Teardrop of the Wolf

Chapter 24

This chapter is a little bit shorter then most. Here we see a bit more of Mori's mother Akemi. 
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Pained whimpers escaped Mori's maw as she took one painful step after another. Her mother kept nudging her to keep moving, and it felt like lava was pouring down her front leg. She didn't want to move any more. Finally, the two padded through the gates of Konoha. Her legs decided then to collapse, and Mori fell to her side with a 'thump'. Akemi sniffed around her daughter's ear, causing it to twitch faintly. Mori closed her eyes tightly as pain coursed through. Her white and grey head suddenly snapped up, ears pressed forward and eyes hard. 

"You look like you could've had better days" a smooth voice said above her.

Mori opened her eyes weakly and lifted her head slightly as Kakashi stood there with his hands in his pockets, and her mother sat down on her haunches.

"So, you are the one my daughter befriended when she was a pup" her mother's voice said as Mori laid her head back onto the ground.

"You have my gratitude for getting myself and Mori out of that prison" Akemi said, tongue lolling out of her mouth.

The Jonin scratched the back of his head and gave the older wolf a typical one-eyed smile.

"My pleasure" he said.

"Please follow me" the older wolf said, and got to her feet.

Akemi then began padding away, and Kakashi stooped down and gathered Mori in his arms before standing up. He then followed the alpha as she weaved through the trees that dotted the area. His eye narrowed when he felt his friends heartbeat through his sleeve: weak and thready. Her front leg hung at an awkward angle from the rest of her limbs, and every jostle caused a pained whine to come from Mori. Maybe it was broken? Kakashi shook his head. Who knew what she went through at the hands of Kabuto and Orochimaru.

Finally, Akemi stopped under the shade of a tree. It's branches hung low to the ground, almost giving it a curtain-like appearance. The grass was soft under her paws, and the gurgle of a stream could be heard nearby. Her ear twitched back when Kakashi walked up behind her.

"You may place Mori here" Akemi said and indicated to a spot under the low-hanging branches with her nose.

The Jonin complied, and placed her daughter carefully on the grass. Both sets of eyes narrowed when Mori didn't stir except for the rise and fall of her side as she breathed.

"I am not sure what Kabuto has done, but it looks like he has done some damage" Akemi rumbled.

"Just call if you need anything" Kakashi said and Akemi nodded, eyes still on her daughter.

The Jonin turned and left, and Akemi eased onto her stomach in the grass. The sky was beginning to darken with the coming of dusk, and one or two streaks of bright red still painted the sky. She inched her way close to Mori, and soon the two wolves were pressed close against each other. Akemi whined low in her throat and began lavishing her daughter's ears, neck and head with her tongue. She would be here to take care of Mori, just like she did when Mori was a pup. Akemi settled her muzzle on her front legs and closed her eyes, drifting off into a deep slumber as she enjoyed freedom.

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The wind stirred up dirt and loose branches as stumbling footsteps echoed through the empty streets of Konoha. Everyone was asleep in their beds. Iruka sighed as he walked through the deserted streets. He couldn't sleep and decided to go for a walk in the night air. As he rounded the corner, he nearly let out a yelp in surprise when he came face to face with red eyes. He took a couple stumbling steps back before gaining his bearings.

"Mori! What are you doing here this late?" he said.

Iruka blinked when the young woman didn't answer. He took a closer look at her and began noticing how she was swaying back and forth, and that her eyes were glazed over. It was as if no one was there, and her body took on a mind of its own. Her hair was tousled from the wind, and her shirt hung off one shoulder. Even in the darkness Iruka could see a large and ugly-looking bruise beginning to form on her shoulder as the bone stuck out in a weird angle.

"Mori, wha-" Iruka started, but was cut off when the young woman's legs buckled.

He instinctively reached forward and grabbed Mori around her waist before she fell to the ground and injured herself even further. He lifted her into his arms, taking special care not to move her arm or shoulder. His heart gave a small skip when her head rested against his chest. Iruka quickly shook his head and quickly jumped up on the rooftops of Konoha. He went from roof to roof until he came to his place. Fishing his keys out, Iruka began to notice Mori's eyelids fluttering and twitching, while her body began to shake with small trembles. Each shake caused her body to flinch in pain as her dislocated shoulder was moved. He rushed inside and carried Mori to his bed, tightly wrapping the blanket around her. What exactly happened to Mori?

Iruka scratched his head as he walked out of the bedroom. A small thought began to worm it's way into his mind about Mori being in his bed, and Iruka quickly squashed it down. This was no time for thoughts like that! He went to the small couch and sat down heavily. His body then decided to mention that it needed some sleep now, and the Chunin nodded off to sleep. He would find out what happened in the morning.