Life As A Fox

Chapter 51

NSW-The Forsaken Author of the Lost Story (see my bio for explanation)

So like I said I have two weeks before I am off to collage I hope I can get as much done, please excuse if I end up totally killing the chapters with grammar, (my beta as well is going off to college) But I will try and make sure not to give you utter trash, and if it is I apologize once more, and will probably fix it.

The training of Dirtsnout was rather simple at first. First he just took her on run's building up her stamina, he hunted for her and she joined him though she was never successful at first. But after almost two weeks, she finally managed to capture her own prey. She had ran herself ragged, crashed into a thorn thicket, tripped over rocks, got tangled in roots, but she kept upon her prey, and ended up victorious.

She had to rest, and pull thorn's out of her fur before she could enjoy the rabbit. Snowfur then moved on to teaching her how to jump and turn on a dime, spinning her body so that she could avoid such confrontations in the future. Her body at first protested to such vigorous workout's, but it soon filled out with supple firm muscles, although she would never be the strong commandeering warrior, she would be the type that fights...to run away.

Her long-leggedness was at first quite awkward for her, but after training she found use for her legs, they could run and keep up with even the fastest of deer. (If she had enough strength and stamina, she could even wear a deer down) Naruto was slow at introducing chakra, he at first avoided the subject entirely, he wanted her to know normal wolf things before going into the advance stages of demon wolves.

He also was slowly introducing new words to her, teaching her to speak, he mostly did this by just talking to her like any normal person. She knew that he was not a normal wolf, she did not quite understand what this term 'demon' meant but she was always shocked with what he could manage to do. Climb trees, walk on water, split a leaf with invisible claws.

He formed a strange glowing barrier around himself he called it his 'armor' a word she had never heard before. It was all confusing for her at first, training both her body and mind to all these new strange things. She was afraid at what she found out she could do, she was also afraid at what Snowfur could do, and at other times she was afraid at what the pack might do if they saw them.

But they had kept their meeting's secret. It mostly thanks to the reason that the alpha's were too busy training their own pups. At times she felt like a pup herself, she would always keep making mistakes and messing up, Snowfur would have to keep showing her and adjusting what she did, but he never got angry, he seemed to enjoy teaching others.

She noted that he got this shine in his eyes when he was teaching, he became a whole other wolf, he moved with such energy, like he couldn't contain it all and it was leaking from him. She liked that he never got angry with her, he never raised his voice and he never EVER snapped at her or pushed her aside. He respected her and held her with some reverence.

This was the thing that shocked her most then all others, all her life she had been pushed aside and pressed into the dirt, forced to always bow and show submission, she was taught that she was different and the punishment she got was what she deserved and that she should be thank-full for it, because it was either that or death. But he taught her differently, he taught her that no matter what position you were born into, what role you play in the pack you deserve to be respected and cared for, you deserve to be treated worthwhile.

It was these things that made her confused, the clashing ways, his training and teaching compared to the tradition of the pack that she had grown up with. Something inside her told her this was wrong, she should not be doing this, that she was an omega and that she should not try and rise above her place. But with everyday that voice inside her became smaller and smaller, as if it was being washed away by the spring floods.

She had captured a rabbit on her own, a healthy one (somewhat on the small side but she didn't care) Also this time she did not trip...(however she did get caught in a burr thicket and was now chewing said plant forms out of her fur...which was not an easy task.) Snowfur was laying in the sun warming himself on a rock.

She finally asked the question "where do you come from, how you know...so much?" He looked over to her "I come from far away, and I know so much because I have been trained in these ways my entire life." She shook her head "I don't know how you could, so much to learn...why, what use is walking up trees...or walking across, water...what made you decide to learn?"

He shrugged "my...alpha taught me these things, all of my alpha's did" She looked at him pulling a burr out of her chest as she did "you had more then one?" He nodded "several...I...in...my home..." he grew silent after the mention and grew sad, lost in thoughts. "Home...is gone?" she asked him he shook his head "no...home is...there still...just away from my grasp."

