A Noble's Pet

Losing the Flower

As the hours pass we have started to walk instead of running. Giant dead trees with branches and roots cover both the sky and the ground. I walk right behind Kiba in the front. I wish to say something to him about how he almost got killed while standing in front of Cheza, but I don't know how I'm going to start. No one has said anything for a good while and I suspect that no one really wants to say anything either.

"Man this place is depressing" Hige says in a try to break the silence. "I thought forests would be more alive, you know"

"It's the Forest of Death, remember" Toboe answers.

"That is the reason why humans can't follow us in here" Kiba says.

"Well, we don't have to relay on compasses or whatever" Hige says. "But shouldn't there at least be some animals? You know, like a rabbit or a fox"

"Rabbit, hu?" Toboe says with a sly look in his eyes. "In other words, you're hungry"

"Sue me, all right" Hige says annoyed and we stop walking, the rest of us looking at Hige and Toboe.

"We will probably come across a town once we're through this forest" Kiba says. "Just hang in there until then"

"If we make it out alive, that is" Tsume says and kicks a human skull.

At least someone else than me has doubts about going in this forest being a good idea. Toboe gets startled by the sight of the skull and takes a step back. He steps on a huge bug that angered flies away, but then returns towards the pup. It is about to fly right in his face, but Tsume grabs it and it squeals while trying to get free.

"There are plenty of bugs, though" he says as Toboe breathes out.

"Thanks a lot, Tsume" he says, looking up at him relieved.

"I've never seen a bug like this" Tsume says, looking at it more closely and then shoves it up in Hige's face. "Here. You are hungry, aren't you? Chow down!"

"Why the hell should I?" he asks Tsume offended and backs away.

"Because you got the strongest stomach, right?" Toboe says smiling, clearly enjoying this.

"Eat it!" Tsume says, still holding the bug towards Hige's face.

"I ain't your damn taster!" he answers him, starting to get mad. "And how come you are giving me orders? You aren't our leader or anything! Right?"

He looks at me, Cheza and Kiba hoping for some help from us, but Kiba and Cheza aren't saying anything and I can not help but to just standing smirking at it all. He sighs, but then grabs the bug from Tsume.

"Hey, I know" he says and runs from Tsume. "Lets give it to Cheza"

He stops right in front of her, holding the bug smiling, probably just happy that he won't have to be the one who eats it. But my smirk disappears and I tense up.

"I bet you are hungry, right?" he says, almost pushing it up in her face.

Kiba is there right away and hits the bug out of his hands so hard that it dies and it splashes as it hits the ground by our feet.

"Cheza does not eat bugs!" he says with stern voice, looking directly at Hige.

"How do you know?" he asks him getting angrier again.

"Bugs eats flowers, not the other way around, Hige" I say just as stern as Kiba.

"Well then" he says. "What should we feed her?"

"This one doesn't eat, anything" Cheza answers him.

"Not a thing?" Hige asks having a hard time to believe what he hears.