Chapter One: Plunge
Wolves.
We were a proud species of hunters, warriors, and leaders. Although named as demons—which they truly were—many greater packs were far from such an evil name. Unlike their lowly brethren, these noble wolves were wise and respected all forms of like; again unlike the other wolf brutes.
And dogs…don't even get me started on those disgusting curs.
Yawning tiredly as I mulled over my wolfen ancestry, I leaned back into my palms of my hands and closed my eyes blissfully.
In my peaceful stupor I lounged on a sun bathed rocky ledge. From my perch I could easily over look the fast flowing river that rushed below me. My strong body of a prime female wolf demon looked harmless, but was far from it. Snow white hair draped around my shoulders and flowed to my waist in soft waves; two pointed white wolf ears rested naturally on my head. A thick fluff of white fur wrapped snuggly around my chest, leaving my stomach bare. A furred skirt hung around my waist as well, with a white bushy wolf tail coming out from the top of the skirt, attached to my tailbone underneath the fur. Being a wolf demon I needed no more covering. For I lived in a warm climate, and never had to bother with covering myself anymore that nature had already given me.
Despite my beautiful surroundings and energizing warmth, I felt utterly alone. Truly I was alone. Hundreds of moons ago my pack had been slaughtered, leaving me as one of the few survivors.
My golden eyes opened half way as my sensitive ears picked up a strange noise in the distance. A dull yell fading in and out of my range of hearing, nagging my curiosity, caused me to lean forward and open my eyes fully. The yelling was drawing closer, but my acute hearing now picked up other noises along with it. Canceling out the distracting noises of the chirping birds, wind, and roaring river; I was able to make out the sounds of struggled splashing.
Something was struggling in the river's current. And suddenly, the noise was gone. Both struggling and yelling was wiped away. Whatever it was it must have finally drowned. I thought frankly. Standing to my full height I stepped to the ledge and peered into the river's depths. Through the churning water I could make out the faint outline of pink clothing and a lifeless body.
From there instinct kicked in. A white glow incased my body, leaving only my silhouetted form to show. Slowly this shaped changed shape, transforming into me into my true demon form.
My new and almost completely different form was a large, pure white wolf. Standing five feet tall and over six feet long, I was a massive creature. My head was large and strong, the jaw muscles bulging out, with a mouth filled with deadly razor shape fangs. Matching in strength, I had long powerful legs detailed in sinew and muscle, which were able to take me to astonishing speeds. My claws were different from lesser wolves, which had unretractable useless nails. A true wolf demon's claws, mine, were long and sharp, and could be retracted at our own will. My lean body was covered in a thick white fur, matching my earlier, more human form. Another similarity from before were my eyes; they flowed with the golden intensity of the sun, and could catch the detail from miles away. Truly, I was now a wolf.
Shaking my head as if awakening from a long slumber, I surged forward and plunged into the river. Its frigid waters jarred my senses to full awareness, and my legs fought to prevent from being over taken by the river's strength. I struggled to the bottom of the river and dug my claws in like an anchor, fighting to hold on, I searched. My golden eyes peered into the nadir waters, seeking for the body. With my lungs full of air, I didn't play worry to drowning just yet. And finally, I found it. Rushing away from me was the pink clothing and lifeless body.
Although it appeared to be dead, I knew that life was a tough thing to beat out of any creature, and so there was hope for it to breathe once more.
I launched from the sandy bed and, using the current to my advantage, swam to the body. In a matter of second my jaws were closing around the clothing and swimming for the surface. Breaking the surface I fought for the shore, the awkward for of the human body knocking against me and preventing me from swimming full out. Panting heavily and glad for the air, my claws finally dug into the river's bank and I was able to pull myself onto the shore.
Dragging the body safely away from the treacherous waters, I stepped away to observe. I ignored my drenched fur, which was forming a small pool of water below me.
The body was human; a young human girl to be exact. She couldn't have been more than eight summers old. Her kimono was torn and ragged, but beneath it her body seemed to being healthy.
Where is her pack? Surely she couldn't obtain her healthy stature on her own…she's too weak.
The girl began to cough violently from where she lay on her back. Quickly realizing that she would drown in the coughed up water, I rushed over and nudged her onto her stomach with my long snout. The girl's coughing continued, flushing the water to make room for needed air.
