Wolf's Rain: Paradise Ghost (Completed)

Chapter One

Ikira

I can bet that every being in this wild world has asked themselves this question at least a couple of times in their entire life. How will I die? Yes, this is the most frightening thing to think about, since most of us want to live a long and happy life in this Earth. But with so many violent and even scary events that we see or hear about, we can't help but question this.

Now, most of us want to try to pass in the least amount of pain. For example, maybe we would prefer to die in our sleep, being in blissful ignorance of our passing time. Or, a sudden crash or shot to make the pain quick and easy. Nobody wants to die slowly suffering and feeling as if every breath we take is our last.

Unfortunately, this is my case. I'm going to die so slowly, feeling my blood pour out of my body like a rushing creek. I can't move because I am stuck in an avalanche of ragged boulders. Their weight is smashing my lower legs, yet I can't seem to feel the pain.

I'm surrounded from all directions, except from above my head where I can see the light from the outside. It's small, but it is enough to see what's going on outside. This gives me ease, I guess, knowing that the last thing I will see is Mother Nature. I could recognize the bordering pines that ran all across the camp, my camp.

I choke up, remembering the terrible cause of my current position. It all happened so quickly, yet I can remember it like it just happened. It was raining, with thunder and rapid winds ravaging the lands. It was crazy, but this didn't stop us from doing our work.

As the Officer Wolf, I was in charge of organizing and sometimes leading the patrols to hunt or check the territory's borders. After assigning a few wolves and young pups to their groups, I looked up to see Alpha. He was looking down with an expression of sincere alertness and wisdom. Named after the dark chestnut brown color in his coat, Copper was a sight to see.

Somehow, he also showed this respect to me. Being an Officer was a big deal, especially more for a she wolf. Females were still seen as caretakers and nannies for the younger generations of the pack, but I was not interested in raising annoying pups.

So, after myself and my sister Kagomei became of age, Copper decided that I should be ranked in a position that suited my "ambitious behavior". Embarrassed yet proud, I accepted, while Kagomei was made a nursemaid in the nursery.

But on this day, seeing the pride in my alpha's face was the last normal thing I saw. First, the ground started to shake violently. Everyone froze from what they were doing, my assigned groups weren't even able to move from the camp. Then panic erupted from the wolves, running in confusion all over. Mothers herded their litters close to their sides, young adults with expressions of terror across their faces.

I tried to keep at a calm state, knowing that as an Officer it was my duty to protect my pack, even if it was from themselves. I started to bark orders to any wolf that passed by me, telling them to run to the dens to protect themselves if items started to fall on top of them.

Suddenly it all just stopped. The shaking stopped, the rumbling eased, and all was calm. Everything was eerily calm and quiet. We all looked at each other in utter confusion and concern, not realizing what just happened. I mean, who did honestly?

"Now, now," came the voice of Copper, "let us calm down. I can only imagine that it was just a minor earthquake." We all still had doubts, but with the smooth tone in his voice, we were able to relax somewhat.

"Officer Hail, give me a report of the damage. I want to see how much there is to..." Before he could even finish, a large pit split from beneath his feet. He wasn't prepared for the collision, so he was soon consumed into the large black hole.