A young wolf demon waited for the rest of his family to finish eating, and then it would be his turn. Born as the runt in his family was nothing special; he made sure everyone was done, Tetsuya picked what was left of the elk carcass. As he finished, what little meat there was, he began to chew the bone.
He chewed greedily when his older sister came to check on Tetsuya, she nipped him hard on the scruff of his neck.
"Ow..." He backed down in submission as the older wolf smirked.
"You know that father gets first pick in bones."
Tetsuya glared, "Fine…"
He sat next to the family's elm tree, the area Tetsuya's father had claimed for them, his family of six. The wolf pack they were in was rather large, with a total of about forty-two wolves in all, including his family.
In the morning, he knew they would probably go on another raid so he ate as much as he could. The pack would attack villages for food and also to train the younger wolves in combat. As he saw his older sister picks the last good bone, he groaned as he walked toward the area of the elk carcass.
He picked the best bone of the little few that was left, although small, it would ease his hunger through the night. Tomorrow is the day...the day I leave this pack forever.
As the sun was barely rising over the horizon, the dream Tetsuya was having been interrupted by Makai, his oldest brother.
"Get up you lazy dog, the rest of the pack is already up and ready."
The grey wolf jolted up knowing he'd probably be punished by father later for 'dishonoring' his family, he would be punished, if he stayed. Today was the day he planned to escape the tyranny of the pack for good, he only told one other wolf of his plan to escape. A she-wolf named Lena, a small dark gray wolf born in a noble family of four. She had only a brother, but she was more important to the family because she was a female, for females were the only ones that could bring heir to the family. As he ran toward the area where the rest of the pack was gathered, Lena padded silently over toward him, and she called him to the area she was hiding,
"Don't tell me you're going through with this crazy idea of yours?"
Tetsuya had been practicing using his human form and he had moved to his human form, his white hair shining, and his amber eyes gazing. He flashed a smile,
"Of course, though I still can't see why you don't want to join me."
She followed his example and used her own human form, her golden eyes filled with worry,
"No ones ever tried leaving the pack before."
He'd been watching the humans and was learning to do as they do. He figured if he made it out of this mess alive he might find a village to stay at for the time being. He fingered through her silver, white hair. As she felt him do this she blushed and turned away knowing if her mother saw her close to Tetsuya, she would be punished severely.
"Lena...I know this isn't the life...for us."
He looked at her with his amber eyes, Lena couldn't resist those charming looks but she couldn't get herself to look at him.
"Tetsuya, you must understand, there can't be an 'us'. Even if we were seen together like this, we'd be punished...it just can't work."
"Who needs the rules? If you follow me, it can work."
He smiled gently once more, "You still can join me. I'll wait for you on the edge of the forest on the south side of the village. He began to walk toward his own raid group as Lena watched solemnly. The attack was quick, the early morning hours of the attack caught the earth bending village off guard. Tetsuya attacked as few villagers as he could but he wanted to show the older wolves he wasn't slacking.
In the midst of battle, a gray wolf darted between the earth-bender homes to the area where he said he'd meet Lena. He watched the battle from the safety of the bushes when he was suddenly pinned to the ground.
Makai snarled, "What is the meaning of this?"
The black wolf wouldn't allow Tetsuya to move; Tetsuya struggled against his strength but realized it was useless. The gray wolf growled lightly, "I don't know what you're talking about."
Makai's growl grew deeper, 'You know exactly what I'm talking about, now speak."
Tetsuya refused to say anything and as soon as the fight was over, he was taken to the council of the pack. The council was made up of several Elders of the pack, who have made great victories for the pack but could no longer battle.
Tetsuya entered casually but on the inside he was completely frightened, the red wolf in the center was covered in many scars and probably seen more battles than Tetsuya even heard of. The red wolf stepped forward, "State the boy's crimes."
Tetsuya heard of many wolves that had gone under trial for various crimes but he didn't think he would ever have to undergo the same thing.
Makai growled lowly, "I have reason to believe he was planning to escape."
"Escape? No sensible wolf would try and leave our pack."
"But I heard him speaking of such with a she-wolf."
"No wolf is allowed to be alone with a she-wolf."
"But he has defied our laws. Bring her in."
A pair of wolves brought forth Lena, the small gray wolf looked as if she were about to faint. Her legs were trembling and she followed the pair quietly.
"Is it true that this wolf spoke to you?" The red wolf waited for the she-wolf to wait impatiently.
