Land of Beasts

Beyblade and all related characters are © to Takao Aoki, all unrecognizable characters and this plot belong to me.

Chapter 6: Kai

(mind you, this chapter is what happened to Kai while he was away from Rei- so it's a year in the past and at the end it should be caught up to the time we were in, in the previous chapter)

Dawn stroked its fingers across the refreshed forest. Dew lay like a blanket over the green grass. Water dripped from the leaves in the trees and pooled in the small holes of the roots of great wood giants. Springs and streams surged with new life and rivers had fattened on a hearty meal. Some trees lay on the ground now, beginning to rot away after being knocked down from the winds of the storm.

In the midst of the woods lay a large bulk of white fur, one of the last remaining beasts of the world. His fur was damp with rainwater, his wings of ice and the ice around his neck and paws had grown tremendously after drinking in the life force from the rain.

And against his side, curled against the fur, was a 'small', scrawny, shivering human. The wolf was curled around the boy as best he could without hurting him, his muzzle lying near the boy's body. The human had slept fitfully through the night, struggling with a fever and sickness from dehydration and starvation. The wolf knew he needed to be nourished soon.

"Wake up, Brave Warrior," he whispered kindly.

The human recognized the name from somewhere in his sub-consciousness and slowly his dim, glossy mahogany eyes opened.

"Wh-where am… I?" he asked weakly, not taking in much of his surroundings.

"You are in the morning of a new day. The sun is young in the sky and the forest is reborn once more. Get up and I will go hunt you some food and take you to drink from a stream," Wolborg replied calmly.

It was only then that the events of last night came back to Kai. With a started he tried to push himself away from the wolf, though to weak to run very far, and looked around desperately for anything to aid him should the wolf attack again. But Wolborg didn't. Kai was still in too fevered a mind to really do much but obey, and he would never fight off an attack- from anything- let alone a beast.

"Fear not, Brave Warrior. I have no intention to harm you. Last night I was testing you, and playing a cover-up for my actions. For there were beasts about, in the storm, the sky, the forest and the ground beneath us. They would have learned that I aid the Rebellion and would kill me, and then you would stand no chance against them and would die," Wolborg explained.

Kai nodded quietly. All he wanted was to curl up and sleep… just sleep for an eternity….

Wolborg got to his paws, stretched out, and then lowered his head beside Kai for the human to climb on. Kai feverishly obeyed and the wolf took off at a light trot, Kai sitting in the mane of fur in the back of his neck, just in front of the ring of icicles around Wolborg's throat.

The wolf plodded through the woods, stopping occasionally to sniff the moist ground and the air. Kai realized how empty he felt… no food… no water… Why wouldn't Wolborg just let him sleep? His fur was so soft and warm… just to close his eyes for a few minutes….

"Don't! If you give in now, I will not be able to save you, Warrior. Stay awake, it will not be much longer before we reach the stream," Wolborg commanded harshly.

Kai was jolted out of his relaxing mind and blinked a few times to try and clear his vision, then nodded quietly. Wolborg finally stopped and lowered himself to the ground. Kai slid off; half fell, and leaned against the wolf for a brief moment before making his way over and kneeling by the stream. He hesitantly reached his shaking fingers into the water, and, not feeling much seeing as his hands had gone numb long ago, he cupped up lots of water and drank greedily.

Once he had had his fill, he could see and think a bit clearer, but now he was more aware than ever of the pain in his body and the growling rumble of his stomach. Kai also felt clammy and cursed inwardly for getting sick, now, of all times!

Wolborg allowed the boy to climb up onto his neck again and then he sprang off at a faster pace, Kai clutching onto the white fur to keep from falling. Finally Wolborg stopped and crouched down.

"Stay down and low, Warrior. Watch me hunt so you will be able to hunt for yourself in the future," Wolborg whispered calmly. Kai nodded and peered through the bushes.

Up ahead…

There was nothing.

Kai looked to Wolborg confusedly, but the wolf nodded once again to the clearing.

"Look for their shape, not color."

