(Koobre: Like always, I'm putting this here once so that I don't have to do it again: I DO NOT OWN YU-GI-OH! All I own is the plot.)
Ch1 Fiction is a Fact
Long ago, thousands of years before humans walked the Earth, creatures of old roamed the land as their own. Free to the elements and their own habits, each breed grew and evolved into mysterious beings. Some were larger than a house, others were smaller than a grain of sand, but they all existed here on this Earth.
Great sea creatures and dinosaurs are taught in history books and classes so all the world can know of their great reign. Their stories are documented as their mysteries are bountiful and being discovered; meanwhile, beings like dragons, unicorns, and mermaids are left to legend. They are labeled as fictional beings as there is nary a whisper of their existence. Their history is left to the imagination and remain as such; however, as years go by, more evidence to support them arises.
One such beast is called the Canis Dirus. This being held incredible strength that could break a bison's leg with a snap of its jaw. While it might not have been the brightest of the Canis family, it held incredible strength and walked alongside the Smilodon -also know as the Saber-Tooth Tiger- in the Pleistocene Epoch. While it's closest living relative is the grey wolf, the Canis Dirus is more commonly known as the Dire Wolf.
Some say the Dire Wolf originated in South Africa and then migrated across the ice bridge into the America's, but it is in the America's that Dire Wolf remains have been discovered; in fact, the first Dire Wolf remains were found in Indiana of the United States. Scientists believe that the Dire Wolf's reign extended to South and North America, but that is where the species ended.
They were said to be great creatures in both size and strength. Were a man to stand beside it, the Dire Wolf would surpass the waste, then the head if it stood on two legs. Its massive paws rivaled that of the Saber-Tooth Tiger, and their strength was almost equal. In their prime, they were a fierce hunter that could take down even the greatest of creatures: however, they were never able to outlive their ear.
The Dire Wolf's extinction was quick and mysterious -most speculate that they died in tar pits as they scavenged for food- but their remains are still being found today.
This may be just a rumor, but some think that the Dire Wolf still exists and roams their once-home; in fact, they say a lonely pack of bloodthirsty Dire Wolfs still roam these very forests, ready to attack any roaming human!
Kisara yelped and hurried to cover her head with the knitted blanket. Sitting across from her on the end of the twin-sized bed was Mana. She was laughing at her frightened sister while trying not to roll off the edge or drop the large book in her hands. Meanwhile, Yuugi scurried behind Kisara with his ears down and his tail tucked close to his body.
After a few seconds of hiding, Kisara lowered the blanket, "You made that last part up!"
Mana shook her head, but the smile refused to leave her face, "No, no, it's all true. It was in big brother's book," she rose the book in the air before rolling in more laughter.
Kisara stared at her older sister, "I-I don't believe it."
Mana calmed down her giggles and leaned closer, "Wanna see?"
"S-see what-? Mana!"
The elder sibling jumped off of the bed and ran over to the bedroom window. Her hurried feet fell softly on the hardwood floor while she eagerly raced towards the frosted window. Her pudgy fingers struggled to lift the frigid glass, but once it was open and the cold and Canadian wind seeped inside, she stuck her head out and howled.
Her hot breath billowed out in white puffs into the cold night, "Aooooooooo!"
"Mana, stop!" Kisara yelled as she too jumped off of the bed and raced to her sister's side.
Mana swatted her little sister away, "Hold on," she turned back to the window and howled again, "Aooooooo!"
"Girls? What are you doing?"
Mana and Kisara jumped at the sound of their mother's voice. Yuugi, who had yet to leave the warmth of the bed, finally hopped off and scurried to the door. Looking back, he saw Mana and Kisara watching him with a mixture of fear and desperation, but he ignored them. This was getting too scary.
Letting out a loud whimper, Yuugi began to scratch at the closed door. Down the hall, he could hear a familiar set of feet and he could smell her calming scent. His orange ears perked up as the scent grew stronger and he scratched at it once more with another whine.
"No, Yuugi! Down boy. Stop it," Mana hissed at him. When he refused to listen, Mana closed the window just as their mother opened the door.
Yuugi lept out of the room and circled the slender woman's feet. His curled tail wagged happily at the sight of her long, pale blue hair and her commanding golden eyes. She stood tall, and while her frame looked fragile, he knew that he could trust her to run the family. She was the alpha female, after all. She looked after her kids and she looked after him with love and discipline.
Yuugi rubbed his smaller body against her leg when he finally stopped behind her. His abnormal, purple eyes shone up into her inquisitive golden eyes before he looked over to the guilty daughters in the room. While Kisara stood off by the window, head and shoulders down, Mana stood at the end of the bed with only determination to cover her guilty face.
Azura, the alpha female, looked at her kids expectantly, "Mana, Kisara, what were you two doing?"
Mana shook her head, "I was just telling Kisara a story."
Yuugi looked up to Azura: his tail began to wag when he noticed that she wasn't buying it. Her sharp eyes scanned the room until they landed on the abandoned book that was left on the bed. She began to stride over to the bed with Yuugi on her heels.
"You were telling stories," Mana's face dropped when her mother picked up the discarded book, "from your brother's history books again?"
