First fic, so don't take it seriously, and normal disclaimer follows:
I do NOT claim ownership or influence of any kind of Wolf's Rain or their characters, Bones and Bandai does. And yes I am updating as quickly as I can
Chapter 3
We run for several more days, the traveling became easier for me, I felt easier on the landscape and snows. We hunted when we could. The wolves and I came to an agreement of sorts, if I could cook it, I would wait to get my food, if not, I'd eat first to get the blood, then they'd get the meat.
"She takes forever to finish," Hige whined, staring longingly at the meat that Tsume had brought down for the day.
"You try sucking this stuff out of four hundred pounds sometime," I snap back. "look, if you keep away from the neck, you can eat with me." I offer between gulps. Hige's ears perk up and he rushes over to me, and promptly tears open the belly. I finish the rest of my meal just as the others come to join. The hunt is nothing more than a pile of scattered bones within several minutes. Hige is still gnawing at the bones and I look at my shoes, they look like tattered rags and worn out rubber. They were well worn before I left Freeze City, but now they had holes so big I could fit several toes through and the leather was tattered from the thorns and cockleburs, the soles were so worn that they skidded over the snow, I had no traction, the laces, forget the laces they were disintegrating to the point they were nonexistent. I sighed I really liked these shoes.
"What's wrong?" Toboe asked looking at me concerned.
"Nothing," I reply flatly. "I just don't want to slow you guys down."
"Then you should've stayed behind," Tsume states coming back to his rock.
I scoop up a handful of snow angrily and pack it and throw it at him. It hits him in the shoulder. He glares at me, I return it doubly.
"Don't you ever tell me that again Tsume," I growl. "and if I remember right, you were the one who wanted to stay."
I hear his teeth grind. "I was sick of that city, that's all" Tsume retorts.
"But I thought it was 'your kind of town'?" I ask snidely, throwing his words back into his fangs. "Or were you scared?"
Tsume laughs at the last comment. "Scared?" he repeats, "scared of what a bunch of humans, ha!"
"No, not a bunch, just one, me," I clarify "you couldn't stand the thought of a puny reckless human doing something that a big, brave wolfy like you didn't have the guts to do." I taunted.
Tsume's fangs came out instantly and he leaped on top of me, his claws pressing me further into the soft snow. His face had become a full snarl, while the hot breath is spewing onto my face.
"You know nothing," he growls.
"I know you're angry," I return. "And those who anger you… control you." I smirk at him, ready for him to do something crazy, like bite me or something.
"That's enough," Kiba says sternly, coming over to where we were. "This is not the time for this," Kiba remarks firmly stepping between us, glaring at me as I stand up.
"Then when is?" I challenge, my eyes still locked on Tsume. "The sooner we get this over with, the better."
Hige started laughing, "Look out Tsume," he chuckled. "you might have some competition it you don't watch out."
That comment made both me and Tsume bristle.
"Shut up," I growl, my fingers curling into fists.
"Why would I do that?" Hige asks, still laughing.
"Because there's two of us, one of you," I hiss. "What is the probability that you'll walk away without being slaughtered?"
Hige gets the hint and stops laughing. "Fine, have it your way," he mutters.
Tsume sneezes from having his snout wrinkled for too long. "You're not worth it," Tsume replies coldly, then walks back over to his rock, sulking.
I glare after him for a moment, before shaking my head.
"Kali?" Toboe speaks up, "Don't you have green eyes?"
"Yeah," I answer, "Why do you ask?"
"They've changed colors," he replies.
I sigh. "They do that, they change anywhere from a dull jade to almost a pine color, depending on my mood," I explain.
"No, they were brown a second ago. They're really pretty." the pup exclaims, drawing everyone's attention to him and me.
I look at Hige then back to Toboe. "Chibi, you need to have your eyes checked," I laugh skeptically, 'my eyes are green, not brown."
Toboe glances down, disappointed. I ignore him and walk away from the rest of the pack, looking out at the plain of snow, recalling the dreams and more often memories.
My first day getting to Freeze City was a chaotic nightmare of strangers and strange buildings that towered around me like massive bars of a cage, after slipping into a nearby alley, I see a strange old man sitting in the middle of the path. He smiles to me, friendly, but sly at the same time. I greet him cautiously, trying to find a place to find some food. The old man's greeting confuses me.
"Young pup, new pup, strange pup, change pup." his voice is deep and hollow like an old drum, powerful and steady as he spoke. I shake my head the words still made no sense to me, but they stayed with me, even after I opted to return to the streets again, the next few days I spent begging for food at the least, or chasing after those who had taken my share of food. Thieves never listened to well to reason, but I tried anyway.
I met the old man several days later while I was digging through the dumpster for some kind of food. No words were exchanged although my mind reeled with questions, Why had he called me 'pup'? I forgot my questions when he disappeared. It seemed that every week after that he would appear where I was, just smiling at me, like he knew a secret I didn't. Several months later I was stealing to feed myself, my first step to becoming a wanted thief.
"Are you alright?" Toboe asks, pulling me out of my thoughts.
"Huh, oh yeah, I'm fine," I reply.
"Runt, we're leaving," Tsume yells from where everyone else is waiting impatiently, Tsume looks more annoyed than anything, Hige just seems antsy, ready to leave. Kiba is his usual taciturn self.
"We're coming," Toboe calls back, looking back to me hopefully. "You are coming, right?"
"Would I come all this way so far to leave you hanging?" I ask playfully; ruffling his hair, then take off running up to the pack.
Tsume sees me and snorts in disgust. I ignore the impulse to make another stupid move and just walk by him.
"Let's go," I remark. Kiba simply nods in agreement, before heading off south. Hige follows after him. Tsume glares at me then races after the others. I shake my head waiting for Toboe to catch up with them. I knew my ranking in the pack at least, dead last.
After a while my ears catch a train's whistle in the distance I glance over but keep up with the others as I do.
