A.N.:

Today is my birthday, so I have decided to speed up a little my writing so I can give you a little treat.

So let's start about explaining about this fanfiction :)

I've been working on ShizNat ff, Moonlight Shadow chapters (if you haven't read that one, you can jump on my profile and check it out if you wish ;) ) , and I suddenly came onto this little idea caused by a song from Within Temptation called The Dance a few weeks ago. I suggest you check it out if you like symphonic metal or anything symphonic :)

And the idea grew with me listening more of Within Temptation songs, and this came out :)

The song Mother Earth would be the cause of this kind of story. I found an inspiration for the name and some small details, in a game, Dragon Age: Origins. Maybe if some of you played it, you'd see the similarity :)

anyway, I do not own anything, just the idea for the plot, I hope you will enjoy this one

read and hopefully review :)

'For decades I've been wandering these woods, bound to a wolf pack, having a peaceful life; well at least the pack had it if I hadn't. That's because I am not alive, I am a spirit. A spirit bound to this world and to a body of a great white wolf.

Other people call me 'the spirit of the forest' or 'the kind spirit of the forest'. That is not really my name. My name actually is Natsuki. And an event that happened today, reminded me of my real name.'

Natsuki was standing by the one of the great Oak trees in that forest. She was observing the surrounding for her pack. Her subordinate, and a very good furry friend, Duran, sat beside her patiently waiting. His light eyes were looking at his friend with interest while his tongue hanged out of his mouth waiting for the Lady to speak. She was not to be disturbed; not because she said so, but because the creature had greatly respected the spirit that was the pack's alpha, or maybe more of a leader. She had never given any orders, she just suggested places they would go, time when they could eat and other things, and the other would follow without a growl or a bark against her word. They understood her every word, as she understood everything they thought or felt. The spirits speak a universal language which sounds the same for everyone and anyone could understand what the spirits have said.

Natsuki smiled gently and turned to Duran who got up from his sitting position. "Well, no enemies close around, you'll be safe tonight, but I'll keep watch as always just for precaution. I don't sleep anyway. Come on; go get the pack ready to rest." She smiled as Duran happily barked at her and went running, and turned once more to the view in front of her. 'It never ceases to amaze me how beautiful the nature is. The trees, the grass, the bushes, and little animals jumping around. The cycle of life just running around us. I could never get used to this; it will always make me watch everything in awe. The nature always have something new up her sleeve to show me, even though I'm a spirit for some decades now… Maybe even centuries, I never kept up with time.' She looked to her left, where a village was located about a few kilometers away. 'Have people ever thought of coming here, to have a picnic or something, or just to come to enjoy the view, the smell? I bet the village does not smell very good.' She snickered. 'Shame on me, saying things like that and I am a spirit after all. A kind one. Oh, the shame…' Natsuki giggled. 'At least my sense of humor is still here.' She grinned.

Standing there until dark, she noticed she was lost in her thoughts for a very long time. 'I should get back to the pack. And before that, I should check the surrounding for enemies and other stuff…' And as she turned to the heart of the forest, she noticed a figure walking through the woods, looking slightly frightened, slowly taking each step and trying to notice anything in the dark. 'What… Who is that…? Is that… a girl?' Natsuki gasped. 'Oh my Goddess, what is she doing there at this hour? Is she crazy? Something will attack her if she continues like that! And she seems a bit lost. Damn it, poor girl!' Natsuki could not just stand there and watch the frightened girl wander the woods all by herself, so she flew to the surrounding where the girl was walking, as fast as she could.

A slightly light blue girl figure, a bit transparent, hid behind a tree, observing the lost girl in awe. 'Rubies… Glowing, floating rubies…' She stood there fascinated by the other girl's eyes. 'And they are actually eyes. Fascinating! Mother Nature keeps surprising me with her creations from time to time.' She took a better look at the rest of the girl.