Mana huffed and stomped her foot, "It wasn't scary like the Banshee," she objected.
"She said that there were Dire Wolfs that would attack humans in these woods," Kisara's quiet voice drew everyone's attention.
Mana's brown eyes narrowed as she crossed her arms over her chest, "They aren't even that scary."
Azura sighed, "Mana, your brother has told you not to read this book."
"But it has so many cool stories in there! There's nothing actually scary!"
"They may not be scary to you," Azura's golden eyes flickered over to Kisara. The girl ran over to her mother and gripped onto her legs in a hug, "but they are scary to her. Besides," her reprimanding eyes fell back on Mana, "I expect you to respect your bother's request and not go through his belongings. How would you feel if he went into your room and took anything he wanted?"
Mana rolled her eyes, "Mahado would never go into my room because there's nothing in there he wants."
Azura watched her middle child for another second before she sighed, "Alright, off to bed with you," her golden eyes softened as she looked down at Kisara, "Both of you."
"Yes, mom," the two girls chimed before Mana wandered back into her beds with her head down.
Yuugi watched by his alpha female's side as Mana walked to the other side of the room where her bed sat with a pink comforter and a white knit blanket on top. She had to hop up in order to set herself on the raised bed, but as soon as she was up, she snuggled beneath the thick blankets. Yuugi could only see her messy brown hair from beneath the blankets while the lump of body shivered and curled into a ball.
Kisara, meanwhile, released her mother and waddled back to the first back. Unlike Mana who easily hopped onto the bed, Kisara struggled to hop on the raised comforter on the first try. When she continued to struggle, Yuugi took pity and padded over before lightly nudging her leg. Startled at the contact, the younger human jumped up on the bed before whirling around to stare at him with wide eyes. Yuugi panted happily as he wagged his curled tail, and Kisara calmed down knowing it was just him. She lifted the flower-printed comforter and snuggled into the sheets before pulling them up to her chin.
Behind him, Yuugi heard Azura cross the room to Mana. Looking at his master, he watched her lean down to plant a kiss to her daughter's head, "Goodnight, sweetie."
"'Night, mom."
When Azura made her way to Kisara, Yuugi backed away to the door in order to give her more space. Once again, Azura laid a hand on Kisara's head before planting a kiss on the forehead, "Goodnight, darling."
"Ni night."
Azura walked back to the open door where Yuugi sat waiting. With one last look at her sleeping children, she flicked off the lights and began to shut the door. Yuugi whimpered and padded the heavy wood softly. His master looked down at him and then back at the door. As opposed to closing it completely, she left it open by just a sliver.
"Just make sure you close it when you go inside," Azura warned him before she strode down the wooden hallway atop the white, push carpet.
Yuugi trotted after her and followed her down the short staircase and into the larger living room. The area was spacious that spread from one side of the house all the way to the other. The walls, floors, and high-slanted ceilings were all polished wood. Freestanding pillars, as well as a creative arrangement of furniture, helped segregate the space into three area's: the kitchen, the dining room, and the living room. The kitchen was directly to the left of the staircase complete with modern appliances and cabinets in all shades of grey, wood, and granite. It was a spacious area with beautiful circular lights hanging low enough to light up the section. There were still dishes drying from the dinner the family had that night.
In front of the kitchen, with only the island and the wooden pillars to create a wall between them, was the dining room. A rectangular, oak table that sat eight was centered in the designated area with a large white carpet sitting underneath it. Above the table, was a wooden chandelier with similar white lights that hung in the kitchen. The only other light that came into the room was from the large windows on the wall around it; however, only the light from the moon and stars seeped in now. The only other item in the room was his black food container and his two bowls.
The last area took up the entire space to the right of the stairs. While it didn't have any lights hanging from above, it did have the same large windows surrounding it as well as a stone fireplace on the far wall that was lit with a dying flame. Surrounding the fireplace was a grey couch, loveseat, and a beige armchair. A wooden coffee table sat between them all while matching end tables with wooden lamps on top sat at both ends of the couch. Similar to the dining room, there was a large white carpet that sat under all the furniture and ended just before it touched the stone of the fireplace.
There was only one occupant in the living room, and he was sitting on the couch with a book and reading glasses. He held a strong, imposing figure with aged skin that had been tanned by years under the sun. His shoulder length, black hair was tied in a pony-tail, making it harder to see the greying roots and stands of hair.
Yuugi jumped past Azura and bounded to the alpha male of the family. Slowing just before he ran into his master, Yuugi sat at the elder's feet, his tail wagging happily as he stared up hopefully. The alpha regarded him with greyish brown eyes before leaning down to scratch behind the Shiba's ears. Yuugi tilted his head in delight then, when his master finished and sat back, he shook his fur and lay at his human's feet.
Azura came to sit next to her mate on the couch, "Mana found the book again." She waved the culprit in the air before placing it on the coffee table.
The alpha continued to read his book, "What did she scare Kisara with this time?"
"Dire Wolves," Azura smiled when the alpha looked over his glasses, "Apparently, there are some in these woods."
The male closed the book and settled his gaze on the shrouded woods, "Hmm, looks like we'll have to be careful, then."
