The Pack

Disclaimer: * looks around * Do I look like Square-Enix and Disney to you?

Chapter 5

I woke to the sound of whimpering.

I was surprised that I had actually heard them; they were very quiet, as if the person making them didn't want to be heard.

I looked over Xigbar and saw Squall squirming. It looked like he was in a lot of pain…

I slowly got up and walked towards him. I know I had told myself to just leave him alone, but he looked like he needed help.

He gave me a look. I stopped approaching.

You can come closer now… I won't bite you.

"Are you okay?" I asked quietly and walked closer to him with lots of caution.

I'm fine… His ears twitched.

"Are you're ears bothering you?" I asked.

I can't scratch my head without hurting my leg…

"I could…umm… I could help…" I said trying not to make him angry.

The midnight blue wolf sighed and moved his head closer.

I very carefully brought my hands near his head.

Your hands are shaking… you're afraid of me.

"Well you mercilessly killed four men in less than two minutes, forgive me if I'm a little apprehensive putting my hands anywhere near those sharp teeth." I said and paused in my movements.

Squall growled and pressed his face in my hands. You said you would scratch it for me!

I jumped a little and started to scratch his ears.

I won't hurt you… ever… just so you know.

"I find that a little hard to believe…" I said.

It's my responsibility to protect the pack and all that is precious to it. That includes you…

"Your responsibility?" I asked.

Yes, as second in command, it is my job to protect the leaders of the pack as well as everyone else in it. Because you are needed to ensure our safety, I must protect you as well.

"I'm not sure I understand?" I said.

The alpha, Xemnas, keeps order and makes the rules. The second in command, me, protects everyone. My top priority is to protect the leader and do any necessary tasks outside the forest.

"So you're like… head of security… like the secret service!" I said, continuing to scratch.

What?

"It's a human thing…" I said.

Anyway… Riku watches the pups. He should be with them at all times, except for when they are with Xemnas.

"So Riku's the babysitter." I said.

Zack is the tracker… he can smell exceptionally well… Xigbar is like his partner. Zack will track and Xigbar will hunt. Xigbar's the muscle…

"So you guys have a whole system… that's really cool. Do I get to be in the system?" I asked.

The wolf grinned. No.

"Awe, I want to be in it too!" I said.

You can be the kitten… completely defenseless and small. I think Zack was perfectly right with that one. And you're a girl one too.

"You are mean. You came at the wrong time before! I totally took out two men on my own to save a little boy. I also had a woman hit on me today! I am a manly man!" I said firmly.

You are not a man… survive a week with us and maybe I'll consider you one.

"But I have school… I can't just skip it…" I said.

Well then I guess you'll always be a little girl to me. Why do you humans even go to school anyway. It makes no sense to me.

"People have dreams… sometimes they can't be fulfilled without the proper training." I explained.

What about you… do you have a dream?

"Not really… but if I wanted anything, it would be to take over The Bakery one day… I've always wanted to ask if I could… I love that place and everyone who works there…" I said.

Do you need to go to school for that?

"Well, not really but-"

Then why do you go? It's a waste of time… and it's only for a week.

"Five days… I don't want to, nor can I afford to skip work." I said.

Deal… that means you're staying with us starting now.

"Well, I need clothes and food and other things!" I said.

I told you you wouldn't be able to handle it… you're like a pampered kitten.

"Fine! It's so on! I can handle whatever you throw at me!" I yelled.

Let me give you a brief explanation of what you just got yourself into. In order to become a man, you'll have to learn to run, to climb, to track, to hunt, to listen, to protect, and you're gonna have to let us in that little head of yours. We don't actually speak English here. You're going to speak like us.

"Wait… so I have to let you read my mind?" I asked.

Yeah… if you want to make any noise at all, it's going to have to be our noises. Grunts, growls, yips, whimpers, those kind of things.

I guess I should start now… I thought.

"But… what if I don't want you to know something! That's not fair!" I yelled.

There are no secrets in a wolf pack, and there are no lies…

I sighed… "You can read my mind then… but only for this week that I'm staying here!" I said.

Alright.

'So are you reading my mind now?' I thought.

Yes.

'That is so wrong…'

You'll get used to it.

'What are we doing now then?' I wondered.

Xemnas and the pups are coming back from training. I will have to tell them about this deal.

I nodded but paused for a second. 'What about what happened? Aren't you fighting?'

No, I was being punished for breaking the order. He has that right as Alpha. You will have to understand this, if you plan to win this little bet we're having.

I nodded. I watched as Xemnas walked into the clearing, Sora and Kairi trailing behind him.

