Ch 2 Shadows In Daylight

Yuugi stretched out his limbs against the plush carpet and let his mouth open in a wide yawn. When his muscles were successfully stretched, he settled back into place on the floor. Beside him, Mahado sat cross-legged with the scary book in his lap with Mana looking over his shoulder. For the most part, they were silent, but every once in a while, Mana would ask a question and strike up some riveting conversation with her elder brother. They were reading about some creature called Bigfoot, but not wanting to find another thing to worry about, Yuugi began to tune them out.

Meanwhile, Kisara sat on the couch with her legs drawn to her chest and her eyes glued to the window. She had a deck of cards spread out on the couch cushions in front of her, but they were long forgotten after her tenth game of solitaire.

Azura was in the study with Akhenamkhanen working on some sort of something that Yuugi didn't understand. From the bits of conversation that he could hear, he figured Seto must have reached out to them about the construction that Gozaburo wanted to do; however, he couldn't tell for sure.

Yuugi groaned and rolled onto his stomach, resting his paws on top of each other. He let his eyes loll towards the window just in time to see the snow begin to fall. His tail began to wag and his head rose at the white clusters, but when he swung his head to look at his owners, none of them gave him any attention. Not willing to give up and dying for some entertainment, the Shiba Inu rose to his feet and nudged Mahado.

The male rose his head to look at Yuugi who shuffled his paws and turned his body towards the door. Mahado looked uneasy at first as he stared at the door then back at Yuugi before; however, when Yuugi let out a soft plead, the male sighed and handed the book to Mana.

The young girl looked at her brother who stood and began to walk towards the door with Yuugi jumping in circles around him. Glancing back at the girl, Yuugi caught the fear in her brown eyes, and that was enough to calm his speed to a gentle trot. He didn't want to, but he cast a glance at Kisara and the poor girl looked petrified.

"Mahado, wait," Kisara piped up, "I-It's too cold to let Yuugi out."

Mahado shook his head, "Yuugi will be fine. I'll just let him out to go to the bathroom and then I'll let him in."

Kisara bit her lip and glanced out the window, "I-Is it safe?"

Mahado's brown eyes did their own scan outside before he grabbed the doorknob, "It's daylight. Nothing should be out."

Just as he was about the open the door to let Yuugi out, Kisara bolted off the couch and stood close to the window. She worried a lock of silver hair in her clenched hands but said nothing more as Yuugi was finally let outside.

Feeling the cold breeze on his fur, the Shiba Inu raced out the door and into the fresh blanket of snow. His paws landed softly in the snow and he took a moment to breathe in the fresh air. Ever since the fright from a few days ago, the family had been careful with how much time they spent outside, especially for Yuugi. It was rare for them to let him outside other than to do his business and it was even rarer to see the girls playing outside.

Turing his head towards the feed container, Yuugi's tail lowered and he let out a small whimper as he saw the untouched bucket.

Shaking off the sadness, Yuugi began to trot around the car-loop in the front, sniffing the snow and finding the right spot to relieve himself. The creature's scent was still strong on the property, and Yuugi growled as he came across a strong spot near the house. Out of spite, he peed over the scent and kicked snow on top to keep it there.

Aside from the scents, there were no prints around the house aside from the fresh ones that he made. At night he made sure to triple check every window and doorway before settling into bed, and still, he hadn't seen any more of the creature, so it baffled him that the scent had yet to weaken. The only peace of mind he got was from the fact that it had yet to actually touch the house.

Sprinting around the car-loop, Yuugi then fell to the ground in order to roll on his back. Limbs in the air and mouth opened, Yuugi savored the soft embrace of the snow and the bitter cling of cold. He pawed at some of the falling snowflakes and smiled as each one kissed his fur and nose. Yuugi stood back on his feet and pranced to a new patch of snow before rubbing his body, neck first, into the ground. He sneezed as some of the powder went in his nostril, but it did nothing to deter his moment of happiness and freedom. He settled on his side with his back arched in a half circle and his limbs fully extended and claws sunk in the snow. Purple eyes slipped closed in bliss.

There were no sounds aside from the rustle of trees and the distance sounds of the house. No birds, no squirrels, no cars, just peace. There was no sense of danger in the gentle snowfall as it began to wrap him in a blanket of safety. The snow had made a thin layer on his thick coat when he heard a twig snap in the distance.