Toboe again pulls me back to the current reality. "I dreamt I made it to Paradise it was amazing," he tells us while we continue running. I could feel his optimism bubbling over. "The flowers were red, blue as well as many other colors, and they were all in bloom." he continues wildly, and Kiba calls us to a stop, letting the pup go on. "And they were all Lunar flowers too." he announces proudly.
"Have you ever seen one for real?" Hige asks skeptically, lazily opening an eye.
"Nope," Toboe admits sadly. I glance to Kiba who just smiles knowingly as the pup returns to telling us his dream. "And Granny was also there, and she made lots and lots of delicious food for us."
"What is that?" Hige returns
"So you plan to be fed by humans even in Paradise?" Tsume asks disapprovingly.
"That's not it," Toboe protests, "she treated us all like proper guests, and there was good music playing in the background."
"Isn't that like any other restaurant in a town?" Hige remarks tiredly.
"But it's true," Toboe insists. "it was really amazing, I really thought it was Paradise, it's just hard to explain."
"Well, I guess that's expected, coming from you," the brown wolf retorts.
"But Kiba hasn't really explained what kind of place Paradise is, either." Toboe replies defensively, turning back to Kiba. "I wonder what color the Lunar flower really is?" the pup replies wistfully.
"Red, gold, white, blue, and black." I list off methodically. The rest of the pack looks at me like I'm as crazy as Toboe. "blood moon, harvest moon, hunter's moon, blue moon, new moon." I explain easily. "Why do you think they call it a Lunar flower?"
"And what would a human know about Paradise?" Tsume asks, not even bothering turning towards me.
I lower my eyes, not daring to say a word. "not much," I answer quietly. "but I just feel like part of me is missing, something that I need."
Several minutes pass and we begin trekking again. Tsume follows Kiba closely this time, while Hige distances himself from both of them. Toboe falls behind me surprisingly, and I start to pass him, Hige glances back towards him questioningly, as he reaches the crest of the hill. Toboe rushes past me to catch up to them, I follow behind him.
"What is it?" the pup asks curiously.
"The sea," Kiba replies, gazing out at the slender bridge over the broad water. The wolves jump up to the bridge easily, I climb most of the way, but swing up from one of the cables underneath the bridge to land on the narrow railing on the opposite side. Hige shakes his head at my cockiness, but I don't care, I toss my head proudly into the biting winds and continue walking on the narrow strip of metal. Kiba, Toboe, and Hige settle for walking on the train tracks, Tsume is up on the sidewalk, watching us from the height.
"Where do you think these tracks go to?" Toboe asks.
"Who cares, it's probably a detour, a short cut of sorts," I say easily, flipping head over heels, before landing again on the railing. "but as they say, all roads lead to Home. And home to a wolf is Paradise, and I want to get as close as I can to it."
"You speak as if you think you're a wolf," Hige scowls at the notion.
"Yeah, right," I snort. "I'm no wolf, I'm not that audacious, besides, I prefer to take after my namesake."
"And what's that?" Tsume remarks casually.
I grin at him before answering. "I am craft and cunning, the desert is my fur, I'm kin to wolf, and fox and cur." I loved giving this riddle out to everyone who asked. Tsume's face pursed in response, not amused at my riddle, I decide to quell his curiosity.
"Coyote," I say softly. "Kalishka means Coyote chasing deer." I push further ahead to catch up with the others, not waiting to hear the gray wolf's response.
The walk lasts longer with the silence before Kiba pauses, looking further down the tracks.
"I can barely smell the scent of the Lunar flower." he tells us, trying to conceal the excitement in his voice as the wind whips and tugs at his wild tousled hair and jacket.
Toboe doesn't hesitate at the news. "Is it really?" he exclaims. "Paradise must be just beyond this place." he runs ahead, absolutely ecstatic at the thought of Paradise. Kiba follows after him, Hige hesitates a few seconds, then trails behind. Tsume and I stand there for a moment.
Here goes nothing. I mutter to myself and dash after them. Tsume passes by me a few seconds later. Everyone stops cold a few minutes later when a large, nearly abandoned station gives us a cold welcoming. Kiba's eyes glaze over in confusion, before we continue on, more cautiously this time. When we're above the streets, Kiba jumps off the ledge to the grungy alley ways below. Hige follows Tsume again shoves Toboe off the edge.
"Push me and I'll slaughter you," I threaten as I get up on the straddle over the ledge, getting ready to jump down.
"Jump already," he growls, coming up behind me. I know his intention and I close my eyes before stepping off into nothingness. I open my eyes and instinctively I lunge for some kind of handhold. The rusted columns greet my open palms and I grab at it wildly trying to slow my descent. It does, just enough that I'm not panicked by the fall, I let go and my palms are covered with rust and several shallow cuts from my grip.
"What was that stunt for?" Tsume demands when I get my two feet on the ground.
"Why do you care?" I spit back, putting my hands in my pockets.
The shaggy gray wolf shakes his head, and begins walking through the streets like he owns them. Kiba immediately trails after him, not trusting his surroundings. I take to the buildings and lamp posts, trying to get a feel for these dingy, lifeless buildings.
"This town has nothing," Tsume remarks after several minutes. I see several curtains and windows close up before we pass by. The entrance of the station seemed friendly compared to these people.
"Maybe they're afraid of us," Toboe suggested uneasily.
"Outsiders are probably rare around here," Hige agrees.
"Rare would be an understatement," I comment quietly.
Tsume keeps walking before asking angrily. "What's supposed to be here in a place like this? What a paradise this is."
I see Kiba tense up at the last phrase, but he says nothing in defense.
"Tsume, just think of this as a heist," I remark blandly trying to get everyone out of their sullen mood
"A heist?" Kiba asks bewildered.
"Heist, a job, paid thievery." I explain quickly.
"And how is this like a job?" Tsume inquires snidely.
