Chapter 3

Lunar Promises

Hearing her name on his tongue; it was hard to listen to.

Regardless, Daisuke continued to speak out about the prior events that led him to venture out towards the eastern sector. His lands. Kouga felt his foot uncontrollably tap against the hardened ground so much in fact that his toes were beginning to dig wells into the dirt. The anxious tick took a familiar place against the skin of his hairline. A twitch vibrating through the corners of his eyes as his fingernails pressing deep into the skin of his arm.

Damn. Shit. Fuck.

The curses were inevitably flooding in.

It was a long moment before he took the time to cut into the conversation as most of the questions came bouncing from each beta towards the commander in front of them. Kouga found it difficult to collect his thoughts. The wolf leader found himself suppressing a rather odd and unusual feeling deep within his gut. Panic? Definitely not. This was just Ayame throwing a tantrum.

Yeah. He'd find her and she would be fine. Absolutely fine.

Rotten pain in my ass fuckin' brat.

"Well, just sittin' here just talkin' about looking for her ain't gonna ain't gonna get us anywhere." He responded with a grunt as he pushed off from his perch against the mountain wall. "From everything ya just said ya don't know shit all about where she was headed. Or if she was headed anywhere at all."

Slight irritation was hard to miss as it flashed over his serpent-colored eyes. Daisuke raised his head to address the leader in front of him; an exasperated groan ripping through his lips. "And what do you suggest?" He asked as he got up from his place and crossed the empty space between them. "We take a hike down and start walking around in circles praying that she eventually just shows up? Drops from the sky?"

Daisuke ignored the glare continuing to speak.

"If we want to get her back safe. We actually need a plan."

"You. You are the one that needs a fuckin' plan. Ya smug fucks in the north are the ones that are supposed to keep tabs on yer precious little princess, not me." His voice bellowed out in a snarl. The sound itself echoing deep through the walls of the den. The men stayed quiet; albeit close enough to eavesdrop however they could. Since after Naraku, this was by far the most interesting thing to grace the eastern mountain tops.

"I told ya exactly what happened. She found me. SHE started the fight and she chose to leave. She didn't say anything about why she was here or where she was going." This whole thing was getting out of hand. The more the words fell, the more Kouga felt as if he was trying to reassure himself rather than Daisuke. It wasn't his fault. Ayame was the one to blame. Creating chaos where ever she could over the littlest inconvenience and as always; he was left to clean up after her.

"One would think if the Elders decided to do anything right, it would be to keep their princess fucking safe." He couldn't stop that backhanded remark even if he wanted to.

A lesser man would have broken into an all-out brawl at this point but Daisuke held Kouga's gaze for an elongated moment; the commander trying to gauge if the man in front of him was actually serious or not. "You don't know, do you?" He let the words roll off his tongue after he could only confirm the answer to his own question by Kouga's dumbfounded look.

"Of course not." Daisuke was starting to get impatient with the Eastern Leaders idiocy, which was quite obvious when his eyes practically rolled to the back of his head. "You're the Leader that doesn't so much as acknowledge the multitude of summons sent for you."

"Know what?" Kouga growled back. His eyes sending a side glare to both Ginta and Hakkaku as if they were intentionally withholding information from him. Both betas looked almost as confused as he did. Both sets of hands flying up while the boys insisted in not knowing anything.

Kouga scoffed turning back to Daisuke. "Those lazy fucks," the counsel, "send summons all the fucking time. Whats the big deal now?" Granted, as the statement left his lips there was no way he could have prepared for what the Commander was about to say.

"The Elder Chief is dying."

It was a hard silence that followed.

Both Kouga and the other wolves could only take the moment to watch him with astonished expressions. His words hanging heavily in the air above them. The silence so great you could practically hear the tiniest stone drop. Ginta was the first to break it; his shoulders slumped and his eyes peering softly through the minimal light of the cave. "W-what do you mean?" He asked, an almost hesitant voice.

Daisuke turned to him. "He fell ill the last full moon. Whether it was something he ate, or a sickness from the cold. Nobody knows for sure but his body isn't recovering. He keeps getting worse as the days drag on." He switched his tone; his form now turning to face the Eastern Leader head on.