Immediately, Yuugi was on his paws with an attentive stance. His hackles were low, but his ears, tail, and nose here high in search for any sign of danger. Nothing made itself known, nor were there any sounds from the forest around him. Violet eyes narrowed as he watched the trees just as a bitter chill, unlike the normal cold of snow, wracked his body.

"Yuugi! House!"

The Shiba refused to move at Kisara's command, but when Mahado joined her, he relented and sprinted back towards the house.

()

"Honey, it's our last week here, can't you wait until then to get back to work?"

Yuugi blinked his tired eyes up at Azura who stood in the doorway of the study. He was curled at the base of the roller chair that Akhenamkhanen sat in as he typed away on his laptop. The male finally ceased his typing and leaned back with a thoughtful expression, his eyes still glued to the glowing screen.

"I wish I could, but Gozaburo has begun to reach out to me on ideas for the company. He was wondering if I could take a survey of the land while I'm here and think of any optimal locations."

Azura crossed her arms and slid her blue hair behind her ear, "Neither you nor Seto has found a way to stop him?"

Akhenamkhanen shook his head, "Not without probable cause. You know that man: unless he can turn a profit, he won't consider it," the two fell silent for a while. Yuugi just closed his eyes when the alpha spoke up, "Do the girls still refuse to go outside?"

"They're still afraid, and it doesn't help that Mana keeps giving them new creatures to be afraid of."

Akhenamkhanen hummed, "It's a shame that they've spent so much time inside."

"I know there is nothing out there for them to be afraid of, but they won't listen to me. Perhaps if you were to indulge them…"

"A family walk, perhaps?"

Yuugi perked up at the mention of a walk. As his wide eyes pleaded at his alpha, his tail began to wag, rocking his whole body the more his excitement rose. All it took was one smile from Akhenamkhanen and the Shiba was off the ground and prancing in circles.

Azura chuckled at the display, "A family walk it is," she turned to leave the room, but not before tossing a final comment over her shoulder, "This way you can at least tell Gozaburo that you looked around."

As she left to gather the rest of the pack, Akhenamkhanen and Yuugi stayed in the study, much to the latter's dismay. The longer his alpha sat in the chair, the more impatient Yuugi became. When the man refused to move, still, Yuugi hopped back to his side, sat down and placed his head in the human's lap. Akhenamkhanen chuckled as he pet the Shiba's head, but as soon as the hand was gone, Yuugi sprung to life and bounced towards the door.

"Alright, alright," Akhenamkhanen chuckled as he finally rose off his seat and strode out of the study.

Yuugi was hot on his heels, jumping in circles, one paw in the air, and tail wagging uncontrollably. The rest of the family was already at the door getting their winter boots, coats, and gloves on, albeit Mana and Kisara were dragging their feet as they got ready. By the time Akhenamkhanen was fully assembled, the girls still had to shrug on their coats.

Yuugi whined at Mana who pat his head.

"Do we have to go, mom?" Kisara asked.

"Yes, you do," Azura kneeled in front of her daughter and zipped up her white coat, "We are only going to be here for a few more days, and you've been cooped up inside," she flipped Kisara's fur-lined hood over her silver hair and placed her hands on the smaller shoulders, "Besides, the whole family is going to be with you, so there's nothing to worry about."

"But I don't wanna go outside," Mana grumbled as she zipped up her coat before her mother could.

"It won't be long, girls. Before you know it, we'll be back home," Akhenamkhanen ended the conversation by opening the door and letting in a fresh winter breeze.

Any further complaint the girls had was silenced by Yuugi sprinting past the pack and out into the snow. With one graceful leap, Yuugi launched himself off the porch and into the freshly laden snow. He didn't waste a second after his paws hit the snow and began to sprint in the open area; however, his run was cut short by a whistle from the alpha, calling him back to their side.

As he re-joined the group, the pack began their walk down the snowy path. It was a narrow trail that only existed due to its frequent use from the animals in order to get to the river below, but it was secure. It led deep into the forest, following the winding river, and over the frozen marsh.

The family was silent at first before Mahado decided to begin stories of the animals that lived there. Most of the family had heard the tales before, but anything was better than the nervous silence from the two girls.

"Do you see that tree over there?" Mahado pointed into the river where a small mound of earth created an island with a young tree rising out of it, "Out of all the spruce that have tried to grow there, that one is the only one to last this long."

Kisara lulled her head to look at it, "It looks like it's dying."