Lena was about to open her mouth to speak when she was stopped by Tetsuya, he growled, "Don't say anything, Lena!" He turned toward the Elders, "She had nothing to do with this! Leave her be!" The wolf was taken aback for his sudden outburst, "Do not speak unless spoken to, cur. Although it seems you are well acquainted with the she-wolf." He motioned the pair of guard wolves, the pair began to attack Tetsuya and he was knocked to the ground. His fur was beginning to be matted with his own blood. He snarled as he could no longer move, He was trying to fight back when another pair of wolves soon stopped him. The jaws of four wolves were deep in his fur, he growled but he knew he didn't stand a chance against them.
Lena could no longer take the sight of Tetsuya bleeding on the ground; a small pool of red blood was forming around the wolf.
"No, he's wrong! I was the one who came up with the idea of escape! I told him to meet me on the south side of that village!"
Tetsuya lifted his head as he growled weakly, "Lena...no..."
He was losing consciousness from the loss of blood and the rest of the trial was a blur, but the last words rang through his head.
"Kill her."

Tetsuya awoke surrounded by a group of the pack's finest wolves; his wounds were still bleeding but not as profusely. The grass around him was stained with his own blood, his eyes widened as he suddenly remembered the last words in the trial. He got up quickly and growled toward the nearest guard, "Where is she?"
The guard turned toward him, his golden eyes gleaming from the moonlight, "So you're finally awake, cur."
"Answer my question!"
The dark gray wolf snarled and pushed Tetsuya to the ground, "If you mean the she-wolf, she's been long dead. Pity, she looked as though she'd make a good fighter." Tetsuya growled, "Don't say that!"
"Say what? She accepted her fate willingly"
Tetsuya fell silent: She died for...me? My...idea? That was supposed to be my fate...not hers...
A cold, melodious howl filled the night as the moon slowly set. The night was torture for Tetsuya when he saw the body of Lena being dragged away. He could remember the wonderful scent of her soft, warm for and her sweet voice awkwardly saying, 'I really do like you, Tetsuya.' for the first time.

Tetsuya could hardly think straight for the next few days, he couldn't care less about the wolves around him. The days were a blur, he refused food or company. Even his own mother tried speaking to him, but it was like talking to stone.
Eventually, his body began to deteriorate and grow weak and his wounds grew steadily worse. Tetsuya could only think of Lena and the memories they once shared. It suddenly occurred to him that he should continue with the plan to leave the pack. Although now that the wolves were watching him more closely; he would escape in memory of Lena or at least die trying.
A few days had passed and he had formulated his strategy of escape. At night, he noticed a small group of younger, inexperienced wolves on guard in the northwest corner of the territory. This was the weak point in the packs' defense. He'd also have to deceive another pair of wolves who now guarded him carefully also, they were placed here to make sure he wouldn't try to escape once more.
Tetsuya was now ready, he moved to get up but the older wolf caught his movement, "What are you doing, cur?" He growled viciously. Tetsuya looked at him innocently, "I only would like to visit with my...mother. And I believe privacy is due.", he said coolly.
The wolves looked at one another and the older wolf nodded. Tetsuya knew the older wolves would allow him to do so because they followed the old traditions. A wolf's bond with their mother was sacred in the eyes of the wolves, but the younger generations were no longer following these values.
Tetsuya made his way to his family's elm tree. He looked back at the two wolves and noticed they were talking among themselves and no longer paying attention to him.
He moved toward the northwest and saw the group of younger wolves, no much older than himself. The leader of the group snarled, "Who are you, wolf?"
Tetsuya was surprised that they hadn't recognized him but then again they probably didn't even know what Tetsuya even looked like. They had heard of the commotion a young wolf named Tetsuya had caused in the pack, but they were only told to keep an eye out for the wolf but their guard was in vain.
Tetsuya stiffened his back, hair bristling, and snarled maliciously, "Back down. I'm on an errand for the Elders." He bared his fangs to the young wolves causing them to put their tails between their legs submissively. The leader lowered his head and nodded lightly, "Go then, my apologies for disturbing you."
Tetsuya almost let out a sigh of relief but held it in carefully, he trotted quickly past them, not moving too fast fearing they'd realize sooner or later he wasn't a high-ranking wolf. As soon as he was far enough away, he began to run. The smell of the wolf territory was becoming more and fainter as he smelled the more natural smell of the earth; the fresh soil after the rain, the pines, the small creatures hidden in the night, and the smell of trickling water. His paws hardly touched the ground as he ran away from his childhood home. He was born and raised in that pack and he never knew what the 'true' wild was like. His eyes caught the movement of the mice darting in the long grass and the shadow of an owl, whose wings were silent as the wind rushed past them. The gray wolf was surprised how much he'd been missing while eating the carcass of animal's his parent's had given them. He began to imagine the exhilaration of the hunt and how the animal's warm blood must have felt.