User blog:Nuka Kazan/A Fake Wolf: Remnant of Our Past (Part 3)

There is a certain code we Black Fang abide by while we are still active: We Run, We Fight, We Survive.

We are nomadic until our final hunt, the day retire. And so, we run, we travel for as long as we need to, looking for the hunt.

We live as bounty hunters, mercenaries, and assassins. And so, we fight, as each hunt brings us power and money.

We use this money to protect our family and clan. And so, we survive, retiring from hunting to train the next warriors in our pack.

With each generation, the cycle continues, as we create stronger and stronger warriors. This is why, until this most recent Demon Lord changed the game, we had been the most successful hunters of this world.

But alas, our nature does not allow us to skip the Run or Fight steps to go straight to Survive. We need not mate with a partner until such a time comes that we may safely retire. Usually this is after a very, very dangerous mission; the rewards are usually worth the risks. But after, and only after, we have made enough money to support our share of the clan may we finally settle down. Never before.

Thus, my utter paranoia over the sight of my fellow Black Fang tearing my bandages and trying to remove my pants!

"Get back! Too soon!" I roared, grabbing Shi-Ki's wrists and trying to pry them from my bandaged waist.

She was much, much stronger than she used to be years ago. And no, I don't mean just strength with age; becoming a Monster definitely led to physical benefits. However, now was not to time to admire how strong she became, I had to escape.

"Shh! Not so loud!" Shi-Ki warns, placing a furry, four-digited hand over my mouth. "I can already smell them! They're on the way! Don't give away our position~"

Not really concerned about her complaints, I struggle on, pushing Shi-Ki back with one hand--or trying to, at least--and reaching outward for something, anything, that I could use to escape. Meanwhile, Shi-Ki continued to speak.

"The rest of the pack are all with me on this, Brother. They know of our past, and now they want to continue where we left off. We can make a new clan! A stronger clan! Black Fang Werewolves and Incubi, we'll be closer to our Spirit than ever before~!"

I still had my blades on me, but I didn't want to hurt her more than I had to. Looking around, I notice the last half-jar of Holstaur Milk I was saving just for a moment like this...

However, Shi-Ki must've known what it was, and what it could do. When she noticed where my eyes were looking, her ears perked up and she lunged forward to grab the jar herself. This one opportunity shifted her body weight off of my waist and gave me a split second to turn the tides.

Putting my weight all into my hips and right leg, I lift up and roll to my left, taking Shi-Ki over with me. This quick shift in momentum reversed our positions, leaving me on top of her. She looks up at me with a faced flushed with anticipation. She should've known that wasn't why I rolled her over and pinned her, but her Monster side was clearly speaking to her in ways more convincing than I.

"No matter," I think to myself. "Just do what you do best. Haul ass and escape."

As I began to rise to my feet, I was stopped by Shi-Ki's legs springing up and locking around my waist. It was like an anaconda had gotten ahold of me, her grip was so strong.

"No!" she cried out as she grabbed my shoulder with a hand and pulled me back in. "This may be our only chance! Think about it, what if we never come across another Black Fang again? Think about it!"

I did think about ti. I thought if what she said about the pack already coming this way was true, then Shi-Ki had probably already lost her chance to successfully sneak a mating session minutes ago... ...

"Dammit, Shi-Ki! Think straight!" I roared as I put all my weight into my legs. Shi-Ki may be strong, but she was still light, and I could still lift her. Standing up with her latched onto me, I rear back for just a second and run forward into the nearest tree, slamming Shi-Ki's back right into it.

She doesn't budge.

I repeatedly ram her into the tree, to the point where I can hear the trunk start to give way, but she won't let go. She barely made a sound, not even a grunt in pain. But eventually...

"Brother... ...brother... ...you're doing it wrong~"

"...Eh?"

Loosening one of her legs' grip on my waist, Shiki starts to slip my pants down with her foot. Very methodically, may I add. Has she done this before?! How many people has she caught like this?!

She clearly had the wrong idea of what I was doing, but Shi-Ki was far beyond reasoning with now...

"You can't just bump bodies together~" she said teasingly, her eyes now completely consumed in bestial lust. "You have to put... ...it... ...iiiin~"

WHAM!

Something heavy swung in from my peripheral and knocked the both of us onto the ground. I don't feel much impact; I assume Shi-Ki took most of the hit. As I come to my senses, I see the Alpha of Shi-Ki's group, Victoria, holding what looked like a small, uprooted tree. Yikes, did she seriously just hit us with a tree?!

"Shiki, you little asshole! Did you forget the Pecking Order?!" Victoria barks at Shi-Ki. Meanwhile, the other Werewolves we sneaking in from behind the Alpha.

Shi-Ki was clearly knocked for a loop. She wasn't moving. Beside her, I noticed the half-full jar of milk. She must've grabbed it right when I rolled her over and pinner her. I'm surprised I didn't noticed...

