Avaya paced the forest in agitation. For her position she could see the gates of the village that Gaara had entered. He was so close yet so far away from the wolf. She whined as she lay down on the ground. It had been two days since Gaara and his team had arrived at the village and only once had Gaara been able to visit her.

Avaya lifted her massive head to sniff the air but it was in vain. There were too many scents for her to pick out his. She let out another whine as she lay her head back on her paws. She would take another nap for now.

Voices sounded close to her position and Avaya opened a single eye to see what the commotion was. Not too far from the entrance of the village she could make out the scent and voices of Gaara's older siblings, they were arguing with somebody. Another scent was added to the mix, causing an even tenser situation. Then Avaya perked up. Gaara's scent was suddenly with them.

Ignoring the two guards at the gate, Avaya bounded into the village, racing towards Gaara's position, despite the yells she heard coming from people. Gaara's scent was starting to move. She had to act fast.

The wolf leapt over a fence and landed before the redhead, panting and with a triumphant canine grin on her face.

Gaara had been more than shocked when out of nowhere the wolf leapt over a fence and appeared before him. The redhead had completely stopped walking when she appeared. He took note of the wolfish grin on her face though and as she sniffed him, Gaara heard her short snort of laughter.

Behind him he could hear Kankuro and Temari gasp in fear. The wolf barely looked at them, her tail was wagging and her sole focus was on Gaara. He couldn't help it. He rested a hand on her head briefly scratching it, and then continued on walking, the massive wolf right beside him. Idly he wondered how the next few weeks were going to go.

Avaya sat on the floor in the main room of the apartment the sand team was using. Temari was polishing her fan, Kankuro was making last minute adjustments to his puppet, and Gaara was sitting in the window. Baki was someplace else but when he returned it would be time for the first test. Avaya had already decided she was going to accompany them. Not that they knew that.

To Temari and Kankuro she was just a really big and scary wolf. Baki was a little better but still he treated her like a dumb animal. Gaara was the only one that didn't treat her like she was stupid. Not that she really could blame them. Even she would sometimes forget she had been human originally.

Avaya suddenly stood up. Gaara watched her while the other two looked at her in confusion. Then the door opened and Baki walked in. It was time to go. The sand siblings filed out the door with the wolf following. Avaya's tail was wagging. This could prove to be exciting.

Avaya huffed from her position on the floor. So far this was not exciting. They were taking a written test and Avaya could do nothing but lay there. She longed to atleast get up and move around. Or maybe snap at some of the shinobi that openly gawked at her. Honestly, it was annoying. But one look from Gaara told her that any action would not be wise.

A few seats down she spotted a kiri genin with wierd hair. He was staring straight at her wierdly. She lifted her head and leveled a glare at him. She could practicly smell his fear. If a wolf could smirk she would have. As it was she drew back her lips into a frightening wolfish smile. He looked away and she went back to laying with her head on her paws. Yeah, this was the opposite of exciting.

Avaya had been listening to the rules along with every other person in the room and so when there was ten minutes left, she looked up at the man called Ibiki. He would be giving out the tenth question now any second. SHe briefly looked at Gaara to see him with an almost bored expression. She shifted slightly to nudge his leg.

The redhead looked down and his teal eyes met her amber ones. Subtly Gaara reached down and scratched her behind her ears before looking at Ibiki who had begun to speak.

"For the final question, if you get this wrong then you will never become a chunin. You have the option of leaving now and trying again next year. If you fail then your entire team fails as well."

There were murmers throughout the entire room Avaya snorted. She could almost smell the man's bluff. Several people opted to leave the exam and the wolf snorted again, this time at their unwillingness to take a chance. In front of her, Avaya caught a wierd scent. She looked up to see a blond boy in an orange outfit. For a moment it looked like he too was going to drop out, but then he slammed his hand down on the table.

"I'm not going to quit, believe it! One day I will be the Hokage, even if i stay a genin forever!" He went off on some little speach that had Avaya curling her tail in amusement. She liked this boy. He sat down again and Ibiki took a moment to build up the tension. And then,

"You all pass." Everyone slumped in the room in relief. Ibiki went on about do or die missions and such, but Avaya was busy concitrating on a scent that was coming in fast. She looked to the windows just as something burst through them.

It was a woman and a banner. The banner was attached to the wall in front of Ibiki.

"I'm Anko and I will be your second examiner. Tomorrow you will all meet outside at the Forest of Death."

Avaya twitched a little in excitment. Now that had to be exciting.

A/N sorry it has been so long everyone. This is for SilverNiera, for promting this update. Review loves, reviews means faster updates. No flames. And i appologise for any spelling mistakes