Mayu and Bat raced through the forest, leaves flying past them. Bounding over logs and twisting around trees, Mayu could still hear the screams of the puppies echoing in her ears. She forced herself to go faster, tongue beginning to hang out of her mouth. Vicious swears ran through her head, all of them in a frantic and pounding loop. Bat cut in front of her in a burst of speed, running towards the sound of a new scream. Mayu's blood boiled and frothed inside her body. She followed directly behind him as he pinpointed their location.
You're not taking them today, you bitch! she snarled inside her head. She thought of almond shaped eyes and ginger and red fur, a little smirking set of teeth. Mayu ran even faster.
XXXX
He scrambled through the bushes, trying to dig through. Screams were still ringing in his ears. He could hear it running through the leaves, kicking them up, could smell the blood coating its muzzle. It laughed at him, a high pitched, mock of a dog bark and cat meow. He pulled himself further underneath the bushes. It may not find him here; not how it had found Mina.
Her yelp of pain replayed inside him over and over. Kuro shuddered, hearing Wing still running and Mina's vanishing cries. A new high pitched scream of fear broke through the air, shattering the stillness before the forest greedily sucked it away. Kuro began yelping and crying as he heard something begin to run again. He was not sure what, but he hated it.
"MINA! MIIIINNNAA! MOOOOM! DAAAAD!" Wing's panicked howls split through the air, quickly beginning to repeat over and over in a form of denial.
"WIINNNNG! WIIIINNNGGG! IT HURTS, IT HURTS, IT HURTS, IT HURTS–"
Mina's voice was immediately at the loudest it could go, no build up to the horror and yelps inside of it. Kuro crammed himself into the bush further, paws over his eyes. Both she and Wing screamed once more, and the sick, sick mocking call sounded again. Kuro screamed late, only to realize he wasn't screaming– his mouth was open, but one long, constant whine that was barely hearable was leaking out. Like a hole in a container of compressed steam.
He didn't look outside the bushes, hearing more leaves being thrown about. There was the sound of heavy pounding feet, vicious snarls, and then the mocking laugh was gone from the air. Lighter sounds of leaves being stepped on joined the louder and heavier to form a rhythm-less chase. Kuro's whine became louder.
"Help." he said. "Help. Help. Help. Help."
Mina's crying grew fainter.
Kuro couldn't hear Wing.
XXXX
Their blood tasted good. That warm feeling filling her inside. The vixen giggled with delight as she could taste it running down her. Their little whimpers filled her soul, but their screams were better. Her claws ran down their tiny bodies, nothing sharp enough to leave a scar, but enough to invoke fear. Yes, fear, that was the ultimate seasoning. For any prey needed to know whom its better was.
A little patience went a long way. She sat, she watched, she waited for her chance, and now here it was.
"Oh no shush uh ah." She soothed, "Little morsels shouldn't run, shouldn't flee, no no."
Mina whimpered, Wing had long given up, his little breath had gone out, that or maybe that bear he ate hadn't fully gone down.
She wouldn't waste any more time. One had gotten away, but she would get to it in time. Much time had been wasted in her patience, so she would now dine. Her mouth parted away to reveal a row of teeth. She had experienced this feeling many times before. The rush of adrenaline that coursed with each kill was so intoxicating to the senses. Although she could have done with more squirming, that made it more fun.
Wham
The feeling came so suddenly, she felt herself knocked to the ground with a heavy force. Her adrenaline hadn't left her yet, in fact she would need it now. In-between rolls, she caught approaching glimpses of black and white.
"No! Not them!" She thought, just as the black shape grabbed a hold of her tail with its teeth, swinging her about, only to thrown her hard against the tree. The cunning trickster wasn't a match for two angry parents.
"Escape!" Her greedy claws dug into the dirt as her sleek shape disappeared. Had to plan, had to wait.
XXX
"DADDY!" Mina immediately cried. Latching her blood stained paws around her fathers legs, she began to cry.
Bat comforted his daughter with a few licks; he grimaced as he tasted iron. "There, there it's fine." Mina continued to cry, now fully safe in her father's paws. Bat sniffed the air, "Where's Kuro?" He asked.
"Papa!" Kuro ran as fast as he could out of the bushes, embracing his father the same way his sister was.
Wing just stood there, uncertain on what to do, his guilt rising up. This was his fault, but could he admit it? He had disappointed his father once already, well several times, but that hunting trip still etched in his mind. Licking his muzzle, he tasted blood.
"Dad, I–" He began.
Bat looked at his son. He knew Wing had to be responsible for this. Only he could goad his siblings into doing something so foolhardy. Yet there was no anger in his face. A paw raised, Wing winced slightly, expecting some kind of punishment, but none came. Without a second thought, Wing joined his younger siblings against their father.
"You're all safe, that's what matters." Bat explained to his frightened offspring.
Indeed at did matter. No matter how often they would get into trouble, Bat worried about their safety most of all.
One didn't share in the family moment though.
"Mayu?" Bat could sense his wife was far away.
"Bat, take the puppies back to the den." She spoke in a determined sounding voice.
Worry creased Bat's brow just slightly, "What are you–?" He started to ask, but he didn't finish.
"Keeping the family safe." she said before taking off without another word.
The worry hadn't left Bat yet. He wasn't certain of what his wife was going to do. So he obeyed and led their children home.
XXX
Mayu stormed through the woods, her paws crunching through every leaf and twig, perfectly good twigs to be precise, ones that would make for a good chew. But she didn't care.
"Where is that bitch?"
Her nose and eyes wandered about as they looked for that ginger haired succubus. Succubus was right. Only a hellspawn such as her would dare harm her babies. That alone would put anyone on Mayu's shit list.