"What—"she started as she sat up. "Where is—" she froze upon seeing me. I couldn't blame her; waking up next to a wolf demon wasn't the most comforting experience.
Slowly I stepped back, trying to show the girl that I was not planning to hurt her in anyway. She continued to stare at me with wide fearful eyes. So I tried again. Yawning I lay down on my belly and rested my heavy head on my front paws. My golden eyes settled calmly on the girl while I waited for her to become unruffled.
She shivered and looked away from my eyes; her actions were quickly followed by the gurgling sound of hunger from her stomach. I lifted my head and slowly got to my paws. I knew that my next actions would most likely spook her more.
"Youngling, your body demands nutrition. Come with me and I will lead you safely to a small garden."
As I had guessed, my speaking surprised her.
"You can speak!?" she gasped.
My eyes warmed into the extent of a wolf smile, eyes were one of the main ways that wolves used to communicate with one another.
"Of course I can," I answer softly. "Do you have enough strength to walk?"
In answer she scrambled to her feet and started to take a step towards me, but she stopped abruptly. "You won't eat Rin?"
A growl of laughter escaped my lips and I casually shook the water from my soaked coat. "No, I would never harm a pup."
The girl visibly relaxed and skipped over to me gaily. I was surprised at how little it took for her to believe and trust me.
"This one is Rin, who are you?" she asked in third person.
Wondering to myself why she spoke in such a way that proved that she didn't grow up in a regular human pack, I answer smoothly. "Yukiko is what I am called. Now let us find some food for your snarling stomach."
We entered the lush forest that bordered the river, Rin kept close to my side in fear of the hungry demons that thrived in the lands we traversed. Demons, unless foolish or exceptionally strong, did not bother me. Perhaps at first glance they might, but one sniff of my powerful aura was all that it would take for them to leave me in peace. Death quickly became of those who were foolish enough to attack me.
"Do you live here?" the child asked perkily.
My paws crunched the leaf litter of the forest floor as I led her further in. "I live where ever the moon's glow guides me."
My strange answer obviously confused her, but it didn't put a stop to her questions. I did not answer to confuse you, it was merrily instinct to answer the way I did. "Where's your family?"
My golden eyes drifted to patches of sky that appeared through the thick array of leaves and branches. "They run with the Goddess now."
Rin didn't know that the wolves saw the moon as their Goddess, and this time my confusing words put a stop to her questions.
A soft breeze drifted through the forest, ruffling my thick fur in soft waves. On the wind I could scent danger's absence and the strong smell of fresh fruit. The wind picked up, and a swirl of leaves spiraled around us. A great tree that had fallen long ago appeared in our path and I leapt over it with little exertion. Landing silently on the other side I waited patiently for Rin to climb over, I was also prepared to help her if she called for it.
"Youngling, where is your pack?" I questioned calmly.
With a grunt she pushed herself over and stumbled to the other side. "Rin does not know…after falling in the river Rin couldn't see Jaken."
"Jaken, who is that?"
"He's Rin's friend," she chirped cheerfully. "He watches Rin while Sesshomaru is away."
A snarl almost escaped my jaws and I struggled for my voice to remain calm, "Sesshomaru travels with you?"
Enthusiastically she nodded. "He's a very good lord to Rin."
Why would that mutt help a human pup? I thought angrily to myself. I have never known for him to show compassion to any living thing.
Sunlight bathed us in warm light as we stepped from the forest and into a large glade. A pool of water spilled from a small waterfall that spilled from the nearby river. With water a plenty, many fruit trees and berry bushes surrounded the pool, making it the perfect place for young Rin to eat and drink her fill.
Laying down at the pool's cool edge I observed the girl bound over to the closest apple tree and start plucking the ripe fruit.
"Mmm," she purred as she bit into the red fruit.
She continued her feast, gathering berries and a few more apples, then walked to my side and sat down. Leaning against my flank she ate her meal.
Peace settled around us, as I kept a watchful on the forest around us. I knew the western terrains that we were in fairly well, but that didn't mean I was going to let my guard down. Traveling on my own for many hard long summers forced me to be wary. Unlike other wolves I didn't have a pack to defend me, or vice versa. I was a lone wolf.
