Life as A Fox
Chapter 86
NSW- The Forsaken Author.
This place was strange, so very strange, the humans lived in much different homes then the ones she had served, these homes were made of stone, not fabric, and they rose up towering over them. It made her feel small and insignificant. There were many smells and sights, so many humans and demons about, but of course most stayed a courteous distance away from them, except for the demon Wolfheart and the leaders of the humans.
"It seems as though you still have much disdain for us." Wolfheart, who was shorter then her but much broader spoke "It is a hard thing to get used to, just as it is hard for you to be here." She nodded "You r humans are different from the humans we served, they lived in dens of fabric, these humans live in such large places of stone, how would one make such places, where do you get stone large enough?"
Wolfheart chuckled it was an interesting sound, one she had never tried, why would one make such a noise. "They are not all stone, most are wooden, and the stone is a concrete, which was once in a liquid type form then dried and hardened into stone." Rebel studied the homes closely, "Interesting...what is wood?"
The leader...Kakashi spoke "Wood is trees, you cut trees into various shapes and are able to build things with it." Rebel gazed at him in interest. "Trees, ah yes I understand now-" She was cut off as another creature showed itself, it looked like her, only smaller, a lot smaller then Wolfheart but had the same, muzzle and shape, yet it seemed...dum, as if it couldn't speak, its voice was just a shrill loud..bark, and its ears...were floppy?
She jumped back, hair on end, she remembered now, a couple of these creatures were on the battlefield, what were they! The creature strained against an object placed around its neck, its fangs bared and it bristled as it lunged at them. She stepped back, One-Who-Follows stepped forward and growled, protecting her.
Wolfheart intervened and calmed the creature, she had no idea how but he did. She and One-Who-Follows relaxed. "What are those things?" she asked Wofheart "Dogs, they are...domesticated animals." She cocked her head "What is an animal?" He stared at her "Its...well...the world is filled with them, they look like any one of us demons, only...they can't speak, and they don't have powers, they are just...there...and they are not as smart as you or I."
She shook her head "This world is so strange" "Why do you keep saying that, do you come from another?" She turned to the red-haired human, with black around his eyes, so stunning and piercing. "Another world...no, the first of our kind...we were created...a god crafted us with his own hands...at least that is what the prophet says."
Kakashi sighed "You know, that man is getting annoying, I wish I could just kill the bastard, end this whole thing." She glanced to him "It would be hard, he is touched by the gods, they speak through him and hold him in regard, fate is on his side he says." Wolfheart spoke suddenly "Fate is what you make it, it can always change."
She turned to him, at first to question but in his eyes she saw a knowing, a power and she did not question it any longer. "So you were made by a god...do you remember seeing him?" She shook her head "no, the first ones were made by them, the ancients of our kind." There was a silence "But...the war has been only been going for about a month or so...that isn't to long ago."
She nodded "yes it is, I myself have only been in this world for about five bright orb passes." Wolfheart stared at her then glanced to his human leaders. "Bright orb...you mean the sun?" She hesitated "the bright orb in the sky...that is the sun?" Wolfheart nodded. "Yes, five of those." The darker human with black things over his eyes spoke "So..you are only five days old?"
She nodded "Yes, we Lumenion grow to adult hood in a...day or so." The man made a curious noise by pressing his lips together, it sounded like one of those small creatures that flew about in the forest. "So...how are you born?" She quirked her head "we split from our parent when we are grown enough."
The human Kakashi scratched his head "so...wait...you split...like...you grew on them?" She nodded "yes, if we eat plenty, we can birth more of ourselves from our own skin, is this not how you create more of yourselves?" There was a silence. "Ah...no" Wolfheart said at last. "We...have another method...but...to each his own...I guess...but I am just confused as to why...there is males and females of your race...if you reproduce...in that way."
She glanced to One-Who-Follows, "Why would it matter, what does being male and female have to do with reproduction?" said Free-one. Another silence passed by. "Umm...I don't know about you guys, but I don't really want to explain the birds and the bees at this particular moment, how about we save this for another time?" said the red-haired one...Gaara, that was his name.
