Title: Demon's Howl
Rating: T
Warnings: Blood, Swearing, Character Death in later chapters.
Pairings: Jiro/OC
Summary: Hope appears in the form of a white wolf. But this wolf…also symbolises Death? A being that only knows how to kill; can one boy change that? Jiro/OC
Chapter 1
Some people say that demons can't love. They say that it is physically impossible for a demon to show compassion towards anything. I agreed with this theory completely. Because, once upon a time, I was one…
/
I exhaled slowly as I stared downwards, towards my prey. My bright crimson eyes travelled; following my target as he hurried around yet another corner. My teeth bared in a silent snarl, I bided my time, waiting for the perfect moment…
And then I struck.
A short screech of surprise and pain, and it was over. I shook the body back and forth in my jaws; making sure I had snapped his neck. After all; those had been my orders.
Make it quick. Snap his neck. Don't let anyone see you.
Slowly, my jaws opened, and my prey dropped to the floor.
Yes, I decided, the death was quick…enough. The neck has been snapped through, just like the Master said…and…no one has seen. I sense no humans. Good…
I glanced down at the man's face. My eyes widened a little; he reminded me of someone I once knew. My heart filled with sadness, and I lifted my head up to the sky, to stare at the crescent moon.
A lone howl pierced the darkness…
/
"Akira! You're back!" I heard surprised voices yelp, and a small smile lit up my features.
"Kuro. Shiro," I greeted, nuzzling the pups with my muzzle. They responded with a group of happy whines and yaps, and choose the time to bite at my fluffy ears with their razor-sharp fangs. I winced a little, but held in my protests; they were just children. They didn't know any better.
"It's been a while, Sister," I heard a familiar voice call, and I turned, to face the owner.
"Yes. It has, Brother," I whispered back, greeting him by rubbing our flanks together. He growled in content, and pushed me away with his muzzle. I sighed as I noticed a claw-like scar running along the length of his muzzle, passing over his left eye.
"Another fight?" I complained, licking the old wound gently, "who with this time?"
"Not one of our pack," he grumbled, turning his face away, "the Nightshades. They attacked us last full moon."
The fur on the back of my neck began to bristle, and my muzzle pulled back over my jaws to reveal two rows of shiny white fangs.
"The Nightshades?" I snarled, my claws scratching at the hard earth, "those bastards!"
"Easy, Sister. There are children here," my brother murmured, nudging my flank tenderly. I snapped at him; pearly fangs only just missing his ear.
"Don't tell me what I already know!" I growled, before stalking off towards what used to be my den…
/
"Elder. Please. I must know. What happened with-"
"The Nightshades? We managed to fend off all of them, but…just barely. As you can see…there have been many fatalities…" The Elder croaked, motioning to the limp bodies lying next to her.
The Elder was a wise woman; she was like a surrogate mother to both me and my brother. She took us in when we were just pups, and for that I was always grateful.
"Such poor souls. They never even lived to begin with," she murmured, her human hands reaching out to touch one of the dead wolves' muzzles. I stood, growling protectively; even if she was the Elder, I wouldn't let human hands touch them.
"Peace, Akita. I mean no harm," she whispered, showing her hands to me. I sighed, and slowly, sat back down on the floor. My eyes wouldn't leave her hands, however. I still didn't trust her when she was in her Daemon Form.
"…Elder…why do you change?" I asked as she plucked a single hair from one of the wolves' dull coat, examining it with a simple curiosity.
"Change, child? What do you mean?"
"Your…Daemon Form," I winced at the saying, "must you change into that form? You look so much like…the humans," I muttered, my eyes narrowing in disgust as I mentioned the humans.
"Hm…I suppose I could counter your question with one of my own," she mused, her old wrinkled face giving me her interpretation of a grin.
"Why do you change into a peregrine falcon when you want to fly? Or change into a spotted dolphin when you want to swim?" she asked me, and I looked away, muttering out my answer.
"…Experimentation."
"Yes, child! Experimentation! You simply want to know what it feels like to become another being! You've always been such a free spirit; never staying in one place for too long. You're a born wanderer, Akita. You're just like me when I was your age," The Elder chuckled, and I looked back, my eyes widening in shock.
"Really, Elder?"
"Yes, Akita. When I was young, I longed to see the world from a different point of view. So, I used the Daemon's Power to change my form. I chose to fly with the birds, swim with the fish, and walk with the great beasts of the land. Finally, I settled on our forms; the wolf," she explained, her eyes seeming to go murky as she remembered her past. Her past in a human's eyes.
"When my children were born, they too, were wolves. They, however, could not change like me. They were stuck in their wolf bodies, like lost souls trapped in little glass jars," she sighed, pausing to run her hand along one of the wolves' bodies; pulling gently through its pelt with small nails.
"Of course, like any loving mother, I tried to help them. But, no matter how much I tried, they could not shift into a human form. As time passed, I too, gave up all hope. And as my hope dwindled, so did my human form," she whispered, keeping her eyes on the dead wolves.
"I thought all was lost…until you and your brother came along. At first, I couldn't believe my eyes. Two young wolf pups; like opposites, you were. Your brother; strong yet foolish; his pelt a cunning black. And you, Akita; so feeble, yet so brave. Your fur, a shining white. Yes…how different you two were back then…" She explained, her eyes seeming to come back to life.
"As time went on, the entire pack began to notice that you and your brother were…different," she went on, "For one, you didn't seem to hold any desire to be in the pack. You especially preferred to stay by your brother's side; following him around like a lost child," she chuckled, and I growled a little at the reminder. It made me feel weak.
"Yes…you could change. I felt happiness when I saw you change for the first time, Akita. Your brother joined you soon afterwards, and I couldn't help but howl in joy as I watched you flitting around in the skies as swallows," she smiled; her eyes warm like a furnace.
"Seeing two others like me, brought colour back into my black and white life. I felt strong again, and so…I tried. And finally, I could do it. I could cross the void between human and wolf," she ended, sighing. I watched cautiously as a dim light lit up the room, and in the Elder's place, was a dark grey wolf; her fur turning an old-looking silver.
"Some call the Daemon Power a sin, Akita. But believe me; if you can use them for the greater good, then you will gain good things in your life," she said, nudging my flank gently with her old muzzle, "even if the situation appears bleak, just remember; the Daemon Power's aren't a curse, they are a gift."
I nodded, nuzzling into her neck, feeling the blood pulsing weakly in her veins.
"Elder…I'm planning on leaving the pack. I need…to travel the world. I need to know what's out there," I explained, and she smiled.
"Of course, young one. I understand completely. Have you told your brother?"
I shook my head sadly. I hadn't wanted to tell him.
"…Go, Akita. Go explore the world. I will tell him," she said, pushing me away with her muzzle. I padded away from her, towards the exit of her den, before she stopped me.
"But remember, Akita. One day we might need you," she called, and I nodded, and stepped out of her den.
"And I you, Elder," I whispered, before speeding towards the exit to our territory.
"And I you…"
Please R & R.