Life as A Fox
Chapter 68
NSW-The Forsaken Author of the Lost Story (see my bio for explanation)
Arthis true to his word, did not speak or interject at all when Gomeg explained his story. Gomeg talked about how he had come to the terms that the goddess wanted him to help humans and not fear them. He spoke of how he met Naruto, and how the village of Konoha respects and adores it's demons.
He explained of the war in coming, who was fighting it and why. He explained all these things in detail, one would think that this would lead or cause someone to nod off or not pay attention but no. Every word he spoke, held a meaning a depth, it made you pay attention, it made you want to listen to more.
Everyone's ears could be compared to dry ground. Gomegs words? They were like rain, and the ground eagerly soaked it up, begging for more.
Naruto by the time Gomeg was done was laying down, the lemmings had formed a tight ring around him. He felt comforted by all their bodies, so fuzzy and warm next to him. The elk too laid down. No longer did the hold a disdain for Gomeg or Naruto, they were lulled into compassion by Gomegs words and stories.
When Gomeg stopped, there was a quietness among them. Not even an elk calf spoke. Arthis was silent as well. Then he spoke. His voice breaking the spell. "You tell a very good story old friend, and although I understand why you come, this battle...is not for us, why should we risk our lives our necks, leave this place...this sanctuary, the humans do not know we are here, we are safe here."
Gomeg nodded "I agree with you, but, we are demons Arthis, not animals, do not mistake yourselves, it is nice to have peace and live in peace, but living here...what is the sense of being a demon? When do use the gifts of the goddess? Why do we have powers that can equal a humans? Why do we have the ability to speak with them? Ask yourselves this my kin, if the goddess gave us these gifts, shouldn't that mean we must use them?"
The elk looked to each other Gomeg spoke truth as well. What was the point of being a demon if they did not even use their powers? They acted and lived like normal animals here in this valley. Arthis was silent as he thought of what Gomeg said.
"True, we have gifts, but, still the fact remains that, we are safe here, our sanctuary hidden" Naruto spoke finally "Please excuse me, if I interrupt, I do not wish to be rude, but I would like to say something." Arthis turned his head "you may speak wolf" Naruto bowed his head in respect.
Naruto spoke "We are not asking for you to leave your sanctuary, we are not asking for its location, we are asking for brothers and sisters to stand next to us and fight with us, your mates and children and elders stay here be safe, your sanctuary and it's location can be hidden from all humans, we just ask, you come and fight and return back to your home."
Arthis thought deeply over what Naruto said. "The strongest of us leave to fight, while the others stay, then when battle is over we return...what if we were to loose the battle?" Naruto answered him "If we lose you still go free, you can still come back here and stay hidden from the world for eternity if you wish."
Arthis nodded this was a sound plan, "You may leave at anytime if you wish" Naruto added. Arthis glanced to him "no wolf, we are elk, we are demons, when we give our word to do something...we do it!" Arthis rose, a new power crackling in him.
"If it was not for this badger standing here before us, my herd of earlier generations could have died out, I have a debt with Gomeg, and I will see it paid back, we will join our brothers Gomeg and Naruto in battle!" He bellowed out.
The elk all around Naruto bleated and reared into the air, tossing their antlered heads and snorting. Pounding their feet and bellowing in answer, the elk demons would go to war!
The strongest of the elk stood spanning out in front of Naruto, Gomeg and Arthis. Their numbers stood at least a good fifty strong. Arthis spoke to Gomeg "The elk demons will join your cause, but I sense that we will need more numbers, I will speak to the other herds of the valley, I hold much respect with them, and with your words Gomeg, you could sway them to jump of cliffs if you wished."
Gomeg grinned "thank-you old friend, I would appreciate it greatly." Arthis spoke "I go on a journey with my friends, Arkil you will join us as we travel to the other herd heads." Arkil nodded to his grand-sire. Arthis spoke next to his herd "help the calves and the elders to our safest meadows, then wait for us next to the great forest."
The elk nodded and began to move out. Naruto, Arthis, Arkil, Gomeg and the lemmings went out separately, Arthis in lead. He turned his head to Naruto. "You are a strange wolf demon" Arthis mentioned to him. "How so?" Arthis spoke "There are many wolf demons in this valley, you may have heard them, they are the largest group of prey eaters, their numbers large, they have...begun to feed on other demon herds."
Naruto stopped "They feed on their own kin?" Arthis nodded "We demons are kin, yes but we still have a circle of life, it is not exactly wrong for them to do...just...disrespectful, demons usually will not prey on other demons out of this respect...but as I said, large pack, many numbers, they must live as well."
Naruto shook his head "well I am not from here, I would never feed on my kin, you have my word Arthis, I like would never bring harm to you or any of your herd" Arthis nodded to him in respect "I thank you demon, now tell me, do you travel alone? Or do you have a pack?"
Naruto was silent for a bit before speaking "I am an alpha, but my pack...is different from most, humans mostly make up my pack, as well as Gyrfalcons, and a lonely distempered badger." Naruto added. Arkil turned to Naruto "Humans...make up your pack? What kind of demon are you?" Naruto was silent then spoke "hopefully I am a demon that can be held to as an example, to show demons everywhere, that humans, can finally be trusted and that the sins of the past and the blood that has been spilled in earlier generations can be forgiven...and changed."