"Akhenamkhanen, what are we going to do?" Azura asked.
He shrugged, "I see nothing wrong with her reading it."
"Neither do I, but Kisara is still too young. She's only just gotten over her nightmares about the Wendigo, I don't need here screaming in the night about Dire Wolves."
Akhenamkhanen hummed and placed his chin in his hand, "Perhaps Mahado could mark off which stories are okay to read."
"And hope she won't tell any of those to Kisara? She would look at the other stories anyways. I don't wish for Kisara to stay huddled indoors the entire vacation because of some fairy tale."
"Perhaps we can tell it to Gozaburo and scare him."
"Akhenamkhanen!"
Yuugi's ear perked at Azura's disapproving voice. He rose his head from his paws and twisted to look at his two alphas. Azura was watching Akhenamkhanen with wide eyes while the latter continued to stare out the window. Yuugi's tail twitched as he felt a shift in the atmosphere. His claws extended and retracted, his ears flickered, and his eyes quickly glanced around the room. All of his attention fell on the alpha as the elder rose to his feet and began to wander to the window.
"Gozaburo is planning to build more cabins in these woods. He hopes to make it a business retreat."
His mate paused as the news sunk in, "Does Seto know?"
Akhenamkhanen nodded his head, "Yes, and he is furious. He's trying to fight Gozaburo, but he doesn't have liable reason to stop the building."
Azura rose off the couch, "How do you feel?"
Akhenamkhanen's grey-brown eyes narrowed, "I don't often agree with my brother, and this is no exception."
Yuugi followed his alpha female over to Akhenamkhanen. While Azura laid a hand on her mate's shoulder, Yuugi watched the two with worried eyes. He nudged Azura's leg in comfort, but all she offered him was a small smile before her attention was back on her mate.
"If there is nothing we can do, then there is nothing we can do," her hand slid down his shoulder to his hand, "Come, it's time to go to bed."
Akhenamkhanen turned his head towards her, but his eyes remained outside, "You go on ahead. I'll put out the fire and then follow after."
Azura nodded her head and then slipped back upstairs. Yuugi watched her leave with sad eyes: he was almost tempted to follow her off to bed, but he didn't like the thought of the alpha being awake on his own. So long as the head of the house was awake, he would remain on duty; besides, one never knew what would happen so late at night. What if there was a fire? What if Kisara had a nightmare? What if the Dire Wolves attacked the house?
The Shiba Inu shook his head. There were no such things as Dire Wolves. They were just another fantasy that Mana found in that strange book that Mahado had. Yuugi hated that thing more and more, not only because it gave Kisara nightmares, but he himself had had restless nights worrying over how the various creatures could attack or harm his family; the worst part was that he was always unable to properly protect them. Mahado had found that book almost a year ago and Yuugi had already thought up a thousand ways for it to be "accidentally" destroyed.
Yuugi was jarred out of his thoughts by the sound of the fireplace doors clicking shut. Akhenamkhanen dusted his hands on his shirt before turning to the small dog, "Are you coming to bed with us?"
Yuugi yipped in reply.
"Alright then," Akhenamkhanen chuckled as he rose to his feet and strode over to Yuugi. Yuugi panted as the elder pat his head, "I'll see you tomorrow, Yuugi."
Yuugi remained by the window and settled for watching his master turn off the kitchen lights and head upstairs. With everything covered in darkness, the only light that helped to illuminate his path was the moon. Yuugi's purple eyes dilated in order to see clearly in the shadows.
Even though his masters were heading for bed, Yuugi wanted to make sure that they were all safe before he fell back asleep. While he wasn't too sure about how he would fare against an enemy, he was positive that he could help them avoid any trouble by being prepared. Hopping onto his hind legs and resting his front paws on the sill, Yuugi surveyed the shadowed woods for any danger. In the distance, in the front of the house, he saw a group of fawn eating the leftover corn that the girls had thrown out; however, when they ran out of food, they disappeared into the trees. When he saw no movement or other animals, Yuugi fell back to the floor and trotted to the front door.
He pushed against the solid wood with his nose until he heard a click. With a smile, Yuugi then raised up once more and began to bat at the door lock. He struggled to turn the bolt for a few minutes before it finally turned and locked, ensuring that nothing could come in. Knowing the door was secure, Yuugi padded through the dining room and kitchen with his nose to the ground. After a full sweep and finding no peculiar smells, the Shiba came to a stop at the base of the stairs. His watchful gaze fell upon the doors behind the living room: one led to a bathroom, one to a study, and the other to the basement. While he would feel better checking to secure those rooms, his pack always kept those doors shut, and try as he may, he was never able to turn those rounded handles.
With a defeated huff, Yuugi trudged up the wooden staircase onto the upper levels. To the right was another bathroom, a spare bedroom, and Mana and Kisara's room. To the left was his master's bedroom as well as Mahado's bedroom. No light shone underneath the doors.
Careful to keep his steps light, Yuugi tiptoed over to Mahado's room. The door was closed, but he pressed his nose against it anyways. No budge. The Shiba whined before sinking to the floor and sticking his nose in the crack as far as he could. He frantically sniffed the air, trying to determine that the other was safe and free of danger. When he smelt nothing strange and heard no suspicious movements, Yuugi relented and left that room for his master's.
