The Lineage

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto.


The Lineage
By 11


Chapter 17
Wolves: Hostage

Their roars loud enough to split trees and compete with lightning. Their jaws snapping just behind our heels, a thousand tons of pressure enough to crack bone and I can imagine the thrash of those heavy necks to rend limbs from body.

We run faster, falling in and out trying with all our might to attain the highest speed possible our wolf legs tiny beneath us as these colossal monsters gain faster, their heavy bodies propelling them forward.

They tower over us their voices rise in anger and exhilaration. A game, this is a game for them, some horrible game that they’re playing with us. We propel ourselves forward not slowing for anything. But I can already see how this will end.

There’s five of them, nine of us. If they so choose all of us will die, if only five fall behind five of us could yet live.

Me, Sasuke, Sakura, Tenten, … Shino. We’re better off throwing Lee, Haku, Kabuto and Karin to them and escaping by ourselves.

I can hear as Haku forces his legs faster, those jaws lashing at his teeth, tongue extended just enough to almost touch his leg. Blood pounds through me and I judge how far it would take me to get to Kabuto and toss him back as well.

But I don’t have to.

An earsplitting howl breaks through the forest. The ground seems to shudder and I’m knocked forward. I hear Sakura and the other yelp and cry out as the ground knocks them off their feet. We’re all doomed. Turning as one – we face our ending.

But the wolves have stopped too, gold, brown, and hungry green eyes glare at us from just beyond the next line of the trees.

The howl comes again, softer and the wolves bristle and snarl at us before they turn and bolt off towards the howl. The sound rattles through the trees again one last time before it’s gone and we all lay still on the ground.

Karin shifts back to human form first, her molecules no longer able to contain themselves in the shape she forced on them. The rest of us give up holding our composure as well allowing our bodies back to their original shape.

We all stay silent, a pause for our bodies and muscle structures winding back to a less wearied state. “What the hell was that?” Haku demanded of no one in particular. “We are still well on our lands – they have no right to be here!”

“Those were…” I let someone else finish my sentence.

“Werewolves.” Sakura growls. Of course they were, I knew it. “They shouldn’t be this far north.”

Tenten frowned, “Who knew that they had penetrated their territory so far into our mountains…?” she breathed shock registered on her face. “We have to tell the council!”

“As soon as we return,” Kabuto agreed, “The Order has already convened but if you three,” he nods to Sasuke, Sakura and me, “could have a world with the sannin I’m sure they would reconvene. This is an urgent enough matter I believe.”

“I’ll say!” Karin griped, the first phrase I’ve heard from her that wasn’t fawning over Sasuke, “Are you alright Sasuke?!”

That thought came too soon. “Sasuke?” I ask too turning my eyes to him.

“I’m fine.” He states as he stands, “We might not have long – it’s possible they’ll come back.”

“Bastards I bet they eat our grizzly and let the blood go to waste.” Shino snarled angrily. “Fucking wolves.”

“Let’s hurry back.” Sakura stated as she got to her feet, the rest of us following. We didn’t bother shifting back and just ran normally, quickly, more hurried than when we left. Nerves perturbed by the encounter.

We entered at the open grounds again and descended immediately to the interior. “Tsunade!” Sakura started, as we’d found the buxom woman first, everyone following Sakura, directly to her Lord’s entry alcove.

“What is all this Sakura?” she snapped rudely when she came out and saw the number of guests, several of which were probably not supposed to be on the interior without permission of their clans or something silly like that.

She really can be such a stickler for the rules sometimes.

“Tsunade. The group of us went hunting earlier, and in the lower hills we were attacked by a pack of wolves.”

“Wolves?” She started. “That’s impossible. According to the Firewater pact, werewolves are not allowed beyond the geese flight lines. That was barely two-hundred years ago. Surely they would not have broken the treaty so easily.”

“We were all there Lord Tsunade,” Sasuke speaks, “We were in the lower hills, and we were attacked by a group of five young wolves. Regardless of whether any were killed, the wolves are at fault in encroaching on our territory.”

Tsunade bristles at this and her lips press tight as she considers the information. “I will call the council. Sakura, the exact location? You were pursued?”

“Yes. But they turned back after a point.”

“What was the location of their retreat?”

Sakura and Tsunade retreat within the chambers to relay the facts. Sasuke turns and I go with him, as we force with the group of us back into the corridor. “When the council convenes we should hear the call for the Order soon enough.”

It doesn’t take long at all to convene either. As Sasuke explains to me as we enter, anything concerning the wolves is a matter of great importance for us. “They are one of the few beasts capable of killing one of us.” He explains.

“As you saw, with their size and speed a group of us against one would be hard matched.” He continues, “But in a pack of that size, we could have all been caught and killed if they hadn’t turned back.”

Tsuande stands to announce the facts, and I find it strange to be standing on the other side of the palanquin this time. Instead I stand by Jiraiya beside Tsunade.

Sakura and Sasuke here as well, Orochimaru seated on the other side of the box. It’s strangely open in here, it’s like a box-seat to some sort of fancy sporting event maybe.

A wave of shock goes around the room when Tsunade informs them of the wolves encroachment not even a full five hours from this convened meeting.

Several insist that an action should be reached immediately for how to deal with this. Someone suggests an envoy to the wolves to inquire as to these hostilities.

Another lord stands and demands that we wipe out the nearby wolf clans before they can present a problem in the regen campaign.

Apparently the regen organization is growing more apparent. Patterns are saying very clearly that someone is organizing the regen and promoting their growth and outspread in rural areas.

Arguments break out over both suggestions – the envoy could be killed by the wolves afterall then what? But the call to wipe them out is too much a waste of our resources. Etcetera.

I guess they all really are a bunch of boring old guys sitting around chatting about shit and farting. And here I used to think it had some sort of martial law like the kind Tsunade imposed when I was brought to the Lair.

Then the guard entered and made an announcement about a – ‘wolf envoy’? – that caused a huge wave of talking and discussion and outcry among the council members.

Then the huge doors opened enough to allow a series of ranks through to the center of the room. A gangly man escorted at the center.

Looking at the ‘envoy’ I find it hard to believe his shape can change to anything as large as those gigantic beasts I saw before.

Sakura stiffens beside me though, emerald eyes flashing in disgust and apprehension. He is a werewolf, though I can’t seem to sense any threat from the guy. But there’s something in the air now, some weird smell.

“A pack of your kind was on our lands earlier this night,” Jiraiya addresses the envoy in place of Tsunade. “They attacked a group of our own on our lands.” He growls out, “Have you come to remedy this disrespect to the treaty?”

“Incorrect.” The man’s voice far rougher and louder than I would have suspected. The smell is getting stronger. “None of your kind were harmed. This was our preliminary incursion to place our demands.”

