Second Nature
By: Rukan Hisashi
WARNING: THE FOLLOWING STORY CONTAINS SPOILERS FROM THE MOVIE VAN HELSING! READ AT YOUR OWN RISK! Due to the graphic nature of this story I would recommend that the younger audience avoid it. It contains scenes of gore and violence that are not for the weak of stomach. Reader discretion is advised. Chapter I: I Really was Raised by Wolves.
Light, dark and shades of gray flew by in a blur easily distinguished as trees and foliage by the beast as he made his way quickly through the forest that night. The shouts of his pursuers made his heart beat faster and faster in fear and excitement as he leapt over a fallen trunk and grappled with a branch flipping his way up into the tree where the creature panted heavily pressing against the huge mass as to try and evade the mob that chased him.
The light of their torches was easy to distinguish in the distance as he crouched on the branch hoping that they would just move on and leave him be. It was always like this and he knew that it would never be the same for him after the incident that started all of this mess.
The lupine looked deeply into the darkness ahead of him and the small pricks of light that the torches made as they came closer and closer the shouting and screams for blood growing louder. It was sheer madness. He knew that he was unacceptable to them but that was really all he wanted. He wanted to walk among his peers as an equal. He never wanted power or anything of the sort, but he was different and so evil in their eyes.
The werewolf let out a soft whimper of sadness seeing that the mob had entered the clearing below and he quickly put his paws over his muzzle to not be heard holding his breath. They kept moving and he was about to head in the other direction but he had to be sure they were all gone. He had to chance a peek around the trunk.
The wolf took a deep breath and slowly started to look around the tree and saw that there were a few men that lingered behind, probably winded from the chase he gave them. There was no way they could keep up with him but even he had his limits. Being a creature of the night the lupine was in his element but still he did not want to fight.
"I heard he killed a pregnant woman and ate the child." Said one of the men to another trading the lies and legends that surrounded the myth.
"I heard he even tried to kill a man of the cloth." Said another in the small group of no more than four.
The wolf sniffed the air and wrinkled his muzzle at the smell of smoke. He was disturbed that the lies of him had spread so quickly but he knew it was inevitable that he would be hated now. He had to leave and find a place where no one knew who he was or what for that matter.
He looked to the sky and frowned seeing that the moon indeed was still high in the sky and there was no turning back for quite some time. He heard one of the men rustling about below him and looked down to see that perhaps this one had drunk more than his share this night and was urinating on the trunk.
The wolf felt his blood racing at the sight of the man so vulnerable. He felt is instincts start to wake inside of him as his heart beat faster and faster with the primal fury of this creature marking a territory that was most certainly not theirs. The rage was making the werewolf pant and drool with the anticipation of tasting the other's flesh and blood as he quickly leapt from the tree on the man and quickly collapsed the victim's throat with his massive and powerful paw grating his claws against the soft flesh of the human.
He looked at the terror in the pitiful beings eyes and could feel a certain satisfaction inside him as he pierced the man's throat with his sharp claws and ripped the trachea out completely leaving the man trying to grip to his doomed life in his final horrifying moments being completely unable to gain the life sustaining oxygen from the cool night air.
The man had been a fool to wander so far from his group alone. It had left the wolf the perfect opportunity to take him down silently without the others knowing. The wolf looked at the group now knowing that there were indeed only three of them and the rest of the mob had head deep into the woods.
The blind rage the wolf was feeling now was pulling back all that was human in him and sent him running at the unsuspecting men taking two of them down with his huge reach bashing one their heads to the ground and tearing at their backs with his hind claws making them howl out in agony as their blood spilled out on the foliage of the forest, while the other wasn't as lucky. The wolf had racked his claws across the man's stomach who was now very sure of what his intestines looked like as he stumbled on them trying to retreat from the attacker but was quickly subdued by the shock of what was really happening.
The Wolf stood there for a moment looking at the last man with a growl, his jowls curling up and his muzzle wrinkled. The villager was terrified at the sight and instinctively reached for his weapon. The wolf leapt at the foolish human and tore at his chest with his razor sharp claws only to hear a loud bang and feel a sudden fiery pain in his gut causing him to yelp in pain and surprise.
