Unfortunately Unknown

[redmoonbaby]

Run down buildings, somewhat busy streets, and a few faces looking out of windows. It seemed as if a thick layer of gloom was covering the city. Senna walked down the seemingly empty ally way in her human form, her already weakened body getting all the weaker; every minute is another gone by with an empty stomach. The rain soaked as heavy water droplets poured down her but it didn’t matter to her anymore. Her short dark brown, almost black hair hung over her face covering most of it in an emo fashion. Her golden yellow eyes were dull and narrowed sadly as she slowly placed one foot in front, urging herself to keep moving, even though she just wanted to give up.

She didn’t like hunting in her wolf form; she didn’t like being in her wolf form period. She didn’t like that the humans would hate her for it, for something she had no idea she was in the first place. It wasn’t her fault that she knew nothing about herself, had no memories about her life. She still doesn’t know how she ended up beaten half to death and naked in some random alleyway a little less than a year before. She didn’t want to be different, she just wanted to blend in and live like an ordinary human.

She stopped where she was and looked down at her shoes; and old raggedy pair of combat boots, a simple, yet dirty and torn white dress reaching to her middle thigh area; and her old hooded leather jacket. It was bigger on her than it was a few months ago; she had lost too much damn weight trying to survive out there on her own. And trying to hunt in her human form didn’t make things any easier, if not much harder, and she was getting desperate having gone so long without a single bite to eat.

Tears streamed down her face, but no one could tell because of the rain; she was so alone in this world. There were other wolves around, but she kept a distance from them, always; her fears ruled over her. By this time, she had started moving and was already out of the ally way. She was now along a row of buildings that sold things; and she stopped in the place they sold meat. Senna wasn’t even thinking about coming here as she walked, but the smell must have drawn her in subconsciously. She looked from outside the window at the juicy pieces of meat wide eyed. Oh, how she would give to taste a real piece of meat. When was the last time she had even that? Not for quite a while. Before she could even notice, she was inside. There was another customer infront of her ordering a chunk of meat. The man at the counter put the meat wrapped up on the counter. The customer was picking at change he had in his wallet, you know, for the taxes. Senna stared at the situation as if she could control it. And suddenly, the man dropped his wallet dropping all of his money and change. He kneeled down to pick the change; he was way too fat to just bend, and the meat man behind the counter went around helping him. She stared with disbelief at the meat, at the two men, at the meat; her heart accelerated as adrenaline swam through her veins urging her on every single second that passed. And then she sprung forth. She grabbed the giant hunk of meat and ran, ran so hard like there was no tomorrow. She was fast, one might say faster than just an ordinary wolf, but she wasn’t even that strong.

“Hey! Get back here you good for nothin’ thief!” She heard from somewhere behind her, but she dared not turn around as she ran through crowds of people. She ran so far and so fast, she hadn’t even thought about stopping. But when she finally came to, he was long gone, and she was hidden in a trashcan in some ally way; there was no real memory on how she had gotten there, but she knew she was there, and safe, and with a large piece of meat in her hands, fighting for every breath that she took. She looked down at her hands at the wrapped up meat, and tore right through the paper sinking her fangs into the mutton, feeling the juice explode in her mouth, the blood oozing out of her mouth and she sucked at it trying to catch as much as she could. One bite after the next, she ate like a ravenous wild animal, and that is what she was minus the wild part; but she tried her best to slow down, to not get ahead of her and enjoy the meat, perhaps even save some of it.

For some reason, when she stopped herself from eating anymore, she was shaking, and it scared her, and she even broke into a sob. What was the reason for this? She didn’t know. Hell, she was still getting used to certain human emotions after waking up that one dark night with no memory about her past, like a dead person forgotten of without emotion. She wrapped the small chunk that was left in the wrapper and stuck it in the inner pockets of her purse and placed her hands in the side pockets on the outside. Wiping her tears away she climbed back out of the trashcan/dumpster and looked around. It had stopped raining but she was still soaking wet, and dark somber clouds still lingered in the sky. She walked down the ally way slowly, deep in her thoughts. She thought about how long it had been since she actually met a wolf and how long ago was it that she had been called one; she couldn’t even remember the last time she turned into a wolf, except for that one time she accidentally attacked an orphan who was trying to beat her up; that was how she found out about her existence in the first place, but it was a nasty way to find out. It was a good thing she had just arrived at this city; she had been here once before but she couldn’t quite put her finger on when exactly that was; she didn’t know anything about the city, or its people. It seemed very disordered; maybe she could stay here?

[Mina Silbetier]

How long has she been walking? The time felt as though years had passed by. The road had been long and painful. Yet, onward she walked. Where was she walking to? Her destination was decided by her paws. She had no control over where she went. Her body was simply leading her ahead. She needed to put as much distance between herself and every hunter that she could. She needed to find a quiet place to rest.

