By faith we understand that the universe was ordered by the word of God, so that what is visible came into being through the invisible…All these died in faith. They did not receive what had been promised but saw it and greeted it from afar and acknowledged themselves to be strangers and aliens on earth, for those who speak thus show that they are seeking a homeland. If they had been thinking of land from which they had come, they would have had the opportunity to return. But now they desire a better homeland, a heavenly one. Therefore, God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them. Hebrews 11: 3, 13-16
Cheza had experience in remaining still while forces out of her control grappled outside. The others did not. Kiba dreaded the hours of bickering he would have to listen to from his pack, but a relative silence reigned both within the caved-out shelter as well as outside of it. The aftermath of the disaster had instilled a forced quietude amongst those in the natural world. In that moment, almost unremarkably, grace has been spilled over them in abundance.
This shift in behavior was lead, curiously enough, by Tsume. The lives within a now-departed pack, their faces, all of their traits, flickered before him in his mind. He saw himself among them, and recognized a desire for forgiveness in himself.
The moon is full…
That path is steep. I traveled upon it two sun's ago…
We'll have pups again soon. This pack will be full of growth and happiness…
Tsume, come with us!...
Why are you so glum? Why are you so serious?...
"I can," he gasped silently to himself as he watched water drip from a stalactite. "I'll accept what He gave me and reject the rest." When he peered back into the caverns of his own past, those faces and voices no longer held gaunt shadows or derisive undertones.
The slowly dripping water collected in a hollow-out basin next to him. He had realized that the pooling water did not hold the rank, sulfuric aroma of any of the water outside. Remembering Cheza's obiter of how germs were passed, he lowered his palm, not his face, into the pool, making contact with the cool water. He was refreshed and at ease, more than he would have admitted. He rose, and with his "hand" still sopping, he sought out Toboe to flick the water in his face.
From her spot at the entrance of the cave, Cheza turned, smiling as she overheard chuckles between Tsume and Toboe. The pair were so rowdy, it was difficult to discern which the two was the pup.
Seized with impulsivity, the girl walked across the opening of the cave and caught Kiba in a side embrace. She quickly withdrew, but still clutched his hand. She focused the radiance she felt straight towards her brave liberator. She finally, happily volunteered, "The falling flames are gone for good. We will not have any problems with them anymore."
"But that isn't the end of our hurdles." His words were still delivered tenderly. Then, he observed, "And you haven't left here yet, or asked us to."
"I think there will be a pause to it before anything else comes over Earth."
"You feel safe."
"Of course!"
Kiba looked out, but Cheza still caught it. The shift in his features meant he wanted to broach a seldom-mentioned subject: himself.
He had indeed caught some of Cheza's dazzle as he began to speak animatedly, "I came to know a native tribe once. They would bury their dead in caves."
"What?" started Cheza.
"Not near here," Kiba nodded, "but that's what they did. They thought that after life they would descend below the Earth, not ascend. They thought that their next life was still connected to the land."
After a moment, Cheza supplied, "I do not know if I believe all of what you have said. I do not know where our Heaven is. But I do believe that there exists a chasm between us and those who have gone before us. I believe it is a state… Our Shepherd guides us to it."
Kiba now faced her directly. "They called these places kivas."
"Wait-like you?"
"It sounds alike. Ki-va, not Ki-ba, like me." He added, "They would say to me, laughing, 'It's no wonder you chase the things you haven't found. You are after the things beyond yourself.'"
"You are. And every day, there is more to be found. In us, through our pack, through God's Grace, and around us." Cheza was already gesturing to leave. She craned her arms above her head, stretching hurriedly. Then, she said, "It would be good to find the other wolf before the world is again bruised."
Kiba crossed his arms, waited.
"If she opens herself to God, He will keep her safe, for sure," Cheza asserted. "But finding her before disaster would go a long way to help her trust her instincts, and us."
"I lead the pack, but you know the way. I follow you." Suddenly, he called out, "Toboe!"
Toboe obligingly left Tsume's side and trotted forward.
"We should get more food, and our supplies are low."
"I can hunt!" Toboe grinned eagerly.
"Is there game here?" wondered Cheza.
"Mice, small animals," Kiba returned.
The information startled her. "Mice…?" Still, she nodded, knowing she should be thankful for whatever came to her.
What, are mice not good enough for the little princess? Tsume wanted to snap. But he immediately remembered himself and held back from taking aim at her.
"Chez?" Hige's voice reached Cheza from his place far behind the other wolves. "This other girl-do you think she's okay?"
"She is safe, I am sure. But I know anybody in hiding would love the chance for escape and to find her own kind." Hige budged himself off his haunches and ambled forward. Cheza remarked, "You have been so quiet, friend!"
"Been thinkin'. If ya don't mind, can I join y' guys? Ya don't know what's out there in those towns and cities. I do. It could take more than one of us t' bring her back."
