"The sea is only a few days crossing, we should be rested enough to get through without major breaks. After that, I suggest we take a night to sleep, and eat if we can. Getting into the keep will be near impossible; and getting out with Cheza even more unlikely." Tsuki ran in front of the group with Kiba as they left the city behind.

"Have you crossed the sea before?" Toboe called out.

"Twice recently. It's rough, but doable. Keep up." Tsuki settled into a pace that she had used dozens of times for long distances. With the world freezing the way it was, the ice would be thick enough all the way across. And with any luck, most of the dangers would be gone as well, or smart enough to stay away from them. "Anyone gets tired, we slow. No stopping. Once we reach the other side, we can plan. The ice can crack at any time. It sounds like a gunshot. You hear it, you stop and let me know. The faster we get across the safer we'll be." Tsuki looked back at the others and watched them nod. Her home once lay on the other side, so Tsume would know this journey as well. He would have to bring up the rear with Toboe this time. "Tsume stay in the back. If we get spread out stay with Toboe. Kiba and Hige stay together. Call me if anything comes up." She pulled ahead of the others and laid out the route they would follow.

She breathed in deep, smelling the salt. Running this direction felt right to her, like she was running downhill. Home was this way, or what remained of it. Snow fell in patches, coating the ground in powder. The ice flows beneath her rocked gently and grinded past one another. In the distance a flow cracked and water burst through, but it was far enough away to not bother her.

Ahead of her protrusions rose and speared into the gray sky. That one looks like a bear, a voice echoed in her mind. It was Kohana's voice. Tsuki remembered the last time she ran this length.

Mika and Raidon ran before her, tails streaming behind them. Kane was racing from side to side, trying to smell everything at once, and trying not to get wet. Kohana ran beside her mother, calling out what each iceberg looked like. They ranged from flowers to creatures to her own brothers and sister.

The four pups were almost a year old, now. They were still learning the skills needed to survive in the world, but right now they could play and enjoy the day. Gulls and other sea birds scavenged for any last meals out on the ice, screeching overhead. A seal barked off to the side, catching Mika's and Raidon's attention. They peeled off to 'hunt' it. Kane joined them, followed by a cautious and curious Kohana. Tsuki kept an eye on them, but there was no real danger. None of the pups were hungry, just playing.

The seal barked at them again from its perch. Strangely, it didn't slip into the water and away. Kohana hung back to watch as the other three circled, barking and leaping. Tsuki looked around, trying to find out why the seal didn't leave.

"Mika, Raidon, Kane get back now!" Tsuki's voice carried out over the ice. She could see the two seal pups behind the seal now. "Leave it now!"

Kohana immediately returned to her mother, and Mika paused to collect the other two. When she stopped the seal lashed out and caught Mika by surprise. The pup was slid off the flow and into the water. Snarling, Raidon and Kane jumped to their sister's aid. They snapped and clawed at the seal, pushing it back. Mika surface and gasped for air. She struggled to swim back to the edge as a flow drifted toward her from behind.

"Swim, Mika! Swim!" Tsuki barreled into the seal and forced it back. Barking, it backed away and into the water. The pups followed their mother with cries. Tsuki turned now and watched as Mika frantically tried to reach the edge in time. "Stay here, all of you," Tsuki ran past them and dove into the water.

Mika was freezing and gasping when Tsuki reached her. Mother pushed daughter while trying to prepare for the ice flow that was coming. "Mika, listen to me. Stop swimming, instead we are going to climb onto the other flow. Turn and calm down. We'll be okay, I'm right beside you."

"It's cold, mother, and my leg won't move."

"I'll help you, and when we get out we can take a break. Just keep moving. Get ready," the flow swept toward them, moving much faster than first thought. "Ready, now, Mika!"

Mika gripped the edge and grunted as it hit her. Tsuki pushed her up and onto the ice, and climbed up quickly. Tsuki pulled her daughter away from the edge and braced them for the impact. With a loud crunch and shudder, the ice flows combined and the two wolves were thrown off their feet. When the ice finally stopped moving, Tsuki draggen Mika back to the rest.