Mina was unsure of how she came to be in Ángeles Caídosse City. The city seemed to always call her name no matter where she found herself. That wretched city, why could it not leave her alone? Had she not suffered enough within its walls as a pup? Why must her senses be drawn to such a horrible place? Her legs pushed her to travel all the way here, and now that she was inside of the city the wolf was unsure of what to do.

Instincts. Those were what made her decisions. She was a wolf; why should anything else decide where she went? Her nose had been following that sweet scent, but after the full moon had set she was back to square one. She could not help to blame the hunter she had the misfortune of running into in Atarise City. He was the one who had injured her collarbone.

The city streets were crowded at this hour, and Mina pushed through the people. A gray wolf among humans. Somehow Mina was not drawing as much attention as one would think. She was simply a large injured dog that people shunned. The wolf could deal with people believing she was a dog. She was too injured to care.

A commotion happened in front of her. A girl had rushed out of a shop with such speed and was being pursued by someone from the shop. The man was yelling, but Mina did not hear. Her concerns were with the female who was running away frantically, holding wrapped up meat. She was no human, no she was a wolf.

Mina ran forward upon three paws. She did not have the expert balance she was known for; her left front paw was raised as if injured. If she put pressure upon that leg, the crack in her collarbone forced pain to run through her body. She could deal with running on three legs for now. She wanted to see this wolf.

Gray fur passed the man who was kneeling down and panting. The wolf was a blur to the human eye even in her injured state. After being in pursuit for a while longer, Mina found her nose confused for a moment. Where had the other wolf gotten off to? Dark brown eyes surveyed the area. The overpowering stench of garbage was confusing her nose. Her weakened state was also wearing down upon her now. Where had the wolf gone?

Mina found herself sit down in the alleyway and take a breath. She needed rest and perhaps a bit of food and water. The wolf had worn herself down.

The gray wolf jumped. Something had hit her back. A rock? She turned, looked, and found a few boys throwing rocks at her. Mina stood up and moved out of the way of one rock. They continued throwing rocks at her, one hitting her upon the top of her head.

“Get outta here, mutt!” one boy was yelling as he threw another rock at the wolf. The rock hit Mina in her right eye, and she let out a growl as she backed up. She was in no mood to deal with human boys throwing things at her. She did not have the energy for such behavior.

[redmoonbaby]

Senna stopped walking; her stomach was really starting to hurt; she ate too much way too fast, and there were consequences for someone who goes forever without proper meals to suddenly eating a while thing of meat on her on. She put her hands on her stomach.

“Please don’t be upset, tummy… it’s good for you. I promise. Please don’t make me throw up… I... need it…”

Senna froze; she heard a sound. It wasn’t just a sound either; it was the sound of a bunch of boys screaming at someone, and, was that… growling? Senna turned towards the sound. It would be two allies down where the sounds were coming from. She heard something else too; rocks hitting the pavement and rolling off. But the target obviously was not for the ground. Senna hesitated; why should she get involved? It wasn’t her business… but then she heard the pained cry of a dog, or no, that scent… it wasn’t a dog. It was a wolf. This made her hesitate even more. She has been trying to hard to avoid the creatures and still always managed to find their way to her; fate obviously wasn’t happy that she wasn’t getting her way, and Senna wasn’t happy because, well, she wasn’t necessarily getting her way, now is she? But it wasn’t just about what she wanted. There was something more; instinct? She needed to know.

Senna broke into a run. She ran and passed the first ally, and then the second and stopped in the middle as she looked down it where there was a female wolf trapped by a bunch of boys and on the other side, the streets of the city filled with the goings on of every day people. She didn’t want to run anymore, that run in itself made her dizzy because she was still weak and her legs shook under her. She took a step forward, urging herself to walk on.

“Come on… don’t be a chicken….”

She placed one foot in front of the other setting her sighs on the mean boys bullying the poor wolf; from where she was she could see that the wolf was critically injured.

I wonder what happened to her…

“Hey,” She shouted, or at least, she tried to shout, instead it came out faintly and rickety, yet, in a way, strong. “Stop tormenting the poor thing… What did she ever do to you guys anyway?”

“Who the hell asked you, stupid!” One of the boys stomped his way over to Senna and she put her hands up in a stop gesture and lowered her head.

“I don’t want trouble, please…”

“You already asked for it!”