There he was using those strange words again, speaking in such a higher way, and yet she liked it, she liked the way he spoke, talked, he seemed to form images in her mind with his words, wolves only spoke in simple ways, enough so you understood what needed to be. But Snowfur, he gave you more, he didn't just say a rabbit was over there, he described the rabbit, and how far away, he just...expressed himself in such peculiar ways.

She spoke "if home is still there...why not go? why stay? why not go back to your pack" He twinged when she said that, she stopped. He looked away so sad, she swollowed "your pack?..gone?" He turned to her a tear falling "yes" was all he said. She was silent, it must have been hard for him. To lose your family, a terrible thing.

She continued "you could not bear to be home...memory of pack...too strong?" He turned to her and nodded "I...their leader, three...young pups..just starting." She felt a sudden sadness for him, he was an alpha once, (which explained why he had that strong aura of soundness about him) an alpha who lost his pack, she could well imagine the pain, leading those who trusted him, and loved him...then losing them.

She wondered did they die? Where they overcome with sickness? Did they leave him? she wanted to ask these things but was unsure if it would hurt him, however her curiosity broke though "if it hurts too much not, speak of what happened...you tell?" He turned to her silently then after a few long moments he spoke "I led them into...battle, against another...pack, they fell...and I survived."

He looked away his head downcast, "you feel terible pain, you feel you should have fallen with them?" she then said. He nodded "understandable it is" she said looking away. "But I think you better then most, some alpha's only care for glory of pack and lead, they care not if one or two fall, as long as he has pack behind him he strong, but you, you mourn for pack still...this make you strong wolf, caring, me find that very good in you."

He nodded "your right, thank-you...I hurt still, but I feel that being out...in wild, has clensed me of some of that pain, lessened it, I know that there is more for me..I just don't know what and reason why." She cocked her head "wild...what is that?" He looked at her slightly embarressed "er., well...it is here, the woods, the tree's, where humans are not."

She stared at him "what is human?" Snowfur took a breath "two-leggers, they call themselves humans" She stared at him, this was a new word, it was interesting she rolled it off of her tongue. "How you know about such things?" she asked turning to him. He looked to the ground. He spoke fianlly "I once live with them."

She leaped to her feet, it was terrible, a wolf does not submit himself to the two-leggers! How could a wolf run with humans after what humans do to them? Killing and hunting, burning their dens and clubbing their pups. Destroying them not for food, but for enjoyment, those terrible beasts, and he...why! He watched her back away as if knowing she would act this way.

She wanted to run away and tell Blackpelt of this, she wanted to also run away and bathe, wash the presense of him from her. But she didn't something small told her to stay and listen a bit more. "w...why you run...with such...creatures" He spoke "They saved my life" he said flatly. She paused she had never heard of a wolf being saved by a human.

He continued on "I was alone when I was a pup, no mom and no dad, I wandered about not knowing where to go or who I was...a human found me and took me in, he didn't care that I sometimes made a mess, or got him in trouble, he would punish me yes, like any alpha would do, but then after he would tell me how proud of me he was, that I was so brave and stood up to so much bullying."

She stepped forward "why you bullied?" He swung his head to her "you wolves are not the only once with misconceptions" She went blank for a second, not knowing what such a large word meant. He paused "you wolves...are not the only ones...to assume that the other species...is bad, humans are told that you are baby eaters, and kill men for fun."

She rose growling her teeth bared "we do no such thing! it is the humans that do such things! Never have I hunted for a human, I run from them, I hope they never see me! I have never wanted to eat their pups nor will I ever! No wolf in this pack or any pack we have run into has ever lay a claw on a human, but the humans have taken many of our number in return!

He smiled softly "why you smile? what amuzes you?" she snapped at him "it is nothing, it is just nice to see you so fired up, to see that inner fire inside of you burning, you are so..." She stared at him blushing slightly "what?" she asked he turned away blushing "oh, it's just...I was going to say...you look like you are glowing, why do you not be this way all the time? Never would you be pushed around, not with that fire crackling inside you."

