A/N: Back to Shane's past now. This is what the main focus is on for this one in particular. The first entry is more of his random thoughts than anything, but it reveals more about his character as a human in the long run. The second entry should be familiar to you all.

Disclaimer: I don't own the characters of Starfox, Nintendo and/or Rare do. Any relation to my original characters in any way is entirely coincidental.

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Chapter 11: Shane's Secret Wolf

It didn't seem as if they'd ever return Shane's diary now. Each time Krystal and Fox stopped, the last entry they read always left them with questions that they wanted answers to. Of course the only way to do it was to keep reading, but Shane didn't write on a normal daily bases. Some entries so far had been separated by months or weeks. It seemed that eventually the writings would stop. After all, the notebook looked no thicker than 200 pages and Fox had already taken a look at the last entry… and it was in the year 1025.

Krystal wasn't too keen on the idea of keeping the diary but she had to admit she wanted to know more about the fox she once loved. It felt like they were getting to know Shane's 'human side' and were beginning to understand him. Of course she also knew that this diary didn't give off all the details of Shane's past. She was only getting small snips of his past. It was like he knew someone would try and read it someday since he didn't always elaborate.

Fox sighed as he overlooked the next entry. All I ever wanted was to be normal… and that's how it began. The next words to follow were isn't that what we all want? Fox didn't know why, but it was disturbing to him since after meeting Shane the only thing Fox could think of then was: What is normal? How do you define 'normal'?

A paw landed on his shoulder and Krystal could tell he was in deep thought. He didn't say anything at the moment but looked to Krystal instead. "You read the next entry."

Krystal took the diary in her paws and took a breath. She started to read once more.

***

March 25, 1019

All I ever wanted was to be normal, isn't that what we all want? I thought Earth would accept me for who I am, but they only seem to know me as "That man that sells fur" now. Ever since I was able to demonstrate my stupidity a month ago and that woman drove it out of me… I'm beginning to think that the town of Earth isn't for me. How can some people be so cruel to other people? We're the same race; are we not?

That woman told me I was stupid! She didn't say it but she most certainly implied it. Then she told me I need to be 'normal' like everyone else and worship Andross. Well… who the hell is Andross? Why worship him? I don't quite understand what makes him so great. All I know is that the woman keeps saying that he saved us all. Do those people even know what Andross LOOKS like?

There was one other disturbing instance that happened to me just a few days ago. This has shown me that I should probably never return to Earth again, since I just can't seem to understand the traditions of the people. It must've been March 17 when it happened. I walked into the village just to give it another go with these people. Suddenly out of the blue these kids rush at me and start pinching me! I'm not usually one to yell or scream at kids but why the hell were they pinching me!?

I knelt down at a kid and asked him why he was pinching me. He laughed at me, not only that but he wouldn't cease. Finally I yelled at the kids to stop tormenting me and before I knew it… he was crying. I didn't mean to make him cry but of course when his parents came running they didn't take it that way. I explained that he was pinching me and wouldn't stop. Then the parents started laughing at me!

"Sir, if you haven't noticed, you're not dressed in green and that is why my son pinched you."

I usually don't care what I wear; I didn't think anyone ever paid attention to that sort of thing unless you just looked like a mess. I didn't know the color I wore to Earth had any meaning at all. "Excuse me?" I had to make sure I heard him right.

"It's St. Patrick's Day! You mean to tell me you didn't know today was St. Patrick's Day?"

I slowly shook my head and I felt a little ashamed that I had no idea what he was talking about. The woman rolled her eyes while the man sighed and shook his head. "Son, we're the hell have you been since the beginning of time? You ALWAYS wear green on St. Patrick's Day!" With that remark they walked off, but not before their son pinched me again. As they walked off I heard the man say "He's not very normal at all is he?" and the wife replied, "Not at all." Then they both laughed.

That was twice I'd made a fool of myself. I wasn't going to ask about any more traditions. Seems like every month has a holiday. January had New Year's and February had Valentines Day. Apparently March had St. Patrick's Day. I don't think I want to stick around and find out what they do in April. If pinching is what they do in March, April must be a nightmare!

I decided that one little incident shouldn't make the entire day a complete loss. There were kids running around that didn't pinch me. Some kids went off and pinched one another. It was utter madness if you ask me.

Putting that aside, I don't think Earth is the place for me. I was going to try and make friends but they all treat me like I'm some sort of alien from another planet.

I have tried to avoid Earth as much as possible since that day. Since I'm not 'normal,' as that woman had said, perhaps it's in my best interest to avoid these people. The world is cruel these days, but I'll make the best of it.

I've still got lots of money and the hunting isn't bad. There are furs in the forest almost everyday. I've got lots of trophies and enough meat to last me for quite some time. I shouldn't ever have to go back to Earth every again.