The boy grabbed her by her hair and pulled it hard downwards, but she clenched her teeth and her face could not be seen with her head being pulled down the way it was but her face twisted into an enraged expression; the blood in her veins thickens as the rage grows; she explodes. A menacing growl escaped from her gullet; and then it happened. She sprung forth; fangs bore snarling like a wild animal, she sinks her fangs into the boy’s neck, the sweet taste of blood on her tongue as the blood gushes out of it. She leaps onto the ground again, the boy falling down hitting his head against the ground. Senna isn’t fully grown but she is still a young petite and beautiful wolf gaunt from lack of food, with dark brunette, almost black hair and her previously golden yellow eyes as dazzling as glistening gold were now crimson red like the blood she was spilling; though her hair is a bit dirty and there are a few minor scars on her body that were hardly noticeable, but the one distinct thing is that she had a burnt in brand on her lower lower back in the shape of a star. Her fangs were still bared when she looked for the other boys, but they had already run away, in fact, there was a crowd of people looking into the ally way at the two wolves that were left. She stared at the crowd astoundingly shocked, her tongue hanging out of her mouth, she looked a bit silly, and many screamed in terror! Her rage now subsided, her eye colors returned to normal and she started to run off, but did not forget about the other injured wolf, using her muzzle to push her forward.

“This way!”

They ran together through the ally, Senna led the female wolf through cracks in walls into abandoned homes, stomping on puddles of water from the rain that poured down moments before; through more alleyways and through a broken up courtyard with a large tree as the center entering another crack between two walls of another abandoned home where she finally stopped, winded from having run so far so fast. There was a little stream inside the abandoned home that entered from the leaking roof and the broken window. She took a drink from the little stream, quenching some of her thirst. She stopped drinking, falling into her thoughts. She looked at her reflection in the water, her wolf self. She let out a small growl and walked away from it.


Her personal hideout was nearby, but she did not know her or trust her enough to be taking her there. But if she wanted to be kind, then she would have to take her there; Senna had a first aid kit she could use for those wounds of hers. But instead, she formed back into a human, and looked out the broken window that had the view of the wrecked courtyard with the large tree at its center. She felt for the meat inside of her jacket; not that she couldn’t smell it, it was a security thing, a precaution of habit of acting more human than not.

She had stopped wondering it she had kept up. She had suddenly become overwhelmed with sadness and disappointment towards herself about having gone into her wolf form. The other wolf probably already knew this; wolves’ eyes are exceptionally stronger than those of a human. Senna turned her head and took one look at her and felt bad for her; she was such a softie. Her expression softened from blunt to gentle as she pulled out the wrapped up chunk of meat she had in her pocket. She unwrapped the paper and tossed the meat on the ground.

“You look hungry… you can have that… “

Senna wasn’t a girl with many words, never really used to talking to people, or wolves for that matter. It was strange actually letting herself get near one, or help one. She couldn’t even remember the last time she had actually spoken to anyone at all. But somehow, she felt comforted. It was confusing, she always thought she would hate being near any one of them, but she was dead wrong.

[Mina Silbetier]

Before Mina knew it, someone had entered the alleyway to come to her aid. The wolf she had been chasing from before was now protecting her. The other wolf attacked one of the boys, scaring the rest of them off. Then, there was yelling, and Mina found herself once more running but she followed after this new wolf. The wolf led Mina through alleyways and rundown building. The gray wolf simply followed the darker one without question. Mina’s mind was having a hard time processing everything, but her legs continued to thrust her forward.

This city had been Mina’s. She had known every nook and cranny of the place. In her injured state, nothing smelt or looked familiar. She let everything fade away to a blur as they ran. The wolf would worry about such details after she was feeling a bit better, but she needed food, water, and rest before she would come to her senses fully. Damn the hunter who had cracked her collarbone and made her this way.

When they had finally stopped running they were in an abandoned building. There was a stream of water running through. Mina stumbled over to the water, leaning down clumsily and lapping up the water with her tongue. After a few good mouthfuls of water, the injured wolf stepped back a foot or so and collapse upon the ground.

Mina had definitely overdone herself. She had traveled too long and too far with the injury and without food or water. She now found her body not wanting to cooperate. Her legs did not want to move anymore, and her mind was exhausted. So, Mina simply laid there for a good few moments, watching the other wolf move about. She watched as the girl threw some meat down to her and told her she could eat it. The injured gray wolf inched her way over to the fresh meat and quickly ate all of it off of the ground.

“Thank you,” she said as she looked over to the other wolf. “You have done so much for me already. You did not have to do all of that.”

The gray wolf inched back. She moved over to one of the walls, and no longer did an injured, tired wolf sit there. A tall female with silver hair sat up against the wall. Her breathing came in pants and her right hand moved over to the left side of her collarbone. Her dark eyes closed as she relaxed against the brick. She was dressed in a black tank top, black skirt, white stockings, and black slip on shoes with bows upon the toes. Her clothes were dirty, covered in dust.

“I appreciate what you have done for me, though. Most wolves seem to have lost their sympathy for their kind. I have found many who turn a blind eye to others who are being killed right in front of them."

