A/N: ... something tells me this story is gonna be long. like...more than my 26 chapter maximum i've got going. seriously, the longest any of my finished fics have gotten is 26 chapters. check it out if you don't believe me. they're all on here. anyway, enough of me...enjoy!

Chapter 20: True Pack of Six

Ryooshi gave a small whimper of pain as she sat on the floor in the tent, a squaw kneeling in front of her and spreading an herb over her mauled leg. Her leg twitched and the squaw gripped her ankle to keep it still.

"Huntress Wolf, if you keep moving, it will only hurt more," she soothed, still spreading the herb over her wound.

"I'm sorry," Ryooshi whimpered, wincing in pain. "It just really hurts. It always burned like this when I got hurt."

"Yes, it does burn a bit, but they do help," the squaw replied, still rubbing.

"I know," Ryooshi groaned.

"Clawed Wolf, please, try to calm---"

"Don't talk to me about calm!" Tsume growled at the man in front of the tent. "I can hear it, that woman is hurting her! Just let me in and do what we usually do for something like this!"

"Tsume, come on," they heard Toboe urge, gently. "It's their way. Let's get ready for the big dinner tonight, ok?"

"Get off of me, runt!" Tsume snarled. "Fine. I'll go. But if she comes out limping worse than she was before, I'm gonna have a serious bone to pick with that woman in there with her!"

"Alright, Tsume, let's go," Toboe urged, calmly again. "We need to get there before Hige eats everything."

Ryooshi couldn't help snickering when she heard Tsume mutter curses under his breath as he walked away with Toboe. She grimaced again when the squaw rubbed more herbs on the wound and sighed with a slight growl as she flopped back onto her back.

"I'll be back, Huntress Wolf," the squaw said, standing and heading toward the entrance of the tent and Ryooshi sighed, waving but not looking at her. She closed her eyes and didn't see the shadow cross the back of the tent, then a set of fingers curl under the cloth to lift it and reveal Tsume crouching to the ground and glancing around to make sure no one was looking as he crawled in.

"Hey," he whispered as he turned and laid down on his back, his head next to hers and her eyes shot open wide as she looked at him, still lying down.

"What are you doing?" she laughed, softly at the fact that he was now lying beside her.

"Lying down," he replied with a frown then looked at her. "What are you doing?"

"Ok, I think I know you well enough to say this," she reasoned. "This isn't like you."

"Alright, you caught me," he grumbled. "I'm sick of sitting out there and not doing anything to help you. What the hell is that woman putting on your leg?"

"Some healing herbs," Ryooshi shrugged. "I don't know what they're called though."

"Well, plants aren't as good as a good licking," Tsume replied, sitting up and shuffling toward her legs as she sat up as well.

"I wouldn't---!" she tried to warn, but he'd already started licking her wounds and after a few strokes, he made a disgusted face and started spitting at the dirt.

"What the hell---?!" he spat, his nose wrinkled in disgust as he sat up. "Tastes like burnt rubber on asphalt!"

"I tried to warn you," she sighed, shaking her head, hopelessly. "I did that the first time they put that stuff on me. Tasted like dirt."

"Well, screw this," he grumbled and shuffled to the back of the tent then lifted the cloth, looked outside and turned back to Ryooshi. "There's nobody around. Let's just go."

"That squaw is gonna be back here any minute," she argued.

"Well then we'd better get our tails movin' right?" Tsume only smirked and grabbed her wrist to pull her to her feet and they ducked under the back flap of the tent.

"Tsume---!"

He slapped a hand over her mouth when he noticed the squaw coming back to the tent and once she disappeared into it, Tsume rushed Ryooshi to another empty tent and ducked inside. He hurried her inside then peeked out of the entrance to make sure no one saw them.

"What is going on with you?!" Ryooshi laughed as Tsume turned and stepped in front of her.

"It's a full moon tonight," he murmured with a smirk. "It makes me mischievous."

"Obviously," she smiled as he closed in on her, but when she took a step back onto her hurt foot she stumbled. She gave a wince and stepped back toward Tsume who held her up with open arms.

"You're really playing this up, aren't you?" he smirked and she looked up at him with a frown.

"What do you mean?" she asked.

"Your leg should be half-way healed by now since it's a full moon tonight," he reminded her. "You can stand just fine, I'm sure."

"Maybe," she smiled, slyly. "That's not stopping you from holding onto me, is it?"

"Hell no," he smirked back and she lifted herself up to leave an Eskimo kiss on his nose. "What the hell kind of kiss is that?"

"The kind that I give when I'm in a hurry," Ryooshi smiled, moving to walk to the tent entrance, but he wouldn't let her go. "If they can't find me, they'll think I've disappeared."

"They're that paranoid?" he wondered.

"Yes," she groaned, pushing lightly against his chest to get him to let her go. "Now, let go. I have to go help set up for the dinner tonight. And so do you."

"Make me," he teased.

