- 叫びます- (The Howling) | &TEAM FF ✅

1: The Howling

Natsuki sat by her window as her mind drifted. Her family were very proper, but they couldn't understand why she was so interested in wolves be being quote one quote " a wild child"...

Her line of vision moved up to the moon as she pondered the thoughts going through her mind. Her grandfather soon joined her. "What are you thinking about ?" Her grandfather was the only one who didn't make her feel odd or out of place with her interests. Natsuki could always be honest with her grandfather. She sighed as she answered, "変ですか？ なぜ彼らはそれを理解しないのですか？" (Am I weird ? Why don't they get it ?) 

Her grandfather couldn't understand why their family made his grandchild feel so abnormal. Like her interests meant much less than others. "You are not weird. Plenty of people are fascinated with many animals for a span of reasons." Her grandfather meant well. He always meant well. It was one of the many reasons Natsuki had such a wonderful childhood, nevertheless of her other family members.

"Would you mind if I left for a little bit ? If I went for a walk ?", Natsuki asked as she leaned into her grandfather' embrace. "構いませんよ。 あなたは散歩に行くべきです。 それはあなたにとって良いことです、ナツキ。" (I wouldn't mind. You should go for a walk. It would do you some good, Natsuki.) Her mood immediately improved at the mere thought as she climbed out her window. "Be back in a couple of hours..." 

Upon entering the woods, Natsuki let out a relieved breath. Calm. She felt completely calm. Natsuki let out an excited scream as she began running through the woods. This is the most free she'd felt in a long time. 

She came to an abrupt stop when she heard a sudden sound. Before long she was surrounded by nine wolves. They all bared their teeth & snarled at her. Natsuki stumbled & ended up with her back against a tree as the wolf in the front got really close. Her breathing was erratic with fear & complete awe. 

She took a good look at these wolves. They were a bit roughed up & hungry. Without thinking Natsuki held her hand up, even if it was a risk with the wolf inches away from her. It was like she was presenting herself & showing she wouldn't cause them any harm. Her eyes closed tightly shut. 

A few minutes passed before she slowly opened her eyes again. Now instead of nine wolves, there were nine boys. "この森の中で何してるのですか? ここは私たちの縄張りです。"(What are you doing out here in these woods ? This is our territory.) The tone was harsh & demanding. It was clear who Natsuki was encountering was the pack' alpha. "Territory ? What happened to the wolves ?", she asked as she looked around the nine of them. 

The alpha further questioned her. K was in no mood to deal with a human girl wandering about the woods. However, she wasn't entirely terrified. In fact, Natsuki oddly calmed all of their nerves. "I won't ask again, human." , K said as his senses were now all completely on her. Nicholas & EJ taking the others back towards their den. "I like it out here, okay ? It is freeing. It feels natural. Like I can breathe..."

K helped her up as he walked with her. "Do you often come out here ? We've never smelled you."  Natsuki nodded. "I haven't been out as much as I used to. My family aren't keen on my interests..." K chuckled as he playfully nudged her. "では、これらの関心事は何ですか？"(What interests are these then ?) Natsuki & K meshed well. Like she was on the same level as him. 

"Wolves. And the moon. I quite like them." Before long they were in front of the wolf den as the moonlight put a fantastical glow on the path. "Want to join us tonight ?", K asked fully on impulse. He wanted her close & felt that he could trust her. "ぜひお願いします。 ありがとうございます。" (I  would love that. Thank you.)

Pretty soon Natsuki stood in the middle as the pack all gathered on the cliff. Almost instinctually, the ten of the howled. They howled at the moon which shined down on them.

The END.

終わり。