Mahado nodded his head, "It probably is. I can't imagine that there is a lot of nutrients on that patch of land."

Yuugi stopped to look at the spruce from the shore. He could feel the mist from the flowing river dust his paws, so he took a step back, but his eyes remained trained on the leaning tree. Even in its youth, the branches looked thin and frail while its trunk leaned over the island at an eighty-degree angle. His violet eyes trailed down to the water crashing against the small mound of earth. Beneath the crystalline surface lay the fallen trunks of various trees who tried to grow on the island prior.

His ears fell back as he looked back up at the living tree. A cold breeze blew in his face, pushing him away from the river bend. With a quick shiver, the Shiba turned tail and ran towards his pack that stopped at the bottom of a hill.

"Is this safe?" Kisara asked as she inspected the snowy trail along the steep incline.

Azura reached a hand out to grasp the trunk of a nearby tree. She tested her weight against it and smiled when it held firm, "If we are slow and careful, then we should be fine."

Azura was the first to risk the treck followed by Mahado and Mana. Kisara still looked unsure, but a prod from her father had her trailing behind them with him watching them all. Yuugi meanwhile stalled at the base. It wasn't a difficult path, perse, but in the snow with the ice, it was a harder journey. One slip could send one tumbling down into the river just to be swept away in its strong current. He knew his pack was alright because they had the trees for support; however, he had his paws and the ground to keep him safe.

A splash in the river had Yuugi whipping around with his tail and ears up. There was no movement along the water, nor on the other bank, but his gut told him that something was there. His eyes narrowed in an effort to see past the dense trees and his nose sniffed the air; however, most of the scent was swept away in the current and pine trees.

"Yuugi, let's go."

An orange ear flickered back at Akhenamkhanen's command before his whole body turned. Yuugi took his movements slow, trying to assess for any more danger, but when none came, he huffed and began his trek up the hill.

His progress was slow, but it was steady. Each step he took he tested first before putting his weight on the slickened earth. His pack encouraged him as they waited up at the top, giving the confidence he needed to keep going. When he was near the top, Yuugi stuck his paw in the snow and went to heave his body over the top, but the snow caved and he began to slide down.

He yipped in fear and began to flail his limbs, trying to find any sort of purchase, but they all fell under his weight. He could hear the crashing of the water below and he could imagine its unrelenting cold grip on his bones. His heart raced and his body shook in his urgency to stay on the ground. Just as he paws lost all purchase and his body began to all through the air, Akhenamkhanen grabbed his collar and hauled him up.

Once on sturdy ground, Yuugi ran away from the edge and planted his four paws into the snow. His ears were flat against his head and his tail was between his legs as he watched the family with wide eyes. Kisara was being comforted by her mother while Mahado was holding Mana. Akhenamkhanen was catching his breath from his place against an oak.

When his heart was no longer beating in his ears, Yuugi padded over to the youngest daughter and licked her gloved hand. Kisara caved and wrapped him in a tight embrace that he didn't fight. She wasn't crying, but Yuugi knew she wouldn't sleep well tonight.

"He's alright, Kisara: just a little frightened," Mahado spoke to break the silence.

Kisara refused to let go of Yuugi, even when Mana tried to pry her off, "Kisara, let go, you're going to hurt him."

The girl just shook her head and clung closer, "I wanna go back now."

Yuugi struggled to turn his head, but he was able to watch as Akhenamkhanen checked his watch and then looked back at the group.

"We have been out for an hour, but the trail is almost over. Do you think you can hold out for the whole trail?"

Kisara didn't respond, so Yuugi wiggled his way out of her grip in order to lick her face. She allowed him to kiss her while she pet his neck. After a few more seconds, she nodded her head.

The rest of the walk was spent in silence as the group listened to nature. There wasn't much to hear, but Yuugi enjoyed the quiet symphony of wind, snow, and the river around them. He made sure to keep close to Kisara in order to put her at ease. Any time he wandered too far into the treeline, she would call him back and clutch at his fur.

True to his word, the end of the trail was in sight and they were able to begin their journey home. Knowing that they were heading back, Kisara loosened her grip on Yuugi and allowed him to run around more. Not only that, but the rest of the group became comfortable enough to engage in a joyful conversation. Yuugi smiled at his pack before walking ahead on the trail until their voices where mummers in the trees.

