Ookami Bouken

Chapter 1: Tomodachi

Kouga sighed as he looked around the wolf den, bored as usual by the ways of the wolf pack. His human-like wolf friends were practicing their fighting techniques, others were sleeping, and some were munching on half eaten bones. The young wolf demon sighed as he tugged on his ear impatiently, waiting for his father to return. His father, the current leader of the wolf pack, was out to meet some of their allies.

The young child gave a frustrated growl; his father talked for to long. He lay back upon the straw which he called his bed. He wore brown furs with a silver and black chest plate. At his side was a sword, one he only used when needed. The young wolf demon preferred to use his fists when it came to fighting, but those Birds of Paradise were an exception.

For a long time the two demons had fought over the mountain territory they called home. Each claimed it to be theirs, and neither was willing to leave such a beautiful place. The Birds of Paradise were a strong enemy, carrying off wolves to eat everyday, or killing them for sport. The wolf pack was managing to keep them back so far, but it left the guarding of the younger pups to become a hassle. The pack in which Kouga resided was for the single male wolf demons. Kouga was the youngest of the wolves, his father was alpha and thus he remained here with his father. His mother had died a while back, she'd been killed by humans during a hunt.

Since then, he had been raised by his father, making him further into his training then the rest of the wolf demon pups. His two best friends, Hakkaku and Ginta, were also in training. He sighed; they were taking very long naps at the moment which left him to grumble on his own. The now seven year old pup yawned heavily, falling asleep in a deep train of thought.

Quick movement was heard at the entrance of the cave, waking the once sleeping pup from his dreams. Kouga looked round, trying to see what the commotion was about. An odd scent was in the air, something he hadn’t smelt since January. There was a female around, but how was that possible? He got up quickly and forced his way through the older wolf demons to the entrance of the cave. His father was sitting making his way towards him, a wolf demon following close behind. The wolf demon was carrying a young wolf child, a female wolf child. She had black fur, like the demon that carried her, but her hair was a dark brown color instead of the blonde the male carrying her had. Their scents were similar, leading Kouga to believe the demon girl was the wolf demon’s daughter.

“Dad… what’s happening?” Kouga asked as he stood in his father’s way. The dark brown wolf looked to him for a moment, his dark coloured eyes observing his son carefully. A small black dot of fur was upon the wolf’s brow, more visible as he thought for a moment.

“I will explain to all of you soon, now return to your business. Guards, time to switch shifts, you will be informed when you return of what has happened,” the wolf instructed.

The wolves obeyed and went to their posts or returned to their spots in the large den. Kouga’s furrowed his eyebrows, but moved from his father’s way. His father nodded and headed to the straw bed, Kouga following close behind. The alpha wolf sat down upon the straw and turned to look to his guests. Kouga sat down beside his father, the wolf demon sat upon the ground in front of the alpha, bowing his head in respect.

Kouga recognized the wolf demon, his name was Rokku. Rokku was one of the main hunters for the wolf pack, and had left about a month ago for some personal reasons. Kouga’s question was why he had brought his daughter back with him? The demon child seemed to be asleep, though her tail twitched constantly in rhythm with her hiccupping.

“Kouga, the matter that you are wondering about will be answered soon, be patient,” said Fenris, his father.

Kouga blinked, “How… how did you know?” he asked, confused.

His father looked to him, a slight wolfish grin upon his face. “I know you well, you are my son. Your curiosity is plainly written on your face.”

Kouga sighed; his father could be very cunning. He supposed that’s why he had become the alpha wolf of the pack, and remained alpha for so long.

“Rokku, I am sorry to hear of what has happened to your mate, and deeply regret that your eldest daughters were killed,” Fenris stated. Rokku nodded, recognizing the alpha’s sincerity. “I am glad to say that I can offer you a home here for your daughter, as she has no one in the other tribe to return too.”

