Two chapters at once! BD you spoil us!

I know that's what you're thinking, but anyway, I like this chapter, even though there's no sexy time in it, I like how it lets you see the real side of the animal Naruto is. I know I promised some sexy time, but this came first, gotta get some character development going!

BD

Naruto lay on the forest floor, the cool ground beginning to seep into him and turn him cold. He opened one eye and looked at the dark blue sky. Small stars dotted about as he opened the other and let out a yawn. He had slept so long, but…it had felt so good to let his troubles go. But, now that he was awake, they came back full force. He remembered everything as it was like a dam bursting and every image, every touch he had felt earlier swarmed him. The way the hunter had kissed him...it had felt so good...so very good. He had never felt like that before, the hot pressure that had begun to build within him, and in the hunter as well, for it had begun to slide off of him like sweat.

Maybe…maybe he had been too hasty leaving as he did. He had been afraid, but, he owed the hunter a debt. He had saved him from those snakes earlier and all he had done was treated him with indifference and fear. Even a hunter did not deserve such cold treatment, his mother had always told him to be good to others, for karma in turn, would be good to you. Naruto figured he was now due for some form of punishment, all though, he hoped none would come.

Naruto sat up and rubbed his tired eyes, this wasn't a very good sleeping spot, he was completely unconcealed. How could he have been so careless? He mentally scolded himself for such behavior, it would've shamed his father to know he had not cared. If a predator had spotted him, or worse, that snake clan again, he doubted he would still be breathing...or even worse, still be sane. He stood a stretched his stiff muscles, yawning again. He looked around and smelled the air, he was unfamiliar with this area of the forest. From the smells, he thought maybe he was near the raccoon den, the air smelled musty and dank. He had a friend there, in the raccoon's clan, one he hadn't seen in a very long time, Naruto wondered if his friend still lived there, or if they had been driven out, like so many of the other raccoons. He didn't want to disturb them if they still lived there, although, he did remember his friend liked to be out at night more than day. Naruto groaned, he knew he was delaying himself on purpose for anxiety of meeting the hunter again gripped him. He let out a loud sigh and began to walk in direction of the large trail he had left tearing through the wood.

Naruto hadn't gone very far when he heard a rustling of leaves from the brush to his right. He looked toward it, but it stopped the moment he faced it. Whatever was lurking there, it could see him, this was not good. Although his vision was good, it wasn't like other foxes, being a hybrid and all he had the disadvantage of having the weaker end of the five senses. He backed up slowly from the brush and took off in a break-neck run when it rustled a second time, one like he had earlier. He heard the sound of pursuit behind him and tried to pick up his speed.

He alternated between looking up and down, for fear he would trip over something. When he looked up he saw a large figure standing in front of him and he took a sharp right before he could barrel into it. He saw a low branch and jumped for it as another set of feet began to chase him. He wasn't a very good climber, but he hoped the ones chasing him weren't either. He jumped for the next highest branch and continued like that to the top of the tree. He looked down and saw three figures below him, when had the third arrived? He wondered, but quickly sent the thought away as the figures began to scale the tree with ease, great. Naruto looked around and saw a branch close to him in the next tree. He dove for it and barely caught it with one had. He couldn't hold it and began to fall through the air. He groped for something to grab onto and finally, his hand found another branch. It was a sharp one that had large thorns protruding from it. He squealed in pain as he hung there, the thorns keeping him pinned. He cried out in pain as he wrestled with the branch. He bounced and pulled, tears forming in his eyes as his heard and felt his own flesh tear. He heard much movement above him and began to bound more frantically, until finally, the branch gave and he hit the ground hard. He rolled over quickly and got to his feet, the branch still embedded in his hand. He took a deep breath and pulled it out as quickly as he could.

The thorns tore haphazardly through skin and fur, but it was out. His hand began to pour blood as his eyes poured with tears, he had to get away! Naruto took off as the figures dropped beside him. He ran, clutching his injured hand to him, he had to stop the bleeding, if he didn't, they would continue to pursue him. The smell alone gave him away, he tried to run faster, but was losing too much blood. His running was causing his heart to pump more blood too quickly. His injury bleed more heavily than it would have just standing still. They caught up to him easily and surrounded him, his head was light from the blood loss, what was he to do?

"Please…just…leave me be…" he begged, completely cornered, blood dripped from inbetween his hands.

They said nothing as they moved in closer, but as they say, you shouldn't corner a fox. The moment one got close enough to him, he let out a hard, bloodied swipe, primal survival instinct taking over. The insticnt to stay alive came all too naturally to him as he swiped again, his head free from emotion. He relied only on sound and smell, the strike came easily and went quick and deep into the figure. The figure cried out in pain as blood began to flow from his chest wound. Naruto whirled around and snarled at the one behind him. He made a mad leap for his throat, sinking his fangs and claws in as he hit his mark. The figure screamed in agony as Naruto ripped his throat out and continued to claw at him, horrible noises coming from his throat. He tore and ripped into flesh as something jumped onto him and sunk its own fangs into his shoulder. Naruto let out a painful yelp and thrust his uninjured hand on top of his attackers head. He pulled hard and flesh and bone came with his claws and he tore down the enemies face. It wailed in protest and fell off of him, onto the bloodied ground. Naruto flipped around to look at the final enemy, the moon began to shine and he saw his attackers.

One of the rat clan, the set of hybrids like himself had attacked him. The last one shrieked in defeat and ran toward the thick wood. Naruto began to calm as his sense of self returned to him, the need for survival no longer within him. He looked down at all he had done, the creatures he had killed, the blood that stained him. He had never killed a hybrid before, it hurt more than his hand and shoulder. One of his own kind, his mother said there weren't many, and he had already killed two. It was then the fierce pain of his hand and shoulder returned with a vengeance and he whimpered in pain. He looked around, but saw nothing that was familiar to him. How was he to get home to treat his injuries? The blood from himself and attackers would draw other predators, not to mention the rat hybrid might bring others with him, should he return.

Naruto looked up as he heard something snap behind him, there was another figure. So he was right, the rat had brought back re-enforcements, but…Naruto was too tired to care at this point and just let the blood loss draw him into hard darkness as he landed on the forest floor.

Didja like it? I like it.

R&R

BD