Kai narrowed his eyes, and suddenly he was aware of a whole herd of deer-like beasts before him. Their thick fur was a blend from brown to green, matching perfectly with the surrounding flora. The bucks all had large, large antlers that would make any deer on earth jealous and any hunter second-guess any thought of hunting the beasts. Their hooves looked strong and thick, defiantly fatal if kicked by one. The does looked basically the same, but with no antlers and their overall size was noticeably smaller.

Wolborg was advancing around the herd, going more downwind, in a slow crawl through the trees. Kai was amazed at how such a large wolf could just disappear and slip around. No wonder he had been caught off guard that night.

Wait…

Wolborg meant for him to eat one of those huge deer? Was it even possible for any normal human to consume so much? But then again, the large wolf would probably also share the meal, and so he would eat most of the deer. Only take what you need…

Suddenly, the wolf erupted from the woods in all his glory. Fangs barred and snarling, claws out and scything at the doe before him. The whole herd bolted. Wolborg landed on the back of the doe, digging his ice-cold fangs into her neck like a lion would on its own prey. She bellowed in pain and turned her head to try and spit at Wolborg, but instead the spit flew at Kai.

Instinctively the Russian ducked out of the way, and when he sat up, he beheld something frightening indeed.

Despite the small size of the female 'deer' and their seeming lack of defense against predators… their spit was poison. The leaves Kai had been peering through were almost completely burned away. He shuddered, realizing that had he not ducked… Kai shook his head, not wanting to think about it, and looked up as he heard the deer bellow one last time.

Wolborg had kept a firm hold on the back of its neck until now, and he had just torn the jugular with his sharp fangs. The wolf let out a triumphant howl. Kai slowly crept form his hiding place and jumped slightly when Wolborg turned to him.

"Now, make a fire. You must cook the meat before you eat it."

Kai nodded obediently, looking around. He managed to find some dry branches, though they probably wouldn't burn all that well. He put them in a pile near the carcass and went to work trying to use two sticks to light the fire. It was difficult, and he had done it with Dranzer before, but with one person Kai almost was unable to get the wood to light.

He was taking his time, shuddering as he took pieces of meat from the deer and stabbed them onto sticks like a shish-ka-bob(1).

"What were those?" Kai finally asked, looking towards the deer.

"Ah, sadly they have no name that your tongue can pronounce. They are usually just referred to as prey, here. Or stags and hinds. But there is no real name for them," Wolborg nodded, eyeing the bloody meat hungrily.

"And the… 'hinds' can spit poison? Since when did deer spit poison?" Kai questioned, turning the stick as he spoke to allow the meat to cook on both sides.

"You forget, young one, that these are not 'deer' as you know them. This is the dieing realm of the beast. Not Earth. But yes, the doe eat a special type of plant that, mixed with a few other plants, creates a very strong poison in their second stomach, where they hold it until it is needed to release. Then they spit it at the attacker as you saw there." Wolborg hovered over the dead body, and then sighed slightly as Kai asked another question.

"And so you expect me to kill one of them?"

"Yes. The best way is to attack where they cannot reach you. Their only vulnerable spot is right at the base of their necks, in the back, for both sexes. If you can cause a deep injury there, they will die almost instantly, or within a day or two. You might need to track them sometimes." Kai opened his mouth to speak, but Wolborg already had his fangs in the carcass and was eating happily.

With a start, Kai realized the meat was burning and quickly blew it out. He sighed semi-contently, eager to take a bite. He swallowed the first few strips without realizing, and then was able to slow a bit nearer to the end.

Wolborg, finally done with the meat, was ling nearby and licking his paws like a large kitten. Kai finally looked at the wolf, properly, and was glad he had such a powerful… friend? Wolborg had saved his life after all, and was teaching him the ways of this land. But no, Wolborg was a mentor, not a … friend.

"So what now?" Kai asked.

Wolborg yawned lazily, "Now. We sleep. I have a full belly and the sun is warm on my fur. You are free to explore, but I do not advise it. The forest is full of enemies."

Kai nodded quietly. He finally kicked out the fire, then crawled over to Wolborg and curled up in the warm fur.

"Ah! Dammit! It hurts!" Kai cried.

