Poisoned Rain
What would it have been like if Hige and Blue really had left the pack and no one died? Now the two wolves must live with their decision as they continue to wonder if the others ever made it to Paradise. Or if it even existed. Suddenly, the five meet up again, each bearing different news and new feelings.
Chapter One
Where They Are Now
Two wolves traveled through snow encrusted land. It was just the two of them, but they were growing tired. They had been moving around for a while now, and, at first, they had been content with their new lifestyle.
One wolf, Blue, trailed further behind her partner, and she had to push herself to make even one step. Finally, she could not move any farther. She let out a high-pitched whimper, alerting her mate to stop. The brown wolf swung around and obediently trotted back to his mate.
"What's wrong, Blue? Are you tired?" Hige almost added again but then decided it wasn't worth the glare he would receive and the fight that would ensue, even if it would last for only a few moments.
"I'm sorry, Hige, I just can't keep up anymore." The bluish wolf had taken the form of a female human now and she leaned warily against a tree. "I want to keep going, but I can't." Her voice was soft, and Hige couldn't be annoyed with her.
He sat down next to her, a human now as well. "It's okay; we've been traveling for a couple hours now. Maybe we should get some food." He looked excited now. Hige couldn't resist food.
Blue couldn't help but chuckle a bit. "Ugh. Well if you must, go ahead." She smiled at the cheeky boy and nudged him with her shoulder.
"Thanks, Blue!" Hige said, jumping up and taking off. He hit the ground at a run. As a wolf. He barked a quick goodbye, but then was gone from view.
Blue watched his fading form, and with a sigh, leaned back further. She closed her eyes, but couldn't keep them like that for very long. The eyes flickered open again and they were a deep sea-blue. They searched for the sky, but couldn't see it through the canopy of trees.
Hige. She loved him. She really did. He was all she had left and she would follow him anywhere. Hige had become depressed after discovering his forgotten past and lonlieness had entered his heart when he found out he had was the last to survive. The last to not be stuffed and mounted for Jagura to admire.
But was leaving the answer? The other three had been such close friends, but Hige had told her a thousand times that he was happy to be with her. After a while, he had admitted that he did miss friends, but requested that Blue stopped bringing them up. Blue had shut up after that, but the guilt never left her.
Why did she care anywhere? None of them were actually interested in getting to know her like Hige had, and Blue couldn't blame them for that. She had spent months hunting the wolves down. She was a clueless dog back then.
Breathing out slowly, Blue lifted her head and saw Hige trotting back to her. A small rabbit dangled from his jaws. Blue had to admit, that guy had a nose.
The strong wolf tossed the rabbit in front of her before tearing into it. Blue fell upon it as well, now in the form of a wolf. They ate ravenously until there was only a few bones left. Hige promptly picked one up and settled down, gnawing on it.
Blue saw her chance and jumped forward, snatching the bone from him. She stepped back, dancing around and wagging her tail. Hige growled, playing his part, and stood up, barreling over to Blue. He fastened his teeth to one end and tugged. Unfortunatly, the bone was very small and snapped in two almost instantly. Blue tossed her piece to the ground, but still wanted to play. She slapped her paws on the ground, wagging her tail again to each side.
Hige dropped his piece and ran towards her. Blue jumped back to avoid him and the two started a ritual. Blue danced around, while Hige tried every trick he knew to 'tag' her. Finally, Hige feined left and jabbed Blue off her paws. He fell down on her, nuzzling her sweet-smelling fur.
Blue rolled over onto her back, gazing up at him with those blue eyes. Hige stared back down, caught in her gaze. He bent down, both humans now, and pulled her up to him. She obliged, but passed up the opportunity for a kiss by instead dropping her head on his shoulder. Hige didn't protest; simply scooped her up with his arms and pulled her closer to his chest.
The two wolves remained like this for a while, until slowly they shifted to the ground, lying on their sides. They fell asleep just as a new snowfall began.
Blue was the first to wake up, and standing, shook the snow from her pelt. She took her bearings, but then leaned over and licked her mate's ear. He twitched, but was awake soon. He stood up, licking her muzzle before removing the snow from his pelt as well.
Blue had requested that they wait for the right to moment. When they had a house and constant supply of food. Already the rabbit seemed so far away.
"We'll make it, Blue, we always will."
The voice surprised her and a quick check revealed Hige looking his sincerest. Blue bit her lip, but nodded. Hige was already turning away, a curious look now on his face. "When I was hunting yesterday, I noticed that this place looked… familiar. I don't know why; searching for Paradise we never stopped off here. But somehow, I feel like their just around the corner!"
He broke off, already racing, with Blue trying to keep up. He rounded corner after corner but no other wolves were seen. His pace slowed finally and he stared out at a cliff, his head hanging.
Blue approached warily, and, still wolf, rubbed her body against his. "I'm sorry, but their probably many miles away. Or-or in Paradise."
Hige shook his head impatiently, but relaxed under her touch. "I never really understood Paradise, or how it worked. Maybe that's why I could never believe."
"But at least you knew." The gray wolf pointed out. "By the time I heard of it, I really don't know what to believe. It was too late for me. Besides," she went on, "I doubt a wolf hybrid would be accepted."
"Blue!" Hige hissed, hearing the bitterness enter her voice. "We have each other. Otherwise, we wouldn't be here. Otherwise, we would have no purpose for going on."
"True enough." She replied with a good natured laugh, though it was a short one. "Come on. We've been moving this long, so we must be searching for something. Now we just figure out what 'something' is."
Hige gazed at Blue, longing in his own eyes. Could she have said anything more perfect? She always knows just what to say, and how to say it. The brown wolf gave a short nod.
They would carry on because they wanted to, not because they had to.
Two wolves trekked through frost-bitted land all day and well into the night before they stopped again. They felt a sense of purpose now- a reason to keep going. They liked this new feeling, and so, kept walking. They weren't in a hurry, but they didn't want to be lazy either. After all, Paradise had a new meaning now.