Kabian listened to the howl. It was weak and far away. But it drew his heart towards it. Somehow it was compelling him to want to go seeking it.

Dawn was rapidly approaching, and with it their chance of remaining hidden would vanish. The creatures had gotten away from him during the night. They had slipped past when the wolves from Oak Wood and Crystal Glade had attacked.

The howl was weak, but it spoke of fear, fear of things unknown. He paced along the edge of the trees, trying to decide what to do.

They had moved a bit further south of where the creatures were waiting on the Sands. He needed to be able to think clearly, and to do that he needed to be on the Sands. Something about this spot seemed to calm him down.

More than just this single howl worried him. They had heard the mourning howl earlier too, coming from where Koga had gone during the night. He was back now, and awaiting Kabian’s orders.

There had been no noticeable sounds coming from the south. He could only imagine what had happened to Yoshi and the wolves that gone with him. If he had the time, he would head down and find out for himself.

But this latest howl seemed more urgent. It made him think that the creatures they had lost were causing trouble inland. He looked around for the other wolves, trying to find Koga and Estumi from within their midst.

They had lost a few wolves now. Not many from what he could tell, but Koga definitely appeared to be mourning their loss. More were injured, and some were struggling to run.

He found the two he was looking for over to one side, just within the embrace of the forest. He made his way too them. He needed their advice before he made decisions.

“Koga, Estumi, please talk with me a moment.”

“Of course, Kabian. I will always be able to make time to speak with you.”

Koga was as always pleasant to speak to. But Kabian had the feeling he knew more about each situation than he was letting on.

“I can hear a howl in the distance.”

“Yes, we hear it too. We were just discussing what its significance might be.”

“Well, Koga, I believe it to be due to the creatures we lost track of during the night.”

“Yes, that is the main possibility we have been considering. We also considered that it might be the creature I fought with. The one that fled into the trees. And then there were the creatures Yoshi was tracking. We have had no word from him as of yet.”

“They are all very well Koga. But it doesn’t matter which group of creatures it is. What matters is I believe we need to go and look into what is going on. Maybe we can help whoever is howling.”

“I couldn’t agree more, Kabian. A wise choice.”

Estumi bowed her head towards Koga, and then Kabian.

“Excuse me; I am exhausted from the chase earlier. Kabian, you are young and quick to regain your strength. I am not, and neither are many who ran with us. I would ask that we be left down here, where we can rest.”

Koga nodded as Estumi spoke, but looked towards Kabian for an answer. It seemed the wily wolf was pushing things onto Kabian more and more.

“Estumi, if you need to have rest, then take it. Koga and I can deal with what is happening.”

“True, Kabian. Estumi, please stay here and give the others your wisdom. Kabian and I will take but a few wolves, and look into the howl. With the sun peaking over the horizon soon I would feel safer with fewer wolves at our heels. Estumi, just remember, when the sun rises into the sky, keep everyone from the Sands. They have not been names the Hot Sands for no reason.

Kabian, I believe there is no time like the present then. Let us make our way into the forest.”

Koga moved off quickly before he could react and barked a few quick orders. Three wolves moved away from the others and came to the tree line. Koga nodded in Kabian’s direction, and the young wolf made his way over.

“I feel sun will overtake us before we get too far. We will need to move fast.”

That being said they took off into the forest in the predawn.

They followed where they had heard the howl coming from, and the further they went into the forest, the more Kabian realised where it was they were going. He told himself to worry about it later though, for now he had to keep up with the fast paced Koga.

The sun was quick to rise, and Kabian stumbled at the light shone through the branches of the trees and disorientated him. For a brief moment he could barely see as the sky went from night to day. But the moment passed as moments do and he was on his way again.

The new day brought life back to the deathly silent forest of the night. There had been some birds making their calls, and a few deer roaming around. But mostly the creatures had stayed away from where any of the fighting was.

But now it was teeming with like. Squirrels scampered along just in front of them. Moving out of the way quickly to avoid being trampled. Birds took flight now, and chirped their merry tunes. The forest was alive with its creatures.

The sun rose higher as they finally made their way into the clearing that he knew was coming. The clearing surrounding the knoll of the Oak Wood Clan. He had been here before, when he first tried to join their clan. The memory of his defeat by Poi was burnt into his mind, and nothing would shift it.