The man lay there chocking on his own blood and drowning in the fluid that once gave him life before finally going limp, the smoking revolver in hand. The were creature stumbled back a bit holding his gut seeing the tainted blood run down his shapely abs and over his powerful paws still in shock at what had happened.
He knew that this was going to cause a problem even though it wouldn't kill him. The bullet had surely been silver but at such a close range it tore right through him and didn't find respite in his organs but it had weakened him greatly.
The shouts of the mob heading back surely to check the noise and see their fallen comrades filled the air around the now terrified creature as the past few moments suddenly became all too real. He had lost control again and killed the men that got in his way. He quickly checked over the bodies of the men to see if any had been bitten and sighed in relief, as he found no marks.
He was then again running but not away from the mob, he was running parallel to them through the forest and off the beaten path to a place where he knew he could be safe for the night. He ran for all he was worth now starting to feel the effect of the bullet weakening him and causing worlds of pain but his instincts kept him running and convinced that he didn't have time for pain.
Soon the shouts had faded in the distance and he knew that he was safe for another night from those that hunted him but not from the nightmares that were sure to come as he remembered the moments where he lost control of his primal side. The black wolf found his sanctuary in the form of a hollow beneath the roots of a tree and curled up inside growling at the pain in his abdomen still sapping his energy reserves to a point where he doubted that he would be conscious much longer.
Slowly his vision was beginning to blur and his ability to move was sluggish making a response to any danger quite near impossible. He wasn't comfortable with this but he also had no choice in the matter. He could remember reaching for a root on the tree in a futile attempt to cling to reality that ultimately failed as he slumped back and his eyes closed in a restless sleep.
The soft sounds of talking woke the beast from his sleep only to see that he was still in the hollow but two wolves were standing there looking at him curiously.
"What do you think happened to him?" said one of a brownish hue to the other of a more gray color.
"Looks like two leggers shot him. He seems to be alive though so I wouldn't worry."
The werewolf turned a bit and looked at the two lupines with a quizzical look on his face. He knew them by name but hadn't expected to see them after what happened the night before. "Tak? Stalker? What are you two doing here?"
The grey one spoke up, "Saving your ass, what else do you think we would be doing?"
The Tak snickered at Stalker's comment a bit and then moved back for his friend giving him room to crawl out from under the trunk of the tree and stretch a bit groaning in pain as he put a paw on his muscular abdomen and saw that the wound had healed already but there was a rather noticeable scar under the short fur that covered his chest and belly.
"You got hit pretty bad there Jerico. Are you sure you are going to be ok?" said Tak looking rather concerned at the wound. The wolfman nodded slowly and smiled a bit, "Ya... It's just a little sore. I've had worse."
Stalker gave Jerico a rather stern look, "You could have been killed. How many times do I have to tell you that you will never be accepted as one of them? You keep trying to learn their society while you have one here that cares about you. Why would you want to be a part of them anyway? You know what they do to our kind!?"
Jerico knew that Stalker was right but he never wanted to accept it. the beast thought that maybe there was a clue to his family there. "Because I want to find my family..."
Stalker snapped his jaws at Jerico rather angered, "We are your family! You would leave the ones that raised you since you were a pup for those... demons!?"
Jerico looked down at Stalker quickly and frowned., "I'm sorry sire... I didn't mean to upset... it's just... in my blood. Their tainted blood flows through my veins. I can feel it in my heart with every beat. I want to find whose blood flows in those veins."
"Jerico... you know you can't be around the Two Leggers for long before you end up hurting one of them. You'll never find the ones you seek if you just end up killing them." Said Tak calmly.
"Tak... They are a part of me though. A part I can't deny." Said Jerico with a sigh.
"They are afraid of you Jerico! You'll never be able to get close to one of them. You belong here with the pack. Not in their world. You're not one of them. You are a wolf." Said Stalker rather harshly.
"I am not a wolf and I am not a human so what am I!?" shouted Jerico at Stalker growling and baring his fangs.
"You're my son!" shouted Stalker back with a matching growl.
"Ok you two, Calm down. The pack is close... we should head back. We can talk about this later. Storm isn't happy with you at all Jerico. He will probably want to scream at you for a while so don't expect a warm welcome." Said Tak trying to hold the two bristling beasts from attacking each other.
