Wolf's Rain Fan Fiction ❯ The Wanderer ❯ Greetings ( Chapter 3 )

The Wanderer

Disclaimer: I don't own Wolf's Rain but I do own Akago

 

 

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A/N: Here's a chapter for those who are reading this lol sorry I took so long…

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Chapter 3: Greetings

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The sun was rising steadily as the other wolves in the cave stirred. Toboe was the first to wake up. He yawned and stretch his paws in front of him. He looked over to the “injured” wolf and didn't see her in her spot. He jerked his head to where Kiba would have been and didn't see him either; he stood in alarm and looked around. He relaxed when he saw them both sitting in the front of the cave. He tilted his head to the side in a curious way and trotted up to them.

 

“HI!” He said happily from behind Akago. She nearly jumped out of her fur, spun around and growled menacingly with her ears flat against her head. Toboe gasped and backed up, whining like a scolded puppy. Akago's eyes widened and she immediately stopped growling, her ears perked up and she gave him a sheepish look.

 

“Sorry… you startled me…” She said softly. Kiba eyed her a moment, how could a puppy like Toboe spook her so easily? Then again she hadn't seen any of them yet… He gazed at her from the corner of his eye curiously; even though she was still wounded he could tell that under the bloody fur and patches of herbs that were her bandages she was… beautiful.

 

“It's okay! How are you feeling??” Toboe asked in his happy sort of way that seemed to bring out the best in anyone. Akago was a little taken aback by how easily he could jump back to being cheerful and blinked in confusion before answering.

 

“Uh, much better…” she said and jerked her head to the sound of Hige's loud yawn. Akago straightened as much as her injuries would allow and watched the waking males warily. Hige stood in his human form and took in the sight of the female wolf awake and well; he grinned at her as he approached.

 

“Hey there!” He said, Akago had not seen him shift from wolf to human and had her ears flat against her back. The female wolf let a low growl emit from deep in her throat to warn the strange human. Kiba was just as surprised as Hige from Akago's cautious nature, had she not smelled his scent before? “Hey easy there, I'm a friend!” Hige said in defense. Akago stopped growling and sniffed the air to see if she could catch his scent. She blinked in surprise.

 

“You… look like a human…” The ebony wolf muttered. The wolves around her gave her a curious look - it was as if she had never seen a wolf disguise him or herself?

 

“It's our disguise… you have one too… don't you?” Kiba asked from beside her. Akago jumped again, forgetting the white wolf was sitting silently by her side; she glanced at him and nodded.

 

“I don't use it…” she held her head high then. “I prefer to keep my pride as a wolf.” She added in a defensive tone and frowned curiously when Hige chuckled.

 

“You sound just like Kiba did when I met him!” He said with a grin; Hige walked over and sat with them while Toboe and Tsume hung back a bit. “Like I said to him, what good is pride when you're dead?” Akago lowered her head sheepishly.

 

“I guess you're right…” she said. Akago wondered briefly how well acquainted with death he or the rest of this small pack really was; how long had they fought it?

 

“So what do you look like then?” Asked a voice from the back of the cave; Akago looked up and saw a silver hair young man with leather clothes; she guessed he was a wolf as well, one sniff and her assumption was proven correct. As she eyed them, preparing to shift her form, the other wolves' eyes widened when they saw her transform into her human disguise.

 

`Whoa…' thought Hige, his head tilted a bit in admiration.

 

`Pretty!!!!!' thought Toboe.

 

`Hmm, now that's a female…' thought Tsume, he would never admit his attraction to anyone… annoyance yes, anger yes, hate yes… attraction? No. One wolf however was slightly unsure what to make of the sight.

 

`……' Kiba was not only speechless but he could no longer think. Once his mind settled on one conclusion he narrowed his eyes slightly, she was more beautiful then he had thought she'd be… but perhaps, he had always found her attractive? Seeing her human form seemed to “complete” her somehow, as if her human form was a part of her more than his was to himself. Akago's long reddish-black hair blew with the soft morning breeze and her bright gray eyes caught the gleam of the sun's first rays, making them seem like molten silver. Her full lips were pursed in thought and her brows knitted …cutely. `Cutely?' Thought Kiba incredulously… since when had he ever had such thoughts of fancy? Then again…

 

“I haven't really seen myself as a human before… I hope I don't look ugly or something…” Akago said in a low but thoughtful way. All but Toboe had no idea what to say; said puppy spoke his mind, not realizing he was speaking the minds of the others as well… or at least partially.

 

“No, you look really pretty!!” The wolf-pup said happily, wagging his tail. She smiled at him and rubbed his ears as a thanks.