“Demands?” Jiraiya laughs, “You are in breach of the treaty! If it’s war you want your clan is still small compared to us!”

“War is the least desirable situation for us as well.” The werewolf growls, “However it has been a good year now and yet one of ours remains imprisoned here on vampire territory.”

Werewolf captive? Here?

Kiba, you idiot.

Who’s Kiba?

Hinata’s specimen. We saw him once.

Oh… that crazy?

“We both want to avoid breaches of the other’s territory and kind,” the werewolf goes on. And the smell is awful!! Werewolves smell so bad!! “That one of our number must be returned to us.”

“Prisoners are not apart of the treaty, and thus he must be returned.” The werewolf delineates, “If not, then it is the vampires in breach of our treaty.”

“Hyuuga?” Orochimaru calls to the side and the clan moves as they shift and slip out the door. Then back through and I see Hinata file in at the doorway.

Her eyes flash towards the werewolf once in suspicion, but there is the guard and she stalks in as if ignoring the whole of the gathering. There is only her and the palanquin where she looks – a pensive expression.

“Hinata Hyuuga,” Orochimaru addresses her, “You are now required to release your werewolf prisoner, obtained some months ago.”

Hinata bristles, “Under what charge? It’s been a long enough time – if the wolves were ever interested in ‘one of their number’ they had the opportunity to take him back at the signing of the treaty. Why now?”

“Our leader commands it.” The werewolf told her stiffly. Some explanation, sounds like a whim to me. Or else this is their way of trying to pick a fight. The Order doesn’t want one though, so this is going nowhere.

“Hinata Hyuuga,” Jiraiya adds in, “If you refuse you will be punished for disobedience and the wolf will be released accordingly.”

Hinata’s mouth screws into an angry scowl. “If we just release him, how do we know these wolves will leave our lands anyway?”

There is a disquiet of murmurs and the three lord sannin sit back to discuss as well. “She’s right.” Jiraiya states.

“They are already in breach of the treaty, but we don’t want any trouble.” Orochimaru considers.

“A group of ours should take it to the border, and watch the wolves leave the border of territories. If they do not report back in that certain time limit we will know the wolves have no kept their word.” Tsunade reasons.

“Then what?”

“War.” Jiraiya shrugs, “It’s a small enough clan to take on if we had to.”

“We won’t worry about that for now.” Tsunade tells them as she moves forward to address the Order and council. “In three day’s time an escort of ours will bring your clansman to the border of territories.”

“There they will return you, your kin and watch that you keep your end and leave our lands.” Tsunade informs him. “That is all. Is this acceptable to you?”

The wolf’s eyes drop shut and his forehead seems to twitch and a vein in his neck pulses abnormally.

He opens his eyes in only a moment, “This is well. We will meet them at the border and make our withdrawal from your territory then.” He turns to leave, the guard escort moving with him. “Three days.”

“Three days.” Tsunade confirms and the wolf leaves, heavy doors shutting behind.

“I still don’t like this.” Sakura whispers to me as the council is adjourned and everyone scatters out to the doors like opened floodgates.

“Why’s that?” Sasuke wonders.

“I agree with Hinata, it seems fishy,” she frowns, the three of us lagging behind as Jiraiya, Tsunade, and Orochimaru move out of the palanquin towards the doors as well. Hinata still stands stock still, glaring, where she was called in.

“Why now? We’ve had that one captured for almost an entire year.” Sakura puzzles irritated. “Was there a shift of pack leadership?”

“What significant is that?” I wonder.

“I don’t think it would make much difference,” Sasuke inputs, “that one was a lower ranking member, even if one of his close friends put in a good word with the new leader, that wouldn’t prompt this kind of aggression from them.”

“He’s awfully important to them now though,” Sakura figures, “That or… they’re purposely trying to pick a fight with us.” She turns to Sasuke, “Do you think it’s possible that whoever is organizing the regen has spoken to the pack leader?”

“Do you think it’s possible that they didn’t rip a vampire, found on their lands, to shreds?” Sasuke wonders. Sakura scowls. “You’re right though.” Sasuke reluctantly sighs in agreement. “It’s possible, though not at all likely.”

He breezes past and hurries after the sannin, “I’ll discuss the possibility with Orochimaru.”

Looking back to the center Sakura frowns, “She’s pretty attached to her specimens. She’ll have to actually go with the group to hand him over too.”

Pale body held stock still, the faintest tremor of rage in her arms. Quiet anger pulsing at her forehead and behind pale eyes, her lips pressed tight enough and even from this distance I can tell she’s drawn blood, seeping from the corner.

Sakura starts as I leap past her off the front of the palanquin. It’s the shortest distance between me and Hinata – she doesn’t even move when I land in front of her.

Her eyes are far away and still glazed, hate? There is that, but it’s more like she’s thinking really hard. Some way to get around the requirements?

A dummy – she might be able to build one but the manufacture and transport would take longer than three days. If she acts quickly she could manage to alter the time for another day. But then the werewolves will no doubt notice the dummy.

“Hinata.” I interrupt my thoughts grafted onto what I imagine hers are. She blinks and finally raises her eyes to mine. Her expression suddenly blank and distance, the dribble of red falling past her bottom lip.

Shit I want to lick it.

I take the bottom of my own lip in my mouth in sympathy for that errant thought.

Don’t ignore me.

Nevermind, it was something else. Bloody parasite – leave me alone right now.

I’m bored.

Deal with it.

“I don’t think I have any options this time.” She states suddenly. She’s staring right at me, but she’s not talking to me.

“That woman didn’t give me enough time. I couldn’t clone him even if I wanted to – and even if I were to just make a flesh replica it would take too long.”

“Wouldn’t the werewolves also be able to tell?”

“No,” she disagrees with my interruption, “I even experimented with it before, he said the smell of it didn’t fade for at least a month. So it would be possible to trick them potentially with a flesh replica.”

She sighs and turns her eyes back to the floor. “But in this case the treaty really would be breached like this. Since it’s their demands and we don’t want to risk war… I don’t think I have a choice.”

“Unless he dies in the next few days,” She says suddenly, a little too cheerfully for me to be sure if she’s being serious.

I mean is she okay with having her werewolf specimen in formaldehyde?

“I have a few false poisons, but he’d never agree to something like that and even if I made him it would be too complicated to carry out and the news of his demise might not reach the wolves fast enough.”

“Sounds like you’re resigned to it though.” I wonder idly, as I feel Sakura approach from behind.

Hinata’s eyes sharpen and every muscle of her face grows taut and thin. “I’m pissed.” She hisses in rage.

“Who wouldn’t be?” Sakura wonders as she comes to stand beside me. “It’s tricky ground to send vampires to take a wolf to the borders of their soil. But if we don’t then the Order is risking war on two fronts.”