"I know it does! But if you had only sprang when I told you so, you wouldn't be in pain and we could be eating right now!" Wolborg snarled angrily.

Kai had been learning to hunt again. He had grown careless from Wolborg always getting a kill, thinking it would be easy and had sprang from their hiding place before Wolborg has said it was the right time. Kai was now paying for it, after getting his hand spat on by a doe. Wolborg had quickly come and was freezing the burning wound, but now Kai would have an ugly reminder not to be careless.

Finally, Kai had been able to hold back his whimpering(2) and the acid was not spreading anymore. Wolborg sighed in annoyment and lay down on the forest floor.

"You were foolish and reckless, Kai. Had you been alone, you would still be screaming in pain and be forced to cut your hand off, had you wanted to survive."

Kai winced visibly from Wolborg's words. The wolf only used his name when he was deathly serious. And the wolf was fuming with anger. Kai held his burned hand, it had been burned to the bone, but the acid had also seared it closed so now it looked eerie, frightening like something out of a horror movie, and reminded Kai of Star Wars…

He hung his head low, finding his feet and the ground around them suddenly very intriguing.

Biting his lip slightly, Kai swallowed his pride and then muttered quietly, "I'm sorry…"

The wolf sighed, though not angry anymore, "Now, we have to have your hand covered up. It is now a weak point- seeing as the bone won't be protected now by the skin."

Kai shuddered and looked down at his hand. He nodded quietly and sat down facing Wolborg.

"Use some of the leather from that hide you're drying. It should be ready by now," Wolborg said. Kai looked up and nodded quietly.

"I'll go now."

"DO you know the way," Wolborg asked.

"Yes." Wolborg nodded at this and so Kai, taking his new spear, took off in the direction of 'home'.

Making his way through the woods had become easier. Kai had learned from Wolborg, how to slip and slide through the undergrowth at a breakneck pace without making much sound. He was still learning, and so slipped on a few raised roots and some soft, decayed leaves, but almost no hassle.

He arrived at the tree, hollowed out halfway up, and quickly leapt up the smaller branches before slipping in through the hole in the trunk. Inside there wasn't much, a small bundle of twigs for a fire to keep the depression warm. There was a bundle of furs to one side, his bed, and a small storage of meat. Kai took the water container, a small wooden bowl, from near the meat and had a sip to quench his thirst before grabbing a handmade knife of flint, and sliding back down the tree.

He approached the tanning hide carelessly, and took it from over the fire. Kai shuddered slightly as he caught a glimpse of his hand, the back of it nearly burned off. Wolborg had completely frozen his hand, so there was no pain… right now at least. He'd have to find one of the plants he had been shown by the wolf to relieve some pain later on.

Kai measured the thickness and then cut a strip from the hide. He put the hide back over the fire to dry and then went to the stream nearby and washed the strip of cloth. The water felt extremely strange on his burned hand, and it was almost an almost nauseating feeling. He washed off the blood and herbs had had put on the hide to make it into leather and then any other bacteria that might have formed over the skin. Once he was satisfied, he wrapped it around his hand so that it covered the burn, but did not hinder his usage of his right hand.

"Feeling better, is it?" came a growl from behind him. Kai turned around and nodded.

Wolborg sniffed the drying leather over the fire and nodded contently. A slight breeze blew past and suddenly the wolf lifted his head. His features broke into a broad smile and he howled loudly. Kai jumped at the sound, not having the wolf howl before.

"Ah! Winter finally comes, Brave Warrior. You will need to stock up on meat before it snows, or you will face hungry days indeed," Wolborg cried, more happily than he should've in saying those words, but pleased that his season was coming to the woods.

Kai nodded slowly, not too excited about winter. Would it snow? And if it did- how deep? Would Wolborg leave when spring came? Who would be around if Wolborg left- Kai had no one else-

Rei…

Kai had completely forgotten the neko-jin recently. His body trembled as he realized Rei must be dead. There was no way the younger boy could've ever survived on his own- without someone to help him no less. How long had they been separated… almost a year? It seemed too much. With thoughts of Rei came back the familiar pang in his gut, the need to go 'home'. To earth. Where he had friends… yes… where he had friends. Kai realized how much he now appreciated companionship and… friendship.

