Wolf's Rain Two: Part 5

The White Wolf

Lying out in the cold snow was a bundle of white fur. Ice blue eyes looked up at the black sky. Good, night had fallen. Rowan could get a move on now.

A lean white wolf stood up and shook snow from her pelt, a silver chain around her neck clinking, then began trotting out into the night, head high and tail up. This female was quite different from others, she was feared by many males and humans as well. Known for her temper, Rowan was usually avoided without a second thought.

But her reputation was left behind in the city. She was in the wilderness now, and would have yet to prove herself to whatever lived here. Rowan was ready for the challenges that awaited her.

She kept walking for quite a while, eyes narrowed against the occasional blast of wind. She had already been traveling. She didn't know what she was looking for, but something kept pulling her towards somewhere. Though it was taking Rowan in circles half the time, she trusted it. Finding food easily was the reward for going where the wind took her.

About a week and a half later, following her instincts paid off.

Rowan was walking along a scent trail she had just picked up, and then carefully stalked towards it on light, soft paws so not to be heard. Making sure she was downwind, the white wolf sped up a little.

She spotted three wolves huddled up behind a boulder that blocked the wind from hitting them. One was grey, the other the same but a bit smaller, and...Her lip curled. That little annoying furball who went by the name of Toboe.

He looked a little stronger than what he had when she met him, but she'd already detected his sickness then. Toboe smelled healthier, and of a pack, though only three wolves were present.

Rowan tipped her head slightly, ears pricking. Wolves who deserted their pack for their own worries? She liked that idea. Maybe he wasn't so bad after all.

And besides, though Rowan tried to ignore it, the idea of having friends tugged at her as well. She never really had a family before...Shaking her head, she pushed the thought away.

Once these wolves woke up, they'd know they were tresspassing on her new territory. With that, Rowan padded off to mark her new borders.

They were waking up near dawn. Rowan was seated on a boulder in their full view, just where they would try to head when they began to move. Her plan was she would stop them at that point, demand why they were on her new territory.

It was lame for her to do all that just so she could see if it truely was the same Toboe, but it didn't waste any of her time, so she didn't care.

The massive, scarred grey yawned and lifted his head, then sat up. After he stirred, so did the others. A smaller, lighter framed but similar grey-blue stood up, tail wagging already. She seemed young, full of energy, but not trained in the fighting ways of a wolf. The red one sat up and blinked, looking around. He would be a lesser challenge than the oldest grey, but more than the younger one.

Rowan, trying to ignore it, was a little impressed by the oldest wolf's muscles. Shaking her head to clear it yet again, she stood up on the boulder yards away from the wolves.

The grey-blue was the first to notice. Her fangs bared and she snarled. "Another wolf!" Immediately her commrades turned around and looked at Rowan with growls on their faces.

Rowan merely flicked an ear, face dry and eyes narrowed. Standing, she jumped off the boulder and made her way towards them, fur bristling, but not too much. "You're on my territory," She halted infront of them.

The red wolf curled his lip. "It wasn't yours yesterday." Rowan turned to the younger wolf, hackles rising.

"Well it is now, kid." She snarled, white fangs glistening.

The grey-blue barked fiercely. Rowan raised an eyebrow. A little impressing, for a pup. "Don't take that, Toboe! This wolf has no right to say it's her territory!"

"Says who?" Though Rowan didn't say this, she whipped around to look at the large grey who did.

Toboe tipped his head slightly, but his fur didn't lay flat. "It wasn't hers when we were sleeping, we should be allowed to move through." He ignored that the grey was actually making a move to stand up for the rouge female.

Rowan narrowed her eyes at the grey in warning. I can talk, I don't need protecting from a stranger.

The grey-blue blinked at the oldest in their small pack. "Tsume, you aren't standing up for her, are you?" So his name is Tsume.

Tsume flicked an ear. "I was a rouge once, and sometimes I did the same thing. Though I do think we should move through without a problem," he added before Toboe could open his mouth.

Rowan growled slightly. Then finally Toboe barked, "Hey, I know you!" Well it's about time!

"You attacked me back at the city. What was your problem?" The wolf lashed his tail in anger.

"I was tired, hungry, and seriously pissed off." Rowan replied cooly. She saw how much effort Tsume had to make not to make a sound that even looked like a laugh in the makings.

The grey-blue sat down. "Well that sounds just like Tsume. I'm Rain, by the way...and you are?"

The white wolf blinked. "Rowan."

