A/N: Okay, I am soooo super mega sorry for not updating! For not updating in a while, I'm going to be shooting out chapters like there's no tomorrow. Plus, it's Spring Break, and I didn't really plan anything. On with the story!

It was so awkward that you could pull it out of the air, between Ravenna and Giniko. They were just sitting there, looking at the ground. Well, that's until Giniko thought it would be a good time to speak up.

"So, ahh, … How long have you lived here?"

Ravenna eyed him curiously; he had this big dumb grin on his face (I've seen my dogs smile. They can!) She quietly answered "All my life since I was a pup. I've been living here, with Tomar."

"You and her are really close, aren't you?"

"Yes. She's the only person I've ever trusted. I don't let people into my life that easy. It's hard for me to open up."

"Hey, it is for me too. Last time I trusted someone, they put me into slavery. You have to earn my trust."

"Well, you seem pretty trusting of these wolves."

"Because they're our kind."

"Not all wolves are good."

"Not all wolves are bad."

"You've only just me them."

"And it was hard for me to trust them, at first, but if we're going to do this then we will need to trust each other."

"I watched my dad kill my mom. I was next. I trusted them, they were my parents, and they broke it."

"Well these wolves aren't your dad, are they? We're all working for Paradise, Ravenna! You have to trust them!"

"I don't have to."

"Well, then," Giniko was starting to get angry. "Maybe, if you can't learn to trust your fellow wolves, you shouldn't come on the journey to Paradise! Paradise is about a luxury place where people trust and love. If you cant trust or love anyone else than Tomar, maybe you shouldn't be there."

"…"

"Fine, Ravenna." And he started to walk away.

"I know what Paradise is about." she whispered, almost inaudibly. Luckily, Giniko had a refined sense of hearing, and heard it.

"Then, maybe if you won't trust us, you'll trust Paradise. We aren't like your dad, Ravenna; we're better. Nicer."

"…Along the journey, I will come to trust you, and them. But, it will take some time."

"That's all I'm asking for. Along this journey, I have no doubt that we will become a pack. Maybe even a family." Ravenna just nodded her head. Giniko then let out a huge yawn.

"Well, I'm going to take a nap. Night, Ravenna." Ravenna nodded, thinking about what he said. Can I trust these people? She thought. Will we become a family? Well, all I know is that it's going to take some time. And with that, she slid into the shadows to think more. He had definitely given her something to think about.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ With Kumai and Virmise ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Kumai and Virmise were just enjoying a stroll through the woods, talking. When the conversation dropped, Virmise spoke up.

"So, uhh, do you want to play the random question game?" Virmise asked.

"Sure, how do you play?" Kumai questioned.

"Well, we each take turns asking questions. Like, I would go, then you would go, then I would go, then you….. uhh, I think you get it."

"I do." Kumai giggled.

"Heh, so do you want me to start?"

"Sure. Ask away, Virmise."

"Okay… Hmm… What's your favorite meat?"

"Oh, no brainer. Gazelle, definitely. You?"

"I like antelope, or moose. They're both good." Virmise said, in a somewhat dreamy state, thinking of meat.

"Uhh, Virmise? Your turn."

"Oh! Yeah! Hehe, I was kind of… Ahh…"

"I get it. Just go." She said, giggling even more.

"Alright… Have you been to a lot of places?"

"Well, not really. Mostly I just stayed within the confines of District 10, (Yes, that is from Hunger Games, a great trilogy, you should check it out) when I stayed human. Let's see…What's your favorite color?"

"White. I like white. Well, uhh, you would know that because I said it's my favorite color, and, uhh… Aww man." This earned more giggles from Kumai. "So, when you were human, did you get a barcode tattoo, to buy stuff?" (Yes, that is from the amazing book The Barcode Tattoo) He asked.

"Yeah. I was kind of a shopaholic, so I had to get one, to buy everything. My fur is covering it now, and I'm glad. I realize now how bad human civilization was, and I don't want any marking of being a human. I am only going to change back into a human when absolutely necessary." Kumai explained.

"I see. I understand, too."

"It was really hard for me to change back into a wolf. I had been a human so long. I just hope that Paradise won't reject me." She said dejectedly.

"Hey, now. It won't reject you. You kept in touch, didn't you? You're correcting your mistakes, and now you're saying how ashamed you are, and how you love your wolf roots. It only rejects people that aren't ashamed, and lost who they are. But you still remember who you are."

Kumai looked up at Virmise. "Thank you. I've been worried about that for such a long time. You helped me get it off my chest. Thank you." She said, close to tears. She then nuzzled her head into the side of his neck. He was shocked at first, for like a second, until he put his head on top of hers and closed his eyes.

"We should head back. It's getting late." Virmise said, sad to break the moment they were sharing. Kumai nodded, while he sighed. They walked in comfortable silence back to the camp.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* With Tomar and Mirka *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Tomar and Mirka were sitting side by side, looking down into another river they had crossed paths with. Mirka then sighed, and Tomar looked at her.