Yuugi smiled and tipped his head into the sky, loving how the wind brushed against his fur. Taking a deep breath of pine and snow, Yuugi lowered his sights in front of him and allowed his thoughts to wander. Their time was almost up in the cabin and they would be leaving back home soon. As much as he loved Japan, he wasn't quite ready to head back. He was tired of the cities and cars and countless people. Whenever they were here it was just nature and his family; most of all, there were no reminders of Hiroshima.

The Shiba shivered as harsh memories came into his mind. It may have been years since he was rescued from that place, but the scars it left behind could not be hidden. While he had to admit that he was lucky to have gotten out alive with nothing too extreme, but most humans who find out turn away from him. The eyes are one thing, but the being able to carry puppies is another.

Crunch.

Yuugi stopped and twisted his head around to his side. When there was no movement, he glanced over to his pack behind him. They showed no sign of having heard anything, so Yuugi kept walking; however, he made sure to keep his eyes and ears open for anything.

He owed a lot to this family; in fact, had it not been for Seto finding him, Yuugi knew he wouldn't be alive right now. He may not be able to do much, but he was determined to repay his debt by keeping this family safe.

The minutes ticked by and each step he took put Yuugi more on edge. He couldn't see anything, nor did he smell anything dangerous, but he kept hearing noises in the distance. A crunch of snow or the breaking of a twig. The rustle of pine or even the occasional startled bird kept Yuugi ever aware of some sort of movement in the woods.

Without a scent or a visual to go off of, the Shiba couldn't tell if this was just a deer used to their presence or if it was something with malicious intent. His pack continued to remain oblivious to this movement, but when Mana pointed it out, Akhenamkhanen passed it off as a squirrel or chipmunk. The answer may have soothed the girls, but the heavy feeling in Yuugi's stomach told him not to be so flippant.

He decided to hang close to his family and circle around them in order to check on all sides. They paid his antics no mind as he pranced in the snow, but Yuugi was ready to bark if anything serious did come about. Kisara and Mana were not ready for any unsettling experiences and he would be danmed if he ruined their time here on a false alarm.

Finally, the cabin was in sight as the afternoon sun lit it in a beacon. The family continued to laugh and talk, but Yuugi sprung forward in order to check the path ahead. Everything looked normal, and there were no signs of any prints in the snow; however, he could smell it.

He could smell that musky scent of the creature.

It was strong

It was fresh.

It was close.

Too close.

Yuugi's fur rose as he quietly chuffed at the house. His eyes scanned, looking for anything that would react to his warning. When the creature refused to show itself, he rose his volume to a bark. It wasn't malicious or aggressive but it was deep: a warning.

His family halted at his bark, but Mana was the first to speak, "Did he see something?"

Mahado spoke next, "I don't see anything. Maybe he just saw a squirrel-"

Yuugi barked again, this time taking a step forward.

"Stay here," Akhenamkhanen warned as he cautiously walked to Yuugi's side. He looked at the Shiba who was sniffing frantically and twitching his head from side to side for a wider view, "What is it, boy?" His tone was quiet and serious as he scanned the area himself.

Yuugi, meanwhile, was getting impatient, he could smell those creatures near the house and they were still there. He could feel their hidden gaze on him and his pack, but he couldn't tell their intentions. What he did know was that they were too close and needed to leave now.

The Shiba growled before barking again, this time with a more gravely tone. Akhenamkhanen seemed to get the picture, even though the creatures remained hidden.

"Azura, get the kids into the house. Now," he kept his voice hushed and his movements smooth in hopes to not provoke whatever Yuugi sensed.

Mana tried to speak up, but a swift look from her mother silenced her and the group began to move towards the house. Yuugi walked with them, but at a distance ahead. He continued to growl and bark at the beings in the shadows. They just needed to get into the house, then Akhenamkhanen could get his gun and really scare off these beings.

They were almost to the porch when their enemy walked out from behind a tree. It was black and wolf-like, just like the one from before. Then another crunch from the right revealed the same creature, but this one with white fur. There was another to the left with honey-colored fur.

They stopped as soon as they were in sight, but Yuugi intensified. His growls turned into snarls and he barred his teeth at the intruders. Their scent was intoxicating and drove him mad with their wild and earthy undertones. Had they not been so close to his family, he would have been intrigued, but that was not the case.

The black one was the first to move, that's when all hell broke loose.

