Kiba set a fast pace for the group. According to Tsuki, they would have to cover most of the ground traveled by the four and backtrack past the beginning to get to Jagura. Since most of the journey could be made in a relatively straight line over ground, they were able to cut the time in half. It was still a long run, especially for Toboe.

"Keep up, pup. We can rest later. Now is the time to run," Tsuki nudged the weary wolf forward.

"I know, I'm just getting really tired, and it's getting harder to see. It's cold, too." Toboe was gasping, now. He had run far in the last stretch, and there had been no where to pause in over fifteen hours.

"Kiba! Kiba we need to stop!" Tsuki squinted through the snow for the white wolf. He was nearly invisible, and if Hige had not been running next to him she would have missed him. Hige turned his head back toward them and slowed. Kiba ran forward a little ways and then stopped as well.

"No, I'm fine. I can keep going, don't stop," Toboe seemed to shrink.

"We are almost there, another few hours and then we can stop," Kiba walked over to them, golden eyes unblinking.

"No. We can rest now. We are all tired, even if you don't want to admit it. What good can you do if you cannot stand when we reach a fight? I won't run another step. And you, Hige?"

"Don't ask me," Hige shrugged and looked off. "Maybe we should call Tsume back in, though, if we are stopping."

"One hour. Hige, tell Tsume and come back. Tell him to stay ahead of us, though."

"Maybe we can find some food, too?" Hige's brown eyes slid to Kiba hopefully.

"No, we don't have time. When we pass by the next city we can find something to eat." Kiba walked away from the three and stared out onto the plain. "Tsuki, tell me more about Jagura's keep."

Tsuki looked at Kiba, teeth grinding, "No."

Silence fell, giving Hige an opportunity to slide away to find Tsume. Toboe huddled into the snow and lay down. Tsuki lay beside him and wrapped herself around him. He was shivering and laying with his paws pressed beneath him. She made sure she was between him and the worst of the wind and looked back at Kiba. "No more questions, no more interrogations. I have answered you as best I can, and I know no more. You know everything I do."

"Do I? I talked to Tsume, and he told me that you were once the beta of your pack. You would be the most privy to information and most likely to keep secrets."

"Yes, I was beta once. But I belong to no pack, now."

"You belong to this pack."

Tsuki felt Toboe cease shivering and lay her head on top of his neck. "I have no pack, and I will never again. You can call this whatever you want, but once I have what I need, I will leave. An outcast can never return," Tsuki heard footsteps and caught the sent of Hige and Tsume. Tsuki saw Kiba glance at Tsume with an annoyed look.

Tsume ran with his nose to the air. He could smell the railroad tracks off to the side that lead straight back to the city. He had run this path often enough. Only this time he moved not with the band of humans, but with wolves. His pack, he supposed. Closest thing he had to a pack, now.

Tsume had accepted Kiba as the alpha, and had taken his place as beta. He knew his roles here, and would support Kiba when needed. But he still had enough pride to know when to stand against Kiba. Just like when he followed Tsuyosa.

Tsume had been born just seconds after Tsuyosa, but that was enough time to decide their future rankings. Tsuyosa was larger and stronger than Tsume, which didn't hurt either. Tsume had accepted his role and supported his brother. When Tsuyosa succeeded their father as alpha, Tsume rose beside him as beta. Tsuyosa depended on Tsume to keep the pack binded together, and in return allowed Tsume to take a mate and have pups.

Tsuyosa himself found his mate, Ayame, and they had one pup, Hana. Hana didn't survive her first winter, though, and Ayame refused to bear another. It came down to Tsume and his mate, Tsuki, to carry on the pride of the pack.

Tsume met Tsuki when out patrolling their territory. She had been leading what remained of her pack into new grounds. Her alpha had been killed by humans, and the beta had died of injuries. As the daughter of the beta and highest ranked survivor, it had come to her to save her family. Tsume remembered walking up to her, displaying his dominance; instead of submitting and leading her pack away she stood up to him defiantly.

"You are crossing into our territory, female. Leave or submit. I will force you out if necessary," Tsume lifted his tail in warning.

She had turned to her wolves, looking at each one. Looking back at Tsume, she took a breath, and lowered her body. "We are weary and have lost our home, I ask refuge. We have young ones in need of nourishment. I ask your assistance."