Hinata scowls. “Hmph.” She huffs, “I don’t really care about that. But I wish I wasn’t the one who had to take him personally and hand him over to those furry devils.”

“Why would you have to take him yourself?” I ask, nothing like that was mentioned, they just said an escort.

“Because the princess Hinata was the one who captured him in the first place.” Sakura frowns at me.

“It’s common etiquette that the hunter is responsible for his catch every moment it is in his possession. So she can’t let another group of vampires take ‘her’ prey to it’s ‘release’ zone.”

Is it just me, or does that sound kinda dirty?

It’s just you.

Are you sure?

Yes.

Fine.

“If that’s the case, then I’ll be going with you.”

Hinata looks at me in some shock, Sakura starts and turns her head, “Are you serious?!” red asks me, “I mean there’s no precedent for-?”

“I’d be happy to have you with me,” Hinata consents though she tilts her head as if to study me. “Though I am unsure what provoked this desire to be in my company.”

I’d like to say as a precaution or protection the guard can’t offer, but I’m not really sure how well I’d stand up to a pack of those things if we got surrounded anyway.

“You should ask for your master’s consent first though shouldn’t you?” Sakura frowns. “It’s Hinata’s responsibility and she’ll have a guard and escort – so if you’re worried it’s not like you are going to be any extra help.”

“I’m going to ask Jiraiya right now then.” I ignore her last statement and breeze past her toward the door, following Sasuke’s path after the sannin and my master.

I hear Hinata and Sakura’s movement as they fall into step beside me. Just down the hall and around the bend, second tunnel through.

Sasuke is discussing something with Orochimaru, while Jiraiya and Tsunade stand beside the dark-haired gentleman-snake guy, and listen to the two of them. The two look up when they notice our approach.

“I’ll be accompanying Hinata when she takes the wolf to the border.” I tell him, though we both know it’s a request. If he actually tells me ‘no’ I don’t think I could do much more than just argue with him.

His red eyes narrow slightly as if to scrutinize what I’m thinking. “Absolutely not!” Tsunade snaps for him. “It’s not at all suggested, you’re a sannin heir, it’s just irresponsible to walk into that danger to recklessly. We are sending a guard escort.”

“Hinata’s going,” I state, refusing to edge my voice, “Are you saying it’s perfectly fine to let her walk into such danger?”

Tsunade doesn’t speak, though I notice the muscle of her throat clench, her eyes flickering toward Hinata on my right, for the barest of moments.

“You’d be too tough for them to chew, and you taste like shit besides, brat,” Jiraiya seems to grin, he’s actually complimenting me and I can’t help grinning back. “Feel free to go with them.”

I trust you not to die.

Thank you.

“I appreciate that my master.” I nod my head to him. He’s really done me a favor and completely on his whim. I notice Tsuande’s eyes flashing angrily in his direction but he ignores it and she really has no right to say anything about it.

“If that’s the case, I feel that I should go as well,” Sasuke speaks, watching me, not even turning to address Orochimaru. “Who knows what trouble he could get us into if I am not there to mitigate.”

“Then I will allow it.” Orochimaru nods, smiling. It doesn’t really seem like Orochimaru is the one in control here, I’ve noticed it before but Sasuke seems more that he’s the one making decisions while Orochimaru gets to sit back and watch.

Tsunade’s eyes turn enraged to her dark-haired friend and she scowls turning away. Her eyes catch in indignation on Sakura when she too speaks. “If that’s how things will be, I would like to go as well.”

All eyes turned to the woman. Her mouth twisted and her lips pressed tightly together, her eyes glaring entirely at her red-headed apprentice. Still her mouth worked over itself.

She could say no, but she was hesitating, that was all it would take. The impression of doubt, to perhaps glean approval.

“With such abundance of male stupidity, I would think it only necessary to bring a more reasonable perception with us.” Sakura continues, her opening at Tsuande’s hesitance. “Don’t you think so?”

Tsunade frowned, but her mouth stopped working, her eyes flashing angrily. Perhaps this was a familiar argument to the woman. “Fine.” She eventually spits. Sakura smiles graciously, as if the busty female had given her full blessing.

“The guard should be ready soon,” Orochimaru notes offhand, smiling at us all, “to make it to border in three days, you’ll have to depart immediately.”

That’s all I really got from it since the cage was transported from Hinata’s lab under her instruction – I know some had complaints about the wolf being taken off of the numerous sedative drugs it was supposedly under while in the lab space.

Sasuke spoke at length to Zabuza about our route, Sakura standing nearby. Haku I’m a bit sorry to say is also in this group. I stood with Hinata as she oversaw the removal of the carrier with ‘Kiba’ in it to the outside.

We had to move from the lower entrance so we could get the carrier out, since the higher up ones would have taken much longer to get the cage through and down.

Looks like our route will be entirely zigzags as we wind our way around the mountains. The wolf territory is almost a full nine hundred miles from here.

If we didn’t have the carrier we might have been able to make it in two days running. Three days won’t allow much time for rest or sleep – wonder how we’ll cope with so many under the 1000 age limit.

Shino lopes out around the last few minutes of departure he’s come along as a private protector to the ‘princess’ it seems. A few of the guards friends or family I assume come to greet them briefly as well. In a way it’s like we’re a funeral march.

None of Hinata’s family comes however, and the sannin also have already said their goodbyes it would seem.

I glimpse Tenten as she strides forward, each step a leap of one hundred steps. She stops in front of me and smiles surveying the escort, I see Lee hanging back a ways; only here because of Tenten.

She smiles, though it’s not as easy a grin as is usual, I think. “Going to werewolf country, it’s expected in an escort only forty percent of the group comes back intact.” She wonders, eyes searching mine.

But I have no uncertaintly, no disquietude. I won’t die, I won’t be killed. Even if it’s wolves… I have confidence that I can run away before anyone else does.

Cowardly.

Or I could rely on you to rip them all to shreds?

Hah!

I’ll let you eat them.

Hah-!! Oh… hm. Let me think on that.

“I’ll be fine.” I tell her easily.

Her smile fades a moment before she looks away, sighs, and turns back to smile at me again. Apparently she satisfied in what she sees in my eyes.

“Then I will await your return.” She tells me, “You better come back too. I’d never forgive you if you didn’t. Your image in my eyes would be ruined.”

“Well I don’t want that.” I tell her grinning, and it’s contagious as she returns the gesture with a laugh. Her eyes flicker to the side, and mine flicker after hers.

Sasuke’s watching us again, though we aren’t currently occupying ourselves with too much flirtation. Her grin widens and she leans forward to my ear, “Good luck with Sasuke.”

