Chapter 2

Never

Disclaimer:

Toboe: Wow. I have already got 40 hits on this story. Cool huh? Anyway I don't own the Wolf's Rain crew (Toboe, Tsume, Kiba, Hige, Blue) But I own all of my characters so no steal! Oh and I spend a long time working on these and editing them. You guys could at least leave a review that takes 30 seconds to write telling me what you like and what you didn't. Sorry but it bothers me that this is already on an alert for two people who doesn't review. But for the 3 hours that it takes me to write this (yes I type that slow) I would appreciate some love. Anyway I doubt anyone reads this (Yes I'm getting frustrated with you guys –shakes head sadly-) Anyway, Sorry this took so long to update, been VERY busy… So on with the Story!

There was nothing like the feeling of running free. Stretching your legs out as far as you could and then bringing them back to push of hard on the ground. To raise your tail proudly and have to tightly close your eyes. The air buried in deep, rippling his coat and made him shiver in delight.

He couldn't ever remember feeling this way. Having been raised in that hellhole, every second of life was now precious and he would always remember it.

While Danflor wasn't as fast as Kawa and Toboe he was fit enough to keep up with the steady pace they set. The Paradise seekers ran close by, well as close as Toboe would let them. They were irritated; you could tell by the way that they ran. Danflor was as little disappointed at the way all of them were getting along. He wanted to ask them some questions. Oh well. He rolled his shoulders back and bounded to the front.

"Race ya!"

Laughing Toboe bolted ahead with Jack close on his heels. Kawa stayed behind to keep an eye on Sano and for the little pup sake. Chris was doing his best but still they had to run at a slower pace then they would like too for the pup's benefit. Still he tired quickly. To make matters worse he was too large to carry by the nape for too long. Toboe, Danflor and Kawa had all tired themselves out doing it.

They had been running for weeks but it seemed as if they had been running forever. Not many things differed in the cold rocky landscape.

Laughing with joy, Jack pounced on top of Danflor. They rolled forward a few feet, creating a small dust cloud in the rocky soil, Toboe prancing around them in circles. They all looked healthy now, different wolves then the sore covered mongrels that limped out of the facility just months ago. Fur was shinny, eyes bright, ribs no longer stuck out like the bows of some giant ship.

As they frolicked on the plain Kiba and the others watched them, careful not to get to close to Toboe. Hige made the mistake and was now sporting a bruised pride from when Toboe had hit him with his body and pinned him down, growling deeply in his throat. It was like a case of split identities. With his new pack he was the old Toboe. Granted a little larger and more sure of himself but he still roamed and played just like he used too. But as soon as one of his old pack members got within five feet of him or his pack he became a different animal. Snarling, his coat bristled up and his fangs shone out. He was truly a fearsome sight. Most of the times he just ignored them, Danflor handing most of the things that had to go on between the two packs.

They did things as two different packs even though they were traveling together. They hunted separately, eat separately, and slept separately. The pack had all though this would just eventually fad away but still, over two weeks since the start of their journey, Toboe's anger had not abated.

And as of such they had waited hours for the pack to get ready. They didn't care to watch the pack to say good bye to friends and siblings in Kawa's cause. They had almost gone without them. But they were loyal thought Toboe didn't see the need for them to be.

"You smell that?" Tsume said out loud. Instantly the other pack froze and held out their noses into the wind. Tsume gave them a look and slowed his big grey body to a trot. Hige and Blue followed him while Kiba looked behind his white back to them.

"It's a city." Sano said. It was the first thing she had said all day.

"It is hon, do you smell anything else," Kawa said trying to coax a few more words out of her. But Sano just pinned her ears back.

"Don't patronize me."

But the pup lifted her nose to the air and took a deep breath. The others quickly followed her lead. There they all stood, noses head high as they sought certain distinctions in smells.

"Its… do you smell that." It was Jack. The most unusual expression crossed his face and he wined to himself.

"What?"

"The food?"

"No I think he means the dogs."

"Don't be stupid. It has to be the snow in the air."

"It's the flower maiden." Kiba said.

The pack spun around to look at the white wolf and his gang. He was standing next to them and for once Toboe didn't growl. He belatedly ignored him as Kiba continued.