"Well, since I don't know the details on what you specialized in, but all the same, you worked with groups. But did you pull out just 'cause one thing went wrong, or when one of your guys were caught?" I ask.
"No," was the stony reply.
"Thank you," I retort, "just 'cause one thing goes wrong, doesn't mean that the journey's over, unless you're just looking for an excuse to quit." I added the last part snidely.
"I'm not looking for anything," Tsume bristles, his fangs showing from behind his lips.
"Then quit complaining." I remark before walking by him, his gold eyes follow me like a branding iron on my back. Sunset comes and we're still wandering through the desolate streets. Kiba stops again, looking at a small group huddled around a burn barrel.
Toboe jumps back in surprise. Hige is even more amazed.
"It's a woman," he says awestruck. For a moment we just stand there, before a lean man with a large scar running down his face stands up
Kiba and 'Scar face' stare each other down for a moment, before Scar Face speaks.
"Where are you guys from?"
Instantly I reply for everyone, "Everywhere, and nowhere at all." I retort vaguely, I knew better than to give out information to people like these.
Kiba didn't get the hint however. "We're from the village up north." he answers, his tone hard.
"What is your business here?" 'Scar Face asks. He's definitely the leader of this group.
"We're just passing by," Tsume replies coldly, barely giving Scar Face a glance. "What would we possibly want in a worn down place like this?" I nearly cringe, in all my experience, you can be as rude to a person as much as you want, but you never insult their family or their territory.
"Where are you headed?" Scar asks, ignoring Tsume's comment I almost wonder if Scar is agreeing with Tsume.
"What do you mean 'where'?" Hige asks skeptically, he apparently knows as well as I do that most people aren't interested in personal agendas unless they want something.
"To Paradise," Toboe announces to everyone, a resolute expression claiming his face that put shock on the barrel's group, Scar Face especially, I thought for a moment that they were going to back off, until the entire group started laughing.
"Why are they laughing?" Toboe asks Kiba hesitantly.
"These guys don't know about Paradise," Kiba explains not taking his eyes off the group.
Scar stops laughing, eyeing Kiba coldly. "Oh, we know where that is," he corrects, challenging our Alpha. My heart slides into my stomach the way he regards us, like we're scraps of meat. Hige and Toboe are just as much curious by the statement as they are disappointed by it.
Kiba's eyes narrow, sizing the group up, I look back as well, and I see two wolves one where Scar Face was, and the other in the back where the woman sat.
"It's just a legend," Scar Face replies
"Legend?" Toboe repeats uncertainly.
One of the other men continues where Scar Face left off. "You won't find Paradise anywhere in this world," he states snidely, like he's relishing the thought of any of us breaking.
"And why do you say that?" Kiba inquires, unaffected by the guy's statement.
The guy looks back smirking at him "We've already been there and seen it too."
Toboe and Hige flinch at his words.
"It wasn't really a paradise, it's a Hell," he concludes, turning back to the fire.
"Just as I thought," Tsume remarks.
I take the wrong opportunity to answer our opponent. "Well, of course it'd be hell for you, you idiot," I challenge, "you're human."
Both groups turn their eyes towards me, stunned, Kiba's included.
"What do you mean by that?" the guy snarls, his fists shaking like he's ready to fight.
"Are you blind, or have you not seen your reflection lately?" I spit back, I don't care if I'm being stupid right now. "you're as hairless as a rat's tail."
"Then you are the one who's blind," he growls "or do you not believe in wolves?"
"I believe in them, and I see them, and right now I count six." I retort, "These four here," I indicate to my pack, "Scar Face, and the lady." I nod towards them, my eyes brimming with challenge.
"Then you'd better check those eyes," the guy answers, lunging at me, leaving a neat set of claw wounds on my jaw.
I reel back stunned at the blow, feeling my face for other wounds, I feel four.
"How in the-" I start, before the pain blossoms. I ignore it, standing up again, still staring at him. that's not possible, I think, trying to find the logic in the situation.
"Leave her alone," Toboe shouts, putting himself in front of me. I retaliate by shoving him out of the way. But Scar Face pushes the other guy down, "We do not start fights with those who can't see." Scar Face scolds. "We look out for our own, those are the rules." Scar Face towers over him for a moment, then turns back to us. "You guys will understand soon as well, that you'd be better off not looking for Paradise. Now scram, there's bound to be a suitable place for you guys to live in."
"Don't fight my battles for me." I say to the pup firmly, then turn back to the guy. "You may have the claws, fangs and fur, but that doesn't mean you have a wolf's heart." I snarl at him before walking away.
Tsume stalks away, sulking at the exchange. Kiba glares at the guy, before Toboe tugs at his coat.
"Let's go Kiba," he begs, "I don't like this town." several of the guys chuckle as we leave.
The five of us walk around the perimeter of the ghost town looking for a place to stay the night.
"Are they kidding with me?" Tsume demands heatedly. "To think I've been laughed at by a bunch of miserable old geezers."
"Aren't you just like them in a way?" Hige asks carelessly.
"What did you say?" Tsume challenges, turning back to face Hige.
"Oh, no I'm just saying let's not end up like them." Hige replies quickly, trying to get out of the hole he's dug.
"Others are only mirrors of yourself," I mutter the old saying.
"What was that?" Tsume says, turning towards me.
"Other's are mirrors of yourself," I repeat louder. I was being an idiot, but I didn't care in the least, Tsume was right behind me.
"What is that to mean?" the gray wolf demands, his teeth beginning to sharpen.
"It means that you can't like or hate anything about anyone, unless you love or hate it about yourself." I explain softly, before brushing past him.
"Who told you that?" he asks, giving me an odd look.
"My grandfather." I answer.
"I'm scared of this town," Toboe admits, looking down. "Even though there are so many wolves here… it's still really cold."
"It'd be wise of us to 'scram' like the guy said," Tsume comments, not looking back at Toboe.