They skirted the edges of the clearing for a bit, to make sure none of the creatures were there. From what they could tell none had been here for a little while.

Around the top of the knoll all the wolves were gathering in close.

Kabian watched them closely, seeing what he could of it before he made his way from the safety of the trees.

The wolves seemed to sense something. The started sniffing at the air and spread out a little. They moved a little down the knoll on all sides. The middle parted and Kabian could see in clearly now.

At the very peak of the knoll stood Poi. His head was raised high and he seemed to be looking down upon the other wolves. He looked to be barking orders, and some of the wolves close to him moved through the pack and further down.

Kabian listened as they got below the pack and starting barking and growling. The other wolves drew back sharply and bunched in together again. They started moving back up the knoll, crowding around Poi again. The wolves continued to bark commands and stayed just down the knoll a little.

Kabian looked across to see Koga shaking his head from side to side, and a sadness in his eyes. Koga spoke very lowly to Kabian, so as not to be heard by the wolves on the knoll.

“There is something wrong here. Something very wrong.”

Kabian looked back out at the crowd on the knoll again before replying.

“It feels like something is missing, Koga.”

“I think you may have it there Kabian. Lets take a look around before we head into the clearing.”

Koga motioned with his head for Kabian to follow, then moved off slowly around the knoll. Nothing seemed too out of place until they reached entrance to the den.

One wolf lay dead just before the entrance, its side ripped apart, most likely from one of the thunder sticks. The ground around the entrance was scratched and scuffed. The creatures had spent most of their time in front of the den. Paw prints obscured many of the boot prints now though.

Kabian sniffed at the air, trying to sense a trail long since gone cold. The trails seemed to appear before his eyes like small clouds, twisting around each other. Some thick, some thin and stretched out. These must be the older trails, the ones he was having difficulty picking up.

It was very faint, but he could sense. He could smell Tobi in the area before him. He stepped forward, just out of the trees, trying to get a better hold of the scent. He took another step forward, edging his way to where it seemed something heavy had sat. The scent was strongest near there.

So focused on the scent he was that he didnt notice the wolves coming down the knoll until they were atop him, barking loudly. He startled and shook his head. He lost the scent and moved around as if trying to find it again. But the barking started again.

“Stop where you are Outcast!”

Kabian pulled his body close to the ground and stretched his neck so he could look up. Standing above him, on a rock sitting at the top of the den entrance, was a familair face.

Poi snarled down at Kabian, spitting off to one side as if in disgust.

“Scavenger! Get away from our den. Theres nothing there for you.”

The rest of the wolves seemed to be following Poi's lead, freely or not it was hard to tell. They all still wished for Kabian to leave.

But he could not. He was so close to the scent. He scurried forward a little, trying to find the scent again. He was sure if he picked it up he could find her. The smell was distressed, and made him think there was something troubling her.

“You dont listen do you!”

Poi took a step back then leapt from the rock, directly for Kabian. He landed a few paces before Kabian and went to charge him, but halted himself short. Skidding on his heels as Koga stepped between Poi and Kabian.

“Stand down Poi.”

Poi growled at Koga but moved back. He stopped a few paces away before turning, sniffing the air behind him.

“What is that I smell Koga? Scent of Oucast?”

He chuckled to himself, and a few others joined in, mostly the younger wolves.

“Dont tell me your allowing this runt to tell you what to do?”

“Watch who you talk to Poi. I am still your superior!”

Koga stood with his chest out proudly. A few of the wolves in the pack around them started murmuring and throwing glances in his direction, followed by Kabian's direction.

Poi whipped around sharply, and his teeth were barred to the gums. As he growled spittle flew everywhere, and the anger in his words was apparent.

“Not any more Koga! I control Oak Wood now!”

A few of the wolves around him threw up a cheerful howl. But not as many as he had obviously hoped for, as Poi's eyes suddenly grew wary. He continued on his tirade at Koga though.

“Get off my land now! You do not belong in Oak Wood Territory. We are about to mourn the loss of our previous leader, and welcome in a new one!”

Koga's eyes took on a look of surprise.

“Last I had seen Kamide was ill, a deer antler half in his side. But he was far from dead.”