Yuugi smiled when he noticed that their door was cracked open. With a wag of his tail, the Shiba pushed on the surface and wheedled his head through in order to make room for the rest of him. The room was spacious with the bed centered on the right wall. Shadows were cast over the furniture and obscuring them from a clear view, but Yuugi didn't need to see. He just needed to smell and hear.
With his nose pressed to the carpet, the Shiba began to sniff out any possible danger around. If there was even a single mouse that wished to disturb his masters he would be sure to eradicate it so that they didn't have to worry. When he determined that their room was clean, he trotted back into the hallway and towards Mana and Kisara's room.
His violet eyes glared at the remaining two doors that opposed him. Had their handles not been knobs, he would have easily been able to open then, but alas, they were round. Still, considering the rooms were so close to his family, Yuugi trotted over and gave a few good sniffs beneath the door in hopes to find anything amiss; luckily, they were both clean and he was okay to head off to bed himself.
With his head and tail held high, Yuug trotted back to the youngest room and nudged the door open. He could tell Mana was asleep from the loud snores heard from her side of the room. Kisara, on the other hand, was quiet when he entered, but he knew from the slow rise and fall of her body that she was also asleep.
Satisfied but exhausted from a full days work, Yuugi hopped up onto Kisara's bed and curled at her feet. Aside from the days of packing and planning prior, the flight from their home to here ways long and grueling. While eleven hours on a plane was not his first choice of transportation, Yuugi was glad to finally be here and was ready for their month-long vacation together. While he loved his home over in Domino, Japan, Yuugi always though of the forests of British Columbia, Canada like a second home.
It was a family tradition of sorts to leave once a year in order to spend a month in the family cabin surrounded by endless oak and spruce. How they managed to have no other neighbors around their comfy cabin baffled Yuugi, but he supposed it had to do something with their cousins who built this home: the Kaiba's. He had only met the Kaiba's a few times in his years since his adoption, and while he was still trying to figure how he felt about them, he knew them enough to understand them.
Their alpha male was Gozaburo, a strong man with stubborn views and a stubborn mind. There was only one way in his mind and it was his way, no matter what. The alpha was large and round, with rough features, but underneath it all, Yuugi knew some part of him cared, otherwise he wouldn't have married or had kids. How Haruka, the tall, slim blonde with short hair and grey eyes could handle him was beyond the Shiba's understanding, but it worked out in the end. The alpha female also confused Yuugi regularly in more ways than one. First was her ability to handle Gozaburo n her own: a feat in its own right. Then, he fooled her with her appearance; it always appeared masculine with a strong personality to match, yet she always smelt feminine with a female aura. As much as he loved her, she was a head-scratcher.
Their pups, while less confusing, shared in their parents bold and stubborn personalities. The youngest child, Mokuba, was a rambunctious human with long black hair and stormy eyes like his mother. He always played with Yuugi whenever they were together and he enjoyed watching over the rascal, but he was also blamed for nearly all of what the human did; for example, the two of them were playing in the Kaiba manor back in Japan when Mokuba ran too fast and couldn't slow down in time. As a result, the kid ran into a priceless vase and the resounding crash drew both his and Mokuba's family; however, when the blame needed to be placed, it landed on Yuugi. The youth played it off that he had been chasing Yuugi and it was the Shiba Inu that ran into the pot. The human's believed him and Yuugi was then sent out into the dog house for the rest of the week.
The only human from the Kaiba's how showed him any pity and understanding was Seto. The tall brunette with piercing blue eyes, as well as his adoptive sisters, refused to believe Mokuba's excuse. Still, Gozaburo blamed the Shiba and refused to let him inside the manor, but Seto was the one who let him in at night so that he wouldn't sleep in the cold. Yuugi was also the only one who was allowed to be in the study that Seto worked in. Anyone else who tried to enter was yelled at until they left, but not Yuugi; instead, the human welcomed him inside and allowed him to sit at his feet.
As much as Seto cared, he showed the least amount of actual affection to Yuugi, aside from Gazaburo, but he was the human he had to thank the most. Had it not been for Seto, he would probably still be trapped in a cage underground with needles pierced into his skin every other day.
Yuugi shook his head in order to repress the memories, but he couldn't repress the shiver that made his fur bristle. Disgruntled by the sensation, Yuugi rubbed his face with his paws and groaned. The Shiba huffed through his nose and rose his head in order to look around the room. His lazy gaze fell on sleeping figure of Mana.
A small smile crept on his lips as he watched the girls roll on her other side with her arms spread out. He was in a much better place now than he was back then, and he had these people to thank. Despite his flaws and oddities, this family took him in and made him a part of their pack: no questions asked.
Akhenamkhanen, the leader of the pack was a kind man with a big heart. While he looked tough and worn on the outside, Yuugi could feel his warmth from the moment he laid eyes on him. The man shared similarities with his brother, Gazaburo -intelligence, wit, determination- but aside from that, they shared two different views on life. Gozaburo always saw the bigger picture while Akhenamkhanen looked into the smaller details. Together, they were an equal and unstoppable team, but Yuugi was happy with the side he got.
