Here's a little oneshot that I wanted to submit, but I couldn't really find a category that it would fit in...I know, I kinda copied Wolf's Rain with the name Kibu. So sue me. Actually, don't sue me. That would be very nice if you didn't sue me. Thank you.

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A black nose disturbed the pure white snow as it sniffed for something of interest. Finding nothing, the black nose withdrew. Kibu growled in frustration. He was starving. In this forest, all he could find was small prey or no prey at all. His gray pelt was matted and flecked with falling snow, ribs poked out from his flank, and his paw pads were freezing. Kibu closed his eyes in despair, shivering with cold. It was getting dark, and he would have to find somewhere to stay for the night. He padded on bravely.

Suddenly a flash of orange fur caught his eye. He spun around. He caught a whiff of fox, and saw a white tipped tail disappear among the trees. The young wolf did not hesitate. He tore after his new prey. Dodging trees, ducking low branches, leaping over fallen logs, skirting bramble thickets, he never lost sight of that fox’s tail.

A huge mound of rocks appeared into view. The fox leaped from rock to rock expertly, and Kibu followed. Then the fox disappeared over the other side of the rocks. Kibu leaped after it, his powerful legs in full power as excitement pulsed through him. As he leaped over to where the fox had gone, the small gorge in between the two piles of rocks caught his attention. Thinking quickly, he made it to the other side, then immediately jumped down into the gorge. He landed, snow spraying everywhere to announce his entrance. The fox was calmly sitting right in front of him.

Predator and prey locked eyes. Kibu snarled, “What are you waiting for, fox? Don’t you want to run away? I only followed you here to eat you, you know!” The fox stared calmly. It seemed to smile, as if to say “Oh really? I didn’t know.” Patience running short, Kibu wondered why he was even talking to the fox. It was an easy meal, sitting right in front of him! Still, something held him back. The fox opened its mouth and spoke, “You wanted to eat me? I’d like to see you try.” Kibu’s patience snapped. He lunged forward, teeth bared, paws outreached, claws unsheathed. The fox blurred before his very eyes, and was gone. Caught off guard, Kibu made a hasty landing, his paws scrabbling for balance.

“You underestimated me, wolf.” Kibu spun around. His yellow eyes flickered in surprise as he looked up to see the fox on top of the other side of rocks that Kibu had jumped down from. The fox towered over him, his voice a commanding bark, “My name is Lightning. They call me Light for short, though.” He tipped his head and gave a friendly grin. “What’s your name?” Kibu could hardly believe his ears. This fox, who should be afraid of him, was introducing itself! And now it was asking for his name! “Why do you want to know?” Kibu growled. The fox shrugged. “I’ve never met a wolf before. I’ve heard stories of them, though. They live in packs and eat huge prey, including us foxes!” He held his grin. “You guys interest me. I’ve always wanted to make friends with a wolf.”

Kibu gaped at it. Friends!How in the world could a wolf and fox be friends? He broke out of his trance and stated flatly, “I don’t need a friend. I’ve never…had any friends…and I can fare well enough on my own.” Lightning still wore his grin. “You never know you needed a friend until you get one. If you could fare well enough on your own…why are you starving?” “Well, I’m not dead yet, am I?” Kibu retorted. Lightning’s grin got even bigger, and Kibu wondered how he held it so long. “You have a strong will, wolf. That impresses me. I will ask again, what is your name? I would really like to know.” Kibu knew that the fox wouldn’t leave him alone until he told it his name, so he replied, “My name is Kibu. I am a loner wolf, for I have no pack. Now…leave me alone, fox!” Lightning’s grin faded. “The name’s Lightning, and don’t forget it! Don’t call me fox!” Kibu’s legs trembled in rage. How dare this lower creature…ask for respect! He could eat it right now! In fact, He decided, that’s exactly what I’ll do.

“You called me wolf! Don’t tell me to not do something when you won’t stop doing it yourself!” Kibu’s growl was low and warning. Lightning stared levelly at Kibu. “Now that we’ve shared our feelings with each other, I’m sure we can compromise.” It spoke thoughtfully. “If you stop calling me fox, I’ll stop calling you wol-“ Kibu lunged. His body in full attack mode, he pinned down the oblivious Lightning. “I’ll call you fox as I like, and you call me Kibu! Got that?” Kibu snarled in the terrified fox’s face. “Not that you’ll get the chance…” He bent his head to finish it.

