Original Stories Fan Fiction ❯ Chanirra ❯ Chapter 17

Chanirra awoke a few hours later and stretched. He gazed up at the moon for a moment then stood up. It was approximately three in the morning which would put him arriving home at around eight or nine depending on how fast he traveled. He could travel further in his wolf form but he was hesitant to use it because of obvious drawbacks. Using his true form in a hunt was fine but he was not sure about traveling large distances. There were also a few human settlements scattered about the land and he did not want to run the risk of frightening villagers. Being shot at was not a pleasant experience. He paused to sniff the air then continued on his way. He headed deeper into the woods instead of heading back to the main road for he had learned some shortcuts during his travels. He didn't always use them on his return home because sometimes he wanted to prolong his arrival as much as he could but now he was too weary to complain about the warm reception he would eventually receive.

 

“I don't see why they have to make such a big deal out of everything,” Chanirra muttered as he stepped onto a fallen tree trunk. “What I do is not all that special. I just hope they allow me some peace for a few days otherwise I'll have to set off again.”

 

He walked in silence for about an hour or so then glanced up into the sky. He was getting into familiar territory. Soon he would be spotted by one of the tribe members. Once one of his people saw him, there was no turning back. He pushed down his hood and took the clasps off his ears. He was close enough to his home to walk as he truly was. It felt good to be free of the limitations he had to place on himself when he was in human company. He shook his head so that his hair fell over his ears and took a deep breath of fresh air. He was glad to be surrounded by familiar scents and sounds. Nature was always there to comfort him and he was thankful for it. He stopped suddenly when a bear cub lumbered out of the forest and glanced around for the mother. He did not want any trouble with a mother bear. They were completely irrational when they thought their young were being threatened.

 

“Excuse me,” Chanirra called and the cub glanced up. “Are you lost? Where's your mother?”

 

“I'm not lost,” the cub replied. “I'm running away. Mama won't let me have any honey until I eat my fish and I don't like trout. It tastes funny. Will you help me get out of here before she knows I'm gone?”

 

“Are you sure you want to leave? It's dangerous out on your own. You have to worry about foxes, rain, hunters, and traps. If you stay with your mother, you'll have a nice home and fresh food. She's only trying to give you food that will make you healthy. She doesn't want you getting sick. I'm sure you don't like being sick, do you?”

 

“No but if I go back she'll be mad at me.”

 

“Well maybe I can talk to her. Which way do you live? If it's on my way home, I'll walk with you.”

 

What have I just gotten myself into? Chanirra pondered this as he followed the bear cub back through the forest. Mother bears were notoriously bad tempered when they were concerned about their children. Hopefully she would be willing to listen to him before she took a strike at him. He was not in a mood to become injured so close to home. He weaved around a patch of saplings and climbed over a rock then paused slightly when he heard the roar of a frantic mother bear. Hopefully she'll listen to reason, Chanirra thought as the bear cub glanced back at him.

 

“Boy she sounds really upset, doesn't she?” the cub inquired and Chanirra nodded his head.

 

“Yes she does. She loves you and she's only worried about your safety. Are we almost there?” Chanirra asked and the cub nodded his head.

 

“Yup. We just have a few more trees to go through and then we'll be home. Boy if you hadn't come along, I would have made a really stupid mistake. I don't want to make her sad, I just don't like eating trout.”

 

“You need meat to survive along with the nuts and berries you eat. If you ate only sweet things you'd get sick. I smell something. I believe it's your mother. She's right behind me, isn't she?”

 

Chanirra's ears twitched when he heard heavy breathing behind him and closed his eyes tightly. He could not outrun a bear, not in his present condition. He stood frozen in place, awaiting the crushing blow from the mother bear's paws then opened an eye when the bear moved around him. She sniffed her child then licked him. The cub rubbed his paw over his cheek and scowled for a moment then ran in front of Chanirra.

 

“Don't hurt him, Mama! He was only trying to bring me back. He didn't do anything to me. I'm sorry I ran away!” the cub cried and the mother bear glanced at Chanirra.