Once more, Rokku nodded, “Thank you Fenris, for your kindness. I’m glad that you allow her to stay; I would not leave her in the hands of anyone else but myself. Her youger sister, Fenix, shall be coming soon as well. She had to take care of some business with the other wolves, but she shall be arriving soon. She’s the caretaker of her sister.”

Fenris nodded, “That is fine. We welcome you, and invite you to remain here. Now, you may rest with your daughter, the journey has been long.”

Rokku nodded as well and looked around, taking a spot near the wall. He leaned back against it as his daughter slept peacefully in his arms.

Kouga looked to his father, unable to decide if inviting a female here was right or wrong. He sighed and lay back upon the hay, thinking over what had just happened. He gave a deep yawn before falling asleep as he had been before his father had returned.

Fenris watched his son before giving a large yawn as well. He lay down beside his son, curling his furry body around that of Kouga’s. He laid his head upon his son’s body, trying to figure out what his son thought of his decision. His eyes shut slowly as he, too, drifted off to sleep.

---

It was near dawn when Kouga woke back up. H pushed himself away from his father quietly and looked around the cave. Most of the wolves were sleeping, except those he heard outside patrolling the territory. He looked around to spot the young wolf girl sitting near her father twirling her dark brown hair between her fingers. Koga crawled away from the hay and got up, walking towards the female.

“Hi,” he greeted as he stepped in front of her.

Grey eyes looked up to meet his blue ones. “Hello,” replied the young girl, her voice quivering slightly.

“Heh, scared of me?” Kouga asked, a cocky grin plastered upon his face.

The wolf girl narrowed her eyes at him for a moment then shook her head. “No…” she said, her voice still a little shaky.

“Then what’s wrong with your voice?” he asked.

The girl shut her eyes for a moment and looked away from him. “Never mind,” she stated.

“What do you mean, never mind?”

“It means I’m not telling you,” she replied, her voice becoming more stable now.

Kouga scratched his head, females were such odd creatures. “Well…” he paused for a moment, “I’m Kouga, son of the alpha Fenris.”

The girl ignored him, much as little girls do when they don’t wish to speak. Koga growled a little, “Talk to me!”

“Kouga, leave the young child alone…” came a stern voice. Kouga looked around at his father who stood only a foot behind him. How had he awoken without him noticing? “She’s had a rough couple of days, it was explained yesterday, or have you already forgotten?”

Kouga looked down, “No... I know…” he sighed deeply.

Fenris nodded, “Well then, come now, time to train.”

“But it’s so early dad!” Kouga whined.

Fenris gave him another stern look, “Well, why are you up then?”

Kouga sighed, he’d been caught. He heard the young girl giggle beside him. He glanced over at her. She was looking up at him, a slight smirk upon her face. Kouga felt blood rush to his face, causing his cheeks to flush red in embarrassment. He’d been made a fool by his father in front of a female. For some reason he did not mind being pointed out as an idiot in front of the other males, half the time they were dumber then he was, but something about being in front of a female made him embarrassed. Kouga growled a little, but a look from his father made him go quiet.

“Samara, my child, how would you like to join us in training?” Fenris offered.

The girl looked to him; the alpha was offering to train her? She blushed a little, just enough for the light filtering through the waterfall to illuminate. “Umm… I’m not that good.”

“Dad don’t let her come, she doesn’t want to! Besides, I don’t want to train with a girl,” Kouga stated.

“On the other hand… it would be fun!” Samara cheered, glaring at Kouga. It was obvious she’d agreed just to displease him.

“Alright then, follow me,” Fenris said, a wolfish grin upon his face. The young girl got up, dusting off her black fur. She gave Kouga a content look, the one he gave her, on the contrary, wasn’t very nice. She looked away from him and walked ahead, following after Fenris. Kouga followed a little after, keeping some distance between him and the female.

“Korru, inform Rokku when he awakens that his daughter is training with Kouga and I,” Fenris told a grey haired wolf.

“Yes Fenris, will do,” the wolf replied nodding his head.

Fenris grinned a little, his fangs bared a little. This lesson would be something he was sure Kouga would remember.