Gomeg spoke "Be the change you want to see in the world Arkil" Naruto nodded "exactly so" Arkil was silent. "Do you have a mate?" Naruto nodded and grinned "My Yume, we have three beautiful pups together" Arkil nodded knowingly, "That is good, I to have a mate, however our calf is not yet born." Naruto nodded "congratulations."
Arkil spoke "Grandfather, are you sure if the other herds will join us?" Arthis turned "I do not know, they may or may not, but it is no harm in asking."
Arthis and them stopped when they had reached the edge of the forest "I will call for Loresin she is head leader of the deer demons, her and I go back many years." Arthis then raised his massive head, and let out a long high pitched elk call. It ascended and descended casually. It was quite some time before a figure approached but when it did, it revealed to be a deer of pure white.
She came gracefully out of the foliage, seeming to glide upon ground. She came forward she flickered her eyes to each of them, snorting when she saw Naruto. "Arthis, you have called me?" Arthis nodded and bowed "I have some friends here who wish to speak to you." Loresin turned "A seer, something that many demons have not seen in a long long time."
Gomeg bowed to her "Loresin, queen of the deer, mate of Loketi." Loresin looked away sadly "Loketi is no longer among us, he died last winter, my bonds and duties with the herd have kept me from following him." Gomeg sighed "I wish I could have came sooner, Loketi was a dear friend of the family" Loresin bowed her head "I am glad that my mate was so well received by so many, please speak"
Gomeg told Loresin of the war and Konoha, then told her of the same deal they made with Arthis." Loresin was silent for a bit, she cast her dark eyes to Arthis. "For many seasons we have been friends, the elk and the deer take comfort from each other, if you Arthis believe it is wise to go to war, then the deer as well will follow you." Arthis, Gomeg, Naruto and Arkil bowed their heads in thanks.
turned to Naruto "we of the deer have sadly felt the effects of the wolves hunger, I know you Loresin are not among their numbers, but please forgive me if one of my people house disdain for you." Naruto nodded "I have heard news, I am greatly saddened by what my kind have done, I will take whatever is given to me without complaint you have my word, and know that I will not cause harm to you or any demon within this valley."
That night they stayed with the deer. Loresin sent her swiftest runners to all the smaller herds and told them to gather together by the next morning in the high lands meadow. Naruto grew hungry but luckily his lemming friends gathered some nuts and fruit, he was able to eat that at least.
The next morning the sun arose quickly, casting tendrils of light through the flush mist that covered the valley. Naruto, Gomeg and the others traveled to the high land meadow and viewed the demon deer population. They stood almost 400 strong. The bucks had organized themselves into small groups, while the does with fawns stood among each other, then the doe expecting stood away from them.
Doe without fawns and not expecting, and yearling males created outer groups that mingled on the edge. Loresin spoke to her people, proclaiming that she was joining with Arthis, she then asked if any of her people would be willing to follow her, a good chunk of the bucks did so. A few older doe who did not mate this year joined in with them.
Naruto nodded the number of deer was around 80, a good number that would be gladly accepted with the elk demons. Naruto rose up to speak. Some deer tossed their heads and flared nostrils at him. "I know, my kind is not in favor, but I am from another pack, I harm no demons, in fact last night I feasted on nuts, fruits and berries, within the glade, I find your yellow sweet tasting fruit delicious."
Naruto continued "I know it may seem strange to you, why should you go out and risk your lives for demons you barely know and more importantly fight for humans, it is an odd request, and knowing your history I am surprised you even consented." Naruto gazed out and continued. "I am but a lonely wolf demon, I have only a mate and three pups, I grew up and lived among humans, I must admit am a strange demon, but I have seen the demon goddess...I have spoken to her, and I have heard her voice."
The deer turned to each other startled then moved forward, wanting to hear more about their goddess and creator. "She has told me, that she gave all of us demons the abilities that we have, use of chakra, and speech of many tongues...she had given us these things, so that we can guide and help humans, help them become something better than what they were made for, teach them...if you will, and learn from them as well, that is what I have set out to do, and those of you who have joined with me, I am forever in your debt and I am greatly humbled before you."
Naruto bowed to them "I hope that someday, the goddess will appear to each and every one of you, in her beautiful glory, and then you can see with your very own eyes and hear with your very own ears, everything that she has shown and told me."
The deer bucked and bleated in excitement, they bowed their heads to him and called out to him saying that they trusted and respected him, adored him even. Naruto stood over the masses and nodded. Loresin took lead again and began to sort out her warriors. The warriors went and joined with the waiting elk warriors, then Arthis, Loresin, Arkil, Gomeg, and Naruto and his lemmings traveled out together.
Lorensin spoke "next, we will speak to Imasen of the wind, he and his kin would gladly join us." Naruto turned to her "how do you know?" Loresin smiled and turned to him "What child refuses his mother? even if he is adopted."
Well this is what I have so far, I am sorry that there is not much happening, but don't worry more is on it's way.
NSW