Koga remained calm, and this seemed to enrage Poi even more.

“Well little wolf. While you are off galavanting around with this outcast our dying leader was taken by the creatures!”

“And what were you doing while this was happening Poi? Surely you are more than a match for these creatures.”

Poi hesitated, his growls seeming to come in starts now.

“I... uh... I was... I was off hunting.”

He raised his chest proudly.

“I was off hunting, and could not be hear to protect our beloved leader.”

From within the crowd surrounding them a bark was let out.

“Yeah Poi, and we know what you were hunting. Or should we say who?”

Poi nodded to one of the young wolves marking the edge of the crowd, and it ducked within, the sound of a high pitched yelp coming shortly after.

“No need to hide it Poi. We know now where you were. But maybe you should speak to Kabian. Since he is my Clan leader now I suggest you start addressing him with your... concerns... rather than me.”

Poi smiled a broad grin and moved a little around Koga to where Kabian was still sniffing at the ground. Poi dragged his paw through the dirt and threw some at Kabian's head.

Kabian shook for a moment to remove the dust from his fur, then quickly rounded on. He may have been looking for a scent, but he had still heard what was going on. His pulled his lips back from his teeth and the hackled on the back of his neck rose sharply. He looked Poi directly in the eyes. The were likely and even match for power now.

“So it was you Poi? It was you who made us lose the creatures we were trailing? The creatures that eventually came here to take Kamide? You have caused all this Poi, and you will answer for it.”

Poi stared back defiantly, but he hadn't expected Kabian to stand up to him so readily.

“I do what I must to survive Outcast. And right now, I challenge you.”

Koga spoke briefly, but stayed away from the two wolves.

“Kabian, becareful.”

“I accept, for the honour of the Blood Mist Clan. But before we fight I must know one thing. Where is Tobi? I do not see her around us.”

Poi turned away from kabian and walked to the edge of the circle. He laughed out loud as he began to answer.

“Oh, she was taken with Kamide. She was always looking after him, keeping the dying old sod alive. And now they have been taken together.”

Kabian growled low and darted forward to strike at Poi. But Koga dashed forward as well, charging his shoulder into Kabian and sending him flying to the side.

The scene caused Poi to laugh even louder, and a few other wolves to join in the laughing as well. But there was a trend, and Koga could deifinitely see it. He came in close to Kabian and whispered low and directly into his ear.

“Normally I would be all for taking Poi a peg or two down. But we have more important matters now. And I think we have friends where we dont expect any.”

Kabian tried to listen, but his heart was aching. Aching from the knowledge that Tobi was in the hands of the horrible creatures that had been killing everything around them. He lay on the ground, unwilling to get up. Here before him was the wolf responsible for Tobi being captured, and Koga had stopped him from doing anything.

Koga then spoke loudly for all the other wolves to hear.

“Kabian, we cannot waste time with this ruffian. You must find Kamide and Tobi.”

Poi's head was brought around sharply and his eyes narrowed. He started looking at the crowd though, watching for their reaction. It was not favourable to him though, so he took steps to try and rectify this.

“Koga! Stand aside. He accpeted my challenge for leadership! He must abide by it.”

“But Poi, you are not yet leader. Kamide has to be dead first. And currently he is still alive. And there is a chance to save him.”

Poi moved closer to the two, but Koga stood firmly over the top of Kabian. A noise around the edges drew their attention though.

The wolves on the outside suddenly rushed into the middle, pushing aside Poi's thugs, and standing in a line between Koga and Poi. The faced Poi and stood staring at him. One towards the centre started to speak.

“Koga tells the words turthfully Poi. You are not clan leader yet. And unless you run now, you wont even survive to see noon.”

The wolves growled menacingly at Poi, who took their advice and turned from the clearing. He looked over at Kabian again, who was now starting to stand.

“I will have my revenge against you Kabian! Oucast! I should have killed you when you first came to us!”

The wolves protecting Kabian took a few steps forward and he turned and fled. Some of the other wolves followed. The young wolves, the ones who had tried threatening the older one. Some were chased off, but others left willingly. The wolves in the middle looked like they could hold a grudge.

The one who had spoken before turned around to look at Koga.

“Koga, old friend, do you speak the truth. Will you search for Kamide?”

