One Down, A Million To Go
Tsume watched Tsuki's chest fall and rise, its steady rhythm broken only by occasional coughing. He could feel Kiba's eyes upon him, but refused to meet the white wolf's gaze. He knew that the others had questions that needed answering, but at the present moment all he wanted to do was watch Tsuki.
She was just as he remembered, strong and quick to act, but there was something in her eyes that had not been there before; something dangerous, and cold. He had so much to ask her, so much to tell her. He tried to plan the conversation in his head, but none of the words sounded right. Maybe he should ask Hige what he should do… But Tsume knew that he would never be that desperate, no matter the situation. For now, all he could do was watch her chest rise and fall, watch as her eyes quickly moved back and forth as she dreamed.
A breeze ruffled Tsuki's hair, the sharp smell of pine entered her nostrils and, groaning softly, she opened her eyes. The sun shone down from the clear blue sky, warm enough to keep the chill from her bones, but too weak to keep her truly warm. She sighed, letting the breeze wash over her body and carry away the tension in her muscles, wanting to lay there, relaxed and happy forever. But her reverie was broken as four small bodies collided with her side; her pups were just as energetic and rough as usual.
Tsuki looked down at the small gray bodies with a smile. Each pup was a light gray with unique markings that made each pup easier to separate from the rest. Of the pups, there were two females and two males.
Mika looked up at her mother with large golden eyes. Her muzzle was a dark gray, and she had white paws. She was the oldest of the four, and could already feel the responsibility of their protection at the tender age of ten months. Raidon, noticing Mika's temporary vulnerability, pounced on her from behind. His white muzzle playfully closed on her right hind leg, hard enough to bother his older sister but not hard enough to hurt her. Raidon was the second oldest, about fifteen seconds younger than Mika, as well as the largest of the pups. Kane, the third youngest by twelve seconds, had received the same pelt as his father; a light gray coat with an even lighter face and belly. He had also inherited a fiery spirit and short temper. He lost no time in joining the scuffle and soon the three pups were running through the golden field once more, snapping and wrestling for dominance.
The fourth pup remained at her mother's side, though. The smallest and youngest, Kohana could be identified by the long white stripe from her shoulders to the tip of her tail. Kohana could be found on the sidelines, always watching her brothers and sister, never partaking in the scuffles. She would never be as strong as the others, so she spent her time learning about the world.
Tsuki watched all her pups with a careful eye, but knew that the rest of the pack was close enough to assist her if trouble arose. She was proud of her pups, and knew that once they were old enough to live on their own they would stay together and protect one another. Nothing could tear the four of them apart. The pack also felt pride in the children of Tsuki and her mate, Tsume, and each member taught the pups a different skill. The pups were the prodigies of this pack, and each pack member would die for the pups.
Tsuki felt Kohana leave her side to chase after her siblings, moving closer to ask Mika something while trying to avoid being crushed by Raidon and Kane. Tsuki smiled at her children. This moment felt perfect, and nothing could end this happiness, or so she thought.
The dream shifted, and the once golden field was now covered with frost. The pack huddled together against the cold, the smell of burning wood reached the wolves and they snorted against the abrasive scent. Humans had come, and were slowly destroying the land to build their cities and roads. Tsuki listened as if in a trance, she had heard this discussion before. She wanted to scream, yell, cry, anything to get the others' attention. She had relived this nightmare too many times, only to watch it unfold once more.
She watched helplessly as the strongest of the pack stood and began to run toward the burning smell, toward where the humans were. Tsume's proud form ran with the others. Tsuki and the pups had stayed behind with the remainder of the pack. Tsuki felt frozen to the spot, and prepared for the shift in the nightmare that would come. She closed her eyes, willing the dream to end and the pain to leave.
Tsuki opened her eyes and found herself still within the dream. The survivors of the pack consisted of Tsuki, the pups, and four others. The four members faded from the dream, dying along the hard journey. Tsuki and her pups reached a small town, where she taught them to live as humans for their safety. Everyday for six weeks they had inquired about their father and the pack, and each time she had no answer. But at least they were alive, and where there was life there was hope.
But even that life had come crashing to an end; the humans had discovered Tsuki and the pups. Raidon was the first to be murdered, shot while he turned to defend his younger brother and sister. Mika was cornered soon after and stoned. Kane had been beaten to death, and Kohana cut repeatedly with a knife until she bled to death. All before Tsuki's eyes as she was bound and forced to watch her children die.
Tsuki hated reliving this nightmare, but she endured it, and allowed it to fuel her hatred of humans, to fuel her passion to find paradise and find a world where her life wasn't tortured by humans. Tsuki had lived for years carrying the burden of her pups' deaths, of her mate's betrayal, of her own inability to change what had happened. But soon the time would come when she would be rid of humans, and she could finally rest.
The dream neared it's end, Tsuki dragging her broken body through snow and rain, living on sheer hatred and vengeance. The dream was always the same, always a reminder of why she continued to live. But at the end of this dream, the face of Tsume came into view. He was different, harder, and carried the scar on his chest of his sin. But his eyes were the same: cold, hard, and if searched hard enough, full of pain and fear. He called out to her, and she wanted to reach out to him, but couldn't; her body wouldn't respond the way she wanted; it was too late to return to the life they once shared. Darkness covered her view, and she floated along nothingness. Eventually she would wake, and have to face the reality waiting, but for now she could sleep, and dream.
Kiba watched with mild interest as Tsume tended to the wounded female, Tsuki. He knew that in time Tsume would fill him in, and now was not the time to press the irritable male. Instead he focused his interest on the sleeping Toboe and bored Hige.
Toboe had fallen asleep near Tsume and Tsuki soon after they reached the clearing, his exhaustion finally taking its toll on his small frame. This was the first break the four had been given in weeks, and Toboe was determined to catch up on all his lost sleep. Hige was staring at the cloudless sky, counting stars and trying to decide if he was hungry enough to dig through the bag for some food. Hige turned his head toward Kiba, feeling the piercing blue eyes upon him. He sighed and slowly sat up, stretching; he then stood and went to sit next to the white wolf.
Kiba and Hige sat in silence, trying to sort their thoughts. Finally Kiba broke the silence, asking the porky male, "So what's your first impression of her?" Neither Kiba nor Hige took their eyes off of Tsume and Tsuki.
"She seems reliable enough, though I have to question her taste in men; I'm pretty sure Tsume is acting strange 'cause they know each other. I mean, we won't know anything for certain until he says something, but at least we can guess that much." Hige replied quietly. They sat in silence once more.
Tsume heard the exchange between Hige and Kiba. Sighing, he took one last long look at Tsuki. Now was as good a time as any to start explaining. He stood and slowly walked toward the two waiting wolves. He took his time in finding a seat nearby. Once Tsume was settled, he stared at the ground, finding the right words to begin.
"I guess the first thing you should know is that her name is Tsuki, and she's, or at least she was, my mate." Hige smirked, realizing his chances of sweet talking the female were next to zero now; Kiba merely nodded, waiting for Tsume to continue. That was the first question answered, but there were many more to follow, and Tsume had a lot of explaining to do.