"And then where will we go?" Kiba asks, logically, looking back at the street smart wolf thief. There's definitely something here, there are so many wolves here after all there must be a clue here somewhere."
Tsume glances back towards us, then continues walking through the labyrinth streets.
"What I don't get is why I couldn't see them," I remark darkly, feeling the blood throb through my entire face.
"Because you're human," Hige answers.
"That still doesn't make sense," I protest heatedly. "I could see their human forms, but the wolf, it was like it didn't exist. With you guys it's hard for me to tell when you take human form."
"That's a little weird," Hige replies. "most humans can't tell even see shadows of wolves."
"That's what gets me," I say through clenched teeth, unsure of what to make of anything right now.
We walk further down to the docks, staring at the crescent moon as it rises over the water. The five of us revel in a quiet contemplation, until Hige's stomach gurgles noisily.
"Who was that?" he asks innocently. The rest of us settle a firm glare on him, knowingly. "heh, I guess it was me," he admits uneasily.
A second gurgle answers, but not from Hige.
"Ha, that one just now was Tsume's," he announces.
"Wow, I didn't even think the guy had taste buds," I add in playfully.
Tsume snorts in reply, telling us to back off.
"How can these guys survive in a desolate place like this?" Hige sighs
"My guess is that they've adapted to a human system." I estimate aloud.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Kiba asks.
"Well, I guess it could be a trade off of sorts, the train might be their center of life, the humans feed the wolves here for a price of sorts, but that's just me," I answer quickly. "I guess that's the one thing that I always hated about humans," I continue quietly, my fingers digging into my knees. "we're never satisfied."
"We?" Tsume asks uncertainly. "you sound like you're including us, in there."
"Trust me, I ain't," I spit back. "I'm just including myself," I turn back looking up at the moon longingly.
"You're not like them," Toboe replies insistently.
I back away from him, glaring sternly at him. "then what am I then, Toboe?" I ask snidely. "I don't need your pity, pup, 'cause it won't change a damn fact that I'm human."
Toboe looked at me like he had just been slapped, I turn away biting my tongue. The pup slumps down tiredly. "I can't walk anymore,"
"I guess we'll just have to sleep somewhere for the night." Hige replies tiredly.
Tsume stands up and walks off, gaining some initiative of just sitting around doing nothing.
I follow behind him instantly.
"Hey, where are you going?" Hige asks still sitting in contemplation. Kiba gets up next, coming up behind us, Toboe climbs to his feet instantly trailing us eagerly, "Hey, wait up." Hige exclaims, finally getting the hint that we're going and drags behind us as well.
It isn't long before we reach an abandoned grave yard. The trees are twisted and withered beyond recognition of life had been in them. The headstones are a sorry sight, many were leaning over, while some had fallen from their appointed place, others are shattered, and still others have nothing written for it seems that time had erased the person from its memory.
"This looks like a good place to stay the night," Tsume comments looking over a worn down wall of rubble, although worn down is putting it lightly, the walls were in shambles, all the doors and windows were missing, and there was no roof.
"There doesn't seem to be any food here," Hige remarks casually, looking around the area dully.
"This place is kind of creepy," Toboe answers.
Tsume walks off again checking out the cemetery, everyone else follows.
I glance over at Toboe.
"Hey, don't you hear something weird?" the pup asks sounding slightly panicked.
"Don't get scared so easily," Tsume replies harshly.
"He's not the only one," I retort, stepping up beside Toboe, "I feel like I'm standing in the middle of a horror scene, all we need is the dead bodies popping out of the graves."
No sooner had the words left my mouth when an ancient wolf erupted out of the ground. Hige and Toboe jumped back screaming. The two were on the ground, panting with fear. I on the other hand jumped straight up, was ready for a fight, and apparently so was Tsume.
"You really scared me there," Hige complained to the old wolf. "what are you doing Gramps?"
"I was just digging my own hole," The old man replies.
"Your own hole?" Hige asks.
"Are you digging a grave?" Kiba asks suddenly.
"We're in the middle of a grave yard," I mutter softly, "that should be a no brainer."
"When you get to be my age, you can tell when you're going to die," The old man nods tiredly.
"Then shouldn't you get on with it?" Tsume answers jokingly.
I shake my head, man, I wanted to slap him upside the head for that.
"I thought I was going to die too." Toboe replies, still recovering from the scare.
"You're telling me, it got me too," I laugh shakily. "and I predicted it."
"Gramps, are there any Lunar flowers in this town?" Kiba inquires seriously.
Gramps looks surprised at the question, then spreads his arms out. "This place right here is a flower field."
Kiba's expression is a combination of shock and confusion. I can't really see the logic in the old man's statement.
"A long time ago, they flourished all over the island," Gramps explains, as I look around at the broken cemetery. "although there isn't a single one left, now that they've all been pulled out." he concludes sadly.
"Story of the past, eh?" Hige comments untrustingly.
"So, what color was the flower?" Toboe asks, I try to hide a smile, he wanted his dream to be real.
"Color, well," Gramps looks puzzled, like he was trying to recall a lost memory. "It was the color of the moon."
"You been to Paradise, Gramps?" Tsume asks, resting his hand on his hip.
I turn my head towards Tsume
Is he joking or being serious? I wonder, not sure what to think.
"It's a place every wolf dreams of going," Gramps replies earnestly. "I've tried as well."
"How?" Toboe asks, standing up finally.
Gramps climbs out of his hole, and heads up one of the hills, the rest of us follow after him, although Tsume lags behind until we stand at a forbidding entrance, signs and old boards of wood cover most of the stone doorway.
"There," Gramps says, pointing over to the door. "That's the entrance."
Hige gags at the stench emerging from it. "It stinks," he says putting his sleeve over his mouth. "it reeks with death."
"I would've thought it would be some place nicer," Toboe remarks disappointedly.
Out of the corner of my eye, I see Tsume's eyes widen in both wonder and disbelief. Kiba walks over to the entrance eager to follow the path to Paradise.