"Surround them, ladies. They both need a little attention, it seems... ..."

The other wolves start to form circle around us. I was getting more than a little annoyed with this... ...

Cradling Shi-Ki in one arm, I grabbed the jar and uncorked it. Letting the aroma waft in her nose, I try to wake Shi-Ki from her daze. The other wolves stare on excitedly, fully aware that there was something powerful in my jar.

"Shi-Ki... ...I hope you're still you in there, because if you're not still Black Fang, we're both in trouble... ..."

"... ...nnn..."

"Remember the Code, Shi-Ki..." I say to her, bringing the jar to her lips. "We Run... ...We Fight... ..."

Bit by bit, drop by drop, she slowly takes the milk in. I can feel her body start to rise. Suddenly, Shi-Ki's eyes open with a blazing vigor. Then I heard her finish the Code:

"We Survive!"

As I felt her begin to rise to her feet, I join her and stand up, unsheathing my blades. The other wolves began to snarl and close in. Victoria walked up to us, cracking her knuckes.

"Shiki... ...are you really gonna do this? You know what happens if you don't lie down and take your punishment..."

"She's not going down alone!" I warned the Alpha. "We are Black Fang! We survived the Monsters of the previous Demon Lord, and we will survive you!"

"No, Brother... ...we don't have to fight them all... ..."

"Huh?"

Shi-Ki began to smile as she looked at the other wolves that surrounded us.

"Fufu~"

"What are you giggling about now, Shiki?" Victoria asks, her head tilted.

"... ...It's time!"

Upon that order from Shi-Ki, all the other Werewolves stop in their tracks and sat down in the circle they made. Victoria was dumbfounded at the sight.

"What the hell are you doing?! Get up! You'll let the Human escape!"

Just then, Shi-Ki calls out, "You really shouldn't take so long mating, Alpha; it gives the rest of us plenty of time to talk together without you~"

"... ..." Victoria could sense the betray happening right before her eyes.

One of the sitting wolves began to pat her knee repeatedly, rhythmically. Another started to scratch into a piece of wood with her claws, also in a rhythm. This all started to sound familiar. I look to Shi-Ki, who flashed my a quick grin as she walked towards Victoria.

"We all made a decision, Victoria. It's time you stood down." Shi-Ki declares, cracking her neck.

It all made sense: Shi-Ki had been planning a coup for quite some time. I don't know exactly what Victoria did to earn their ire, but it was sufficient to get Shi-Ki to lead them in secret. Hell, she even taught them our clan's Ceremonial Song; I can hear it forming in the sounds of all these wolves scratching, clapping, and beating.

Shi-Ki definitely meant it when she said she wanted a new clan.

The song building around us started to rile me up as well. "We are the Beasts who walk Your path!" I instinctively call out.

The ladies continued. "We are Your Children! We are Your Hunters!"

Shi-Ki finishes it. "We Run, We Fight, We Survive!"

With this, she throws her head back and howls before dashing straight at Victoria. As the fight begins, the Ceremonial Song erupts into its full glory, with the other ladies singing and hooting.

As much as I wanted to stay and enjoy the spectacle--it brought back so many warm memories--I knew I couldn't stay here. With Shi-Ki's back to me, I took an opportunity and ran, knowing the others wouldn't give chase.

I ran as fast as I could. I wouldn't stop. I had to get throught this forest and make it to the mountain I was aiming for from the start.

The moon had almost gone completely down when I finally made it.

As I set up camp, deep in a cave upon that mountain, I could still hear, faintly, the sounds of what could be my new allies howling and hooting. At some point, however, the jubilant sounds were drowned out by what sounded like another fight breaking out... ... ...I got the feeling it wasn't Victoria. I heard metal scraping. I heard a familiar voice. I realized I may have spent a little too long in this forest...

As I Now Write...
I have escaped the forest and have taken residence at a Monster-friendly inn to recover. Didn't have much of a choice, but thankfully most Mosters have not paid any attention to me. I have updated my map and I now see which direction I want to go.

My best bet to escape the King and his Order is to leave this particular continent, so I will be making a beeline to the seaside city where there are many ships I could sneak aboard. I'd like to board one lawfully, but the King may have already issued warrants to try to keep me from leaving the continent. Either way, my goal is clear: To make my way to a continent known as Zipangu.

I don't know how long it'll take to get to the seaside city, but here's to hoping I've created enough distance from my pursuers...

When things begin to calm down, and I feel it safe to return, one of the things I'd like to do is find Shi-Ki again. Despite what has happened to her, she is still family. It's nice to see family every now and then... ...though it seems my family now wants to make a family. Still too soon for that...

May the Spirit of the Wolf guide us always.

-Nu-Ka Ka-Zan