Kakashi nodded "agreed...lets just say...Free-one, that it's a long story, but...I...well lets just do what we set out to do, to the medic tents." Rebel nodded and followed.
"I need you to bite down on this." said the peculiar demon. He was a smaller demon, aged greatly and he had eyes like them, which was probably the reason she was so relaxed around him. She opened her mouth and pit on the piece of wood. She sat there unsure of why she was doing this, but then she realized with her mouth this way her saliva pooled out through the sides of her mouth.
The demon then collected it in...these see through containers that held her kin in much interest. They stared at these objects, these humans had so many! Free-One was staring into the strange object that was so shiny you could see yourself in it, it was so strange it frightened her at first, she thought another Lumenion had been trapped in its depths.
But Wolfheart had explained to them that it was a thing called a 'mirror' and that it was her own self she was looking it. One-Who-Follows had found some white thin strips of a soft fabric, there was a lot of it, wrapped up on itself. It was much fun to watch it roll around, but the demon had turned away from her and snapped at One-Who-Follows to 'stop messing up his bandages' One-Who-Follows instantly did.
This demon could be scary at times. After the demon had collected enough of her saliva she could stop biting the stick, which she was happy to do. Her jaw ached, she opened and closed it to ease it. The demon turned "I should check that cut" She glanced at him "What cut-" Then she remembered and hesitated shaking her head.
"It is fine, no pain I feel" the demon raised up an aged hand with equally aged gnarled claws. "I insist, it is no bother, besides we don't want an infection now do we?" She sighed in defeat and nodded. He leaned forward, his power emanating from his claws. The moment they touched her a searing pain broke through her.
She howled in agony as he body convulsed upon itself. Pain tearing through every limb, feeling as though she were being pulled apart from the inside. He pulled away, but the pain still stayed. She collapsed on the ground writhing. One-Who-Follows was on his feet putting himself between her and the demon, growling at the small creature.
One-Who-Vanquishs and Free-One were also on their feet bristling at the demon. Wolfheart at the commotion came into the tent. He saw her then saw what was happening. He spoke before a fight could break out. "What happened!" he yelled. One-Who-Folloes spoke "He hurt Rebel!" "I was merely trying to heal her wound, when I touched it with my chakra...she had a bad reaction to it."
Rebel spoke with effort. "I...I am fine, he meant no harm, he speaks...right...please my kin...do not be angry with him." They relaxed, the tension easing. The humans came in quickly, they too had heard the commotion. Rebel staggered to her shaking feet. One-Who-Follows stepped nearer to her and offered her a stable base to lean against.
She took it gladly and spoke "I...will be fine, I...don't understand what happened." "What did happen?" Kakashi asked. "Apparently...Lumenion are affected by our chakra directly, like we are affected by their saliva." "Are you sure?" the demon nodded. Rebel spoke "Do it once more, show them" She braced herself for the pain.
One-Who-Follows growled but she glared at him. "We must show them, calm yourself One-Who-Follows, why must you be so protective of me?" One-Who-Follows glanced away "I...you are our leader, I follow you so I must protect you." She shook her head he was so strange, and yet she found herself softening to him yet again.
The demon spoke "shall we?" She nodded and stepped forward, the demon reached out his paw once more than she was hit again with pain, that doubled her over and made her collapse. One-Who-Follows leaned over trying to comfort her or ease her pain in some way. Wolfheart spoke "What does it mean Gomeg?" Gomeg turned to him and spoke.
"It means we have a better way to fight them." One-Who-Vanquishs growled. Gomeg glanced to her. "I meant not you, the others of your kind. She softened "oh...right...I am..." she was at a loss for the words before Wolfheart prompted her. "Sorry?" he said. She nodded "yes, that word...it works, I am sorry for growling."
Free-One spoke "I too, sorry for that." Rebel glared at One-Who-Follows. He glanced away then after a moment he said "I am...sorry" in a defeated manner. Rebel nodded good then rose once more. Gomeg spoke "On the table is the samples, take them to Sakura, she is the best at creating antidotes."
