Summary: The tale of the Black Wolf is told in the all the nations, but while it's a story to scare little kids in the Nations, Zuko still questions the myth. Should it be feared by all?
Disclaimer: I don't own Avatar: The Last Airbender, but I do own the Black Wolf, the merchant, Ki, and the author of the document.
I like pie- Thinking
Special thanks to fourfourfourfour for reviewing!
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After supper I ordered a servant to put some hay as a bed in an unused room for the wolf. No one wanted to be in the same room with it except for Uncle and me. After he did so I did my best to lead the wolf into the room. It was a challenge since it didn't have a name. The wolf kept on following me until I turned my back, then it would shoot off in another direction to go exploring, and when I finally learned to not put my back to it the Black Wolf raced ahead of me and turned down a different corridor. Since it seemed more dog than wolf, I thought a name might be good for it.
I'll have to talk to Uncle about a name tomorrow. Finally I tried to grab it. I suceeded and held it in my arms, only for it to change sizes into a huge wolf. I was nearly crushed, but didn't think much of it. Changing sizes was definetly not in any tale I had heard. The wolf then changed back to a large-dog size and charged down the corridor, disappearing around a corner. I slowly got up and stared at where the wolf had disappeared in amazement.
Then I shook my head and started down the corridor, following the yelps and shouts of shock and terror as servants and soldiers saw the Black Wolf charging past them. When I passed them, they just stared in confusion. Who would want to follow the Black Wolf? I whistled as I ran to hopefully draw the wolf back to me, but it never came. I continued running and whistling and calling for about a half-hour before finally giving up and heading back to the empty room where the wolf's bed was. I opened the door so it could get in when it wanted. I was shocked to see the wolf already laying on the bed staring at me. Its lips were pulled back into a smile.
How did it open the door? I decided not to think about it and just shut the door. Then I walked to my room to catch up on my sleep.
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It was about a half-hour until we would land at Fire Nation Docks, and I was sitting in the dining room, stroking the Black Wolf's head, thinking of names. It was female, so naturally a girl name would fit it. But it didn't look like any girl name. Maybe a boy name? Rex? Fido? Hunter? Lassie? Holly? Killer? I liked killer. Uncle walked in, breaking into my thoughts.
"Are you waiting for us to reach the docks?"He asked.
"Yes, Uncle." I replied. Uncle sat down on the other side of the Black Wolf and started to pet her too.
"Have you thought of a name?" He inquired after a few moments of silence.
"I like Killer."
"It uh... certaintly fits the stories, but how about something nicer? Like Blackberry." The wolf stared at Uncle like he was crazy."Socks?" It growled.
"Killer?" I ventured. The Black Wolf growled in response. "Hunter?" It growled again and looked at the spears on the wall glinting in the light of the torches."Pyro?" A growl.
As we guessed names, the wolf just stared almost thoughtfully at the spears, as if trying to decide something. After we tried about fifty more names, we stopped to think about it's personality more, and less about the stories. Then something happened.
"My name is Deathblow."
"Whoa!" I fell out of my chair and Uncle leaped to his feet with a shout of shock."You can talk!?"
"Yeah, haven't you heard the stories?" The wolf- Deathblow answered.
"Y-yes, but the stories,er... never had proof in them." Uncle replied awkwardly. It was hard to grasp the fact of talking to an animal you didn't think existed two days ago.
Deathblow tilted her head. "Why do you need proof? Shouldn't instincts be enough?" Curiosity burned in me after the initial shock was over, how much truth was in the stories? I decided to indulge the curiousity and ask.
"Uh... well..." Uncle stuttered.
I cut him off and asked, "How do you know the stories? I mean, you are the subject of them."
"My mother used to tell me stories about our race's heroes. She would also tell us about the wolves that made enemies of you fire-controllers, about what happened to them." I though about this for a minute before asking another question.
"So can you inject venom into people?"
"No. Some can, but only those born into royal families. The rest of us can only do the size-shifting thing. If we're lucky, we can gain our own unique power. But that rarely happens."
"If you do gain them, when do they show?"
"Dunno. From what I've heard is that they just sort of happen. No idea how old you have to be."
Uncle stared at us, still shocked. "Why did you attack me then protect me from the Avatar?" I inquired, remembering yesterday's events.
"You're not the Avatar?"
"No. Why?"
"Nothing. Just something about a story I heard."
"What about that shadowbending I've heard in all the stories?"
"What's shadowbending?"
"Like controlling shadows, making them do your bidding."
"Oh! We call it Wodahs Gnitfihs. It's a lost art."
I sat down on the floor facing Deathblow. "Could you tell me a story?"
She looked taken aback. "What would you like to hear?"
"Actually, could you tell me the one about the Avatar? Why were you here yesterday?"
"Well, see your leader is cutting down the forest around the Great Northern Volcano. That's where I live. The whole world knows about the Avatar, about how he protects the world and everything. Since the forest is getting smaller and smaller due to your need for lumber, all young wolves that could survive without thier mothers were forced out of the village. I've always wanted my name put down in history. So after I was driven out I set out to find the Avatar. He'd be able to stop your leader and restore the forest, and it would be the first human-wolf alliance in history.
"I'm able to see aura, and the Avatar's is a blinding blue, so it was easy to track him since it's also powerful. I don't know why, but yours look exactly the same. So yesterday I was confused on who to attack... So you're not the Avatar?"
I noticed Uncle stiffen.
"No."
"You're positive?"
"Yes. I'm pretty sure I'm only a Fire Bender."
"Oh."
The three of us sat in silence. "But I can still help save your kind."
Deathblow's eyes brightened. "How?"
"I'm heir to the Fire Lord's throne, and I could stop the people cutting down the forest. But I need to catch the Avatar first, so I can regain my honor and throne. Can you help me do that?"
"And in return you'll save my family? Yes. I'll gladly help."
We hit land at that moment.
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Tell me if you liked it! I can't promise how consistent my updates will be, with school and all starting. Thanks for reading! All criticism will be taken happily.