Cloud! Cloud! Let's play! The puppies yipped.

I decided to take off my shoes before beginning the wrestling match. When that was done, I grabbed Sora's muzzle and didn't let go. Sora squirmed in an attempt to get out of my hold.

Kairi nipped at my arm and I let go. I grabbed her hind leg and pulled her closer to me. Sora pounced and pushed me down. I pulled his ears a little.

Sora growled and nipped my hand.

I quickly grabbed the scruffs of their necks and picked them up.

They squirmed and yipped. We give! You win this time!

I smiled and put them down. I petted their heads and scratched their little backs. They were too cute.

I like you. You're warm and you smell nice. Like sugar. Sora snuggled into me.

Yeah! You're like mama! You feel like her! Kairi yipped.

Our mommas had to run to paradise… That's what Riku said. That's why they're gone.

I was slightly miffed by the fact that yet another person compared me to a mother… but I couldn't help but be warmed at their words.

Then I realized what Sora had last said.

'Do you think your mommies made it to paradise yet?' I wondered.

I don't really know about Kairi's momma, but I know my momma made it. My momma was super strong. Even stronger than Xigbar!

Mine made it to paradise too! I bet you she's basking in a giant full moon and howling as much as she wants!

Yeah! Mine too! Mine too!

'Paradise sounds like a pretty cool place.' I thought.

We think so too… Riku says that we'll all have a chance to run to paradise… but we have to live a long life here before we can leave.

Sora?

Yeah Kairi?

I want to run with you when our time comes. So don't leave without me okay?

Sure.

It was something that struck me deeply… the promises, the bonds, the responsibilities… they were all fulfilled, not because they were obligated to do so, but because everyone genuinely wanted to fulfill them. There was so much trust and loyalty. It was something that I wanted. I wanted to be able to trust someone's words and be unafraid of betrayal. It was like… the human race had forgotten all of these principles.

'You two are so lucky.' I thought.

Why do you say that? They wondered.

'Your pack is a great one.'

Do you have a pack?

'I had one… but the Alpha and second in command deserted me.'

WHY? They whined.

'I couldn't live up to their expectations.'

What are those?

I smiled. 'Well, they wanted me to choose a certain type of mate that I didn't like…'

Noooo! They yelped.

'Well, I'm a lone wolf now… but at least I can choose the mate I want to choose.'

Aren't you part of our pack now? You should be! You can choose your own mate in our pack! But you have to become a big wolf first! That's what Xemnas told me. Sora yipped.

'Is Kairi gonna be your mate Sora?'

Yep! Kairi and I are going lead the pack when we grow up!

'That's great!' I thought.

What about you? When you become a big wolf, who are you gonna choose?

You should choose Squall! He's been a big wolf for a long time but he hasn't chosen anyone! Everyone else has a mate!

'Really?' I asked.

Xiggy has Zack, Xemnas has Riku, I'm gonna have Sora… it's just you and Squall. Kairi yipped.

'What if I don't choose Squall?'

Well, it's not like you have to have a mate… and you can find someone else… but Squall is a really great choice. He's strong, he's handsome, and he's kind! Kairi woofed.

'Well, Squall isn't nice to me. He teases me a lot.' I grumbled.

Why wouldn't he be nice to you? He's nice to everyone else… maybe we should bite him Kairi. Sora huffed.

Do you want us to bite him for you Cloud? Kairi wondered.

'I don't know… I'm staying for a while, maybe he'll be nicer after that.'

He better! They yelped.

I yawned. 'I'm tired… what about you guys?' I wondered.

Yeah… it's been a while since the sun went down… They yawed and snuggled into me.

We fell asleep curled together in a small huddle.

-The Pack-

When I woke again, there was a larger body that wasn't there before.

I turned only to get a face full of midnight blue hair. I sat up. Sora and Kairi were still curled up on my left.

I looked around and smiled. Everyone was sleeping.

Then I noticed the pairs.

Dark brown and sliver black. White and Black. Zack and Xigbar. Xemnas and Riku.

I couldn't help bet giggle. They were doggie spooning!

I got up and moved to get some distance… I needed to pee.

When I felt that I had enough privacy, I opened my jeans and relieved myself. When I was done I sighed.

I turned to walk back when I noticed a rabbit. It wasn't that far from me and it was just sniffing around.

I took a step towards it, trying not to scare it off.

I took another step only to snap a twig.

The rabbit took off running.

CLAMP!

I think it was the crunching of the rabbit's bones that scared me the most.

"WAHHHHH!" I screamed at the sight of a rabbit mangled by a bear trap.

