Originally Submitted to FurAffinity.net on October 29th, 2009 10:24 AM. Before it was transferred to Inkbunny it had 99 views and 5 favorites.
Ok, this is a little part of an epic story that I am currently writing that is based off an RP I created a few years ago with the same name, however, this will not be the official title of the story (as of now I don't have a clue for the new title). Please, for those of you who do read this, please leave me feedback good bad or otherwise (I don't bite and won't kill you if you give a bad review). Remember, this is a WIP for the full novel which is projected to be about 300-350 pages.
Words: 5058
The Lost Soul of the Wolfclan “Ainoko’s Story (working title)
The omens point to the one who will either save or destroy the world. The one will be a part of us yet be apart from us, a friend, but a stranger. Friends, enemies, and demons alike will test them. They have great powers they have yet to discover. They will come to our clan on the harvest moon to one who has rejected their clan. Their path has been set; they will find their purpose and destiny after they have left the clan.
That was the prophecy that was foretold by the shaman of our clan many, many seasons ago. This tale is about the one who had great adventures, trials and troubles. Gather ‘round and you will learn what happened. Many lessons were learned, and were taught when the one in this story is being told about.
~Chapter 1: Ainoko~
Our story begins many years ago in the frozen northern wastes, deep in an ancient forest that is said to be older than our world.
Screams of pain emanating from a small, hide covered hut, shattered the quiet, peaceful night as a large, intimidating wolf paced worriedly outside. In the cabin, his mate is deep in the throes of childbirth, after going into labor far later than the clan’s healers and Elders had figured, not to mention, that his mate was not supposed to be able to conceive any cubs due to the difference between their two species. His pacing stopped when one final, soul piercing scream rent the night asunder. He then slowly, so as not to disturb anyone in and around the cabin, crept to the window to look inside at his mate, what he saw inside shocked him beyond all reason.
The female feline lay in the hut writhing and moaning in pain from just giving birth to a large male cub. The sweat on her fur glistened from her exertions in the moonlight as the midwife and healer tried vainly to stop the bleeding. Hearing a small noise, the healer looks up to see a large wolf enter the room with a worried look on his muzzle. Shaking his head in resignation, the fox looks to the wolf with a pitying look. “I am sorry my liege, but your lady cat will not live to see the moon rise tomorrow. The stress from her labors, the size of the cub, and not to mention the bleeding has and is robbing her of her life energy. Sire, there is nothing I can do to save her life, all I can do is to ease her pain, this will only prolong her passing over to the other side. Once I give her the potion, it will take about an hour for it to reach full strength and to wake her, she will be awake for a few short hours before she succumbs and passes to the other realm. This is a choice you only must make, my friend.”
The wolf looked over to where the feline was laying, as he desperately fought to keep from crying as tears streamed down his muzzle. “Do it Healer, I will wait outside while you give her the potion. Once she wakes and her pain is dulled come and get me, I wish to be with her and our cub before she dies. I only ask one thing my , please place our cub in her arms and tell her that I wish for her to name him before I return.” At that, the wolf turned and exited the cabin. After he left the healer went over to the female and gave her the potion, making sure that the feline took all of it. Sitting next to the bed, the fox worried about the cub. Never in his years has he seen a cub born with blue fur anywhere on its body, yet the cub had a sapphire blue slash across his left eye, not to mention that the cubs was far larger than any cub born. The cub must weigh about 35 pounds and was about three feet tall if he was able to stand. The cub’s fur was black with dark red spots, like his Mother’s, yet he showed little if any of his feline heritage. In just about every way, he resembled his Father’s bloodline, yet his lupine features were softened by the feline side.
Then he realized that the cub just might be the promised one foretold in the prophecies many, many seasons ago. If this was true, then the cub and his father were in great danger and should not return to either clan. So lost was he in his thoughts, he almost missed the female call for her cub. “Yes my lady, I will bring your cub, your and mate to you, but first your mate wishes for you to have the honor of naming your cub.” He said as he left the room. Returning with the cub and placing him in his mother’s arms, he said, “I will leave now while you name your cub and go call mate wishes you to have the honor of naming the cub.”
