Well, this is my first story, so don't hurt me okay? Please? No flames, but I would enjoy seeing a review from all of you.

Disclaimer: We all know I do not own Final Fantasy VII, much less the characters. I do, however, claim ownership of all the characters I have made up. (Hoshiko, Aiden, Meena and Miara)

Specimen Alpha Chapter 1: What's a Human?

It started out like any other day. Nanaki always witnessed his father, Seto, waking up at the crack of dawn and heaving his heavily worked paws sleepily along the red sand of Cosmo Canyon. Seto always had a craving for knowledge of how the planet worked and everything around it, which is why every morning before Nanaki, Meena and Aiden awakened, Seto would journey to Bugenhagen's towering observatory.

Nanaki was usually too tired to wonder what his father was doing and he would typically snuggle his head back between his paws and continue sleeping against his mother, Hoshiko's, warm fur...but today his curiousity was tipped.

Maybe it was the fact that he was young. His youth always was the culprit for a lot of things he did wrong...what could make this time any different? If his father had a problem with his son following he'd cower and say it was an accident while simotaniously mustering the cutest puppy face. All would be fine afterward.

Nanaki imagined how his situation would go in his young head as he followed his father to "grandpa's lab".

The little puppy had never seen his grandpa's lab, and was filled with the youthful thirst to see, explore and observe. He wanted to see! Unfortunately, his thoughts were interrupted by a moment he had been dreading in his head. It was the moment he did not want to happen. He had only managed to follow his father just outside the den when he was caught.

"Nanaki, what are you doing up?"

His father's voice made his tail cower between his legs. His father was the greatest fighter among his tribe and Nanaki certainly did not want to test him out. Seto's dark eyes glared at Nanaki, they looked as cold as ice.

"Father...I..." Nanaki could feel the harsh angry vibe coming from his father. "I didn't know you wanted to be alone....forgive me."

"Go back to bed before Hoshiko misses you!!" Seto demanded, "You should not even be awake yet!" Seto spoke with a strong tone of contempt. A contempt that would only make Nanaki lose sight of the phrases he had imagined saying in this situation.

"I just...." Nanaki could feel himself stuttering. He tried to make the words come out, but they continued to perch on the tip of his tongue, unwilling to move.

Seto became impatient. He opened his mouth and roared with the power of a battle trumpet. "You just what?! Speak up Nanaki!! You better have some good reason for following me!!"

Nanaki could feel himself getting smaller and smaller. He began to feel foolish..and felt his father towering over him more than usual. He looked down at the ground, as if the sand had answers written in it.

"I just...uh...I...wanted..." Nanaki's usual quick wit had failed him now.

Seto's breathing turned to a growl as the sun drew higher in the sky.

"I just...I wanted to see..." Nanaki continued to attempt to keep himself calm and it worked up until Seto's response.

"To see what?! You better get moving back to your den..and get there before I turn back around! GO BACK NOW!!" Seto's roar sent Nanaki into a panic.

The little puppy began shaking and felt himself continuing to shrink in foolishness. He felt as though he was so small that he was like a drop in the pond he was standing in.

Pond? Nanaki had never recalled his feet being wet ever in the Cosmo Canyon sand, and in his same youthful curiousity he gazed below his feet to find his fear of his father had bothered him a little more than he would have liked.

Nanaki's red fur became even more flushed and he scurried away to the safety of Hoshiko's fur.

*~*~*~*~*

Luckily for Nanaki, none had heard nor seen his accident. Only him and Seto knew the story, and Nanaki intended to keep it that way. His biggest fear was that Miara would find out.

Miara and Nanaki had been friends since they were able to walk. They had been friends for six or seven years now, and Nanaki was starting to gather a slight liking to her...in a friendly way. She was very sociable and-next to his younger sister, Meena-was the most sought after cub to hang around with.

"......Nanaki!"

Nanaki was abruptly interrupted in his thoughts as Bugenhagen glared at him through his tiny sunglasses.

"Huh?" Nanaki responded like any other student would after waking up from a sleep, or great dream.

"Yes or no." Bugenhagen asked, floating around Nanaki ominously, exactly like an interrogator for any penal system.

"Uh...yes. Yes, of course." Nanaki spoke with great confidence. Typically, Bugenhagen's oral quizzings were answered with 'yes'.

Bugenhagen paused for a moment. He then took a solid breath and replied, "I'm sorry Nanaki, you are incorrect. Chocobos have not doubled in population, but rather remain the same...as only humans can aid in Chocobo reproduction."

Nanaki looked down mourningly. His ear curled back and he whimpered. He had just made a fool of himself in front of the whole class...much more....Miara.

Nanaki gazed over at her as she giggled very loudly. He had become victim of her degrading laugh. The laugh was usually music to his ears, but this time it felt like an ice pick was stabbing his heart...relentlessly.

Nanaki forced himself to remain calm during class and anxiously awaited Bugenhagen's dismissal.

Once the long awaited moment came it was near sunset. Chances were high that Hoshiko would have some of the fresh meat for him and his family, and Nanaki's stomach could not wait to take it in.

The little red cub scurried hurriedly to his den where he found Seto and Hoshiko both already eating. Meena was sitting awaiting her share along with his brother Aiden. It was customary that Seto and Hoshiko ate their share of meat first before the cubs.

Aiden turned to Nanaki. His face read curiousity all over it, even though he was five years Nanaki's senior. "I heard you pissed a massive puddle at the site of dad today."

"Yeah, so what about it?" Nanaki spat back.