Long chestnut hair, short at the forehead; hugged the girl's shoulders to her arm elbows. She was quite tall for a human. Or maybe humans started to grow taller since Natsuki saw the last one. Or the last one was just very short. She was wearing a violet dress that covered her skin to her wrists and slightly below her knees, with a white apron embowering it from the middle of her breasts to a couple of centimeters above the end of the dress. 'She looks very good developed, maybe she just matured… I wonder how old she is…' Some racket cut off her thoughts and she saw a bear approaching slowly towards the girl. 'I am sorry, Mother Nature, but I really have to say this…'

"Shit!" Natsuki whispered. 'What to do, what to do? Oh, good for you, you totally forgot that you have a wolf pack on your side and beside that, have a great wolf body you can transform/transmute into. Good for you… What has happened to me, really? Is it this girl's charms? She is quite beautiful…. AND YOU CAN ADMIRE HER BEAUTY WHEN YOU SAVE HER ASS!'

Natsuki transformed/transmuted into her wolf form and howled quickly and as loud as she could. After the howl she ran to the girl and turned towards the approaching bear. She noticed the girl jumped when seeing a great white wolf running to her. Hell, she freaked out more when she heard a howl coming from somewhere near her. 'Well I must have scared the shit out of her… Literally.' Her eyes got back to the bear revealing himself in front of them. The girl gasped loudly.

'Stay behind me and everything will be fine. I think my wolf form can hold out a bear for a few minutes… But how much time does it take for my wolves to come to my aid. Oh, well, either way, she'll be okay.' She growled loudly at the bear who just cried at her. 'Okay then, let's see what you can do now.'

Natsuki lowered her front and prepared for a jump. She leaped on the bear just to give him a scare with her attack and barking, and ran behind him, barely avoiding his strong paw rushing at her; to jump on his back and grab his neck with her teeth. The bear yelled and tried to shake Natsuki off. 'But you can't. 'Cause our bite is so strong it can break your bone. But, lucky for you, I am not aiming to break your bones. When my pack gets here, you will be running home to your mommy.'

She held on for a couple more seconds when she heard her pack running towards her. She jumped of the bear and stood in front of the girl once again. Natsuki looked back. The girl was on the ground, unconscious. 'Well, shit! Forgive me, Mother Nature… Hope she'll be fine after some water…' She turned back and saw three wolves growling at the bear and Duran holding its neck. She growled and barked at Duran so he instantly jumped off the bear and whined at her. The bear got the point, and made a run for it. The rest of the pack howled and barked happily at each other for a job well done.

Natsuki turned towards them and barked. They all went silent and looked at her. 'Thank you. Everyone. For coming to my rescue, or aid, however you want to call this. You are all dismissed, except the volunteers who are willing to help me with this creature.' Duran came to her as the others went back to their current lair. 'Thanks, Duran. Can you get her some water, and something to hold the water in? Fortunately, the river is quite close.'

She walked back to the unconscious girl. 'Hmmmm… Should I…?' She looked at Duran walking away towards the river. Her gaze was back on the girl's face. 'Well, I guess there would be no harm in it to try, right? Riiight. Oh, whatever.' She came closer to the girl's face and slowly caressed the soft cheeks with her wolf tongue. The girl was starting to move. 'Yeah, it worked! Hurray for me, the idiotic spirit who wanted to lick the girl's cheek just for the heck of it! But, with my wolf senses, I may say that she… tastes amazing!' She sniffed the rest of the girl's body to see if she was injured or have some illness or something like that. 'Smells amazing, too… Shut up you! ...Thank the Goddess, she is alright, no injuries. She is perfectly healthy. And… Yeah, that too.' The girl made some sounds while opening her eyes. 'Shit, I have to move away from her so I don't scare her even more!'

Natsuki quickly jumped away from the girl as the latter regained her sight and grew costumed to the dark. And as her gaze fell on the great white wolf, she gasped and tried to move away from it. Natsuki wondering what to do to get the girl's trust, lowered her head down along side with her ears, and whined. Seeing the girl's amazingly red eyes widen in confusion, she slowly walked towards her, with her tail bent down as well. She couldn't let herself come any closer than two feet, 'cause maybe she would actually scare the girl once again. So she lied down and rolled on her back looking at the red eyed creature, hoping that she would get the point.

Red eyes widen once again, and the expression on the girl's face was priceless. 'Ara… is it trying to… it does not want to hurt me? Ara… its eyes…' Her facial expression brightened as a smile came to her face. "Ara… aren't you an adorable creature?" she slowly closed the distance between them, and insecurely moved her right hand towards the wolf's stomach.

