The Howler (Bruce Banner/Hulk Fanfiction)

Chapter 6: It Is True

Fingo awoke with a start, gasping for air. His claws extended and it took a moment before he realized that he was sinking his claws into flesh and fur and not the grit of the den floor. There was a sudden squeal before he drew back in horror.

"Shuriken," Fingo exclaimed, causing Dulpin to shake himself away beside him. "I-I'm so, so sorry." He couldn't seem to find the words to apologize to the even-tempered she-wolf.

Shuriken spun around and pressed a paw against her flank. A few streams of blood ran from it, but she just lowered her head and began to lap at the blood. Her eyes seemed to glow in the pale moonlight. "It's alright. It'd not that bad," she sympathized as she tried to calm him down. "Are you alright? What did Starbound say?"

Heat seemed to rush over Fingo's pelt. He licked his paw and drew it over his ear as he sucked in a heavy breath. "It was just a nightmare. Starbound alluded me this time."

Dulpin rose to his paws and shook out his flank. He lumbered over to the two younger wolves and sat down between them. "Sometimes that happens if your mind is too scrambled for Starbound to make much sense to you. Are you stressed about anything, Fingo?"

"Er, no, nothing more than usual," Fingo stammered. His stomach churned and his eyes watered. Just leave me alone, please!

Shuriken leaned toward him and touched her nose to his cheek comfortingly and that calmed his shaking. "I'm sure that it'll be better next time," she sympathized as she took a step forward with her tail dragging behind her. "Come on. Our packs will be waiting."

Relief washed over Fingo as he plunged after her. Dulpin struggled to keep up as he came up behind the two, panting heavily. Shuriken and Fingo continued forward as the beginning of dawn light lapped at the barren landscape. It turned the crisp leaves auburn and created long shadows through the forest.

"Well, this is where I say goodbye," rasped Dulpin as he stopped at the edge of the wooded forest as his muzzle tipped toward the mountain ranges wit the tips dotted in snow.

Shuriken took a step toward Dulpin and touched her nose to his cheek. "Have a safe trip back. We'll see you at the full moon."

"Starbound willing," Dulpin replied with a tired smirk. He nodded to Fingo as he took off into the opposite direction. He started off as a jog before he darted forward and soon was only a speck in the distance.

"Would you like to walk some of the way with me," offered Fingo before he was even aware that the question had left his lips. He immediately gritted his teeth as his eyes flashed. "I mean, only if you want."

A rumble rolled in Shuriken's throat. She sped past him with her tail slightly waving behind her. "If you can keep up."

Fingo let out a yelp and bounded forward after her. The exhaustion that pulled at his fur seemed to vanish in a moment and be replaced by pure adrenaline and determination to catch up with Shuriken. Shuriken was lithe and made to run, but Fingo's size was an advantage. He leaped beside Shuriken in a single bound and the two of them charged side by side.

They finally made it to the border between the two packs and the two skidded to a halt. Fingo panted hard while Shuriken barely seemed to notice. "Looks like someone needs to be forced into shape," she joked warmly.

He nodded in agreement. "I guess looking for herbs doesn't prepare me to run," he panted with his head lowered so that his nose almost touched the ground. It was then that he detected a faint, yet familiar scent.

Shuriken drew toward him and Fingo quickly lifted his head to meet her gaze. "Are you sure that you're okay? You a little more squirrelly than usual."

"Oh, yeah! I'm fine. Just a lot to think about and all," Fingo replied. He tried to keep his voice as smooth as possible and ignore then nagging feeling that he wanted to tell his best friend everything. He swallowed it back and nodded once more. "So, I guess I'll see you at the half moon."

"Yeah, making sure no one takes a tumble off of Alpha Point," Shuriken joked. The two of them laughed for a moment before Shuriken touched her nose to Fingo's ear and Fingo had to struggle not to jump back in surprise. "See you later. May Starbound lead your pawsteps truthfully."

With that she headed back to her own territory. Fingo stayed where he was and when he was sure that Shuriken was gone, he lowered his head back down. He picked up the scent once more and his paws seemed to burn. He instantly stalked after it with his underbelly barely touching the ground. All wolves learned basic hunting and fighting moves, but it had been a while since Fingo had learned them and he certainly hadn't practiced them. He was more inclined to find herbs than follow scent trails.

He pushed away the insecurities as he continued forward. He gritted his teeth together as the scent grew stronger. It was clearly a Swift River Pack wolf. He could tell that scent anywhere, but there was also something else to it. The scent seemed to be mixed with something else.

Fingo pushed his way through the bushes before he gasped in surprise. What he saw in front of him was enough to make him pull back and loose his stomach contents beside the bush. He gagged hard in the aftermath before he rubbed a paw over his mouth in an effort to make himself more presentable. For who, he wasn't sure.

He eventually straightened and rested a shaky paw on the mound. He saw black dots around his vision and felt like he might loose consciousness. He gulped as he moved his paw around just enough to detect the somewhat familiar scent. Tears pooled from his eyes as he bowed his head. Mildew? Fanggo. No! No!

His brain seemed to scream at him louder than he could've ever imagined. He had seen plenty of death in his days and he wasn't at all fazed by it anymore. However, this was certainly different. His brother had killed her; a mother she-wolf to a pup that he had grown extremely close to. This was the most horrifying thing that he had ever seen in his life and he had no idea how to react to this.

"No! This isn't happening," he yowled at the top of his lungs while his back arched. He dug his claws into the ground before he realized that he was desecrating the grave of a beloved she-wolf. He retracted his claws and bowed his head as he continued to sob.

Once he realized how long he had stood there, he forced him to pull away from the grave. He sniffled for a few moments before he just stared at the grave. It was hardly an end that she deserved in Fingo's opinion. He guessed that his brother had done the best that he could under the circumstances. It was unlawful to dig up a grave once the body had been stowed away once. There was no way that he could properly bury her with good conscience.

    After what felt like a lifetime, he pulled away. The sun was climbing and the morning patrol would be in soon to check the territory. He didn't need to be spotted at a grave sight. He padded over to camp and was pleased that it wasn't buzzing with activity. This early in the morning only wolves on the morning patrol usually ventured out.

    He crept over to his den without any trouble. He forced himself inside as exhaustion weighed over him. The only sound that could be heard was the soft snoring of Fanggo. He was sprawled in Fingo's den on his back with his paws pressed into the air and his underbelly exposed. His top lip seemed to flip up with each breath and Fingo couldn't help but smile. This was the brother that he knew and loved.

    With weariness, he crawled toward his nest and started to settle down. His tail accidentally grazed Fanggo's cheek and he let out a snort as he woke himself up. His eyes flashed as he turned onto his side and blinked a few times to focus. "Fingo? You're back late," he rasped.

    "Just go back to sleep," Fingo urged as he crawled in beside him, thankful for his brother's warmth. He rested his head on his paws as he felt his brother press even further against him, humming softly. It wasn't long before Fanggo drifted off without another stir.

    Fingo closed his own eyes and prayed to be transported from this nightmare of a life.