“Didnt you take your time Hinjo.”

Koga let out a short laugh, and the wolf called Hinjo twisted a paw in the dirt.

“Sorry about that Koga. But we had to be sure you would not be on Poi's side.”

“I understand old one. And to answer your question, yes, I do speak the turth. Kabian here will seek out Kamide.”

Hinjo looked a little downcast.

“Oh. I had thought you would do it. But I suppose we must rely on this pup then.”

“Hinjo, I think the Clan Leader of the Blood Mist Clan deserves more respect than that.”

“Yes, you are right Koga. We apologise Kabian. We have no right to treat you the way we have. Yes Poi beat you and drove you off. But what happened then happened. It has no bearing on the now. If Koga trusts you, then so we must.”

Hinjo bowed his head low and Kabian looked across at Koga.

“I understand, friend Hinjo. There is no need for this. Time grows short. Her scent grows feint.”

Koga laughed at Kabian quickly while Hinjo looked at him with raised eyes. Koga moved in close to Hinjo and spoke quietly to him.

“He senses Tobi, not Kamide. You knew she was taking him meat didnt you?”

“Yes we did. She always had a soft spot for him. Kamide listened to her too, and we were ready to come to his aid. But Poi made us drive his messenger off.”

“At least that is better than what Crystal Glade did. They have killed four wolves already.”

“Poi's influence I am afraid. He promises them our lands.”

Koga nodded and watched as Kabian found the scent again.

“This way, quickly, I found her again. We must hurry.”

Koga nodded.

“I cannot go Kabian. Take Hinjo and the Oak Wood wolves though. I must find Sugano and warn him. I could smell the creatures had moved off further in the woods.”

“Yes they did,” Hinjo spoke to Koga quickly, “one lot left for the cliffs, while the others took Kamide and Tobi and went back to the Hot Sands.”

“Then follow Kabian, old friend. He will lead you straight to them. When you have them, bring them to the meeting place. We will be waiting there, watching these creatures no doubt.”

He called to Kabian quickly, who had already started off into the forest.

“Do nothing while the sun is high Kabian. Wait til dusk settles in.”

Koga turned then and took the Blood Mist wolves that were with him and left for the north.

Hinjo took a fleeting look in Koga's direction before turning to follow Kabian. The other wolves came too. They werent a full pack. But there was enough of them. A few went ahead, scouting for danger, while others watchied the back trail. They needed to find Kamide soon, he was on his last legs.

* * *

Yoshi's eyes opened into the bright sunlight. He blinked as they adjusted from the darkness of being closed to the sudden brightness of the sun fully above the horizon.

Memories of the previous night came flooding back to him. The fire, the crushing blows from the deer, and the strange creatures. The last he remembered was blacking out in front of one of the creatures.

Pain flared along his side, but it seemed subdued. He tried to twist but something resisted him. It was then he noticed the cloth wrapping around him. Was he a captive now? He considered this might be one posibility.

But something shifted under the cloth. Leaves, flowers, something he couldnt quite sense. He sniffed at it and realised it was deifintely plants. They were helping the bruising in his side. His body felt so stiff.

He pushed himself though, and evetually came to a standing position. He was unsteady though, swaying a little. Burning caught his nose. He turned his head around as far as it would go with his wounds.

There was driftwood piled on the ground, and it was smoldering as if had been on fire. It was only a small pile though, and it still gave off some warmth. It may have comforted him doing the night, but now it was irriating.

The pads on his paws started to ache. They were burning. The sun was up above the trees and he was standing on the Hot Sands. He would not be able to last there much longer, but he could barely stand, let alone walk.

Another smell caught his nose. He hadnt sensed it before, it had been as if it was never there, part of his surroundings. He raised his head from the smoldering driftwood and looked at the creature cowering not too far away.

He bared his teeth and the hackles rose on the back of his neck. What wasnt held down by the cloth that was. He growled shortly and sharply at the creature.

“You have caused me so many problems, creature. Time to be done with you!”

The creature cowered back some more, bringing itself into a small ball as if trying to make itself vanish.

Suddenly it growled back at.

“Why?”

Its accent was strange, but Yoshi could understand it. He was taken aback. Yoshi took a few steps backwards, away from the creature.