With a sigh formed from both the feelings of loneliness and contentment, I lay my head on my paws. Rin pushed away the remains of her apple cores and went to the water to drink. I closed my eyes and heard her walk back over to my side. Plopping back down, she curled against my warm fur and was soon fast asleep.
Although my eyes were closed, every other sense that I had was on alert for danger. My tall ears caught every sound in the forest; from the sound of the singing birds to the crawling of the field mice across the forest floor. The black nose that sat pointed at the tip of my nose detected a damp atmosphere, meaning that it would soon rain despite the sun's deceitful rays. These two senses were my major danger detectors, but my sense of feeling would also warn me of an attack through the vibrations of movements that I felt through my paws.
Suddenly I sat up, my golden eyes flashing with agitation. Although my main senses told me all was well, my wolfen sixth sense told me that I was being watched. I stood up stiffly, trying not to jar Rin with my sudden movement, but she continued to sleep soundly on the ground, taking no notice of me. Snarling and showing my deadly fangs, I stepped protectively over Rin's slumbering form.
"Show yourself demon!" I commanded viciously.
A crunching of leaves on the other side of the pool was the only warning I was given before being attacked.
He rushed into the clearing and bounded across the water, coming down on me with sharp poison tipped claws. Flashing my fangs I leapt in the air and met him snarling. Anger fueled my attack as I realized who it was.
The mutt himself: Sesshomaru.
My fangs sank into him armless shoulder, digging past his thick white fluff and biting through flesh. At the same moment his claws dug into my side and slashed down harshly. Together we fell on the ground, rolling and fighting for control. I could feel him trying to back away, buy my vice grip held him close. Blood splashed on my snowy coat, dirtying it and staining in a black red. Trying a new tactic, my adversary drew back his fist and slammed it with all of his might into my skull. Pain exploded in front of my eyes and I almost released him, but my slender fangs held him still.
"Lord Sesshomaru!"
His attention left me as he quickly glanced at Rin, who had obviously awoken from the noise of our fight. I snarled and shook him with a great jerk of my muscular neck. My actions were rewarded with another punch to my skull.
"Please don't! She's Rin's friend!" the child rushed over dangerously close.
With a furious snarl I tore away from Sesshomaru and pranced safely away. Golden eyes flashed livid as I held the other demon's gaze threateningly. His own wound spouted blood and caused a similar staining to his fluff.
"Rin," he started calmly. "What are you doing sleeping next to a wolf?"
"She saved Rin from the river and brought Rin to food and water." She skipped over to Sesshomaru and stood happily next to him.
Snarling I spoke to the demon, "What business do you have with the youngling?"
His eyes narrowed at my anger but his voice was void of annoyance. "That is my concern, wolf. And you would do well to leave these lands."
"Says who?" I growled deeply, which caused the gashes in my side to flare with pain.
"I am the Lord of these lands."
Laughter erupted from me. "You're point being?"
"Beware of whom you challenge wolf, or more of your blood will spill."
Rin's eyes widened and she quickly looked up at Sesshomaru. "Please don't hurt her, Rin likes Yuki."
Now a ghost of a smile formed on Sesshomaru's lips. "Yukiko? Why are you hiding in this barbaric form?"
I answer my summoning my inner power, causing a familiar glow to uncase my body as I changed shape. A flash of blinding light fluttered and disappeared, leaving my human like form in its wake. Standing tall and confidently I met the dog's eyes again.
"Who said I was hiding?"
Sesshomaru chose not to answer me and cast a glance to Rin. The child's eyes were wide with surprise as she took in my new features. Now my wound was bare against my ribs, the blood trickling down to my fur skirt.
The dog demon looked back to me. "Where is your pack, wolf?"
"I am called Yuki," I persisted, "and they are gone."
"Gone?" he pressed with an air of arrogance heavy in his voice as he demanded an answer.
This time I snarled. "Do not except my respect when you do not deserve it."
"Are they hiding from me? Does my power scare them?" Sesshomaru continued, trying his hardest to annoy me.
"The dead do not watch the living," I spit out hatefully.
The demon lord blinked, showing that I actually caught him off guard. And to my further surprise, the next words he spoke were in a softer, almost gentler tone. "Who killed them?"
"Your father."
