The ruby wolf: Thanks! I love it when people talk to me about my characters.

Sharlea North: lol! Yeah, I don't plan on adding many more characters. It would get too confusing!

Fan Boy 101: Here's your new chapter!

Shirou: Glad you like it! I always like getting new readers.

whitewolf31645: Thanks, I get really excited when I'm complimented like that. Who doesn't???

"My eyes can't believe what they have seen
In the corner of your room you've stockpiled millions of my memories
Oh doctor doctor I must have gotten sick somehow
I'm going to ask you a series of questions and I want them answered on the spot right now"

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We've walked for days…a never-ending road, that's what it is. Kai trained her eyes on the setting sun. But no, she thought. It does end…in Paradise.

They were passing through a little town, almost barren of people, and had nearly reached the edge of it.

"You guys smell that?"

They stopped.

"Smell what, Hige?" Blue asked. She lifted her head and experimentally sniffed the air.

"Over here," Hige said. He padded off, leading the rest of them to the unknown scent.

"Aha," he growled triumphantly. The others gathered around to see a bunch of hairs on the ground. The hairs were a dark tan, but the tips were flecked with gold.

Shaera bent down to examine them. Instantly, her eyes lit up and she shivered excitedly.

"Come on, guys!" She turned and took off.

"Wait, Shae!" Kai called. She ran after her. "Give us a clue here!"

Tsume raised an eyebrow skeptically, but followed with the others.

It didn't take long for Shaera to find what she was looking for. She stopped in front of an abandoned apartment building, looking up at the windows as if expecting something.

When nothing happened, she ran into the building.

The guys started to run after her, but Kai interrupted.

"Let her go. If she needs us, I'm pretty sure she'll tell us. Besides, she looked really freaked out about something, don't you think?"

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Shaera rushed up the stairs, all the way to the top floor. She went instinctively to the last door on the right.

The door refused to open. She frantically jogged the doorknob and, when that proved unsuccessful, she kicked the door down.

Walking slowly into the room, Shaera noticed that it was bare—except for a pile of torn blankets in the very center.

Sitting on the blankets was a young woman of about twenty-five. Her face was unnaturally exhausted and sad for her age. Her black hair bore streaks of silver.

She smiled warmly and stood.

Shaera ran to the figure and threw her arms around her. Silent tears ran down both of their faces.

"Rathara, what happened to you? You…" Shaera pulled back. "You're blind," she whispered.

Rathara's expression softened. "Little sister, you've grown so much…it's in your very voice." She paused. "I have been…blessed…with visions. Visions of what has been happening to you, given to me at the very moment that they occurred."

Another tear rolled down her cheek. "I could only see you as I remembered you, but what I have seen has wounded my heart and severely damaged my eyes. I can no longer use them at all."

"But why?" Shaera cried. "Why did this happen to you? What did you ever do to deserve something like this?"

"The Great Spirit has chosen me to share your sorrows and your joys. Your joy is as much mine, but your hardships tear me apart."

"But Rath…come with us. Come to Paradise. Maybe—maybe Varah will give you your eyes back. Just think of it, Rath! To see again! Wouldn't you love it?"

Shaera's sister looked at her wistfully.

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"She is sad," Cheza said. "But she is happy. She has found something she once thought to be lost."

Toboe looked at the building quizzically. "She found something? What could she find in a place like this?"

"Nothing decent, anyway," Hige said, sniffing. "The runt's got a point there."

"Stop calling me that!"

"You know, I personally don't know why she brought us here, of all places. There's no food, for one thing."

"You can't be hungry," Tsume said exasperatedly.

"Guys," Kiba interrupted.

The front door of the complex swung open. Shaera stepped outside, leading another woman out by the hand. Her black and silver hair was tied back and her eyes caught the sunlight.

"She's blind," Toboe said wonderingly.

Kiba went straight up to Rathara. He took her hand and gingerly put it on the side of his face. She smiled, surprised, and slowly traced the contours of his face with her fingertips.

She looked around for her sister, and Shaera put her hand on Rathara's shoulder. Rathara just nodded.

The others, in turn (though some reluctantly), allowed the same. Cheza was last.

When Rathara felt the slight ripple of veins creeping up Cheza's neck, she stopped.

"The flower maiden," she murmured. "So that makes two of us with useless eyes.

"I had not thought that I would live to see you. So many of us thought you were just a legend. None of us ever thought to actually…be with you…"

Cheza put her hand on Rathara's comfortingly. "This one did not think to meet any wolves, either. This one thought that it would wither and die. Until Kiba came for it."

"…Kiba?" Rathara toyed with the word. "Varah said that name to me once."

Blue started. "Varah?"

"What else did she say?" Shaera asked quickly.

"She said that Kiba is the First. The First Gate, that is. The Second is…"

"Shaera is the Second," Kiba said. "Isn't that right?"

"Yes," Rathara replied. "The two Gates are essential to the opening of Paradise. Without the Gates, none of the wolves can enter."

"So…" Shaera said slowly, "the longer it takes us to get to Paradise…"

"The more wolves are denied entrance," Kiba finished.

"That's awful!" Blue cried. "You mean they finally make it all the way there, and they're turned away at the very gates? It isn't right!"

"No, it's not," Rathara agreed. "But the Great Spirit has her own reasons. I'm sure, whatever they are, they're good enough for this."

"Yeah, they'd better be," Tsume growled. "Otherwise the whole journey was pointless for all the others."

"We gotta get going then, don't we?"

They all dropped their human disguises. Rathara's was the gold-flecked coat, giving her the appearance of a two-toned animal. Her fur shimmered two different shades in the new moonlight. She ran directly beside Shaera so as not to get lost.

-Man, I love the full moon!- Hige exclaimed.

He howled excitedly. Blue picked it up first, and then the rest of them joined in. The night echoed with a chorus of wolf songs.

Hundreds of miles away, the tracking radar of Jagara's wolf hunters went haywire.

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I was gonna try not to bring Jagara into this, but it makes for a more exciting story, don'tcha think? Well, I do. Screw the nobles. If you have any questions or suggestions for the next chapter, I will be glad to have them. Unlike a lot of other authors, if I think your idea is good I will use it! With credit to you, of course. I'll be working on the next chapter soon, so be ready for it! Lyrics from "The Phrase That Pays" by The Academy Is...