[redmoonbaby]

Senna turned around placing her back against the wall and sunk down into the floor, finally letting herself go; her combat boots skidding against the ground as she stretches them out; she smoothes out her dirty and torn white dress reaching out to just above the knees and pushes her bangs from her eyes to behind her ears; she had been too obstinate and thought she would appear weak If she let on that she was in not such a great state. She let her head sink down weakly and she hugged her knees to her chest, and looked away as the wolf girl thanked her, a soft smile spread on her lips, the two golden orbs that were her eyes, narrowed.

“You don’t have to thank me,” she said gently placing her chin on her knees, “It was the right thing to do… I guess… I was just letting my spirit guide me… and it was about time I did. And I have you to thank you for that…”

She looked at the girl from the corner of her eyes guardedly examining her; her long silver hair… she was dressed in all black except her stockings, and she was, of course a little bit dirty, and she didn’t have to feel too bad about her own appearance; she was gorgeous. She watched her hand go to her collarbone and looked away as she frowned.

“I guess I’m not like other wolves….” She spoke softly, “I couldn’t just stand there and do nothing… they could have hurt you more….and they would have, too… I… I once watched a hunter kill a young wolf… I had the opportunity to help, but I didn’t. They didn’t know I was one. I had been in my human form for too long… today is only the second time… at least, that I can actually remember….”

It was hard to even say she was afraid of herself, and of the girl; Of being a wolf. Of being despised by people, or of being hunted. She doesn’t remember anything before one year ago…

She fell silent, not feeling comfortable or trustful enough of the girl to go on; especially about her memory loss. What was there to talk about when she only recalled the year of her life after she woke up in that dark allyway; an amnesiac. Her name might not even be Senna, for all she knew it was some other name. Senna stood up with wobbly legs, dusted off her dress to no actual avail, and looked at her.

“Please, I know you’re tired… I am too, but… come with me… it is hardly far…. ”

On the other side of the room they were in, towards the corner, was a staircase leading downstairs; Senna headed for it. She walked slowly down the stairs pulling out a key from the side pocket from her leather jacket. When they reached the bottom of the steps there was a large steel door. She placed the large key in the lock and unlocked it and pulled the handle, opening the door. She led the girl inside and locked the door behind her.

It was a small rectangular room; walking in, there is a Coat hanger. Senna takes off hers and hangs it up; it is hot inside, since it is summer time. Inside there was a book shelf, an empty store cupboard, a long three person couch, dirty and torn, a desk pushed against one of the shorter in length walls and a lamp next to it against the corner. There was a small furnace against one of the walls that lit up the room from the fire inside, dimly; despite the heat, they keep it on because it is their only source of light; the lamp is mostly there for show; they get no electricity. There was a scrawny and dirty homeless kid, much younger than the two of them, lying on the ground against the couch sound asleep, snoring lightly.

Senna turned to the girl staying silent. She really didn’t like talking a lot. She preferred to just stay quiet. And she did feel awkward after all that had happened. She was still uncomfortable about having turned into a wolf; but she knew she had to accept herself sooner or later. It didn’t stop her from wondering who she was or where she was from, who her parents where, or where she belonged.

“This place is like a hideout for homeless kids… a sort of gang… almost like a refuge, but more secret than that…. Unfortunately, the pantry has been empty for a while, but….” She pointed at a bucket in the middle of the room; drops falling from the ceiling through a crack from the room they were previously at from above. “We have water, and…” She walks to the couch and bends over reaching under it. When she gets back up there is a first aid kit in her hands. “This…. I don’t know how I can take care of that injury, but…” She opens up the first aid kit and takes out a bottle of pills, “If you take one of these… the pain should cease…” She tosses the bottle to the girl and puts away the kit she gets back up faintly and sits back on the couch and looks at the furnace with a somber expression, looking very tired, her golden eyes reflecting the fire inside.

“My name is Senna… Senna Clymene…. You can rest here… it is safer here… for you… ”

[Mina Silbetier]

Mina was quick to follow after the other female wolf. She had helped Mina out so much, and Mina was grateful for such kindness. Down a staircase and through a steel door they went until they came to a small room. The area felt cramped, and Mina instantly spotted a young child sleeping.

The room reminded her of her youth and of the places her and her brother Alric would stay. They often were not in one place for long. They tended to move from one abandoned building to another. The hunters were always on their trail which made living in one place impossible. The threat of getting attacked was always upon them. They had both hung around those who were left to fend for themselves, the orphans, the refugees, and the simple loners. This was like a homecoming to the female wolf.

Dark eyes followed the other wolf as she moved about the room. She pulled out a first aid kit and tossed pain pills to Mina. The silver haired girl looked over the pills before looking back up to the other wolf. The gesture was kind, but Mina had no use for such medication. The pain going away would be nice, but this was what made wolves stronger than humans. They were animals who lived through their suffering instead of hiding or ignoring their pain.