Natsuki whined a little and when the girl touched her and her tail started wagging immediately. She looked at the girl smiling and let her tongue out. 'I guess she got the point… And what a strange accent this girl has… It's kinda… I… I like it…'

"I… guess it's you I have to thank for saving me from the bear? Ara, what a strong wolf you are." The girl looked down and giggled still stroking the wolf's stomach. Natsuki realized why the girl was giggling so she got up as fast as she could, feeling very embarrassed. "And yet a female. Ara, ara, what an interesting surrounding the Fuuka village has."

Natsuki's wolf body temperature had risen. 'I can't believe this girl! So blunt! And yet, so attractive, so interesting. I can't even stay mad at her… And her eyes, the color of blood. So enchanting…' Her gaze was fixed on those incredible red eyes while the latter stared back into hers.

'Beautiful.' Was the both girl's thought at the time.

Natsuki had to break their eye connection prior to the sound of Duran coming back with some water. She turned to him and smiled inwardly. 'Good, Duran. Good boy, now take that to this girl over there, slowly.' She turned towards the chestnut girl and whined at the tree bark in which Duran was carrying water.

'Ara, a strange dark-furred wolf is coming and she did not attack him. Must be someone from her pack…' The girl looked at the upcoming wolf and then she glanced at her savior. "Ara… A friend of yours?" The wolf nodded as the other one left the tree bark beside her knees. "Ara, for me?" She looked at the great white wolf that was now standing beside the other one. "Ookini, kind creatures."

Natsuki was satisfied. She looked at Duran. 'And now, shall we escort this young lady out of the forest when she gets enough of rest?' Duran made a sound of confirmation that made Natsuki pet him. 'Oh, you! Thank you, Duran!' She turned to the girl who was looking at them curiously. Natsuki made a questionable sound.

"I am just looking at you two, don't mind me, you can freely cuddle with your boyfriend." The girl flicked slightly and put a hand over her mouth as she heard the white wolf growling at her a little. "Ah, is he not? I mean, it looks like he is a male."Natsuki nodded.

'Wait a second, I am missing something here…' The girl's eyes grew wider as she came to realization. "Ara… wait… you… can understand…me, completely?" She blinked. 'Ara, am I hallucinating? Have I just seen a wolf respond to my words? Like she understands my language? What has become of my sanity…?'

'Great, now I confused the girl. How smart of a spirit I am…' Duran whined at Natsuki. 'Fine, fine, I am a not-so-stupid spirit, happy?' Duran barked happily.

Natsuki nodded at the girl, pointed at Duran and shook her head. 'Yeah, that was very smart of you. She will definitely figure out what were you trying to say... Why can't you make this simpler and turn into your spirit form? But nooo, you're too shy... Well, fine then, go and make yourself more stupid like this.' Natsuki sighed.

"Oh, let me get this straight... He is a male, but he is not your mate? And you… understand every word I said?" The girl looked amusingly at the white wolf. 'Ara, ara… an independent strong and intelligent white wolf… I never would have dreamed to meet a creature like this. She's so… interesting… and her eyes… so enchanting…'

Natsuki nodded yet again and came to pull the red eyed girl slightly by the dress. She whined a little and pointed at the direction of the forest exit. Natsuki looked at the girl and moved her head at the direction that she pointed at earlier. 'I guess she'll figure that much, it really seems like she can read me...'

The girl nodded. "Ara, are you going to escort me to the exit?" She smiled warmly.

Natsuki thought about it for a while, shook her head and barked happily twice at the girl. 'Yeah... Even Mother Nature wouldn't figure this out. What a smart spirit I am...' She snorted inwardly.

The girl's face beamed. "Ara... You are going to escort me to my house? But is that okay? What about your friend?"

'I can't believe this shit! Forgive my language Mother Nature… It's just… This girl is incredible!' Natsuki looked at Duran. 'You may leave; someone has to stand guard for the pack. I'll come back as soon as I can so you'll be sleeping in no time. Can you do it?' Duran nodded. 'What a good boy. Thank you very much, Duran.' She came to him and gave him a pat with her muzzle. Duran barked happily and ran towards the direction of the pack's lair.

'Now that that's settled, we may leave. Drink your water, geez.' She came to the water, sniffed it and turned her head to the girl, who was watching her intensively, to bark at her lightly. She pointed to the water again.

"Ara, I almost forgot. Ookini." The girl took the tree bark and took a few sips from it. After she drank the water she needed, the girl put the bark in front of the white wolf. "Ara, I think you need this as well, don't you think so? It's a long walk to my house."

