This fic takes place right after the anime ends; the time is modern day.

I thought about changing the wolves' names to something more...'normal,' but for ease of reference and for the sake of my and everyone else's sanity I decided to just keep them.

I did, however, change Cher and Hub's names. I don't want to give up the reason just yet.

I don't think it's really necessary to have watched the anime before reading this, and as far as I can tell there will be no plot-specific spoilers.

So, without further ado, I give you my Wolf's Rain fanfic.

Prologue

Although Wolves are said to have been extinct for about 400 years, the legend of their existence has influenced cultures around the world even today. They have left their mark in our fairytales and cultural beliefs; werewolves are one example of this, and one can even assume that the famous children's story, Little Red Riding Hood, was also influenced --

Most ancient texts, writings, and evidence of the Wolf have been lost or destroyed, resulting in our limited knowledge and the fading of this legend into shadows. Any information we have on the Wolf is opaque, at best. A book detailing the legend of the Wolf is rumored to exist, but like the Holy Grail, it has never been recovered. With this book, we may --

It seems that since the beginning of time, man has feared both the legendary Wolf as well as the common wolf to the extent that perhaps the two are destined enemies. Despite this animosity, however, old legends depict the Wolf as the only being who may lead humanity --

"Excuse me, ma'am?" Alex's head snapped up and she gave a startled gasp at the sudden voice. "Oh, Alex. I should have known. Sorry to startle you, but the library is about to close. You almost done here?" The librarian pointed at the clock above the double doors to emphasize his point.

Alex hated her working hours; she never had enough time to delve into her research. Ever since she stumbled onto the legend of the Wolf by accident, she had been consumed by it and spent every spare moment trying to collect any scant information she could find. She wasn't sure why, but she felt it was somehow very important; she could almost feel it calling her name. Her appetite for it was insatiable.

"Actually, Leon, I'm not," she admitted, pivoting in her chair to face him. She smiled sweetly and lightly twisted a lock of blond hair in her delicate fingers. "Do you think I could have just a few more minutes? You know I'm good for it. Besides, you're the one who won't let me check out this book."

Leon gave a tired sigh. "It's the library's rule, not mine; though I'm not sure why for that book. You're the only one who's so much as touched it for God knows how long. They oughta just give it to you."

Alex rested her hands on the back of the chair, then her chin on top. "Please?" she tilted her head to the side, then added, "With sugar on top?"

"What…for the book, or extra time?"

Her smile widened. "Either is fine with me."

He shook is head and ran a hand though his short, dark hair. "Fine. Fifteen minutes. But that's it, Alex. If you're not out of here by then, I sure hope you can sleep well on the floor." he moved to the doorway, then turned back around. "And don't you tell anyone; they're gonna think I'm a pushover."

"Thanks, Leon," she winked at him as he left. "God forbid should they think that," she added to herself. Flipping randomly to another page, she began reading with renewed vigor.

Many people believed that it would take more than manpower to bring these Wolves to extinction, and that they will always exist as long as there are humans. Some have gone so far as to say that wolves are here, in a ceaseless presence, to act as a kind of savior for humankind. Others believe they exist more as a balance between man and nature, like a yin and yang effect.

Historical records show a pattern, and it may be soon that this pattern repeats. If wolves ever make a reappearance it will be within this century…