Then she turns and heads back into the mountain without a backward glance. Sasuke’s still watching me, and he had a slightly sour look to his face. But he looks away when my head turns toward him.

He’d like to think he’s so disinterested. But he really should know, I only want him. Which reminds me… I really need to catch him alone.

Are we going to fuck him this time?

No- well… actually I don’t know. I was-

What then?

As I was saying – I was thinking of asking him again what I am. Even if no one knows, I find it likely that if anyone does know, it would be him.

Hm. Good idea, can we fuck him after.

We’ll just see how the order goes and if we can get him alone in the first place.

Yeah, just finding some private time is going to be hell like this.

Especially with Haku around.

Oh yeah… that bastard’s already interrupted twice hasn’t he?

Yep.

Hate him.

I know.

The soldiers lift the carrier back to their shoulders, it takes around forty of them it looks like to carry it. They have to move slower than normal too, a moderate jog; not even a full run.

If they went any faster they have no way of staying in sync and the weight could topple off of them. They look pretty silly too – even Haku at the corner there. Hah! Stupid Haku!

Not that I really hate him, but he’s a jerk and I’m allowed to make fun of him. I’m sure if we’d met under other circumstances we may have even become friends – dare I think it.

Ugh.

“Is it only one werewolf clan at the border then?” I wonder to Sakura. Sasuke’s walking too close to the escort, looks like he’s asking Zabuza some things.
“That’s right.” She nods.

“If it’s just one clan, then why can’t be just stamp them out like Jiraiya said?” I wonder idly, “Wouldn’t it be better than to have to worry about them later?”

Sakura gives me an annoyed look, and shakes her head. “One werewolf clan can include a vast number of wolves, they’re a whole pack – much larger than that group we saw yesterday.”

“Furthermore, to wipe them out would require a huge number of our forces. And there would be plenty of casualties on our side too, you know.” She explains plainly. “It’s just less problematic to do things this way. Provided…”

“What?”

“Well no one’s said anything since the sannin seem to have disregarded it,” Sakura frowns, “But I still think it’s possible that the regen organizer may have already gotten to these wolves.”

“It would be a good strategy and I can’t think of why else they would want to prompt this. It’s like they’re asking for a fight.”

“It’s just a return of something ‘we’ borrowed.” I remind her, not sure of the right wording. Actually we’re not really getting anything from this deal other than ‘maintaining the peace’ as it were.

“No. Its like Hinata said, if they really wanted him back, they’d have tried long before this.” Sakura shook her head, “Something’s happened with the wolves.”

“Is there anything else it could be? I mean why else would the sannin have just accepted – if they really thought the regen got to them we wouldn’t still be going.” I reason.

Sakura purses her lips, and tosses her head, read strands falling from her eyes. “I don’t know.” She chews her lip to a dark shade of pink, “I just don’t know.”

The sun is beginning to come over the horizon. Sakura, Haku, and several of the others, including Hinata, wrap themselves tightly in their thick dark cloaks.

Kiba has started a low angry growling, and his claws scrape horribly against the steel confines. Even the escort hefting the metal cage seem perturbed by the thing inside.

Hinata turns at the sound, and glances back at the sunrise before she turns back to face the group, she walks straight for the carrier.

“Princess Hinata?” Shino puzzles, stepping aside as she breezes past to the carrier locks.

“We’ll travel faster if he’s not locked up in there.” She explains calmly.

Every one in relative range of the cage start and stiffen. Kiba’s growls intensify and the scraping sound multiplies as if sensing his imminent freedom.

“Princess!!” Shino shouts in warning. “Don’t!! We can’t control him!!”

“You don’t need to.”

Several of them move to stop her. But her hands have already wound around the locks. With a single crack she rips them all.

Shit. That thing’s not even drugged.

Sakura stiffens beside me. Everyone takes off in all directions. Figures spiral out in a wide enough radius, far away from the opened carrier.

The beast emerges with a rattling scream – so much louder and shaking than the one he let loose at the lab.

Hinata stands peacefully, and he rushes past her, as if not even noticing. His body is in the middle of changing back to a ‘human’ shape, but he’s still moving too fast.

Shit.

I take off at a run, the beast streaking past Sakura, past Shino farther to the left – why am I his sole target?!

His claws catch the air and his jaws drop open to release an enraged bellow. I risk a glance behind and burning golden brown eyes glare back at me with pure hatred.

What did I ever do to this poor bastard? Really?

His arm lashes out again and I yell out as I tumble forward, to avoid him catching my shin – claws enough to rip straight through the layers of muscle. I fall to the ground and with his momentum he speeds over and past me.

He roars and circles, his legs catching into the ground to propel him back in my direction.

I dart to the side to avoid the immediate attack and get ready to dodge the next, a high pitched whistle cracks through my ears and I grunt falling to the ground – damnit. Now I’m going to be mauled because of it!

Except looking up Kiba’s stopped but he’s propped up on his back legs and snarling at me. The moon is fading even more and he begins to lose his height. And now his crotch is way too close to my face – I’m not comfortable with that.

“Kiba, come.” Hinata’s voice calls. And in a second he’s whisked himself back toward her.

I raise myself to regard as his body changes from that wolfish beast to a more human model. He kneels by Hinata’s legs, almost perfectly tame.

But he turns and his eyes glare back at me like hot coals. Even from this distance I can hear him growling at me.

Hinata’s hand reaches out to touch his neck and he turns back toward her. I slowly approach, ever wary of the fiery furball of death.

I’m beginning to seriously question my ability to run away if faced with numbers of these things. Shit – what AM I doing here?!

“What do you smell on him?” she asks quietly, leaning up towards his ear to ask. But I hear… does it matter if everyone else does too? They’re all starting to approach back too.

“Vampire…” his voice is hoarse and raggedy, “but worse…” his eyes turn to glare liquid hate into me again, “It’s like he’s saturated in blood-leech filth!”

He turns back to her, his snarling dies, and the voice is almost human, “Far more so than you,” he turns with a growl to the approaching group, “Or any of the others!”

Great. So I stink, good to know.

And I just took a shower too – darn it.

I suppose I should be happy I smell like a vampire, since a lot of other things point away from me being one. I’m reasonably sure I’m one. That reminds me, I still need to corner Sasuke to talk about it!

Now could be my chance!

“Sasuke!”

“He didn’t injure you, did he?” Sasuke wonders as I approach.

“No. Almost got me a few times I think,” I frown, “I’m actually not so sure I could outrun one of those if it really wanted me dead.”

“I don’t think it could kill you, but…” Sasuke starts. “But that’s just you.”

Huh? “Yeah, well anyway, I haven’t had the chance to ask you again,” I start off, “I asked you before, but you didn’t get the chance to tell me. I’ll go ahead and repeat myself. ‘What am I?’ ”

“Naruto! You’re okay right?”

