Running Through Darkness
Time seemed to stop for Tsuki and Tsume as they locked eyes. Tsuki's arm fell listlessly to her side, the jacket forgotten. "It can't be-" Tsuki breathed out. Tsume broke from his reverie and began to reach out to her, his hand shaking with anticipation and shock. Luckily for the two grays, the other three were too busy trying to figure out why Tsuki wanted to leave to notice what was happening nearby.
A shrill beeping broke Tsuki out of her trance; the alarm was set to warn her of any humans finding the trapdoor above. She turned her head upwards, only to be blinded by the light that shown down from above; the humans had a flashlight and were pointing it straight down. Tsuki raised her left hand to shield her eyes, and must have looked threatening as she did so, because as she finished bringing her hand up, a gunshot rang out and pain tore down through her left shoulder to her chest.
Tsuki dropped her left arm and tried to back up, but found herself being pulled away from underneath the opening by Tsume. The other three wolves had changed forms and were tense, waiting for any suggestion on what to do. The only exit they knew of was blocked, and the only person who could help them was collapsing in Tsume's arms from the bullet wound.
"Tsume, grab my coat. We have to leave the city. Tell the fat one to grab my bag, the one I was packing." Tsuki gasped. Tsume nodded and barked out at Hige to carry the said bag of food and supplies. He returned his golden eyes to hers; they were filled with fear and anxiety. "Now, take me to the small room, the one I was in when you got here." He changed his carrying position so he cradled her smaller form in his arms and stood.
Toboe leapt forward and took her coat from where Tsume had slung it over his shoulders. Tsume walked to the small room of monitors and waited for further instructions. Hige and Toboe glanced back at the hole in the ceiling where a rope had slipped out. The humans were making their move to enter the underground lair. Kiba kept his eyes on Tsume and Tsuki, having slipped inside the room before the two. "Kiba, on your right is a small latch. Lift the hook, and pull on the ring." Kiba nodded and did as he was instructed.
When he pulled on the ring, a small section of wall came out into his hand. In the small opening was a keyhole. He turned to ask what to do next, but was cut short by a burst of coughing from the female. Tsume lowered to a kneeling position and sat her up. The bullet had done more damage than they thought; the pain was making it hard for the female to breath or talk. "To-boe," she gasped, "in my jacket there is an inner pocket. Reach inside for a key. Hurry," she sunk into another coughing fit. Tsume wiped her mouth with his hand, oblivious to the reactions of the others, whispering to her, "Hold on, Tsuki." Kiba heard Tsume's words and wondered how Tsume knew the strange female, but his curiosity would have to wait until they were safe.
Toboe meanwhile had thrown the coat on the ground and was searching frantically for the pocket. Hige, his eyes still on the swaying rope, muttered, "Hurry up runt, we don't have time for you to screw around."
"I know Hige! I'm looking!" Toboe finally found the hidden pocket and slipped his hand inside. His face changed from fear to shock as his hand closed around a small key. "I found it!" He pulled his hand out and showed the key to Kiba, who grabbed the small object and quickly placed it within the keyhole.
"Turn the key counter-clockwise for one turn. You should feel the lock undo as you turn." Kiba turned the key, and much to his surprise saw the wall next to the key begin to move slightly. He finished turning the key, and once the lock was open, saw a small opening where he could fit his fingers between the wall and the now open door.
"Guys we gotta move now!" Hige yelled to the others, seeing a boot slip from the darkness into the outer room. The humans were almost there. Kiba finished opening the door and looked inside. There was a hallway beyond, but it was not lit by any lamps or bulbs, so they would have to travel by smell. Tsuki's coughing ceased, and she turned her head to Kiba. "This passage leads to a small grove outside the city. Move!" She gasped. Kiba nodded and darted through the doorway.
Tsume hit Toboe's leg, indicating that Toboe was to follow Kiba. Tsume grabbed Tsuki and lifted her up, taking off after the first two. Hige closed the door to the outer room as the first human entered, jumping through the doorway after Tsume and Tsuki. He closed that one behind him as well, after removing the key from the keyhole so the humans couldn't follow. Darkness enveloped the wolves, but they were unhindered as they ran.
The four ran for what felt like hours, Toboe and Tsume gasping as they slowed. Kiba knew the trouble they were in, Toboe not being as fast and Tsume hindered by the injured Tsuki, and slowed his pace; it didn't help matters that their own wounds hadn't healed fully and were beginning to ache again. Hige turned to check the scent from behind, but he couldn't smell anything but dirt and wolf. Satisfied that the humans hadn't discovered the passage, he called up to Kiba. "Kiba, I don't think they can follow us. We're safe, for now."
Kiba grunted in reply from somewhere up ahead. The sound of running paws slowed and the four stopped to rest. Their eyes had adjusted to the darkness, and Kiba could make out the small form of Toboe hovering over the crouching Tsume. Tsume in turn was trying to make Tsuki conmfortable. Hige moved over to Kiba, shifting the position of the bag on his shouder. They watched in silence as Tsume, who usually didn't give a damn if someone had been shot, worried over the injured female before him.
As much as Kiba wanted to let Tsume tend Tsuki, he knew that the best thing for her would be to get moving again and take her up to where she could heal in the light of the moon. "Tsume, let's start moving again. We have to reach the surface and-"
"You're almost there…just a bit…further…" Tsuki whispered, barely loud enough to be heard. Tsume didn't take his eyes off Tsuki but simply nodded and picked her up once more. Kiba was amazed that Tsuki was still conscious after being shot and then being moved constantly as she had been. She's stronger than she looks. Kiba thought to himself.
The four males began walking again, and were so lost in thought that they didn't realize that they had reached the end until Kiba almost walked into a wall; Kiba was pondering over how Tsume knew Tsuki, Hige was thinking of food and how maybe he could flirt with Tsuki once they found a place to rest, and Toboe was keeping an eye on Tsume to try and find out why he was so careful with the female. They looked around for some idea of where to go next, and saw the outline of another door on the wall before them. There was no hidden lock or trick to opening this door, much to Kiba's surprise, but a simple handle that had to be pulled. The door swung inward, and moonlight streamed in through the opening.
The wolves sighed in relief and stepped into the grove of trees. The moonlight poured down upon them from the round, glowing orb. The tall trees encircled the small clearing, and the wolves stepped forward and turned in a circle, taking in the beauty of it all. The city was up above the clearing, but far enough away to keep the clearing hidden from prying eyes. A small pool of crystalline water reflected the moonlight; it was here Tsume lay Tsuki so she could finally begin to heal. Hige sat down where he had been standing while Kiba walked off to the side to think. Toboe moved toward Tsume, but a quick glare from the older male made him change his mind and sit next to Hige instead.
Tsume returned his focus to Tsuki's wound and saw that it was serious, causing a lot of blood loss and pain to her, but not fatal; the bullet had ripped through her shoulder and along the inside of her ribcage but miraculously missed her vital organs. He cupped his hands and lifted some of the clear water from the small pool and began to clean her wound carefully; he treated her with a tenderness the others had never seen. He realized that three pairs of eyes watched his every movement, and that he would have a lot of explaining to do. But that would come later, now all that mattered was Tsuki; he had so much to say to her, and no idea where to begin.