Today's Tomorrow

[Hoshiko]

<sub>She hadn't stopped since they had left. And to tell you the truth, Fukkatsu was getting a bit annoyed. It wasn't that he couldn't keep up, no. It was that he knew Jostli, and it bothered him that she could be so easily worked up, not to mention unable to cool down. Even now, as he thought about it, it wasn't so much all that. It was that she was ignoring him.

Talons gripped the rocks beneath him, frowning up at the white fea who had already reached the top. His paws ached, his muscles burned, and frustration throbbed within him. An irritated growl rumbled within his throat, but did not escape. His muscles tensed, and his stomach clenched as he hauled himself forward. Large pads connected with the finaly boulder, and powerful back legs hoisted himself up. Leaping from the side, he found himself atop the ledge, a beautiful sight before him.

Sapphire eyes swept over the scenery before him, features suddenly becoming monotone. Muscles instantly relaxed, and he had seemed to loose conscience to everything - even Jostli. Eyes shifted towards the East, nares flaring lightly. Slowly, they traveled Southward, and then shifted towards the West. Night had already fallen, and the moon, which was nearly full, shone down upon them, illuminating the land in a darkened beauty of purples, blues, blacks, and grays.

A sigh escaped him, and he blinked. Gaze shifted towards the white fea. Features softened, and pelt was shaken lightly. Weary pads pulled him forward, and he came to a stop beside her. Gently, his nose pressed against her neck, a large paw gently brushing her front foreleg. A troubled whine escaped him, the large gray wolf slowly sitting. Gaze shifted to the ground, slowly mulling over his thoughts, before...

"You alright?"</sub>

[Ashers]

<sup>She had reclined upon haunches long before the brujo joined her, the last hints of the day being drowned away with the coming of night.

The moon shone down brightly causing her pelt to glow eerily, her emerald optics dancing within the blanket of whiteness.

She was troubled and at the moment she didn't much feel like herself. His touch caught her offguard and she shifted slightly leftwards, removing herself from his touch.

Gaze was locked forwards as her lips parted, soft voice being pushed through her vocals.

"How do you know my brother."

It was more of a demand than a question. More of a statement than a reply. Perhaps she was losing her memory, or perhaps she was merely going insane. 'Aither way her memory was a bit foggy.

The member of the Kryptic Shadow's wolf pack had become fuzzy within her memory, the torcherous months after her 'accident' doing all but helping improve her past memories.

She could clearly recall Fukkatsu coming to the lands and the talk of war. However, she did not remember how she had felt about him. How close they had gotten.

A soft sigh escaped her muzzle as she shifted her weight to a more favorable side, thoughts running away with her once more.

They had left Kryptic Shadows shortly after her brother's 'throning' and paid a visit to Malachia. It had been there her brother had reunited with Rio, a long since family friend. Only when her brother thought that the land once more held possibility for life had they returned, a very few of the original pack members returning with them.

This would be their second start and she was unsure how she felt. Within one day she had already greeted a'many of wolven and within them one had already got underneath her skin. Maybe she didn't know herself as well as she thought she did.

At one time she had been carefree, never suspecting anything of anyone. In the past everyone had been on her side and yet here she was, doubting the one person she couldn't even figure out her feelings for. She couldn't exactly recall what had happened to make her feel that way but she had a feeling the dead terra wasn't the only thing that drove Vulcan away. Vulcan was stronger than that, he wasn't afraid nor was he a fool, and if he had been acting on ignorance wouldn't have Akuma been the first one to confront him?

She shifted yet again, not liking this new unsure side of herself. It had been a long and grueling five months and just when she had began to feel 'normal' again all this came crashing down on her.

Something about Fukkatsu both attracted and repelled her, but what bothered her the most was the unknowing of the repellment. What had happened so long ago that made her doubt him? And if it was that big of a deal why was it that she still trusted him?

She was unsure and hesitantly her gaze met his, emerald optics overflowing with emotions. Uncertainty seemed to be the most apparent followed by worry and pain, not to mention anger and hurt, and even as they all swirled within her vision they suddenly could be found dropping out, one by one, until there was nothing left, only a blank, emotionless stare.

Fukkatsu didn't know about what had happened, and frankly she was unsure why he was even here now. Had he patrolled the borders awaiting their return? Or had he simply showed up the same time as they did? And if that was the case did he know something she did not?