Natsuki's eyes widen. 'She does not know who I am? I thought everyone from this surrounding would know by now about a great white wolf who is actually a spirit... I guess I am not that popular after all.' She giggled inwardly. 'Uhm, so... now what? Can I really taste water with my wolf body? I have never tried that. Yes, must be stupid to wander around the Earth as a spirit bound to a wolf body, and never tried to eat or drink something in my wolf form. I have never thought about that... Should I try?' She looked questionable at the red eyed girl, waiting for an encouragement or some sign from the girl in front of her. And she got it.

The girl watched her warmly and encouraged with her look for her to drink the water too. 'Ara, this creature… It's strong, intelligent, but so insecure. She's so cute like that…' Slowly she reached wolf's head and gently caressed her skin and fur as the latter started drinking the water.

Natsuki liked it, her touch. She had never let anyone touch her like this except for the wolves from the pack. It was soothing, warming, encouraging, something like she felt when she met the Mother Nature for the first time. But still, different, this girl had a completely different glow around herself than any other human or spirit that she had ever met. Really, this girl was something. 'And about the water, wow! I can taste it, I mean, I can feel the liquid! It's so… refreshing! It feels like millenniums have passed since I last drank some water. It feels like it, but I can't quite remember when it was the last time I drank something, nor anything about my life. I just know my name. Oh yes, my name! I almost forgot about it, after all this time people calling me the spirit of the forest.' She looked at those amazing rubies. 'I… I think we… should go…' She shook her head to clear her thoughts and stop her stupid actions, and barked twice at the girl happily.

The red eyed girl smile grew wider. "Ara, are we ready to go?" The dog nodded. "Indeed. You take the lead, kind creature; I am in your hands, or in this case, paws."

'Oh, believe me, you are in my hands too… Wait! That sounded wrong! What the hell… just shut up you stupid spirit!' Natsuki came first and the light haired girl followed right behind. Natsuki kept sniffing and turning around every few moments to make sure nobody is following and that there are no enemies around the area where they were headed. 'Oh, this is standard thing I do for my clan. But why am I doing this so intensively? Why am I so super concerned about the safety of this beautiful red eyed creature? I have a feeling that I am acting very weird… Let's just get her home safely and then think about your actions, okay Natsuki?' She turned to the girl who was following her. She looked slightly tired, but Natsuki felt the ache in girl's muscles, she knew the girl was exhausted but too proud to show it. 'What a strange girl, so proud and elegant. Her mask is flawless, nobody would have thought that she was tired if he saw her right now. She's one incredible creature…'

Continuing their way to the forest exit, she slowed her steps so the girl doesn't exhaust herself. On the half way to the exit, Natsuki got an idea. 'Well, since she's so proud to confess that she is tired as hell, why don't I just stop us for a while 'till she catches her breath and rest her muscles. And as a reason I'll just show her that I sensed something in front of us. I guess that should work… Damn that proud girl, I can't believe that I am doing something like this to protect her pride… And why am I doing this, anyway? It's not like I greatly care for this human…' She sighed inwardly. 'Think about this later, try to bring this proud girl to her home before she collapses from exhaustion now.' And she stopped to whine at the girl.

"Ara, is something wrong?" She looked at the white wolf. The wolf whined again and pointed with her muzzle towards the direction that must be the forest exit. 'Ara, maybe something's out there?' She looked down to the emerald eyed wolf. "Is something wrong? Is something out there?" The wolf nodded.

"Ara, but you are strong and big, I am sure you can handle anything." She smiled gently at the wolf with a hint of admiration in her eyes.

Natsuki grumbled inwardly. 'Well, great Natsuki, now she thinks that you are 'the wolf almighty'. How to convince her to stop and rest now? Oh wait…' She snickered inwardly and suddenly lied down, trying her best to look tired. It worked.

"Ara, my apologies, kind creature, I did not realize that you were tired. Kannin na." She sat beside the white wolf and started stroking its fur. "I owe my life to you, so if there's anything you need, show me and I'll get it for you…" She smiled. 'This feels so… comfortable… I feel like I could sleep with this creature right here and wake up in the morning safe and without a scratch. This creature… is so appealing…' She hugged the wolf's head and lied down with her.