"Mom! Mika are you alright!" Kohana was trembling and whimpering.

"All of you, lay beside her and keep her warm. She's fine, just cold. Mika, which leg hurts?"

Mika moved her front leg slightly, but whimpered and dropped it quickly. Tsuki leaned down and sniffed it. Nothing was bleeding, and the fur was not torn. "Move it again, as much as you can." Mika complied with a yip, but luckily the bone was not broken. "Just a bruise, honey. You'll be fine.

"Stay here, all of you. I am going to find some food. Call me if you need anything. Raidon, I'm depending on you to keep your sisters and your brother safe," Tsuki looked out across the ice as he nodded. "I'll be right back."

Tsuki took off at a run with her nose to the air. That seal had two pups with it, and one would be perfect to help Mika regain her strength. Tsuki caught a whiff of the seals and dropped low to the ground. Around the next berg she spotted them, lounging on a floating ice flow. Cautiously, Tsuki slipped back into the freezing water and approached the seals slowly. She moved around to the edge closest to one pup and lunged out of the water, grabbing it by its tail.

Tsuki quickly dragged it back into the water and slashed at it with her paws. She caught it by the ear and stunned the pup enough for her to release the pup. Gripping its throat in her mouth now she swam back to the ice. The mother seal had chosen to cut its losses and swim away with the one pup. Tsuki dragged the dead seal out of the water and back to her pups. Curling herself around them she made sure Mika ate first. They settled down for the night to sleep. "Mama," Kohana whispered.

"Yes, dear?"

"Can you tell us a story?"

"About what? The great wolves of our past, the wolf that leapt too far?"

"Can you tell us," Kohana paused, "about dad?"

Tsuki blinked down at her pups. This was surprising; they had never asked about Tsume before.

"Yeah, what was he like mama?" Raidon lifted his head over Mika.

"Was he a good hunter?" Kane murmured sleepily.

"Your father," Tsuki hesitated. What was he like to them? What should she tell them? "Your father was a great wolf, wise and kind. He would die for his family. One day, we went out hunting together before you were born. We came upon a great elk. Now, we should have left it alone, or called for help, but it was injured and aggressive. It charged at us. It trapped me between some boulders, but your father saved me. He attacked it without thought and forced it to run. Then he called the pack, and when the elk was taken down, he was the first to eat. He was the greatest hunter in our pack, and we never were hungry when Tsume was hunting."

"What happened to papa? Why isn't he with us? Did the humans kill him too? I bet he killed a bunch of them first!" Raidon's nose lifted in the air with pride.

"He went with the others, yes. And I'm sure he killed lots of humans to protect us. Who knows, maybe one day we'll see him again. Now, sleep. We have a long way to go in the morning." Tsuki licked Raidon's head, then Mika and Kohana.

"Mama, why did we leave our home again? It was nice there. The humans took care of us." Kane's golden eyes bore into Tsuki.

"It was time to leave. Wolves weren't meant to live in houses and cities. We need to be wild and free. That's one thing that can never be taken from us, not while we live, not when we die." Tsuki licked Kane's forehead gently. Kane had loved living with Jagura most of all, and had been the most angry when they had left. One day she would tell him the truth, but not here, not now. Kane lowered his head and drifted into sleep. Content that her pups were safely asleep, Tsuki lowered her head around them and kept watch on the ice. Soon they would be out of Jagura's reach. Soon they would be safe and not have to run any longer. Tsuki lifted her head to the sky and looked at the stars. She would never let anything happen to them.

Kiba followed Tsuki's scent as she led the way across the ice. She did seem to know where she was going, and the going was fairly simple. Hige beside him was silent for once, focusing on anything but Kiba.

"Hige, what are you thinking about?"

"Huh?" the brown wolf turned his head. "I guess I don't really know. I was just kinda thinking."