"What's wrong, Mirka?" Tomar asked, a bit worried. She had grown to like this little pup.

"It's just that… I know this journey will be exciting, but it will also be scary. And difficult. It's just all crashing down on me, the reality of it. It's going to be long. I don't know if we can make it anymore." She said, looking sadly into her reflection.

"We have each other. And everyone else. We can make it, if our bond is strong. I believe it."

"You are so calm, Tomar. But I don't think you understand he gravity of it. Some of us will not make it back. There are hunters, agents, and scientists out there who would kill us in a heartbeat. What if we can't protect ourselves? All we worked for will be nothing. I'm sure Paradise is worth it, but… Are you willing to take that risk? To die for something that might not even be there?" She stated.

"Whatever happens, happens. I'm willing to take the risk, although it won't be easy in the slightest. It is kind of hard to grasp the concept of dying along the way, but we'll just have to be careful. I can't imagine someone else dying." Then she thought of Ravenna. What if Ravenna gets hurt? She thought. Will we die? Of course. But, who's going to die? She was lost in thought as she stared into her reflection.

Mirka looked at her, with her ears down. "Tomar?" she asked. Tomar snapped out of her trance, and looked at Mirka. She finally said,

"The most important thing to remember of this journey is to remember who you are. That can get anything accomplished. Because when the world is at it's darkest, yourself is the light that guides you in the right direction. But if you lose yourself, you'll wander aimlessly through the darkness, never to be found. So, always remember who you are, Mirka. Don't ever forget."

"I get what you're saying. I will never lose myself. I am Mirka; the seeker of Paradise. The believer. The lover. I am Mirka; and I will never forget that." Mirka looked at Tomar, and her ears perked up. "We can do this, although it will be a long and harsh battle."

"Yes, we can." They sat in silence, until Mirka yawned.

"It is getting late. Perhaps we should head back." Tomar said. Mirka just nodded, sleepily.

"Hey, Mirka… In the morning, do you think we should tell everyone else what we talked about here?" Mirka looked thoughtful for a moment, then nodded.

"I think that would be a good idea…" she agreed, sleep overcoming her.

"Come on." Tomar said, picking up Mirka by the scruff of her neck and carrying her back to camp. Already, this little pup was becoming like her little sister. She cared for Mirka, and would protect her at any cost.

It was nightfall by the time they reached camp, Virmise and Kumai emerging the same time as them. Everyone was there; Giniko was sprawled out and asleep in the center, Rushu was curled up on his own in the corner; Kori was lying on her side, a few feet away from Giniko. You could only see the tip of Ravenna's tail, from the shadows, as she was looking up at the sky, awake. Virmise was about 7 feet away from Rushu when he layed down. Kumai was a few feet away from Virmise. Tomar layed Mirka down gingerly next to Kori. Kori had this motherliness atmosphere around her, always taking care of others and helping. Tomar went over to Ravenna.

"Hello, Tomar."

"Hi Ravenna." They looked up at the stars, enjoying each other's company. "What are you thinking about?" Tomar questioned, curiously.

"I'm thinking about if I can trust these wolves." Now, that was mostly true. She forgot to mention that she was thinking about Giniko, also, and what he had said.

"You can. I've talked with all of them. They are all nice, and smart. I've already begun to trust them. Especially Mirka." Tomar stated. Ravenna looked at her.

"Mirka is like my little sister. I feel this need to protect her. We were talking about Paradise actually. She is so wise, and smart for age. I trust that she knows what she's doing." Tomar said. "You can trust them. I know it's going to take some time, but please, at least try to open up to them." Tomar said, still looking up at the stars.

Ravenna nodded. "I will try. I think I actually… Want to trust them." At this, Tomar looked over at Ravenna. She continued on "I've been on my own for so long…. I mean, with you, that… I've forgotten what a family feels like. It's like, I want to trust them, but I know I shouldn't trust them that easily."

Tomar nodded. "I know where you're coming from. I want a family… I think that's why I've taken to Mirka so easily. But you don't have to trust them fully right away, just enough so that we can work like a fully functioning team. Of course it's going to take some time for you to trust them completely. If you ever do. And that's just fine. Just open yourself up, slowly. It'll be fine."

Ravenna thought about that. "And I know that's not all you're thinking about. But the other can wait till tomorrow. We need our rest, for tomorrow. Me and Mirka are going to make an announcement. Come on." Tomar said, turning away. Ravenna stared after her, then got up and followed.

"Thank you, Tomar, for being such a great friend. I don't know where I would be without you." Ravenna said.

"You're welcome, Ravenna. Anytime. Really." And with that, they picked out a spot, near everyone else, layed down, and went to sleep.

Aaaaandd, cut! Even I'm excited to see where this is going! I will keep updating like this, until about Monday. Yay! Reviews are all I ask for! Thanks!

Angel-of-Energy