Damnit!!

Sakura rushes up, and grabs me shoulder turning me so she can examine my front, her eyes glancing down at my legs too. “You look okay. I don’t smell blood or anything. Any idea what provoked him?”

Damnit Sakura… I love you… but you’re interrupting. Not on the same level as that Haku bastard I guess, but still. I’m trying to get some important information – and chances are extremely high that Sasuke will not tell me if you’re here!

“No idea. He said I stink, apparently really bad.” I mutter, an edge of irritation to my voice, though I don’t think she quite catches that it’s not entirely directed at that damn wolf over there.

Why is he able to be so friendly with Hinata anyway?!

“Wolves and vampires are old enemies, so it makes sense that even his sense of smell would give him aversion to us.” Sakura nods, “But why would you smell any more strongly than the rest of us?”

“Half-breed?” Sasuke shrugs. Sakura rolls her eyes, but says nothing more. The group is beginning to move again.

This time we pick up our pace, like this I don’t think reaching the border will be a problem. We may yet reach it in just two days.

I glare ahead at Kiba’s back. He’s farther ahead than the rest of us, Hinata’s not too far from him either, but he’s the one leading us through the woods now. Why does ‘he’, ‘it’, get to lead? Stupid.

I move toward Sasuke, heading him off farther fro the running group. “You remember my question?”

“Which one?”

As if he doesn’t know.

“The one I asked before Sakura came over.”

“Ah, that one.” He nods. But stays silent. Jerk. I glare at him and he seems to grin to himself. He thinks this is amusing? He knows what I am, and I don’t? Fucking jerk!

“Well? You going to tell me?”

“I suppose so.”

“Well then?” I’m really getting irritated.

“Hey!”

SHINO YOU STUPID FUCK!! “WHAT?!”

“Geez, what’s crawled up your ass?” Shino asks calmly at my reaction, as he runs up beside us. “Or is it the lack of something up yours?”

“Shut up.”

“What do you need Shino?”

“Zabuza wants me to tell you not to stray so far from the group. Kiba’s taking a different route than the one we’d intended. It’s kind of a hassle.” Shino shrugs, “Personally I think Zabuza needs to get laid and forget about being such a tightwad.”

He laughs.

I scowl.

Ditto.

“We’re moving in then.” Sasuke agreed leaping ahead and moving back towards the main party – a streaming line and flock of the entire escort.

There are easily fifty of us here, possibly more but I don’t care to count. It’s going to be difficult to try and get to Sasuke like this. I swear, everyone in this is against me! I don’t even think any of them are aware of how important it is.

Ugh… I can smell Kiba ahead. Stupid dog, smells… furry… icky. Dandruffy dandelion-y. Where’d Hinata go? Oh – wait! Kiba’s carrying her? Geez – what about rival/enemies? Did Hinata specially brainwash him or something?

Goodness gracious.

But that’s not a bad idea to get close enough no one else can hear a conversation. I glance to my left. Sasuke’s just a little ahead, I could catch up to him pretty easily. I’m confident I could carry him if I tried.

I swoop forward, slanting to the left, my arm dragging out to catch around his waist. Sasuke starts and twists in my grip but I hold him tight and press his body against mine. He hisses at the contact, and dark eyes turn an angry glare on me.

“What do you think you’re doing?” He whispers angrily. “Let me go!”

“No. Like this, we can have that conversation I’ve been dying to have,” I tell him stubbornly, something disturbingly childish in my voice. “You know, I don’t. I’ve asked this question three times now. I want it answered – what am I?”

Sasuke squirms in my arms and attempts a strange curling motion that brings him half towards me and half away. He moans slightly, and my eyes catch the edging of pink color across his stomach where my arm accidentally rode his shirt up.

“Would you just let me go? It’s difficult to think like that!” He hisses, squirming more. Damnit but he feels so good right there. I kind of just want to keep holding him.

“What do you think your’e doing you bastard?”

Oh for fuck s--!!

“What do you want Haku?” I practically growl, and Sasuke scowls at the world in general.

“You bloody pervert.” He accuses with a glare. “Unhand the prince – just because you’re also a sannin heir doesn’t give you the right to molest the prince.”

Molest?!!

It’s true.

It’s a completely false accusation!!

It’s true.

No it’s not!

Yes it is.

You – shut up! Whose side are you on anyway?!

The one that lets you come to terms with this fact: We should be fucking him already!!

I know that, geez. I’m working on it… sorta.

“That’s a lie.” I snap.

“There is a grain of truth.” Sasuke drawls, his voice controlled and calm, a bit clipped and I can tell he’s holding very still just to avoid making any embarrassing noises in front of Haku.

Ah if only I was into voyeurism – which I am. But right now I just want androgynous to get lost.

“In either case, I’ll have to ask you to unhand him for now. You’re falling behind.” Haku scowls, gesturing ahead.

Shoot, I did slow a little, but not too much. I could catch up.

“Just let me go for now.” Sasuke leans up to whisper in my ear. “We’ll be able to talk later – I’ve already said I’d tell you.”

“Fine.” I relent. My arm slips from him, and in a moment he’s dashed to the opposite side. The three of us catching up quickly to the rest of the group. There’s a trace of a smug smile still across that damn brunette’s face.

Laugh it up you androgynous dickhead. Interrupter.

“Where’d you two disappear to?” Sakura asks as we run up beside her. Closer to the front I see Hinata running next to Kiba again.

“Nowhere really.” I shrug. She narrows her eyes at me a moment before looking away again, not really interested if I’m not telling. “How come he tolerates her so bloody well?” I mutter glaring at Kiba’s back again.

“Who knows.” Sakura sighs, shaking her head. “I wonder, if maybe it’s because he scent is less strong since she doesn’t have a blood limit.”

“It’s possible.” I suppose, not fully understanding but I do get that Hinata’s considered ‘less of a vampire’ by her clan and others so maybe Kiba’s aversion to her is les than to others. It makes sense in theory.

I catch a smirk across Sasuke’s face as we discuss it, but he doesn’t say anything. I wonder if he thinks it something else.

Noon comes quickly enough though I hadn’t really noticed it until the party slows to a stop, as a few of the soldiers cry out and take to the trees for extra shade. “What’s going on?” I ask.

Sakura stops beside me and hisses in pain even beneath her heavy black cloak the skin of her arms is turning an angry boiling red and smoking slightly. She dashes towards a tree to alleviate the burning.

“Noon time.” Shino mutters as he joins her and the other soldiers under 1000 years under the trees. Kiba swoops back, growling slightly, to drop off Hinata with the group before leaping away again.