"Just give it up," Gramps tells him "Many young wolves have tried through there, none have ever reached Paradise, and those who have returned have no choice but to live a life here, just like us."
"They don't know us," I challenge stepping forward cockily, "Trust me, I may be human, but I'm pretty hard to kill, and so are wolves."
"Daisho, that's enough for one day," Scar Face remarks blandly, the rest of us turn around to face him where he stood a good ways off. "We have work to do tomorrow."
"I see," Gramps nods, "Well, I've dug enough." he heads towards Scar Face, ready to get some rest.
"Is this the road to Paradise that you guys were talking about?" Kiba asks, the edge of his voice is tinted with rage.
"I told you, a place like that doesn't exist," Scar Face replies stubbornly.
"Zari," Gramps remarks, stopping Scar Face's reprimand instantly, he places a hand on the leader's shoulder.
"If you do anything like stealing food from us, I won't go easy on you," he warns scathingly. "hurry up and leave before morning comes."
I tense up, wanting to challenge him. But Gramps just puts a hand on his leader's shoulder, leading them back towards the town.
Kiba glares after them before we head back to our shelter for the night. From the door, our Alpha just stares longingly at the entrance.
"Do you still believe in it?" Tsume asks snidely from his seat of fallen stone walls.
"In what?" Kiba asks, looking over at Tsume, who just glares at him.
"There's no such thing as Paradise." the scarred gray wolf replies. "They've even been there, but they claim there isn't one."
"They claim," I put in. "humans claim that there aren't any wolves, and if that's true, who's standing where you are wearing your fur?"
Hige coughs trying to cover up his laugh.
"That must not have been the true Paradise." Kiba replies
"Where exactly does that confidence of yours come from?" Tsume laughs, shaking his head in confusion. Then returns to his usual stone glare. "it's all just nonsense,"
"You sure took a pretty good leap of faith for a bunch of nonsense," I mutter under my breath.
"There's no guarantee that we'll ever reach it either," Tsume continues. "This kind of journey is just stupid."
"Stop it," Toboe says, finally looking up. "you'll just get hungrier if you get mad like that."
Tsume leans back, resting on the crumbling slab of one of the fallen walls. "I don't mind aging and dying here either," he comments easily "maybe I'll dig a hole like that Gramps."
I laugh out loud at the comment, "You? Give me a break, Tsume," I scoff, "you had a reputation in Freeze City as being one of the most stubborn, restless and reckless thief there, and you're saying that you don't mind digging a hole and giving up on life, knowing you, it'd take a tow truck to drag you there, dead."
Tsume turned a sharp glare onto me, not entertained by my lecture.
"It's not that I'm confident," Kiba remarks calmly, still staring out towards the entrance. "I don't understand either, but it's crying out from within me." I stare at him, absorbing his words. "'I just want to find out, I just want to go to that place'." the way he speaks it's almost as ethereal as a wolf's howl. "And so I've been running. There's no way I can live on without believing in it." Toboe stares at Kiba, waiting to hear more. Tsume just glances up at the sky almost uncaringly and all is quiet for a moment.
Hige shatters the eerie silence, jumping up from his place on the floor, looking around eagerly just as the woman from the fire comes around the corner.
"You guys are hungry right?" she asks smiling at us, a sack of food in her arms.
"We sure are!" Hige exclaims nodding his head eagerly, crawling towards her. "you seem to know very well."
I shake my head, Oh, God, he's hopeless, I think, but I keep my eyes on the woman untrustingly.
Kiba glances at her, then walks out of the building.
"Wait, Kiba," Toboe calls out following after him.
"Let him be," Hige remarks, scrounging into the bag of food withdrawing an entire loaf of bread, then turning towards the lady. "Thanks for the food." he comments lightly before biting into the loaf hungrily.
"You should eat too," she says to the rest of us. I cross my arms coldly in response. Tsume snorts in disgust.
"Just eat up," Hige tells us happily, "don't be so serious, after all, we don't know when our next meal will be." he reminds us, my stomach churns at the thought, but I just turn away.
"Didn't you hear me?" Tsume asks angrily. "The journey's over."
I glare at him, shaking my head. You're pathetic. I comment silently.
"Huh?" Hige asks, looking at him, questioningly.
"There's no place to journey to, it's over." the gray wolf clarifies icily.
The brown wolf sighs, turning to the woman. "What do you think Nee-san?" he asks.
"I'm Corr," She says cheerfully, introducing herself.
"Corr-san," Hige nods approvingly, God, that guy is such a flirt. I take the opportunity to leave but not before hearing her answer.
"It would be nice if you guys could stay here forever."
I bristle and go out into the cold night quickly.
"Kali," Toboe shouts, running up to me, his expression worried. "Kali, Kiba just went off by himself."
"Let him," I say tiredly, "he probably just needs to be alone for a while." I continue out of the grave yard.
"Huh, where are you going?" he asks looking after me.
"Out," I growl tightly, "If I'm not back by morning, you have permission to start worrying."
But," Toboe starts before I cut him off.
"Pup, I am in no mood," I snarl, and slam the gate behind me, separating the two of us.
I walk aimlessly for so long I lost track of the time, I glance up to the worn buildings, they're a challenge to me, and take it up. My feet slip on the disintegrating walls and streets, it seems like the city has barely any life in it. I finally get to the top of a building and sigh in frustration, my shoes are beyond useless. I take them off and tie the remnants of the laces together and throw them into the distance.
My feet are freezing now, but I run, the feeling returns and I leap onto the building next to the one I'm on, the rush of being in an a city comes back, I step onto the ledge and race along it, taking risks with broad leaps and flips, testing out my old agility routine, the odd thing is, my feet are gripping the ground better than the shoes. I run, and take a dive into an alley landing on a rusted oil drum, then attempt to jump back up to the top, I nearly run straight up one building before leaping to the next one, old concrete and mortar crumble beneath my feet. I Run on top of the buildings for a while longer, before I slow down taking a look at my surroundings. I see the train station at a near distance, possibly no more than ten minutes of jumping roofs. Then I hear it, a voice, the guy who had given me a new set of scars.