Azura, Akhenamkhanen's mate, was just as kind-hearted and intelligent as her mate, but she managed to also be soft-spoken and humble. At first glance, Yuugi had been uncertain of her strength, but he quickly learned she was a wolf in sheep's clothing. On the first day they took him home, he had been antsy and ready to test his limits; sadly, one of those limits was the kitchen counter. He had been hungry and uncertain when he would get food, so he hopped onto the counter in order to steal the stick of butter left behind. His plan was swiftly foiled by a bark from the alpha female and a night in the dog house. Never again did he question her authority.
Mahado, the eldest child looked similar to his father with shoulder-length brown hair, brown eyes, and rich, tan skin. Both shared a tall stature with broad shoulders, but where Akhenamkhanen used his form to intimidate foes, Mahado used his frame to hover over books. It was hard to see him anywhere without his nose buried between to pages, but Yuugi never minded it; in fact, he had found respite in his first few weeks by laying at the elder's feet as he read away. It's only recently that the habit had become an annoyance and it's all because of that one book.
Then there was the little devil, Mana. Like Mahado, she took after her fathers looks with brown hair, eyes, and skin, but her personality was the most rambunctious. As adventurous as she was spirited, she was a force to be reckoned with in both rain and sunshine. She had been such a spit-fire when Yugi first met her, that he had been terrified to be around her. Anytime she tried to run and tackle him in a hug before showering him with kisses, Yuugi would turn tail and retreat in the other direction. Yuugi forgave her over time as she became accustomed to his presence, and got reprimanded by both Akhenamkhanen and Azura.
Kisara was the wee baby of the family and had still been swaddled in a blanket by the time Yuugi came around. He was there when she took her first steps and he was there to see her off on her first day of school. Any time she needed him, he was there, ready to support her in whatever way he could. Sadly, that support was needed more than he would have liked due to her abnormally pale skin, pale blue hair, and silver eyes. As beautiful as she was, taking after her mother, there were those who refused to see the same way.
The bed shifted beside him, so Yuugi looked over his shoulder in time to see Kisara settled into and a new spot. She sighed softly as he body and breathing settled back into a comfortable pattern. The Shiba Inu sighed through his nose and stretched his front paws out. He flexed his toes, extending his limbs as far in front of him as possible before he lay his head atop them. Heavy eyelids began to droop while lazy amethyst eyes gazed out the window.
His violet eyes widened and his body stiffened, his mind awake and alert. The Shiba Inu's nail extended, gripping onto the comforter as his ears perked, alert to the sight outside the window. He rumbled low in his throat before chuffing. The action shook the bed and, after another warning chuff, stirred its other occupant.
Orange ears flickered back to Kisara as she groaned. Yuugi continued to rumble.
"What it is, boy?" Kisara's voices may have been groggy with sleep, but there was an underline uncertainty as well.
The bed shifted, but Yuugi remained trained on the window. He was prepared to leap off the bed and bark at the creature, warning it to back off and leave the family alone, but he remained where he was until he was told to do so. Beside him, Kisara gasped as her gaze followed his and landed on watch he was watching so intently.
Two glowing eyes watched them from the treeline.
"C-come on, Yuugi. L-let's just ignore them. They won't bother us," Kisara placed a shaky hand on his orange fur, but his attention remained on the intruder. He growled, "St-top, Yuugi, no," her voice became hard in her fear and Yuugi silenced his growls. Her hand pulled on him, trying to relax his body and force his head away. The Shiba Inu only relaxed when whatever creature that was turned away and disappeared in the trees.
Yuugi huffed it good riddance before settling down with his head on his paws. Kisara sighed in relief before she too curled back into bed; however, Yuugi could still feel her tremors as he felt himself slip into sleep.
()
Yuugi spun in circles while his wide eyes watch as Mahado filled his silver bowl with food. The clanks of kibble against the tin sent his heart racing and his mouthwatering as the pungent scent of food wafted into his nostrils. The rest of the family was sitting at the dining table, preparing to eat their own dinner, but Yuugi's focus was on his very own dish.
The Shiba Inu paused in his frenzy when Mahado glanced over the counter towards the rest of his family. When no one was looking, the teen then grabbed a small piece of chicken and began to rip it into pieces before placing it in his bowl. Yuugi's tail began to wag frantically enough to wiggle his back legs and his eyes widened as each chunk of chicken joined his silver bowl. He couldn't contain himself. With a pant of excitement, Yuugi jumped into the air and began to run to his dish holder.
Mahado still stood in the kitchen with a smile on his face as Yuugi sat down at his holder, patiently waiting for his food to be given.
"Oh my gosh!"
Mana's outburst paired with the clinking of her glass on the table was enough to draw Yuugi out of his determined gaze over to the table. The rest of the pack was giving her strange looks as her brown eyes hopped around, her mouth agape.
"Is something wrong?" Azura prompted.
Mana whipped her head to look at her mother who sat at the end of the table, "We forgot to feed the deer!"
Everyone, including Yuugi, relaxed when the news was nothing serious. However, as the reason began to settle, Yuugi began to become impatient. His purple eyes continued to flicker from his waiting food bowl to Mana, trying to decide which was more important.