Jerico shook his head feeling rather ashamed of himself for being so foolish, "I'm sorry father... I don't know what came over me. We should head back before I get into more trouble."
Stalker let his bristling fur relax and looked at his son concerned, 'you had me and your mother worried sick Jerico... you know we care about you. It hurts us that you would try to leave us for those monsters."
Jerico nodded and hunched down to nuzzle his father gently, "I know father... I'm sorry. I won't do it again."
Tak nodded and started off into the forest followed quickly by the other two making their way through the low flora.
"What happened back there Jer? What happened this time?" said Tak as they forded a small creek.
"It was the full moon again... I can't control the transformation on the full moon. I got hungry and there was some meat in a house. So I broke in and they caught me. I ran after that... I'm sure you saw the results."
"What's a house?" said Stalker with a bit of a frown.
Jercio knew how much his father hated the humans. They had killed his mother a long time ago was all that he knew. It was before Jerico could remember anything and his father had never talked about it. "It's like a den... only it's made out of wood."
Tak laughed a bit and looked at Jerico, "You tried to steal food from their pack? We would kill you if you tried that. Are you stupid or something Jer?"
"No... it's just... sometimes I can't control that side of me. Like... something demands me to do things and I can't make it stop. It scares me..."
They kept moving in silence after that. They all knew that Jerico had problems with control at times but they preferred not to talk about it. It scared all of the pack just as much as it scared Jerico himself. They knew he would never harm another wolf but they had seen the things he has done before. It was absolutely savage.
"Is that you Tak?" said a voice from the brush making all their head's turn to the noise. A white wolf stepped out of the foliage and smiled seeing the troop, "We've been looking all over for you three for hours now. We're all here."
Jerico nodded and they three followed the white wolf to the rest of the pack, which had found a resting place in a clearing. A pitch-black wolf the same color of Jerico looked at the three nodding at Tak and Stalker but gave Jerico a terrible glare. This was the Alpha, Storm.
Jerico was about to find a place to settle down but Storm wasn't about to let that happen and he left his post on the rock and shouted, "Maybe you would like my seat on the rock Jerico? Seems like you just have a problem listening to what I say lately, you think you would be a better leader than me?"
Jerico rolled his eyes and looked Storm directly in the eyes showing great disrespect to the Alpha and growled. "Don't start with me Storm. I've had a rough night."
Storm growled and snapped at the werewolf nipping his arm and causing it to bleed from the bite, "You've had a rough night!? Do you have any idea how worried you had all of us? You could have exposed our existence not to mention gotten yourself killed! If the Two Leggers knew we were here in the forest they would hunt us! Did it ever cross your mind that when you leave without telling us we think you've been hurt and we go looking for you?! Then we find that you are being chased down by those things and almost end up being seen by them!"
Jerico frowned deeply knowing that Storm was right on this one, "I didn't think that..."
Storm cut him off quickly, "Exactly! You didn't think! If you were any other wolf I should banish you from this pack completely! But I can't do that right now. You are to remain with us at all times now. You cannot leave without another wolf with you."
"You can't do that!" shouted Jerico quickly.
"I most certainly can mutt! I don't know what those demons have been putting in your head but you listen to me or you die out there in the wilderness by yourself!" Said Storm growling even lower than before rage flaming in his eyes.
"Fine..." was Jerico's only reply, refusing to look at the Alpha at all.
"It had better be fine... We stay here today." Said Storm turning away from the werewolf and going back to his place on the rock looking over the pack like a king on his throne.
Jerico walked to the edge of the clearing and sat himself down leaning against a tree absolutely refusing to look at the pack. He had gotten them into danger and hadn't realized it. Maybe they were right, he would never fit in with the humans. He felt a soft nudge and turned to look at Shira.
Shira was a gray wolf with a white underside and golden eyes. Jerico always saw her as beautiful though he had never told her. They had grown up together and always been the best of friends and Jerico didn't want to violate that. She put her head on his lap and looked up at him with apologetic eyes saying nothing but communicating a great deal with her gesture.