There it was! A scent, she caught something. No? There it was to her side, the over there. It was coming all around her.
"Where are you?" Mayu felt her fury rise. It grew with every second. Larger and larger.
"AHHHHHH!" The vixen screamed, slamming both her paws into Mayu's body. The vixen however, wasn't strong enough to knock her pursuer down, so she went right for the claw and teeth route. She bit; she tore at whatever got in her way.
Blood! Blood! Kill! Those words danced in the vixen's mind. This canine witch would die here and now. A little planning later, a little more care, she would go after the puppy meat, sweet and tender.
That wouldn't come to pass, a simple dream that wouldn't pass.
"GET OFF ME!" Mayu felt her own anger rise.
It didn't take her much effort to throw the vulpine off. Following her husband Bat's example, Mayu grabbed the vixen by the tail, and threw her against the tree, making sure she made it as painful as possible.
The vixen felt a daze rush to her head as she fell. Her side hurt, a rib must have been broken. That or her hysteria played tricks on her mind.
"All you do is creep around." The darkness hid Mayu's face. The moonlight disappearing behind a cloud, "Spying, sneaking, just like a little parasite, feeding off others."
The vixen stood there as the canine calmly ranted.
"You've never had to give life have you? You've never felt something grow inside you, nurturing it?"
Mayu of course was referring to those whom she held dear. This creature, from the way she moved in confused fear, Mayu knew she hadn't experienced motherhood. "Of course you haven't, no male would have you." Mayu added a scoffing laugh to that comment.
The vixen would normally lash out against this form of insult. But something didn't seem right about this dog. The vixen could smell something against her, see something as well. Mayu herself didn't notice the dark aura that surged around her. Perhaps it wasn't really there, only metaphysical in presence.
Mayu didn't care what she was doing, all she knew was she wanted to make this miserable creature pay for what she did. A feeling sprang up, something originated from her blood, which now boiled liked hot oil.
"No…..Stay back!" The vixen pleaded, almost attempting to warn. But it wouldn't come to pass. At this point, a scream echoed throughout the forest, and it wasn't Mayu's.
XXX
Mina was the last one to fall asleep. She, along with her brothers clung to their father like little burrs.
"Is Mommy coming back?" Mina had asked.
Bat had reassured his daughter her mother would return. Mina seemed pleased with that answer, partially that is. If anything, Mina seemed more comfortable with her father, than her mother. Bat had noticed that quite a bit. He hadn't pressed it much though, only for a few occasions he noticed his wife acting a bit… harshly towards their daughter, never physically, but verbally. Sure she yelled at Wing, he did as well, but she never had much of a problem with Kuro. In a reversal, Kuro often clung to his mother. Wing on the other hand was more of an in-betweener, he didn't cling to either parent. That didn't apply now, for they all clung to their father.
Before she had fallen asleep, Mina looked up at her father and with a yawn said, "Daddy? I'm glad you're my papa."
"Papa." Bat said to himself with a grin. He didn't think he would ever get used to that feeling, even if it made him feel good.
His ears perked up at the sound of paw steps. "Mayu?" No answer came, but he knew he was correct. The scent was a dead giveaway. He could also tell she was chewing on a twig. She was stressed about something from the way her teeth grinded. Then he smelt the dampness, she had washed herself off in the river.
"Keeping the family safe."
Bat could imagine her hunched position in his mind. He had a guess as to how she had kept their little family safe.
An awkward silence followed, before Mayu spoke. "Do you remember the way to Ohu?"
The question didn't surprise him by much. A part of him had anticipated it. "Yes. The way is burned into my senses. The ones I still have at least."
Mayu sighed. So it had come to this. She didn't want it to. She had planned on them raising their pups in this den. They would grow up and go off to find their own way in the world, while she and Bat grew old together. But, like everything in her life, nothing went exactly as planned.
"We'll wait a day, then we'll tell them." said Mayu.
That was final, and they both agreed as parents.
XXX
There was not much talking the next day.
Even as the sun rose in the sky and begin to pour its shining pale orange light inside the cave, a signal for the puppies to begin playing, noise was almost nonexistent. The adults went on their daily hunting trip as usual, but one of them made sure to stay behind. Bat. He sprawled near the stone wall of the den, black fur blending into the wall and Xd eyes staring everywhere.
Their mother, Mayu, was a different planet today, a white comet that barely interlaced with their solar system, brushing against them before heading off into the reaches of space once more. She spent most of her time hunting for the food, or talking to Bat about something when she could, low voice included. Mina and Kuro stirred now and then, talking about light, stupid things. Wing felt like shutting out both of them as sat at the back of the cave in a hurt sulk.
To tell the truth, there was a large amount of talking that day. But for Wing, it was nothing. Everything sounded artificial and fake, like echoes bouncing back and forth. The only real words were when Mina complained about her wound to Kuro, and managed to connive her younger brother into helping her lick it clean. His effortless arguments ripped down like paper mache, or the way the little catdog demon had ripped through Mina's flesh just yesterday.
Wing shuffled miserably. Yesterday. God, how he hated yesterday. Mina had gotten hurt, Kuro had been crying in a bush, and he'd been a bouncing bag of gas that broke down once the thing– a "fox"– had come after them. The thing had barely been bigger than they were, yet Wing had turned tail almost instantly at it! He bad temperedly scratched at his nose. But after everything, Mina and Kuro acted like it had never happened! They went back to their stupid, little pup playing– and Bat and Mayu didn't care that they did!
Wing growled slightly, but no one heard him.