Tsume could sense her desire to save her pack and walked to her. "I will take you with me. The rest will stay here." He walked away from her, not watching if she would follow.

To his surprise, she moved behind him to follow, but one of her wolves cut her off. "Don't, Tsuki. We can move on, we can find another place. Or let one of us go. It's not right that you-"

"I may not have the title of alpha, but I still take the responsibility of leading. I will not watch any of you starve. We have been through enough death. Stand back," Tsuki was snarling, now. How dare this low wolf question her, and in front of another pack? She watched as he took a breath, but then slunk down and away.

Tsume smiled to himself. If this female was half the wolf she looked like, his pack would be wise to consider her. But the others with her seemed angry, and had an air of violence. Perhaps a diplomatic solution could be found by Tsuyosa to calm them. Tsume began loping into the forest toward Tsuyosa's den. Footsteps behind him were all he needed to know she was following once more.

"You are not alpha, are you beta, then?"

"I have no rank. My uncle was beta, and our alpha never bore any pups. As next of kin, I took my place, but until our pack raises a new alpha, I will carry no title."

Tsume looked over at her, "Why do you not take alpha? If you are the closest thing they have to a leader, why do you hesitate?"

"Hesitate? I do not hesitate. If you were to lose your alpha, would you fill his position?"

"As beta, it would be my responsibility," Tsume grunted.

"And if you were not beta?" Tsuki looked at the male.

Tsume considered what she said, but remained silent. Before long they came upon Tsuyosa and Ayame. Tsuki showed them proper deferral and plead her case. Tsume could see Tsuyosa mulling over the decision, and pulled him aside.

"Brother, I have followed your every order, and have supported your every move. Listen to me, now. This female has a great heart and will die for her pack. She would be a great asset, and we would be fools to turn her away. I will vouch for her, and her pack."

"Tsume, she brings with her wolves who cannot fully join us. They will cause problems, and with the winter coming and the humans pressing in we cannot afford any setbacks," Tsuyosa looked down at his younger brother. They had been leading as a team for just over three years, and in truth they both were still young. Sighing he turned back toward his mate and Tsuki, "You are welcome here, as are your wolves. Tsume, call them in."

Tsume's voice rose in a howl, and as it echoed the mixed group of wolves entered the clearing. Tsuyosa's five were matched stride for stride by Tsuki's seven grown wolves and two young ones. Ayame and Tsuyosa went through the formalities, but soon the new comers were being welcomed by the pack.

Weeks passed, and Tsume found himself more and more fascinated by Tsuki. He would go out of his way to find her and tail her, and would take her scathing remarks in stride. There was something about her that he felt drawn to. Soon enough he was asking for Tsuyosa's permission to mate, and trying to tie Tsuki down.

She was often accompanied by one of her wolves, and getting her alone was difficult. So he resorted to howling his message across the territory. She found him that night, cuffed him, then nuzzled him. With that, they were mates and bonded for life. Or so he had thought.

When winter came to a close, the humans began to move again and pressed in from the northern border. The pack had twenty three full wolves, and Tsuki was pregnant with her pups. Of the twenty three, eight would be killed by humans within the next two months, and six injured enough to pull them out of fighting. Summer came, and the pack was forced into the edge of their territory. Hunting became scarce, and tensions rose. Tsuki's wolves wanted to leave, they had dealt with humans before and nothing could be done to deter them. Tsuyosa refused to leave his home, and so summer ended in a draw.

Fall came with early snow, and Tsuki gave birth to her pups. Two females and two males joined the pack that morning, and the pack was relieved that all were healthy and strong. They survived that winter and were soon romping around the den. With spring, though, came the humans once more. Tsuyosa called to the other packs in the region, and the alphas decided to move as one against the humans and force them back.

Every able bodied wolf went against the humans, even some injured ones who wanted to do what they could to protect their home. Tsume went with them, after saying goodbye to Tsuki and his pups. He knew she was terrified, and furious that she couldn't go with them. Her responsibilities lay with protecting the pups, though, and he promised to return to her once the humans were beaten away. He was with the first wave to attack the humans, but they were outnumbered and overpowered. There was no chance, and he tried to run. His heart failed him and he was blinded. He ran, and Tsuyosa banished him. His heart could see Tsuki's face, and his pups, but he could never see them again.