"That's the only reason Ayame was able to slide under their grasp. The only reason she was able to make the journey here, alone, once again. I insisted on escorting her, but… She insisted. She wanted to talk to you by herself." Another pause and to a certain degree Kouga felt it was worse than the first. "It was a trip she had done multiple times before… She was supposed to come right back."

His words near the end admitted a defeat Kouga himself was too proud to express. Daisuke would never openly speak but his tone was all it took to express that he took full responsibility for Ayame's situation. He took a quick inhale before addressing Kouga again; calming down his voice. "Did she say anything? Anything about where she might go or what she was doing? Please."

Please.

Something about the wolf princess had reduced the youkai in front of him to begging. Despite everything he claimed Kouga couldn't help but feel slightly curious as to what the relationship between the two of them was. The leader paused before answering; pushing the thoughts he had about Daisuke and Ayame aside.

"No." He finally spoke, honestly spoke while clicking his tongue on the back of his teeth. "She needed help but left before she said anythin' more about it. I uh… wish I had more to tell ya."

He felt guilty; guilty for ignoring the summons and guilty for not listening to her when she came to talk. It was only a matter of time before the Elder Chief fell ill considering the wolf was old as all hell. But, at the same time it was common knowledge that Ayame's grandfather was the only remaining family member she had left. Without him, she would be completely alone.

Alone to face the wrath of the tribes.

"W-what about the other men up north? Surely, she talked to someone up there." It was Hakkaku that spoke up this time. Trying if anything to offer some sort of optimistic advice towards Daisuke and Kouga. They both regarded him with a blank stare. "I just mean Ayame's a girl a-and they like to talk so I…"

Kouga being the first to look at Daisuke and wait for his answer.

"Ayame has been keeping to herself in light of the current circumstances as well as most of her time was spent at the Chiefs bedside. I did talk to the other women kept at the den but they didn't seem to know much of anything. It was hard to gain information without inciting a panic…" He drifted silently into his own thoughts.

He was a hard man to read; this Daisuke.

"There was one person…" He started as his gold eyes flashing with low with interest. To save himself the scrutiny of their questions he started his next statement with more explanation. "Each tribe has been sending some of their members to help with security up in the North. One member…" An unnecessary pause in his voice. "A beta from the southern tribe; he had a conversation with her the night before she came out here…"

"And?" To say Kouga's voice sounded impatient was an understatement.

Daisuke failed to mask the slight look of unease washed over his face as he continued.

"He's a bit… difficult to talk to. He's kept very secure by the Counsel and only a few approved members of the North are allowed in contact with him." The inflection in the Commanders voice might have piqued the curiosity of the wolf leader had the subject been different. Instead, he was met with raw irritation.

"What the fuck does that have to do with anything? Ya never said a word to 'em?!"

"Not many." Daisuke looked back at him with a glare. "Judging by your reaction I doubt you are aware of the rumors that circle around the south."

"I know the rumors," he challenged back. "I just don't give a fuck about them."

"Well, you should." He interjected. "It makes getting next to either Rokurou, or his beta, Kiba next to impossible. It was difficult enough but I managed to exchange some words with him. Kiba that is. "

He didn't give Kouga or his betas a chance to interrupt as Daisuke continued.

"He didn't say much; just some odd joke about a stupid old flower legend." He shrugged rolling his eyes. "It wasn't even worth the effort of seeing him."

"You mean the 'iris' flower? The one that blooms in the snow?" Kouga followed suit with Daisuke; rolling his eyes when Ginta spoke out. Leave it to his fruity ass to be the one that paid attention to the old ramblings of wives and mothers.

Daisuke nodded and it was Hakkaku that spoke next.

"Everyone knows that ya need water to grow flowers." He snorted in Ginta's direction; the grey-haired beta in turn trying to hide his red cheeks from embarrassment. "Besides, they also say that its roots possess healing powers strong enough to close a gaping wound; to restore youth to the old, and life to the dead. I've never met a plant that can do any of those things."

He kept rambling; but the more he spoke the further away his voice became. Kouga knew of the legend as well. He had heard it time and time again from his mother when he was just a small pup.

