Life As A Fox

Chapter 52

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

IDK I think now I am just bored, so that is why I have updates. :p

Also thank-you to all reviewers, I am very pleased with everything you have been sending, it helps out greatly and makes me feel confident in my writing skills, please continue the excellent work. *small sound of applause from Author and Beta*

The morning came to slow for Dirtsnout, she bounded up the moment the sun crested the hill. She snuck over to Snowfur, and was about to whisper to him to awake, he opened his crystal clear blue eyes. She had not yet decided on weather they matched the sea or the sky, they were like both, sometimes they were deep and memorizing like the sea, drawing you into their depths, and other times they were like the sky, light and far away they swirled about and cast light to your world.

He lifted his head and grinned, silently he nodded his head towards the trees both wolves padded softly into the forest, in their excitement they did not notice a pair of yellow eyes watching them.

They had traveled for most of the morning moving at a steady trot that wolves could sustain for long periods of time, resting only a few times for Dirtsnout who was not yet at Naruto's level of stamina. They continued on, tracking down a small herd of deer. Following the herd at a distance they slowly began to move in on them.

They had to wait for the perfect time, when the deer were tired, when they didn't have a forest to run into and hide. Finally after many hours of waiting they had their chance.

Naruto stalked forward, Dirtsnout trailing behind him at the ready as well, they watched the herd meander though the brush and grass nibbling and eating here and there. They had decided on an older doe, one that had a slight limp in it's walk, a wound of old that had healed up. Wordlessly Naruto told her to get ready, he would make the move.

There was always a breif moment before that moment when you sprung at the ready, and began to chase down your dinner. It was a weird moment, it was hard to describe but it felt like, all of a sudden you became aware of everything, the way the grass was crushed beneath your feet, the way the wind blew, the way your prey moved, you could almost hear your preys heart beat, thundering in it's chest.

It seemed to over power you, this feeling, you felt...like a god for a second, all knowing, as you attuned yourself to nature and all around you. Then you felt it, it was a signal your mind gave your body, sometimes Naruto wondered how it worked, and why, but he was glad he did, he just...knew, when to go, when to begin the hunt.

The hunt itself was always new and intoxicating, no matter what you were hunting and who you were hunting with. The feeling of the chase, the ground pounding beneath your feet, legs pumping, heart racing, your spirits rising as you are sent to a whole new level of awereness, a whole new level of life. But this hunt, with Dirtsnout, was different.

They had moved in sync, she surged along side of him, her legs pumping like a race horses. They thundered up the slope side by side, matching each other stride for stride. With only a glance they split and circled the herd. The herd began to run and leap away in terror. Quickly they began to seperate the herd, letting the ones they did not want to slip away, and tightening their circle until only one deer remained.

They ran the deer for a little bit, to wear her out, when he could hear the heaving of her breath he decided now would be good. He turned to Dirtsnout, she ran on top of the crest of the hill, the setting sun casting light out behind her, his heart almost stopped at this, she was perfect, she was a true wolf, her perfect green eyes set in determination, her body flexing and rippinling in power.

Her fur glowed radiant form the sun's beams. She glowed like nothing before, he almost thought she was a goddess, in the form of a wolf, it was then he knew. That he could not leave her, he could not let anything bad happen to his beautiful creature, that now moved in for the kill without him. She gracefully leaped upon the old doe, the force knocking the doe sideways and making her trip and fall.

Somehow it was destined for the doe to die, because she tripped and her head struck a rock so hard Naruto could hear the skull shatter. The doe died instantly. Dirtsnout was tossed during the fall, Naruto quickly ran over to her, she picked herself up. Her eyes were full of excitment, triumph and amazment, she grinned proudly.

They walked over to their kill. "I feel, so alive...the feeling of finally being a hunter! I can do these things, you were right, why did I trap myself to life before? When life like this, experiance I could." She turned to him "you...saved me, you showed me this whole new life, showed me, who I can become if I only try and stand on my paws."

Naruto nodded "and you...you saved me from myself, you showed me that...my life has more meaning in it, and that...I can be happy once more, I can live, without the burden's of my pack...weighing on me, that I can finally accept, that, even though they are dead...I live on and I can live on and be happy as well." The breeze picked up from behind him and he didn't know why but he turned towards it.

Words could not describe what he saw, his three students, standing there, on the hillside, they all wore soft white robes that glowed softly. They all stood as they had before, Gin with her hands on her hips, Baru his arms crossed and Chikao one hand scratching his head. They all smiled at him then Gin spoke her voice was just as it always was, sweet and beautiful "we have been waiting" she fainlly said.

"Waiting for you to realize that... we never left you" she said happily she cried smiling like she was relieved about something, "always we have been with you, trying to help you sensei" Gin said she stepped forward pointing to her heart "right here, that heavy feeling was us...being carried inside you, now we can be free." She said this then turned away and walked off, disappearing.

Chikao stepped forward "we didn't want to leave you until we knew" he said softly "we wanted to make sure you had someone to share your life with, someone to make you happy just like we did." He said glancing to Baru, He turned his head as if looking to something behind him, Naruto couldn't see what. He turned back smiling "now sensei...it is time for us to go" He said turning his body slightly, "it is time for us to be at peace" He said closing his eyes, " but know that, we will always run beside you no matter where you go in life." Chikao put a hand to his heart then waving he turned and walked away disappearing like Gin did.

