Chapter 3: Introductions

Fate was tormenting her. Every time she thought she'd outsmarted it, it outwitted her again. It had been 4 days since she had encountered the human and while she wasn't dead, she wasn't doing well either. The pain had changed from searing fire to a dull smoldering ache that hurt no matter what position she was in, making sleep impossible. As a result she'd been unable to hunt and it was only because Luck intervened that she was still even alive.

This morning she had broken tree line and stumbled upon a freshly dead deer. The area stunk of human, but even without that she'd have known one had been there: only the rack was missing. Something warned her to get away but she ignored it, already devouring the vital organs. She was too hungry to care about the danger. Far too soon, the bloody carcass was gone, only stained bones remaining to say something had been here. She sat and washed her paws and muzzle, rejoicing in the nearly forgotten feeling of a full stomach. Once she had finished, she turned and headed back down the mountain, looking for some black timber to fulfill her second need—sleep.

3,000 feet later, she found the perfect spot. There was a large rock jutting over a stream coming from the heart of the mountain. Trees grew thick on either side and the water had carried enough dirt away over the ages that it had made a small ravine with several feet between the top of the rock and the water. She picked her way down to the stream, drank, then leapt over it, grimacing in pain as she landed on the steep bank. She scrambled up it and pulled herself onto the top of the rock, which was at least 3 times her size. She took in her surroundings, unfamiliar with this part of the forest. The trees grew right to the stone's edge and moss covered about a third of it. The blotchy sunlight that surrounded her informed her she was in decently thick timber which meant that she should have some warning if anyone came from the south. The stream, with the rather deep gorge it had carved, ensured the avoidance of any visitor sneaking up on her from that direction. Reassured, she laid down in the largest patch of sunlight, back to the stream. As she rejoiced in the warmth and the quiet, she wondered if anything could be nicer. The thought had barely crossed her mind before she was asleep, head not yet touching the rock.

It seemed an instant later when she woke with a start. She raised her head slightly and looked round but couldn't see anything. Something was lurking nearby and it wasn't friendly. She sniffed experimentally and waited but neither her ears nor her nose reported anything amiss.

Perhaps she had imagined it, or maybe it was the lingering effects of the nightmare she had had. Her shoulder throbbed and she moaned in pain. This was becoming unbearable. She shifted, trying to find a more comfortable position and froze as the unmistakable sound of laughter reached her ears. Her heart stopped and she looked up to find the bright yellow eyes of a coyote mocking her.

It stopped beside the tree nearest her and sat down, four feet away. Another appeared on its right, and a third to the left, slightly behind the first.

Of course she hadn't been able to smell them; they were downwind of her. But carnivores never attacked one of their own unless…

She looked at her shoulder and saw blood flowing silently out of it. She looked back at the intruders and the middle one smirked as he saw her put the pieces together. She gave a low growl but he didn't move, not the least bit intimidated.

She weighed her options. She could either stay and try to fight or try to jump across the stream and escape. Her heart sunk at the possibility of fighting, she didn't have the energy to win and escaping wasn't an option. There were one of two ways to get to this rock, either by jumping across the gorge, as she had, or—

The coyote's tail twitched and she barred her teeth.

–by crossing the stream at a different elevation and happening upon it. The first option was impossible, she had taken a high risks when she had jumped it the first time and that was before the wound had reopened, she wasn't about to do it now. The second path was currently blocked by three hungry hunters and they'd die before they let her leave. Maybe she could burst through them and be gone before they knew what was happening. It would hurt, but it might work.

She looked down her visitors again and felt the plan die. There were three of them, all relatively young and cunning. She would be down before she knew it.

The one on the right was getting impatient. He barked and took a step forward, wishing the invader would die already.

She smirked slightly.

Death. Well, there was that option and compared to fighting, she wasn't sure if it was more appealing. The right one barked again and the middle one stood up and crouched, preparing to attack. Pain seared up her arm as she shifted to get up and she growled. Alright! She would die, but she would at least give them some scars to remember her by. Wait, why had her peripheral vision suddenly vanished?

She turned to face them, wobbling dangerously and willing herself not to collapse. They were ready, all three crouched down and waiting.

How kind of them, they were going to let her make the first move. Damn it, would her arms stop shaking?!

The center one's shoulders tightened, a taunting laugh escaped—

And the rock shuddered as the coyote collided with a black shadow.

The coyote yipped and rolled a few feet, then sprang up to see what had dared interrupt its sport.

It was a gigantic wolf, black as night and ready to kill. Its fur was on end, teeth barred, and it was snarling so menacingly that she felt her heart quake within her. It was standing with its back to her and focused solely on the coyotes, defying any one of them to attack.

The ringleader growled back, ready to fight but not advancing. Greedy as coyotes were, there were laws and even they honored them. Any other carnivore would have been dead by now but killing a wolf…even a slight injury and there would be hell to pay. Only if he attacked would their little band get away clean and by the looks of it, he didn't need much provocation.

She blinked. Wait, hadn't there been three coyotes? Where had the one on the left gone? The right one twitched and the wolf rounded one him, still growling. She watched, barely breathing. The wolf took a step forward and the right one panicked and ran, crashing recklessly through the forest. The leader, suddenly realizing he had been deserted, checked himself and followed his friends, choosing life over territory.

She collapsed heavily, relief surging through her only to be crushed by the realization that she was alone with a murderous wolf and she was on the edge of consciousness. He was still looking after the cowards, growling lowly and she wondered if she should possibly try to make a break for it. Before she could do anything though, he turned to face her, and her heart, which had been beating wildly, stopped dead.

Those grey blue eyes and that scar running through his left eye. This was—

He relaxed, apparently satisfied with his work, and walked closer to her, stopping a few feet away and sitting down. She stared stupidly at him, mind racing as a thousand thoughts flashed through it, the first and foremost being Why?

His eyes fell away from hers and she followed his line of sight, ending at her bleeding shoulder. She looked back at him.

Of course. She'd forgotten. Even he was bound by the law.

The paralytic terror ebbed away and she shifted into a more comfortable position, knowing she was safe now. She laid her head down and met her deliverer's eyes, fighting to keep her exhaustion at bay long enough to communicate.

Anko…Thanks.

Her strength gave out and her eyes closed of their own accord. Just as slumber overtook her she swore she heard a soft bark.

Kakashi.