The female looked as the healer shivering from the chill in the room.. “Thank you my friend, I want both you to witness our cub’s naming. I know that I will not live to see the moon rise tomorrow.” Looking towards her cub with tears streaming down her muzzle, and gently stroking his cheek, she said… “My sweet cub, you will never know me growing up, but you will have my legacy flowing in your blood. I will always be by your side in spirit guarding you as best I can. You have a destiny that is far greater than anyone alive, yet your destiny poses a great danger to you. I hope that you will grow into a strong male, and to have a life free of trouble and strife, however, if the prophecy is true, that will not happen for a long time. I hope that your father can protect you long enough for you to grow into a young adult. I pray that the spirits will help him in his journey. I know he will do what it takes to protect you. My cub, my sweet cub, my time grows near, and I must name you. I name you Ainoko. It means that you are a part of your father’s and my bloodlines. Be a good child growing up and make your parents proud.” She motioned to the healer to come and take the cub from her. “My friend, call my mate in. I need to see him one last time before I leave this world.”
“Yes my lady.” The healer said as he took the cub. Going outside, the healer called to the wolf, “My liege, your mate calls for you. She has named your son Ainoko. In her language, it means hybrid.” The healer said as he carefully placed the cub in his father’s arms. “Now go, she awaits you and your son.”
Re-entering the hut the wolf cringed as he saw how worn and tired his mate was after giving birth to their son. It hurt to see her fur matted from the labors of childbirth. But despite the rigors she went through, she was still beautiful in his eyes. Sitting on the bed next to his mate, he nearly jumped when she whimpered from pain as his weight shifted her towards him. Cradling their son in one arm, he began to caress his mate’s fur, and grinning when he heard a soft, rumbling purr emanating from her. ”My sweet queen, what will I do once you are gone from our realm?” He said with tears staining his voice, “You have been my sole reason for living and now, I have lost that. How will I raise our son without his mother? He needs to be raised in the traditions of both our clans, and those of our world if he is to survive into adulthood. I fear that both our clans may not accept him as he is not fully a part of one clan. If that should pass, then I will flee my clan, and take him somewhere that he will be safe until he is old enough to be on his own.”
“My dearest Wolf,” the feline said softly, “I greatly fear for both yours and Ainoko’s return to either of our clans. I wish for you to flee from here as soon as I am gone, never to return. I have the utmost faith in your judgment on how our son is to be raised. I have also promised our little Ainoko that I will be by his side in spirit guiding him the best that I can. Now I wish for us to talk about his future while he sleeps. Not to mention before I cross over to the spirit realm to dance amongst the Gods and Demons.”
A few hours later, the wolf leaves the hut bowed in grief, tears streaming down his graying muzzle. Going over to the Shaman Fox trying not to cry, “She has passed over my friend.” He said flatly as he placed the sleeping Ainoko in his arms. Walking over to the fire, the grieving wolf placed a torch into the flames, igniting it before padding slowly over to the hut. “May your journeys in the spirit realm be pleasant and happy. I ask that the Gods and Demons protect Ainoko during his walk in this life. I also ask for my friends forgiveness for what I am about to do.” Then he took the torch and laying it on the ground and walking around the hut, he set aflame, burning it to the ground. Once the hut was fully engulfed in fire, he stopped and watched as it burned, not even noticing the stench of burning fur and flesh. Then with a loud woosh, the hut collapsed in on itself, sending untold millions of sparks soaring into the evening sky. As the sparks rose, a painful, haunting howl filled the still, quiet forest letting everyone and everything know of his loss. Then, he went over to the fox and taking his son and wrapping him in a sling across his back before turning and walking away from his life long friend.
“I do apologize for burning your hut down like that,” He said to the fox, “But my mate asked me to do this for her once she passed. I am giving you my cabin to replace your hut. I also want you to inform our chiefs that I am not returning to either clan now that my mate has passed. All I ask of them is to give me a seven day to mourn and I will abide by their decision.” At that the wolf began walking away in earnest towards the fridiged northlands, never to be seen in those parts again.
TWO YEARS LATER …….
Staggering down a well-worn wooded path down in the southern hot-lands, fighting off both starvation and the encroaching darkness. The bed-raggled wolf pushed his body beyond its limits in a desperate attempt to get to the small village he had seen earlier in the week before nightfall. He knew that if he failed to make his destination, then the cub’s and his lives were in grave danger. He had scouted the village from afar a few weeks back as a possible safe haven if things went the way they did a few days ago. He looked down at the unconscious cub in his arms praying to the gods that the he was not seriously hurt in the ambush and vowing revenge on those that injured the cub.
Rounding a bend in the path, he stared blankly at the small, unassuming village, barely recognizing it for his ultimate destination. Staggering out of the woods and into the center of the village, the ragged and tattered wolf slowly collapsed from sheer exhaustion dropping the wounded, unconscious cub in front of an adolescent cub. “Please help…,” He whispered faintly as the threatening darkness finally claimed him.