Shino goes to her to drag her back in the shade. “All halt!” Zabuza calls, as the stragglers catch up to us and come to a pause as well. Kiba is still in view quite a ways away.

He gives a few quick orders some I catch, some I don’t. The ones who are over 1000 years begin to set up a kind of camp it looks like with a heavy tarp covering for all the ‘tents’.

‘Tents’ being the loose term for covered dug out holes in the ground. It doesn’t seem to take them long to set up though.

“What’s noon time.” I turn to Sasuke for explanation. Sakura answers.

“There’s several different damaging wavelengths in the sun. Some can even damage humans.” Sakura’s voice sounds slightly strained.

Of course, that would be UV. That stuff can even pass through clothes, and sunscreen can’t block all of it.

“Noon time even for humans is one of the most probably times to get sunburn or heat stroke, from noon until almost evening.” Hinata adds, “During this time, it’s very difficult to be out in the sun unless absolutely necessary.”

“They’re making those trenches so we can rest in the ground, it’s cooler than the surface and with additional coverings and the earth there should be less chance of getting burned so we can rest easier.” Sasuke finished for them.

I see Haku standing on the opposite side, watching over the other soldiers under 1000 years. At least he’s not bugging us over here.

Zabuza barks to us that the camp will be complete soon and that some of the slots are open, and if we wish we can go ahead and get in the ground. I don’t really feel like sleeping though. I’m still restless for some reason.

Hinata calls back to Zabuza to get the soldiers taken care of first. She stands up and adjusts her cloak. “Princess? Where are you going? Camp is almost set.”

“I’d just like to check on Kiba before I do. It won’t take more than a few minutes. I’ll be fine during that time.” Hinata explains easily as she sets off keeping to the shadows of the trees. “I’ll be fine. Be back shortly.”

Shino stops and lets her go. “If she wants to.” He mutters shaking his head. “Sun can’t burn that sucker.”

Sasuke’s here, I’m here… but so is everyone else. We’ll be getting into our tents soon too. Most of the escort is now below ground and Sasuke, Sakura, and Shino move to their ‘tent’ too. I hang back and look after Hinata.

I can worry about Sasuke later when I can finally get him alone. Right now… what if Hinata can’t get back? Slinking back towards the trees I take to the air and branches to follow after her.

As I approach I’m careful to keep downwind of Kiba, that way he can’t smell me. I see Hinata standing in the shadows, Kiba’s much taller than her and he stands out in the sun.

They’re talking but I’m far enough away I can’t hear. I could move closer, but before I do, Kiba steps forward to take her in his arms, her cloak bundling around her. Her body curls into a tiny ball he holds against his chest as he takes off.

I follow, running parallel and downwind. He eventually ducks down an indentation of the land, a rocky ridge that juts ahead from a creak which leaks down into a pool in the lower section. There he unwraps her and she steps easily into the shadowed area.

He sits nearby and leans against the stone. Hinata turns and moves back toward him shortly. I like this, I can sit up here and watch them clearly and I’m close enough I can probably hear what they say.

I still don’t get why they ran all the way out here if Hinata just came to check on him. Something stupid Shino said comes to mind, but I wave that thought aside for the moment.

Hinata sits down between his legs, leaning against his chest, and his arms wind around her. Shit… they’re romantic?

Hinata hisses, and leans further into him. “Doesn’t it hurt still?” he asks her, moving to push her away.

“Not at all.” She assures him, sighing as she relaxes into him. Her arms twining around his.

“That’s what you say,” Kiba mutters, “But I still wonder.”

I’m about to leave when I realize that Hinata’s arms are changing color. The sale porcelain pale color that’s so characteristic of all vampires is receding as waves of pink and peach color flush through her skin.

The assumed source is contact with Kiba… a wolf can do that too?! What the heck?! I’m a wolf?! That can’t be right. Not right at all.

“Are you sure you don’t know what to think?” she asks.

“About that scum?” he wonders, nuzzling her neck. Oh, they’re talking about me. “I still can’t stand his stench.”

“You may be able to endure it after time I imagine.” She muses.

“I don’t want to.” He states.

“What about his blood?” she wonders, “When you were chasing him, couldn’t you smell that too?” she pauses and he growls against her neck.

I think his jaws could tear her throat out – why is she so calm? Just because they’re lovers?! They’re also natural enemies I thought.

“His blood is warm just like yours you know.” She tells him. “Couldn’t you tell anything more with those superior senses of yours?”

“No.” he sighs into her. “I just have a bad feeling about him. It’s like with that guy, red… but with a vampire.”

“He’s not very mature yet,” HEY I AM SO MATURE! “but when he is…” he trails off into a menacing growl, and Hinata starts slightly, moving in his arms. Her hand winding upward to twine in the hair by his neck, brushing through it.

She makes soft shushing noises to calm him, “Let’s not talk about him anymore,” she suggests, “I know this bores you, right.”

“I don’t mind it.” He tells her, pulling her body tighter against him. His hips rolling slightly against her backside, and she presses back against him, her head rolling back to his collarbone arching her body deeper against him.

About now I dash away back towards the camp – HOLY CHEESE!! My heart feels like it’s beating pretty fast. So Shino was for real… those two… they are… Well more than that, they really seem to like each other a lot!

Otherwise I doubt they’d be so comfortable and at-ease with each other. Wow… I mean I really should have expected that but… I mean… I think he actually likes her too – no drugs involved. Wow.

I pick up my pace as I hurry back for the camp grounds. Everyone is already below in the earth, I know where mine is but I head straight for Sasuke’s anyway, slipping below the canvas covering and sliding into the dark graveshaped hollow.

Sasuke starts and pulls away with a muffled shout as I slide in beside him, “Naruto?” he whispers in irritation, “What are you doing in here? You have your own trench!”

“No – I just saw that wolf, Kiba, and Hinata,” I explain quickly. “Wolves can turn vampire skin pink too?”

Sauske sighs, as if tired, “Yes. I suspected those two, but anyway…”

“So they do?”

“Yes.” Sasuke says in exasperation. “Vampires are very cold, their natural enemy of course is incredibly warm. Actually warmer than a human – they run a constant temperature of 101.”

Wow… that’s a decent fever under normal circumstances. “So you knew about them being… before?”

“Well goodness, Naruto, Shino’s been talking about it for ages.” Sasuke seems to roll his eyes in his voice.

I frown but settle down against his back, reaching around to pull him close to me. I feel kind of like an idiot now. Darkeyes is on designated sulking snuggling teddy right now.

Sasuke’s breath quickens and he worms in my arms. “Don’t you have your own trench? Let me sleep!”

But-but-but-!!

Hey I can feel Hinata outside! Kiba’s not anywhere near either. This won’t take a minute!