So what exactly is 'normal' anyway? I always thought I was plenty normal as it was. Those kids running around pinching each other wasn't normal. That was CRAZY! Even if it is a holiday, I'm surprised that no one found that to be even the slightest bit strange.

***

"Fitting in is hard I suppose." Krystal commented when she had finished reading. She could see Fox was still in thought and the last entry struck something in him.

"This probably explains where his dislike of people came from then." Fox said. "What's the next entry say?"

Krystal looked at the next entry and it read the same date. "We're still on the same date… wait, no we're not." Fox raised his head. "He didn't write another entry in this diary for an entire year!"

It was true; the next date was March 25, 1020. "Does it say why it took so long?"

"No, but it certainly has an interesting theme to it." Krystal replied.

"What entry HASN'T had a theme to it?" Fox asked, still a little shaken by the kind of 'person' Shane used to be.

"No, this one talks about a fur he hunted that got away… and there is no name for him." Krystal told him. "Should I read it? I mean… it's been five years and he isn't this way anymore, what harm could come by reading it?"

Fox didn't see any reason why they couldn't go just a little further on. She had a point though; what harm could it do? Fox took the diary from her. This entry he wanted to read strictly for himself.

***

March 25, 1020

Today was quite a day. There was a wolf in the forest today and, believe me, it isn't something you see everyday. What was more interesting was the wolf came to ME! This was going to be a catch… if I had actually caught him.

It started when I was in the middle of a painting in my art room (a painting that was never finished) and suddenly I hear a knocking on my door. My first instinct is to grab my shotgun so I can scare the people off my property. But at least I should see what they want. When I got up to the door I set the gun down at the side. I always carried my hunting dagger with me so that could do some talking too, I suppose.

When I opened the door I expected to see some damn young kid, seven years of age, or someone wanting to sell me something. But I'd never received a visitor before so I was still shocked. Maybe it's that woman from a year ago coming to torment me more. No, she doesn't know where I live.

Anyway, the door was now wide open and there stood a wolf. A WOLF! It was right on my doorstep and he began to speak. He started asking about a place. I didn't exactly hear him. It sounded like he was asking directions to that fur town to the south. But it didn't matter I had already had my gun in hand as he was talking.

I never expected him to be smart. Most furs I shot and killed didn't know what the hell a gun was and I was thinking this guy wouldn't be any different. Well, as you can imagine, he was. He immediately ran and for the first time in a while I had to actually chase a fur. I'd become an experienced hunter now. I far surpass my dad. I fired off a few shots and missed.

He was running away from me pretty fast. He was darting between trees and eventually he was hidden. I could probably find him somewhere around. The forest may be big, but something always gives them away.

Well, he didn't exactly give himself away. He sort of peaked around the tree and I was standing right there. Unfortunately, in my haste to get rid of my guest, I didn't grab any bullets and I ran out of ammo. No bother, the hunting knife would do.

I tackled him to the ground and I was surprised that this fur valued his life so much. How many furries out there value their lives as much as this lupine did? I didn't think I'd see the day where I would be battling a furry. I'd never been in any fights before and this wasn't exactly a fight, it was just a struggle.

In the end he ended up slashing his own eye. I lost my dagger today but that's OK. He knows not to trespass in my woods again. If he ever comes back I'll kill him for sure. And he will be back! I know he'll be back. He was searching for the fur town to the south so he's sure to be in the forest again. It's only a matter of time.

***

"A killer for sport?" Fox said amazed. "Or was he really just looking to survive?"

Krystal didn't say anything. "He didn't plan on showing that wolf any remorse…"

"It says here that he was looking for the fur village to the south. That's obviously Corneria, but the wolf didn't know the way." Fox observed. "Do you think he came from Zoness?"

He folded down the page and closed the diary. "That's one entry I wish I hadn't read." He shivered. "That could've been one of us he was chasing."

"We'd hardly ever ventured into the woods. What would be the chances of us venturing into the woods and getting shot by Shane?" Krystal questioned.

"We're not even a fourth through this thing!" Fox commented. Shane had pretty small handwriting, and it was beautiful handwriting too. "But I don't think I want to read the rest."

"But we should." Krystal said.

"You were the one who said to take it back to him in the first place…and now you don't?"

"This is answering nearly everything we wanted to know about him so far. You asked about his human life and you got your answer. I want to know about the first three years he spent as a fox." Krystal looked down. "The change was slow, but worth it. Maybe he even talks about the time he had with us."

"Maybe…" Fox sighed. "Maybe."

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A/N: Things are slowly coming together about Shane's past, yes? There's still more to come. Please, R+R!