Red roses in white paper, rustling quietly when touched. It lay there on the ground, abandoned, but not forgotten. On drop fell on one of the roses, soon another followed, but landed on the brown dirt. Small red speckles. It fell like rain then, a shower of tiny glittering crimson tears. An edge, razor sharp, cuts deep, but clean. It created an incision, which would require needle work later. If there was a later. It was arousing, creating a feeling of being alive. If you still feel means you are not dead.
How are you holding up?
Not too bad. Just embarrassed they got me while I slept. It gave them a second or two to hurt me.
You were off your guard. What's with the flowers?
Red roses are always placed on the corpse of a priestess.
Meant for you.
Yeah, kinda.
The white strands of hair were softer than the gray ones in this fur, which otherwise was rather coarse. She knew every inch of this pelt, it had been hers for a long time. It was at an end now, though. So many years of loyal service, over. She allowed herself the tears. They felt good. She had had and cared for him since he was a pup, picked from a litter of the best breed. They had thought she would go for the black one, the one which had become her sisters, but no. This little grayish white puppy had looked her straight in the eyes and said: Here I am, and the connection was made. His name was Sora and now he was buried in the woods of his home. The cold wind bit at her face, would have blinded her if her eyes had been unprotected. She was 16 now and he had been 4 years short of that, her first companion. And as insensitive it may be, she needed to replace him. She was not whole without her dire wolf.
Hey, Ai! Come here for a moment!
What is it?
Where's the blue pup?
She's not there? She was there last night. I counted them all.
Well, now she's gone!
She carried the blue-black pup most of the way back, she was too young to walk all those miles back home to the City of Rain. She smelled good, the typical cleanness of a snow washed puppy. It had been easy to sneak back in, since she knew her home outside in and every inch of it. It was something special with this one, it had bit her the first thing it did. She liked that. There was some spunk in her, no doubt. Kasumi was her name to be.
That was a large risk you took, Ran.
I know. But it was necessary. No other breed is as good.
What if they had noticed you?
Then I'd kill my way out.
You can do that to your own people?
I do not have my own people.
Cold eyes and sharp fangs gleamed in the dusky light. They were joined by smaller blue eyes and smaller teeth and a low, immature growling. The first gleaming fangs soon turned to a smile. She was up and around at all hours of the day, feeding, exercising, chasing, training, cleaning up. The others became weary just looking at her doing all that work.
Tread lightly, she's just fallen asleep.
Inconvenient that it's on your belly.
I don't mind. I can lay here in my bed all day if she's with me like this. You needed something?
The evening was cold and the ever pouring rain pelted down. Their steps made small splashing sounds on the boardwalks and the waves broke just inches from them. The sun was setting, turning they sky more and more purple and Kasumi joyously jumped back and forth trying to catch the rain drops. He was starved of her, she had been gone a month when burying Sora, and he had wanted her several times during that period. He took her hand in his and she looked inquiringly at him.
How come you don't have claws?
It's felines that have claws, they hunt alone an need to get hold of the prey. Wolves hunt in packs, circling and attacking as one. No need for claws.
Why do you do this?
Which?
Why do you go with me like this?
I like it. Simple as that. There're parts of you I find delicious and desirable. Things I can't stop touching. Like your hair.
Nothing more?
I live in the moment, doing what feels right then.
The smell was immense, almost overwhelming. Everything was boosted. The wetness made scents rise from their hiding places. Leaves dancing from the sky in a dark green cascade dotted with yellow and red. Things came to life, reanimated, from places deep down. Every drop made sense, every bit in the whole picture, creating a reality especially suited. He watched her from afar, mesmerized by her dance together with Kasumi. A pack-leader, a mother, a superior, a sister, a friend, all those things living in the heart of Ran, which the little wolf pup all saw. He had been solitary almost from the beginning of his life as a ninja. The chosen one to protect the information, even from the ones knowing it. He didn't really know or understand the pack mentality.
You are not the orchid you're supposed to be.
That's a usual misconception. Ran is just short for Ranmyaku.
Seems your parents knew from the start how you would turn out.
Of course. My mark was on fire when I was born. As soon as I exited my mother's womb I was branded.
And your sister?
All normal and named Ai.
Did you consume her?
No, I let her evolve the way I was not allowed. I loved her, still do, I suppose. But I was not one of them. I tried hard, you know.
The mansion was alive all around her as she dozed on the couch in the den with Kasumi sleeping on her belly. She was starting to grow too big for it and had to be taught not to do that soon, unless Ran wanted to be crushed under a dire wolf. Tobi came thumping in, jumping all around the place, obviously excited over something.
What's up Tobi? What's got you riled so?
The three-tails. It was huuuuuge and so ugly.
I see. You happy you got to see it?
Yah, really.
Where's Dei-kun?
Showers. He got all grimy. He fell into the lake and sank to the bottom and got stuck in the mud for a while.
Naturally… Will you watch Kasumi for a while? You can take her on a walk if you like or play with her or just sit here with her as she sleeps.
Oh, can I, can I?
Yes. Now be a good boy.
Tobi is a good boy!
The door was unlocked, he could be forgetful sometimes. The steamy room hid her and the shower's falling water made her movements soundless. He was somewhere else in his mind. She wondered where. She gently sank down into the scalding bath water and she relaxed. She would lie there until the water was cold, as she always did. He flinched just the tiniest bit when he discovered her, but not much at all, no. He joined her and she let him. It was as if he was one of the pack now. She was the leader, he was amongst the hunters. Her allowance towards him was all he needed as an invite. She was happy he was clean before getting into her embrace. She could smell the residue of the grime he had carried and it smelled rotten to her, but he smelled clean and pure.