When I heard something behind me, I turned to see Squall running towards me.

CLOUD! What's wrong!

'The rabbit scared me… it's gone…' I pointed to it.

Well, here's breakfast for the pups… Squall moved towards it and started to fiddle with the trap.

'Th-that's dangerous!' I thought.

The trap unclenched.

Squall picked up the dead rabbit with his mouth. I cringed.

'You're really gonna feed it to them?' I thought.

He gave me a look. Just follow… you should be careful if you're going to venture out on your own.

I nodded and we walked back to the clearing.

So everything was okay? Xemnas asked.

He was frightened by a trap. Squall said and put the rabbit down.

Sora and Kairi walked up to Squall. Is that for us? They asked.

Squall nodded and the pups dug in.

I had to look away.

What is kitten going to eat? Zack asked.

'I'm really not all that hungry right now…' I trailed off… that sight was so gruesome.

Well, then I think it's time you start your lessons… Squall, I put that responsibility in your hands. Xemnas looked to Squall.

Squall nodded and turned to me. I think we should start on noises.

'What do you mean?' I wondered.

I told you, you're going to have to sound like us. It's so we can communicate.

'Okay…' I thought, unsure.

Let's start on the easier ones and move from there… Squall let out a growl.

I laughed. 'I seriously have to do this?'

He growled, serious.

I shook my head and made a growl noise before laughing again.

You have to take this seriously. You don't just growl from your throat, you have to start in your gut. It's something that can say different kinds of things.

'Like what?' I asked.

Like… stay away! Or… I'm agitated.

'Okay… do the growls sound different if they mean different things?' I wondered.

He nodded. This is stay away… he growled. This is I'm agitiated… he growled.

'The first one was deeper, and you snarled more.' I said.

Your turn…

'I'm sorry if I sound like an asshole but… are you fucking kidding me?'

He growled.

'I get it, you're agitated… but this is completely ridiculous.'

DO IT! Squall growled, different this time.

'Whoa! What was that one?' I asked.

I'm going to bite you.

'Okay, okay… I'll take this seriously.' I thought.

I made a growl noise. I was going for stay away!

That was sufficient… you were going for I'm agitated right?

I frowned a shook my head. I growled again, this time deeper.

Stay away.

'Yeah!' I smiled. 'I don't think my voice can go any deeper though…'

Well, I would hope that you don't need to bite anyone. Let's do grunts now.

I nodded.

This one says… understood.

He made a small grunt.

I copied.

He nodded before continuing. This one says… no!

It was a deeper grunt and Squall's eyes looked more focused.

I looked at him and grunted.

That one was good. Yips generally represent agreement or happiness so they don't vary much.

He made a high-pitched noise. I tried to copy but the noise wouldn't even come out.

'I don't know… can you still make these noises as a human? Isn't a human voice box a little different?' I asked.

Leon stood and moved to the bushes, after about five minutes he came out as a human, hat and all. He sat in front of me and yipped.

It didn't sound any different.

I sighed and tried again… maybe it didn't have to sound exactly the same. Maybe it just needed to express the right thing.

I made a noise of excitement… it kind of sounded like a squeal.

Squall laughed. "That'll work." He said out loud.

I smiled. He really wasn't that bad… he was kind of a jerk but maybe I can overlook that… he had a nice laugh, not a very good attitude though…

"I'm going to pretend you didn't think that. " Squall said.

'I forgot I let you read my thoughts…' I thought with a small blush.

"I think you know how to yelp… but the hardest things are whining and whimpering. Depending on the inflection, they mean different things. " Squall said.

"Well, how many meanings are there?" I asked.

"A lot… the meanings can range from pain to pleasure."

I nodded.

Squall whined.

I copied… with a little difficulty.

I heard Zack laugh and I turned to see him laughing at me.

"What did I just whine?" I asked.

Not telling… Squall yipped.

"Zack! What's so funny?" I asked.

"You basically just yelled, 'I'm horny!' for everyone to hear!" Zack barked a laugh.

I growled at Squall. He yipped.

I kicked him and he whimpered. I yipped.

"Hey! You're getting the hang of it!" Zack said before leaving.

I think maybe we should wait on the whines and whimpers.

I grunted.

Squall yipped.

I whined trying to say, I'm bored.

"I think you understand now." Squall said and stood.

'What are we doing now?' I wondered.

"It's time to run." He said.

A/N: I can't tell you how much I enjoyed writing this chapter. I did a lot of research on wolves and how they communicate and from that I kind of derived a system for these characters. I hope you liked it! Review now!