“ALERT! ALERT! THERE IS A STRANGER IN THE CLAN! ALERT! ALERT!” Cried the cub as he ran towards the village Elder’s hut. Warily, the villagers began to appear slowly and cautiously to see what was causing all of the commotion. Seeing the two unconscious forms on the ground, the furs in the village began to slowly emerge from their huts to look at the strangers that were lying in the village center. A short while later the Elder emerged from his hut followed by the healer and shaman. Seeing the unconscious forms, the healer ran over to them to what was happened to them.
“These two furs are injured!” Cried the healer as she picked up the cub and heading towards her hut, “I need help getting the larger one to my hut so that I can get their wounds dressed and treated.” Laying the cub on her bed, she paused briefly to admire his exotic features and checking him for any serious wounds before turning to assess his father’s injuries. “Put him over here,” She said indicating the cot in front of her. “Go tell Elder Iyami that his and the other Elders presence is requested once this Wolf is awake, now go.”
Turning back to the wolf after making sure that the ones she sent to the Elder’s hut were on their way, she checked him over noting that his injuries, though quite severe, were not at the moment life threatening, and could wait to be treated until after she treated the cub. Going over to the cub, she was surprised to see that the cub was already awake and watching her intently. “Well my little one, I see that you are awake and curious about where you are, eh?” She whispered to the frightened cub, “Let’s see about your hurts and we will get them bandaged so that you can go out and play with the other cubs, that way I can tend to your father without you getting underpaw.”
As she looked over the cub, she stared in disbelief at where faint, barely noticeable scars in the place of the cubs more serious injuries that she had taken note of as she carried him to her hut. Looking over the cub more closely, she was surprised to note that the azure blue slash across his left eye was a natural fur color, not a tribal or clan marking and the same went for the blindingly bright pink braids that he sported. As she continued with his examination, she noted that he was not a full wolf, like that of his father, he seemed to bear some feline traits. ‘That’s impossible,’ she thought, ‘felines and canines can’t mate, it’s just impossible. The gods would never allow something like this to occur.’ Continuing with the examination, she confirmed that the cub despite him being a cross-breed, was in relatively excellent health. Once done, she led the cub outside to play with the other cubs she was watching. Soon she was deep into patching the wolf’s injuries, when a soft cough interrupted her duties.
“Elder Iyami, I am glad that you have come.” The healer said happy to have been interrupted, “Our two unexpected visitors are going to be ok. They were both dehydrated, with numerous cuts from knives of some sort. I only can tell you that much, the rest will have to come from the wolf.”
“Sana,” Iyami said, “I am not here by myself, the other four Elders are outside waiting to talk to the wolf.”
“Well they are going to have to wait until he regains conscious. He is suffering from extreme exhaustion and blood loss from his wounds. The rest of the Elders will have to wait for another three hours, at least.” Sana said angrily. “I have given the Wolf some healing herbs to help his body recover faster than normal. Both him and the cub have been through a horrible ordeal and will need time to fully recover.”
“OK Sana, calm down, I will keep the other’s at bay until later today. Please let me know as soon as the Wolf wakes, I do wish to talk to him before the other, preferably.”
---------------------------------------------
A few hours later after the Wolf regained conscious, the Clan Elders stopped by Sana’s hut to pay a visit to the Wolf.
“Elder Iyami, it is a pleasure to finally meet you and the other Elders,” Said the Wolf, “I do apologize for not paying you proper respect, but you little healer ordered me to move as little as possible due to my injuries. May I have the pleasure of learning the names of the other four Elders who have come to visit me tonight?”
“Yes you may,” Said Iyami, “The quiet one in the back is Elder Sylden, the short, angry one next to him is Lintu, Garbin is the tall one at the door, and the lovely lady is Denara. Now, I would have wished to have met on much better conditions, but your appearance in our village has raised some concerns.” Pausing for a moment, Iyami continued hesitantly. “To cut to the quick, my friend, we are curious as to why a Northerner like you is wandering in our lands sorely wounded.”
“Before I answer you question, please answer one for me first.” The Wolf replied with some irony. “What in the holiest of Hells makes you think that I am a Northerner. For all you know, I could be from this area.”
“That has crossed our minds my friend, but,” Said Iyami, “There is a thing or two that tells us otherwise. For one, your fur is far too thick and long for the grasslands. Another is that you are not accustomed to the heat. Lastly, to the best of our knowledge the only furs who have been sighted in this area have been those who are travelers, traders, and the wanderers. Now, let’s cease playing games with each other and tell us the reason you are wandering though our territory.”