Akhenamkhanen sighed and glanced outside, "Can't it wait until after dinner?"
"No, dad. If we don't do it now, we won't be able to see any deer tonight," Mana leaned forward on the table to try and emphasize her point. Her eyes glimmered with worry and hope.
Yuugi began to lift his front paws in order to drain some of his excess excitement. He was so hungry, but he loved to feed the deer. It was even more fun to watch them wander close to the house in order to eat the food. The Shiba's tail wagged while he whimpered. After another flicker from Mana to his food and back, he let out a quick yip.
"Yuugi's right, dad," Kisara piped up with a nod of her head, "We'll be quick and then come right back."
The two alpha's shared a glance from across the table before Azura nodded, "Alright. Don't linger too long and make sure to wash your hands after you're done."
"Thanks, mom!" the girls chanted together while they hopped from their seats and bolted towards the door,
Yuugi cast one longing look at his food before he was swept up into the excitement by the door. The girls rushed to pull on their snow boots, coats, gloves, and hats, all the while Yuugi pranced in circles, tail high and a smile on his face. The Shiba Inu could barely hold back his excitement when Kisara opened the door and he had to wait for them to leave first. When the youngest finally motioned for him to follow, Yuugi bound into action and lept out the door.
His paws landed in the snow-clad ground softly as small snowflakes landed on his orange fur. The girls were already growing pink in the nose and they shivered at the initial cold; however, Yuugi thrived in the chilly atmosphere and open space. He didn't notice when the girls ducked off to the right and instead broke off at a run into the ring-around lot in front of their house.
His blood pumped with adrenaline and his lungs heaved with the effort to keep up with his speed. In his excitement, he let his jaw fall open and his tongue flop out the side. Every time a snowflake landed on the pink muscle, his eyes would widen in excitement and he would sprint fast. Round and round he ran, breathing the fresh air, relishing in the open space, and soaking in the snowy woods. Japan may have been his home, but nothing could compare to the wonderland of Canada.
Wanting to express himself in another way, Yuugi slid to a halt before hurling himself on to his back. He wiggled on the ground in elation while savoring the damp chill that tried to soak into his thick coat. Paws in the air and tongue lolling about, Yuugi continued to roll and wiggle, creating his own circle in the otherwise undisturbed snow.
With his black nose pointed in the air, Yuugi focused on smelling the area around him. Then he stopped.
Tail stilled and ears perked, Yuugi sniffed the air again. The Shiba rolled onto his stomach and sniffed the ground. It was still there. Yuugi rose off the ground, but kept his nose down and began to sniff furiously, not caring that some of the white flakes began to make a pile on his nose. He followed the strange trail to the edge of the ring-around and slightly into the forest. He stopped and rose his head, casting keen eyes into the shadowed trees. The scent led further into the woods, but he didn't dare follow with his master's permission.
Yuugi sneezed, making the snow fall off his nose. With one paw raised in the air, Yuugi scanned the horizon for movement. When there was none, he began to pad back to his humans, but not without looking back over his shoulder.
Mana and Kisara were still stood by the corn box, both with their hands on the handle of the filled bucket. When he noticed their distressed looks, he hurried over.
"I had to carry it last time," Kisara whined, "It's your time to carry it."
Mana huffed, "But I don't want to carry it. Why can't you?"
"We agreed that we would switch night,s remember? I did it the first night, then you did, then I carried it yesterday, now it's your turn," Kisara's pale eyes were wide as she fought to make her sister understand.
"But I don't wanna…" Mana tried, but by her slumped shoulders, Yuugi knew it was weak.
Silence fell over the group. Yuugi flickered between the two girls, wondering who would cave first, however, when no one moved despite the cold shivers that shook both of them, Yuugi knew they would need a little more convincing. Trotting over to the plastic bucket, the Shiba yelped to get their attention. Once their curious eyes fell on his small figure, he wagged his tail and nudged the bucket towards Mana.
She groaned and tried to look away, but he knew she couldn't pass up his adorable face. With his wide violet eyes, mouth open, tongue out, and tail wagging, he knew there was no way she could fight against him. It didn't take long for her to cave.
"Fine," she grumbled and took the full weight of the bucket.
Kisara and Yugi cheered in happiness before they jumped off of the deck together and began to wander out to the feeding site. Every once and a while, they would need to stop and wait for Mana who lagged behind, but Yuugi didn't mind. He took his time to run around his pack and prance in the snow; moreover, it gave him the time to sniff for that unfamiliar scent. It was too musky to be a deer and too bold to be a small rodent. Bear, maybe, but it didn't smell quite the same. One thing that he was sure about, was that it could be dangerous to him and his pack. That was something he would never let happen.
They were a good distance into the trees now, but they still had a view of the house. The strange scent was getting stronger and Yuugi was getting warry, his prancing became a trot as he kept surveillance for any danger and his tail was stagnant, no longer wagging. He made his circle closer to the girls, that way if there was danger, he could get to them easier.
His mind raced with what the scent could be and his blood pumped with anxiety. What if it was still here? It didn't smell too old. Was it dangerous? It could be. Would he be able to fight it off if it attacked? He didn't know. He had to stay diligent. He had to stay alert.