“I’ll be back, probably.” I tell him softly before slipping back out to the surface. I catch Hinata at the left hand side of shaded trees. She stops when she sees me, and cocks her head strangely.

“Wasn’t that Sasuke’s trench?” she asks innocently.

“Yes it was.”

“I thought so.” She blinks once before turning back to her task of getting to her own trench while getting the least amount of sun possible.

“I thought that wolf was just your specimen before.” I note idly. She looks back at me.

“So you were there? I wasn’t sure if it was one of our group or some lost lamb,” she muses. Then smiles. “But yes. He is my precious specimen.”

“Seemed more than that I thought.” I wonder folding my arms to regard her. She shrugs. “Seemed kind of personal.”

“At first he was just a specimen,” she agreed smiling, “But you know, he gets awful bored in captivity, stimulating conversation is all that we’re capable of at that point. It developed to being a quite platonic relationship.”

“When he allowed me to examine his physical form manually rather than taking skin, hair and blood samples by my computer, to record textures,” she looked to the side, wistful. “Well that was first physical contact.”

“He became pretty open to study outside the cage and was relatively well behaved most of the time.” She considered.

“I was able to answer a great many questions concerning wolf physiology and in turn he cleared up some misconceptions about vampire abiological structure as well.”

A-bio-?

“Seems serious now.”

“Serious?” she wonders giving me an odd look, “It is a considerable bond. I will dearly miss him once he’s taken away from me.”

“I’m really… really,” her voice twists to something sharp and jagged, “upset about that.”

`

I helped Hinata into the ground, before heading for my own trench, I should rest I guess, but I still don’t feel like it. I contemplate crawling back into the ground with Sasuke… but right then that cell phone starts to vibrate again.

I silence it and then take it out. I dash far away from the camp, until I’m a good couple kilometers away before clicking it open – thanks Shika for being patient.

“Shikamaru?”

“Naruto. We’re in the mountains now.” His voice crackles over the line – I’m surprise we’ve got this good a connection if he’s out here somewhere too. “Where are you now?”

“En route to the werewolf/vampire border.” I answer truthfully. “You?”

“You’re out of the lair? We should meet.”

My heard pounds. “Yes. Where are you?”

“These twin peaks, there’s a huge grove of elms on this side.” Shikamaru tells me. I leap to the air and scan the distance.

“Is it mostly blue/green at that top, that one willow at the far east corner?”

“Yes. Can you see us?” He asks.

“No. You’re on the other side. Stay for a while I’ll come find you.” I tell him.

“No.” He stops me, his voice urgent. “There’s a group of us here, I’ll meet you at the peak of the northern hill. I’ll be there in twenty minutes.”

I agree and the phone clicks off. Twenty minutes? An eternity, I take my time to get there, and wind up getting there early anyway.

I can smell him, he’s not much farther away, and he’s alone anyway. I dash down the hill following that old barely remembered scent.

I can’t believe we’re finally meeting. I haven’t seen him in what feels like years, but isn’t much more beyond six or seven months really. I wonder if his appearance has changed much?

I almost entirely pass him by. In the mountains, he wears a deep cloak of brown, and walking in the shadows of the trees I almost miss him entirely. I stop and he regards me, neither of us moving.

I can’t see his face though I can tell from his body that he’s lost weight. His arms look stronger too.

“You’ve changed.”

His voice has changed. I can hardly recognize it really. It’s so much more worn than I remember, hardly any trace of that tired bored tone I always used to hear in him.

“I guess I have. What about you, Mr. Cloaked Enigma?” I wonder, “Or will you not reveal your face since the ladies like you better mysterious?”

He snorts and raises a hand to pull the hood back. I’m struck by the lingering smell of cigarettes – when did he take up smoking? He looks the same, and different too. His hair looks coarser, and he could probably do with a shave.

Those small brown eyes have turned flinty these past years, his whole self seems more toned, more attuned to his surroundings. There’s something powerful there now where once there was mere indifference.

He used to be such a ghost, it seems like he has a sense of ‘purpose’ now. I can’t be sure what caused it really, but he’s totally transformed and completely the same. I still see the smartass friend I used to know.

Friend. Friend. I questioned if we were ever friends. I still don’t know. But I do know that we have a kind of bond, that I thought was easily severed.

But while I had almost forgot about it, he remembered. He’s a better person than I first gave him credit for.

“So what are you doing on the way to the werewolf border?” he asks.

“Well you might want to sit down, see I’m actually traveling with a group of vampires plus one wolf and minus one cage.”

We sit on the ground, he on a stone, and me on the roots of a nearby tree. It doesn’t take me long to tell him about the werewolf attack and the interruption of the Order’s meeting to decide what to do. The demands given and the current course of action.

Shikamaru frowns when I’ve finished and hangs his head with a short sigh. “Wolves are dangerous business. Even hunters don’t normally mess with the packs.”

“Any tips at all for even how to get away?”

“Ground up some onions or something else that has a really strong nasty smell. Then when you’ve got one on your tail toss it straight for his nose – it’ll slow him down at least.” He suggests.

“But beyond having a fistful of silver shot through their chest there’s no way to stop them.”

Optimistic as always aren’t you Shika?

“More importantly, I wonder if they’d notice and come looking if you left them now.” He muses.

“They’d notice, and it’s likely they’ll come after me. I’m a sannin heir now.” I admit.

“Sannin? The oldest three? It’s that bastard Jiraiya who made you his isn’t it?” I flinch a bit when he refers to my master like that. I mean stupid old man, fart, or leech are fine, but really… I dunno. Maybe it’s just cause it’s not me insulting.

“Yeah, I’m his.” I nod.

“Thought so.” He frowns. “So we’ll have to hold off on the escape/rescue attempt.”

“Rescue? Shika, I’ve tried to tell you before,” I start slowly, “I’m a vampire already.” How’ll he react then.

“No you’re not.” He states, staring straight at me, totally unfazed.

Excuse me? “Shika? I can run several mph without tiring. I don’t have to sleep, I drink blood, I can mist and turn into a wolf. I’m a vampire.”

“No you’re not.” He insists calmly. I frown, it doesn’t even sound like typical denial when he says it like that.

“You’re still human Naruto.” He tells me. “The proof is your heartbeat. No matter how far you’ve been dragged into their world and their ways, you can still return to being human. I can still save you.”

What if I don’t want to be ‘saved’? I don’t want to go back, ever.

He’s lying. You can’t.

You don’t know that.

My parasite growls. I know! He insists in my mind. There’s no way – I won’t disappear. You can never go back.

I don’t really want to. But we’ll see what happens.

The parasite growls at the back of my mind, but I ignore him in favor of paying attention to Shikamaru, he’s telling me about the hunters now.

