Tsume was angry with Hige for slowing them down, he was angry with Kiba for not telling them where they were heading, he was angry at himself. His words had been wrong, and he had no right picking fights now. He was so frustrated. Beside him Tsuki was limping and panting slightly. Her leg was never going to heal properly, the damage too severe, and the burns from Jagura were red and swollen.

Snarling he stared back down the road. "Tsume, don't be afraid, we will find paradise. I can sense the tree." Cheza whispered in his arms. Her small hand pressed against his face and she smiled.

Tsume snorted, but kept his eyes on the road. He had spent so long trusting himself, he didn't know if he could trust any other. Tsuki stumbled next to him and collapsed. "Kiba, take Cheza," Tsume held out the flower maiden gently.

Kiba stepped forward and held Cheza. He watched as Tsume lifted Tsuki and started walking again. Pausing, Kiba waited for Toboe and Hige to catch up.

Tsume moved slowly so as not to hurt Tsuki further. "Stay awake, Tsuki. Don't go to sleep yet."

"I'm sorry, I'm so tired. Can we take a break?"

"Talk about our children. Tell me everything. Just keep talking." Tsume forced her to walk beside him.

"Our children. Mika, and Raidon, and," she paused.

"Kane," he prompted.

"Kane, and Ko-Kohana. Yes, Kohana. You should have seen them. They were so smart, and they would have defended each other to the death." Tears fell from her eyes and a sob choked her voice. "They did."

"Tell me, from the beginning."

"After the humans came, and you left, the pack left. There were five of us, then, and the pups. But there was no where we could go. The other packs had left, too. So I took our children and found a small village to live in. I heard from the others once, and then they were gone too.

"We did what we could to survive, but we had to move," she coughed weakly, "we had to move from place to place. The children were getting tired, and wanted to find one home. But someone would find us and we would have to run. Finally, we met a human who took us in. She gave us shelter, and food. Her family knew what we were, but they kept us safe. Her name was Jagura, the same Jagura who became a murderer. She was different, kind, then. She wanted to help us, and give all wolves a safe home. But when her younger sister stole the heart of her love, she changed.

"Jagura became hateful, and angry. She blamed the wolves, because Darcia avoided us and we were always near her. So she began experimenting on the wolves and keeping them in cages. I knew none of this, until I found the cages.

"I confronted her, and she told me that she was making them her bait for other wolves, and she was looking for the one who would open paradise for her. I had been the one to tell her of paradise, a mistake I regret. She said that it was difficult to cage mature wolves, and that she was grateful to me for bringing her my pups. She was going to teach them to be perfect pets and bait, like she did to Hige. I couldn't let her do that, even with her offers of safe haven and immunity from wolf hunts.

"I took our children and ran, and they were angry with me and Kane even left us for a short while. He returned, of course, after word reached us of Jagura's mandate against wolves. We hid in a village across the Sea of Floating Ice, trying to stay out of her reach. She found us, of course.

"When Jagura discovered where we were hiding, she sent soldiers in to rouse the townspeople. The people were afraid, and attacked us. Our children were killed, one by one, before me. I was helpless to do anything. Jagura herself watched from her airship, then took me back to her keep. She wanted to show me all that she had, and teach me to not defy her.

"I was able to escape, but only after vowing to see her destroyed. I despised all humans, and took from them what I needed. I even killed the ones who were in my way. I roamed from town to town looking for the Book of the Moon. I wanted to find paradise, and watch as she was never let in. I would never let that happen." Tsuki fell silent, now.

"I'm sorry, for leaving." Tsume whispered.

"Do you know what the worst part of everything was? Everyday the children would ask what happened to papa, and when was he coming back? What you did made it impossible for us to seek haven with another pack. No one would have taken us in. I blamed you for everything that happened. I hated you, and decided to never allow you near us. But fate had a different idea, and our children are waiting for us in paradise. I can't hate you, not when all our children want is for our family to be whole again. I can forgive you, now."

"I can never forgive myself, though. I will stay beside you, now. No more running. No more hiding." Tsume shifted his weight to better support her. "No more regrets."