His brother was the Seto's favorite of the cubs, and Nanaki knew it. Aiden had been the number one cub as far as combat and knowledge went for years. Ever since he was little, Seto had always displayed a cozy fondness for him...and it partially disgusted Nanaki.

Aiden snapped his head back to face Seto and closed his eyes to make himself look classy and proper. "Father says that true warriors don't wet themselves."

"Maybe that's the way I fight." Nanaki glared at Aiden and stuck out his tongue.

At that very moment, Seto turned to the cubs and Nanaki quickly corrected his rude gesture by starting to pant.

"Nanaki, Aiden! Quit your bickering. It gets annoying really fast." Seto ordered.

"Okay dad. I'll behave myself," Aiden began and continued while emphasizing his second half of his phrase, "But Nanaki has problems with that."

Seto nodded and turned to Nanaki. "I know you love to cause trouble Nanaki, but I want you to stop it. I should not have to tell you what you can't do. That's a kind of phrase I would expect to hear directed at Meena, but not you. You're old enough to know better."

Meena was only five years old and had not caused trouble yet. All five year olds were typical trouble makers however. It was a natural expectation.

Nanaki nodded at his father however. Though he was disgusted with his ignorance he put up with it. "I'm really sorry father, it won't happen again."

Seto nudged over a slice of meat over with his nose for the cubs.

As the three cubs devoured their meat, Seto could not help but be amazed at how much they had grown. Meena was now about to converse with other cubs, very limited conversing, but conversing nonetheless. Aiden had become a strong cub for his age, he had the build of the Alpha Male...and Nanaki, well...he loved Nanaki.

Nanaki, upon finishing his share, looked up at Seto. He had the same curious eyes Seto had been told he had. "Father?" he asked with a smile.

"Yeah?" Seto responded.

"What's a human?" he asked.

Seto became shaken at the question. The thought that Nanaki would wish to know what a human was. Did he wish to bond with them? They were the most dispicable creatures ever to walk the Planet. Seto tried to remain calm in responding.

"They're powerful warriors that live all over the Planet. If you ever should leave the canyon, you will probably be killed by a human." Seto hoped his response would frighten Nanaki enough to not pursue any further knowledge.

He was successful. Nanaki sighed and looked back down to the sand. However, his mistake was saying they were warriors, for Aiden immediately sat up and his eyes sparked with curiousity.

"But I could beat them. Couldn't I dad?" Aiden asked.

"No," Seto replied, harshly. He continued with a condemning tone, "you couldn't Aiden."

"Why not?" Aiden dared to challenge Seto's knowledge.

"They are much too strong for you. They are hard fighters and relentless. They use magical powers and can conquer anything." Seto responded.

"I can beat them father. I'll go out tomorrow and kill one." Aiden informed.

"They are not like any other hunting game Aiden! I forbid you to leave the canyon at all! You're not even old enough to qualify to leave on the hunt."

"But I'm stronger than a lot of the wusses you send out there."

Nanaki felt mixed up in the quarral and rushed over to Hoshiko. Hoshiko sensed Nanaki's distress and left the den and welcomed him to accompany her. She and him walked up to the highest point of Cosmo Canyon.

Hoshiko was often quiet during the day. It was like she was not allowed the right to speak...but today was one exception. It was nearly sunset by now and Nanaki could have sworn Hoshiko only spoke during the night.

She turned to Nanaki.

"You know," she spoke softly as she continued, "your father was exactly like you. I remember him being just as curious about the world as you are. However, now he's morphed into a replica of your brother. He's become quick to display his power. It almost frightens me."

"Ma," Nanaki whimpered in empathy, "he's the Alpha Male...wouldn't that be bad if he didn't become protective? We'd be gone if he wasn't so protective...wouldn't we?"

"Yes. Indeed Nanaki, we would." Hoshiko replied with confirmation.

"I don't see where he's doing wrong then."

"He's being wrong to keep you here Nanaki. There's an awesome Planet outside the red sands of this canyon. There are remarkable beings outside of here. You would be able to see a Chocobo and a human if only you left this canyon. You would not only just have to deal with observing them and learning about them in the books Bugenhagen has you read."

Nanaki was speechless and Hoshiko continued.

"My one hope is that you would be able to leave this canyon. It's beautiful, yes...but not near as beautiful as say The Gold Saucer."

"What's a Gold Saucer?"

"See? That's the problem, you have no idea what these things are." "Are you suggesting I leave the canyon?"

"Not now Nanaki, but soon enough, you must leave. You cannot have the same knowledge your father has unless you leave. I cannot see Aiden becoming anything close to your father, though your father doesn't see that."

"But Aiden's stronger." Nanaki looked down, more discouraged than encouraged.

"Yes he is, but he lacks logical thinking."

"He lacks more than just logical thinking." Nanaki mumbled under his breath.

"Nanaki," Hoshiko now looked at him with a shunning face as she continued, "I want you to treat your brother with respect...even if he is lacking. He is still your brother, and who knows? Maybe you and him will be friends one day."

"That'll be the day." Nanaki grumbled. "He wouldn't unsheath his claws to protect me."

"I believe you'd be surprised." Hoshiko looked up at the sky and took note of the night. She turned to Nanaki and asked. "Shall we?"

"'Shall we' what?" Nanaki replied.

"Go to sleep." Hoshiko answered.

Nanaki felt a yawn coming onto him and he gave up his resistance. "Yeah." He answered with a sigh.

The two climbed back down to the den where they all curled up in a nice cozy comforting fur circle. Although one thing was wrong.

Aiden was lying the in corner of the den, all alone. Although Nanaki had an extreme disgust for him, he could not help but wonder what his problem was. Why was he lying by himself?