Teardrop of the Wolf

Chapter 29

Shifting, Mori stretched out in her sleep. Something was nagging her at the back of her mind and no matter how many times she pushed down the voice, it kept coming back. Something, or someone, was coming. With a huff, Mori opened her eyes and slowly lifted her head. Ears twitching sleepily, she gazed around the area where she slept. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary, and it left her confused. Villagers called to each other back and forth, and a door opened close to her. Snorting, she got up on her four paws and padded out, intent on finding food. Mori followed her nose as it began leading her to a squirrel around the corner from a building when another scent caught her attention. Mori whined in confusion when her mother's scent began mixing with another scent.

Her red eyes widened when Akemi's scent mixed began mixing with Iruka's and...Hideo. He was here!

But something was wrong. The scent of blood began creeping in, and with a snarl Mori sprang in the direction of her mother and the man she thought of with adoration. Buildings rushed past Mori as she raced through Konoha until she got to the thick forest. Branches snagged and plucked at her fur as she continued running through the trees. She willed her paws to go faster when the scent of blood got stronger. Mori burst through the trees and stopped dead when she saw her mother as a wolf lying on the ground and Iruka standing in front of her, kunai drawn. Her brother stood a couple metres away, teeth flashing and blood staining his black coat. Her mother's ear twitched as Mori growled low and deep. Her one eye opened to gaze at her daughter.

"Mori! What are you doing here" Akemi huffed as she struggled to get to her feet.

A large wound on her shoulder and back prevented her from moving that much, and she sank back down to the ground.

Mori stalked around to circle her brother, echoing her brother's growl with her own.

Iruka glanced at the two wolves circling each other, their growls vibrating against his eardrums.

"Who is the black wolf?" he murmured to the injured older wolf behind him.

"My son, Hideo. Orochimaru has him under a powerful jutsu" Akemi panted as she painfully got to her feet.

"What?! You mean that's Mori's brother?" he said, turning to her with wide eyes.

The grey and white wolf nodded, eyes locked on both her children. It pained the older wolf to see them circling each other. This was not her kind and mischievous son that her and her mate had raised. This was a monster, a killing machine that was created by Orochimaru. A snarl broke the wolf and Chunin out of their thoughts as Hideo lunged at his sister. Black and white clashed and claws slashed. Iruka made a move to interfere, but Akemi quickly stepped in front of him.

"No! Don't interfere" she growled, eyes narrowed as she continued watching the two.

A yelp caught their attention as Hideo caught Mori's front leg in his teeth. He bit down and his teeth pierced her flesh. Blood flowed freely as Mori struggled to free herself. She whipped around and fastened her teeth to Hideo's shoulder. The siblings struggled against each other to over-power each other. Both broke apart and reared up, clashing and slashing at each other with sharp claws. Blood splattered as the siblings continued to fight. Iruka gritted his teeth as he watched the woman he affectionately thought of getting attacked by her brother. A shriek caused his eyes to snap to Mori to see her on her back with Hideo over her. He had gotten hold of her vulnerable stomach with his jaws and blood was streaming from the wound. Iruka made a quick decision and threw a kunai at the black wolf, and it embedded itself into the wolf's back leg. Hideo yelped loudly and released Mori, who struggled to her feet as Hideo reached for the knife in his leg.

Panting from the pain, Mori placed herself in front of Iruka as Hideo narrowed his eyes at the Chunin, growling low and vicious. Mori answered with a growl of her own. She would not allow Hideo to touch Iruka. She snarled as Hideo tried to move around Mori, and even if pain was racing through her veins Mori would protect Iruka and her mother. Hideo's legs bunched, and he raced toward his sister. Mori braced herself, but at the last moment Hideo changed direction. He zoomed toward Iruka and Akemi, and Mori sprang after him.

'No!' her mind screamed as Iruka braced himself for the oncoming wolf.

Iruka took out another kunai, but before he could blink, a grey and white blur appeared in front of him as Akemi threw herself in front of her son. She bit and slashed at her son even though it pained Akemi deeply. In the corner of her eye she saw her daughter standing beside Iruka, swaying slightly from her injuries. That one moment was enough for Hideo to sneak in. In a flash, he grabbed his mother by her throat and bit in deep. Akemi's scream was cut short as blood gurgled through her jaws. Mori's head snapped towards her mother, and shock coursed through her body. In a flash she changed to her human body, screaming and scrambling towards her mother.

Hideo dropped his mother and stood back, watching with empty eyes. Akemi dropped to the ground with a dull 'thud', and blood gushed from her throat wound. Hideo turned around and dashed into the bushes.

"NO!" Mori screamed and rushed to her mother's side.

Her red eyes swam with tears as she inspected her mother's body. Blood was everywhere, and a small part of Mori's brain knew the wound was fatal even though she didn't want to believe it. Her hands shook as she gathered her mother's body against hers, not paying attention to her stomach wound. Her tears spilled over and rolled down her cheeks as her mother's breathing gurgled.

"Mother please don't die. Don't leave me now that we're free" she said against her mother's fur.

Akemi's eyes opened briefly. She knew she was dying, but Akemi didn't mind. She had gotten free, and was with her daughter. She didn't blame her son; he was being controlled.

"Mori, take care of yourself. Don't blame your brother, blame Orochimaru. Let yourself be loved, and love in return" Akemi murmured, feeling her life ebbing away.

"Iruka, take care of Mori. She needs to feel love again" Akemi said as Iruka knelt beside the dying alpha.

The Chunin nodded solemnly. Akemi, feeling satisfied, closed her eyes and breathed her last. Mori's eyes widened as her mother's lifeless body began to cool. Her shoulders shook as sobs racked through her body. Iruka held her close as Mori clutched her mother's fur. He looked up briefly, noting how the black wolf had taken off into the forest. He tightened his grip on the grieving woman as she continued wailing, her tears beginning to dampen his vest.

After a couple minutes, Mori released her mother's body. Her eyes were puffy as she gazed at the Chunin beside her.

"Help me please" she murmured, and gestured for him to carry her mother's body to a small grove of trees.

One of the trees had fallen over, exposing the roots underneath. The hole was large, and Mori indicated for Iruka to place her mother in the hole. Her pack always buried their dead in the ground. To them, they were giving back to the Earth. Akemi would have wanted nothing else.

Mori bowed her head as she gazed at her mother one last time. With a sigh, she turned back and started walking towards the village.

Iruka followed and the two walked in a sad silence, both hearts heavy.