Disclaimer: I do not own nor claim to own this franchise or any of its characters.
There Is No Wolf
Far away, long away, in a similar world that was different there was a problem. Wolves were a problem all over the majestic lands. Of course wolves are just animals aren't they? Wolves are just dogs. People can kill dogs. These dogs are wolves however and wolves aren't dogs. Wolves aren't animals. So these wolves are terrifyingly persistent and resistant so only special humans can hurt them with special weapons. Three students per academy. Three students for every learning institute in any given town are sent out with pieces of red cloth connected to their souls to hurt wolves. No one believes in wolves though. The three are sent to 'deliver' something that wolves like. There is no wolf in this story. Wolves are dogs and dogs are called dogs. The wolves are just a lie.
Somewhere in an academy are three students; a tall blonde, a thin red head and a short brunette. The three had some strange reactions when asked the questions required to go make the 'delivery'
"Do you believe in the big bad wolf?" Jonouchi Katsuya asks.
"What's a wolf?" Varon, an idiot classmate of mine asks.
"I think a wolf's a fairytale told to keep children from playing in the woods." Raphael, my more informed classmate, answers.
"Nah then. I ain't afraid of some wolf." Varon smiles.
"Wolves don't exist so the fear is pointless." Raphael sighs.
"Wolves are just dogs even if they do exist." I tell them.
With a sly smile Seto Kaiba motions towards a back room. Raphael goes first with slow and dull movements.
You never told the truth, are you afraid of the big bad wolf Ameruda?
"There is no wolf." I reply.
As you were.
Mr. Kaiba throws us all red cloaks.
"Consider these your swords and shields." The angry and smirking man laughs at me,
"They're made of fabric." Varon mentions.
"Why I know." Mr. Kaiba replies.
"How do they work?" I ask with nervousness creeping in like a w-
There are no wolves in this story.
"They won't work until halfway through your journey." The brunette grins with malice, with smugness.
How dare he think he's better. There is nothing to fear in these forests so why do we even need weapons anyway.
"Do we wear 'em or something?" Varon asks.
"Yes you moron." Mr. Kaiba informs my slow teammate.
"Please don't be rude sir." Raphael 'asks'.
Mr. Kaiba huffs and throws open a door to some forests.
"Take this." He throws Varon a basket. "To my Grandmother's."
"Isn't this, I dunno, a waste of our skills?" Varon asks.
It is. I was trained as a thief and spy for my small size, Varon as a bard for his charisma and healing magic and Raphael as a ranger for his marksmanship and 'all hearing'. Yeah I don't get any special powers so what? When you're as fast as me you don't need them.
Mr. Kaiba ushers us out and shoves the door closed. The forest looms tall in front of us. Look at the trees. Look at the ground. Look at the w- There are no wolves, certainly not one giggling in the background at the sight of us. There are no wolves in this forest.
I never said there weren't any wolves. Maybe there are wolves. He looks like a wolf to me.
"Shut up." I scream upwards.
"'Ey Ami, you a'right mate?" Varon asks.
"Yeah I'm fine. Let's just take this basket to Mr. Kaiba's grandma. God this is such a waste." I sigh.
We set off into the forest. Varon jumps at every noise and Raphael gets sidetracked by birds and squirrels.
The road covered in slight orange and brown and scattered feathers and f-. There is no fur. No gray fur from a w-. There is no wolf. Wolves don't exist so don't tell me there are wolves. Raphae's heavy footsteps are the most audible among Varon's smashing and my careful tread. Our blonde teammate lifts his noise up to the air.
"Does anyone else smell bread?" He asks carefully.
"Mate you got that super sniffer so no." Varon replies.
"It's probably from behind us Ralph." I dismiss.
He looks unconvinced.
"No you see it's a lot of bread." Raphael mentions.
"So?" I ask.
"Like from a market or something." He explains.
"And?"
"There's a market somewhere. I think there's more than one path."
"Oh."
We remain silent for a bit. Varon sees a small rabbit with two horns scuttle across the ground. The smallest chases after it with glee on his face.
"Varon get back here! You've got the basket!" I cry.
Two baskets are lying in the leaves. Nothing chuckles at the sight with a toothy grin. Nothing laughs at me.
"Ameruda, I think something's not quite right." Raphael mentions.
"Yeah, thanks." I reply.
"We should go get Varon."
"Yeah but spending the night here seems dangerous and sides we need to deliver this."
"So you're saying delivery first then Varon?"
"Yeah I guess I am."
"I could go after him. I know his scent."
"He'll be fine, he's got his magics."
"It will only take seconds."
"He'll find us when he's ready."
"If you are sure that we ought to make the delivery first."
"Didn't you hear me? I said go."
Raphael nods and the two of us set off down the trail again. A huge split is in the middle.
"One goes to the bread and the other smells like musk." Raphael mentions.
Both have the wolf.
"There is no wolf!" I call out.
"I know Ameruda." Raphael states. "What's up with you?"
"Uh, nothing. You take the bread road and I'll take the musk one alright?"
"But what about Varon? He could get easily lost now?"
"He'll just use some magic, it'll be fine Ralph."
"If you insist."
The blonde barrels down the bread road and I take the musk one.