"Hey, what's wrong?" he asks someone, it sounded sincere on the surface, but I could hear the malice lacing the words. "did you give up on Paradise already?" My blood heats in rage, and I dare to look over the edge. Several paces away, I see Kiba walking by the group of wannabe wolves, half lost in his thoughts. Before another of the group takes his turn to mock him.
"It's dangerous for a child to roam about on his own," he says, rubbing his hands in the firelight. "be sure to travel in packs," the rest laugh at the comment. But I remain in my rooftop ledge, just watching.
Kiba stops, and looks at them. "What in the world are you people doing in this place?" he asks, turning towards them the beginnings of rage entering his voice.
"What?" my former attacker returns, turning a confused glance to Kiba.
"Now I see why you didn't reach Paradise," Kiba continues the anger in him getting stronger. "you guys are dogs." the last word is slathered in disgust that it makes me cringe.
The group takes the insult personally, and begins to close in on him
"You little brat," the fat fighter snarls, aiming to fight Kiba along with the others.
My eyes go wide, even as Kiba stands his ground. There were seven of them I had seen plenty of fights, both street fights and dog fights in Freeze City to know what the outcome would be, but I also knew that Kiba would lose his reputation as a strong leader if I interfered. So all I could do was watch.
My former attacker stalled for a moment, and then leaped onto Kiba who was now in wolf form, all the wolves were on top of him, biting and clawing at him, some blood spilling onto his thick white pelt. The odd thing that happened was that Kiba rarely resisted their attacks, but only kicked, tugged or tossed them away when they proved to be a threat.
But the strategy did not work well with seven sets of fangs, claws, fists and feet, gnawing, swiping, and kicking angrily at him, Kiba was soon on the filthy streets. At this point I didn't care, I jumped down from my perch, drawing one of my knives as I did, shouting to the pack.
"Claw fang and fur, but do you know me, Cur?" I taunted loudly. Some of the group turns to me, almost as shocked as they are enraged by my challenge. I toss my knife from one hand to the other expertly, my hands are ready for a fight, and my feet twitch anxiously, trying to guess their moves, my face stings from the claw marks as my lips pull into a cunning grin.
"You again?" my attacker asks surprised that I'm here. "Didn't you learn your lesson the first time?"
"I did," I say lazily, "but you should know that I tend to return favors that are given to me," I tap the flat of my blade against my cheek. I leap at him tempting him to take up my challenge.
He laughs and jumps at me, this time I dodge, twisting around and swiping my knife at him, leaving him with a neat slice in his haunch.
With that, the rest of the group was on me, I had been in my share of street fights to know how to deal with multiple opponents, but I knew that if they got me down the fight would be over. I kept out of the way of their paws that swipe at my feet trying to trip me up.
My only focus is to draw them away from Kiba, then the one who gave me my new set of scars.
"C'mon, c'mon, dogs," I say, teasing them further after dodging several of their blows. "What you can't hit one silly girl, or do you just need a bigger target?" that gets them and I keep them coming towards me, I see Kiba trying to stand up, looking at me like a deer looking into headlights, utterly confused.
My knife is a silver whirlwind in my hands, slashing and stabbing to ward off the blows from these hounds. While goading them away from Kiba and drawing them towards me. We're a good distance from the fire barrel now, and I take the opportunity to rush into the next alley. My scar-giver follows right behind me. I turn the corner and whip my knife towards him, and rip a shallow cut into his left arm, then kick his legs out putting him on the filthy street with my knife at his throat.
"Men," I sneer at him, before my voice drops to a low threat. "Listen well, come after any of us again, and you'll find me hunting you." I let him up. He seems to get the message and backs away, I keep my eyes on him, not trusting the sly look on his face.
"Of course." he nods, then to his companions "Let's go, they ain't worth it." and with that they go back to the fire.
I return looking for Kiba, he's not where he was left lying, so I start searching anxiously in the nearby streets and alleys, after nearly an hour, I still find no sign of Kiba.
Crap, the guys are gonna kill me I mutter to myself, shaking my head. Then I hear a wolf's howl, I perk up instantly, the song is short, but not fully matured, Toboe I think smiling, listening for the source, after several more howls I make out the location, the nearly abandoned train station.
What the heck is he doing there? I ask no one in particular and jump up the nearest rooftop and rush to the station.
I climb in through one of the several broken windows up near the roof, and see Toboe on a pile of crates, still howling, while Tsume is lying on a park bench. I then take the opportunity to answer Toboe's howl with one of my own.
The pup looks over at me hopefully, while Tsume just sits up, looking over at me.
"I was hoping someone would come," Toboe says eagerly, obviously very happy to see me. "Have you seen Kiba?" is the next question out of his mouth.
I glance down a little guiltily, before answering. "yes and no." I say plainly, not glancing at either of them.
"What?" Toboe asks, cocking his head worriedly.
"Yes, I saw Kiba, but I don't know where he is now." I clarify.
Tsume just snorts, lying back on the bench. "Figures."
I don't even bother commenting to his remark.
"You're hurt," Toboe exclaims noticing my new scratches and bite marks.
"Yeah," I retort calmly. "I have a tendency to do that a lot." I shrink away, hiding my hands in my pockets.
"Where are your shoes?" he asks next, looking down at my feet.
"I took them off, they were beyond being useless, is that alright, mom?" I spit acidly.
"Where did you leave them at?" Tsume interjects.
I shrug, "It doesn't matter," I reply coldly.
"I'll get some water to get you cleaned up." Toboe offers, then rushes off before I can object.
"Is he always like this?" I ask Tsume, as I slump down to the cold platform floor.
"How should I know," Tsume returns lazily.