“You are so very kind to me, Senna,” she responded. “But I cannot accept these pills.” Mina tossed the bottle back to Senna.

The gray wolf moved through the room, looking about with curious eyes. She sat down upon the couch with her hand holding tightly over where the hunter had harmed her collarbone. She would get her revenge sooner or later. She knew her and the hunter would run into each other again, and she had a feeling it would be soon. He was a clever one, and in her current state Mina could not win a fight against him.

“My name is Mina Silbetier,” she said to Senna. “I have to thank you for everything you have done for me. I really do need a haven to rest in away from all of those humans. There are so many hunters in this city. This is not the safest place for a wolf.”

The gray wolf leaned back against the couch and closed her eyes for a moment. Her nose was greatly distracted by all of the new scents that lay about the place. The distraction, however, was almost comforting. All of her fears and anxieties were away from her, and her mind had some time to relax. There were some goodness in all of the destruction and decay.

[redmoonbaby]

Senna’s eyes smiled as she smirked when Mina refused the pills and she caught it in midair as she threw them back. Senna was always careful in the way she worded things, so when she said should, she said it because, she didn’t really know herself; she never took pills anyway, choosing to endure her own afflictions. But the homeless kids and the loners from the gangs often said so when they were injured somehow, what with poor homeless kids always getting beat up and the kids from the gangs always picking fights; so she could only go by what everybody else said about the pills. Senna leaned back against the couch letting her head hang back as she stared gently at the ceiling, watching droplets of water fall through the crack in the ceiling. Despite all of the suffering, at that moment, she felt quite peaceful. “Mina… what a beautiful name… I assure you it is safe here… I’ve never caught a hunter’s scent around here before...…”


“Humans…” She echoed as Mina finished speaking, “Hunters…”


She turned her head to look at Mina, and then her wound. “How did it happen?” Senna thought it might have been done by the boys that were messing around with her. She wondered what it was like to be her; a real wolf. She thought about how terrible and exhausting it would be to always be hunted, hardly getting a moments rest, while at the same time living dispossessed, always on the move. In a way, it was worse than the way Senna was living. Senna has only been living here a few months, but she doesn’t have to move from one abandoned building to another, although there are plenty around this side of the city, and she didn’t have to run from city to city, only eating when it was possible for you to actually stop and find something to eat.


Senna was constantly looking for food; she has a job at a nearby factory, but she only receives about ten cents an hour; hardly enough put together at the end of a day to buy even a loaf of bred; refusing to turn into a wolf to hunt, and fears of being found out and hunted, to live the life that Mina was living now.


Suddenly pain shot through her chest as she considered this; how cowardly must Senna be; but could she really think this when she didn’t even know how to be a wolf? She wondered… if she could join Mina. It would be quite the adventure… and might even give her a purpose in life instead of living the way she was living like a human… waiting to just grow old to rot and die like humans did. Or perhaps she would starve; winter was coming and they had no food. She might possibly get killed by a skilled hunter who sees her for who she is or she would die by the hands of a desperate stranger. All notions were distressing. But she had no one but herself.


“Mina… what is it like to be a wolf…? Were you born a wolf, or do you… become one…? I do not know anything… I don’t remember… anything… about myself… ”

[Mina Silbetier]

This one had plenty of questions. She was quiet, yet curious. Senna reminded Mina of herself in some ways. Mina had always known herself to be a wolf even when humans were trying to make her one of their own. She had always felt that wild side clinging to her entire being. No, Mina would never be a human or try to be one, but she knew that quiet and isolated side. This wolf pretended to be human and had casted herself out to be a loner. Senna could easily fit in with the rest of the world. She had a pretty face and a quiet demeanor; male humans in their day and age would have been grabbing to take her home as if she were a lost treasure.

There was more to this other wolf then she was letting on, that was for sure. If she truly had the desire to be human, why didn’t she simply move about among them and flash pretty smiles? Deep down there was a wolf waiting to be released from her cage. The wolf in her was ready to run again and to howl at the moon. The wolf was ready to hunt and be alive once more. Senna just did not know it yet. Maybe this meeting was for the best.

“In the last city I was in, a hunter hit me pretty hard here,” Mina said as she took her first question in stride. The gray wolf pointed to where the pain in her collarbone came from. “The bone has been cracked, but the injury will not be long lived. I am sure the pain will soon pass; I have just exhausted myself from continuing to travel with the pain. The hunter… He was…”

Mina could not help but pause as she thought back to the hunter. She had been foolish around the full moon. She had gotten cocky and had demanded the attention of humans. This wolf was a solitary creature who, when she could, avoided as many humans as possible. She had hungered the feeling of being an alpha female; that had to have been it. He had seen her power and had matched it with his own. She bit her lip as she remembered the closeness of the hunter, as she remembered him dancing next to her.