He softly pet her looking at his paw as he did so feeling ashamed that he wasn't a real wolf. Again it reminded him that he didn't really belong in either world but this one had accepted him. It didn't change the feeling inside, however. It only pushed him harder to a point where he was ashamed to even look at himself.
"Jerico... I know you want to find your family, but why can't you just stay with us?" said Shira in her soft almost musical voice.
"I don't know Shira... it's just. I feel like I am needed just like I need them. Like they are looking for me but can't find me." Came his reply.
Shira nuzzled his cheek softly putting her paws on his chest and gave his muzzle a bit of a lick. "Jer you know that you are needed here to though... We all need you."
The werewolf returned the gesture gently, "I know Shira but you don't understand. You know your parents, I don't... it drives me to find out."
Shira sat next to him leaning herself against him softly, "And what about me? Your father? What about Tak and the rest of the pack? Would you just leave us?"
Jerico looked down at his paws again and clenched them a bit, "No... I wouldn't ever leave you. I would always come back... This is just one of those things. Something I have to do alone."
"I understand... I just worry about you." Said Shira softly.
"I know... you should get some rest. I'm sure Storm will have us moving out at sunset and we'll be out all night."
"What about you?"
"Don't worry. I'll get my rest... I just have a lot on my mind right now."
Shira looked pleased as she laid herself next to him resting her head on his lap. She closed her eyes slowly and was soon breathing deep and even. Jerico had feelings for her and felt even worse for what he had done now. It had never been this bad before. He hadn't ever actually been seen before, only a passing glimpse or a scary story to keep the children out of the forest.
This time they had seen him and chased him through the woods almost leading them to his pack and Shira. He sighed softly and leaned back against the tree again catching the eye of Storm who was looking directly at him now still glaring. This time though he could see that Storm's gaze was lowered to Shira then back to his own.
The wolfman looked a bit puzzled as his silent gaze stayed with Storm's as the alpha settled down and closed his eyes heading off to the land of dreams as well. Jerico sat there puzzled for a bit longer before closing his eyes still quite tired from his exploits the night before and soon he left the clearing for the world beyond the physical realm to join his pack in their sleep.
WARNING: THE FOLLOWING STORY CONTAINS SPOILERS FROM THE MOVIE VAN HELSING! READ AT YOUR OWN RISK! Due to the graphic nature of this story I would recommend that the younger audience avoid it. It contains scenes of gore and violence that are not for the weak of stomach. Reader discretion is advised. Chapter I: I Really was Raised by Wolves.
Light, dark and shades of gray flew by in a blur easily distinguished as trees and foliage by the beast as he made his way quickly through the forest that night. The shouts of his pursuers made his heart beat faster and faster in fear and excitement as he leapt over a fallen trunk and grappled with a branch flipping his way up into the tree where the creature panted heavily pressing against the huge mass as to try and evade the mob that chased him.
The light of their torches was easy to distinguish in the distance as he crouched on the branch hoping that they would just move on and leave him be. It was always like this and he knew that it would never be the same for him after the incident that started all of this mess.
The lupine looked deeply into the darkness ahead of him and the small pricks of light that the torches made as they came closer and closer the shouting and screams for blood growing louder. It was sheer madness. He knew that he was unacceptable to them but that was really all he wanted. He wanted to walk among his peers as an equal. He never wanted power or anything of the sort, but he was different and so evil in their eyes.
The werewolf let out a soft whimper of sadness seeing that the mob had entered the clearing below and he quickly put his paws over his muzzle to not be heard holding his breath. They kept moving and he was about to head in the other direction but he had to be sure they were all gone. He had to chance a peek around the trunk.
The wolf took a deep breath and slowly started to look around the tree and saw that there were a few men that lingered behind, probably winded from the chase he gave them. There was no way they could keep up with him but even he had his limits. Being a creature of the night the lupine was in his element but still he did not want to fight.
"I heard he killed a pregnant woman and ate the child." Said one of the men to another trading the lies and legends that surrounded the myth.
"I heard he even tried to kill a man of the cloth." Said another in the small group of no more than four.
The wolf sniffed the air and wrinkled his muzzle at the smell of smoke. He was disturbed that the lies of him had spread so quickly but he knew it was inevitable that he would be hated now. He had to leave and find a place where no one knew who he was or what for that matter.