His nerves soothed when the girls finally stopped at a small tree stomp where Mana rested the heavy bucket. Together, they began to grab handfuls of dried corn with their gloved hands and tossing it into the snowy area. Normally, Yuugi would join them and jump through the falling corn, but not this time; instead, he kept walking in a circle, searching the perimeter. Something felt close and it put him on edge. So long as it kept its distance, he wouldn't alert his owners, but if it lingered, he would warn it to back off.
A cheer from behind him, let the Shiba know that the last of the corn was gone and that the girls were heading back to the house. Yuugi lingered for a second, head high and ears perked as he watched the trees. Nothing. Narrowing his eyes, Yuugi turned away and began to follow his humans home. He would occasionally stop to look behind them, making sure that nothing was going to try and sneak up, but nothing ever did. Sadly, Mana and Kisara noticed his odd behavior and sped their last leg home.
Rushing onto the porch, Yuugi faced the treeline once more while the girls worked the door open. Their haste made their moves sloppy as they tossed the bucket towards the feed box and struggled with the metal handle. Still, as they worked the wood open, Yuugi kept an ever watchful eye on the trees. It wasn't until he felt a rush of warmth behind him that he turned and followed the girls inside. As the door closed behind them, the girls relaxed and began to undo their winter wear, but Yuugi couldn't. Not yet. He trotted over to the window in the living room and rose off the ground. Using the sill to rest his front paw upon, Yuugi's scrutinized the silent woods.
"Yuugi, get down," Akhenamkhanen barked from the table. Yuugi ignored him at first, but when a second order came, he finally fell down with a disgruntled huff.
"He was acting weird on the way back, dad," Kisara said while hanging her coat on the hook.
"Yeah, I think he saw something out there," excitement was prominent in Mana's statement, but it set her younger sister on edge.
"O-or he could have just been watching for deer," Kisara mumbled as she and Mana sat down.
Mana shook her head, "No, Yuugi was watching for something else. He's never that serious when it comes to deer."
"Let's just leave it for now," Azura jumped in when Kisara's eyes widened. She placed a loving hand on her daughter's shoulder before looking both in the eye, "Did you wash your hands?"
The girls grumbled and slid out of their chairs before rushing into the kitchen. Yuugi watched them before walking over to his dish holder. As he waited for Mahado to bring him his food, his violet eyes scanned the two alphas. Neither seemed too concerned about the possibility of something being out there. Of course, they also knew that there were bears and wolves that naturally lived on these lands. Maybe they just assumed that the danger wouldn't bother them. Seeing his leaders at ease with the idea, gave Yugi some comfort, but he still let his eyes drift towards the windows. While he might not be able to see much from this angle, it made him feel better that someone was watching.
Mahado's shadow fell over his attentive frame, so Yuugi looked up to the older male; however, instead of the human watching him and setting down the bowl, his wise brown eyes were glancing out the window. His stare lingered for a moment before it fell onto Yuugi. Mahado smiled and pat Yuugi's head before setting down the bowl.
The Shiba began to chomp his food while Mahado went to join the pack at the table. A part of Yuugi felt better knowing that Mahado looked, but wouldn't let his guard down. Not until he either knew what it was or until it moved away.
Yuugi's dinner was anything but peaceful. With his ears alert for any sound and his eyes scrutinizing every detail, there was no time for a proper meal break. Even as he finished, the Shiba didn't crawl under the table as he normally did and waited for the girls to slip him food; instead, he sat by the door with his nose as close to the ground as possible. He couldn't smell the weird animal at all, and despite his alpha's indifference, he would do his job and stay on guard. There were just some things in life that one couldn't chance.
"Look! Look! The deer are out."
Yuugi's head rose from the ground as he watched Kisara point out the window. Somehow, the family had finished dinner and were now sitting in the living room, but Yuugi didn't mind. He trotted over to his pack and stopped by the girl's feet where she stood at the window. Mana soon followed as the two girls pressed close to look at the docile animals.
Not being able to see from this angle, but not wanting to upset his alpha, Yuugi turned towards the couch where Mahado sat and wandered over. The human scratched his ears as the Shiba sat at his feet, while Yuugi wagged his tail in delight. His purple eyes closed in bliss before slipping open to glance out the window. He still didn't have a perfect view, but he swore he saw something slink into the shadows behind the deer.
Whatever it was, it would leave them alone tonight.
()
"Mana, hold on!"
The young brunette skidded to a stop in front of the door before she turned around with a disgruntled expression, "But, Mooooom. Kisara is already out there."
Azura gave her daughter a pointed look before kneeling in front of her daughter, "Kisara went outside with her coat zipped up."
Beside them, Yuugi shifted from paw to paw while his eyes skidded to the door. His ears continued to flicker and he edged his body closer to the door. He knew that Mahado was upstairs, Akhenamkhanen was finishing dinner, and Azura was with Mana, but Kisra was outside; therefore, she was out of sight. Had circumstances been different, Yuugi wouldn't have minded lagging behind to wait for Mana, but things were not normal and his paranoia from a few days ago had only continued to grow.