“Be cautious of what your eyes tell you,” Mina said as she looked over to Senna. “Your eyes will deceive you more than a common enemy. This hunter had wolf eyes of deep amber. He was strong with masculinity following off his body. He was flawless, yet was branded like a wolf. He was a wolf hunter, though. Completely human down to his core.”

She let out a sigh as the memories of what had happened only a short while ago slipped through her mind. He had known exactly what he wanted, and he had known how she would react.

“He questioned me and then began to taunt my existence. I guess I got enraged and tried to harm him. That was when he struck my collarbone and cracked it. Then, he simply left. I think there is something to all of what he wanted, but I am not sure of it yet.”

Mina rolled her neck a bit and winced slightly. She needed to simply relax. Her muscles were so very tight and uncomfortable. How stressed out had she been? So very much. She was back to being her usual paranoid self. Perhaps she was even more paranoid than before because of that hunter.

“To be a wolf, you have to deal with such characters as that hunter, but that is one of the only cons. I would never want to be a human. I may put up this disguise, but to survive in the cities you must on the façade of a human. We are born wolves, Senna. Humans are born humans. Some wolves pretend to be humans while some humans pretend to be wolves. Genetically we cannot stop being what we truly are.

“Some wolves are unaware of what they are. The wolf in them lays dormant. While others never tap into their human camouflage. We are lucky to know how to hide ourselves among one of our main rivals. Being a wolf is most rewarding, though. Wolves are able to see the truly important things in this world. We are able to live how nature intended. We are able to find Paradise.”

[redmoonbaby]

Senna let her hair fall over her face as she leaned forward on the couch, placing her forearms on her thighs, listening to every word Mina spoke as if they were too essential for her. She spoke about her injury, how she had gotten it from a hunter; Senna looked at her from the corner of her eyes slightly tilting her head when she remained silent, and then she went on and she spoke the dangers of that hunter; how he looked so much like a wolf; exquisitely stunning in every wolf way; she was tricked.

Senna had seen hunters amid the city, but they had never seen her. She blended in too much with the humans, living in her human body; but although this was so, she never got into living in the human way, always wondering why. She wanted to be human, yet she always stayed away, and for which reason was this? She did not connect with them. Senna could act, but that would be false living; why would she want to live a lie? And she stayed away from the wolves, mostly out of fear, afraid to tap into her inner wolf and join them. She stayed away from both worlds, never getting too close to either one; which meant that she was living a lie anyway. Her soul felt out of place in everyway except, for this moment… Perhaps if theycould not really see Senna for who she was, then maybe, she could not be tricked by them?

Senna stifled a chuckle when she said she got angry and attacked him. She found it strange that the hunter would just leave her there without finishing her off; why didn’t he? Maybe Mina was right; that there was something more to the mystery than meets the eye. Senna looked away when she said that they could not stop being what they truly were; wolves. Mina was so right, so smart and pretty, and obviously brave to attack a hunter; she admired her. But Senna still felt shame, for ignoring her existence for so long; but after attacking the orphan accidentally… it was something she thought she could not help, but all she was doing was running away when what she really needed to do was run onward; run wild. For some reason, thinking this made Senna smile. But when she said Paradise…

“Paradise?”

She whipped her head around leisurely to look intently at Mina confusedly. When she said the word, there was a strange feeling deep inside of Senna, the only way to describe this feeling is pleasure; keen on; excitement; ecstasy flowing in the blood of her veins; a desire for an un-existing place? How could it be? She stared at Mina wide eyed in surprised; dazed. It took a minute before she actually spoke up. What was Paradise anyhow?

“There’s no such thing as paradise… is there….?”

[Mina Silbetier]

Was Paradise real? How many times had Mina been asked that question? So many wolves were unsure of the existence of Paradise. That was why the gates had yet to be open. Everyone doubted the place even existed. Believing that doubts were real caused nothing to get taken care of. Mina had decided it was about time for someone to just believe in the legends of Paradise. Her whole being believed that out there Paradise was real and waiting to be opened by the wolves.

“Paradise is real and is waiting for us,” she said to Senna. “We just have to find it. The path is not one that is clearly marked. We must look for it by allowing our instincts to take us there. We must allow our legs to run and our noses to sniff.”

Mina let out a sigh, tucking her legs up and underneath of her. She leaned back against the arm of the couch, her dark brown eyes looking over to Senna. Was this one to be like all of the other wolves? Was she to hear about Paradise and still want to lead this life she lived now? So many heard of the tales of Paradise, and so many simply blew off the legends for simple fairy tales.

“Most wolves do not go out and search. Most have simply given up on their animal side. They lay about doing the will of humans as if they are common dogs. We are no dogs. We are no obedient slaves. We were created for a purpose, and that purpose was definitely not to lay down and die like humans. We are fighters and hunters, and we rule the wild.”