Kisara screamed, making the white one growl and lunge forward. Yuugi snapped his jaws and rushed at the larger beast who growled and dove backward. Yuugi turned around and rushed at the honey-one who began to stalk his family as they rushed inside. Adrenaline drove Yuugi forward as he tumbled into the larger being; however, his effort only caused the creature to stumble back in surprise as opposed to falling on the ground.

The Shiba barked and snapped his jaws at the creature who just growled back with his ears pressed against his head. Yuugi rose on his back legs and swung his paws down, trying to get the high ground, but the creature followed suit and towered over him. It's massive paw stuck Yuugi to the ground, but as he rolled in the snow, Yuugi continued to growl. Bounding to his feet, Yuugi went to rush at the honey one again, only to turn around when he heard Mana scream.

The white creature was closing in on the door while Mana was being pulled inside by Mahado. He couldn't see Akhenamkhanen, so Yuugi knew he was looking for the gun and Azura was struggling to keep Kisara inside, leaving it up to Mahado to keep Mana safe. Both of the girls were yelling the Shiba's name with tears running down their cheeks. The sight broke his heart, but he couldn't give up now.

Barking at the white creature, Yuugi rushed at it and knocked away just in time for Mahado to pull Mana inside. Once again, Yuugi rose to his hind legs and struggled to land on the white beings back, managing to only get his front paws over the beast. It snarled at their position and snapped at his legs; however, Yuugi clawed at its side and bite its neck. The creature howled and became frantic as it ran off the porch and into the loop where it rolled on the ground and onto the Shiba.

Yuugi yelped in pain as its heavy body pushed him into the snow, but not enough to crush bone. He tried to roll off his back, but as soon as he did, he felt iron jaws grip onto his back leg. He howled in pain, but a distant bark from the black wolf, who had yet to join the fight, had the white wolf release him before any bones could break.

Yuugi smelt blood and saw it taint the pure snow, but his task was far from over. The white wolf growled at him while the honey and black wolf closed in; however, he could hear the creak of the porch and the crunch of distant snow as something encroached on the house.

Craning his neck around, Yuugi's blood ran cold as he saw a fourth creature with brown fur go up to the door and push against it. Yuugi prayed to every deity that Mahado had closed the door fully and that his family was safe inside until Akhenamkhanen found the gun.

His heart shattered when it pushed open.

Four screams escaped the house as the new creature broke the only barrier they had. Summoning all his strength, Yuugi ignored the pain in his leg and sprinted towards the house. The white and honey-colored creatures made a grab for him, but he slipped under the latter's legs and made a beeline for the brown one.

His leg throbbed, but any thought of pain went out the window when he saw the brown wolf starring at his family huddled in the living room. Gathering as much speed as he could, Yuugi jumped at the being and sunk his teeth into its neck. While it didn't make a noise at the action it did stumble to the side, crashing into the dining room table as Yuugi tried to drag it away. Their movements became frantic as they fought each other for dominance until they became a flurry of jaws and fur as the two tumbled along the floor. Kisara and Mana were screaming over the snarls and growls. Yuugi could see blood staining the white carpet, but he couldn't tell whose it was.

There was a gunshot in the house that stunned all beating bodies. Akhenamkhanen stood at the top of the stairs with his rifle in hand and a serious expression on his face. The brown creature on top of Yuugi growled at the object before it clamped it's jaw around his already injured leg and began to drag him outside.

The Shiba struggled against the hold and tried to kick it off, but nothing was working. Kisara and Mana were screaming and Akhenamkhanenwas cursing at the top of the stairs. Yuugi knew he couldn't get a clean shot from their position. He wasn't as good of a hunter as Gozaburo and if he missed, he could end of shooting Yuugi. Then again, Yuugi wasn't sure which was worse: being shot by his family, or being eaten by these creatures.

Scratch that: he knew which was worse.

Yuugi began to bark at Akhenamkhanen and whine in pain in hopes that he would take the shot. If he scared his alpha enough then the other would shoot and if it hit the creature, then they were safe: if it hit Yuugi, then it put him out of his misery.

Akhenamkhanen struggled as he watched the Shiba being dragged out of the house. His kids were yelling at him, his dog was whining, and the creatures were growling. With a curse, he rose the gun but stalled once more.

Yuugi pleaded with his eyes for Akhenamkhanen to shoot. Shoot! SHOOT! He couldn't risk his family getting hurt, they had to live. Didn't he see that?!