The magical iris flower; it was the same one Ayame kept in her hair. Now, did he believe the legends that he heard? Not overly. Most of the stories were made up from old elders who told them to sick children as a method of comfort. Growing up he chose not to believe in that kind of magic. Mostly because of spiritual properties; if a kind of flower like that did exist the likelihood that it would aid someone of his kind was slim to none.

However, he did know of a girl that had dreams plagued of lunar rainbows. To her, a magical flower was well worth it. Especially with the Elder Chief in such bad condition; Kouga knew in that moment exactly where Ayame was going to be.

"Ginta. Hakkaku." He addressed them curtly. "Do what you need to do to prep the tribe for our absence and once they are in a good place, I need ya to haul yer asses out to the north." Insert a groan in unison from the both of them. "Do what you can to support the Elder Chief. But more importantly, keep a lookout in case Ayame decides to show the fuck up. And if she does, send word immediately."

A quick turn to Daisuke before he continued.

"The legend says the stupid flower can be found in the heart of the north mountains." Where it was the coldest naturally. The thought had him cursing Ayame under his breath. "If ya feel like keepin' up we can make it there by nightfall."

"That's a three-day trip Kouga!" Again, the duo kept the unison going; both betas gaping at the recklessness of their leader.

"If it's for Lady Ayame. I will do whatever I can." Daisuke was already on his feet walking towards the exit. When he fell in line with Kouga, his yellow eyes spared a wayward glance back the betas behind him before turning towards the leader himself. "I have to be honest; I didn't expect you to believe a story like that…"

"I don't," Kouga snorted in response. "But you wanna bet she fucking does. Probably took off after she was done here too." He walked out of the mouth of his cave and pointed his finger towards a distant cluster of mountains. "We will take the path on the eastern side. That's the easiest way she would have gone." His voice was intentionally calm and clear. The deep-rooted anxiety he felt at the bottom of his stomach was quickly pushed aside. His feet planting quickly along the hardened dirt beneath him.

"The longer she stays missing the worse it will be." Daisuke agreed while turning back to give one more nod towards Ginta and Hakkaku. "Thank you both. We will see you back at the Chiefs den in a few days."

"W-wait?! What if something happens up there? How will we know to help?" Ginta's words left his lips too late. Both his leader and the Commander had already taken off down the mountain leaving the remaining wolves in a cloud of kicked up dust. His eyebrows furrowed; the weight of his worry hanging heavily on his shoulders. Hakkaku crossed over. His darkened eyes stealing a glance before looking out in the distance.

"He won't come home without her," he reassured, all the while shooting a soft smile in his companion's direction. Ginta subtly nodded while a quiet 'I know' breathed out in response. He kept his gaze forward even as Hakkaku continued to speak.

"And if he dies, we probably don't have to run anymore."

His expression was all Ginta needed to convey that he did not find the comment funny.

-Ren-

Blood.

A rather fair amount to be exact.

Granted, winter was never an easy time to keep track of trails like this alongside the icy mountain slopes. Most often any scent, prints, or indents of any kind would be silently lost in the powerful unforgiving touch of the snow. Still, three wolves gathered round. Their curious eyes taking in the sight before them. Streaks of blood raking through the frozen gravel like finger nails. Perfect lines preserved in the ice.

One wolf spoke up. His voice echoing in the frozen passageway.

"Oi, Ren. Are ya coming to check this out or what?"

A swig from a bottle and a lazy 'nah' from his lips indicated that the taller male in question had no intentions of moving anywhere. His form promptly resting against the snowy bank located closer to the caves entrance. The one that spoke rolled his eyes before dipping down to his knees; his fingertips brushing the snow off of the blood-soaked earth.

"Looked like someone tried to cover it up." He remarked, exchanging a look with his fellow comrades. The other on the left spoke up while his form leaned forward as well to insight a better look. "Probably a youkai attack. Them fuckin' baboons have been gettin' nasty with winter comin'. Dumbass' no doubt worried about starvin' to death."