"Sure," Kiba smiled.
In turn, Cheza also regarded him warmly, nodding, her lips upturned just slightly. "Does that mean we are all getting out of this dank little shelter of ours for now and getting some air?"
"Kiba, I'll stay behind and keep guard here," offered Tsume. If Cheza was truly after the same half-wolf he had had his ugly brush with earlier, she would be afraid of him.
Scared like a dog, he considered, but then rejected that thought.
Nasty or not, she would not want to see him. No big loss.
Half mumbled, Tsume turned away and said, "Our Lady's Protection on you."
Cheza caught it. Before she could reflect on his change in attitude or respond to it, Kiba escorted her away.
Peace still resided soundly in Cheza.
If Hige cracked a joke, she could laugh. Her contentment did not seem reliant on circumstance. Still, she knew that as she approached a land usurped by unthinking masses, she should remain cautious. She instructed the wolves not to wander into danger, no matter how enticing their amusements seemed. She was sure Kiba, in his love of pure simplicity, would not stray.
There was no sense of panic following her. Through the diminishing of the trees, there was a wasteland. She walked upon flat, grassless ground. And through a smog thick like road run-off, she detected rows of orthogonal structures.
It was only some sixty minutes later that Cheza could find any clarity to the buildings. Some seemed half-demolished, as though a wrecking ball had swiped at them. They could have been ruins, but there was nothing invitational about them; not at all.
What is accomplishment without acknowledging the source of all genius? Cheza thought. Creation becomes a parody.
They finally stepped through. Cheza and the wolves took time adjusting to the feel of the cobblestone walkways. The buildings had been emblazoned with lewd symbols commemorating the Nobles, but most had been worn, as if acid or bleach had faded them off. Silence reigned. Cheza finally dared to speak, although her voice was still barely audible. "Are we alone here?"
"No," murmured Hige.
One structure stood apart from its common neighbors. It showcased massive spires and intricate details, although Cheza did not understand the writing etched upon it, or even its letters. A chain design wove its way around the tower. It seemed Gothic in design, but it was most certainly not a church. Cheza and the two wolves were passing the side, when a flash of color from the side of the building made her gasp.
She turned when she spotted a flash of pink. A stained glass window was directly above her. The pink was a rendering of a cloak, similar to her own. It was worn by a girl with auburn-brown hair.
Hair like hers.
In the next pane, silver, grey, tawny, and white figures surrounded the girl. Their ears were pointed, and they possessed long snouts.
Wolves.
In the third pane, the wolves were running towards a silver, enormous depiction of the moon.
Cheza finally forced herself to look away. Her hand instinctively flew to her mouth, but Hige pulled it away before she could begin to gnaw on her cuticles again. "Oh," she exclaimed, cutting her speech into breathy half-sentences. "Oh. They know! The Nobles know."
"The Book of the Moon?" Kiba remarked. "They only think they know. We live to bring God's Success to this world."
"Yes. I was just amazed by how detailed this is!"
"They were given fleeting images by their master, and that's all. They don't know or understand what it means."
They were quick to leave the temple of hatred and awe.
Hige was growing anxious. Fidgeting by lacing and unlacing his "hands," he finally queried, "Is she really still here? How're we gonna find her, anyway?"
"I thought by now you'd be able to smell her," rejoined Cheza.
"My nose is clogged by all the pollution in this place!" he moaned back. Hige thought to stop griping and losing hope in the circumstance. He could keep going without being a pest, after all.
It was a smack of metal, like a garbage can hitting the pavement, which finally broke the unsettling stillness. Alert, Kiba quickly scouted his surroundings and noted the nearest alleyway. He pulled Cheza by the arm into it, then he and Hige flanked their maiden and waited.
The metallic clank was accompanied by the shattering of glass, as though someone had hurled a beer bottle against a wall. Light, fast footfalls echoed through the streets, growing louder as the runner approached them. A handful of slurred, enraged voices were, in turn, calling out, building to a crescendo, seemingly in pursuit of the rapid treader.
A woman barreled in to the alleyway. The smack of her knocking a trashcan as she turned the corner caused Cheza to look up from her narrow range of vision between her two protectors.
She caught sight of the short grey-blue denim shirtdress first. This person's legs were nearly entirely concealed by long, dark boots. The woman had placed a tanned hand upon the brick wall, seeming to catch her breath momentarily. Her hair fell across her face in a sort of a slovenly, long bob. Cheza could see it was thick and inkwell dark.
In an instant, the image of the young woman shifted before Cheza. The darkness she was cloaked in seemed to compress itself down and spill outwards. Then, Cheza could see it for certain. The woman was a black-coated wolf. She was built so predominantly dark, Cheza had difficulty discerning any distinguishing features about her. Except for the wolf's eyes. The creature was presently staring back at Cheza, almost defiantly, with a set of royal blue eyes.