The humans over ran the area, and he heard from rumor and other packs that no wolf from any of the four packs who fought survived any longer. He gave up his hope of one day returning to his mate, and closed off his world. He lived among humans across the Sea of Floating Ice and forgot his previous life. He focused solely on his survival, no matter the cost to others.

And then he met Kiba, and inside him he was reminded what it meant to be a wolf. What it meant to run with a pack again. It was his chance to start over, so why had fate brought Tsuki back to him, and why now? Could he never be forgiven for his sin?

Tsume looked up at Hige ran next to him. "Kiba is stopping for Toboe. He wants you to stay out here and," Hige stopped as Tsume changed direction and headed back. "Oy, Tsume, Kiba wants you out here."

"He could tell me himself, then." Tsume loped back the way Hige had come and heard voices before him. Tsuki was arguing with Kiba, and what she had said made him dread going any closer.

No one spoke again until Kiba roused them. "Four hours till we reach the city. I don't think the storm is going to let up, so keep up." Kiba jogged onto the plain and vanished into the snow. Tsume leapt after him to scout ahead without looking back.

"Come, Toboe, it's time to run again," Tsuki pushed him to his feet gently and began walking. Hige waited for them and the three jogged into the wind.

"Hey Toboe, bet you can't wait to get home. Remember the city, I wonder if they are still making hot dogs," Hige smiled down at the drowsy wolf.

"Leera," Toboe's head picked up, "I bet Leera's still there. Maybe I can see her again! I'll bring her something nice so she won't get scared this time!"

"Leera?" Tsuki looked at the two males.

"Toboe's crush. I think he wants her to adopt him," Hige bumped the smaller wolf playfully.

"I don't have a crush! She's a human, remember! She was my friend." Toboe bounced forward, his energy renewed as only a pup could do.

Hige laughed and looked at Tsuki with a smile. She wasn't smiling, though. In fact, her hackles were raised.

"Humans cannot be trusted. They live to betray and kill us. You should know best of all, Hige."

"Not Leera, she was just scared last time. I'm sure she wouldn't hurt me," Toboe slowed and turned his face to Tsuki.

"Last time? Last time she was unprepared. This time she may be armed and may kill you. Toboe, stay away from humans. They are vile creatures, and the reason the world is dying. There will be no humans in paradise." Tsuki loped past Toboe and ran ahead into the snow.

"Hige, you don't think humans are like that, do you?" Toboe's head hung now, his joy sucked out of him.

"I'm sure there are some good ones, there have to be. What about the old lady who used to take care of you?" Hige was talking out of reflex, thinking on Tsuki's comment. Why would he know anything about humans? And hold it against them?

"Yeah, you're right," Toboe's voice was small now.

Hige sighed. Whatever bone to pick Tsuki had with humans, she didn't have to yell at Toboe like that. It wasn't his fault that he had a soft spot. She should have known better, having had pups before. Maybe he could get Tsume to set her straight. Tsume wasn't afraid to defend Toboe, though Tsume wasn't too fond of humans either. Maybe Kiba? No, not Kiba. And he had no tact here.

"Come on, let's not fall behind. Kiba would hate to have to come hunt for you if you get lost in this storm."

"Why am I always such a burden? Why do we only stop when I am tired? Why doesn't anyone else complain?"

"Hey, I always ask about food, don't I?"

Toboe remained silent.

"Listen, kid. You are still a pup, and city bred. Kiba and them, they grew up out here and have been doing this forever. Me, I get tired too, but I guess I have done lots of running too. Take it slow, don't worry." Hige looked ahead and smelled that Kiba had shifted direction. "Now, come on."

Ahead of the pack, Tsume scouted for any obstructions or danger. This was an excuse for him to stay away from Tsuki, though every time he lost concentration he saw her face and heard her voice, An outcast can never return.

He had been kidding himself, believing that he could return to a pack. Even this dysfunctional one. He carried his past on his chest to remind all others to never accept him. He was fairly certain Kiba knew his scar, though Hige and Toboe were too tame to see it.

I'll stick around until we get Cheza back. Then I'll leave, I'm not getting into paradise anyway, Tsume decided. What about Toboe? No, Toboe had found someone else to stick to. He would slip away, one day. There was no point in him sticking around.