He looked to the sky and frowned seeing that the moon indeed was still high in the sky and there was no turning back for quite some time. He heard one of the men rustling about below him and looked down to see that perhaps this one had drunk more than his share this night and was urinating on the trunk.
The wolf felt his blood racing at the sight of the man so vulnerable. He felt is instincts start to wake inside of him as his heart beat faster and faster with the primal fury of this creature marking a territory that was most certainly not theirs. The rage was making the werewolf pant and drool with the anticipation of tasting the other's flesh and blood as he quickly leapt from the tree on the man and quickly collapsed the victim's throat with his massive and powerful paw grating his claws against the soft flesh of the human.
He looked at the terror in the pitiful beings eyes and could feel a certain satisfaction inside him as he pierced the man's throat with his sharp claws and ripped the trachea out completely leaving the man trying to grip to his doomed life in his final horrifying moments being completely unable to gain the life sustaining oxygen from the cool night air.
The man had been a fool to wander so far from his group alone. It had left the wolf the perfect opportunity to take him down silently without the others knowing. The wolf looked at the group now knowing that there were indeed only three of them and the rest of the mob had head deep into the woods.
The blind rage the wolf was feeling now was pulling back all that was human in him and sent him running at the unsuspecting men taking two of them down with his huge reach bashing one their heads to the ground and tearing at their backs with his hind claws making them howl out in agony as their blood spilled out on the foliage of the forest, while the other wasn't as lucky. The wolf had racked his claws across the man's stomach who was now very sure of what his intestines looked like as he stumbled on them trying to retreat from the attacker but was quickly subdued by the shock of what was really happening.
The Wolf stood there for a moment looking at the last man with a growl, his jowls curling up and his muzzle wrinkled. The villager was terrified at the sight and instinctively reached for his weapon. The wolf leapt at the foolish human and tore at his chest with his razor sharp claws only to hear a loud bang and feel a sudden fiery pain in his gut causing him to yelp in pain and surprise.
The man lay there chocking on his own blood and drowning in the fluid that once gave him life before finally going limp, the smoking revolver in hand. The were creature stumbled back a bit holding his gut seeing the tainted blood run down his shapely abs and over his powerful paws still in shock at what had happened.
He knew that this was going to cause a problem even though it wouldn't kill him. The bullet had surely been silver but at such a close range it tore right through him and didn't find respite in his organs but it had weakened him greatly.
The shouts of the mob heading back surely to check the noise and see their fallen comrades filled the air around the now terrified creature as the past few moments suddenly became all too real. He had lost control again and killed the men that got in his way. He quickly checked over the bodies of the men to see if any had been bitten and sighed in relief, as he found no marks.
He was then again running but not away from the mob, he was running parallel to them through the forest and off the beaten path to a place where he knew he could be safe for the night. He ran for all he was worth now starting to feel the effect of the bullet weakening him and causing worlds of pain but his instincts kept him running and convinced that he didn't have time for pain.
Soon the shouts had faded in the distance and he knew that he was safe for another night from those that hunted him but not from the nightmares that were sure to come as he remembered the moments where he lost control of his primal side. The black wolf found his sanctuary in the form of a hollow beneath the roots of a tree and curled up inside growling at the pain in his abdomen still sapping his energy reserves to a point where he doubted that he would be conscious much longer.
Slowly his vision was beginning to blur and his ability to move was sluggish making a response to any danger quite near impossible. He wasn't comfortable with this but he also had no choice in the matter. He could remember reaching for a root on the tree in a futile attempt to cling to reality that ultimately failed as he slumped back and his eyes closed in a restless sleep.
The soft sounds of talking woke the beast from his sleep only to see that he was still in the hollow but two wolves were standing there looking at him curiously.
"What do you think happened to him?" said one of a brownish hue to the other of a more gray color.
"Looks like two leggers shot him. He seems to be alive though so I wouldn't worry."
The werewolf turned a bit and looked at the two lupines with a quizzical look on his face. He knew them by name but hadn't expected to see them after what happened the night before. "Tak? Stalker? What are you two doing here?"
