Ch. 1 Trouble in Paradise

Kiba walked around aimlessly in Paradise. The grass was lush and green. The water was pure and crystal clear and all around him, fat caribou pranced about in an, oh so tempting way. He went for one and brought it down with ease. He looked at his kill.

"This isn’t right." He said aloud. "It usually takes a pack of wolves to bring down a sick one. I took this big healthy bull down all by myself. What’s the point of hunting without the gamble? Where’s the fun in it? I mean, it practically jumped in my mouth and said ‘please eat me!’"

"Tsk, tsk." Said a voice from behind Kiba.

Kiba turned to see Hige sitting on a rock above him.

"2 days in Paradise and you’ve already snapped." The yellow wolf laughed.

Kiba smiled. It was good to see a familiar face.

"Wanna join me, Hige?"

The eager wolf leapt from the rock to his friends’ side.

"I thought you’d never ask!"

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Tsume lay on his back absorbing the warmth of the sun. His legs were up and sprawled open. His lips slowly fell, exposing his fangs. He twitched his tail and moaned in an almost puppy dog manner. Shiloh lay on a rock above him looking down.

"Ya know, from this angle you kinda look like roadkill." She laughed.

Tsume flipped himself over and lifted his head to touch his nose to hers. He looked lovingly into her eyes.

And from any angle, He thought to himself. You’re still the most beautiful wolf in Paradise.

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Toboe and Blue sat near a crystal creek looking at the fish. Blue turned her gaze towards the sky.

"I wish Pops could have seen this."

Toboe nuzzled Blue’s ear gently.

"I know. I wish Grams coulda seen this, too."

Blue looked at Toboe softly. She sighed and put her head between her paws. Toboe thought for a minute, then got up.

"I know. Let’s find Kiba. Hige’s probably with him. And Tsume and Shiloh, too. Being with our friends should cheer us up. What do you say, Blue?"

Blue thought for a moment, then got up.

"Alright. C’mon. I’ll race ya!"

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Cheza sat in the middle of a field of lunar flowers. It was good to be home. Everything was just as it was suppose to be. The lunar flowers had everlasting life, and the wolves were happy. A tiny bird fluttered above Cheza and began chirping a sweet melody. Cheza got up and began to dance. She twirled and laughed.

"You sing beautifully."

Encouraged, the little bird sang louder. Cheza began to spin faster. Soon, she started singing with it. After a while, the little bird flew away. Dizzy, Cheza fell down. She looked up at the sky, then got up.

"This One will go find Kiba."

She turned to leave. As she did, she tripped on a rock and slid down the grassy hill. She opened her eyes when she hit the bottom. She giggled.

"This One must look where she is going!" She laughed.

She went to push herself up when she gasped in horror. She shoved herself up and put her hands over her mouth in shock. It was impossible to hold back the tears. There, before her, lay a dead lunar flower.

Ch. 2

"Kiba’s Problem is Everyone’s Problem"

Kiba and Hige wandered around Paradise, talking. Blue and Toboe joined them.

"It’s not that I don’t like Paradise," Kiba said, "It’s just that there’s no adventure. No excitement. No surprises."

Hige looked at Kiba.

"I think you need a girlfriend, buddy."

Kiba shot an angry look at the yellow wolf.

"That’s not it at all."

Hige rolled his eyes.

"Sure. Whatever you say."

"Hey guys! C’mere!"

The wolves turned to see Toboe looking down at something. The trotted over to see what it was. Kiba gasped when he saw it.

"It’s a dead lunar flower." Kiba said sadly.

"Look! Here’s another one!" Hige called.

"And another!" Blue shouted.

Kiba felt his stomach churn.

What’s going on? Why are the lunar flowers dying?

Kiba turned and ran off. Hige, Toboe and Blue followed.

"Where are you going, Kiba?" Toboe asked.

"To ask Atali why the flowers are dying! He should know."

Tsume and Shiloh lifted their heads when the seen the 4 wolves dash by.

"What’s going on?" Tsume asked.

Shiloh got up.

"I dunno. Let’s go find out."

She leapt after them, Tsume close behind.

Toboe glanced behind to see a familier black and white face and a scarred chest.

"Hi guys!" He called.

"Toboe! Where are you going?" Tsume shouted.

"To talk to Atali about the dying lunar flowers!" Toboe yelled.

Tsume’s eyes widened.

Dying lunar flowers?

Tsume quickly turned to Shiloh.

"This is serious! We need to get to the old wolf fast."

"I’m on it!"

Shiloh quickened her pace and passed Tsume. Toboe looked back. Shiloh was coming up fast.

Oh, no! He thought, Not again!

Before he could object, he felt himself being lifted off the ground. When he was secure, she sped up. She flew past Hige and Blue. She was going at such an incredible speed, it knocked the yellow and black wolf into each other. Hige shook his head.

"What the hell was that?"

"It looked like Toboe was flying!" Blue said in amazement.