Rain dipped her head. "Nice to meet you...I think."

Toboe flicked his ear. "Well you already know me." He muttered, still a bit on the angry side.

Rain narrowed her blue eyes and poked him. "Be nice!" Toboe looked at her like she was freaking crazy.

Tsume looked at Rowan. "Well since you have no pack of your own; are you coming, or staying?"

Finally, a second chance. Thank Paradise. "I'll come."

Tsume began padding off and the other two yearlings followed. Rowan was last and stayed behind, keeping watch. "By the way," She called, "where are we going?"

Toboe turned to Rowan. Obviously Rain had cheered him up, no more anger was in his eyes. "We're trying to find our friends, we're heading for Paradise."

Paradise? "Oh. You believe in it, then?"

"Of course we do!" Rain snapped. "Toboe and Tsume where one of the five who journied there!"

Come to think of it, I have heard those names before in stories. "Let me guess; Kiba, Hige, Blue, Toboe, Tsume, and the Flower Maiden Cheza. I've heard the story a dozen times, I just don't think Paradise is real because you never found it."

Toboe growled and turned back to the front, padding onward. Rain joined him with a tipped head, and they began chattering for hours yet again.

Great...we're heading the way I just came. She realized as they were going South. Damn, why does his friends have to be city dogs?

Rowan finally lunged past the talking pups after the third hour, and walked by Tsume. "Is it just me or do they talk alot?"

"Must be you." Tsume joked with a dry tone.

"I wish." Rowan sighed and rolled her eyes at the two pups. "Are those two in love or something?"

"Probably," Was his only answer. Rowan narrowed her eyes. If he didn't want to talk, fine. She'd keep her mouth shut until he actually said something.

But to her suprise, only minutes after he asked a question. "If you don't believe in Paradise, why are you coming along?"

Rowan considered a few answers, then sighed. "I have nothing better to do. Might as well tag along until I get bored."

They stopped to hunt a few times, but didn't have much luck until they were too tired to actually hunt. Catching a few rabbits, Rowan was satisfied as they all settled down to eat for the night.

Full, the white wolf set her head on her paws and felt herself grow tired. Suddenly Tsume's head shot up from where he lay, along with the rest of the group. Wolf scents filled the air, but of another wolf pack.

Toboe stood up. "Oh, great. Just what we needed." He growled as a small group of males came running once they spotted Rain and Rowan.

Tsume curled his lip and padded forward, the young wolves stopped at once, but still looked determined.

An amber eyed black wolf wagged his tail and lunged past Tsume, circling Rowan from a safe distance. "Ah, females. And will you look at that, no mate."

One older tan and brown wolf halted a few yards from Rain, tail wagging quite fast. Rain pinned her ears back with a growl when he walked forward. Toboe lunged to stand by the grey-blue female and curled his lip at the tan wolf.

A green eyed white male watched Rowan a few feet away. Rowan curled her lip in disgust at the males. "Watch it! Take another step forward, and I'll make sure you never have pups."

The black wolf grinned. "Ha, it seems we have a bitch here. A white one, beautiful as well, not too young..." Daringly, he stepped towards her.

Instead of Rowan lunging, it was Tsume. Ramming straight into the black wolf, it skidded on his side several yards away until he hit a boulder. The white male's eyes widened, and he took off running.

"Jerk, I can take care of myself-" She started, but Tsume rolled his eyes.

"Oh quit your whining before I turn you over to them." He snapped, fangs still bared. Rowan nearly flinched, and the black wolf was running off.

While Tsume had been arguing with Rowan, Toboe had successfully, and suprisingly, chased off a wolf twice his size and age. Rain wagged her tail in thanks but was too uncomfortable and embarassed to say anything.

Rowan narrowed her eyes and muttered a low "thanks," then padded off to Rain and Toboe before anything started.

She had nearly flinched! Because some wolf she barely knew snapped at her? Whoa, she must have softened up while she had been with them. Either that or...Rowan glanced over at Tsume, who was watching the pack run off yelping.

This is going to be a bit problematic.

Character Interview

#1

Reporter: Ok, we have a few questions to ask the characters of Wolf's Rain Two. :)

Rain: Shoot! *tail wags*

Reporter: Is the shipping Rain/Toboe true?

Rain: .....good question, let's move on.

Toboe: Yeah, I kinda agree with Rain there...

Reporter: But we NEED TO KNOW!!!!111

Rain: And you will at the end of the series.

Toboe: Yeah it's