The grey one spoke up, "Saving your ass, what else do you think we would be doing?"
The Tak snickered at Stalker's comment a bit and then moved back for his friend giving him room to crawl out from under the trunk of the tree and stretch a bit groaning in pain as he put a paw on his muscular abdomen and saw that the wound had healed already but there was a rather noticeable scar under the short fur that covered his chest and belly.
"You got hit pretty bad there Jerico. Are you sure you are going to be ok?" said Tak looking rather concerned at the wound. The wolfman nodded slowly and smiled a bit, "Ya... It's just a little sore. I've had worse."
Stalker gave Jerico a rather stern look, "You could have been killed. How many times do I have to tell you that you will never be accepted as one of them? You keep trying to learn their society while you have one here that cares about you. Why would you want to be a part of them anyway? You know what they do to our kind!?"
Jerico knew that Stalker was right but he never wanted to accept it. the beast thought that maybe there was a clue to his family there. "Because I want to find my family..."
Stalker snapped his jaws at Jerico rather angered, "We are your family! You would leave the ones that raised you since you were a pup for those... demons!?"
Jerico looked down at Stalker quickly and frowned., "I'm sorry sire... I didn't mean to upset... it's just... in my blood. Their tainted blood flows through my veins. I can feel it in my heart with every beat. I want to find whose blood flows in those veins."
"Jerico... you know you can't be around the Two Leggers for long before you end up hurting one of them. You'll never find the ones you seek if you just end up killing them." Said Tak calmly.
"Tak... They are a part of me though. A part I can't deny." Said Jerico with a sigh.
"They are afraid of you Jerico! You'll never be able to get close to one of them. You belong here with the pack. Not in their world. You're not one of them. You are a wolf." Said Stalker rather harshly.
"I am not a wolf and I am not a human so what am I!?" shouted Jerico at Stalker growling and baring his fangs.
"You're my son!" shouted Stalker back with a matching growl.
"Ok you two, Calm down. The pack is close... we should head back. We can talk about this later. Storm isn't happy with you at all Jerico. He will probably want to scream at you for a while so don't expect a warm welcome." Said Tak trying to hold the two bristling beasts from attacking each other.
Jerico shook his head feeling rather ashamed of himself for being so foolish, "I'm sorry father... I don't know what came over me. We should head back before I get into more trouble."
Stalker let his bristling fur relax and looked at his son concerned, 'you had me and your mother worried sick Jerico... you know we care about you. It hurts us that you would try to leave us for those monsters."
Jerico nodded and hunched down to nuzzle his father gently, "I know father... I'm sorry. I won't do it again."
Tak nodded and started off into the forest followed quickly by the other two making their way through the low flora.
"What happened back there Jer? What happened this time?" said Tak as they forded a small creek.
"It was the full moon again... I can't control the transformation on the full moon. I got hungry and there was some meat in a house. So I broke in and they caught me. I ran after that... I'm sure you saw the results."
"What's a house?" said Stalker with a bit of a frown.
Jercio knew how much his father hated the humans. They had killed his mother a long time ago was all that he knew. It was before Jerico could remember anything and his father had never talked about it. "It's like a den... only it's made out of wood."
Tak laughed a bit and looked at Jerico, "You tried to steal food from their pack? We would kill you if you tried that. Are you stupid or something Jer?"
"No... it's just... sometimes I can't control that side of me. Like... something demands me to do things and I can't make it stop. It scares me..."
They kept moving in silence after that. They all knew that Jerico had problems with control at times but they preferred not to talk about it. It scared all of the pack just as much as it scared Jerico himself. They knew he would never harm another wolf but they had seen the things he has done before. It was absolutely savage.
"Is that you Tak?" said a voice from the brush making all their head's turn to the noise. A white wolf stepped out of the foliage and smiled seeing the troop, "We've been looking all over for you three for hours now. We're all here."
Jerico nodded and they three followed the white wolf to the rest of the pack, which had found a resting place in a clearing. A pitch-black wolf the same color of Jerico looked at the three nodding at Tak and Stalker but gave Jerico a terrible glare. This was the Alpha, Storm.