Kakashi nodded and took them. Wolfheart turned to them, "Now what?" he asked them. Rebel shrugged, "Leaving I guess" she said. "Do you want to?" he asked them. Rebel hesitated "We have to" "You don't have to do anything, I don't think you understand what being free is."
She cocked her head at the white demon with blue eyes, so clear, although the one seemed faded in a small way, where an ugly scar crossed over it. "What do you mean?" she asked. "Being free means you decide what your fate will be, you make your own happiness and your own sadness by the choices you make, are you leaving because you want to, or because you think that's what you must do."
She hesitated "But...we...were enemies, our kin still are your enemies, you will always judge us for them." Wolfheart shook his head "no, thats exactly why I want you to stay, to teach you, that we in Konoha do not judge, at least we don't try to, it's not right for us, everything in this world, old or new has a place in it, and even if a person has been trained or created for one thing, that person has its own will and can carve their own destiny they want, regardless of what they are supposed to do."
She shivered, this demon, his words were so powerful. "I...I...you know so much about this world, about being free, and fighting destiny and fate, you must have lived a hard life before." The demon did something unique, he bared his fangs...but in a good way, his eyes lighting up in a soft vibrance.
"You don't know the half of it, but yes, I can admit, I know what it's like to be judged, and I know how you feel, but I also know what it's like when you can find a place where you can be yourself and be judged not by what you are, or where you come from, but from the actions and things that you do."
She folded her ears back "But I have fought some of you, I helped injured and hurt some of your kind, maybe even kill, you have no right to offer me...a place where I can be accepted." Wolfheart sighed "That may be, but, the thing is, do you feel bad for doing such things, if you could go back would you change it?"
She nodded "Of course, is there a way?" He shook his head "no, there is not, but, by realizing this now, you have helped changed the life you will live in the future." She stared at him, she never thought about the future, it was so far off and unclear, she didn't even know if she had one.
He spoke "At least stay for the rest of the war, we could use your knowledge." She scoffed "We have little knowledge, we are primitive beings remember?" He shook his head "You are only as primitive as you think, it's like I said, it's how YOU feel about yourself, it's what YOU think about yourself, and plus, you are the only Lumenion who called out on the prophet, you had the courage to question, even though it went against your nature, you are not primitive, you are not dumb, you are intelligent creatures, and you do deserve a chance to save your race and change yourselves."
She nodded "Thank-you...so much Wolfheart, your words have brought me much peace, I will stay, and I will help you in what ways I can, we all will." The others nodded. One-Who-Vanquishs spoke "I remember the humans saying that, they are losing too many numbers, that from now on the Lumenion will be out first, and that the Lumenion will not hold back."
Wolfheart nodded "Good, now we know their plans...in a way, come the generals are planning tomorrows plans, you can tell us of what you know there." They followed him once more through the village, the way lighted up by the numerous fires of ninja's fires. Rebel paused when she smelled something...something that made her mouth water and her stomach give a tremendous growl.
Wolfheart turned "Are you hungry?" he asked them. She glanced at him "I am unsure..." He paused "Do you not know what hunger is?" "Is it a pain in the insides?" asked Free-One. "Yes...don't you...eat?" They glanced at each other unsure of how to say it. Rebel spoke "The others of our kind, when they would sense a weakness in another...unto them,...we devour."
Wolfheart stared at them, "but I have never partaken...nor have I taken any substance, the energies of the day of my first life still run through me." "You haven't eaten since you were...born?" he asked her. She nodded. He shook his head "No, wonder your kind looks so sickly, come on, let's get meat on your bones."
He led them to a large wooden container filled with a pile of red chunks of flesh. She looked at it with a sudden need. She stepped forward and sniffed it. Still unsure of what to do. Wolfheart leaned down and snatched a piece with his jaw. He chewed it and swallowed. She opened her jaw and did the same.