It was his fault for taking Kuro and Mina outside… but his parents didn't punish him. Even if Mina had almost gotten killed, they didn't scold him. Wing didn't understand why. He got smacked for harassing Kuro, but then unpunished for almost killing all of them? How the frink did that work?
Wing felt better, using a bad word. He had learned it when his mother had stumbled over a rock and almost cut her paw onto ribbons over an ancient glass bottle. Even if he wasn't sure this was what she actually said, it was close enough. Usually, saying it made him feel more grown up, and much tougher than his brother and sister. But today, it just left a rotten and empty feeling, and no afterglow of pride whatsoever.
Wing marinated inside his rotten mood even further.
XXX
The remainder of the day passed by like a falling balloon. At first, you could not tell what it was, or what it was doing, or whether you were seeing it or not– perhaps nothing at all– but then eventually realizing what it was and going about your business. Kuro and Mina both found it hard to believe that they had almost been killed the previous day, but, as the sun slowly drew on and Mina began to feel her wounds even more, the reality finally hit her like a sledgehammer. She had been attacked. She had gotten hurt. She had LIVED.
For a moment, she'd sat there, dazed. Life was not supposed to go on like normal after something like that happened. There was supposed to be a shocked aftermath, a frozen in time day… a… a… a miniature end of the world!
But there wasn't one.
The day went on.
XXX
Kuro finished eating his meal, a ripped up and soft piece of rabbit that Mayu had brought him. Outside of the den, the sun had finally began to go down, darkness being drawn out of the forest's nooks and crannies to cover its entire surface. Despite all of the previous events from yesterday, Kuro was the most unaffected.
He gnawed off a thin thread of the dark red and pink flesh, holding it in between his tiny paws. It tasted very good, though not succulent, and he needed to chew on it several times before it went down. After he was done with it, he pulled off another piece of meat.
Mayu and Bat were talking about something again. Bat finished saying something before climbing to his feet and exiting the cave. Mayu turned her head to uninterestedly look at the cave wall, and then just slowly brought it back up front. Bathroom break, Kuro thought.
Mina had stopped pestering Kuro to help clean her wound, which was a good thing, but now her fur was stuck all over his tongue. Eating the rabbit had helped wash it down, even if some annoying bits were still left. Normally, Kuro wouldn't have minded grooming Mina, but she was shedding for the first time in her life. That or she just got her fur loosened up by yesterday.
Bat reentered the cave. Kuro stopped his chewing for a moment, then resumed. Even with what had happened yesterday… he was safe.
After all, nothing bad would ever happen to him as long as his parents were near.
XXX
A Day Later, Morning
XXX
"Mina! Wing! Kuro! Come here!"
The pups perked up as Mayu's voice rang out through the den. Kuro stopped chewing on Mina's paw and pulled his ear away from Wing, who had been fiercely gnawing on it for the last minute. The three scrambled over each other to get to their mother, claws clicking over the floor. Kuro saw that she and Bat were sitting directly at the entrance next to each other. There were no playful slouches, no fleaing of shoulders. They both sat up straight and firm.
Wing felt his stomach sinking. It's about the fox! He knew his parents wouldn't have left him alone for too long without punishment after that. No, no, no!
Bat took in a deep breath.
"Your mother and I would like to talk with you."
Here it comes!
Mina twisted her head. "About what, dad?" Wing clearly saw the still red scars that laced across her neck, a few drops of moisture clinging to the fur around it from where Mina had been licking it lately.
"It's got something ta do with the fox, doesn't it?" Kuro's shrill little voice spoke up. Wing felt like strangling him, but then remembered the red marks around Mina's neck. He could easily see them on Kuro. Okay, so maybe he wouldn't strangle him, but at least give him a small bite on the rear or back leg, whichever he got to first.
Mayu spoke up. "We've been thinking of moving… to Ohu. Ohu isn't a place here in the forest. It's far, far away. But there, it would be easier to look after you all, and there'd be more helpers to do so. Ohu is where your father came from."
All three of the pups gaped at her.
"O…Ohu? We're moving there? To where dad came from?" Kuro was staring at her in total disbelief, but there was strangled excitement and confusion in his voice. "How far is it?"
"Very far, just like your mother said," Bat replied. "But we think you're old enough to make the journey, and after the fox made its move… we've decided to leave as soon as possible. We were going to tell you earlier before we made the trip, but our choices have just been cut down." He paused. "I think you would do well going there."
"But what if we don't want to go to Ohu?" Mina asked. "What's wrong with here? I know about the fox and everything," she added hastily, "but you got rid of it. And we're gonna be big dogs in a little while! The fox can't do anything to us then." There was a large amount of defiance and stubbornness in Mina's voice. Both Wing and Kuro thought she looked much like Mayu– the clenched jaws, tangled ears, and stone look in her eyes. No one could ever move their sister when she got that way… except Mayu. And Bat.
But Kuro felt a stab of apprehension, and nervousness. Even after what had happened, he didn't want to leave the familiar trees and den for the big, unexplored outdoors. He liked going out there to look at things, but only when he could return back to the safe, comfortable home later. If they went to Ohu– wherever it was– then they would never be coming back. He would never see this place again. Wing fidgeted behind him.
"I told you," Mayu responded, "It's because it will be easier to take care of you there, and you might learn something. Here is getting worse to live in all the time– the rabbits are moving somewhere else, or the owls and hawks are taking them away. We might be able to catch rabbits, but only when they're still on the ground! None of us can live on pheasant and partridge forever. Besides that," she said, glancing towards Bat, "I'm sure your father would like to see some old… acquaintances of his."