"Baboons ain't gonna try coverin' shit all. 'Sides I ain't ever seen 'em fuck heads using rocks and shit. More fangs and claws if anythin'." Another swig from his bottle the other dark-haired man still showed no signs of moving. He didn't bother addressing the idiocy of the statement regarding the screechy bastards that shared a mountain with them. He had since slid down the wall and now parked his own ass on the floor. He leaned back real casual like with one arm resting on top of his head and another propped up on his knee.

"Rock? What rock?" The first wolf asked his eyebrow furrowing.

"One behind fuckface." He waited until all three of them started turning before he let out a condescending snort. The sound of his voice echoed mockingly down the tunnels of the icy mountain. He promptly ignored their frowning faces as he pointed a lazy finger in the direction behind the middle wolf. When the wolf turned he saw the stone laying there; blood soaked, and stuck frozen to the ice-cold ground.

"Real nice," tall one responded with a flat look. "Ya pick that out with yer good eye?"

"Better than both of yers." Ren mused smirking in his comrades direction.

Prick was the next thing to echo inside the cave. The wolf in the middle, the shorter of the three, was the first to actually bend over to pick it up. His darkened eyes flashed with a soft curiosity as he inspected the stones side.

"Looks real faded," he started with a tone much softer than the rest. "Not much of a scent really, and it... it looks like it was washed too. Something-," or someone as Ren's voice so rudely interrupted from the other side of the cave wall. "-Or someone's tryin' real hard to cover it up." He took an inhale with his nose in another attempt to source anything out of the trail but it was like the scent had long ago died. The only thing left behind was the lingering notes of metal, mixed in with wet rock and burnt wood.

"Well if it ain't baboons, who be doin' shit like this?" The other chimed in again while he leaned over to take a closer look.

"Ya'll be pretty dumb if ya think that 'boons n us are the only things crawlin' 'round these parts." A quick exchange of looks among the trio before they allowed all three gazes turn towards the rough sound of Ren's voice. He rolled his eyes in regards to their blatant ignorance. Turning his form over he stumbled to his feet and tossed his now empty booze bottle into deep set pile of snow in the corner.

He approached them. His features exposed by the light of the torch that resided in his comrade's hand. Getting nearer; he started to squint from the hot light burning into his gaze. He cursed and out of habit he instantly brought the palm of his left hand over the patch that covered his right eye.

"What do ya wanna do?" The voice came from the middle one again. The tone still much more quiet than the rest of his brothers. Ren blinked before taking the rock into his grasp; his fingers effortlessly twisting it in his hand. He took a moment there, a pause, before swinging it back and resting the large stone on the brunt of his shoulder.

"C'mon man," he urged again clearly not pacified with the lack of response from the wolf that he addressed. "We could be havin' some psycho on our mountain. We need to do something."

"We don' need to do anythin'." That was the only response he bothered to make while Ren proceeded to turn around with the rock in toe. He kicked the bottle again; this time the glass rolled down towards the fork in the tunnel passageway. He took down the cave making sure to stick along the left side as did the bottle in front of him. Ren didn't even bother to look back when the other wolves took his leave and began to follow.

"The cold will probably take care of 'em. If that blood doesn't attract anything. Then in that case they are probably at the bottom of a stomach by now." A broken toothy grin from the wolf that hung out on the left side. The only one who took notice of the worried expression on the smaller wolfs face and bothered to offer some semblance of comfort with his words.

The shorter wolf smiled a bit. But it was wiped clean off his face at the sound of Ren snorting once again. The taller male beside the two spoke up this time.

"Where are ya takin' that rock? Even you ain't demented enough to keep that kind of a souvenir," he sneered in response. Following the trail through to the left of the fork just as Ren had in front of him.

Ren shrugged slightly before twisting his head to give the three wolves an obvious look.

"It's fer when ya keep runnin' yer mouth and I need to smartin' ya up." He alluded the obvious question; leaning on his crude humor and sarcasm as his defensive lifeline. "'Sides, the faster we get this to the 'boss' the faster we get out of this fuckin' cold."

The four wolves proceeded to hike down the icy tunnel; not another word was spoken about the stone stained with princess blood.

Disclaimer: I do not own the rights for these characters.

All intents are for entertainment only.

I will update as fast as my small child and my art of procrastination allows.

Hope you enjoy.