Her kin watched. It was warm and thick in her mouth. Her mind exploded as flavor sprang across her tongue, it was...good, very good, delicious and made her want for more. She swallowed what she had and in a frenzy she went for more, taking as much as she could fit and swallowing it as fast as she could.
Her kin joined and and they to were taken in the same frenzy, food was amazing, and beautiful, why had they not eaten before? But Wolfheart stopped them before to long. He spoke "too much at first, and it will come back out the same way it came in." She paused "It has this ability?"
He made that noise again, that...weird rumbling in his throat. "What is that?" she asked him. "What is what?" "That noise you make, what is it?" "that" he said pausing "That...is a laugh, it is what most do when they find something amusing." She quirked her head "Amusing...you mean it gives you pleasure...why?"
Wolfheart sighed "no not exactly pleasure, it just signals when I am happy." Rebel nodded not really understanding but nodding only to acknowledge that she heard him. "Where to now?" she asked him, without a word he turned and lead them to a large tent. They pushed aside the flaps as they entered and instantly warmth hit her.
She noted that a small fire was going in the place. There was a large table holding many papers on it while many different men surrounded the table. A hawk demon perched on the table, reading something while a claw absently traced what he was reading, marking his spot in the sentence.
"Evening" Wolfheart said. "Evening" most of the men said back without looking up. "I have brought the Lumenion, in hopes that they can help give us intel on the enemy camp." There was a pause as some of the men looked up, awakened from their fervent stupor. "Are you sure...that they can do this?"
Wolfheart nodded "I have faith in them." He turned back to them. Rebel found that she had a lump in her throat, she swallowed it back down. Stepped forward she brought herself to her full height, she would not be intimidated by those war like stares. "I can give you everything you need, in return for one thing."
Wolfheart glanced at her, this was something new, what did she want? Rebel spoke "When the enemy is defeated, let me take whatever of our kin is left, let me talk to them, and let me guide them, like you humans have said, we are a young species, new to this world, we only follow blindly, do not us die out just because we were naïve."
There was a long pregnant silence. Then he hawk demon spoke up "I believe this is only fair, who are we demons to judge a species? It is true you are our enemies, but you have proven that you Lumenion can be good allies as well, so very well I accept your terms, anyone else?"
The hawk said looking to the others. One by one the other humans and demons consented and agreed. "Good then, let's get started" Wolfheart said.
The next day, from dusk till dawn, they had waited for the first attack, but none came. There was nothing but an uneasy silence, an awkward stalemate between the two lines. Thought they saw smoke from the enemy fires, and heard a occasional screech from a flying Lumenion, nothing happened.
So while everyone remained ready for a fight, many took the time to relax, some demons were even able to meet with their mates for the day. Naruto himself got to finally meet with Yume and his pups, who seemed to be growing so fast! They ran and tumbled around, chasing each other or their tales, nipping, biting, and howling as they play fought in their own little war.
Naruto chuckled as he watched them. Naruto flicked his ears as he heard the sound of someone coming near. He turned his head to see Sasuke, followed by three women, one was pregnant, another had a small three-month old girl on her hip and another had what looked to be a one year old, whom she led by the hand.
Naruto rose. Sasuke grinned at him, "Thought you might want to meet the family, this is Momoko" he said placing a hand on her delicate shoulder. Her skin was light, and looked smooth like moonlight drifting across leaves. Her hair was a dark brown, pulled back in a simple ponytail, she wore a light gray shirt with a dark long skirt that went to her ankles.
Her eyes were angled and gazed softly and with compassion, it was then Naruto knew how Sasuke had changed, it was because of this woman here. The boy she held hands with looked like Sasuke, only with his mothers nose, his chin also jutted out more than Sasuke's, the hair black like a ravens was growing long, and it was then Naruto noted that the child looked like Itachi not Sasuke.
Sasuke leaned down and picked the boy up, "This here is Itachi" Naruto was stunned, he didn't think Sasuke would be able to so easily say that name, but it seemed whatever darkness that name had held over Sasuke was gone. "This is Sektsi, and my daughter Miko, and finally this is Mitsu."
