The Wolf and the Shepard

1.The Past Is In The Past

Kudo's POV

Picture of Kudo (as an adult) above^^
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"Pathetic."

My father's voice rung out as I laid weakly on the forest undergrowth. I didn't make an attempt to defend my actions, I simply cast him an exhausted look which he responded to with a harsh growl. My energy was drained at this point and I wasn't in the mood to put up with his snarkiness right now. His eyes shot daggers into my fur as I let out a quivering breath, closing my tired eyes as I did so. His tantrums weren't even the worst part of living with the aggressive wolf, not even close.

We were flanked by trees which eventually led up to a road that my brother and I were told-well, demanded- to stay away from. We obviously couldn't protest, but we weren't stupid enough to travel beyond the forest anyways. Who knows what lives out there? Weasley animals that couln't defend themselves and weren't even worth the chase with their sagging skin that clings to their fragile bones. Without a doubt there were strays running around the place, nagging at bare-skinned two-legs for any chance of food. I'm assuming most she-dogs pratically begged for any wolf wandering outside their boundaries, no doubt for power. A high, prestige wolf mating with a dog of any sort spreads around like wildfire after details are spilled.

The sky was slightly shifting into a pink and purple color every minute we wasted "training". I decided to keep my mouth shut instead of pointing out the obvious situation to my father. It was getting late. It's not like my mother would care anyway. Nobody could hear my weak yelps and painful howls as I was forced into this task everyday. After all, my sibling and I were only kept alive to provide my parents strong grandpups and carry on the bloodline. Some parents they are. I really don't understand the need for adults to be at your heels every minute of the day, constantly stressing about some female that will supposedly "enlighten" your life. Right, like I'm gonna believe that nonsense.

They wanted me to mate a she-wolf who was tough and would provide her pups with great care. They had told me that when I reach maturity I should find a small pack and mate with a beta, gamma, or an alpha of some sort. Females could be any of those things, and although there weren't many alpha females since they were rare, I still had a chance of finding one. Most pups' parents didn't actually give a rat's tail about their pups happiness, it was all about the next generation. Why did parents care so much? It's as if they want us to grow up quicker. The only she-wolves that they warned me to avoid were rogues and regular dogs. They said that dogs weren't fit enough to supply fearsome pups, and I believed them. Why would an independent wolf that was created to hunt and live freely, settle for a weak housepet who was only made to please their owner? The idea of mating with a dog was unlogical and frankly, I didn't understand why we'd even go near one of them. We were here before them, which further proves my point.

"Get up," his irritated tone caused me to snap out of my thoughts. I struggled to my feet since I had just experienced yet another brutal training for a young pup like me. I guess it was becoming tolerable, I was used to it anyway, but I wasn't mentally over it. I refrained from growling as blood trickled from my slightly scratched shoulder. It wasn't a deep wound, but it angered me nonetheless. What kind of monster had the nerve to lay a claw on their own pup? It was sickening, but I hoped he only did it to prepare me, not out of pent up anger and irritation. My father's expressionless orbs trailed after mine as he examined my wound without interest or concern.

"It'll be fine," he shrugged, clearly not caring that he was the cause of this, "stop acting like a she-wolf." He snarled at me sternly, and I gave him a curt nod in response. When it came to debating with my father, there was no debate--I'd learned that the hard way. I know I sounded dramatic, but the emotional pain was devestating. You wake up, train, hunt, and dread the next day you had to spend with them.