Pointing his nose to the sky he sniffed. He could smell the city, but it had veered to his left now. He shifted his path, knowing Kiba would follow his scent. Tsume wanted to talk to Tsuki, though. So far his attempts at speaking with her had been in vain. She hated him. He had done this to her.

Kiba ran through the storm with eyes half-closed. The snow was getting thicker, but so long as he could smell Tsume he didn't need to see. He was depending on Tsume to get them to the city safely, something you could only do when you were a pack. Tsume had struggled at first to come around, but he had. Was Kiba going to have to fight Tsuki every step of the way too?

I don't have time for that, I need to find Cheza, Kiba growled. He pondered again over what she was hiding. Tsuki had no reason to hide anything, she was searching for paradise with them. But whatever she was hiding had to be important. Was it something to do with Cheza? If it was, he needed to know it. He couldn't risk any problems from this point. He would give her a few more days to come to him with her information, but after that maybe it was best to send her on her way. It was a risky solution, and an extra set of teeth came in handy, but as alpha he would not let her put them in danger.

Maybe in a few days she would calm down and be more willing to talk. They were all tired, like she had said. For now, he would have to be content with the information she had given him on Jagura and the keep. She had known much there, though she had not said why. Was her secret about Jagura or the keep? What was she hiding?

Tsume's scent shifted before him, and he adjusted accordingly. Tsuki's scent joined with his, strangely enough. Glancing back and sniffing, he smelled nothing. The wind was coming from upwind and pushing back, so the others would be fine. He would have felt better if he could see them. They would reach the city soon, and he would check on them there.

An outline appeared in the storm and he opened his eyes. The figure was slender and dark, Tsuki. She loped up to him and matched his pace. "As the alpha here, it is your responsibility to teach the younger wolves the dangers of the world. If you want to lead these wolves, learn your place above them."

"I will take your suggestion. But so long as you undermine me and argue, I cannot lead them. You want me to lead, then follow me. You may have survived on your own before, but the world is changing. Sticking together is safer, but you have to want to. Tsume accepted this and now works with this pack to protect it. I need you here, too. I am a new alpha, but you have led before, so teach me how to lead. I will get everyone into paradise, with or without your help. What will it be?"

"So long as my business corresponds with your direction, I will accompany you. But I will not be here forever. Tsume may be able to forget what he has done, but I will not. Once we reach Jagura's keep, I will leave you to finish my business. But I will never be a part of this pack." Tsuki leapt forward and vanished into a flurry of snow.

Kiba wondered if all alphas had to deal with this.

Tsuki let her mind focus on running and following the trail. This was no pack, this was no group to call family. She couldn't trust any of them, no even the pup. They were liabilities, and dangerous ones. A fool who thought he could lead, and traitor who wanted to be trusted, one ignorant of his own past, and a pup with a taste for human companionship. She would be better off on her own.

Tsuki ran on, following the scent of Tsume. She could still smell the old Tsume deep within in, but layered on top were new traits. The message she got was hard, metallic, and cold. His human appearance had surprised her, too. She had always imagined Tsume as reliable, and that his form would echo his personality. But the new Tsume scared her, and made her angry. What right did he have to even be alive, now?

Suddenly he was running beside her, appearing out of the storm. The scar on his chest was white against his gray fur. The muscles of his chest rippled beneath it, making it flash brightly. Tsuki looked back ahead and ran faster. To her annoyance, Tsume matched her pace. She ignored him the best she could, which was difficult as he kept trying to sidle closer.

"Enough! If you have something to say, say it already traitor," Tsuki snapped and felt slightly better for it.

Tsume stumbled for a moment, but righted himself. He remained silent, eyes on the ground and head low. "You're looking well," he muttered.

Tsuki ignored him and kept running. If he wanted small talk, too bad.

"I can't believe you're still live-"

"No thanks to you. I have-" Tsuki stopped, snarling. "If you know what's good for you, leave me alone. I have every right to kill you."

"Hit me, bite me, do what you will."

"Nothing would satisfy me more, but I want you to continue to live with your past. Did you think that time would heal this? Maybe you should tell the others about what you did, and see if they still want you around. I know I wouldn't."