 

“His people are the only ones I'd trust with you. I thank you for bringing him back to me. I was quite upset when I caught my baby's scent again but when I saw that he was in your company, my worrying ceased. You explained things in a way that he could understand and I am grateful. I'm assuming you're on your way home? I could give you a ride if you wish. You look as though you've been on a long journey,” the mother bear said and Chanirra breathed a heavy sigh of relief.

 

“I'm glad you came to your senses so quickly,” Chanirra commented. “I have always tried not to get in the way of an angered bear. However, I was concerned about the young one's safety.”

 

“Are you a father?”

 

“No but I have a lot of brothers who have children so I know how much he means to you. I have been on a long journey but I do no wish to put you in any trouble.”

 

“It's no trouble. It's the least I can do for the man who returned my cub to me. Climb on my back.”

 

Chanirra paused for a moment then walked up to the mother bear. He grabbed the scruff of her neck then hoisted himself up onto her back. He got a firm grip on her fur and prepared himself for the ride. At least this ride would be less perilous than his trip with Bennu. He wasn't sure if he would be able to transform into a bird after that terrifying experience. The cub glanced at him for a moment then grinned.

 

“Mama won't drop you,” he said and Chanirra smiled.

 

“I'm sure she won't. I was just thinking about some of my other travels,” he replied and the cub looked interested.

 

“Will you tell me one of them? I've never been out of these woods. What's it like in other places?”

 

“The land outside this forest varies greatly. There's ice and snow up in the north, wide plains in the west and a large desert in the south.”

 

“What's a desert?”

 

“A desert is a land of endless sand and hardly any trees. It seldom rains there and it gets extremely hot.”

 

“Does anyone live in the desert?”

 

“You'd be surprised how many things live in the desert. Insects, reptiles, birds, foxes...”

 

“Foxes live there? How do they get water? Ow!”

 

“Watch where you're going dear,” the mother bear said and the cub shook his head.

 

“They drink water from inside the ground,” Chanirra replied.

 

“Water in the ground? I thought dirt was in the ground,” the cub said then lowered his head to avoid being hit by a branch. A howl echoed throughout the forest and Chanirra sighed. Someone had already caught his scent. He hoped his brothers would wait in the village and not rush out to greet him like they had done the last time he had returned from a long journey.

 

“There's more in the ground than just dirt. There are rocks, animals, roots...”

 

“But water doesn't come from the ground. It comes from streams.”

 

“Water goes into the ground when it rains. Doesn't it make sense for it to come out again?”

 

“I guess...”

 

“You must be very important at home. Some people are coming our way,” the mother bear commented and Chanirra glanced up.

 

“Those are some of my brothers. I was hoping to rest a bit before I'd have to see them. Wishful thinking, I guess,” Chanirra replied and the mother bear paused.

 

“Would you like me to stop so you can get off?”

 

“It might be best. They might pull me off in their haste to see me. I've been away for a long time, after all.”

 

The mother bear lowered her head so that Chanirra could slip off. Chanirra brushed his robe off then patted the cub's head. The cub licked his hand and Chanirra smiled.

 

“Now don't run out on her. You two need each other,” Chanirra said then turned around. He grunted when a strong male with short turquoise hair pinned him to the ground and began licking his cheek. Chanirra growled slightly then rolled over and pulled his arms out of the other male's grasp.

 

“Why can't you ever use a simple hello?”Chanirra demanded as he stood up. He rubbed his cheek then helped his brother up.

 

“Hellos are for every day greetings. How often do we see you out of the year?” he inquired as another circled Chanirra, sniffing at his robes.

 

“He's traveled far this time. I'm smelling things I've never smelled before,” the other commented and Chanirra folded his arms.

 

“You're not going to give me a chance to relax, are you?” he asked then gagged when a third wrapped his arms around Chanirra's neck.

 

“You've had plenty of chances to relax while you were away. Come on, everyone's looking forward to seeing you,” he said.

 

“Wait a moment. Where's Shira? Why isn't he here?”

 

“He's been ill. Something he caught on a hunt didn't agree with him. He should be better in a few days, though. So did you bring anything back?” the first inquired as he pulled on Chanirra's robe.

 

“Stop that, Harael. All I have is my pay, nothing more,” Chanirra said as he pulled away.

 

“So where did you go?”

 

“Can't I at least get home before I answer all your questions? I haven't been there in awhile you know.”