“Well if you put that way, I will tell you. As you have already guessed, I am from the Northern Wastes, and was formally second-in-command in a Dire-Wolfpack. As for the reason that I am passing through your territory, that is a story for a later time, but I will tell you this, Last week, a party from my former clan ambushed me, sorely injuring my cub and I about a two days walk south of here. I managed to slay all but two before heading here to your village.
“DADDY!!!!” A young voice cried from outside, interrupting all conversation as a small bundle of black fur streaked into the arms of the Wolf.
“I apologize for Ainoko’s enthusiasm; you see I have raised him since his mother died after giving birth to him. I have been the only…” The Wolf’s voice trailed off into silence as he noticed the looks on the Elder’s muzzles. The looks ranged from shock to anger to elation and to disgust. “W-w-w-what’s wrong?”
“What’s wrong?” Snarled Lintu savagely drawing a dagger from his belt before advancing towards Ainoko. “What’s wrong is that you have the gall to bring that, abomination into our village as if it were nothing new... You should have killed the cub as soon as it was born. And to make thing even worse, you mated with a feline! Let me guess, there were no females in your clan for you to mate with.”
“If you harm Ainoko in any way,” Roared the Wolf in anger, his fur bristling as he drew his weapon, readying for any attack that Lintu might throw at either him or the cub. “You will quickly regret ever harming him.”
During the commotion, a small, withered form slipped into the room, whereupon, he quickly took note of the situation. Then softly, he began speaking, reciting a few obscure verses…
The omens point to the one who will either save or
Destroy the world. The one will be a part of us
Yet be apart from us, a friend, but a stranger.
Friends, enemies, and demons alike will test them.
They have great powers they have yet to discover.
They will come to our clan on the harvest moon by the
One who has rejected their clan.
Their path has been set; they will find their purpose
And destiny after they have left the clan.
Slowly, the commotion died as the words he was saying began to register with everyone in the room as they noticed the small, aged but imposing fox.
“Aye, tis about time ye took notice of me,” Said the fox as Iyami smiled secretly. “I was called tae this meeting by Iyami as he knew that me presence here was verra important tae all involved in this here room.”
“Thank-you for getting here Garrou,” Said Iyami, “Your timely arrival has prevented some unneeded bloodshed.”
“Well, it seems that some of ye have fergootten yer lessons from yer cubhood.” Garrou said sternly, “Ifn ye were tae think hard, ye would come tae realize that part of the prophecy has come tae pass.” Turning to the wolf he continued, “My liege do ye know what tonight is?”
Looking at the fox with a puzzled look on his muzzle, the wolf replied, “Honestly, shaman Garrou, I have no idea as to what tonight is, and you don’t have to call me Liege, my name Taulein Ironrose.”
“Taulein Ironrose it is then. My friend tonight is the Harvest moon, and if I am correct in saying this,” Garrou said, “Ye have rejected yer clan, right?”
“Aye, I have rejected my clan and my former mate’s as well. She pleaded with me to break away from both of our clans, if not for her, but for Ainoko. That is why I was traveling through these lands. Why are you asking me all of these questions?”
“Tae tell the truth,” The fox said quietly, “I believe that ye and yer son are supposed tae become a part of this clan. Ye have rejected yer clan and have arrived here today, which is, coincidentally the night of the Harvest moon. There are other signs that confirm this, signs that have been passed down from shaman tae shaman over the years.” Going over to where the cub was hiding from the angry adults, the Shaman carefully moved him from his hiding spot and sat him on Sana’s table. “As I said, there are other signs that only we Shamans know. Ifn it weren’t fer Iyami knowing these signs, I would have never known about this. Ye see the blue slash across the cubs left eye? In me entire life, I have never heard of a cub born with fur that color not tae mention the pink fur by his ears. His eyes are the telling point fer the prophecy, there is also the fact that he bears some traits of the feline races. I can say that some of the traits that he has will show once he gets older. I can honestly say that yer son is the one that the prophecy has foretold many seasons ago. He holds the fate of our way of life not tae mention the world’s as well in his paws.”
“What idiocy is this Garrou?” Said Lintu angrily, “That prophecy is nothing but empty worlds and you know it. You know that the cub’s fur was dyed to fit the prophecy and their arrival was also meant to fit in with the prophecy. I am certain that the story of the wolf rejecting both his and his mate’s clans is a falsehood. This is just a ploy for this pitiful wolf to gain protection from those who tried to kill him and that abomination, nothing else.” Lintu looked smug as a couple of the Elders nodded in agreement him.