Aware of the gawking, the young wolf lifted her head higher still, and suddenly, she was the early twenty-something woman again, daring the three strangers across from her to make a move.
Cheza caught herself smiling, yet she was unaware how radiant the smile was. It vied for attention with the sparkle in the new wolf's eyes.
If Cheza was ebullient at the sight of her, Hige was flabbergasted. His mouth swung agape. Cheza noticed how he drew in air as if to begin a speech, but all she heard from him was a quick, squeaking noise.
The shouts of the drunkards pressed against Cheza with constraint. As always, Kiba acted first.
"There's a way out of here. Want to come with us?"
The girl considered. "What, kid? You goin' to an arcade?"
"To Paradise."
She raised her eyebrows. The first of the men, a greased-hair, lanky brunette in a stained plaid shirt, rounded the corner and had sufficient time to survey the seeming five kids huddled in the alleyway.
The young woman leapt high into the air and with her feet, struck the man in the chest. He dropped to the ground, his back making contact with the cobblestone. Even as he raged to rise, Kiba seized him by the arms.
But the next two were upon them; a wider-built blonde and a mohawked, middle-aged grunt.
Continuing with their surprise tactics, Hige slammed Mohawk Man against a wall, while the young woman sank her very real fangs into the blonde's arm. Cheza only bristled slightly at the scream he gave.
Kiba's tactic remained in point to simply fight them off long enough to make a getaway. The pack harbored suspicions of what the trio had been after. Had they wanted her flesh, or had they been chasing this prey in the hopes of releasing their violence upon her? Regardless, their fury-fueled pursuit could only be successfully tamed by severe blows.
Kiba pulled Cheza to himself, lifting her as the wolves retreated. Cheza rested her head against Kiba's chest, comforted. She was so compelled to pray, to speak to God of her days amongst heroes, and to wonder of her future.
The mock church was in her range of vision. But suddenly, she witnessed a great, scouring white pour itself upon the building, its flood running through the streets. Then the structure was no more. In its place was a seeming infinitely-reaching city. Its roads were as untarnished as fresh snow. Trees palpably lush-painted green lined the streets. The Lady in blue was bedecked in the purest crystal, gazing over it.
As the image retreated back into mud and slate grey, Cheza realized, God's Grace will wipe this city clean. He will claim it as His own when His People claim it-consecrate it in His Name.
This was not Cheza's city. But it was a true city, nonetheless. She was overcome by the fleeting, real sign of hope.
Kiba's pace began to slow as he approached the woods, finally showing pale wisps of green among the branches. She remembered the warmth and security his arms were providing her. As her happiness surged, she placed her hand over Kiba's heart.
"Did you see it?" Cheza breathed.
Kiba knew enough to understand that Cheza had experienced some vision. "No." He shook his head gently. He glanced down at her and smiled.
The forest enveloped them once more. Life was being won.
Anymore, all Kiba seemed to remember was the land as it appeared now. He knew to run to a place of God's goodness, but he did not know his place within this Paradise. Even as he considered that it might not be his time or place to know, his mind pressed on with questions until he found himself silently praying for their answers to be given.
And for a moment, he saw himself in woods he had never seen before, yet this Kiba
seemed comfortable and familiar in this setting. It was a true wood, that much he was able to piece together. It was green, clean, and abundant, though the scope of what he was being shown was narrow, like a human's telescope revealing details from far away, but never the whole scene. This image of himself, content in his true wolf form, was walking alongside another person, a human. There was no sense of panic or anger between them. He then saw an image of a gate being raised.
The images halted there.
Kiba could see he had a future; he had always known that. He thought it was possible to know too much about his future, but he believed God would still ask him to protect, even in the realm of Paradise. Yet he would live as a true wolf.
He would be free.
Cheza was at once both thrilled and intrigued by her new pack member. While the maiden gawked, Hige stole himself between the two and promptly chatted up the young wolf.
"Where ya from? I've been traveling with Kiba for a few moons now. I'm Hige, and that one's Kiba. The human is Cheza, our Flower Maiden. They're quiet, right?" He suddenly laughed, "You get used to it."
Cheza shot a cautionary glance towards Hige. There was no reason to bombard her just after she has fled with them.
For her own part, the young wolf seemed unflappable through the steady inquisition. She kept her answers brief, and looked to Hige just long enough to be polite. It was clearer to Cheza that as the new wolf more often gazed outward to nothing in particular, she was ruminating on herself.
Kiba finally released Cheza to the ground. Cheza thought to call Toboe back, but then, as Kiba finally suggested that Hige withdraw from the new wolf, Cheza summed the courage to approach her.
The wolf in human form stretched, and watched, rather amused, as the new set of eyes regarded her.
"Hello." Cheza finally spoke.
"Hey," smiled the wolf.
