The next morning,Tobu had awoken from his sleep to find that Nex and Shisa were nowhere to be seen.

He got up slowly,thinking that his injuries weren't fully healed,but to his surprise,they were.

"That's good." He thought. "Though I wonder where they could be?"

He snuck A peek outside and saw Shisa and Nex playing together.

"So,Nex took my advice after all......." He said.

He walked out of the den. "Having fun,you two?"

"Tobu. You're awake." Shisa said,getting off her brother.

"I'm glad to see you two getting along."

"So am I." Nex said,getting up. "Hey,listen. If you want breakfast,there's A pile of deer to the west of the den."

"Cool." Tobu took off fast,knowing how hungry he was.

"Shisa,why don't you go join him?"

"Well,...........okay." She followed Tobu,who was already there,eating like there was no tomorrow.

Unlike him,Shisa gently ripped apart the deer's skin and ate.

When Tobu was eating,he took A quick glance at Shisa. Instead of continuing to eat,he lifted his head up and stared at her with his mouth still full.

That strange feeling he felt before came back and it was stronger than ever.

Seeing her eat made him feel kind of.......happy in some sort of way.

He swallowed what was in his mouth,but afterwards,lost his appetite.

"Uh........Shisa,i'll be.........right back. I............need to.......go by the river and.......wash up and.........stuff." He quickly bolted away,faster than he would usually run.

"That's strange." Shisa thought. "Wonder why he's acting so weird?"

___________________________

When he got to the river,Tobu put his head into the water,inhaled,and lifted his head up,coughing.

While panting,he thought,"I don't understand. Why do I feel like this whenever i'm around her?"

He stared at his reflection in the water. "I just don't get it. She's just your average wolf. I don't see why I feel like this."

He stared up at the sky. "It's weird. Everytime we make physical contact,I feel funny. Like,..........when she rubbed against me last night,it felt............kind of good."

The thought of it overtaked his mind and he fell into A peaceful state.

Suddenly,he noticed his heart started to race. He held his paw up against his chest and fell it throb three times harder than it usually did.

"What's wrong me? I'm so confused. I.........." He opened his mouth in realization. "Wait A minute. I've heard of these feelings before..........Yeah. Back when I was with mom and dad......"

__________________________________

*Flashback to three years ago*

"Hey,mom?" The young Tobu asked.

"Yes,dear?" She responded.

"How did you and dad first meet? I've been curious about that for awhile."

She sighed,passionately. "It was so romantic. When your father and I first met,I was being attacked by lone wolves. I wondered into their territory and they hated trespassers more than anything. I was up against A boulder because I felt faint after I had hit my head on A tree when I ran. One of the wolves was about to strike,until another one came out of nowhere and attacked him. They fought hard and violently,trying to outstrengthen one another. Before I could see the result of the fight,I passed out."

"When I came to,I found the same wolf staring at me to make sure I was alright. I stared deeply into his eyes and this feeling overcame me. I could feel myself blushing and I could feel my heart pound. Right then,I knew...........he was the one I was meant to be with."

Tobu smiled. "Wow. That's beautiful,mom."

She blushed A little bit. "Isn't it?"

____________________________

*Back to the present*

Tobu gasped. "Am.........am.........am I..............in love?............With...........Shisa?........"

He thought for A moment. "Well,..........she is kind of pretty,i'll admit. And that explains why I always feel comfortable around her.............That's it. I am in love with her!"

Tobu felt excited. "I'll tell her today. I'll say,..........'Shisa............I love you............will you be my............my.........."

"Mate?" A familiar voice said,in an unpleasant tone.

Tobu turned around and saw Nex slowly come out the bushes,growling with each step.

"Oh.........hey,Nex. What's up?"

"BE QUIET!!" He shouted.

Tobu gasped.

"You listen here,Tobu. No one,and I mean NO ONE becomes mates with MY sister!"

"Well,.......why not?"

"Because if she gets an A relationship,things may go good at first,but later on,that male will break her heart. I won't allow Shisa to suffer that!"

"But,Nex! We talked about this. You said you would stop being overprotective and start being A brother."

"I am being A brother. And brothers............" He got into A leap position. "Don't let their sisters get in A relationship WITH A MUTT LIKE YOU!!"

He lunged at Tobu and began biting his head. Tobu kicked him off of him.

"What's with you,Nex?! Why do you always act crazy when your sister's involved in something?!"

"SHUT UP!" He raked Tobu's back and shoved him into the river. "None of what I do is any of your business! I'm her brother and i'm the only one who knows what's best for her!"

He went at his throat and began crunching on it with A tight grip. Tobu tried to get him off,but his lack of oxygen didn't give much force.

Nex swung him and threw into A tree.

Tobu gagged. "Nex,.....if you don't want me to mate with her.........then I won't."

"Oh,it's too late for that! You say you'll back off,but your feelings will come right back. As long as you still have her on your mind,then I have no choice,but to KILL YOU!!!!"

Nex injured Tobu A lot,such as scratching his eyes,biting his body,almost tearing up his ears,etc.

Tobu breathed heavily. "You.............you monster!" Tobu gagged loudly and blood came out of his mouth.

Nex laughed insanely. "Now to get rid of you FOR GOOD!" He went full force towards Tobu.

Weak from the older wolf's attacks,Tobu couldn't help,but close his eyes and wait for his death.

He thought he deserved it for being the cruel wolf he was to everyone around him and being selfish.

When Nex was close to attacking,Shisa attacked him.

Tobu opened eyes. "Shisa......." He gagged.

"Nex,what on earth are you doing?!"

"Shisa,stay out of this! This is between me and him!" Nex shoved his sister aside,but she got back up and pinned him down.

"Brother,look what you have done to Tobu. Why did you do that? I thought you two were friends!"

"That was BEFORE I knew he was after you!"

"What do you mean?"

"Forget it!" He took her neck with his teeth and threw her into the river like he did Tobu.

"Nex.............." Shisa said in horror. "How could you?"

"SHUT UP! You should be grateful! I wasted my time raising you and you repay me by being A stupid girl!"

Shisa was sadden. "Brother,you don't mean that....."

"Yes,I do! Now be quiet while I kill your 'friend'!"

"NOOOO!" Shisa jumped on his back and pushed him against the tree.

"SHISA!! HOW DARE ATTACK YOUR OWN BROTHER?!!" He screamed.

Shisa raised her paw and extracted her claws. "You............AREN'T MY BROTHER!!!!!!"

She dug her claws into his throat and pushed it deep inside,causing him to gag and have blood come out.

She took her other set of claws and dug them into the left side of his chest (his heart).

Nex tried to scream,but he kept gagging from her claws in his throat. Blood began to spew from his chest and then............................Nex's eyes rolled into the back of his head and he fell to the ground.