This is the longest chapter so far mainly because there is quite a long conversation in it. Hope you enjoy.

WARNING: I am a wolf trapped inside a human's body.

Tsume stopped and rested his hand on a nearby tree still panting from the exertion of their escape from Darcia's castle. Kiba stopped next to Tsume's side quickly followed by Blue and Hige. Toboe was quite far behind them but was determined to catch up to them at a run instead of walking and looking like he had given up. As soon as the youngest of the pack had caught up the others started to walk deeper into the under growth of the forest.

"Kiba, where are we going?" Toboe asked the pack's leader with concern written across his face.

Kiba stayed silent as if he had not heard the fourteen-year-old boy. Hige glanced worriedly at his blue eyed friend. It was normal for Kiba to be quiet but he almost always answered a question. Blue sighed she could easily see that the news of Cheza's betrayal was taking a toll on the boys but she had never seen them look so defeated, even after they had lost the lives of their human friends in the storm subsequent to the battle at the keep, during their last life.

"Um, could someone please tell me where we are going? I mean I don't mind it's just we have always had a destination and now..." Toboe trailed off at the end of his sentence.

Tsume looked at the younger boy, "We are going to paradise," He stated simply, "Right Kiba?"

The blue eyed boy momentary looked at the older wolf, "How are we to get to paradise without the flower maiden?"

Tsume was taken aback at the icy tone Kiba used. Tsume being Tsume who was not a gentleman by any stretch of the imagination gave an answer to Kiba's question, "Fine, mope about, damn it, but at least now we don't have that girl stinking up the place."

A low growl erupted from Kiba. Apparently not even such a cold betrayal from the flower maiden could stop him from protecting the key to paradise. Toboe jumped in-between the two glaring males, "Kiba, Tsume didn't mean that he is just stressed."

"Shut up runt. What I said is true." Tsume replied not even looking at Toboe.

Blue pulled Toboe to her side encase a fight did break out. Hige looked very nervous standing by himself behind Kiba. Tsume took up a defensive stance ready to attack.

Kiba glared daggers at the silver haired man before turning around, "We will find a way to get to paradise even if I must walk to the ends of the earth." The white wolf stalked down the path letting his human illusion drop to reveal the golden eyed beast. Tsume snorted and also dropped his human illusion and following Kiba muttering things under his breath.

The three remaining pack members exchanged confused glances before copying the two livid wolves and disappearing into the under growth. Hige trotted by Blues side constantly sniffing the air for food hoping to find something even if it was just carrion the crows had left behind. Hige suddenly caught the whiff of leather and sweat. "Guys, we got company."

The whole pack halted and turned to Hige, "What is it or more importantly how many?" Blue asked her blue eyes showing deep concern.

"It just smells like one horse without a rider."

"Is it a military horse or a wild one?" Tsume asked.

"I don't know but it smells like it has leather on it so it might have a saddle."

"Do you think it is-" Toboe stopped as hoof beats broke the forests silence. The bushes surrounding the clearing where the pack had stopped moved a bit before opening up as a large horse bolted into the clearing. The horse skidded to a stop in front of the pack, breathing hard.

"Damn it." Tsume muttered recognising symbol for the military was embroidered into the horse's saddle cloth. The chocolate palomino snorted and shook its mane. Blue lunged at it instinctively but the horse carelessly reared up and hit her in the head sending the black she-wolf crashing to the moss covered ground.

"Hey, you can't do that." Toboe said angrily at the horse.

"She attacked me. It was only self-defence little dog." The horse said aching its neck proudly. From the pitch of its voice any the wolves could tell it was female.

"I'm a wolf not a dog." Toboe said indignantly.

"And I'm a unicorn. Look kid I don't have time to play 'what I want to be when I grow up' so stay out of my way." The mare stomped her hoof hard on the ground narrowly missing hitting Blue who was still lying on the floor.

"Don't mess with us horse." Tsume spat.

"Look, I only came to help a friend nothing more and nothing less."

"Who's your friend?" Hige asked finally speaking up.

"Kiba."

"Kiba?!" the three wolves shouted before spinning to look at Kiba who had sat down and had half closed his golden eyes.

"Kuro lived in the same tribe that took me in, in my last life. She was foal at that time." Kiba said giving an explanation.

"I was taken into the army after our tribe was attacked but since I don't follow orders I saw no reason to stay and be a dog of the military." Kuro said swishing her silky tail.

"Don't you mean horse, it would fit better into that metaphor although I guess then it would be literal." Hige said cocking his head.

"I say dog because a horse would never be broken like dogs are. We equines have a mind of our own."

"Why are you here?" Kiba asked before the others could process the insult.

"The old man told me if I saw you in trouble I must help." The chocolate palomino said snorting again.

"I thought you didn't take orders." Tsume said trying to stir up trouble with the hot headed horse.

"I don't it was a request." Kuro retorted without hesitation.

"If you are here to help then let's move before they start looking for you." Kiba said getting up. Blue slowly got up and shook her head to clear it from the black splotches that swam around her vision.

"I'll take off you saddle if you like." Hige offered. Kuro nodded her head and once her tack had been removed they set out heading as far away from the stone castle in the distance.

I don't mind this chapter but I would like to know what you think. For those who don't know horses a chocolate palomino is a coat colour for a horse where the mane and tail are creamy coloured and the rest of the horse is dark brown or black. If you have any other questions on the story feel free to PM me. I am not sure if I should keep Kuro for the whole story or just for a small part of it please let me know. Thanks and BYE.