Yuugi smelt the other wolfs gets closer, so he looked towards the brown one. Sure enough, the other three were standing behind it, watching Akhenamkhanen while in a stance to run. When Yuugi was past the threshold and in the snow, the black one pounced, flipping Yuugi onto his stomach and grabbing him by the scruff of his neck. The Shiba yipped as he was lifted off the ground and then carried away with the other creatures in tow.

There was a gunshot behind them and more screams to stay inside. He heard Akhenamkhanen exit the house and fire another shot, but it missed them completely. Before he knew it, the house, the screams, and the familiar scents disappeared as he was carried deep into the woods and away from home.

Birch, pine, and oak past by in a blur of colors and a flurry of snowflakes. The wind was sharp and the crisp scent of snow became heavy as the little flakes of snow became clusters that landed on his fur and chilled his bones. Yuugi whimpered at the isolating kiss.

The creatures carrying him remained silent as their journey trucked on into the trees. Further and further into the forest and shadows stretched across the ground as dark clouds blocked out the winter sun. The only noise was that of his captors growling at each other or Yuugi if he moved too much.

Truth be told, Yuugi wasn't trying to fight off their hold anymore. As much as he would love to fight back and run home, he knew that they were faster, stronger, and out-numbered him. Any attempt that he would make to get home would be in vain; furthermore, the adrenaline from before had worn off and left him blatantly aware of the pain in his legs and muscles.

The blood dripping from his wounds nearly froze in the winter wind and stained the snow below them. While he held hope that the bloody trail would lead his family to him, Yuugi knew that it would be lost in the new snowfall and he would be left behind. He had other scratches and minor bite wounds on his chest, muzzle, legs, and ears, but they were tolerable compared to his back right leg.

The throb in his muscles was purely from the exertion it took to fight off the intruders, but now that the fight was over, he had no way to distract from it. He figured that the hold that the black creatures had on him would be painful, but it wasn't; in fact, it almost felt gentle despite its sturdy hold. Yuugi could feel the hidden strength in the creature's jaws even in the cautious hold. If it really wanted to, it could tighten its grip and snap his neck with ease. That's not to mention the elongated teeth that poked his skin and threatened to draw blood.

The Shiba cast purple eyes towards the other creatures: the white on the right, honey on the left, and brown up front. Their wolf-like facade was convincing, but they were bigger, more muscular. Their paws were huge with claws to match as they dug through the snow. Their coats looked thicker as well, capable of handling colder climates with ease. Just were these beings?

The white creature caught him staring and narrowed its eyes. Yuugi's ears folded against his head before he deterred his gaze towards the ground. His fate was in their hands now, but if he bid his time well and didn't provoke them, there was a chance he could make it back home.

Home. It was getting so far away now. Oh, how his heart longed to be with his family, curled on the bed as Kisara fell asleep. A part of him wished that Akhenamkhanen would run after him and fight to bring him back; on the other hand, he hoped they stayed as far away as possible. These beings were not to be trifled with, and so long as he was in their clutches, he was as good as gone.

Yuugi sighed and lifted his gaze up into the snow-clad branches. Grey clouds showered them in cool bundles of snow that feel gently on his face. It didn't matter if he survived in the end: so long as his family was safe, he could endure anything.

"Do ya gotta name?"

Yuugi blinked and tilted his head back down. Looking over the rest of the group, he was finally met with curious, honey-eyes from the left.

"Do I have to give you one?" the male teased as his wide mouth cracked into a toothy smile. Yuugi struggled to find his voice, but the moment he did, a husky baritone to his right cut him off.

"No questions until we get to camp."

The honey one scuffed and faced forward once more. Silence rang over the group for another couple of minutes before the honey creature couldn't take it any longer.

"So what kind of a dog are ya?"

"Shut up!" the white creature seethed.

Yuugi shrunk back at the angry tone, but his body froze when the black being holding him tilted his head to the right and growled. The sound vibrated through Yuugi's smaller frame while the emotion froze his blood. It wasn't angry, nor irritated: it was serious.

Despite the sound, the white wolf growled to himself and faced forward; meanwhile, the honey creature perked up with his head high.

"The name's Jonouchi," it greeted.

Yuugi's mouth opened, but it closed again before he found his voice, "...Yuugi."

The brown wolf up front let out a bark of laughter, "I knew you smelt foreign. It was all over your family too," her lighter voice rung with amusement.

Yuugi growled at the mention of his family and bore his teeth at the female, "Don't you touch them!" the Shiba whimpered as the black wolf tightened his grip for a second, successfully silencing Yuugi.