Kuro blinked. He'd never thought of it that way. So they were moving for dad, food, and to get away from nasty foxes and other things. Kuro had always thought they had enough food; even if he'd had to go a little hungry at times,his parents had always brought back birds and rabbits for them to eat. He hadn't noticed that they'd been bringing in less and less. Kuro was about to open his mouth when Wing cut him off.
"If we're moving 'cause of food here, then what's it like in Ohu?" He stared directly at Bat, a new and more interested light in his eyes. Of course, Wing was always interested when it came to food. He never stopped eating. Maybe they were moving because Wing was eating all of the rabbits, Kuro thought.
"Good eating," Bat said, sensing a weak gap in his son's defense. Wing had felt the same Mina had as moving, but he was easy to persuade with edible materials. Too easy. "The rabbits there are much plumper since Futago Pass has more mountain grass, and so are the birds. You can catch much more of them, and there's fish too."
Wing's eyes practically bugged out of his head. "Fish? What're fish?"
"Scaly, slippery things that live under the water," Mayu said. She had never liked fish to start with– they had a nasty, strong taste, and the scales stuck to your tongue. She'd eaten a dead Bluegill before when she found the carcass floating belly-up by the river edge, and it was the first and last time she tasted fish… something she was grateful for. But the weak gap needed to be broken open. "Some dogs can catch and eat them."
Wing stared at her, mouth hanging open. "…really? You're not telling a story?"
"Why would I tell a story about fish?" Mayu snapped.
Wing's tail began to wag. Added to the bulging eyes and open mouth, he looked like a starving baby bird awaiting a mouthful of food.
"Let's go to Ohu," he said decisively, cutting Mina off. "Right now."
"Not right now," Bat said, "but shortly. We'll probably set off in an hour or two after you've eaten something and taken a short nap. More than likely, we're just going to head for the little brush piles around the clearing edge and get our food and nap there before we leave." he turned to Mina. "What were you going to say, Mina?"
Mina felt desperation gripping her heart, and her ears and tail lowered as she looked at the rest of her family, all waiting expectantly for her to say something. Mayu and Bat wanted to go to Ohu– they were the ones who started it– Kuro would roll over with almost every decision his parents or siblings made, and Wing could've cared less about the den now that he knew about the food. She was the only one who didn't want to go– completely and utterly outnumbered.
"Mina?" Bat asked politely.
"I don't want to go," she blurted out.
"Mina!" Kuro said, a bit of a surprised whine in his voice.
Wing flattened his ears out at his sister. "Crybaby; spoilsport." he spat at her, neck fur rising.
"I'm not a crybaby!" Mina snapped at her brother. "I just don't want to leave our den and home for stinky Ohu, somewhere I've never seen before, that's all!"
She turned to Kuro.
"You agree with me, don't you Kuro? You're just too scared to say it!"
Kuro's ears slunk down. "Well…"
"If you say yes, I'm going to bite your face," Wing threatened his brother.
Kuro himself slunk down, wincing at the threat. "You see…"
"Kuro!" both of his siblings growled at once.
"Alright, that's enough!" Mayu snapped, breaking into the fight. "Kuro doesn't have control of anything; beating him up won't change that we're going to Ohu."
Wing relaxed, fur going back down, looking content at his mother's decision. Kuro let lose a sigh of relief, slumping onto the floor. Mina stared at her mother. How unfair!
"If we didn't have a choice, then why act like it?" she snapped.
"Mina," Bat warned.
"I don't care what you dogs are doing, I'm staying RIGHT. HERE." Mina firmly planted her feet into the ground, hunching over as if she was defending a piece of meat from Wing. Bat opened his mouth to say something, but Mayu nudged his leg with her foot, giving him a sharp look. He closed his mouth. Mayu looked Mina directly in the face.
"Well then, Mina, you're just going to have to stay here while we go to Ohu. All by yourself."
Kuro gasped, and Wing snickered. Mina ground her teeth together.
"Nuh-uh, you wouldn't leave me here," she said confidently, "Even if I'm not moving anywhere."
"I would."
"No, you wouldn't." Mina replied, though there was less confidence in her voice this time. Her mother wouldn't leave her… would she? She won't…
"Alright then," Mayu said, "But I hope you can feed yourself. Rabbits are very fast, you know."
Kuro gaped at his mother. "Mom, you're not actually going to–"
"If she doesn't move, I will." Mayu got up. "Come on, everyone, we need to go find lunch."
One by one, the family filed out of the cave. First went Mayu. Then Bat. Then Wing. Last of all, Kuro. He stopped, hesitating in the cave entrance. He looked worriedly at Mina, and then outside the den at Bat, Mayu, and Wing. Then back at Mina. And outside the cave once more.
"KURO!"
Mayu's commanding voice rang through the cave entrance, still loud and formidable though it sounded more far away. Kuro whipped his head around to look outside the den. Biting down nervously, he gave Mina one last look, kneading his paws on the ground. "Sorry, Mina," he squeakily squeezed out before running out of the cave. Mina was now alone.
She won't. They won't, Mina thought disbelievingly. But yet as she listened, the sounds of her family's footsteps got farther and farther away till she couldn't hear them at all. The forest's unnerving silentness filled the den. They had left. For one brief movement, Mina was shocked. Then she pulled back her ears, sticking out her tongue. "Good riddance, too!"
A birdcall rang through the den, echoing and making Mina jump.
Mina looked around the den, ears now down in fear. Was that a hawk? She listened for a few more seconds. No, a songbird. Things were much louder when no one else was here. Mina suddenly realized how big and dark the den was. Was it always this deep? And this dark? Whether it was her or the weather outside, Mina suddenly felt the temperature drop. It seemed a lot colder in here without everyone packed inside. And there wasn't as much as sunshine as there was when Mayu and Bat were sitting in the cave entrance, talking about things or grooming each other.