And then suddenly, it came. Kai couldn't control himself. Tears welled up in his eyes.

Crying? I never cry- I can't cry! Gods, who am I kidding? I was terrible to Rei, and now he's dead! I'll never get to apologize to Tyson, Max, Kenny, Hilary- everyone! I'll never be able to say sorry for what I've done and said to them! I can't believe what a jerk I've been! Why didn't I appreciate them before? And now… I'm all alone… I always wanted to be alone, but never was able too. And now that I have my wish, I don't want it! I don't want to be alone!

Kai suddenly felt a comforting muzzle on his shoulder. He unconsciously leaned into Wolborg for support. The wolf vaguely understood the emotional stress Kai was feeling, and he wasn't going to let the boy think he was all alone.

"Come. We shall hunt after you rest, Brave Warrior," Wolborg whispered quietly.

Kai nodded, smiling slightly at his nickname.

They didn't get a chance to go hunting. When Kai had woken up, the wolf had commanded him to take one last walk outside, and then got back in. There were heavy clouds in the sky, nearly bursting with snow and sleet.

It wasn't long before the blizzard hit, and Kai nearly froze to death the first day. He had no covering for the opening to the little hole in the tree he called home. Cold winds and snow flew in freely. Wolborg quickly took care of this and froze the leather they had been making over the door, letting a small bit hang off freely to allow air passage.

The three days were not very enjoyable. There was nothing to do. Kai was not able to communicate with Wolborg over all three days, but he knew the wolf was still watching over him. He had a chance to think over many things. And his hand finally started to burn and ache. Kai hadn't had a chance to get any 'pain-killers' for the burn, which was sealed over with a small layer of skin that had grown back over the bone, but the initial outline of the bone was still there.

The Russian ached to go outside, to run, and to not be so confined. He slept a lot, or just lay on his pile of furs. There was nothing else to do. For some time Kai began carving various lines, sometimes trying his hand at images, but just doing something gave him a slight sense of tranquility.

Finally, Kai woke up not knowing whether it was day or night, to Wolborg calling his name.

"Are you still alive, Brave Warrior? Or did that little chill freeze your hide?" the wolf called playfully.

Kai smirked and pushed the stiff leather open. He was shocked to see a thick layer of snow all along the ground. He was positive it would come up to his thighs, or waist at the highest. It curled around Wolborg's paws coldly, but didn't seem to bother the white wolf.

"Come, now, let's go hunting and surprise some prey!" Wolborg cried playfully, tail wagging.

Kai shivered, and then leapt down. The snow was as deep as he had thought, but it still surprised him. More than ever he was grateful for Wolborg rescuing him from death. The wolf took off at a breakneck, energetic run. As he ran, Kai was checking himself over, noting where some winter improvements would be needed on his attire. Sadly, he also noticed that his scarves were torn up. Kai ripped a shred off the end that could catch on something easily, and with a huff of annoyance, let the wind take it. It took route out of the forest and into the nearby ravine. Wolborg had cautioned Kai not to go near there, rock falls were too common and the ground was slopped and unsteady to tread on. It was not a very safe habitat. Nothing, especially a human, could survive there.

They found a herd of 'deer' and Wolborg chased them with a playful passion. The wolf was joyous to be leaping about in the snow and cold, and quickly overtook a deer. Kai wasn't very hungry, and so waited patiently as Wolborg ate his fill of the meat.

Having friends wasn't so bad after all, Kai decided as he watched Wolborg.

I just wish I knew that earlier…

I'm sorry, Rei…

Shish-ka-bobs… food on a stick

(2) Kai was whimpering… he's becoming more 'human' and besides that… he basically just got his hand burned off by acid o.0

An Update! Let's all rejoice! HUZZAH! So… wow, I never realized that the beginning was that long. I know it seems kind'a crammed up, but go with me, cause this and the previous chapter are important to Kai and Rei's character development in this fiction. Their reunion should be soon! Hooray!

R&R please and thank you!

Demenior