To be apart of a pack [Closed]

[Darasu]

"It's some thing me and dad both did, now its your turn dude." Tyra said with a hint of both concern, and hope in his voice. The elder brother was dressed in his genin garb, his head band shining against the ray of sun breaking through tree branches.

Darasu looked into the depths of the forest with doubt, and then back towards the direction of the village. He knew this was some thing he had to do, but that didn't make it any less frightening. The last time he had wandered into the forest alone, he had been left with the small three scars on his chest. He was older now, and more knowledgeable about the area and life within it, but did that compensate for his lack of shinobi skill?

His brother broke the silence. "Look, last time you didn't come into the forest for the right reasons. You wandered in here on accident, and you were just a kid. Our family has been dealing with this pack for almost two decades, and that's most likely why they didn't tear you to shreds. The mother could smell who's blood was in your veins, and knew you as friend. You've got this." He said with a clap on the shoulder.

The younger looked up, nodded and took a deep breathe. This was his trial.

With the fall of Kirigakure, the Morata family had to find a new place to raise their kin. Darasu's mother had ties in Kumogakure with her family, part of a well known clan across the world. It was here in Kumogakure that his stranger relatives took him in, and treated him like true family. That was the biggest word to the Inuzuka clan; loyalty.
His relatives here had mostly gained their canine companions through litters of pups that had been born within the village, by mating pairs of dogs distant around the clan. It was always important to avoid inbreeding, but still breed for a strong canine. Most of his family members got their pups around seven or eight years old, gifts from their parents or grand parents.

But Darasu was an outsider to Kumogakure. While his mother had always had her canine companion, his father and brother had needed to go to the source and earn theirs. Every few generations a wolf pup was needed to be retrieved from the wilds of the ancient forest, and brought to in to keep fresh blood within the breeds. As for Tyra and Darasu, they had chosen to get their own pure blooded wolves from the wilderness as a sign of strength and worthiness to the rest of the family....

Tyra nudged Darasu out of his thoughts, and ushered him forward. Bearsif, the black two year old wolf lay back in the shade snoozing lazily. The canine lupis had grown considerably in the last two years, and was almost like an extension of Tyra him self.
That was what he wanted, and now he was going to get it.


Darasu nodded, and began walking into the forest with confidence from his own reflection....

 

[Darasu]

His feet cracked the leaves and twigs beneath him as he wandered deeper and deeper into the forest, other sounds of birds and wild life penetrating his thoughts. Darasu knew he needed to stay alert, but he also knew that the wolf pack wasn't far from where Tyra had left him off of. His brother had considerable tracking skills, and said that within a mile radius he could find the beast family that was akin to his own. The academy student was unarmed except for a kunai, and had no armor of his own here. He had been told that there was beasts within this old place that were far more dangerous than a shinobi could be, but they often kept to themselves and were difficult to find.

Head turning in a flash, there was a rustle in the distant brush. A heavy sound, like a log being thrown through a bush. Darasu walked towards it with a bit of excitement, believing to have found the pack of wolves, but after a few steps forward, he took several back.

It was not what he was looking for. It was not the wolf matriarch or patriarch coming to greet him. It was a bear.
A big, brown, growling bear.

"Crap" He said under his breath, drawing his kunai in reverse grip. He took another step back, but the bear only moved closer and roared louder.

It was mating season after all, the bear was probably in heat or looking to get some, and the young student had been unfortunate enough to disappoint.

" It's just a bear. It can't climb or move as quick as I can using my chakra. This escape should be-" His thoughts were cut off as his entire being seemed to freeze. The bear charged at him with its jaws open wide, a vicious growl coming from its gaping mouth, teeth dripping with saliva.
Quickly, he threw his kunai at the bear, only for it to lodge into the animal's shoulder and not even seem to faze it, but rather disposing of his only tool.
He tried to turn and jump to the nearest tree, planting his feet against it and molding his chakra into an almost suction cup. The first step was a success, then second was panicked and unfocused though causing his foot to release to much of his inner energy and blast his foot straight off the bark, splinters dancing around his open toed shoe as he realized his folly.

Darasu was thrown back several feet and slammed his back against the ground. The bear continued towards him, less than ten yards away now and writing the academy students grave with its eyes.
His heart stopped, and he cursed the idea of coming into these damned woods again. The first time he had been injured badly. Fool me once.....

Both he and the bear's eyes were wide now, one with fear, one with hunger. Nine yards, seven, four-

A blur of absent colors now filled his vision, as did a chorus of different toned growls. It what seemed like less than a second, Darasu had become surrounded on every inch by half a dozen wolves, four more closing in from every side of the bear.

"They had been stalking me!" He amazed, and realized that they were probably hunting while he had been searching for them.

The pack growled as they closed in around the massive grizzly, jaws snapping and dripping with hunger. The bear tried to back up, only to realize its flanks were being shut down as well. There was another blur of colors, this time not just grays blacks and white. This time there was splashes of red, and throws of browns as a tornado of fur and flesh moved in a dance of murder. It was beautiful in a way, but Darasu quickly turned his attention to the white wolf that was directly before him, as she turned to look at him.

There was a wisdom in here eyes, almost like a voice. It was the same wolf that had slashed his chest three years ago, but Darasu felt no fear now. There was a peace, as he knew she was protecting him now.

After the carnage, the five other wolves moved in to feed on the bear, and several pups were carried in as well to feed. The entire pack except the matriarch ate, while she continued to study the boy before her.

It seemed like an eternity, that they looked one another up and down. When the stillness was finally broken, she took several slow steps forward, and licked him on his right cheek. Darasu slowly brought his right hand up and rubbed the fur of her neck. It was thick, and full, but felt dirty and greasy at the same time.

The mother then turned and retreated to where all the animals were feasting on the former predator, and seemed to nudge each of the eating pups. It was as if she was deciding, and then finally she picked one up in her mouth, a pure white pup save the red on his muzzle, hanging from the scruff of his neck. The cub lightly thrashed and pawed the air, stubborn at the idea of not getting to continue his meal.
She then lay the pup in his lap, and both of the wolves looked up at him now. The small cub spun in a circle, and cuddled down in his lap to sleep. The mother licked his other cheek now, and did a type of bow towards him, before barking at the rest of the pack.

All at once, the wolf pack stood at attention. There was a pause, and then as a unit they began to drag the bear carcass into the shadows. The matriarch was the last to fade away, before turning back towards Darasu one last time, and at her child that she had gifted him. And then too, she blended into the forests thick.

Darasu looked down at his new friend, and scratched behind the sleeping pups ear. The sun was beginning to set in the distance, so he stood up while cradling the small puppy in his arms. He tucked the wolf cub against his chest, and nuzzled him with his face. He already knew the pups name, as if he had been told it long ago, and was waiting to say it out loud for years until this moment.

"Koga."

Upon speaking that name to his new wolf, he seemed to suddenly know much more about him self.

[1,611 words]