"Because you've known him longer than me," I retort sharply.
"That doesn't matter," he answers.
"You are impossible," I mumble, just as Toboe comes back with a small cup of water.
"Here," the pup says, placing the cup beside me as he kneels down to nurse me. "let me."
"I don't need you to do anything for me Toboe," I spit, and take the cup dipping my fingers into the cool liquid and run it over the scratches.
"Why are you so mean?" Toboe demands, looking at me determinedly.
"To keep people from getting hurt because of me." I answer angrily, I instantly regret saying that.
"How is that?" Toboe asks looking at me confused.
"Ask him," I grumble, nodding towards Tsume as I wipe the water over another set of scratch marks, the water stings as it mixes with the blood.
"Huh?" Tsume looks at me in surprise, "What are you saying, to ask me?" he growls, sitting up again.
I hiss as the sting worsens, clenching my fists as my arm shakes from the burn. "You've dealt with humans before, you know what I mean."
"Where did you get these cuts from?" Toboe asks, taking a closer look at the scratches.
"Our welcoming committee doesn't exactly like being challenged," I answer vaguely.
"You got in a fight with them?" Tsume exclaims almost looking angry.
"That was not my intention, but yes." I reply, dabbing my other arm with the droplets of water.
"Are you an idiot?" he snarls at me.
"At times, but then I didn't start the fight either," I protest. "and I don't need a lecture from you," I decide to take care of the cuts on my hands next. My palms are tight as I drain some of the water onto them, the cuts burn like the water had turned to alcohol.
"Where did these come from?" Toboe says looking at the cuts then at me.
"When we got here," I reply through clenched teeth. "The bridge."
"You should've just jumped." Tsume answers.
"I know my limits," I growl, blinking back the tears from the pain. "that fall was beyond them."
"Whatever you say, human," he snorts, lying back on the bench.
"Let's just get some sleep." I sigh, and decide to lie down on the hard concrete, falling into a restless sleep.
The dreams came again, only they were much clearer than most. I'm running from something, only I'm seeing myself from another set of eyes. I'm just running hiding from the thing that's chasing after me. The strange thing is I'm not afraid of it.
The trees and stones seem to be in my path at every footstep, as I watch myself stumble nearly blindly. Then I hear the voice again, stopping myself and the thing I am.
"Claw, fur and fang, remember when the wolves sang,
Flee with grace and power, find wolves' flower.
Moon and sun within the sky, follow wolves' eyes"
The words are still haunting me as I try to discern their meaning I see myself scream out with words I can only half understand. But I can guess.
I want to know the answers. I run again, turning to the source of the voice. I watch as I trail after myself, wondering where I'm being led. The trees and rocks are darker now, almost as if they're nothing but shadows of what they really are. But I still go forward, and the second voice comes, Cheza's voice.
"You came, but you're still the same
You find, but you see the same kind
You follow, will you walk again tomorrow?"
I want to answer, but Cheza's voice is so disarming that it seems to put me to sleep within a dream. I drop to the bare, dusty earth, tired beyond all recognition, but I watch myself tread further down the path, searching for something that I don't know what it is, except knowing that I have to find the answer.
I awaken more tired than I was when I fell asleep; the train's whistle blows in the distance, before screeching to a halt inside the station a few minutes later. The people bustle about talking to others. My ribs still hurt from last night, since I hadn't bothered to wash them last night, my arms are still sore, and my jeans are in shredded in some places, my feet feel oddly warm I move them and realize there's something heavy on them, I look down and there's Toboe, lying on top of them.
Dumb mutt, I mutter tiredly. Wriggling my feet gently out from under him, trying not to wake him. And put him on the bench with Tsume, before trying to go back to sleep.
Hige walks over several minutes later, looking at us more alert than he usually is.
Apparently he slept well, I mutter silently, sitting up.
"Hige?" Toboe asks waking tiredly, trying to sit up as well. Tsume stretches and swings his legs over the bench, nearly colliding with my skull.
"Hey, watch it," I exclaim dodging his boot. "I have enough scars from last night, I don't need my head bashed in as well."
"Then move." he retorts, looking down at me unconcerned.
"Shut up," I grumble back.
Hige looks at us, a slight grin on his face, then he looks around the station again, "She said we could get some food here."
"She?" I ask, trying to make sense of what the brown wolf's saying. "oh, right, Corr-san." I yawn, remembering the woman from last night with distaste as I run my fingers through my unruly tarnished gold hair.
"Where's the guy?" Tsume asks glancing from Hige to me, just as tired as any of us.
"Kiba?" Hige asks, then shrugs, "well he disappeared and hasn't returned yet."
"Kali saw him last night," Toboe remarks loudly.
I slump down, wanting to dig a hole and cover myself up.
"What happened?" Tsume demands harshly, almost making me cringe.
"You know the fight I got into last night," I grunt, sulking down further, not wanting to explain myself.
"What about it?" Tsume asks, his gold eyes narrowing.
"Kiba started the fight with the locals, I finished it." I answer condensing the events bluntly.
All three of them look at me in surprise, Tsume laughs.
"Do you really expect me to believe that?" he asks coldly. "A little human, taking on how many wolves?"
"Counting Kiba? about seven." I counter tightly. "And I was mainly dodging, thank you."
"Where's Kiba then?" Toboe interjects worriedly.
"I don't know," I reply, "I got the locals away from him, and well, he was pretty beat up. I went back to where he was and he was gone." I lower my eyes, looking at the train's passengers, until I see Zari hand one of the humans a whip.
"What the hell?" I ask, cocking my head curiously. I stand up and walk over to the railing of our platform. What I see, wakes me up instantly, as team of old, worn out wolves harnessed to a baggage sled. "my God." I breathe as I feel my throat tighten in horror. I see Toboe and Hige come up to my right, while Tsume strides up to my left.
"Those guys," Hige remarks in dumb horror.