Despite his alpha's dismissal of his suspicious the first time he smelt something outside of their house, Yuugi continued to keep a close eye during their nightly deer feeding, but sadly whatever this creature was, was not going away; in fact, Yuugi swore that its scent was getting stronger and closer to the house.
At first, Yuugi tried to hide his growing unease, but Mana and Kisara picked up on his nervousness easily and they too had become wary of the woods. While their excitement to feed the deer was still there, they were less energetic when they wandered into the woods. They would watch Yuugi as he sniffed and scanned the trees. Nothing had yet to show itself, but the three of them began to stay closer to the house every night just in case something did attack.
When Mana was finally zipped up and the door was opened, Yuugi bolted past the two, ignoring the shout of protest from the alpha female. His orange ears folded back at the scolding, but his fear and worry for Kisara were strong enough to keep him running. His pace slowed to a trot when he saw the youngest by the feed container, shoveling dried corn into the bucket.
Hearing his approach, she looked up from her task and Yuugi could see her visibly relax. He whimpered and nudged her hand until it rested on his head. She smiled and scratched his ear before continuing her task. Mana, meanwhile, rushed over to the pair just as Kisara finished filling the bucket.
"You said you would wait for me," Mana complained as she helped her sister lock the feed container.
"I wasn't going to leave the porch without you. I just didn't want to do nothing while I waited," Kisara replied before she lifted the bucket off the ground. Her pale eyes glanced over the woods and her body curled closer to itself.
Mana did the same thing before she shook it off, "Come on. If we're quick then we won't have to stay out here too long."
Seeing Mana begin to walk off the porch, Yuugi jumped in front of the group to check the way. Nose to the ground and ears alert, Yuugi searched for any sign of danger nearby. Sure enough, the scent that had been lingering for the past few days littered the ground, strong and musky. The Shiba sneezed before continuing his search. The only sounds he could hear were the cheerful chatter of the two girls and the crunch of their boots in the snow. There was nothing out of the ordinary.
Not picking up on any danger yet, Yuugi stopped walking and rose his head from the ground. His purple eyes scanned the trees for any new movement. So far, the only things he could see were Mana and Kisara who had stopped to watch him.
Kisara glanced over her shoulder towards the house, "T-this is far enough, right? We won't startle the deer from here."
Mana shifted her gaze from the trees to the house, then to Yuugi, "Yeah, this is good."
With the girls occupied with throwing the corn, Yuugi took to patrolling in a large circle around the girls. Every so often, he would stop to sniff or listen. The scent was still strong, still fresh, but he still couldn't see anything: no even paw prints. There would be a twig snap here or a crunch of snow there, but still, Yuugi couldn't see anything.
The Shiba's eyes narrowed as he scrutinized the surrounding area. He took three sniffs in the air. A quiet rumble grew in his throat.
"Alright, deer. Dinner is served!" Mana smiled as she displayed their fresh work, "Come on, Kisara. Dad made falafel tonight, and I want to eat it while it's hot. Kisara?"
Yuugi twisted his head towards the girls. Mana looked confused as she watched her younger sister; however, Kisara is what made him freeze. Her blue eyes were wide while her hands clenched the bucket's handle with white knuckles. When she started to shake, Yuugi bolted over and stood in front of her with his body facing the woods.
Keen eyes followed her gaze until they found there target: two glowing eyes watched them from the shadows. Yuugi growled at the intruder and his hackles rose to bulk his figure. Even his claws extended and his teeth were barred in order to show that this being had come close enough.
"Kisara, let's go," Mana whispered and Yuugi heard her try to pull the girl away, "Kisara, now!"
Yuugi could tell Kisara was scared, as was Mana; however, Mana wasn't the one frozen in place. The Shiba couldn't chance a glance back at the girls lest this being attacked, but he prayed that they would start to head back to the house. At least there they were safe and Akhenamkhanen could grab his rifle. Here, though, they were exposed, and who knew how many more of these things were hiding.
Sniffing the air again, Yuugi's growls became more vocal when he smelt more beings hidden in the trees. They were not allowed here. They would not hurt a single member of his pack. They would leave and hey would leave now.
The being in the shadows began to walk closer, despite Yuugi's warnings, revealing what looked to be a wolf, but something was off. It was bigger, massive in fact, with a larger head and darker fur. It looked grungier and its fangs were so long that they protruded over the bottom lip. Yuugi barked and snarled at the creature with an open mouth.
"Kisara, now!"
Thundering footsteps sounded the girls' retreat, and Yuugi breathed a mental sigh of relief. Not only were the girls heading to safety, but none of the creatures seemed interested in their retreat. With a final warning bark, Yuugi turned face and ran after his owners. As he ran, he kept his ears perked and his eyes skittish in case the creatures got any ideas to chase them. While Yuugi was relieved that the beings didn't follow, he refused to let his guard down even after they came busting through the door and slamming it shut.
(Koobre: Alright, here is the wolf-wolf story I promised! I'm still planning the Darken Eyes re-write after this, but I wanted to do this first. I think this is the story that I've done the most research on so far: I think it helped! Just a heads up, I'm trying something new with this story, but it shouldn't really affect y'all too much. Please review!)