The creature looked just as confused. It looked at its own hands and was touching its face. Its eyes were wide and staring. It then looked at Yoshi. Again it spoke in the tongue of the wolves, growling and whining as if it had known the language all along.

“Did I just understand you? Do you understand me?”

Yoshi took some more steps back then growled deeply and fiercely.

“What is this trickery? You are not a wolf. How can it be you speak our tongue, creature from the water?”

The creature brought itself to a standing position. It still held its arms out as if trying to lift some weight. It looked from one hand to another.

“Wolf? What is a wolf? And why are you calling me creature? You are the animal here, or maybe you are a daemon, speaking my language. Or forcing me to speak yours?”

“Enough of this! There is no way you could be speaking to me. I must be hallucinating. Its the heat from the Sands. I must get to the trees.”

Yoshi turned and tried to take a few steps towards the forest, but he didnt make it far before he crashed into the burning hot sand. The creature came a stood over him.

“If I can get you to the shade of the trees, will you stay and speak with me? I have questions for you.”

Yoshi twisted his head a little, but it fell back to the sand. He tried to stand, but couldnt. He nodded to the creature.

“Yes. Just get me to the trees. Get me off the Sands.”

The creature bent down and its arms snaked under Yoshi, through the sand. With some effort anf grunting it managed to lift Yoshi off the ground.

“Your not as heavy as I thought you would be.”

The comment surprised Yoshi a little, but he didnt quite understand what he meant. How was he supposed to weigh more than he does?

The creature walked towards the forest, placing one foot before the other with care so as not to shift Yoshi around too much. It seemed to be taking great care not to jolt his injuries too much.

Once beneathe the shade of the tree it reached down and laid Yoshi on the ground. He stretched in the shade. The creature sat at the base of one of the tree, huffing a bit from the effort it took getting Yoshi there. It sat with its back against the tree.

“So you'll answer my questions now?”

Its accent was getting better. As if he was a wolf cub first learning to speak.

“Fine. I dont think I could go anywhere yet. Not with this cloth wrapped around me.”

“Oh, that is a bandage.”

The word seemed strange in Yoshi's ears. He understood what was said, but he had never used the word itself before. He raised an eyebrow and tilted his head a little.

“It is cloth that I have wrapped around your wounds, to hold the poultice in place. It will draw out the swelling. I will take it off soon, and you should be able to walk.”

“Why would you do such a thing?”

“You saved my life. It was all I could do to repay you.”

“I... had not realised. Now it seems you have saved me in turn.”

“Deer?”

“Yes, the forest fire had driven them to the Sands. I did my best to hide, but it wasnt enough. What happened to the fire?”

“I put it out. Or more importantly, I used the power provided by Volg to bring all the fire to one spot. Then the spot slowly shrunk until the fire was gone.”

“Is that why the creatures were chasing you?”

“Yes. They had hoped to shoot down more of you daemons. And will you stop calling me a creature. You make me feel as if I am an animal.”

Yoshi chuckled a little.

“I will stop calling you creature if you stop calling me animal or daemon. I am Yoshi, and proud of it! But what am I to call you.”

The creature was puzzled. Yoshi was sure of it by the way it reached up to scratch the small amount of hair on its head.

“Yoshi is what you are? But what was that you said about wolf before? Can you explain that to me?”

“Yoshi is my name you stupid creature. You have no understanding do you? And a wolf is what I am.”

A light seemed to spark behind the creatures eyes, and it slowly shifted itself closer to Yoshi.

“Ah, I think I am beggining to understand. But not entirely. Ok then, Yoshi, my name is Tristram. And I am a human. Surely you know of us.”

Yoshi shook his head delicately, pain flew through it, but he fought it down.

“I have never seen anything like you before... Tristram. I feel I am confused by this as you are. Ask your questions quick, I need to get back to my clan.”

“I would ask them, but every time I speak with you more questions rise. Let me ask what I think is the most important. Why do you attack us?”

“HA! We attack you? You come to our land, destroy our forest, and kill my brothers and sisters. Then ask why we attack you? Come up with a smarter question that doesnt prove your ignorance.”

They sat in silence for some time. Birds sung their songs around them and the sun slowly rose higher.

“Ok then, I think I have one Yoshi.”

“Spit it out then. I wish to get going.”