Tsume watched her run beside him. He could see numerous scars poking out beneath her fur. He wondered if it was the same on the opposite side. Did they hurt? When did she get them? Who hurt her? His own scar pulled on his chest. Did she get them because of him?

They passed a lump half covered by snow. It was a crashed truck, fresh and free of rust. Tsume veered over to it and stopped to investigate it. The vehicle looked familiar, and he realized it was one of the ones he used to hang around. Inside were three corpses, frozen to their places. They were all part of his old gang, and were ones who had been loyal to him until he left.

"Filth. Let them rot. They are the killers of the world, and when paradise is found they will all be barred entry." Tsuki sneered and walked away from the wreckage.

Tsume looked after her, and realized that her heart that had once been full of love and compassion, if fiery, was now cold and hidden behind hate. Hatred toward humans, with good reason. How many homes had she lost to humans, and were they involved with the pups?

"I don't care much for them either, but not all of them deserve your disdain," Tsume cautioned.

"So are you the one who has been teaching the pup to chase them like a dog? You even stink like them, now. Did you run with them, call them your pack? You are just as low as them. How can you even live from day to day?"

"I live because, because…"

"Leave me alone, Tsume. I don't want you near me. You have done enough damage, for one lifetime." Tsuki looked over at him, "Do you really think you can reach paradise? That any of them can? Toboe is impure, Hige has been used by humans and cannot be allowed in, and you have been cast out. Kiba is the only one who can open paradise, and the only one I will allow to."

"What right do you have to decide who is allowed to enter paradise? Your heart is cold and hard, now. You hold vengeance now, a human trait."

"I do not want to reach paradise. I want to ensure that it is found for my pups, that is all."

"Our pups are dead, and have moved on-"

"My pups are waiting for paradise to be opened so they may be reborn."

"Reborn?"

"When paradise is opened, the wolves will be reborn and create a new paradise on the other side. My pups will be there to fill it with laughter and loyalty. You cannot be allowed near it." Tsuki growled at Tsume to emphasize her point. Silence fell between them and they ran on, pulling farther apart as the minutes passed.

The hours passed slowly for the five wolves as they crossed the plain. The storm abated, leaving gray clouds overhead. Toboe and Hige in the back could see Kiba before them, and Tsuki further. A small dark speck in the distance was Tsume. They could all smell the city now, and Toboe pushed one last time to a sprint.

"Come on, Hige, we can almost see it!" Toboe and Hige ran past Kiba. The three reached Tsuki and ran to catch up with Tsume. Soon all five were clustered at the front, adrenaline pumping.

"Did you see that flash in the clouds just now? Look, there it is again!" Toboe shouted up as the snow began to fall once more.

"I don't think it's the clouds that are flashing. They must be reflecting light from the ground," Tsume growled.

"It smells like something's on fire," Hige gasped.

The five crested a small hill and stopped. Below them the city flashed with tank fire and explosions. "It's the stench of battle," Kiba uttered.

Silently the five loped down the hill toward the city. They found men fighting men there, Jagura's sigil on one side against the city guards. The guard was outnumbered and losing.

Suddenly an airship exploded and fell to the ground. The shockwave blew apart the remaining dome panels. The city guard was fighting back with all they left. The wolves waited for Kiba's lead, commenting to each other. Suddenly the white wolf rushed forward into the fray.

Claws flashing and teeth snapping, Kiba jumped onto two soldiers and leapt away. Tsume, Hige, and Toboe joined in and took out more soldiers. The last soldier was surrounded and taken down quickly. Tsuki slipped around the area and watched as a guard, who they had saved, turned his gun on Kiba. Hanging on the fringes she watched the wolves talk with him. Apparently he had said something important because he had Kiba's ear.

Tsume saw Tsuki and watched her sneer at the humans. She had definitely changed, and something about Jagura's soldiers bothered her. Suddenly the human pointed out of the city. Kiba took off, the three males following. Tsuki took off after them with a final glance at the dead soldiers. The armor had changed, it was thicker, and more agile. Jagura wouldn't be brought down easily.

"He said Jagura has Cheza, and the keep is beyond the Sea of Floating Ice." Kiba was intent on the road ahead.

"And wherever Cheza is, Blue is," Hige grinned.

"And that's where we go," Toboe finished.