“Ifn that is the case Lintu, how do ye explain the cub? I know that ye are aware that nae canine and feline species on our world can successfully bear a cub taegether as mates, tis impossible, yet before ye stands proof that it can happen. Only the Gods and Demons have the right tae say if such young as this cub are allowed tae be born, not us. This cub was given tae this wolf fer a reason and that is tae fulfill that prophecy. Ye know that our world is in the throes of a major change, and the fate of our world, not tae mention our way of life will one day be in his verra paws.” Garrou said angrily, “I fer one, would prefer tae be on his good side.” Turning towards the Wolf he continued, “Tell me Wolf, when was yer son born?”
Thinking the question as quite odd, the Wolf replied none the less, “My son was born two years ago today. Just why are you asking this?”
“As I stated Wolf, everything that is happening today, is due to the prophecy I quoted earlier.” Said Garrou, “And everything in mentioned in the prophecy points tae ye and particularly yer son. It seems that yer son is tae determine the fate of our world some day.”
The Wolf sat down and looked at the Fox and Clan Elders, as he pondered the implications of what he was told. “So, if what you are saying is true,” Said the Wolf quietly, “Then me and my son coming to your clan today was not by accident, but fated to be by the Gods and daemons. If that is the case then I wish to speak to both Elder Iyami and Garrou in private later tonight. As for now, I wish to spend some time with my son before leaving in the morning to hunt the two remaining hunters from my clan and slay them, otherwise your village will know no peace until either I or they are dead. Until we speak again Elder Iyami and Garrou, farewell.” At that the Wolf turned and limped away towards his son.
Later that night, the wolf found himself at Elder Iyami’s hut with Garrou arriving shortly afterwards. “I do thank you for the chance to speak openly and candidly about what happened earlier and what will happen later.” The wolf said quietly, “The reason I asked for a private conversation with you two, is that I do know about another prophecy, mine to be exact, it may in fact account for the reason I chose your village. It seems that I am not fated to survive past this year, I have known this since the day Ainoko was born. This is the main reason that I came to your village after the hunters from my clan attacked the two of us, not to mention how isolated you are from the rest of the world.”
“Ah, now that does explain yer presence here in more detail,” Said Garrou gleefully, “Iyami, my friend, this confirms the prophecy more than ever. It is our duty to raise this Wolf’s cub as one of our own, knowing that Lintu and his supporters are going to make the cub’s life here in our village a pure and simple living hell.” Turning to the Wolf before continuing, “My friend do you have to leave this morning to hunt down the two remaining from your tribe?”
“No, it would be nice to be able to relax for a few days and spend some time with my son before hunting them down.” The Wolf said, “I just ask one thing, do you have a weapons master here?”
“Yes we do.” Said Iyami, “May I ask why?”
“The reason I am asking is that I would like to have a copy of this made.” The Wolf said as he pulled out a beautifully crafted dirk. “I want to leave this here with you Elder Iyami to give to my son when he comes of age. This has been handed down to me from my sire after I came of age, this weapon has been in my family for untold generations. You may look at the weapon if you so choose sire.”
Taking the weapon from the Wolf’s paws, Iyami’s eyes took in every detail of the exquisite weapon. He marveled at the thirty inch long tapered, barbed blade with a faint, fine, ornate script etched deep into it, with it’s flanking twin ten inch whip blades. He gently ran his paw over the blade and the expertly wrought leather-bound, jewel encrusted hilt, lamenting over the loss of such skills over time. Holding the weapon in a defensive stance, he made a few tentative and imaginary attacks at an unseen opponent. The moment he saw the blood-red Emerald pommel, he nearly dropped the weapon in shock.
“I-I-I-Is this what I think this is?” He asked in numbed shock, “I must be imagining that I am holding a weapon of the gods. Is this really the Daemon-Slayer?”
“No it is not,” Said the Wolf, “Legend states that the weapon resides somewhere with-in the forbidden deeps. This, Iyami, is the Sword of Destiny. According to legend, when the weapon finds the one that is destined to wield it, it will take it’s owners hidden abilities and make them stronger, and nigh invincible. If Ainoko is the one mentioned in the prophecies, then this weapon belongs to him, not me. And speaking of my son, I do wish that your healer, Sana, raise him as her own were something to happen to me. I believe that she would argue against another raising him.”
“That my friend is the truth about Sana.” Said Iyami. “Sana has never been able to bear cubs due to an injury she received as a cub. As far as making a copy of this exquisite weapon, it can and will be done Taulein. Now before you take leave and head back to Sana’s hut, Garrou and I wish to learn more about your clan and your mates as well.”
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11 years, 5 months ago
25 Nov 2014 09:12 CET
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