 

“I know. We've been keeping it clean for you.”

 

“We've got a hunt coming up in a few days. Do you want to lead it?” the third brother inquired and Chanirra glanced at him.

 

“I just got back, Rinna. Right now I'd really like to sleep,” Chanirra said then glanced at Harael, who was pulling on his gloves. “Would you let go?”

 

“What kind of leather is this? I've never seen it before. It's not cow leather. What is it?” he asked and Chanirra sighed. Perhaps returning home had been a mistake.

 

“Would you stop pushing Shaia?”

 

“The sooner you tell us what you've been up to, the sooner you can rest,” Shaia said as he ran a hand through his willow colored hair.

 

“I don't know how long I'll be able to stay. I sort of made a promise to travel down to Alavus Lake and visit the elves,” Chanirra said and Shaia folded his arms.

 

“Why?”

 

“Why not?”

 

“Do you really dislike us?” Rinna inquired and Chanirra looked at him.

 

“What do you mean?” he asked and Harael folded his arms.

 

“Well you always seem to be in such a hurry to leave whenever you come back,” he replied.

 

“I don't like being in crowds for long periods of time. I like my solitude. You all know that but you ignore it. That's why I take on the most dangerous jobs.”

 

“It's only because we love you.”

 

Chanirra smiled slightly then roughly ran a hand through Harael's hair. Harael protested loudly and Shaia shook his head. Love existed in Chanirra's heart, he just showed it differently than the rest of them. He grabbed onto Chanirra's hood and Chanirra glanced back at him.

 

“What now?” he asked and Shaia folded his arms.

 

“The story. When will you tell us the story? I'd like to write it down after all. Your travels are an important piece of our history,” he said and Chanirra shook his head.

 

“How you can stay here is beyond me. We aren't all that different after all.”

 

“You have a strong desire to travel. I don't. I'd rather stay at home and read about adventures or record them. You would die if you were bedridden for three days. If you won't tell me about your travels, at least tell me why you want to go into elven territory.”

 

“I'm curious, that's all.”

 

“You've never left home because of curiosity before so why are you starting now?”

 

“I'm just taking the advice of a spirit.”

 

“A spirit? Come on, tell me what you've been up to.”

 

“Look Shaia, I'll tell everyone my story at the same time. That way I won't be bothered with a lot of people asking me to relate my travels. Let's go to Shira's. He should have enough room. If not, he's got enough yard to accommodate everyone.”

 

“Well then I need to get my pen and paper. Don't start talking without me.”

 

Chanirra watched him run off and shook his head. No matter how long he had been away from home, his brothers would never change. He truly loved them, even though he could only take their personalities in small doses and he was glad to be around them, at least for a little while. Chanirra nodded his head as he stepped into the village and he winced when young children shrieked at his arrival. Instantly, there was a crowd around him, asking him questions, shaking his hand, and offering him discounts on goods. Chanirra held his tongue as his brothers steered him through the crowd towards Shira's house. He didn't like crowds and he almost wanted to transform into a bird but he knew better. Shira had a right to see him, he was their leader after all. Shira had claimed the position when he had challenged the leader over two years ago and no one had the nerve to challenge him. Chanirra could easily beat him but he had no desire for leadership. He was content with his lot in life. He heard a shrill whistle and Chanirra glanced up. Shaia ran up to him with a pen and a long sheet of paper.

 

“I'm back! He hasn't said anything, has he?” Shaia asked and Rinna shook his head.

 

“No but he looks quite nervous. I think the crowd is getting to him,” Rinna replied as Harael took Chanirra's hand.

 

“Why do crowds upset you so?” he inquired.

 

“I don't know. They just do. That's why it gets a little annoying when you all come at me in a large group. Why do you think I like being a warrior? I'm able to have my freedom that way,” he replied.

 

“You can have freedom right here. You just have to know how to handle it.”

 

“I don't think he'd ever be truly happy living life the way we do,” Shaia said and Chanirra smiled.

 

“Thank you. You're the only one that makes an effort to understand,” he replied.

 

“I've always known you were different. Our father even knew it, bless his heart.”

 

“We're here,” Rinna commented as he opened a gate. “Everyone inside. I don't think you should keep Shira waiting any longer.”