Teardrop of the Wolf

Chapter 26

I hope everyone enjoys this next chapter as we get closer to Mori and Iruka's friendship. Will they end up getting together? Will they just be friends? Who knows!

The wind blew through the trees the next day as the older wolf watched over her daughter. Mori had slept fitfully through the previous day and night; pained whimpers echoed from her as her claws scraped at the ground, gouging deeply into the ground. Her teeth flashed as if to battle an invisible foe. Every time she moved her front leg a whimper would sound as she moved her still healing shoulder.

As the sun rose high in the sky, her mother got up and padded closer to Mori and settled in beside her. The scrabbling and whimpers stopped as Mori calmed down. Akemi watched as her sides rose and fell, but Mori would not wake. Her mother bathed her ears and head and soon settled her muzzle close to her daughter's sleeping form. Mori still acted like a pup: always calming down when her mother was beside her. The alpha closed her eyes and fell into a light sleep as the sun beamed down on their coats.

A rustle caused Akemi's head to snap up, ears erect and eyes piercing through the bushes. A deep growl rumbled through the alpha as she got up, placing herself over her daughter's sleeping form. The fur on her back stood up as the wind changed, blowing past the pair. Akemi's nostrils flared, and she relaxed as her daughter's friend stepped out of the bushes. The alpha padded towards the Chunin as he stopped in the middle, hands in his pockets. She stopped in front of him and in a blink, stood as a human woman.

"How is everything?" he asked, blinking momentarily after getting over his shock.

He would never get used to seeing that sort of transformation. The older woman tucked a stray strand of hair away from her face, the lines etched deeply in her face. He frowned when he noticed the dark lines underneath her eyes and the way that her shoulders sagged slightly. She looked tired and worn out.

"Why don't you go and relax? I can watch Mori" Iruka offered, giving the older woman a small smile.

Akemi gazed at Iruka for a moment before nodding.

"I will be back before night comes" she said before walking the way he came.

Iruka watched Akemi for a second before turning towards the slumbering white wolf. He gave a small sigh and walked towards Mori, the breeze gentle on his face. He sat down beside her as Mori continued sleeping, and he blinked in surprise when he noticed the ground littered with claw marks.

"What happened?" Iruka mumbled to himself.

A bird suddenly streaked across the sky, screeching loudly. Iruka watched it go before turning his attention to his sleeping friend. He started in surprise when he noticed one eye open and focused on him. Mori snorted and lifted her head, yawning widely.

"Good to know you're still with us" Iruka said jokingly.

Mori stretched her front and back legs before sitting back on her haunches, gazing at the Chunin with red eyes.

"What happened?" she rumbled.

The last thing she remembered was escaping from Orochimaru's lair with her mother and entering Konoha. Everything after that went dark until her dreams became twisted and frightening. Snakes and smoke surrounded her and no matter how hard she fought, Mori couldn't break free. It wasn't until she felt her mother's presence that Mori finally calmed, and the snakes and smoke disappeared.

"You don't remember?" Iruka said in surprise.

Mori scratched behind a furry ear and shook out her coat.

"No, I don't. It's all very confusing and blurry in my memories" she said.

"Well it's okay now, you escaped and are safe now" Iruka said with a large smile.

Mori gazed at the Chunin and gave a brief tail wag.

"Where is my mother?" she said, looking around.

"She looked weary so I suggested she go and rest" he said.

Mori raised her muzzle to sniff at the breeze that blew past them. Scenting nothing that could be a danger, Mori reached inside to grasp at the human chakra. Iruka blinked as Mori sat beside him as a human. Butterflies immediately took flight in his stomach as Mori gazed at him with her red eyes.

'Go on, ask her out!' a small voice in his mind yelled at him.

Stuttering, Iruka felt his face get warm as he tried to get his tongue around asking Mori to go with him for ramen. His heart began to pound as the girl was silent after he asked.

'You messed it up, now Mori will never agree to go out' the voice chided.

Iruka nearly fell over when Mori's voice broke through his thoughts.

"Yes, I'll go with you" she said softly, giving him a smile that Iruka happily returned.

"Great!" Iruka said with a relived laugh.

The two sat in silence for a moment before Iruka stood up, and offered a hand for his friend. Mori took the offered hand with a small 'thanks' and brushed some stray grass blades off her pants. Her muscles groaned in protest as she began walking slowly towards the village, Iruka easily keeping with her pace. She bit her lip as her hip joints gave a small jolt of pain; being immobile for so long had made them tighten up.

As the two friends walked through the village, Iruka's mind began to wander. Where did she go that made her act like that? Did it have to do with the black wolf he saw?