"You are mischievous!" Ryooshi grinned but she had to admit, she felt a little mischievous herself as he smirked back at her.

She leaned forward and kissed the scar on his chest, making him lift a brow at her, and she felt his grip on her loosen as he thought she was giving in to him. She darted from his arms to the tent entrance before he could even think of what to do next and he was left alone when she hurried out.

"Little fur-ball!" he barked, darting out of the tent and looking for her. His search was cut short when Hige came by and shoved the pile of firewood he was carrying into the older wolf's stomach, making him let out a grunt at it.

"Can you get these to the bonfire place?" he wondered, stretching his back with a groan then walking away, waving, "Thanks!"

"Damn, lazy-ass!" Tsume snarled at the other wolf, but felt his load lighten slightly and frowned in confusion as he turned to see the source of the relief. Toboe was taking some of the firewood from the top of the pile to carry himself with a grin at Tsume.

"Come on," he nodded and Tsume sighed, hopelessly as he followed Toboe to the place they were going to have the bonfire that night.

Tsume caught up to Toboe's unusually fast pace as they reached the fire and he dumped the wood where Toboe dumped his load as well. As he turned to follow Toboe to wherever he was getting the firewood, he spotted Ryooshi across the way in her wolf form playing with the children in the village and keeping them occupied while the adults set up for dinner that night. He had the urge to go to her but decided against it. He'd catch her later once they were all around the fire.

Night fell, and the fire was lit before the Chief came from his tent and took his place, Ryooshi at his right and the rest of the wolves and people around the fire as well. Tsume trotted up to Ryooshi's right and sat, but she didn't seem to notice as she spoke to Runs with Horses. He glanced at her and waited for her to acknowledge him, but when she said nothing, he scooted a little closer to her, threw his arm around her shoulders and pulled her toward him so that she leaned back against him.

Ryooshi gave a surprised yelp but only smiled when she landed against Tsume's chest and held his arm as it hung on one of her shoulders. They were almost the mirror image of Hige and Blue as they sat to Kiba's left as he sat to the Chief's left, Toboe sitting on Tsume's right.

"I'm not letting you get away this time," he murmured in her ear and she only rolled her eyes.

"Hey, guys, check out the moon!" Toboe grinned, excitedly and the pack looked up to see it hanging in the sky, full and shining brightly.

"We shouldn't draw too much attention to her," Ryooshi murmured, causing Tsume to turn his attention to her. "She'll get embarrassed and hide herself again."

"What are you mumbled about?" he wondered, curiously and Ryooshi only shook her head.

"Nothing," she shrugged. "Just something a friend of mine told me."

"Can we howl at it?" Toboe hoped, bouncing in his seat and still staring up at the moon. "I wanna howl so bad, I'm shaking all over!"

"Do as you please," the Chief entreated. "You are among friends."

Ryooshi jumped onto all fours, lifted her head and was the first to let out a long, loud howl. The others soon joined in, with Toboe setting the record for the longest howl of the pack when they finished. Kiba's was the loudest. Tsume's was the lowest. Ryooshi's was the highest and Hige and Blue's were the best harmony. They all couldn't help but grin at each other and Toboe and Ryooshi laughed when the little children started howling as well, just for the fun of it.

"I'm glad we came here," Blue smiled, leaning against Hige as he wrapped his arms around her waist from behind. "It's so peaceful and cheerful here."

"It was like this when Mighty Hawk was Chief too," Ryooshi smiled, leaning against Tsume and holding his hand as it hung over her shoulder. "It was like a peace of paradise."

"Why did you leave?" Toboe asked, and Ryooshi didn't fail to notice Runs with Horses stop eating for a moment and slightly lean toward her to hear her better. She gave a sigh as she fiddled with Tsume's fingers and he looked down at her, waiting for the answer as well.

"The same reason I left your place without a word, Toboe," she replied. "I knew I wouldn't fit in anywhere. Not after what I'd done."

"You've gotta let that go already," Hige sighed irritably.

"Hige!" Blue gasped, craning her neck to look at him in disbelief.

"I mean, I know you're guilty about what you did," he continued, "and we get that. But do you have to keep holding it over yourself like it's condemned you to a living hell for life?"

"I don't expect any of you to understand," Ryooshi replied. "The moment I said I would let them use me, I knew I could never be accepted by my kind for hunting them. That's why I was reluctant to tell any of you because I felt accepted, and I knew you'd ditch me the moment you knew I used to work for the Wolf Hunters. I knew you'd do it because I I'm not part of your pack---"

"Who said you weren't part of our pack?" Toboe cut, shooting Ryooshi's attention to him and they stared at each other with wide eyes as he continued, "You helped us escape those guys in the city and left with us when we left it. Of course you're part of our pack." He looked to Kiba, then Hige and Blue, then Tsume and urged, "She is, isn't she?"

