Author's Note; Thanks to everyone who's reviewed; it means the world to me and thanks for the pointer aswell!! C yas!! XxxxxxxX

"Who the hell are they?"

"They're with me, kay guys?"

As a couple of her comrades made to object, Karusuke stepped in front of Hige and looked up the couple of inches to the young man at the fore, not being a bit intimidated by his imposing frame.

"Listen up; if not for them, I'd be on my way to Jaguara's Keep and you'd be locked up behind bears, so give it a rest and downsize the ego pretty rapidly! Besides, we've got plenty to go round."

On that last authoritative note, the tall youth bit his tongue and turned away, grumbling beneath his breath as he walked away from their young leader, who had arrived in the city about five years ago…fast becoming known throughout the streets for her stealth in robberies.

"Sorry bout them…the troops have been pretty strict on gangs lately and we've already had a couple of snitches dealt with…"

The tallest, with his cropped white hair and hint of a ponytail at the back, nodded his head in what looked to be an understanding fashion, almost like he knew what she meant.

"You smell funny-"

"Tarashi!"

The girl looked down to where the small child was looking up at the new arrivals, her nose crinkled as she gazed at the one with the collar round his neck, with an embarrassed smile, the teenager grabbed the little girl and covered her mouth with her hand, dragging the child, maybe six or seven, backwards.

"Sorry bout her, look make your own way around; my guys'll take care of you and there's beds and blankets in the back if you're staying; other than that you can eat your fill and be on your way if you want to."

"But, Karusuke, they smell like dogs-"

"Tarashi, shhh!"

The little girl remained adamant about the canine scent as the seeming-leader of their gang dragged her away by the collar of her jumper, leaving Hige to laugh lightly and commend the kid's nose.

"Ummm… Kiba?"

"You cannot still be hungry…"

It was Tsume's exasperated voice that answered Hige later that night as they walked back through the streets, thinking it better to keep moving than to be rooted in the base with that girl, though it was good of her to offer their resources to them…but she was curious though; seemingly knowing what they were, yet never being open about it and keeping to herself much of the time; then and again grabbing that little girl as she passed another comment of how they smelled of dogs- for a human, the little one had a good nose.

"Well yeah; I'm always hungry, but that's not the point…"

Hige stopped walking, with Toboe accidentally walking into him as the older lad sniffed the air poignantly and looked behind him worriedly as the other three gave him inquisitive looks…for a second the most gifted scent-wise of the small pack couldn't quite pin the scent that had caused him to halt their walking…and then it clicked as a noise was heard at the other end of the street, causing Kiba to spin and lock gazes with the only one who dared to prey upon them.

"Crap!"

"Move it runt!"

"I was getting ready to!"

But as they made to escape, Blue appeared and let out a low and admirable growl as the hairs on the tip of her back stood on end whilst she eyed these four with a hateful cerulean gaze, Quent sliding back the bolt of his rifle and allowing a bullet to enter the firing chamber as he aimed for the youngest of the four human-looking males that stood before him.

Then there was the sudden noise of running footsteps…no; of running paws, then nothing as the owner of the four paws leapt forward and savagely sunk its teeth into the old man's arm, earning a yelp of pain and mostly surprise as the gun clattered to the ground and Blue spun on this new assailant, who detached itself from Quent's arm and made its way to stand in front of the stunned quartet, indicating its willingness to protect them…even as Blue sank her teeth in this new wolf's front right shoulder.

"Run you idiots!"

The female voice emanated from their newest canine ally as it managed to snap at Blue's snout, causing the darkly hued dog to yelp with shock. Without a second telling, they did as told; Hige leading the way as Tsume pushed Toboe in front of him and Kiba bringing up the rear, glancing over his shoulder to get one more look at this new she-wolf, with her light blond coat and sharp light blue, almost transparently- hued irises.

"Where to?"

As Tsume barked this gruff inquiry back at their so-called leader, Kiba returned his attention to escaping and came up with the best place he could on such short notice.

"The base…where Karasuke is!"

In comparison to when they'd left the thief base, it was pretty hectic when they returned, with members of the gang walking about and Karusuke was found to be sitting on a chair, a few of the younger and some of the older members watching her as she cleaned out a savage wound on her right bicep, cringing slightly as she did so.

"That's a bad bite, y'know…"

Hige smirked slightly, yet frowned as he realized that the bloody bite wound was emitting a slight hint of Blue's scent, and then he shot this curious look to Kiba, who was also eying the wound with what appeared to be sight trepidation. The girl looked up at them, flashed half a smirk and then continued on with the cleaning of the bite, not at all pushed to give these four an excuse.

Having not made the same connection as the other three, Toboe studied the wound before he permitted himself to speak to the girl about it.

"What kind of dog was it?"

Not realizing what she was saying and cursing beneath her breath as she dabbed the damp cloth over the bite, Karusuke half-laughed as she didn't even look up to pass the comment.

"You're such a pup…"

Crap! That was the instant message that reverberated throughout her mind as she suddenly heard her own voice saying it; only those four were left standing there, her people having moved off again. The teenager's head snapped upwards to see the satisfied smirk upon the lips of the one called Tsume, who was first to speak.

"Pup?"

"Would you believe I meant to say kid?"

Taking the hint, Kiba half-sat on an old storage crate, hands inside his pocket as he added his own part to this now-interesting conversation.

"Cheza…"

The recognition was obvious to see glimmering in her emerald irises as the name was spoken softly, yet loudly enough to strike a chord within her…and the lads didn't miss out on the hesitation she took to draw a sharp intake of breath.

a/n- did u like this chapter? Plees let me know what ye thinks!! Cyas!! XxxxxxxxxxxX