"Were you thinking about Tsuki? It's not like you to not try to flirt with a female the moment you meet one."

"I would flirt if I didn't have a death wish. She may hate Tsume, but I don't think Tsume would stay quiet if I made any moves. I think he would go berserk and rip me apart. It has been kinda nice seeing him put in his place for once, though."

"I'd love to watch you say that to his face," Kiba chuckled.

"Hahaha, yeah, no. I'm not that stupid."

"So where do you think she's from?"

"Well, it's too warm in the south for her kind. You whites and grays tend to stay up north. So I'd say we are heading back home for her. Tsume too, though I don't know how long it's been for him." Hige shrugged. "But I don't think asking either of them will do any good."

"What about you," Kiba looked over at the brown wolf. "Where are you from?"

"Me, hmmm never really thought about it. As far back as I remember I've lived in that city, or ones near it. I don't really think about before that. You know how scattered we have all gotten. I probably got separated from my pack long ago." Hige smiled and chuckled. "Maybe they ditched me cause I ate too much."

Kiba watched Hige with an indifferent expression. Hige had been on his own, not looking for another pack, not looking for a home or territory? That was strange enough, and that collar of his was suspicious. "What about your collar? Know what that's for?"

"Huh? Oh, no. Guess I got it a long time ago. Why all the questions, Kiba?"

"No reason."

"Right. If it's alright with you I'm gonna run back with the runt. At least his questions come with honest intentions." Hige slowed and moved to the rear. Kiba slowed with him and the two joined Toboe and Tsume silently.

Tsume ran silently beside Toboe. He had never run this route, despite having lived in the north before. The last time he headed south, he had caught a ride on a boat as a human and snuck over. He was completely at a loss here. After a while he noticed the runt was being unusually quiet. "Do you want to slow, Toboe?"

"No, I'm fine."

"Why so quiet, then? I keep having to look down and check on you."

"Oh, no I just have been thinking. I've never been to the north. What's it like there?"

"Well, it's," Tsume paused, "I haven't been there in a long time, so it's different now. You should ask Tsuki, if you really want to know."

"Oh. Okay."

"You can talk to her, she won't mind."

"I don't think she likes me. I think I upset her."

"I don't think she can get mad at a pup, Toboe."

"She yelled at me. I was talking with Hige about Leera, and the old lady. Tsuki got really mad."

"That's not your fault." Tsume noticed that Toboe didn't seem to believe him. "She just, she is hurting right now. She used to live very far up north. Her pack was happy there, and there was no competition from any others. But the humans came to her home and killed her pack. She led them down to my pack and lived with us. The humans came again, and she has been running from humans ever since. They are the ones who have hurt her and made her angry. Don't worry, she'll feel bad in a few days and apologize for yelling at you. She can't stay angry at a pup." Tsume looked up and saw Hige and Kiba coming their way.

"Too bad you aren't a pup, then. Maybe she would be nicer to you then."

"I don't think so. But what I did to her does justify her anger to me. Don't worry about me, though. She won't hurt me."

"Well, maybe if I ask her to be nicer to you, she'll do it for me, since I'm a pup and all!" Toboe was finally coming back around.

"You can try, but I think it would be wasted effort on your part. You just worry about you."

"But we're a pack, Tsume!"

Tsume blinked and looked back at Toboe. "I guess we are. Tired, Hige? Or hungry?" Tsume taunted the fat wolf.

"Just missing your company, honey," Hige taunted back.

Tsume gave Hige a flat stare as Toboe giggled. I guess we really are a pack, Tsume thought to himself.

About half way across Tsuki reached a large chasm. Leaping to the other side she paused to wait. Soon Kiba and Hige appeared, followed closely by Tsume and Toboe. They bunched closer as they approached. Tsume, Kiba, and Hige easily cleared the gap, but Toboe hesitated and stopped.

"Hey, what the hell are you waiting for?" Hige called across. "Are you scared?"

"I was just ready to, alright?" Toboe snapped.

