Disclaimer: I do not own Ninjago.
A/N This chapter jumps to when Lupe's about to go through her third transformation. Meanwhile, the ninja are still relaxing and slacking off from work.
Chapter 3: Bardo
Lupe's POV
Peridot led me, in my human form, to the same cliff where I had first howled to Lupa, the moon she-wolf star guardian who protects moon wolves, especially pups, along with her mate in the sky, Lupus. But moon she-wolves only howl to Lupa, while males howl to both Lupa and Lupus, howling to Lupus for guidance with their mate and to Lupa for protection of their pups.
As we reached the top of the cliff, I felt something, like a tugging, in my heart. The same feeling I got when Lucine and Lloyd were born, but this time, it was much stronger. I closed my green eyes and lifted my human head to Lupa. When the claw moon reached the center of the sky, I felt myself grow shorter, I bent my head, and my legs shrunk, until I was in my black wolf form again. Sadly, I didn't have time to enjoy my wolf body. I lifted my black head and opened my eyes to see what seemed to be Lupa's constellation glowing brighter than normal.
I began to howl.
"I have studied, I have learned. I am ready to be free, with no want or concern. I have chosen my name; I am ready to be alone. I have no regret, my skills have been honed. I shall be called Cuchilla Loba when I am in my true form. Forevermore. Guide me, and I will choose better more. Call me Cuchilla, great Lupa. A complete moon she-wolf."
When I was finished, I looked at my pelt. Instead of pure black, my pelt had become metallic silver on the ends of my furs.
"Cuchilla." Peridot called me from the base of the cliff. She must have ditched me on top while I was howling.
"What?" I asked. She seemed tense, as if something was off.
"It's about time you join a pack. You can't be a lone wolf forever." Now I understood why she was tense. Bitten moon wolves were hard to accept into packs. Some called the bitten 'half bloods', an insult meant only for werewolves.
"First, can I at least run free as a lone wolf for five months?" I asked. Surprisingly, I remained calm. On an average day, I would have glared and whined at her that I needed to find my brother.
She sighed, "Yes, I guess that is alright. But first you should look at yourself in the lake."
I nodded, and then jumped onto a nearby tree, digging my claws into the tree trunk to avoid falling to my death.
When I was finally at the bottom, I ran to the lake, and almost had a heart attack. My form had gotten slightly bigger, with more muscular back legs, for running, but that's not what shocked me. A pup, most lightly a new born, with dark brown fur was quivering on the side of the running water. I walked slowly and cautiously over to him, wondering why he was alone; even more confusing was that he bore almost no scent of the warm, life giving first milk from his mother.
I licked the pup, and gently placed my ear to his small chest to hear a small, faint heartbeat and breathe. I sat next to the pup, pondering what to do with the tiny creature.
He'll die if I leave him here. But, I have to find Lloyd! Suddenly, the little eyes opened, revealing a dark sea blue color.
"Pablo," I whispered. The pup whimpered in the cold. "I'll call you Bardo." Bardo was Spanish for 'water'. I gently picked the pup up by the nook of his neck and set straight for Peridot.
"Peridot! Peridot!" I tried to yell, which was hard to do with Bardo in my mouth. When I finally caught up to her, I was out of breath.
"Cuchilla? What is it?" Her attention was directed to the defenseless bundle I was carrying. "What's that?"
"More like 'who's that?' Peridot, this is Bardo." I told her, trying not to bit into Bardo's soft flesh. We stopped and I softly laid Bardo on the ground, where he quickly fell asleep. Peridot examined him, and then looked back at me. The sun was starting to break the horizon.
"I know the smell on the pup. Follow me," Peridot stood up, still in wolf form, and turned around. I picked Bardo up, still in my black, silver-tipped nocturnal form, and followed her. Soon, we came up to a brightly lit den, and heard playful arguing within.
"Not my fault you were up all night!" A female voice growled harmlessly.
"Not my fault either, sis." A male voice laughed.
"Alright now, that's enough. We have to find Pablo before mum kills us." Another male voice said.
"Alejandro's right, we should find Pablo." The female voice told her acquaints.
"Fine, then let's go, oh great Delicia," The male other than Alejandro remarked.
"Shut up Acuzio," Delicia snapped. Just as they were about to leave the den, Peridot and I came in.
"Hello Peridot. Are you here to talk with mum?" Delicia asked, clearly trying to avoid her mother as a topic. Her fine white pelt almost quivered in anxiety.
"Well, we found Pablo for you. Honestly, Cuchilla found Pablo." Peridot turned to me, still carrying Pablo.
After I set Pablo down, I explained.
"I found him by the river, so I was called him Bardo." The three wolves, Delicia, Acuzio, who was a handsome, muscular gray wolf, and Alejandro, who was a mix between white and gray, looked relived. As dawn began to break fully, I felt myself turn human again. Delicia, Alejandro, and Acuzio stayed in wolf form. I narrowed my eyes slightly in confusion. "Why do I turn when you don't?"
A/N How was the chapter? Anyone know the answer to Lupe (or should we call her Cuchilla?)'s question? Please review! But no flames!