Mina nervously watched a spider crawl out of a crack in the wall and scuttle down the side. It pattered across the floor, pausing in the middle. Now it was just Mina and spider inside the den, no one else.
A brief minute of silence passed. Mina watched the spider. It made a few zig-zags, pausing at the end of them, before it crawled up the cave wall and vanished into another hidey hole. Now Mina was alone, without the spider. She licked her lips nervously, fidgeting and squirming. So this was what being alone felt like.
It took Mina less then five minutes to tire of the feeling.
"MOOOOM, DAAAAD, KUUUROOO, WIIIINNNGGG! WAIT UP!" she yelled, bursting out of the cave entrance and running into the forest. From the cave mouth, one could see one last glimpse of white fur before Mina disappeared into the woods, seeking out her family.
As the last echoes died, silence sought out the cave once more. The spider crawled out of his little crack, skittering out onto the floor.
Peace at last.
XXX
"Are we there yet?"
"No."
"Are we there now?"
"No."
"How about now?"
"No!"
"When are we getting there?"
A grumble followed. Bat tried his very best to contain his patience, yet his son was pushing all of his limits and restraints down to the very last.
"Wing….we'll get there when we get there." Bat clenched his teeth as he kept he managed to maintain a degree of calmness.
Wing pouted in clear frustration. "But I'm tired of waiting! We've been walking forever!"
Behind him, Wing heard an audible grumble. "Wing! Stop pestering your father!" Mayu snapped. Unlike her mate, Mayu wasn't that good at keeping her annoyance level down, and Wing was pushing everyone's buttons. The family of five had set out long ago, their only guide being Bat's sense of smell. As much as Mayu and the pups loved and trusted their family patriarch, even they were a tad worried about their travel.
Ohu, a place neither of them had ever been to. In all honesty, the pups still held a great deal of reservation about leaving. Mina mostly, for she only went out of fear of being left behind. Kuro simply went out of obedience. Wing? A grumble from his stomach answered that question.
"Can't we stop for something to eat?" Wing whined. "I'm still hungry."
"Wing we just ate a little while ago." reminded Mayu. "You ate far enough. We don't need you slowing us down with a full stomach."
Wing's pout increased in size, complete with a little puppy whine. "When I get to Ohu, I'm going to eat till I pop!" Wing boldly declared. It wasn't an empty promise. Mayu and Bat knew if Wing was given the chance, he would eat to that amount, insane as it sounded.
"Well for now, you will just have to be patient until we get there," stated Bat. There would be no way around it, Wing would have to wait.
The puppies had done well to keep up, but they could only do so for so long.
"Mommy?" Kuro panted, his pace trying to keep up with his mother's.
"What's wrong baby?" Mayu asked, noticing something seemed amiss with her child.
Kuro panted as he looked into his mother's warm eyes. "Can I have a ride? I'm tired of walking."
Mayu smiled at the request. Lowering her body, she grabbed Kuro by his scruff, placing him across her back. "Hang tight sweetie." Kuro wagged his little tail as his mother started to walk again. Mayu grinned as she saw her child's happiness. Seeing him smile always brought her mood up.
"Mommy?" Mayu looked down to see a pleading look upon Mina's face. Mina nervously pawed the ground as she asked her question. "Can I have a ride too?"
Mayu narrowed her eyes at her daughter's request. "Mina, Kuro is smaller than you. You're still able to keep up. You don't need a ride."
Mina whimpered at the refusal. Hanging her head down, she trotted ahead, away from her mother, and to her father. "Daddy?" Mina pawed, but Bat knew what his daughter wanted. Without a word, he allowed Mina to climb aboard her back, up her neck, and atop his head. Mayu frowned. Bat was going to spoil her with that kind of treatment. Mayu wasn't playing favorites between her children. They all needed to be strong, especially Mina. Females in this world were looked down upon, simply because of their gender. A lesson she had learned well during her childhood. Mina needed to be strong, Mayu would make certain of it. Kuro had been lagging behind, so he needed the rest.
The only one who wasn't tired was Wing. His hunger drove him forward, dreams off tasty prey. Wing would make certain to keep his promise of a popped stomach, one way or another.
XXX
"But I'm not tired!" Wing whined again.
The family's travels had lasted till the sun had set. Mayu and Bat knew it would be dangerous to travel at night, particularly with three young puppies. They didn't want a repeat of the fox incident. Also a scent of rain hung upon the wind. Those two factors told the two dogs that needed to rest for the night. Luckily they managed to find a small alcove just on the side of the road. Small would be right, Mayu's paws stuck out just a bit of the entrance, Bat as well. However the puppies were small enough to fit in. Mayu figured the temporary den was good enough. Bat on the other hand felt more inclined to keep walking.
His reasons?
A trail of rising smoke in the distance, a sign of humans, Bat's reservations were justified as far as he was concerned. However, Mayu, won out the argument. Bat might have been the patriarch, but the matriarch held all the cards this time. A lesson she hoped Mina would learn. Mina and Kuro were quick to settle down, for they were far more obedient than their elder brother.
"Tough, Wing! You need your rest and there is no getting around it! So just lay there and sleep."
Mother and son looked at each other with defiant stares. Wing may have been a defiant little pup, but Mayu had years of practice.
With a whine, Wing settled down his head, and closed his eyes.
"Finally." Mayu sighed with relief. Taming Wing always turned out to be a full time job, much suited for two dogs. But the other parent was preoccupied.
Bat kept his head turned toward the direction of the human abode. His ears and nose stood ready in case anything disturbed their temporary piece.
"Darling, go to sleep." Mayu beckoned to her husband.
