undo what hurts so bad

They would be leaving soon and there was work to do but Kotori had come out for a last look at the woods.  The woods had been where dad first took him when he’d followed him to work that day.  He had worked at learning to hunt out here.  It was a place he’d enjoyed playing.  This was also where he had spent time with Ikigai during the eternal night.  For all Kotori enjoyed traveling he was going to miss these woods.

Kotori heard a soft voice further away and quickly enough he picked up the scent of another wolf.  He thought about ignoring it with other things on his mind and a need to return home soon but his mind nagged at him and finally, he followed the scent.  Silently he had drawn in to watch, the cautious hunter knowing well how to avoid being spotted by those not being attentive.  This younger wolf seemed absolutely clueless.

Minutes passed as he waited to see if the girl would notice him, admittedly he was well hidden but it seemed like she hadn’t even thought to pay attention to danger.  Eventually, he stepped out into the open.  Kotori strode towards her, horned head up with pride and confidence in himself.  There was an expectation to be given respect by others.  Farther behind him, still behind tree a snow leopard sat in the shadows a mongoose nestled in its fur.

“Are you lost?” The dark-hued wolf’s voice was deep and got bluntly to the question at hand.  Even as he asked he spotted a wolf past her, whose scent he had somehow missed.  This one was different, clearly having caught himself food and showing natural confidence in his environment.  “You have a friend?”  If he was with her then that explained how she’d survived so long.  His greeting to her hadn’t sounded like he knew her already though.  Two wolves who didn’t know each other and both not normally in this area, at least not that Kotori had ever noticed.


“I’m Kotori Fatalis,” the horned wolf proudly putting out his name, “and you two?”


"Kotori Fatalis"