“What would make you stop attacking us?”

“Oooo, you can think can you? Well, I might have an answer to that, but it would be incomplete. Leaving would be one way to stop us. Then there wouldnt be anyone for us to attack. But I dont think that is going to happen. When your all dead, then there wont be anyone for us to attack,” Yoshi let the growls hang in the air.

“You want to say more about it?”

“Well, you could speak with Kabian.”

“Who is Kabian?”

“He is the wolf given the instruction to defend our land. He was asked to drive you humans back from our shores.”

“Then I must speak with him. Maybe we can stop the senseless bloodshed. Where can we find him?”

Tirstram seemed to be in a mad panic now. The prospect of stopping the killing seemed to be something he wished above all else. Yoshi wished he could help the human more, but he could not at the moment.

“If I knew I would take you to him. But right now it is time for my questions. Why did you come to our island?”

“I am not exactly sure. It does seem a strange set of circumstances when I look back at it. But currently we are here to capture one of you. Except, thats not why I am here. The Head priest of Volg wanted me to come. But he would not say why. He just told me to trust my instincts.”

“Well, I think you are doing that. I do not understand how you could speak the language of the wolves without understanding the way we think. But why would you want to capture one of us?”

“Someone paid them money to do it.”

Another strange word, one he could not place, it just seemed to not fit anywhere in the culture of the wolves. Yoshi shook his head to clear his mind. It was not good to dwell on things like that.

“I only have two questions left for you, Tristram the Human.”

“Ask away my friend. I will answer if I can.”

Yoshi was a little taken aback by being called friend. He did not see how the creatures they had tried to kill, these humans, could think of themselves as friends of the wolves. But this one seemed to think he could.

“Firstly. How can you speak like a wolf? Surely you could have done so when you landed here. We might stopped most of what is going on. And secondly. When will you take this infernal bandage off me?”

The last words came out of his gritted teeth very harsh, the growl floating on the air for a long time. But Tristram just laughed at Yoshi's discomfort.

“Ok, ok, I will take it off if it is causing you that much discomfort.”

Tristram moved over the Yoshi and felt around at his belly. Slowly Yoshi could feel the pressure on his side ease as tristram wound the bandage around and around Yoshi's body. As he removed it he spoke.

“And as with the speaking? Well, I am not sure. I have never been able to that any time before this morning. All I remember was drifting off to sleep just before dawn broke. I dreamt, but this one seemed strange.

It was very vivid, the colours seemed solid. The world around me shifted though, turn one way then another, as if trying to distort my vision. I could see things though. It was a forest. One much like this, but thicker. A man was standing before me, and I felt as if I knew him. He touched me on the head and the world stopped shifting.

I could see everything clearly. The trees, the birds, the dirt of the ground. And I looked at the man again. He was a hunter, clad in leather, and carrying all sorts of hunting weapons. I still felt a familiarity with him, but I could not place it.

He then held his hand off to the side, directing my view. I looked where he showed, but the forest I had seen before was no longer there. Instead it was a clearing, with a creek flowing through the back of it. In the centre of the clearing though stood a dog, or so I thought. I believe now it was a wolf such as you.

It was different though. It was slightly bigger, but not by much. Its paws were huge. And its coat was a glittering gold colour, sparkling in the fake light of my dream. But it was dead, red blood all over the ground.

Protruding from it was a spear. The spear had pierced its side, and it had died. The man touched me again and I looked at him. He stared me in the eyes, and I looked into his. I got lost in there, they drew my gaze and were like a thick forest of vines and thorns, twisting around each other. Then he spoke into my dream.

Right my wrong.

Then I awoke to see you trying to stand.”

Tristram finished unwrapping the bandage from Yoshi's side and placed it to one side. He then peeled the poultice from the wolf's bruises.

Yoshi felt instantly better. There was no pressure anymore, and it was just as Tristram had said. The wounds were still there, a dark blue under his light grey fur, but they were not swollen as he had expected them to be.

“You make no sense Tristram. But if you follow me, I am sure we can find Kabian.”

Yoshi stood, feeling much better than he had earlier. Tristram also stood, and came to stand beside the wolf. Slowly and carefully they started walking into the forest, in the direction Yoshi had last seen Kabian.