Bat didn't turn an inch; his head still lay fixated on that smoke trail. The cool, strong demeanor broke as a lick stroked against the side of his face.
"Bat, you have the best senses out of any dog. If any danger comes, you'll protect." Mayu praised playfully.
Bat softened at those words, Mayu always knew how to soften him up. It wasn't weakness, but proof he loved his wife dearly. The two lovers laid their heads side by side, and soon fell asleep. Yet if danger reared, the two parents would spring into action, tearing apart all those who harmed their children. The three sleeping children…well almost.
He patiently waited for his mother and father to fall asleep, and it would seem his patience paid off. Wing cautiously opened his eyes, waiting for the telltale snore, particularly from his father. When all seemed clear, he crept around carefully tippawing as he worked his way around his siblings, then doing the same around his mother. His father may have had better skills, but his mother still could be just as good.
Wing knew he was in the clear when he stepped onto the path. His little tail wagged as he looked on ahead. That human home had caught his interest. He had never seen a human home, only from what he heard from his father. However what really made him curious were the kinds of food humans might eat. That or what they drink. Everything about humankind seemed mysterious. They probably drank more than water, or mother's milk. He had to find out. It seemed safe enough, otherwise their parents wouldn't have settled out in the open. That and there didn't seem to be a rain cloud in the sky. Knowing all he needed to know, he sped off towards the rising smoke.
Wing kept going, not stopping for any form of distraction. He maintained in a straight line, unusual for someone as disobedient as him, yet when it came to filling his belly, Wing would be the mot obedient pup you ever laid eyes on. Wing's patience led him to what he sought. The human home was nothing but a large pile of stacked wood, vertical and horizontal. But that didn't catch Wing's attention, no. The small door leading down held that honor. Normally a sense of danger would keep him from entering, but something inside told him he would find what he is looking for. The only sounds that came up, were of Wing's "ooh's" and "ahh's", followed by breaking glass, a yelp, followed by a curious "what's this?", and lastly, lapping.
XXX
Wing's got away again.
Kind of reminds me of us at that age.
Mom always had her paw's full with us.
Well, you, really.
Guess Wing takes after you more than you thought?
Mayu awoke in a confused manner than a jerk of the head. That familiar voice had come again into her dreams. The last time it did that…..her head jerked as she mad sure her children were still there. Her heart only sank slightly, for Mina and Kuro still remained. However the sinking was only halfway into worry, and the other half into annoyance.
"Wing." She grumbled lowly.
There was no other place he could be other than the human abode.
"Momma?"
Mayu almost left, but the little voice at her side tugged her. Kuro looked up with sleep eyes, almost begging despite the confusion he held.
"Go back to sleep baby." Mayu soothed her son by licking him gently. "Wing is just being naughty, so I'm going to bring him back."
Kuro let out a yawn and settled back into the comfort his father and sister made. With nothing left to hold her back, Mayu continued on towards the human home. Wing defiantly had been here, she could smell his scent going in a straight line. It didn't take Mayu long to find where Wing's trail ended.
"That boy is going to be the death of me one day." She muttered as she descended down the open doorway. As Mayu continued downward, she could hear a faint sound which only grew the closer she got. Mayu could make out some giggles followed by a hiccup.
"Heh hah hah! *hic*!"
There it was, and Mayu had her suspicions. The giggles only grew louder as she reached the bottom. Several pieces of human tools were hung up, ropes, sharp objects, it much reminded Mayu of what lay under Sawada's home. Something caught her eye, a broken bottle, and amongst the glass, there was an amber colored liquid. A strong smell wafted from it, and the one who was stumbling around.
"Wing!"
Wing's body shook with a hiccup at the sound of his mother's voice. Wing turned his head lazily and Mayu got a good look at his face. Beneath his black furred face, a clear blush shown. His eyes held a dazed, but glazed look to them.
"Moooom!" Wing didn't seem the least bit scared to see his mother. In fact he looked quite happy. Wing moved forward but he stumbled under his own steps. The action only made him giggle.
"I fell down *hic*!" He announced before submitting to his giggle fit.
Mayu titled her head as she tried to process the condition her son was in. Just what was in that strange water? It had to be the cause of Wing's behavior.
"Wing! What are you doing here! You had me worried! Just wait till your father hears about this in the morning." Despite the oddity of it all, Mayu still had her motherly duties.
Wing managed to reach his feet, before another hiccup shook his tiny body. It reminded Mayu much of the demon hiccups she had when she was pregnant.
"Mom can you hear it?" Wing asked, perking an ear up.
"Excuse me?" Mayu answered.
Wing remained perfectly still, only disturbed by a single hiccup. Suddenly Wing started to move, his body swaying as if he was dancing.
"The mountainsh *hic* are *hic* calling ush. Da sky ish calling ush" Wing's speech became peppered with slurs. "Letsh run like the wind!" Wing leapt into the air only to crash headfirst.
"Wing!" Mayu called out, fearing that her son had injured himself. Her fears were quenched when Wing broke out into a giggle and hiccupping fit. All this noise was bound to wake up the humans. Mayu quickly grabbed her son by his scruff as he would be in no condition to walk.
"Wow *hic*! The forest hash sho many trees!" Wing slurred as his mother quickly made their exit.
By the time Mayu had brought Wing back, he had passed out, either from being tired, or from that drink. Probably the latter as it made the puppy act silly enough. Thankfully it wasn't so much of a chore to settle Wing between his siblings and father. Mayu herself settled down, making extra certain to keep her son tucked in. Before she fell asleep, she heard one final hiccup.
Hopefully the morning would bring better luck.
