Prompt: 'Memories' by Within Temptation
A couple of hours after the transformation, the Hanyou and Alpha male of the pack set out to the East to where she had been born. Along the way, she caught the scents of various villagers, they were old scents but they were still there. Coming down one last hill, the scorched area and shell of the hut came into view.
the Hanyou stopped, being confronted with the scene hurt something deep inside her but she was determined to see herself through to her goal. Her parent's residence and resting place. She pushed herself forward, ears on constant alert for danger, the scents of the villagers were old... but not three years old...
Finally reaching the front of the hut, she could see straight into the first room. The reed mat that would have served as a door was completely gone, however the hut as a whole remained relatively intact.
"Your Sire was quite the builder for this to be still standing after repeatedly being burned.." The Alpha mused as he came to a stop by the Hanyou's side and appraised the burnt wood, "The villagers would come once a week and re-burn this hut, such was the hatred for your father."
The Hanyou's blood peaked at the alpha's words, her fists clenched so hard that they drew blood from her hands. She didn't even realize she was doing it until the Alpha licked them.
"The villager's beliefs are not uncommon unfortunately and there are many others who think that Demons are the embodiment of evil.. and that Hanyou's such as yourself born of demon and human are abominations against nature."
The girl nodded, not trusting herself with a different response, it was a hard life, but it was hers to live and so far she had beaten all of the odds. Being wary of the structural damage of the hut, she stepped inside the small two room dwelling, the Alpha opting to stay outside and keep watch.
Inside the entrance she could make out a small hearth in the center of the room from the rest of the blackened ash. The living and eating area. She could smell something oddly familiar in this room but it was much stronger trough the doorway to the smaller room to the side.
Gathering her courage she stepped into the smaller room, casting a glance around the room until her eyes came to rest on a large pile of ash, from where the scent was coming from. Now she knew what it was... it was the scent of her parents, imprinted on her memory the moment she took in her first breath, it was moments after she had killed her mother.
Frozen. Unable to move as the hazy memories from her birth were brought into painful clarity until she was brought to her knees at the overwhelming grief and guilt that poured from her Youkai blood. The scent of her mother's blood stung her nose as she flashed back to the first instant of awareness at what she had done and her Sire's grief ridden howl when she broke his heart.
Her howl echoed through the forest again just as it had three years past as she reflected on the words of the alpha.
'No wonder Hanyou's are so hated.. I killed my own mother and Father died as a result!' she thought, ears pinned back to her skull as her howl died in her throat and turned into pleading cries.
The alpha remained outside for some time until the Hanyou's cries had died out before he checked one last time that no one was around, knowing that the girls howl would have alerted the villagers. Only after he was content that there was no immediate threat did he dare enter the hut.
He found his adopted pup curled in the ashes of her parents, caressing fragments of bones that remained as she hiccuped and whimpered her apologies to the both of them. Padding softly over to her, he nuzzled her cheek gently. "I know of a custom that Humans have to put their loved ones to rest..." he growled softly, "We shall collect their ashes and bury them together, then mark the site with stones so that you may visit and remember them always..."
The young Hanyou looked over at her Alpha, tears she had shed cut clean tracks down her cheeks through the soot and ash that had gathered there through her endeavors to keep the tears at bay. "I have nothing to put them in.. there's nothing here for me to use!" her whimpering turned into a small yelp as she realized the impossibility of the situation and a new wave of tears threatened to overwhelm her.
The wave was dispersed however when the Alpha smiled that assuring smile of his that he kept just for the Pup. "There is something back at the den.. the cloth that you were wrapped in as an infant when your father brought you to us... I have kept it safe for you.. Come, Pup, we will return later for this task but right now, the villagers are on their way here, I am sure of it.. Come.."
Reluctantly the Hanyou child followed the wolf back out of the hut where indeed she could hear the sounds of the approaching villagers and the crackling of fire. Hurrying to leave the scene before the child was exposed to more than she was quite ready for the wolf gave a short bark to gain her attention and ran back towards the den at his highest speed, knowing that the Hanyou was close by his heels.
A/N: It's taken some time but that's what I'm taking on this version of the story... you can't rush something if you want it to be good enough that you are happy with it...
Enjoy it, reviews are always appreciated...