The whip snaps, echoing off the walls, the people don't seem to notice it, neither do many of the wolves. But I see Tsume's hands grip the railing, his knuckles blanching in rage.
The team of wolves are straining to carry the sled up to the next level, panting at the weight of the load, with muscles beyond use. Toboe's eyes are wide with fear and concern, while Hige's jaw drops in disbelief, but both of them are breathing raspy, I hear someone's teeth grind, I pry my eyes from the worn wolves, to Tsume, his anger is flaring off him wildly.
"What the hell is going on?" he demands the local's leader, who is standing off watching the events with passive distaste.
The sled reaches the next level, and the sled driver calls the wolves to a halt.
"That's enough," the whip master calls out. "let the dogs rest." I feel my blood rage through me as some of the wolves lie down tiredly, while most just pant in place.
"How can they allow this?" I whisper, I feel my lips curl into a snarl, as one of them flings a bucket of meat towards them. And they snarl and grapple for the quick meal, tearing at the larger chunks.
Tsume turns back to them watching with a mixture of hatred, pity and regret.
"Say something, you old fart!" he yells to Zari again, almost desperate for an answer.
"The train stops at this station for a very brief period of time," Zari explains rigidly. "with that, both humans and wolves eat to survive, that is our life." the last bit is said with no pride in the fact.
"A give-and-take, huh?" Hige remarks understanding the situation. "if you look at it from that point, Tsume's no different."
The gray wolf turns to face Hige angrily. "I used my guys, I was never used by them!" he yells at him.
Now you know how we felt. I say to myself, I may not have been in Tsume's group, but I heard enough to know that he'd abandoned several of his comrades.
"You guys are free to think what you will," Zari replies, staring back to the scene.
The wolves were hauling the sled again, when I make out Gramps among the group. His tongue is lolled out, panting in exhaustion, barely able to force himself to keep walking.
"No way," I whisper my eyes are riveted to the horrid scene, "no."
Toboe notices as well, grabbing the metal railing to keep him up.
"Gramps is about to pass out," Hige remarks in shock.
I look over to Tsume, he's taken aback as well, but his storming fury is much more obvious.
Gramps passes out on the floor, too tired to continue. I don't think, I just react, I take my chance and vault over the railing and jump down the level below. The whip's strike blasts into my ears warning the half-dead wolf to get up and continue. I run towards the man holding the leather whip, for an instant I see a blur of silver-gold beneath me rather than on my own bare feet. The thought disappears as quickly as it came. I forget myself and jump in front of the overseer, blocking the path of his whip.
"Get out of the way," he says his patience ebbing away.
I glare at him icily, challenging him.
"Move," he yells at me, trying to smack me out of the way. I dodge the clumsy backhand, and counter quickly with a well aimed sideswipe and just as instinctively snap my jaws at him. The overseer backs up a step but he decides to use the whip on me. It's a thunder clap to my ears from this distance, I simply snarl in cold rage.
The fight is abruptly stopped when I hear Zari yell out to the other workers.
"There's a wild dog loose!" he yells, I turn and see him holding Kiba, who is squirming and straining in Zari's grapple. Kiba's eyes are so wild that I see only rage, and blind humiliation. Many of the wolves stare at the struggle, while most of the humans rush over to aid Zari, most stepping over the old wolf's body without concern.
I look up at Hige, Toboe, and Tsume, still rooted to their places like soldiers at their post, staring down in dumb shock.
The train leaves a moment later, rushing out of the station like a frightened black blur.
Many of the people are still trying to calm Kiba down to separate him and Zari. I walk over to them calmly.
"Kiba," I say loudly, "Kiba, that's enough, calm down" I back off almost panicked when I see his seething gold eyes latch on to me. One of the humans comes up with a crude muzzle in his hands and another with a tranquilizer. "No," I yell at them, jumping into their path "You will not touch him." I'm ready for a fight now, my muscles were screaming to release the fury within them.
"Why?" the one with the muzzle asks, "is he yours?"
The question stuns me for a moment, then I glance back at Kiba, his snarling face declaring that he is untamed.
The guys are going to slaughter me, I ponder an instant before the guy asks me again.
"Well, is he yours or not?" he demands.
"I don't own him, and I'd sooner slit my own throat before I called any wolf mine," I growl back.
"Then you don't have any right to say what we can't do to separate him from Zari." the guy laughs, stepping around me.
I grab his shoulder, pushing him back again. "You didn't let me finish," I tell him. "He's not my wolf, I'm his human." The words just pop out before I can stop them. I then notice that nearly everyone within earshot is now staring at me. Several are confused, other are in complete wonder, but the majority are in utter shock.
Kiba is so shocked that he calms down. Zari lets him go, almost reluctantly, but not before giving the white wolf a distasteful glare, he then walks over and scoops up the limp old wolf almost as if he were picking up a young child. Then starts to walk away, I follow him to where I'm beside him, he says nothing, but he knows I'm there, after a moment of uneasy silence I decide to speak.
"He dug his grave last night," I say quietly, looking at the ever sleeping eyes the ancient wolf now has.
"Why does that matter to you?" Zari asks heatedly.
"Because it's embarrassing when your own kind starts giving up on life altogether," I retort as coldly as I can. Zari stops walking and turns to me, like he's just seen me for the first time.
"You are human," he spits, then his voice seeps out like cold water from a iced over river. "your kind fight to live even when there is nothing to gain from it."
I nod understanding his distaste then turn back to where Kiba and the rest of the pack are waiting.
Tsume is pulling Kiba to his feet, ready to drag him back to the house. Hige is standing a few feet back from everyone, looking unsure but concerned nonetheless. Toboe is looking for someway he can help Tsume and Kiba.
"Is he?" I ask hesitantly looking at Kiba worriedly. Tsume answers with a steady piercing glare.
"He's just tired," Toboe remarks, looking almost as worried as I am, we follow a small group of wolves who join up with Zari and make our way to the grave yard together.