Natsuki felt her heart race. She suddenly became anxious and restless. 'What happened, until a second ago I was calm… What is this sorcery?' She took a peek at the light haired girl with her one green eye. The latter was resting her head on the lower back of Natsuki's neck and while she was in a weird position, Natsuki felt that the girl was actually feeling very comfortable. 'Weird, but I guess that's okay. She can rest like this, she's really exhausted. What was she doing in the forest this late at night?' Eyeing the girl once again she almost jumped when she saw the girl was looking back at her. The latter smiled.

"Kannin na, I had no intention of scaring you. I was just… admiring you, your soft, long white fur and…" The girl sat up to get a better view of the wolf's face. "…your beautiful incredibly green eyes." She came with her hand to caress the wolf's fur.

Natsuki's body temperature had risen. 'That goes for me too. Yours are too. Beautifully incredibly crimson. Fascinating! Mother Nature, thank you oh-so-very-much for letting me know this beauty. It's marvelous! This girl is something. I would actually like to see this amazingly beautiful creature again.' She enjoyed the strokes the girl's hand made on her fur and rested her head near the latter's legs. The caressing continued on, it seemed like hours have passed by.

'Really, you dumbass spirit, this girl is tired and should be taken home as soon as possible and you are lying around and resting your little white head on her lap... Really now, what are you thinking? We rested enough and it's pretty late, if she's still tired you should carry her to her house. Come on, up, up!' Natsuki growled inwardly. 'Come on, get up you stupid spirit, up!' And finally, with all her willpower she forced herself to get up from the warm embrace of the red eyed girl. She whined at the girl and pointed at the exit.

The latter was surprised by the sudden movement by the white wolf and stood up right after her. "Ara, is something wrong?" She looked around trying to see or hear if anything is moving around them.

Natsuki whined again and pointed at the exit yet again. She slowly started going towards it, waiting for the girl to catch up.

"Oh, yes, I almost forgot I have to get home." The girl smiled gently at the white wolf. "Your presence calms my mind and body, I feel so incredibly secure around you." The girl inwardly gasped. 'It feels like I'm home...'

Natsuki felt her body's temperature rising once again, this time rapidly. 'Will this girl stop making me blush? I have to get her home faster so I can think clearly about what the hell happened to me!' She inhaled deeply and walked to the red eyed girl's behind. She jumped a little when she was between her legs and the girl gasped as she was now sitting in the white wolf.

"Ara, kind creature, what are you..?" And the girl was cut off because the wolf started running, so she had to grab hold onto her neck so she would not fall.

But little she knew that Natsuki was very careful while running and her fur held onto the girl's body so she don't accidentally slip off of her. She gulped. 'Damn, this feels so...weird! Why does this feels so weird? What kind of emotion is this? Why am I this excited? Mother Nature, we have a lot to talk about...' Natsuki continued running towards the village, and trough the village after entering it. 'I must be fast and quiet so no one notices us.'

Shizuru figured out after a few seconds of riding the great wolf, that the latter wanted to get her home as soon as possible 'cause they took their time 'relaxing'. Her heart ached by the thought of how the wolf thought a lot about her safety and getting her home. 'I... can't believe I've met a creature like this... I have never... This creature is so precious... I want to see her again...'

Natsuki picked up the girl's scent and some similar to hers. 'Must be her parents. I hope this is the one.' She slowed down and stood in front of a medium sized two story store and looked at the girl puzzled.

Shizuru couldn't be more amazed. "Ara... you've... found my house. I... you are..." She looked at the creature, eyes spilling adoration and gratitude. "You are such an amazing creature. Ookini, kind wolf. And have a good night rest, you very much deserved it." She leaned down and kissed the wolf's muzzle.

Natsuki thought that she would burst. With happiness, with embarrassment, of something that clenched her heart after the girl's words, and kiss. She felt restless, anxious yet again, but different kind of anxious. After waiting for the girl to get in her house, she ran as fast as she could towards the forest.

'Have to get to the pack. Have to stand guard. Have to clear my mind. Clear my mind. CLEAR my mind...!' She chanted the last three words in her mind until dawn.

A.N.:

how was that? :)

I really really like this idea and I have worked on this chapter for so long, to make it as best as I could

I rushed the end of the chapter a little so you could enjoy this sooner

hope you liked it :)