They all looked back to Kiba and Ryooshi felt her heart pounding in her chest when he looked back at her. Her heart raced at the thought of him saying no, but her fear turned to surprise as he smiled, warmly and nodded.

"See?!" Toboe grinned, leaning around Tsume to give her a small shove she hardly acknowledged as Tsume swatted the young wolf's hand away. Ryooshi could feel tears coming to her eyes as she smiled and nodded to Kiba in return.

"Now, quit feeling sorry for yourself over what happened years ago," Hige called, jokingly. "If all of us felt so guilty that we thought we didn't belong anywhere, we'd all be alone."

"Well spoken, Whiskers Wolf," Runs with Horses chimed in. He'd stayed silent to let her friends talk some sense into her this time.

"At least you didn't say something like you wished you were dead," Tsume whispered in her ear and she frowned, looking up at him but he answered her silent question by continuing, "Otherwise I would've had to use your own words against you."

"What words would those be?" she asked with a small smirk in reply to his own mischievous tone.

"'It's not like you did it because you wanted to'," he murmured. "'You were scared. There's nothing wrong with that.' And for the grand finale…'If you had died, I never would have met you.'"

"And I thought you weren't listening," she confessed, sarcastically as she patted his hand she was holding. Tsume glared at her but couldn't help but smirk at the same time.

"I could get used to this for a month," Hige sighed, contentedly as he sprawled out on the ground, Blue right next to him. "Hell, I'd stay here if Cheza wasn't waiting for us back in the city." He suddenly had an idea and sat up to grin at Kiba and ask, "Hey, Kiba! You think she'd like it here?!"

"I think she might," Kiba nodded then turned to Runs with Horses and asked, "Would it be alright if we came back here?"

"Of course, Fanged Wolf," the Chief nodded. "You are all welcome to return for any reason."

"Thank you," Kiba nodded, respectfully.

As she watched the exchange, Ryooshi felt relieved that Kiba was handling negotiations now with the Chief. After all, she could tell from the start, Kiba was the alpha male in the pack, and Tsume was second in command. She still fiddled with Tsume's hand as she looked over at Toboe who was staring into the fire, through the fire. She could tell by his slightly sorrow-filled expression he was thinking of Liona.

"Toboe," she called, gently but he didn't seem to hear her. Tsume glanced at the young wolf and reached over to smack his arm, making Toboe jump and stare at them with wide eyes. Ryooshi glared at Tsume and punched his knee to avenge Toboe's assault and he glared back at her.

"What?" Toboe asked, glancing between Tsume and Ryooshi.

"Are you alright?" she asked, honestly interested. The young wolf nodded, weakly and looked back at the fire.

"I just…miss Liona," he mumbled and Ryooshi felt her heart sink in empathy for him.

"Come sit with me," she entreated with a smile and Tsume sent a glare at her, which she promptly ignored.

"No, it's ok," Toboe replied, waving her off. "I'm alright."

"I'm not," Ryooshi insisted, making it about her comfort instead of his. She didn't want him thinking she was doing it out of pity when she just wanted to cheer him up. "Come over here and sit with me."

"Are you trying to piss me off?!" Tsume growled softly in her ear as Toboe shuffled toward her.

"What are you grumbling about?" she muttered back, knowing why he was upset. He wanted her all to himself for the moment, but Ryooshi wasn't about to leave Toboe depressed because he was lonely.

Tsume muttered a few curses under his breath about her being too soft and needy, but she didn't care as Toboe curled up in front of her in his wolf form. She smiled and started stroking his auburn fur as he set his chin on his crossed fore-paws, still staring at the fire.

She now hand one hand in Tsume's entwining their fingers and one hand stroking Toboe's back to sooth his loneliness. Watching her do that for the young wolf sent a twinge of jealousy through Tsume. Nobody had ever done that for him, mostly because no human ever knew he was really a wolf. Still, he couldn't deny that he wouldn't have minded even a good belly-rub once in a while. What canine didn't enjoy being petted, even the tough and deadly ones? Especially the tough, deadly ones that no one wanted to touch.

Taking a chance he leaned into Ryooshi's ear and gently nipped it to get her attention. She gave a small hum in response, indicating he had her attention and he buried his nose into her hair to whisper, "Will you do that for me later?"

"Do what?" she murmured, and he could tell that she was content enough to doze a little by her tone.

"Pet me?" he answered, still whispering and nipped her ear again. This was one thing he didn't want the others to hear.

Ryooshi gave a small giggle and looked up at him, her head resting on his shoulder as she smiled, "Only if you pet me in return."

"Deal," he growled softly, somehow aroused by the idea.

A/N: woo hoo! i couldn't resist...any of this, really. i snuck plot-line in with fluff i just needed to put in there, like the mischievousness of Tsume and the whole little ending thing where he's all jealous 'cause Toboe's getting some love. Toboe is love, though, so it's all good. lol. and, i realize, he's probably goen a littel OOC, but i couldn't resist! *cries* anyway, reviews?