The questions both hurt and startled her and thus she forced them away, her gaze returning to the moon bathed land.</sup>

[Hoshiko]

<sub>When she pulled away, it hurt. Something inside of him cringed, recoiled from a sudden stab of pain. He could feel it, squeezing, ripping, tearing at him. However, that was immediatly washed away with her words and the emotions that entered her features.

Inwardly, he tensed. By the looks of it, she was compelled to the middle, trusting, and yet unable to trust. Perhaps it was sibling protectiveness, he wouldn't know. Jostli's carefree-ness was to play an essential part, he knew this. He had been told not to get close, he knew. But somehow, along the lines, he'd grown attached to her. She had what he didn't...

Love.

He watched slowly as her emotions drained from her features, and he became monotone. Perhaps she was curious as to his sudden change in attitude, the darker side that he had yet to allow escape. It scared him, actually, that he could be so melancholy and calm, and the next, dangerous and deadly.

He had worked far too long for this to be ruined, and besides... He had promised. He had sworn. On his life, at that. He couldn't turn back now.

Talons gripped the Earth, and he suddenly smiled. It was a weak smile, a torn one, perhaps one with slight regret. Perhaps no one can say for sure, but the base of the smile was despair. He had nothing left to go back to, therefore...

He shrugged lightly, a sigh escaping him as his gaze rose to the heavens in wonderment. At least, he'd be able to speak the truth this time. Maybe.

"Ah, it was when I had first arrived. I believe he had come to check on you. I happened to be with you, and we introduced. I didn't see him that much, but I did see him here and there. He usually keeps to himself."

Gray pelt was shaken lightly, gaze traveling dowards towards the terra below him. The sapphire shifted lightly to the stormy blue, and he was silent, tone low and serious.

"You don't trust me, do you, Jostli."

It was more of a statment than a question. Since they had returned, he felt that she wouldn't trust him. He had worked far too hard, and it was complete bull that she would loose even a little trust within him. And truthfully, that pissed him off.

Eyes shifted from their dark blue, and hovered in a mixed light and dark. Muscles tensed once more, before they slowly relaxed, another sigh escaping him.

"I don't know what I could have done to misuse your trust, but... Whatever it was, I'm sorry."

Even as he spoke, his heart shattered.</sub>

[Ashers]

<sup>She was silent for a long moment, her white pelt being blown sideways in the light breeze.

"It is not you. Alot of things have come to pass Fukkatsu and I do not know what to think. I am no longer a little girl and I resent my brothers for treating me like such. I deserve the right to know what is happening within the terra and yet they keep me in the dark, even now. Something is bothering Vulcan. I can feel it, and yet.."

She stopped here, emerald vision being turned upon him.

"You have done nothing to be sorry for, but I think it'd be best if you left."

Talons made a soft scraping sound as she pulled herself upon all fours, shaking her pelt before turning and disapearing into the small cave.

A few circles were made before she finally layed down, a soft sigh escaping her blackened lips as she rested her muzzle upon paws. She didn't like this unknowing feeling. Who was she to talk to? And who was she to not? If she couldn't trust her only brothers to be honest then who could she trust?

Emerald optics shown brightly even within the darkened cave and anger licked hungrily within the twin orbs before slowly dieing, her lids drifting downwards and blocking her gaze.

She would make a point to find Akuma tomorrow. He would tell her what had happened in those months before they left.

Or so she hoped..


/END/</sup>

[Hoshiko]

<sub>He stared silently after her. Features were emotionless as he gazed silently into the darkness. Instantly, anger boiled, and he rose upon all fours. A low growl rumbled within his throat, but he stopped himself before it escaped.

It was better this way. So long as she wasn't close...

Even as the thoughts crossed his mind, it tore at him once more. Sapphire pools gazed after her, and head lowered lightly, optics burning within the darkness, reflecting the moonlight.

Fate was far too cruel.

He turned, slowly, gray pelt being shaken lightly. A quiet sigh escaped him, talons clicking lightly upon the cold ground. Head rose, auds pricking lightly as his gaze was set sternly forward, seeing beyond what was seen. Perhaps...

"It's better to hate me."

And with that, he set off down the ledge.</sub>