By: aquawatergirl
Just Keep Moving Forward
Chapter 3: Broken Bonds
Ginta San-Ryu walked down the path at little past 10 am, whistling a happy tune. He could not be happier than he was now as he twiddled with the silver chain and wolf claw around his neck. Heh it was almost like a dog collar. It suited him, since he was a shape-shifter whom mostly shifted into a black wolf. But that was not what made him happy; what made him happy was that he was the luckiest man in the whole world! He made a promise to a 7-year-old girl and she had accepted. Unfortunately, he had to leave her for 3 weeks to go visit his family, but he did miss his family, especially his brother. His brother, Xavior, could only shape shift into one animal: a Siberian Tiger; but a striking one at that. All the girls swooned over him. Ginta rolled his bright blue slit eyes. He did not need 20 girls. He only needed his sweet Kana.
All of these thoughts vanished into smoke as he saw this very thing rising from the treetops on the path ahead, and a lot of it. –There are no celebration ceremonies going on right now. And that is too big for bonfires.- Dropping his bundle of supplies, Ginta sprinted up the pathway to the Laru village, only to turn into stone at the sight of what was left. The huts had been burned to ashes, the stones been ripped down or exploded to pieces, and all the farm animals killed along with humans themselves. Ginta cursed in every foul manner he could think of, although he had never used profane language before in his life. Mournfully and respectfully, he roamed through the wreckage, trying to salvage anything, see if anyone was alive and still just lying there, suffering, but to no avail. Then, a sudden realization hit him. Quickly, he raced back up the path, ignoring his supply pack.
Ginta transformed into a wolf as he raced against time to his village. –I hope I am not too late! And… Kana… She is probably…- Blinking back tears, he vowed to avenge her presumed death. Anger pent up inside of him until he felt like he was going to explode. He growled, snarled, bit the air, and howled, proclaiming to anyone who listened that he meant business. The black wolf scared away herds of deer, flocks of fowl, and roves of hare as tore up their forest in his dash to his homeland. Normally, it takes 3 days on foot as a human to get from Laru Village to San-Ryu Village. Ginta was determined to make in 3 hours. His sides burned as his chest heaved painfully, his paws gained countless thorns and were soon worn and tired beyond compare, and his head was throbbing with a pounding headache, but he kept going ceaselessly.
After an hour of non-stop running, Ginta finally stopped by a clear brook to rest and drink. He was exhausted and wanted to sleep in the cool shade under the branches of an oak for hours, but he only rested for 5 minutes, then got up and started running again. He did this for each hour, and began edging into the 4th hour, frustrating himself. –I am wasting time!- Finally, in about 15 minutes of the 4th hour, he arrived. (So it is about 2:30 p.m. now.) Quietly as he could, and staying in wolf form, he padded closer to his village, but stayed hidden in the bushes. His blue eyes widened with horror, anger, pain, agony, sorrow, and a want for vengeance all at the same time. The buildings were on fire, being destroyed, people screaming, being chased by the Akatsuki members, strange shadows that he knew well yet did not. The same image he was sure Kana saw - if she saw anything at all. He shook his head to keep from being distracted.
Ginta took a deep breath then walked in, acting like an innocent wolf. Wild wolves preyed on dead bodies all the time, so one would be walking in soon, anyways. The ones around here were not afraid of fire because this village trained them not to be. If the villagers ever decided to capture and train a wild wolf, it was easier for it not to be afraid of fire. And they did not mind sharing their dead bodies or meat. Their dead, they do not need them, why not share them? And they share the meat all the time. So Ginta slowly walked in like a curious wild wolf. Xavior was not fooled though. –Sh**.- The Siberian Tiger came charging at him at full speed and pounced on him, sending them both tumbling.
~WHAT ARE DOING?~ Ginta screamed in Xavior's head telepathically.
~SAVING YOUR BUTT!~ Xavior replied.
~Maybe I do not wanna be saved!~
~Just listen to me!~
~No!~
Xavior growled and picked Ginta up by the scruff of his neck, for Xavior was indeed stronger. Ginta snarled and flailed uselessly.
~Let me go!~ Xavior did not reply, so Ginta gave up and let his humility show as he hung limply like a pup being carried by his mother. Xavior smirked. –So blackmail.-
~I heard that.~
~Get out of my thoughts! Prier!~
~Hmph,~ was all Ginta replied. The Siberian Tiger carried the Black Wolf to safety far away from the burning village, away from their family, friends, loved ones, and any way of saving any of them. Finally, Xavior dropped Ginta and walked away.
"Why did you do that?" asked Ginta, speaking aloud.
Xavior did not reply, acting as if he was deaf.
"ANSWER ME!"
Xavior stopped and slowly looked at him with one blue eye. "So you would not be killed. I had to save myself. I managed to save you. You cannot save them all, Ginta. That is just the cold, hard truth." Xavior San-Ryu turned his head again, and padded away, leaving Ginta alone in the dark veil of trees.
As Ginta watched his brother walk away, the only thing he could say or do was whisper, "You have changed, nii-san." (Translation: brother)