Jerico was about to find a place to settle down but Storm wasn't about to let that happen and he left his post on the rock and shouted, "Maybe you would like my seat on the rock Jerico? Seems like you just have a problem listening to what I say lately, you think you would be a better leader than me?"
Jerico rolled his eyes and looked Storm directly in the eyes showing great disrespect to the Alpha and growled. "Don't start with me Storm. I've had a rough night."
Storm growled and snapped at the werewolf nipping his arm and causing it to bleed from the bite, "You've had a rough night!? Do you have any idea how worried you had all of us? You could have exposed our existence not to mention gotten yourself killed! If the Two Leggers knew we were here in the forest they would hunt us! Did it ever cross your mind that when you leave without telling us we think you've been hurt and we go looking for you?! Then we find that you are being chased down by those things and almost end up being seen by them!"
Jerico frowned deeply knowing that Storm was right on this one, "I didn't think that..."
Storm cut him off quickly, "Exactly! You didn't think! If you were any other wolf I should banish you from this pack completely! But I can't do that right now. You are to remain with us at all times now. You cannot leave without another wolf with you."
"You can't do that!" shouted Jerico quickly.
"I most certainly can mutt! I don't know what those demons have been putting in your head but you listen to me or you die out there in the wilderness by yourself!" Said Storm growling even lower than before rage flaming in his eyes.
"Fine..." was Jerico's only reply, refusing to look at the Alpha at all.
"It had better be fine... We stay here today." Said Storm turning away from the werewolf and going back to his place on the rock looking over the pack like a king on his throne.
Jerico walked to the edge of the clearing and sat himself down leaning against a tree absolutely refusing to look at the pack. He had gotten them into danger and hadn't realized it. Maybe they were right, he would never fit in with the humans. He felt a soft nudge and turned to look at Shira.
Shira was a gray wolf with a white underside and golden eyes. Jerico always saw her as beautiful though he had never told her. They had grown up together and always been the best of friends and Jerico didn't want to violate that. She put her head on his lap and looked up at him with apologetic eyes saying nothing but communicating a great deal with her gesture.
He softly pet her looking at his paw as he did so feeling ashamed that he wasn't a real wolf. Again it reminded him that he didn't really belong in either world but this one had accepted him. It didn't change the feeling inside, however. It only pushed him harder to a point where he was ashamed to even look at himself.
"Jerico... I know you want to find your family, but why can't you just stay with us?" said Shira in her soft almost musical voice.
"I don't know Shira... it's just. I feel like I am needed just like I need them. Like they are looking for me but can't find me." Came his reply.
Shira nuzzled his cheek softly putting her paws on his chest and gave his muzzle a bit of a lick. "Jer you know that you are needed here to though... We all need you."
The werewolf returned the gesture gently, "I know Shira but you don't understand. You know your parents, I don't... it drives me to find out."
Shira sat next to him leaning herself against him softly, "And what about me? Your father? What about Tak and the rest of the pack? Would you just leave us?"
Jerico looked down at his paws again and clenched them a bit, "No... I wouldn't ever leave you. I would always come back... This is just one of those things. Something I have to do alone."
"I understand... I just worry about you." Said Shira softly.
"I know... you should get some rest. I'm sure Storm will have us moving out at sunset and we'll be out all night."
"What about you?"
"Don't worry. I'll get my rest... I just have a lot on my mind right now."
Shira looked pleased as she laid herself next to him resting her head on his lap. She closed her eyes slowly and was soon breathing deep and even. Jerico had feelings for her and felt even worse for what he had done now. It had never been this bad before. He hadn't ever actually been seen before, only a passing glimpse or a scary story to keep the children out of the forest.
This time they had seen him and chased him through the woods almost leading them to his pack and Shira. He sighed softly and leaned back against the tree again catching the eye of Storm who was looking directly at him now still glaring. This time though he could see that Storm's gaze was lowered to Shira then back to his own.
The wolfman looked a bit puzzled as his silent gaze stayed with Storm's as the alpha settled down and closed his eyes heading off to the land of dreams as well. Jerico sat there puzzled for a bit longer before closing his eyes still quite tired from his exploits the night before and soon he left the clearing for the world beyond the physical realm to join his pack in their sleep.