XXX
Thunder cracked against the gray sky. Rain fell down in angry, fat, torrential drops. Mayu brought her paws in as close to the den as she could, but it still didn't do much. Her paws were still soaked.
Mina let out a whimper as the lighting flashed. Her only source of comfort was her father. Bat held no qualms about comforting his frightened daughter. Thunder and lighting were her greatest fears.
"Don't worry, it's alright." Bat soothed and a flash and a crackle caused Mina to sink further into his fur.
"Daddy, make the storm go away!" Mina whined.
"Mina shut up!" Wing yelled with a moan following. He didn't know what was wrong with him. He didn't really remember much of what happened last night, and he had a terrible headache. He ran his paws over his pounding temples and blinked his bloodshot eyes. "I don't feel good." He whined.
The only puppy who seemed complacent was Kuro. Between his ill brother and scared sister, he didn't seem phased at all. He just wondered how his mother handled all this seeing as he knew what her temper was like.
Saying Mayu wasn't happy was an understatement. The twig she was chewing on was practically in ribbons by now. Her grinding halted as she felt a rub against her fur. She looked down to see Kuro cuddling up to her, looking on with a sympathetic face. It helped Mayu a bit, but they would be a stuck here until the storm passed, and until Wing got better.
"It's going to be a long road to Ohu," she said to herself.
XXXX
No one had ever been as tired as they were now.
Kuro crawled along, tongue hanging out of his mouth. Mina and Wing struggled in front of him, feet plodding and stumbling. In the very front, Bat and Mayu trudged on, faces exhausted and fur sticking up at all different angles. They had been walking for five days now.
Every day, they had went on, scrambling over fallen branches and brambles. While these were a mere nuisance to Mayu and Bat, they were formidable and vicious forests that ripped and tore at tender noses and fur to the puppies. Kuro's nose was chapped and sore. Wing and Mina felt stretched and aching.
Wing had recovered from his hangover in the cave, though the little episode had gained him extra attention from his parents. They had not let him out of their sight since then, and he was forced to always stick to Mayu or Bat whenever they set off. But a far more bitter and effective punishment was the rationing of food. Whenever Bat or Mayu caught a bit of prey, they torn it into shreds, passing the meat to their puppies. Since they didn't know when they would catch something next, each bit of food had to be divided equally and on the spot, no matter how small. Wing had to eat the same amount as Mina and petite Kuro, a feat that always left his stomach grumbling and protesting. Though he had gone hungry before at the old forest home, he was at least allowed to complain about it before being shushed and told to take a nap in the sun or the back of the den. Now, naps were impossible, and Wing was far too tired to complain.
Mina was fairing slightly better, having adapted much more quickly than Wing to their grueling and small diet. She had not inherited the stringy ears and fur of her mother, something that spared her from much of the torture her two brothers went through when-ever they fought against bushes or thorns. On the other hand, she was having trouble keeping her whining in and crying in check. Though her mother had cut her some slack after the days walking had proved to have a devastating effect on all of them, not just Mina, she still expected her daughter to shoulder the miles and meager amounts of food better than her two brothers, or at the very least just as well. This made Mina more quiet and withdrawn whenever they were walking along after their rest for the night– she couldn't trust anything that came out of her mouth once she became tired. What if it was a complaint, something that disappointed her mother? It was better to remain silent and focus on her father's moving back as they walked along in their little group.
Kuro was the least adaptive and aggressive of the group, and he was paying for it deeply. The runt of the litter required the least amount of food… and the most amount of attention and rest. He was always in the middle when they started their walks, but walking over twisted roots, waiting for Bat to find the scent, fighting through weeds, and piling the miles up on each other always left him lagging at the very back by the end of the first hour. Mayu or Bat would always turn around, walk to the back, and pick Kuro by his scruff. He was then deposited back amongst his siblings or on one of his parents' backs. Wing and Mina felt some anger and envy towards their brother. He was the only one who was carried, and the only one who picked up without question. All the same, their anger and envy only went to a certain extent. It was obvious their brother was much worse off than they were, and he never got in any gloating shots from laying over their parents' backs– if anything, he looked like a limp black rag.
Straggling along in a zigzagging line through woods and around thin streams, the family did their best to keep a straight course, though Bat's notions about where Ohu and Futago Pass were barely above vague. They slept near the bases of trees or the overhangs of rock piles, digging out little dents in the ground for beds. Water was taken from whatever stream they came to next, the travelers sticking to the stream as long as possible before Bat's nose lead them off again. Several times Mayu and Bat spotted coyotes or foxes, and were forced to stop their tired journey in order to keep their brood from being easily picked off. It was a painful and arduous trip, testing everyone's tempers in the beginning and ending with everyone being too tired to fight. Mina, Kuro, and Wing all slept in a little tangled pile of limbs and fur whenever resting time came, snoring away, while Bat or Mayu either tightly curled up in their own dents or lay next to each other, heads resting on their mate's back. No one hardly talked at rest– they were too busy conserving their own energy.
Kuro, Wing, and Mina hardly knew the meaning of a joyless life. They were energy filled puppies. They had notions of joy and outbursts of energy whenever they were awake, and found entertainment in just smelling new scents and going after them.
But they came very close to learning what it was on their trip to Ohu. Happiness had a damper put on it, and it the struggling, purely animalistic and instinctive life they were using to travel to the forest was beginning to drive them crazy. In fact, it was beginning to drive ALL of them crazy.
And it would have, if it wasn't for the fifth day.
XXXX
Sasuke yawned sleepily, stretching his legs and flicking his ears back. The sun warmed his apricot coat, making him feel even more droopy. He tried to keep his eyes open.
