Disclaimer: I don't own Rurouni Kenshin

I heard the howls of anger and frustration as I ran through the thick forest, quickly and swiftly as I could I dodged through trees and over logs. My limbs hurt and my belly ached due to its emptiness. I hadn't eaten in days. The thought of their cruelty and torturous ways made me run in fear.

I didn't dare lift my muzzle and cry for help, knowing that I was in their territory and any help I got would be from neighbouring alliances.

I had to reach the Luna Pack for safety. But my nose was being assaulted with the scent of my captors.

So I continued to run.

I watched the moon and followed its guiding light; I had been born into the Luna Pack and knew they would be my only source of protection.

I had been ordered to the leave the Luna Pack from my father the Alpha; I was at the age to bear pups. All the unmarked females were ordered to leave a pack to find their mate and continue the making of packs. I had been given my order seasons ago, and I was beginning to crumble under the whispering names of lone wolf. It was rare any lone wolfs survived, they were easy prey to the bears of the forest, and starved packs sometimes turned a blind eye to their own kind and killed to keep the packs strong.

The way to find a mate was simple, but yet at the same time not at all simple. All one had to do was attract with your scent. When your mind and body was assaulted with the scent you so favoured, then you knew you had caught the scent of your mate.

I hadn't yet been lured by a males scent and neither had a male approached me with the understanding he had savoured my own scent. It made me wonder if I had a scent at all. Being amongst all the males of the Mountain Pack I had just escaped from I was sure there would have been at least one who found my scent favourable.

I don't know how long I had been running for but my limbs burned now and my lungs heaved. I hadn't run like this for so long, I just wished it was possible to run without the fear gripped to your hide.

I stopped when I came upon the sounds of running water and I lifted my muzzle, breathing in the smell of water I followed until I could see with both my midnight blue eyes the low flowing stream. My scent could not be traced if I followed the river, so I padded in and was satisfied with its shallow depths.

I could no longer hear the howls or barks of following wolves. I knew I had put a great distance between myself and the Mountain Pack, but I wasn't sure if I was still in their territory. No familiar scents were registering; I was only safe once a familiar scent was recognised.

The creatures of the forest cooed and rustled in the night and I could see them only with the moons light. The Luna Pack worshipped the moon and was thankful for its gift that allowed us to survive the dark night before the sun rose.

I felt the bristles on my back stand on end as I saw the eyes of some wandering golden jackals. I growled warning them to keep their distance, and they automatically vanished.

The waters chills were beginning to bite at me and I knew I would soon have to continue on dry ground.

I saw the moon bow lightly as it began to vanish along the horizon, and light slowly started to interrupt the sky. The forest began to awaken to new sounds of life and I padded from the river onto the slopping bank. Lowering my nose I sniffed the ground for a scent. Nothing.

Still I did not dare howl a cry.

I continued on my way, wadding through the forest feeling a slight ease at the peacefulness of the forest. All wolves were taught to understand an atmosphere of silence, was that of a dangerous zone. It made me wary of my surroundings, but I felt no tremor in the earth. This was a gift from the earth, a warning to alert us of danger; the earth would shudder under our paws for us. But unfortunately the earth could heed no such warning when it came to the traps Man laid when they hunted.

I had stumbled upon a few of there dangerous contraptions whilst hunting with the Luna Pack. We had to learn of there hunting ways. It was a saddened sight to look upon a fellow wolf that had fallen for the Mans trickery and ended up spiked in a pit, clamped with metal jaws or even hunted by our traitor brothers, the dog.

For generations the knowledge of how to deal with Man had been passed through pup to pup. We had been trained to see for ourselves and be witness to what destruction their traps caused for our kind.

I dipped my head and smelt once more. No scent.

I wondered whose territory I was in now, both packs would have at least marked every tree that stood in their area.

I stopped and looked around, observing my surroundings. Looking for anything that may seem familiar from when I was a pup. It all seemed new, untouched. No one had marked this area. Why?

My senses automatically caught on fire, my bristles rose and I stalked through the forest keeping watch. The suns aurora beams shone through the sky and cast an elegant sparkle to everything. The dew on the grass lit up and glazed leaves seemed to shine. But it was becoming more and more difficult to focus with the suns rays in my eyes.

My thoughts automatically wandered to that of Man, was this Mans territory.

But I couldn't pick up any trace of Man either. I frowned, there was something wrong here, I knew it and my senses knew it.

My stomach grumbled and I jumped in surprise, I licked my belly gently.

A growl made me yelp and I spun around ready to attack. But the snarl died on my muzzle and my ears flattened instantly. My eyes grew wide at the sight in front of me.

For there stood tall was the biggest wolf I had ever laid eyes on. He was at least twice, if not three times her size. His eyes glowed dangerous amber. His muzzle was pulled over his teeth.

"Lay down your paws" he growled and I fell to the ground. He was a rightfully born Alpha; I wondered were his pack was.

He stalked towards me, and I eyed his movements. This was not normal for an Alpha.

Alpha's did not inspect wandering lone wolfs, and neither did they leave a pack. Alpha's always laid protection upon its pack and its mate. Packs would inspect together.

"Your scent, it is everywhere" he snapped and I flinched. So it was his territory. Was he a neighbouring wolf of the Mountain Pack?

"What is your name lone wolf?" he hissed as his muzzle came close to my face. I pushed my face deeper into the earth.

"Kaoru" I snapped back and instantly regretted it.

"You will flee now! Before I return you to those scavengers who call themselves the Mountain Pack" he stepped back and I saw the amusement in his eyes. He was amused by my submission. So easily could he kill me now, it made me wonder why he did not.

I obeyed his words and lifted myself off the ground. The wind picked up around us and I took off in the direction the wind now pushed against me. As though it wanted me to go back. I glanced back but the Alpha wolf had disappeared.

I ran without fear now, I ran with hope.

When the wind had brushed over me I had instantly caught the scent of my father. He was close.