Baru was the only one left, he was silent then spoke "wolves, will leave and die from a pack, but the pack must always hunt on sensei, never forget that" Naruto shivered. Then he said something, that he had been wanting to hear, he just didn't know what it was until Baru said it "we forgive you" that was it those three words, and Naruto's pain and guilt he had carried vanished. "You are forgiven, now please be happy...for us" he said then he slowly faded away as the wind whirled about, their scent was on the breeze for a few moments and then they where gone.

The last bit of sadness that had laid in his heart was gone, the last bit of guilt was taken away, he was reassured, he knew what he had to do...he had to hunt on. Turning to Dirtsnout he knew, that the one he would hunt on with would be her, his students had led him to her, knowing she would be the one to ease his pain, and to heal him, like he healed her.

She looked to him surprised "you are crying? what is the matter?" He smiled "these...these are tears of joy...I...I now know what to do...I now know what I want." She looked to him, her eyes flashed hopeful but then she must have told herself not to jump to conclusion and she hid it. He didn't know if it was proper, and he didn't care but it felt right.

He leaned down and licked her muzzle. She tasted sweet like honey. She stood there stunned she stared at him blushing, he blushed as well "was that wrong?" he asked suddenly. She smiled "no...it was perfect" then she leaned up and licked his cheek and muzzle. He leaned in against her soon, they were rubbing and butting their heads together, enjoying the feel of each others fur upon theirs, the warmth and indulging in each others scents.

Soon they just stood there, she had wrapped her head around and lay it on his shoulders, he did the same. They just needed to be together. Finally Naruto spoke "I don't know about you, but there is a perfectly good deer that we had killed, we should probably eat it" She backed away slowly "you are right, come...let us eat...my love."

There it was the bond between them spoken, love, how odd, he had never thought it to happen, and yet here it was. The feeling of sharing a heart with someone else, he could feel their bond to each other, the bond between mates, just as Gomeg spoke, it was fresh and new, but the more time they spend together the stronger it would grow.

They leaned down and side by side they ate their fill. The stars were just beginning to come out, "let us howl" he said She looked excited for the first time, "please let me warn you, my howl is not the best, they say it is ugly like me" Naruto leaned down "you are not ugly, you are the most beautiful wolf I know, besides, my own howl...is...different"

Naruto gave an example and threw his head back, as always he started out with a keening fox like yip then it turned into a full pure wolf howl carrying on into the night, then ended on a small yip like sound. She had joined in, her voice as well keened and yipped like his, singing into the night air mixing with his voice, her yips more longer and sharper, while his were short and staccato.

Together their voices blended to create a balanced harmony. When they were done they moved to rest from their meal. But that was when Blackpelt came, "hunting with the omega are we?" his voice rang out, chilling the air. They both got to their feet, the pack fanned out behind him. Blackpelt glared down at them with his yellow eyes.

Naruto stepped forward "yes, she is a good hunter" Blackpelt growled "who gave you permission to hunt omega? omega does not hunt, neither does hunter allow omega to hunt" There was a silence, "omega! show submission you must, punishment is to be given." Dirtsnout was about to obey, but she didn't she stood firm.

Blackpelt growled, the rest of the pack growled with him, "omega! submit" She growled back, stunning them "I will not submit will to you, nor to any who try and use force, my will belong with Snowfur." Blackpelt glared at him "you earn name among pack? then betray it? what wolf are you?" Naruto squared his shoulders "my own wolf, I hunt and fight only for Dirtsnout now."

Blackpelt glanced at her "what wolf would take such creature for mate, a lowly omega, who is deformed, she is not well, not fit to bring pups." Naruto growled "do not speak of her in such ways." Blackpelt bristled "how dare you, I bring you food, save your life, you betray me? by invading my pack, and taking my kin?" Naruto shook his head "you were to leave her to death, not long before, now you admit kin she is? too late for claim's now, your kin I claim as my mate, stand aside and let us pass, deer of our hunt we will give."

Blackpelt growled "you have no right!" Naruto stepped forward bringing himself to full height, his aura and his presnse of the proud and defiant Wolfheart the demon Anbu of Konoha infused about him. He spoke his voice commanding, Blackpelt actually shrunk from it. He spoke "I have every right, I was alpha who lost pack, but now with Dirtsnout a new one I shall claim!"

Blackpelt growled and snapped, he would not be shown up by some young pup! He set himself upon Snowfur the two wolves met in battle, a flurry of fur and fangs flahing into the night. They tore and snapped at each other, tugging and pulling each other this way and that, trying to over power the other. Blackpelt managed to get Snowfur's ear in his jaws, biting it and ripping a small portion from the top.

He howled in agony, then suddenly Blackpelt felt a presence that pushed him back. Then Snowfur's jaws were aorund his neck, as he lay in the dirt his back in the position of an omega. Blackpelt was in awe, few wolves had ever gotten him to his back. He lay and waited for his life to be taken. But it did not come. Instead with a final growl Snowfur let go.

He backed away "I leave now, Dirtsnout with me go, good-bye alpha Blackpelt, may your hunts be fruitful"

The two wolves then ran off into the night, their bellies full and their hearts light. They ran beside each other taking comfort in each other, as the stars appeared and lighted their path, Naruto lead them towards home, a place he had not been in such a long while. Naruto glanced up at the stars and moon and he new, he just knew that his students were up there somewhere, looking down upon him and they were happy that he was finally going back home.

So yeah, that is what I have, I hope you enjoyed.

From

The Forsaken Author of the Lost Story...T.F.A.O.T.L.S.

NSW