"Getting ready to do what?" Hige muttered.

Tsuki stood and walked to the edge. The quiet of the air was broken by the sound of ice flows moving back and forth. With a yell Toboe ran and jumped, clearing the gap but losing his balance and sliding forward. He crashed into some bones, but to Hige's dismay they were stripped already. Tsuki picked up another bone and examined it while Kiba and Tsume urged the other two onward. The bones were too clean, and after snapping one, not completely frozen yet. They were fresh.

"Stay together from now on. I'm going ahead. Tsume, let me know if anything changes." Tsuki stood and ran past the four. Whatever had gotten the birds had either been in the air, or was able to reach the birds from the ground. Both choices were unsettling. Hopefully by pulling ahead alone she could entice the creature into showing itself, if it was still around.

Nothing moved on land or air, so perhaps they were safe and whatever had come through was already gone. Looking behind her a fog had risen and the others were obscured from view. Passing more bones she reached a drop and slid down slowly. The ice was thinner here, and she would have to be cautious. Her senses overloaded with warning signs and the water beneath the ice pushed up against her feet.

Jumping to the side she snarled as the ice burst beneath her and a huge beast rose from the depths. Huge tusks swung at her and caught her in the side. The air was knocked from her lungs and she landed hard. Stunned she struggled to rise. The walrus swung a large flipper down next to her and shattered the ice. The water engulfed her and she was frozen to the core. She was at a total disadvantage now, and needed to resurface for air.

Swimming upward she tried to spot the walrus. As she looked down quickly she saw it rising fast. It rammed her into the air and out of the freezing water. She tried to right herself, but came down back in the water. This time she was able to breathe in and hold some air. The chill was causing her muscles to slow and the ice flows above her had cemented together. The walrus came at her from the side, and she snapped at it and swung with claws. Her foot slashed across its nose and opened a large gash. Roaring it pulled away and swam down. Frantically, Tsuki scratched at the ice to reach the surface before her breath ran out.

Looking down she saw the walrus coming up again, only this time it wasn't air over her head but a solid sheet of ice.

Hige looked back at the runt again and noticed he had fallen behind. Far behind. He was exhausted, and his arm was still bleeding. To the side of them some ice flows were swaying in the water, but other than that nothing had changed. "Kiba, hold up."

Kiba stopped and looked back. He felt now what Tsume had sensed earlier, and every instinct in his body said run. Nothing appeared threatening around them, but something was wrong. Sniffing, he turned to Tsume. "Tsuki's scent is gone. There's something else, though."

"I know, I think it's down wind. I can't place it. We need to leave this place, now." Tsume was tense and trying to look everywhere at once. He noticed two things, though. One was Toboe collapsing on the ground, panting; the other was the ice here was freshly broken, and water had just frozen over in a few places. "Kiba, it's time to leave."

"Hey runt, you okay over there?" Hige called out and stepped toward Toboe.

"Thanks for asking, I'm just fine," Toboe muttered to himself. Looking at the ice beneath him he felt a rumbling. He tried to stand, but was knocked off his feet. Suddenly the ice broke beneath him and a huge walrus burst through and tossed him in the water. Hige screamed at him to get out of the water and ran to help Toboe as the walrus surfaced once more.

Tsume and Kiba rushed forward and attacked the walrus, giving Toboe and Hige time to move. They were thrown to either side, and Kiba was attacked by the walrus as he was trying to regain his senses. Hige and Tsume rushed to his aid, but Toboe was too stunned to move.

Hige and Tsume were having no effect, and Kiba was crying out in pain as a tusk was driven into his leg. Toboe stared on, and felt something snap within him. Running forward he bit onto the face and hung on as it went back into the water. Clinging to it, he held on as it swam into ice flows and deep under water. It tried one last time to dislodge him, and then sank to the bottom.