Hope dug deep into Mina’s chest. She had hope in wolves. Maybe not hope in all wolves, but there were wolves out there that were willing to give up simple lives to do as their instincts tell them to. To run, search, and hunt.

“Paradise is hard to believe in at first. I did not hear about Paradise when I was young. That knowledge took some time to figure out. But as soon as you hear of what awaits wolves and as soon as you smell the trail we are to follow, you cannot help but to stop what you are doing and chase after. There are many dangers in our pilgrimage, but if we do not act on our instincts we stay in the rut that humanity as made for us.”

[redmoonbaby]

Hope; that is what she felt; A hope to guide her through the day, and especially the dangerous nights; The hope that what she was feeling would remain and that she would leave her life behind and that it would be the last time she would have to look upon it. The hope that paradise was real, and that she had a destiny; that they all had a destiny.

She did not feel discouraged when she told her the path was not clear; it made her believe in it all the more. When are paths of life ever painted out clearly for you to see anyway? Every step that you take, you find your own way, but was it worth it walking and not really going anywhere in life? Her words only confirmed what she thought about before; to run wild; to kick your paws against the ground and be swept off by your intuition.

When Mina stared at her, Senna only gave her a quick sad glace from the corner of her eye and looked away; she was never really good at keeping eye contact, it made her nervous, and she could feel Mina’s doubt of her. She didn’t know exactly what she doubted, but she felt it still. Senna bit her bottom lip and flinched inwardly when she mentioned waiting to die like a human. It was as if she was reading Senna’s mind. Then again, Senna was as open as any book could possibly get. She wasn’t like this with just anyone; usually she is guarded and cold; but already, she trusted Mina; she enthused her senses and her words about paradise motivated her to move. Along with Mina’s doubt she felt her sadness. To know that so many wolves would turn a blind eye to such a wonderful opportunity for an adventure to paradise.

“Most wolves… live selfishly… I know I have been. And they are probably too caring for their own lives to go on such a perilous… undertaking… putting their very lives in wager for it, knowing that it was possible they would not reach it, and with the world being the way it is… and the hunters… ”

Perhaps the wolves had pressed on for so long on a road leading nowhere in their eyes, they had lost the hope they once had, and the pride, and simply gave up. Did they even know how to open the doors to paradise?

She placed a hand next to her and leaned on that arm. She kicked off her boots and removed her socks with her free hand. Then she pulled one foot close and kept the other one on the ground, lowered her head and began to rub it; her feet hurt so very much. She looked up at Mina sideways and smiled ruefully at her through her hair. Her voice was soft and curious as she spoke. She hoped that by now, Mina would realize it was possible that Senna might want to go with her.

“How does one open the door to Paradise?”

[Mina Silbetier]

Mina was enjoying the almost silent emotions that flowed from Senna. This new wolf seemed to have so many feelings flowing from her as if she had never felt such emotions before. There was a silent hope behind her eyes, and curiosity seemed to quietly flow from her entire being. Paradise intrigued the other female wolf, and she seemed to cling to every word Mina was saying.

Senna could learn so much. Mina could teach her so much. They both could be companions. The thought was almost startling to the gray wolf. She had met many wolves and few had stayed at her side for long. She did encourage all to go after Paradise, though. This was how all the wolves became united in the end. If all were looking for Paradise, then all would find the haven together.

Mina agreed with Senna, though. Most wolves had lost their way. Most were more worried about themselves than anything else. Wolves had become such selfish creatures. It was one thing for a wolf to look out for the pack, but when all wolves were acting like lone wolves there was something wrong. Wolves had to change their way of thinking. They had to overcome the obstacles humans placed in front of them and find their Paradise.

How did one open Paradise? At least Mina had Senna’s mind rolling with questions. Some questions Mina could not answer simply. Others she could answer with truths. Opening Paradise was a tricking subject that most wolves did not know the answer to. Really, no one knew the exact answer. Nobles, of course, thought they knew everything especially when it came to opening the gates.

“I am not exactly sure how to open Paradise. All I know is to follow my nose and let my legs do the running, and I shall be rewarded. I know that wolves are the only ones who are able to find and open the gates. They say the lunar flowers lead our noses to Paradise. I think the lunar flowers are the key to really opening the gates, but I cannot be so sure.”

[redmoonbaby]

The truth shall set you free…

“Lunar… flowers?”

She wondered about what she could mean by that as she looked down at her human toes with a puzzled expression, her eyes slightly narrowed, her hair covering her face. She probably looked ridiculous with her dirty and torn up white dress, which really couldn’t be considered white anymore; she was confused, and well, Senna didn’t like being confused. She has spent too much of her time being confused about so many things about herself and life; and this was the first time she was getting answers, finally; the truth.