"I don't need Weed or GB to come by and see me sleeping on watch. But the sun is making me so tiiiirrreeeeed…." his last word drifted off into another yawn, and he smacked his mouth together several times. Sasuke had always had a habit of talking to himself, and it hadn't changed when he'd gotten to Ohu. Now he just made sure to speak to himself only when he was alone.
Sasuke drooped in the warm air. He was supposed to be on watch duty, but the place he'd been positioned sentry at just so happened to be on top of a warm, flat rock under some indirect rays of sun. The perfect place for a dog to fall asleep.
"Ach, ach!" Sasuke say, shaking himself and pulling himself back up. He blinked rapidly. "I hate guard duty, but I have to stay awake. There could be bears. Or invaders. Or monsters. Or maybe–"
A squirrel screeched, bounding through the branches and making Sasuke jump with a surprised yelp. He hunched down, shuddering for a second, before he pulled himself up.
"Stupid squirrel! Go somewhere else!" he barked. The squirrel made a few chattering noises before vanishing.
Grumbling to himself again, Sasuke looked out from the hilltop he was positioned on. Futago Pass was full of sharp little hills that rose up to almost ninety degree drops. But it didn't stop trees from growing on them. They covered the back of the hill, climbing it and leaning over the edge. Rough green shrubs and bushes grew on the more level areas around rivers or in the break between hills. Right now was barely after midday, and the sun was still shining vigorously through the trees, forming sharp patches of light.
Sasuke was around the side entrance to Futago Pass.
A rather long way from Gajou for just a sentry mission, that was to be sure. But he didn't really care. GB, Ken, and Rocket had taken to teasing him about his "cowardly" nature from being a pet dog, and he had had enough of it. They were being just as bad as John had been when Sasuke had first met Gin. Okay, so maybe not quite that bad. Very few dogs could match up to the arrogance level John had been. But John was a hero, and a deceased one at that, so all was forgiven. On the other hand, GB, Ken, and Rocket certainly weren't heroes. Sasuke snorted, inhaling some pollen. As a result, he huffed several times before sneezing heavily.
"Aaa… aaa… ACHOO!"
Sasuke sniffed, pawing at his nose. "Stupid pollen." He sniffed a few more times. "Only bees need pollen, not dogs."
He looked down the steep hill. Rocks poked out of the side, grass growing between them. The ground sloped out to a flatter position after the hill, going forward for around twenty or thirty feet before it was funneled between two more edge hills. A thin tunnel. He twisted his head to look at it. It really was small. No monsters or armies were certainly going to come through that. In fact, there was nothing threatening whatsoever about the forest.
Sasuke sighed. "This really was a waste of time… I wonder what GB's doing. Probably stuffing his face along with Rocket and Weed and Ken, and laughing at me. Why'd I have to volunteer to come here? They were just teasing, and trying to get someone else to take the job."
He flattened his ears against his head, drooping. The group had only been messing with him when they'd teased him about being a coward because of his pet dog history, but he still took it harder than he was supposed to. He was sick of hearing about Ken defeating Bat, and Rocket saving them in the blizzard, and GB's spy mission… which he'd been totally unaware of till the end of it, even though he himself had been pressed into Hougen's army. Whenever he tried to pipe up, and remind them that it was he who had told Gin about Weed, he was simply pushed aside. Not in a bad way. Just in an amused poking-fun way. But he wanted something to gloat about, too.
So when someone said they needed a sentry for the outskirts of Futago Pass, though not too far from Gajou, Sasuke happily volunteered, taking the time to mock everyone else before he left. They had enthusiastically responded, yelling at him that he was an idiot for doing the work when he could've taken something else, and then telling him not to get eaten by a bear before his shift was over. Sasuke had insulted them back before vanishing into the Futago Pass forest. GB had said the job was boring, but he would show him! He'd hold off an invasion… or spot a dog… or kill a rabbit… or kill a butterfly… or see something actually move…
Okay, so the job was incredibly boring.
But not-so-deep down, Sasuke really didn't want anything to happen. He couldn't fight very well; insecurity was still a large element for him when it came to physical abilities. Why hope for something exciting to happen when the exciting thing would more than likely result with dead or taken prisoner by some foe? Best not to tempt fate.
Sasuke yawned yet again, this time finally deciding to give in to some of his natural urges. He stretched his front legs out, chest scraping the ground, and then settled down, back legs coming down last. In fact, he had laid his head down and was ready go to sleep when he heard the leaves crunching.
Annoyed, he opened one eye. "The squirrels really need to stop bothering me…"
There were no squirrels. Instead, the crunching noises came from a short distance away. The path between the hills. In fact, Sasuke could hear voices, and the approaching sound of tromping feet. Someone was coming.
For a moment, Sasuke was stunned. He couldn't believe that this was actually happening. Of all the times for strangers to appear…! Sasuke leapt to his feet, fur bristling. His tail lowered, almost coming in between his legs. He swallowed. Maybe they were friendly. Lots of dogs came to Ohu now, and none of them were evil like Hougen had been.
The rustling noises came closer. To Sasuke's further horror, he suddenly realized that there was more than one dog– maybe four or five! A group! Some spies! His tail completely dropped down, curling inward to the point that it brushed against his belly.
"Aw hell, what should I do, what should I do–"
A black nose peeked around the road corner, followed by a black muzzle. Some white ears came into view. Sasuke needed no more prompting. He lit off, running as fast as he could down the other side of the hill. Yes, he should have stopped and confronted the dogs, but he was attacked out here, there was going to be no one to help him– particularly if he was outnumbered.
Tongue hanging out of his mouth, Sasuke ran for all he was worth, easily weaving through the trees thanks to his size. He needed to warn Weed– there were strangers coming to Ohu!