Tsuki watched as it got closer and closer, trying to brace herself. Looking up at the ice she noticed a form collapse on the ice above her. "Toboe! Move!" She scratched harder at the ice, trying to warn him. Pushing her paws against the ice, she forced herself away and tumbled off the walrus's back as it burst through the ice. The back flipper caught her and slammed her to the luckily shallow sea floor. Above her she saw the walrus swimming and a small figure in the water.

She swam upward to reach the air when the walrus swam by again, catching her. It angled up with her leg caught in its mouth and burst into the air. It released her as it came down on the large flow and she was thrown across the ice. The force of the landing knocked her out

Tsume watched as the walrus attached Toboe and Hige, and as Kiba ran forward first he noticed a gray shape get tossed from the creature as it landed. The figure was thrown to the far side of a protruding ice flow, but right now he had to focus on Toboe and Hige. Added into the equation Kiba got himself trapped. They were making more than enough noise, and Tsuki should have been coming back to help them, but he didn't see her at all during the fight. Surprisingly, it was Toboe who saved them all.

After Tsume watched Toboe move in to eat, and then with permission ate his own share, Tsume looked at its face. One eye, the eye Toboe attacked was bleeding profusely. The other eye, scarred and sealed shut, had claw marks beneath it that were bleeding as well. Playing the fight back through, he realized none but Toboe had attacked its face. Between two teeth in the walrus's mouth was fur and blood, carrying a distinct smell. "Tsuki!" he jumped back and ran toward where he had seen the gray figure fall.

He rounded the block and stopped, Kiba close behind. Tsuki was curled up against a smaller protrusion. Tsume rushed to her and cupped her bleeding face. She was covered in frost crystals and her breathing was shallow. Her leg was bleeding heavily, and the muscles were torn in a few places. She was unconscious, and without help would die soon.

"Toboe, hurry and get a piece of skin to cover her! Run!" Tsume lay next to her and licked her leg wound. Kiba lay on her other side and lowered his head next to her neck. Hige ran to help Toboe. They returned with a large chunk and following Tsume's instruction laid it carefully over her. Laying down close by they looked on worriedly.

Night fell, and nothing changed. "Tsume, there's nothing we can do now. We need to find Cheza now, and-"

"I won't leave her. You can go on, but I am not going to leave her this time." Tsume wrapped even closer to her and snarled at Kiba.

"Tsume, please" Toboe whined.

"Yeah, if we stay out here not moving we can all end up dead. Just think about her being with your kids, now. Come on," Hige rose to his feet and nudged Toboe to get up too.

Face distorted in pain, Tsume rose slowly. Kiba rose with him and adjusted the skin to cover her again. "Let's go."

Tsuki looked around her and rose slowly. It was warm here, and the field she was in was filled with grass. A breeze pushed past her fur and tingled on her skin. The trees behind her waved gently, losing pine needles to the ground. It was home, and there, over the next hill was her den. She ran to it and stopped. Laughter echoed out of the small cave. "Raidon, Kohana, Kane, Mika…it can't be," she fell to the ground with a sob.

"Mom, no peeking! This is for us only! You can't come in here!" Kohana's small black head peered out and a small pink tongue was stuck in her direction. "You aren't ready yet!"

Tsuki remembered this game. She would have to bring something with her before she would be allowed in. Slowing her breathing, she calmed herself. "And what do I need, then?" Tsuki smiled.

"Papa, of course! You have to bring papa too!" four voices chimed.

"But, but your father-"

"You have to go get him, silly!" Mika barked.

"You just had him, so go find him again," Raidon urged.

"When you found him, come back!" Kane leapt out of the den onto Kohana. "We can wait!"

"Oh but bring dinner too please!" Raidon's voice faded as Tsuki was pulled away. Suddenly it was freezing out, and her leg ached.

I'll be there soon, my darlings, I will, Tsuki sobbed. Rising slowly, she tested her leg. It was beyond repair now, but the cold had stopped the bleeding at least. Looking out, she saw the slowly fading tracks of the others. And I will bring your father next time.

Limping forward, Tsuki started the long journey to catch up with the others.