He said smiling at her, his eyes glowing. She smiled softly, her face had learned to do this expression without even thinking. She turned away as well "thank-you, but you are wrong, if I show such defiance, I would be beaten until I learned my submission once more." Snowfur growled it surprised her. "It is wrong for they to do that to you, if they did...I...I would fight them and get you out of here, I don't..."

He was silent as he stared at her "I don't want to see anything like that happen to you, it hurts me even now to see what they do you, I have to control myself from not growling and ripping the pelt off of some of the other pack members." She blushed harder "you should not worry for me, I am a omega, you are a hunter."

He stepped up to her, his eyes burning into her's "what have I been teaching you? no matter who you are, or what you where born into, everyone should be treated with respect, and anyone can be whatever they want to be." Her heart skipped a beat at the thought, to be able to hunt alongside her packmates...no to be able to hunt alongside Snowfur on a real hunt...to take a large animal down, the thrill it would be.

To be able to eat all she wanted of a meal and not wait for scraps..to howl, oh how she longed to howl, her voice ached. She got to howl only once in a great while, and even then she was cut breif, her howl apperently was deformed and strange like her muzzle and legs. She looked to Snowfur, "I would fight for such chances, to hunt real prey, to howl in excitement after a hunt, to be able to eat my fill, but such things are...dreams...never to happen."

He smiled to her and leaned closer "the reason for dreams...is to show what we can aspire to be, if we only try hard enough and believe we can." She shivered "and what is it you dream?" she asked he stepped back and looked away "to return to my home, welcomed once more, and to ask forgivness, to those I hurt with words."

She glanced at him "you hurt your humans...with words...you can speak to humans?!" she yelped in surprise. He nodded "remember I am no wolf, and neither are you, we are demons, our powers are many." She stood their stunned "you would return...to them...when?" He looked to her "when I know you are ready to be on your own...to be able to live without ever having to grovel in the dirt ever again."

She sighed "I long for this as well...but I do not want to live life alone...alone I can never be, companionship is must for me, I was alone once, when I was a pup, die I did almost...I need someone to be with me, for me to survive." Snowfur nodded "it is understandable, but please try to understand me...I know you hate the humans, but I know they are good, they have shown me that, they are...my...my.." he trailed off.

She glanced to him he stared at the ground wide-eyed. Then he shook his head "how could I be...so stupid...I pushed them away...when they were...all of them were..not just them three...yet I still did not see...Gomeg was right...I am a fool,...the biggest...I hope...I hope they have not forgot me...but they should...after what I said."

He mumbled on to himself, She sat there unknowing of what to do, wanting to break him out of his strange trance, but also wanting to know more. He continued on "They would be angry with me, they already were before...and the punishment...I would receive for leaving...what can I do? I am stuck...I want to go back but can't for fear that if I do...they wouldn't accept me..."

He slowly laid down. She sighed and nudged him, she had enough of this. She turned to him "take what you have said to your own self, remember pack members may leave or get lost, but when they come back, welcome always will they be, as long as they remember who they are to pack, what pack is to them."

He looked up to her and smiled her heart for the first time fluttered just because of a look. "Where would I be, if not for you?" he said softly, "gone away I would have been after what happened to us, I would have gladly left, and been tormented for rest of days not knowing, but thanks to you...I have hope." He stood up "but I will stick to my promise, until you trained, then leave I will."

He then turned to leave. "Wait" she said he turned to her, "you have done so much and continue to do so much, I wish to thank-you, word thank-you not enough to please me...so" she shook as she leaned forward and gently licked his cheek. Then she dashed away amazed she had built up the courage to do such a thing, it was unheard of for an omega to do such a thing to a hunter.