Kibu knew that he shouldn’t be so hesitant to kill this fox. But he bent his head slowly, teeth bared, ready to sink them into Lightning’s throat. He justified his actions with himself, thinking that his hesitation was due to the fact that he wanted to scare Lightning out of his wits before he ate him. But he knew the truth, and was ashamed.

He had taken a liking to the brave fox.

Then Lightning’s fear scent faded away. It relaxed, and breathed a sigh of relief, even though Kibu was still in the position to end it all. “You would never kill me, would you, Kibu?” The fox’s voice sounded so sure of what it was saying. “You wouldn’t kill me…because we’re friends, right?”

Kibu stopped snarling. He lifted his head back up from Lightning’s throat. His pure yellow eyes glittered with a sudden sadness. Then he got off off of Lightning. The fox regained its composure and stood up. “Thank you, Kibu,” it murmured. “Kibu…you are truly my friend.” Kibu averted its gaze. “I suppose.” He muttered. Lightning lifted his head. “You said you were a loner wolf…that means you must be traveling, since I’ve never seen a wolf around here before. Did…did you come from a pack, or were your mother and father loners too?” Kibu took a while to reply. He stared at the ground and pawed at the snow. Finally he began his tale.

“My mother and father…they were part of a pack. I had been born into the pack, and I was a normal cub. As I grew, I became more aware of the problems that haunted the higher ranks of us. The leader…his name was Greeto. He was a strong leader, in his prime, and he…he was harsh and…and…” Kibu pawed the snow with each ‘and’. Lightning could tell Kibu was having trouble telling the story due to the bad memories. “Go on,” He said encouragingly. Kibu looked at the fox, seemed to relax, and nodded. “…and he was cruel. Terribly cruel. He took out young wolfs for training, since it was the leader’s job to do so…I was among them. For battle training, he would display a move, and we would have to perfectly copy it. If we didn’t…he would beat us.” Kibu closed his eyes and shook his head vigorously, as if to rid the horrible memories from his mind.

“Many were wounded very badly…some were crippled for life…and some…died.” Lightning’s eyes shone sympathetically, and nodded for him to go on. “I…I had a friend back then. His name was Lyhu. He was copying a battle move, and…he slipped on a patch of mud, which was from the rain the evening before. Greeto…he saw. He beat Lyhu until…” Kibu looked down and snow began to melt as his tears fell. After a few moments, he looked up with a stern, toughened face and said roughly, “He died. There was nothing I could do to stop him. Every time I tried to make him stop…he pushed me aside and threatened me that he would get me later. When we returned to camp that evening…he followed out with his threats. Greeto…in spite of my young age…he sent me into exile.” Kibu choked on the last few words. “Either that, or he’d kill me too….so I ran. I ran away from there, just as Greeto had ordered me to. I can’t believe I obeyed that command…I should have stayed and fought with Greeto until I died…at least I would have avenged Lyhu’s death, even though I wouldn’t have killed Greeto.”

Lightning shook its head. “No, Kibu. Revenge isn’t worth it. Even though Lyhu died, I’m sure he wouldn’t have been pleased if you would have given your life to get revenge. Life is too precious to waste like that. I’ve heard wolves don’t think much of their own lives. Kibu, there is a reason why you lived. There is a reason why Greeto decided to exile you instead of kill you on the spot. There is a reason why you came to this forest. There is a reason why-“

“…I met you?” Kibu finished Lightning’s sentence for him. The fox looked up in surprise. Then, for the first time in his life, Kibu grinned. “You’re my friend, Lightning. Nothing is better on earth than a friend.” Lightning’s startled face broke into a grin. “I always knew wolves were special,” he murmured. He looked up to Kibu. “Best friends,” he said, and extended his paw. Kibu extended his paw beside Lightning’s. “Best friends.” Kibu echoed.

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Okay, the ending was kinda sappy. It was 'cause I had to finish it real quick...-_-