 

`Aww he's a cute puppy…' she thought remembering how she loved the young ones; however, this brought a memory of her past and she frowned at herself, looking at the cave's rocky floor in regret.

 

“…Something wrong?” Hige asked carefully. Akago looked at him and shook her head with a sigh.

 

“Just a bad memory is all…” She said in a way that told him to drop it. Hige got it and nodded slowly - better not to get involved with something you know nothing about. Kiba on the other-hand was more than curious; he rose from his seated position and donned his human form. He looked out from the cave and squinted against the rising sun.

 

“There's a town about two miles from here.” He said and turned to the others to see if they were ready. Akago looked up when he spoke and she had to swallow her heart that wanted to jump out from her throat. As Kiba did before, Akago gawked… she shook her head, snapped her mouth shut and prayed no one saw her reaction. One quick glance told her no one did. She relaxed and averted eyes from everyone.

 

`It should be illegal to be that good looking…' she thought. She too held an attraction for the white wolf before but something told her he was more than that, similar to what Kiba had felt when he saw her. Akago looked back up and realized for the first time how short her deceased mate had been. Kiba must have been three or four inches taller and built better. Her mate was the youngest of his family and the scrawniest but she had seen passed his weak looking frame and into his soul… unfortunately she must not have looked deep enough because in the end he proved to be the one thing she despised.

 

“Let's head out then…” Akago declared as she stood. The males gave her a curious look - no only was she almost ordering them but…

 

“You're coming with us?” Toboe asked excitedly. Akago thought for a moment, was she? She hadn't thought of it before but it seemed logical right? She was searching for paradise and it seemed they were too right?

 

“I don't know… I was headed for a town for a stop myself… but join you?” she trailed off, hoping they'd buy the lie… they did.

 

“Come on then, we're all headed the same way! And the more the merrier!” Hige pleaded. Akago frowned thoughtfully.

 

“Why would you want me to come anyway?” she asked. The gray wolf spoke first, his tone was rough but his eyes betrayed him.

 

“We don't.” Tsume said as arrogant as ever.

 

“Tsume! Come on! Don't listen to him Akago he's just grumpy cuz he's not the one getting attention.” Toboe reasoned. Tsume growled.

 

“I am not! Cut it out kid!” He hissed but they ignored him.

 

“Yeah come on Aka'!” Hige went on. Akago's eyes widened, she hadn't heard that nick-name in two years. She forced her eyes not to water from the memory and looked away. She stood there for a moment, silence covering her like a blanket until one voice that hadn't until that moment spoke up.

 

“Come with us.”

 

Akago looked up to Kiba, their eyes locked. No one said anything but she could tell by his posture and the look in his eyes that he had to be the Alpha of the pack. She would have thought the one called “Tsume” was the leader but he didn't seem to fit the bill like the white wolf did… he was certainly tough and seemed to be quite the fighter but Kiba looked to be the one who called the shots most of the time… they seemed to follow him around, not Tsume.

 

“I…” Akago began trailing off, her gaze captured by the incredibly handsome young man before her. Should she trust him? But truthfully, she was unsure if it was a request or an order.

 

“Please?” The white wolf said softer than before. Akago tore her gaze from his eyes to look at the others; even Tsume had an anticipating look; she sighed and shrugged.

 

“Where are we headed?” She asked in half-hearted defeat. In truth, she had wanted to join others, she missed traveling with companions so why not? Toboe and Hige cheered happily, Tsume snorted irritably but Akago knew it was a front and Kiba smiled softly, threatening to give her a heart attack again. `I really need to get a hold of myself, I'm behaving like a pup around him and I barely know him!' she thought but once she heard him speak her thoughts were cut short.

 

“Paradise.” He said simply. Akago kept her eyes from widening successfully but was she really that surprised? They're wolves, of course they would be searching for paradise as well; she nodded in agreement with him as she passed by him.

 

“Exactly where I was headed.” Akago said and exited the cave before anyone could comment. The others soon followed; Kiba walked up and they walked side by side to the town in the distance.

 

“So `Aka huh?” Kiba inquired. Akago gave him a look as they walked and Kiba smirked softly. “I saw your expression when Hige called you that… do you mind if I call you that?” he asked slowly. Akago thought for a moment, that nick-name was dear to her; when she was young her dearest grandfather would call her that. He was the sweetest wolf in the pack and she missed him dearly… he had strange stories that confused her at times but his voice always seemed to bring great peace to her. She sighed inwardly, maybe it would ease her pain to here it again?

 

“Sure…” she said and continued to look forward. Kiba smiled and turned his gaze to the town as well; together the pack walked on.

 

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End A/N: Don't expect any fast updates… Although I am going to continue writing this I am not as excited about it as I was before… I haven't given up on it though! I'm just having a bit of writers block…