The life of Tenma, a boy in the throes of adolescence, comes to an end after a midnight murder. However, he is reincarnated as a Shiba Inu dog who is soon adopted by the leader of a guild. Thus presenting him with a new chance at life in a fantasy w...
Without the mother wolf around, the father wolf took the pups along with Tenma to a nearby area, a small clearing surrounded by semi-dry trees and large rocks.
The surroundings were empty because they had reached one of the farthest edges of the cavern. The father wolf turned to look at his pups and counted to make sure they were all there.
"In the world, you will see many things that scare you, and I'm not talking about small things, but other beings... that may not be wolves. That's why I will teach you defense tactics."
In a firm and assured tone, the father wolf gave the introduction, carefully thinking about what he was going to say. The pups looked at him with bright and eager eyes, while Tenma, though curious, remained somewhat cautious.
What was the father wolf referring to with all this? Questions like these filled his mind, but he shook his head, seeing the serious and warm gaze of the wolf.
The father wolf got into a fighting stance, dragging a paw on the ground in an intimidating manner. The pups stayed still, waiting for instructions, while Tenma tensed, anticipating any fighting move.
"Don't worry, this will be light," the father wolf continued with a smile, seeing the concern on the little shiba inu's face. "The most important thing is to learn how to hide and move stealthily."
Tenma blinked a couple of times.
"Is that all?"
As he began to see how the father wolf pointed out small burrows the size of the pups, showing them how they had to lower their heads and adjust their bodies to enter correctly, Tenma remained incredulous.
But it was true that he hadn't tried anything like that until now. Defending and hiding...
As he listened to the father wolf calling him to practice his turn, Tenma stared at his paws, turned to look at his tail, and finally tilted his head.
He was weak.
But it was normal for him to be; he wasn't even an imposing breed nor was he old enough to show any worth.
He was only still alive because he could avoid death, but he had already seen his intestines on the ground more than once. He hated feeling this weak... more than he did in his life as a human.
Without realizing it, the father wolf had picked him up by the scruff and taken him to the burrow, tilting his head upon seeing the puppy with a lost look. He looked to the other side and closed his eyes for a moment.
"Is something bothering you, little one?"
Tenma shook his head, noticing the special attention the father wolf was starting to give him.
"Everything in its time, you don't have to feel weak or defenseless."
All the pups looked curiously at their father, and he smiled at them, then motioned for them to proceed. The pups nodded, venturing further into the burrow, being careful with the small rocks.
However, he had stayed alone for a moment with the little shiba inu, giving him a lick on his ears to cheer him up.
"I don't know what kind of training the pack has imposed on you... but here you will have the comfort you need. Mom and I will be here for you."
The warmth with which the father wolf spoke gave him a wave of tranquility, erasing all the worrisome thoughts.
The shiba inu's eyes sparkled, and instinctively, he jumped at the wolf's paw to rub against it... without realizing why.
The father wolf licked his ears and motioned for him to follow his siblings, which he did. For a long time, and what Tenma had been looking for a long time, he felt he had found what he had been searching for so much.
...
He didn't want sex to feel loved. Nor did he want to force himself to accept a deranged owner who only tortured him despite saying she loved him.
And neither did he want someone to keep him captive in exchange for his safety. He just wanted a family.
Tenma followed his father and siblings happily, reaching them to explore the hideout together. Tenma finally felt happy. He had accepted his life as a puppy.
***
"Alright, everyone out, everyone out."
The father wolf came out of the burrow and shook off the dust, followed by each of his pups.
"Very well, now we will practice moving silently. Follow me."
With fluid movements, the father wolf began to move between the large rocks around them, demonstrating how to avoid making noise and staying hidden.
He was very skilled.
The pups followed closely, trying to imitate his steps. Tenma began to relax and focus on the exercise. Soon, his movements became smoother and more coordinated.
After a while, the father wolf took them to a series of natural hiding places, like hollows in trees and mounds of earth. He showed them how to take advantage of the surroundings, using branches and dry leaves to camouflage themselves.
The pups were enthusiastic, but their attempts to hide were still somewhat clumsy.
"Remember, stealth is our best defense against dangers, "said the father wolf as he watched them attentively. "Always stay alert and use the environment to your advantage."
Tenma, for his part, felt more confident, being the last to be found when the father wolf asked them to hide so he could search for them. However, he noticed that at all times, the father wolf remained watchful in the distance out of caution.
"Let's do one last round of practice, your mother should be back soon," announced the father wolf. "This time, I want you to find the best possible hiding spots while I search for you."
The pups nodded and ran in different directions, looking for the most hidden and safe places.
Tenma also moved quickly, finding a small gap between two large tree roots where he curled up and observed his surroundings.
The father wolf began searching for them, moving stealthily and sniffing the air. But it wouldn't be long before he heard a howl in the distance. The howl of the mother wolf.
The pups poked their heads out of their hiding spots, and the father wolf tensed up completely, turning in the direction of the sound.
"Return home, quickly."
The father wolf's order was clear and direct, and the pups, somewhat nervous, ran in the direction they had come, covered by their father who walked beside them cautiously.
However, Tenma's head had gotten stuck between the roots of the tree where he had hidden. He couldn't get out.
The father wolf turned to see him, running to free him, but someone had already found them first.
The hunter had arrived.
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