Naruto nodded to each in turn "This is...Fluffy" Sasuke said searching for the name. Naruto nodded "pleased to meet you" Momoko spoke "Sasuke has spoken of you, you saved his life thank-you." Naruto shook his head "no, I only did what was my duty, besides he saved mine as well."
Momoko smiled "That may be, but we are still thankful for returning our husband to us." Naruto paused, he knew Sasuke was happy but he had no idea how he did it, how could he love three people at the same time, and how could they all love him and not be jealous of each other?
Naruto spoke "Oh" he said and turned, he barked, wich brought the pups out of their play and had them racing over to him. "These are my pups, Minato, Gin, and Mashi" he said the pups sat and gazed up at them. Mitsu squealed "Oh! They are so cute!" Naruto grinned "Yes, they are, they get that from their mother."
"They also get there boundless energy from their father, who has not yet introduced me." Naruto turned sheepishly to Yume. "I did not think you were back yet, this is my better half Yume." Yume rolled her eyes and turned to them "This the half of me that I am still trying to work on."
Naruto chuckled and licked her cheek, she beamed up at him and nipped back. "You have three very beautiful children" said Sektsi, who had long black hair and white skin, her eyes were a beautiful striking gray and she stood tall and erect, almost matching Sasuke in height.
The daughter she held had her dark hair but once again had Sasuke's eyes. She cooed and chuckled as she gazed at the world around her. Yume spoke "and you have a beautiful daughter." Sektsi smiled looking down "Yes" she said shuffling the child to another arm "Growing to, I can barely lift the girl anymore, she has her fathers appetite.
Sasuke chuckled "I only have an appetite because you all cook so good." The woman chuckled and Naruto spoke "So how far along are you?" Naruto asked Mitsu, who was a shorter small framed women, she reminded Naruto of a squirrel (only in her behavior) she seemed to have boundless energy, and she did everything in a chipper and happy-go-lucky attitude.
She grinned "six months! I actually waited to have a child, I wanted to focus on my schooling and graduate before having a child." "Oh is that so?" Naruto said "What were you in school for?" "I am a musician" "One of the best I know" Sasuke added "Oh stop it you" she said blushing.
Sasuke spoke "no seriously, she graduated a year early and the top of her class, she is the best at what she plays." Sasuke said. "Which is?" Naruto asked "Oh just piano, flute, cello and taiko drums" Naruto stared at her "That...that is a lot!" She scoffed "no not much, piano is a simple instrument, you just need to get the fingerings, so is cello, and drums? Pfft a two-year old could play what I play, although I guess flute is the most challenging but I practiced and practiced."
Naruto grinned "That's good I would say congratulations are in order. She blushed "thank-you, you know you are so sweet, you should come to the baby shower, its in two weeks!" Naruto paused "well...it would depend...on the war and all." She paused "oh yeah...I forgot about that."
Sasuke laughed. She glared at him "Oi! quiet you, why don't you go out there and finish this thing if you're so good?" Sasuke smiled "I would, and be glad to, but I made a promise to Fluffy to save him some enemies." Naruto grinned "you had better Uchiha" "Now now love, save it for the battlefield, besides you are giving are pups a bad example, they already fight enough as it is."
Naruto glanced down to the pups who were once again rolling over each other. "Now come on, they are just pups, it is in their nature, besides it's practice for when they are older." Yume sighed "men" "I hear ya sister" said Mitsu. Sasuke and Naruto chuckled "So what do you think of it?" Naruto asked.
"Of what? the lack of fighting today, I don't like it, it reminds me of a snake, they are waiting for something, they have something planned and I have no idea what it is." Naruto nodded "just as I figured, but at least we know their numbers are down." Sasuke nodded "yeah, but the Lumenion keep going up, and more demons are being injured each time."
Naruto nodded "I know, but we will pull through, we have something they don't have." "What's that?" Sasuke asked Naruto glanced at all of them around "people worth fighting for."
NSW