Toboe watched as Kiba took Cheza from Tsume. Tsume and Tsuki then moved away and began talking about something. Toboe was curious, but it wasn't his business. He focused on making sure Hige kept up, now. "Hige, I'm sure Blue needed to leave. She wouldn't just run away. And Pops is hurt, now. He's her father, so she needs to help him. I'm sure we'll find them."

"Thanks, Toboe, but I don't want to talk now. Can we just walk?" Hige's eyes were focused on the ground, face blank. His wound was still bleeding, but he wouldn't accept any help from any of them.

Toboe fidgeted, trying to keep silent, but his mind was working too fast. "I wonder what they are talking about. Do you think it's about paradise and Cheza?"

"Toboe, please," Hige whispered.

"Sorry," Toboe lowered his head. He watched as Tsume and Tsuki finished talking and fell silent. They walked in silence, the only noise was gasping from Hige and Tsuki.

Hige stumbled beside Toboe and fell. "Hige, hang in there," Toboe urged.

Tsuki and Tsume paused. Tsume moved closer to Hige in case he needed to help the fallen wolf. Tsuki caught an unfamiliar scent and turned. A black figure was running toward them, calling out.

"Hige!"

Hige rose and ran to her with a gasp. A car appeared behind her and the blonde woman climbed out. The group paused and Cheza was carried gently inside. Hige climbed into the back, where an old man was lying down, at Blue's insistence.

"Go, climb in. Save your strength," Tsume lifted Tsuki into the car as well. "Keep her awake, Blue. I don't care what you have to do." Tsume told Blue.

"Alright," Blue nodded and jumped in. Tsume shut the door and they began moving. The remaining wolves ran beside the car at a quick pace

Tsuki tried to sleep in the car, but Blue kept nudging her awake. It was silent in the back. The three wolves bounced gently as they took what rest they could. The old man remained unconscious. Suddenly the car shook and began to swerve.

Tsuki grunted as she slid into the back door. Her leg got caught under her and she cried out in pain. The next thing she knew, she was on her side with the old man on top of her, Hige and Blue on top of him. The weight was crushing down on her, and she struggled to free herself. Hige opened the door and the two crawled out. They pulled the man off her. She began crawling out as she heard a crack and the entire car began to fall. She leapt forward but felt herself falling.

Kiba ran beside Tsume and Toboe. The car was fast, but the man kept a pace the wolves had no trouble keeping up with. Kiba kept an eye on Toboe, but the pup seemed fine. He had changed, was stronger and faster, than when he had first met Toboe. And Tsume was more open, and lent his strength where it was needed. Both had grown. Kiba would need both of them, when paradise was opened. He would need all of the wolves, even Blue.

He could hear faint voices from inside the car as the two humans talked. Kiba knew that they would not make it, but was impressed with the way they were willing to keep going. He looked up as a speck flew through the sky and exploded in the distance. The shockwave hit them and the wolves leapt out of the way as the car swerved. He watched in fear as it rolled onto its side and came to a grinding halt at the edge of a cliff.

"Tsume, get Cheza!" Tsume was the faster sprinter, and would reach her before Kiba could. "Toboe, come with me to help Hige and the others," he barked.

Toboe grunted and they sped toward the back of the car. Toboe peeled to the side to help Hige and Blue with Pops. Kiba reached out to help Tsuki out when the edge cracked and began to fall away. Tsuki was looking at the ground and tried to leap out of the car. Kiba lunged forward to grab her, and barely caught her. He could feel her slipping from his grasp.

"Toboe," he cried through clenched teeth.

The runt was there beside him and grabbed her other side. They pulled her away from the edge and back to safety. The human woman, though, fell with the car. Slowly, they made their way to the bottom of the cliff to where she lay. Hubb ran to her and held her.

The wolves watched from a few feet away. Kiba took Cheza from Tsume, and in turn Tsume took Tsuki from him. Her leg was bleeding again from the crash and she had a few minor cuts added to her scars. He held her as they watched the woman pass on and the man grieve.

Hubb placed the woman's body into the water and let her go. The wolves watched as he tried to push the car over. Tsuki watched first Kiba, then Tsume, then the rest go to help him. Together they were able to roll the machine.

"You're gonna to keep going right?" The man leaned against the car.

"Yeah," Kiba watched the man.

"I'm coming with you. I don't know for how long, or how far I can go. But I'll make sure you get there, no matter what it takes."

The group continued on.