerome was ready to join them.

"Don't fret about what had happened dear leader." Rocket spoke quietly to Weed. "I'm sure it was deliberately planned between Alayus and some spy for Hougen."

"Wait, are you saying that Alayus was forming a plan with a spy?! I guess I'm glad to get her out of the group then. Our next priority is to find this spy and get rid of him as quick as possible. Thanks Rocket, I knew I could count on you." Smiling, Weed walked off to eat beside GB. Rocket watched him go before looking at Jerome's silhouette still sitting in the snow. He was surprised at how well his plan is going.

Now it's time to get rid of one more.