Naruto stood there dumbstruck, a heated blush growing on his face, the place she had licked burned ever hotter, he felt a fluttery feeling in his stomach, he even felt giddy, he trotted away, feeling as if he was walking on air. She had licked him! She had licked him!...wait...what did that mean? What was a lick to wolves? A hug...a kiss?...Wait! wait! Why did he care if it was a hug or a kiss? She was just a friend right? A fellow demon like him...like Gomeg, a friend that was it...right?

This wheeled about in his head well into the night, in the middle of the night he could find no sleep, he looked towards her. He was met with those stunning green emeralds in the dark of the night. He turned away quickly hoping she hadn't saw him looking at her. He kept his head turned and glanced sideways. She did a quick double take of him.

He smiled, her antics were so...enduring. He looked away from her embarrassed a blush coming to his face. He had to stop his tail from wagging by sitting upon it. He cursed himself in his head 'what is happening to me! it was just a lick! she was just saying thank-you! get a hold of yourself Naruto she's just a...kind, caring, wolf who had a powerful will of fire burning inside her... she's just not confident to let the others see it. He sighed 'why couldn't they see it? That strong fire in her? Burning so, bright...and beautiful, why did they only see her muzzle and legs? did they not see her eyes?

His heart softened at the thought, he had the urge to look over again and look at those deep green eyes, like two emeralds, memorizing and flickering in the light. Did they not see that fur? A sandy brown tan, that reminded Naruto of the beach. It was so fine and soft as well, (he remembered from practice fighting with her) He sighed at the memory. 'wait...no! stupid mind! what is wrong with me! He thought before drifting off to sleep.

"That's it, just keep concentrating you are doing amazing" She nodded as she carefully stepped back towards shore. She landed on land, safe and dry, she was so happy with herself, she could now walk on water for ten steps, all the way to a rock that jutted out of the water and back. She looked to him smiling, he beamed down at her as well.

They stood in a small meadow that had a small pond in the middle, tree's grew at the way edge, and long summer grasses and reeds grew about them, purple and yellow flowers sprouted up about them, their scents filling the air. Drowning them in their aromatic bliss. She began to stalk away and follow the trail of a rabbit.

She couched down on her haunches and waited, it was only a few meters away, she tensed but was also relaxed. Poised and ready she waited for the rabbit to put it's head down and eat, she waited until it's paws where busy picking up some food, then she bolted. She flew over the short distance and the rabbit was blind-sided, he didn't even know what happened.

She captured the small frail neck within her jaws and took the life from it before it could let out a scream (few knew that rabbits had very high pitched and grating screams) She happily carried it over to Snowfur, he stood beaming at her, "I have taught you so well, there is little left to teach you, now there is only practice, which you will get plenty of on your own."

She faltered in her step, she didn't want to be alone, she had confessed this to him, and yet he kept saying it, so until she convinced him otherwise, she would just have to keep learning new things, give him an excuse to stay. "No I am far from done, there is so much I have yet to do...walk up trees I have found reason for such skill and wish to learn, and I still have not brought down large prey."

Snowfur was going to say something but he stopped and nodded "very well, whatever you think is best" She grinned happily, he would stay longer then. She motioned to the rabbit "eat you wish?" He grinned "yes, thank you" They then lowered both their heads to eat but bumped noses. He jumped startled, she could see a blush upon him, "I...I am sorry, you first, it is your prey"

He cocked an ear sideways, and looked sheepishly away, she wagged her tail in amusement and nodded she pushed the rabbit towards him more, he adjusted himself then they found that if they ate on either side of the rabbit they could share the small meal. Snowfur greedily pulled the meat from the small bones, red, soft and delicious he gulped the rabbit's flesh.

She watched him wondering for a second "food...humans eat?" He looked to her "much they eat, they are always coming up with new things, they eat everything, meat, berries, nut's then they create, ton's of stuff, things you never imagine, animals can get fat of what they throw away as scraps." He said to her, chewing the leg meat between bites.