Senna sat back as she contemplated what this could mean before actually getting an answer; or if Mina didn’t know the answer to it herself. How can a flower open a door? It didn’t make sense to her, or perhaps she was looking at it too literally and needed to think allegorically. Maybe the flower had some kind of power within that opened the door and it was its key to opening the lock. And was the flower actually a real flower? Metaphorically, it could be anything that has to do with something or someone important. Perhaps there was no real answer and that it must be found out by the heart of the wolf; that they would figure it out when the time comes. Or maybe it was the other way around and it would be revealed to them. Maybe, as Mina said, if they just kept running and follow their nose, they will be rewarded with the answer to get to Paradise.

So if she did decide to go on this search for Paradise with Mina, that is what could be expected at the end and it wasn’t just an ordinary and meaningless journey; that they weren’t just running to run, smelling to smell, and fighting to fight. There was a purpose to all of this and all she had to do was go. And she would be Mina’s companion. She would learn so much about being a wolf. She would get to know what its like to be free, to run wild, to howl at the moon at night, like a bona fide wolf.

“I’m not exactly sure what you meant by that… but,” Senna leaned back on her hands as she looked at Mina with a bright and genuine smile tilting her head to the side, her cheeks slightly rosy from blushing, her heart accelerated from the anticipation of asking what she was about to ask, “What would you say if I wanted to go with you?”

[Mina Silbetier]

Senna wanted to come with her. Mina’s heart could not help but to warm. A smile even passed over her lips. Finding another wolf to join into the journey to Paradise was delightful and exciting. The gray wolf had no problem with the other female wolf coming with her. They could both run as a unit. They both could find Paradise and open the doors to destiny.

“Of course, you can come with me, Senna,” she said to her as she relaxed into the cushions of the couch. “The more wolves going to Paradise, the better. Maybe we can get all of the wolves to go. We can be one huge pack, and we would be unstoppable. No hunter would be able to stop us.”

Mina let out a content sigh as her eyes closed a bit. Her body was pushing her closer and closer to sleep, but her mind kept wanting her to speak about Paradise and what may await. The more she thought about finding Paradise, the happier she seemed to get. Her dreams would be of Paradise, of the green grass that stretched on forever, and of the hunt that awaited them all.

“Lunar flowers are what open the gates. They are what lead our noses.” She let out a small yawn. “Lunar flowers bloom under a full moon. I have had dreams of them. Of running through a field of blooming white flowers. The scent that I have been following, it is of a lunar flower. A smell so sweet and wonderful that nothing comes close to comparing.”

Her dark eyes fully closed as her head limply fell against the arm of the couch. Mina soon fell into sleep, unable to stop herself from drifting off. Her dreams came quickly. She was no longer an injured; she was a wolf full of energy and running down a long field.

[redmoonbaby]

Senna was overjoyed at her response; but really tried hard not to shout up with joy, so that she didn’t have to wake up the poor kid that was sleeping. Senna watched her as he spoke, and as exhaustion finally caught up with her and pulled her into dream lore land. When she spoke about all the wolves coming together into a giant pack, although it was a nice dream to have, it was perceptibly unlikely. Although Senna was a visionary, Mina’s imaginings were much bigger, perhaps a little too big. But it was okay. Senna was not about to say anything like that; it would be rude. But she found it cute, and she smiled kindly.
She listened when Mina drowsily began to explain briefly something about the lunar flower, but she quickly sank into sleep. Senna stood up and pulled out a blanket from under the couch and put it over the sleeping Mina. She was quite the beauty when she slept, her expression smooth, looking totally at peace, unlike in real life.

Senna laid back down on the couch next to Mina into a fetal position, her head almost hanging off of the side. She stared into space, imagining what paradise would be like. She imagines vast fields of fresh green grass wet with morning dew at dawn, fields of flowers of all kinds from all the corners of the world, and cosmic beautiful forests flourishing in vegetation and animal life, and plenty of game for hunting; streams of fresh water rolling and curving along with the hills of the land. Then she imagined what a lunar flower might look like; a white lily, surpassing the beauty and scent of any flower out there. And she was gone; she was a strong healthy dark wolf with luminous golden eyes reflecting the brilliance of the sun. She was running through the vast valleys, tongue hanging out, the happiest feeling in the universe deep inside of her, swelling in her chest, warming her heart; Senna, too, had fallen into the authority of much needed slumber.

There were several brief seconds where the homeless boy remained as quiet as possible listening to their breathing to make sure they were really asleep; he opened one eye carefully and paused. Then he opened his other eye as he crawled his way up to the other side of the couch where the girls slept. He puts his face in theirs poking each one once or twice before confirming they were both deep into sleep. Then he jumped up, unlocked the door as carefully and silently as possible closing it just the same, and ran right out…. His objective not very positive…