The being to his right huffed, "You're on our territory. We'll do whatever we want with them."

Yuugi whimpered as his ears dropped. His body shook and he drew his limbs as close to his body as possible. Dread pooled in his stomach as he watched a blank expression fall over the white creatures face. Dark brown eyes stared back at him with a grave promise that sent shivers down his trembling spine. One look from the black creature had the white one turning away.

"Don't worry about him: he always gloomy," the female tried to console, "but how you act will decide what happens to your family."

Yuugi didn't want to talk anymore, so he opted to keep his mouth shut. From now on, anything he did could be used against him and thus on his family. He couldn't let that happen. Let these beings claw at him, bite him, tear him to pieces, but heaven forbid that any ill will falls upon his family.

Through the thick smell of trees, the pungent smell of these creatures became more apparent. Every tree had been marked and the ground had been littered with their massive paws, saturating the snow and dirt with their scent. Any who passed could tell who this land belonged to and none would dare to pass it.

Yuugi sneezed and his limbs curled closer. Instinct told him to turn around, that he had overstepped his boundaries, but his captors were heading to the heart of the territory. His heart began to beat in his chest and his purple eyes skittered from shadow to shadow as he watched through the falling snow.

It wasn't long until a shadow turned into another creature. Then another, and another. More emerged from behind trees and over hills only to surround their group. They all remained silent while their large, piercing eyes trained in on Yuugi.

The Shiba Inu tried to keep face by extending his limbs and forcing his ears forward, but they continued to flicker. With so many dangerous creatures around him, he could either try to fight them off or just submit; although, which one was the better option, he was still unsure of.

His captors finally stopped at the base of a massive, gnarly tree. It's trunk stretched high into the sky, its branches making a canopy over many of the surrounding saplings. No other trees grew close to the trunk, but some saplings survived the little shade it was allowed. Nestled within the roots of the great Northern Red Oak was a hole the led into the earth. He tried to see how deep it went, but the shadows clouded his view. The other creatures created a circle around the group and the tree, blocking any escape.

The creature holding him, set Yuugi down and few meters away from the oak with a perfect view of the entrance. At first, he looked back at his captors, confused, but they offered him no hints as they slunk back to join ranks with their comrades. Yuugi's ears flattened against his head and turned to face the tree. While it hurt for him to sit on his right leg, he was too afraid to move into a comfortable position.

Just as he was about to look back at his captors, movement in the tree brought his attention forward. A mass shrouded in shadows began to emerge from the entrance, but even as he stood in the light, his black fur seemed to absorb it. Its massive body radiated strength and confidence in waves that seemed to make the very shadows bend to his will.

Each step that it took seemed to shake the Earth, and Yuugi's ears permanently plastered themselves to his head. His limbs shook and his tail curled under him as the monster loomed closer and closer still. It's vanta black body stood in stark contrast with the white snow, easily outlining its muscled body and ragged fur. It's long tail dragged behind him, scarring the freshly fallen snow.

Yuugi fought to sit in an upright position as the beast drew closer and closer still with its head low. It was hunting, stalking, observing him, and Yuugi was terrified. As Yuugi's purple eyes finally drew to its face, he yelped and immediately dropped back to the floor as powerful, glowing red eyes pierced through him.

The Shiba Inu coward at its presence and kept his eyes glued to the snow in front of him. Not even when the footfalls stopped did he look up.

"State your name."

The booming baritone struck like thunder through Yuugi's body. Freezing him to the core and halting all movement. The power from the calm, yet serious tone, sent Yuugi's mind reeling as his gut fought between fight or flight.

There was a growling that rivaled that of an earthquake, "State your name."

Yuugi opened his mouth but no sound came out. When two massive, claw-clad paws settled into his vision, Yuugi whimpered before answering, "Y-Yuugi."

"Yuugi, pet to those who have threatened our land, my name it Atemu, alpha of this Dire Wolf pack. What are you doing in my forest?"

(Koobre: Hey, just to let you know, I'm going to update this story about once a month. Also, I set a challenge for myself with this story by setting a chapter limit; therefore, if the pacing seems weird, it's only because I'm trying something new. In the meantime, if you are looking for something to read I suggest Experimental Werewolf by Spirithouse. This is the story that inspired A Heart Is a Home, so if you like this one, I know you'll like that one. Until the next chapter.)