I do not own Wolf's Rain but the origional Characters in this story are mine 100 percent.I also apologize for posting such a short chapter but the others will be longer this is just kind of a background thing.

This is a bit different than the first ch 1 I posted. It's more of an introduction or a prelude really, and it gets better in chapter 2 if you don't really like it so at least read the next chapter b4 you make your final decision of whether you like the story or not.

Thanks! now on with the story.

The pampered house pet shivered under the branches of a large pine tree, as the icy rain poured down from the sky.

Tala was a young wolf/dog half breed. Small compared to a wolf, her body was lean and slender showing the characteristics of her wolf father. Her coat was a blend of black and white, resembling the pattern of her Alaskan Malamute mother's.

Her eyes used to be soft and trusting, but now they only held fear and uncertainty. One of them was a deep chocolate brown accented with gold flecks, and the other was a piercing ice blue.

Her silver collar displayed her name in flowing script, and told of her previously pampered life.

The bitter cold wind caused Tala to curl up even tighter in a futile effort to keep warm.

As a tiny puppy, Tala was a present given to a rich and influential Lady by her sister. The Lady fell in love with her the moment she saw Tala. Her husband, the Lord of the area, however did not.

He was a harsh brute of a man that knew his way around a liquor bottle and had no need for a dog, let alone one that was also part wolf. The Lady treated Tala as if she was her child, and Tala was fiercely loyal and protective of her.

This only spurned the Lord's hatred further. On more than one occasion Tala had stood between the drunken man's fury and her Lady. Her threatening fangs and menacing growls making him think twice about his intended actions.

When the Lady fell deathly ill, Tala spent every moment at her side. Her soft fur and warm eyes being the dying woman's only comfort. The day came when the Lady left this world and Tala was left with an emptiness in her heart that could not be filled.

After the funeral the Lord came home very drunk and very angry. He tore through the house destroying everything in his path. Chairs were smashed through windows, vases were shattered against walls, and the maid was even chased out of the house by airborne crystal place settings.

Tala tried to hide, but he found her and dragged her out in the open by the collar. The half breed had tried to get away and even attempted to fight back, but there was no escape from his wrath.

After the beating he passed out on the rug in the next room. When he woke up the Lord once again dragged Tala out from her hiding place and drove the wolf dog out to the middle of nowhere.

He dumped her there, leaving her wounded and alone, without a second thought.