Prompt: "The Howling" by Within Temptation. From "The Heart of Everything" album

.:8 Years ago...:.

In the northernmost forests on Nippon, in a small hut, there was an almost palateable tension and anxiousness. The young new mother was struggling desperately to birth her child alone, not daring to call for assistance in fear for her baby's life. For she knew, that the villagers would never accept the child as anything more than an abomination to the world and a betrayal to the village and it's stern views on matters involving involving anything to do with Youkai. Which meant her child as well.

The Youkai who had stolen her heart a few short years earlier was currently running a perimeter around the secluded hut, which he had built with his own hands when the scent of his mate signaled a pup was on it's way a few short months ago. He knew that the village people would never have allowed her to live among them when they found out, his beloved was barely considered a member of the village as it was because of their forbidden love.

A human and an Inu Youkai found each other quite by accident when she had strayed further from the village than what was deemed 'safe' and he had come to investigate a most intoxicating scent that had his senses on high alert. Finding the human girl, he kept to the shadows as he watched her every move carefully as she looked around her, feeling someone's eyes on her. While at first she was afraid as was taught at the village, she soon managed to overcome this fear and was soon searching this entity out, curious as to why they had come so close to the village and moreso why they were watching her.

Eventually unable to keep up the silent game of cat and mouse, the Youkai had stepped forth from the shadows cast by the trees and inclined his head, almost as if in respect for the ningen girl he had stumbled upon. He stayed silent, not wanting the illusion to be disspelled for in front of him stood the most beautiful creature he had layed his eyes on. Small, petite, delicate, looking as though the slightest breeze would see her topple over and break, midnight blue eyes and peach colored cheeks, darker than black hair that fell dead straight, cascading over her shoulders to sit just above waist level. Then when he was sure this creature before him was merely an illusion she spoke, the sound most pleasing to his ears.

"Excuse me but.. are you not a little close to the village?" It was like a tinkling birdsong, however, much less annoying to his sensitive ears and he found himself smiling back at her.

"I came closer merely to find something." he said as he stepped forward and sat himself down on a rock, "And it seems I have found it.."

"Found what exactly?" The girl was now even more curious about this man before her; moonlight silver hair that only ran to his shoulder, pointed ears, beautiful golden honey eyes and two red sickle shaped markings at the outside edge of those eyes.

The demon considered her for a moment before answering, "My heart, that which you have stolen from me."

The Youkai smiled to himself as he remembered the first meeting between he and the bearer of his pup, she had shown little fear where it was only natural to have done just the opposite. She was a rare ningen indeed... A cry of pain pierced through his reminicing and he quickly remembered where he was and sped for the hut where he could scent that the pup was nearly here.

Entering the hut, he quickly found a place behind his love and pulled her gently against his chest, a deep thrumming beginning to sound from him to soothe her and calm his own nerves. Childbirth was a harrowing experience itself, but without help from anyone, it was even more so. If he looked closely enough he could see the child moving, trying to escape the confines of the womb, however... NO! His mind screamed out, the child was in an unnatural position and becoming more agitated, he could now feel the small heat of Youki from the small body as his mate screamed out in agony.

There was nothing he could do... He was sure that scream would haunt him for the rest of his days...

The scream died, though he could still hear it echoing through the forest as he held the limp form of his beloved to his chest. The child had been in breach, facing the wrong way for birth, however the child had made it's own way out, clawing through the mother until it had found freedom.

The pain. The pain of loss hit him as he comprehended what had happened. His love, his life, his mate... was dead. In her place was the tiny form of his daughter, covered in blood, covered in her mother and now, the child's demon blood was realising what it had done, the markings that mirrored her fathers faded to nothing, the tiny claws shrank back into her hands and she made fists as she began wailing, the sound itself was mourning, grieving.

His pup was the reason for his mate's death, but he knew that she would have done so again for the life of their child. He reached forward over his newly deceased and scooped up the crying child, cradling her against her mother's chest as though she were the one holding the baby.

He tried, by the gods he tried to resist the urge to howl to the night, but doing so would be admitting what he wished was not true.

She was dead.

Tears sprung to life in his eyes and they bled red as he turned his face skyward and let loose a howl so full of mourning that echoed through the hearts of everyone who heard it. including the child's, whose voice was also raised in a howl of loss alongside her sire's.

The minutes passed, though they felt like hours and the mournful howling ceased if only for the reason that the howlers' voices had given up on them. He didn't have much time, he knew it, the villagers will be after him shortly for being so close to the village, and when they discovered this, there would be no mercy for him or the pup.

Regretting what had to be done, he carefully cleaned the pup in the water that had been collected earlier, he took in every aspect of the child in his hands, everything from the tiny feet and hands, to the tiny triangles that lay flat to her skull. The pup was hanyou, and one of the more fortunate ones to have been blessed with more human appearance than demon, but he still lamented, for after about a week, those ears would open up and stiffen, making them stand out from the head and make her a target for demon and human alike.

Such is the fate for all Hanyou.. never accepted from either side that made it possible. It would be a lonely life.

Hearing the distant shouts of men approaching he wrapped the pup carefully in his outer kimono, and left for a nearby cave, where he knew a pack of wolves resided. He hated the idea of leaving is child to the wolves, but it was his only choice. The village dogs never ventured into the wolves territory, meaning that the humans never did also, she would be safe as long as he could convince the beasts to take her in.

The Alpha male and female were cautious of him when he arrived, knelt down and submissive, he needed them to know he meant no harm to them. He whimpered, pleading his case and his reluctant wish to have his pup stay with the wolf pack, because it was necessary, he was not long for this world and he needed to know that she would be cared for, protected.

Agonizing seconds turned to excruciating mnuted before the Female stepped forward and sniffed at the bundle before her. The pup had fallen asleep and the scent of birth still carried on her, Turning her head to the Youkai before her she gave him an answer in soft growls, but the meaning was what he had hoped to hear. I will take her and protect her, you have my word..

Growling a heartfelt thanks, and whimpering an apology to his child, the demon stood gracefully and strode from the wolves and back to the hut to meet his fate.

He made it back in time to see the villagers come over the final rise and break through the last throng of trees before he went inside. Returning to his place behind his beloved, he scooped her still warm body to himself, just holding her. I'll be with you soon, my heart.. it won't be long now..

Villagers entered the hut and were assaulted by the sight of the Demon covered in her blood, holding onto her possessively, not even looking up to see the scowls he knew they were wearing.

The shouts deafened him, his blood blinded him, he was attacked from all angles until the villagers deemed that they burn the hut down and be rid of him forever.

The flames grew in intensity, licking at his skin, he welcomed it, for as he was trapped and consumed by the flames, his heart was set free to be with his mate, his love, his heart.

The wolves could see the glow of the fire from their cave and the pack assembled and howled into the night for the spirit of the man who came to them in desperation to save his offspring from the same fate. The Alpha pair looked down at the sleeping form of the Hanyou girl and then to each other. Their lives were going to get interesting from now on...

A/N:

Well, here's the redone first chapter and I must say I am MUCH MUCH MUCH happier with it than the original... I'll be working off prompts and a time line, I have the general outlines done for a number of chapters and I WILL NOT rush the process..

Here's to a better story! Happy Easter everyone!