Once again, Shiloh was running side by side with Kiba. She was fast, but never fast enough to pass the big white wolf.

Kiba spotted Atali near an old willow tree. Cheza was with him. Kiba slid to a graceful stop. Shiloh, however, wasn’t very graceful at stopping, and slid into the tree. Her face wasn’t hurt. Only her back slammed into the tree. She got up and shook off, forgetting Toboe was still attached. He went flying and landed on his back with a loud thud. Shiloh ran to him.

"I forgot you were up there, runt. You okay?"

Toboe got up cautiously. Nothing was broken.

"I think so." He said. "All you did was slam me into a tree then throw me like an old toy, but I’m just fine."

Shiloh put her paw on the pup’s head and gently licked his face.

"I’m awful sorry, Toboe." She said quietly.

Toboe wagged his tail and laid his ears back submissively.

"I’m okay. Really, I am."

Kiba approached Cheza.

"Cheza."

She looked up, happy to see Kiba. She hugged him tight.

"Kiba. Paradise is in trouble."

Kiba looked at Atali. The old wolf spoke before Kiba was able to.

"Cheza tells me the lunar flowers are dying. Is that what you’ve come to tell me, white wolf?"

Kiba nodded.

"Why are they perishing?"

Atali looked into Kiba’s eyes.

"Do you remember your role in Paradise?"

Kiba thought for a moment.

"Yeah. I think it was Purity."

Atali nodded.

"I appointed you the Purity because, of all the wolves, you were the most determined to make it here. Now, of all the wolves, you are the most determined to leave."

Kiba immediately broke the eye contact. He was ashamed. Atali continued.

"Your once pure thoughts are now clouded with judgment and doubts. Therefore, the once pure Paradise…is dying."

Kiba’s eyes widened.

"What?"

The other wolves, who had arrived a little while ago, gasped in shock.

"Dying?" Toboe asked.

Kiba shook his head.

"No! It can’t be dying! Am I responsible for this?"

Atali’s eyes grew narrow.

"You are."

Kiba backed up. He was shocked beyond belief. He, who worked so hard to get there, was killing Paradise?

"There is a way to save it, however." Atali said quietly.

All the wolves snapped their heads to attention. Kiba stepped forward.

"I’ll do anything."

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Ch. 3

"Holy Matrimony!"

Atali looked at Kiba.

"Anything?" Atali asked.

Kiba nodded. Atali turned his gaze to the sky.

"You must find the Mother of Paradise. She is the heart, soul and life of Paradise."

Kiba tilted his head.

"Is that all?"

Atali wagged his tail slightly.

"It has been arranged since the beginning of time, that you and her are to be mates."

Kiba’s jaw dropped to the ground. His ears twitched.

"Wha-?" He squeaked.

Hige and Tsume chuckled in the background. Kiba tried to stutter out a question, but it wouldn’t come out. Atali answered it for him.

"Yes, I’m serious."

Kiba lost his balance and his consciousness and fell to the ground. When he finally came to, he was outraged.

"Arranged?! How do you assign a wolf a mate?! What kind of sick joke is this? I will pick my own mate, damn it!"

Atali shook his head and turned away.

"My job was to tell you how to save Paradise. It’s up to you to do the dirty work."

Kiba started to pace wildly. He wanted desperately to save Paradise. After all, he did agree to do anything. He sighed heavily and hung his head.

"Where can I find her?" He asked begrudgingly.

Atali laid down and shut his eyes.

"That, I do not know. You must search for her. I assure you, this will be very difficult. She is a white wolf, who is not a white wolf."

Kiba looked up.

"What the hell does that mean?"

Atali tilted his head, (a wolf’s way of shrugging.) Kiba felt anger surge over him. He flinched when he felt Cheza’s hand on his back. She stroked him gently.

"It is alright, Kiba. Don’t get angry. It is not that bad."

Kiba closed his eyes and put his head on her lap.

"Cheza. It’s not fair."

She hugged him close.

"You will love her, Kiba. Believe This One."

Kiba believed Cheza that it wasn’t that bad of a situation. But he didn’t believe her about loving this wolf. But, he would try. For Cheza, he would try. He turned and left.

Cheza followed him, along with the other wolves. Hige stayed for a moment. He looked at Atali.

"Since when did you become the Wisdom of Paradise?"

"The gates were opened. I had nothing else to guard."

Atali held up his head proudly.

"They gave me a promotion!"

Hige wagged his tail.

"Right on, old man!"

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Kaba sat down watching Tsume rolling with laughter.

"Man, are you screwed!" He laughed out.

Kiba growled.

"You think that’s funny, huh Chuckles?"

Tsume continued laughing. Kiba got up.

"You’re coming with me."

Tsume looked up.

"Yeah right! I’m stayin’ here."

"On the contrary," Kiba said, "You and Hige are coming with me."

Tsume got up.

"In your dreams, pal! You wanted adventure. Here ya go! Happy

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