"I can feel her. Breathe deeply. It's faint but it's there."

Toboe's pack sniffed again deeply, exclaiming as they smelled different things when one by one they grew silent as they each caught a sent of something they just couldn't describe. A warm feeling bubbled in their chest and suddenly the world didn't seem quite so cruel, so tough. Kiba turned his massive head towards Toboe.

"Well pup, do you smell her… feel her?"

"No… I can't" and with these grave words Toboe picked up a run and left the others behind followed by his pack.

---

Nervously the pack entered the city. They hovered close together, shivering as a human got to close for comfort. The elder pack walked ahead, keeping a close eye on the more excitable members of the smaller pack. But they had nothing to worry about. Every time one of their eyes rolled back as a human walked past, every time someone's fangs drew back as a human brushed them Toboe was there. He knew exactly what to do, to bumping them gently to distract them from the humans, or growling to remind them who was boss. He was there.

Tsume broke of form the others, hands in his pockets, glaring defiantly at all who caught his eye. He disappeared down an ally and the others followed. Surprised Toboe stopped at the entrance of the ally and sniffed deeply. The others swarmed around him. Chris was balanced on Kawa's hip, his little arms tightly gripped around her neck. Jack and Danflor both stop on either side of Sano, Danflor gripping her shoulder reassuringly, Jack clasping her hand yet peering around excitedly. Very carefully Toboe walked forward into the old ally. Tsume and the others had disappeared and very carefully the others walked down the ally. Like everything else in this rundown city it was cold, damp, and smell. Pools of unknown liquid soaked the pack's paws as they carefully walked around.

"Hey, were you guys going?"

The pack spun around, hair on end only to see Hige's grinning face.

"Sorry, didn't mean to startle you all. Come on"

He disappeared again, into a almost invisible hole in the wall. Crouching, the six wolves followed.

The inside was dark, but dry and warm. Gratefully Kawa put Chris down, moving her jaw with a grimace of pain. The little pup was too tuckered out to do anything but curl up in a tight little ball, his nose tucked under his tail. Hige had sat down next to Blue, and had his eyes on Tsume who was talking to Kiba.

"You can find these crap holes everywhere. Give it a few hours and all your hobos and other people who aren't worth shit will be scrambling for a place in here." He shrugged. "It's a good place to find recruits for gangs, these people have nothing left to live for anyway."

The pack ignored them and instead curled up together.

"Toboe," Jack whimpered, "I'm hungry."

Toboe looked down at the little pup and sighed.

"Danflor, you coming?"

The wolf wearily got up and so did Hige and Blue. Toboe sneered at them but chose not to comment as they followed him and Danflor out of the old storeroom.

---

Defiantly Toboe stalked down the ally, refusing to look back at his once pack mates. Danflor trotted behind him, glancing back at the wolves occasionally.

"Toboe-"

"No"

"But-"

"I said no. Hige, Blue we will go this way. You go look for food over there."

The pair listened without a word. As they passed to pup Blue wined silently and moved as to nuzzle his neck but Toboe did nothing and she dropped her head.

The pair walked down the street, empty but for a few people, in their human illusions. It was a typical grungy town, old grey walls with occasional sparks of color as if someone had tried to make this place a little more cheerful.

"Toboe, why can't you just forgive them? I mean, they tried…"

Toboe starred at Danflor. His eyes seemed to fad away as if he couldn't see the pup any longer. Emotions flittered across in startling variety. Pain, fear, pride, loneness, defiance. In his leader's eyes Danflor could see the old Toboe, the one that had died so soon, so quick. The little pup, not much older then he was now.

"They left me. You can't possible understand. Because of them I can never be me again. I can never feel the same. Never."

Sudden howling ripped thought the air, and Danflor ripped his gaze form Toboe's eyes. It was Kawa.

Come

Toboe: Sorry if the last half isn't edited. I have sooooo much school work that I really don't have time for anything and being that it might be another month till I even get to look on my E-MAIL I figured you guys would rather I just post it. So meanness over the mistakes. I'll edit them a.s.a.p but for now I hope you enjoyed my unneditedness. And sorry this was a filler chapter. Something cool is gonna happen next one so bare with me.