“Now obviously you’re blood has become contaminated with theirs but you are still human. There have been a few cases like this before,” Shikamaru continues, “Just not as entrenched as you are in their ‘society’.”

“Ino’s brother was lost like that, they couldn’t get to him in time. He died.” Shikmaru uses an example. “I won’t let you die, though. Don’t worry.”

I’m not worried. Ino… he said her name before didn’t he? “Ino, she’s the one who helped you-?”

“I met her after you were dragged in, that’s right.” He confirms for me. “She
introduced me to the hunters group. After you stopped coming to school she filled me in on everything.”

“I never properly apologized.” His face hardens into solemn lines, “I realize I was really stupid to have judged you like that. I’m sorry – It was wrong of me, if I had acted quickly enough we may have been able to avoid this situation entirely.”

That’s why he wants to ‘save’ me. I get that but… it’s okay. Really.

“I mean they even have the greatest weapons for these situations,” Shikamaru shakes his head, “If I’d only known and acted earlier. Kushina Uzumaki, a hunter from a few years ago, dead now, she developed some really lethal stuff.”

“She actually came up with those tiny bomb blast to slow vampires down to our speed – it’s really amazing the things she thought of.”

It’s sad. I’ve gone up against some of the weapons he’s describing here.

The sun sinks lower, and I never say a word – I never tell him that I don’t need to be saved. I’m not even thinking about it before long, we’re just chatting about our different worlds now. And wondering what I should do about the wolf situation.

Eventually Shikamaru stands. I realize how late it is too. I hope the group hasn’t moved on or else started looking for me?

“I need to get back to the group.” He states. “This is so long for now. Don’t worry,” I don’t. “One way or another we’re getting you back.”

Flinty eyes turn to steel in the dying sun, “I won’t let these leeches get away with what they’ve done.”

And like that, I just can’t break it to him yet. He bolts away and I turn towards my own encampment as well.

He seems to have such religious fervor about this anti-vampire thing. He’s so convinced that I’m still human.

He thinks that I’m a human who’s contaminated with their blood and have merely taken on their abilities and behavior and am not truly one of them. I might have thought the same after his explanation.

But that doesn’t account for the parasite – unless I really am just crazy… but does crazy involve blackout and practical cannibalism and burning limbs?

I wonder.

Honestly, besides the want for blood and increased sexual appetite – all courtesy of my parasite I’m sure there’s not a lot of difference in me physically between when I was ‘human’ and now that I’m a ‘vampire’.

I don’t know. I just don’t know.

It’s possible he’s right, and I wasn’t ‘turned’ at all. Maybe I just have blood contamination that gives me bloodlust and increased strength and everything… but that seems wrong too – there’s the parasite also.

Ugh.

I return to the camp and manage to slip into my trench with no one the wiser. Within fifteen minutes we all rise again and prepare to continue on toward the border.

It’s before midnight when we slow down approaching the border into the werewolf lands. It’s not quiet at all. We’re all on edge.

We’re surrounded. The border patrol comes to meet us, a whole pack of wolves, and there’s more in the forest looking down on us from trees and shadow. You can just make out the golden almond shape of their amber and silver colored eyes.

Kiba stands at the front beside Hinata stalking forward.

It happens in seconds. A blond colored wolf lunges from the side. A curdling scream as she rushed by, her jaws latching around Hinata’s body grabbing her. Running past, Hinata let out a scream as the wolf dragged her off into the forest.

Kiba roared and took off after her. In the night his skin spiking out as thousands of hair bristle forth to coat his body, his wolf form dashing after the blond wolf – screaming his rage.

Shino starts and the whole escort turns on the defensive. I feel Sakura start and her hands settle on her dual swords in case of another attack. Sasuke hasn’t moved but his muscles are tensed to draw his wire if needed.

Times like this… I wish Shikamaru had leant me his gun or something… geez.
We can hear the alternating cries of Kiba’s roars, Hinata’s shouts and the other wolf’s growls and keens before they circle back around.

The blond wolf leaps over the border to meet with the pack and faces Kiba growling. He snarls back at her – “Let her go!” he demands his voice twisted and monstrous in that form of his. Inhuman in every sense.

“She’s ours for assurance of the hand-over.” The blond wolf growled back, and I can tell from it’s sound that this particular wolf is female.

“I’m here now – so, Let. Her. Go.” He snarls at her, finishing with an angry roar.

“Not so fast!” the girl wolf snaps, “You come over here – no funny business from the leeches or I’ll rip her body in pieces.”

Hinata lies perfectly still, a pale rag doll sitting on the wolf’s tongue. Sasuke, our temporary leader nods, and Kiba stalks to the other side to join his kind – “Now let her go!”

The golden wolf spits Hinata to the ground in front of her. Kiba snarls again, in warning at the blond wolf. Hinata rises from the ground slowly. Now she just has to walk right back over here.

“Hurt her, and I’ll kill you.” Kiba snarls at the girl wolf. She turns great brown eyes to him and growls back.

“Don’t be stupid. We won’t hurt her.”

“Temari!” a worse growl, thunderous and heavy, as if sound itself could crush stones, “Don’t let that vampire girl away just yet!”

“WHAT!!” Kiba roars!

A great flash of red and bristled fur lunges from behind, a great paw stamping down on Kiba’s throat. The white and brown wolf thrashes beneath him, but to no avail as the other roars at him – a sound that turns my ears to useless unhearing shells.

His great red paw pressing deeper against his throat until Kiba yields with a high pitched whine. The red wolf tosses Kiba to the side, and he regains his feet sulkily, unable to challenge the alpha-wolf. That is indeed what this red beast is.

The blond wolf, Temari, still holds her paw over Hinata, careful not to squish her, but not allowing the possibility of escape either.

Kiba watches the red wolf with such distaste and hatred in his eyes. I feel Sakura stiffen beside me. “Oh no…” she breathes.

“What?” I whisper back.

She swallows. “The leader of the pack has changed… this is so much worse than regen… this one’s young and fierce…”

Great emerald eyes stare out of the red beast’s skull as he turns to glare at us – and I know exactly what she’s trying to say.

He’s not here for Kiba, he was never here for Kiba. This was his excuse to pick a fight with the vampires. This is his chance to start war – to have a good fight.

“Don’t hurt her Gaara.” Kiba keens quietly, his eyes still fixed on his vampire lover. The red wolf regards us with eyes that shine in glee.

Gaara. I have a very edgy feeling from him. He’s looking at us for sport, this guy is looking for a powerful opponent, and as alpha he’s already the strongest of his pack.

Worse yet, his eyes have no sense of reason.

No mercy, not concept of ‘enough’. Ravenous.

This red wolf is vicious. Green eyes fix on me and he sees to grin, great white teeth bared beneath thick black lips.

His eyes say he wants to kill something.

---

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