She pulled out some of the intestines and gulped the squiggly mass down. "You miss food?" He shook his head "not much, there is some I miss, but I can get by" She nodded "tommorow we start walking up trees?" he nodded "also I wish another thing to learn" he looked to her "what?" he asked "human tongue, I wish to learn it, in case I ever run into them, I can speak and they will not kill me."

He looked to her saddened " I am sorry, but you must know, humans...well certain ones, detest demons more then wolves" She stared at him "what do you mean?" He spoke "well, to put it simply, you are the only other of my kind I have met" She stared at him "are we the last demons?" He shook his head "no, I mean, I have met other demons, a badger, and ton's of Gyrfalcon's...but, you are the only other wolf I have met."

She nodded understanding, "so our kind...demons survives, but the wolves of our species...may not for long?" He grew silent "I am sure there are others, like I said I have not traveled far, they may be scores of wolf demons in other lands, along with many others, but you are the only other I have met in these lands." She nodded "I see, so where would I go? To find these others?"

He shrugged (something she had leaned to do as well) "I know not, you just have to follow your heart, demons when trained can find others that way, I do not know this art, I know a demon is a demon because of the chakra within them." She nodded knowing now that the 'fire' inside her was 'chakra'. She looked to him "who knows this art?" He shrugged once more "Gomeg, the badger"

She firmed her jaw "then I must find him, where is his den?" He looked to her "with the humans...in my old home" She nodded "very well, when I am ready we will leave, I must learn this art, so that I am never alone." Snowfur looked sadly to her then shook his head as if trying to clear thought from his head 'I...very well, I think we can do that, so let us hope you learn quickly."

She had lied, well sort of, she did want to find other demons like her, but that was only her second option, if her first did not work. She just wanted to be with Snowfur, to hunt alongside him, which is why she was tossing about, she was so happy, and giddy they would hunt tommorow! A real hunt, possibly a deer or even an elk!

She wanted to prove to him somehow that she could only be strong and healthy like she was, only when he was around, she did not want to be alone, why couldn't he get this through his skull? How come he did not want her? They shared a look a few nights ago and several during the days, yet he kept trying to push her away, wanting to leave her, but she had been so submissive for so long, letting things she did not want to happen to happen without a fight, but this...Snowfur was one thing she would not let go of...not without a fight.

He sighed as he glanced at her once more. What to do, he almost exploded with joy when she said she would go with him to his home. He was just sad though because she only wanted to learn how to find others, maybe he wasn't what she needed, he wasn't a big enough pack for her, he was just one wolf, she needed several from the sounds of it, he couldn't give her what she completely wanted.

He was saddened by this, for days now he was in utter confusion over his feeling towards her, the fluttering in his chest, the warmth in his body, the spring in his step and the lifting in his heart when he saw her, everything else seemed to fade from mind. But he had no idea what to do with these feelings, how to express them, he was terrible with women...even with jeriyah's books (which always ended him getting in trouble and women slapping him and calling him a 'perv' whenever he tried to do the pick-up lines from such books)

But now he was a totally different species, he had no idea how to go about well...wooing her, then again he didn't know if she wanted to be wooed so until he had definite signs that she liked him like this, he would pretend to not have these feelings and try his best to not be sad when she leaves him. Besides she wouldn't want him, he was so different from her, he grew up with humans, she grew up in a pack, he was confident and she was shy and submissive.

He turned over yet again and groaned, why was everything out here suddenly so confusing? He sighed and finally yawned arranging himself in his sleep, he soon dreamed of the hunt that will happen tomorrow since she had learned to climb up trees within a day (taking the entire day albeit but still that was pretty good, if he thought is was hard with only two legs, you should try it with four)

He slept peacefully as he thought of what more he could teach her, he wanted to spend as much time with her before she left for another pack. Little did he know that Dirtsnout was mirroring his very thoughts with her own.

Yay, they are so cute I think, I don't want to rush things so I am taking my time, I still might think of something else to do with her, so don't think this possible relationship is set in stone.

Anyway,

From The Forsaken Author of The Last Story

NSW