There was a considered pause as Cheza seemed to struggle in conversation. Sensing it, the wolf drew closer.
"I've been rude. My name's Blue. Pops gave it to me." Cheza took Blue's hand-shaped paw in her own.
"I need to know. Do you want this?"
Blue sighed, looked away. "So, what is 'this'? What is it you do?"
"We are walking to a place that will become a new city. One for God, named Rakuen. Sometimes, we meet new people on the way. Humans who want good; who follow Truth."
"You're saying it's all about good, truth, and what God wants, right? That's what you're doing?"
"We try to. He has to make that clear and simple to us, because we would not understand it otherwise." Cheza lowered her head for a moment. "I know I am weak. But the message is there. You do not have to have special gifts to know it."
Blue shook her head. "The world is nuts…And God still wants us. Huh. So, what happens if I don't want it?"
"You will become like the men who chased you today."
Blue's "fists" clenched. "Then that's it? There are just two choices left?" She folded her arms, deep in thought. "What's the point in wanting it, then?"
"It is active participation. It is cooperation. That is how it works, and we are in store for so many great things!" Cheza's voice softened. "I would not have known of you if He had not opened my eyes to someone who wanted out of that town."
Blue's arms unfolded. She let her fingers interlace with Cheza's. "I know who you are, too. I knew before Hige said anything…I miss Pops. Do you know what's going to happen to him?"
Cheza head moved slowly from one side to the other. "There are rumors circling about him. I know of the man who raised you. But I do not know what is to become of him. That is why you must pray. You prayers travel faster to The Father than your four heels do, and carry back strength greater than the clench of your jaws."
"You, Kiba, and even Hige came when I needed you. I do want to follow, but…can I just take this a step at a time? Can I see what's in store?"
"Stay with us as you see fit. The choice will always be yours. You are welcome to this journey. You will see as much as I. I do not know of all the wonders that are yet to come."
Toboe was encouraged by the early signs of Spring. If there was still a rhythm to the seasons (even though Tsume said it was gone), it meant that more animals would wander from their burrows of hibernation and wander out, making good targets for Toboe.
Why had his grandma always wanted him to stay close to their home? Why had she often seemed so nervous? He knew that Cheza and Kiba believed in being careful; Cheza said to do otherwise would be a foolish waste of a gift. But they were not afraid.
Toboe playfully put on the airs of a great hunter and warrior as he crouched beside some budding brush, body tensed and ready. When the moment was right, he would spring forward, catch his prey unawares, and be victorious!
Suddenly, in the distance, his name was being called. It was Cheza. More good news, he was sure. He laughed off his adventure and began to trot back to her.
Cheza remembered more.
It came rather incidentally, without much to preface its arrival. Yet as she, Toboe, and Blue strolled through their wooded path, Cheza recalled the woman with the red hair again. She was facing the old lady near the entryway of a door of a house.
Was it my house? Cheza wondered.
The woman's brow was furrowed in tension. Cheza seemed to recall peering down the hall at them. Perhaps she had been in the next room.
"I can't do it!" the woman declared. "I just can't. Did you see what those other parents had their children wearing? Cripes, did you hear how they were talking? They're little kids!"
The old woman had taken the younger one by the shoulders. "You'll send her out. She'll be our Cheza. They won't change how we've parented her. If she comes back with questions, we'll answer them."
The younger woman looked up from her wrung hands.
"She's ours. She won't become that way," the older woman continued. "We can't hide her away. That's not what life is for."
The younger woman swiped at her eyes and nodded.
Cheza continued to wonder about the whereabouts of these two women. She reasoned it was like how Toboe talked about his human grandma, or Blue's human Pops. Even Kiba had begun to speak of his past, and had mentioned Tsume's to her in passing.
But why has Hige, for all of his conversations, been silent on this subject? She puzzled. Has he really spent all of his life traveling in human cities, only making superficial friends before departing for a new place?
Something about it did not make sense to Cheza. Still, she decided that if there was more for her to know about the matter, Hige would share it in his time. It was not her place to know all things about the people in her life.
Five day's worth of traveling passed. Cheza felt warmer in the night, and the days graciously extended themselves a little longer each day. She was again sided with Toboe and Blue. Toboe ran in circles by them, and sang the songs that Hige and his grandma had taught him. Blue smiled indulgently at it all.
Then, abruptly, Blue froze. "Toboe!" she called sharply.
"Yeah?" Toboe cocked his head, bemused.
"Did you feel that?"
"Kinda. Yeah."
She turned to Cheza. "Did you?"
"Feel what?" Cheza asked, confused. She heard a rustle, and quickly turned behind her. The slim leaves and branches were all shuddering. It did not feel like a quake, but Cheza did not understand what was causing it the effect. It did not seem to be the wind.
Cheza finally heard a distant rumbling. She squinted to the horizon.
It was time to find cover again.