The Howler (Bruce Banner/Hulk Fanfiction)

Chapter 13: Mess It Up

Fingo managed to pull himself over to Shuriken as soon as the arguing broke out. He struggled to leap over a Shaded Forest Pack member before he landed right beside her. Her eyes were stretched wide in terror with the fur along her hackles bristled in an effort to protect herself. Fingo pressed against her and felt his slight muscles tensing against hers.

"I didn't mean for this to happen," whimpered Shuriken as she met Fingo's gaze. "I told Crusade because he wanted to know about the bear. I did not tell him this to have him make war with the other packs."

Fingo touched his nose to her ear. "I know," he sympathized with his tail kinked over his back. "Do you think that you could tell me what you really saw?"

Shuriken glanced around until her eyes fell back on Fingo. She nodded slowly. "Alright, but not here. I don't need anyone else listening in," she hissed. She padded over to the edge of the clearing easily, by passing any wolves that stood in her way. Fingo followed her, dodging and slightly rolling out of the way until he could leap clear of the line of bushes that marked the edge of the clearing. He landed heavily and followed the tip of Shuriken's tail as she padded over to the largest sycamore tree in the territories.

She leaped over the roots with Fingo hot on her tail. She halted and sat at the base of one of the roots with her fur slightly spiking. Fingo sat down beside her until their fur brushed. "So, what did you really see?"

"I'm not even sure. That bear just came out of nowhere and knocked me to the ground. I collapsed and then I woke up to find this giant, brown furred wolf thing fighting it. The wolf killed this bear and then turned to me. I thought for sure that he was going to kill me, but he didn't. He didn't go after anyone other than the bear. He saved my life. I'm grateful for him," Shuriken explained.

Fingo sighed. "I wish that was all that he did."

"What," Shuriken snapped quickly.

"Nothing," Fingo mumbled into his chest fur. His claws protruded and sunk into the soft root. "I just wish that I've seen this thing. Maybe a few healers would be more believable."

"And you're saying I'm not," Shuriken flashed as another look of hurt flashed across his face. A scowl played on her face and slightly tugged at her upper lip.

Fingo looked away from her for a moment and shook his head. "No, that's not what I'm saying. I'm just saying that it might be easier to believe."

Shuriken rose to her paws and lashed her tail behind him. "Easier? I'm glad that you think that a healer, such as yourself, will say something that I already haven't? I'm sure that's right. That's right what you would do, isn't it, Fingo?"

"Shuriken, that's not what I meant and you know it. Don't be fishbrained," he started before he realized that he was only making things worse.

A growl rolled in Shuriken's throat to match the narrowing of her eyes. "Now you're telling me what an idiot I was? To think that I actually had feelings for you. I can see now that it was grounded in nothing," she snarled. He took a step toward her, but she immediately shied away. "Just stay away from me! I can see that I can't trust you like I thought that I could."

"Shuriken," pleaded Fingo with a pleading look in her eyes.

Shuriken spun so that her tail thrust against Fingo's jaw. It was more surprising than daunting and the sting traveled to his heart. "I will remain civil to you as healers, but I don't want to see you other than that." With that she pelted away from him and she was left without so much as goodbye.

"What just happened," breathed Fingo, half to himself. He pinned his ears against his head and shook his head. He suddenly heard the sound of laughing and rumbling. He crept away from the sycamore with his fur slightly prickling and claws gripping against the ground.

He leaped forward before he realized who he was facing. Fanggo stood across from him with Briar right beside. She tilted her head curiously as she glanced up at Fingo. "Fingo, is everything alright," inquired Briar gently.

Fingo cleared his throat quickly as he twirled his claw into the ground. "Oh, yeah, sorry. I didn't mean to interrupt you two or anything," he murmured softly. "I'll just-"

"No, it's alright, Fingo. We were just heading back anyway," Fanggo reassured. He nodded to Briar and she dipped her head to him before she bounded forward and toward the clearing. Fanggo turned back to his brother quizzically. "So, why are you out here? You're not the one to go for nature walks unless you're searching for herbs. Even you wouldn't be that lame."

Fingo rolled his eyes as he sighed heavily, his head shaking in his shoulders. "Don't start with me. This is you fault by the way."

Fanggo drew back with his ears pinned against his head. He wrinkled his nose in disgust. "No need to be harsh! You know that I can't help it anymore than you can help how your mind works. If I could, then I would. It's not like I ever choose to murmur Jolt's mother."

"Of course not. That's not what I meant." Fingo thrust a paw against the ground. "I just can't seem to say the right things these days."

Fanggo took a step over to his brother and lowered his head and touched his nose to Fingo's cheek gently. "Is this about Shuriken? That's the only reason you would ever be out here is with her, and her scent is on your pelt."

A sigh sounded from Fingo. He tried to shrug him off, but Fanggo was stronger than his brother and almost fell against him. "I really think I screwed something up, Fingo. I was just trying to defend you."

Fanggo stiffened. "I don't need you to defend me, big brother."

"And yet I always will, little brother," chided Fingo as he thrust a paw gingerly against his cheek. "I just really want all of this to be over."

"Were part of a pack, Fingo. It's never going to be over. We just need to hide in plain sight, or I do. This really doesn't concern you. I can do this on my own if it's too much for you. You shouldn't suffer with Shuriken just because of me. You should tell her why you're protecting me," Fanggo pressed so that his body weight was almost suffocating his smaller brother.

    Fingo managed to break away and turn to face Fanggo with a look of shock in his eyes. "I would never use you like that to get to Shuriken."

    "Well, we could still use more wolves on our side. Right now it's use and Jolt, and he really doesn't understand this all that much," Fanggo protested as he sunk his claws into the ground with a growl rolling in the back of his throat. "Come on. I know how much she loves you and you love her. You have to make this right."

    "Since when were you a matchmaker," snapped Fingo, although there was warm amusement in his voice.

    Fanggo shrugged with his fur slightly spiking. "I know more than you think that I do. But, I hope that you will speak to her. She's a really good wolf, Fingo. She's a real keeper. I can just tell."

    With that, Fanggo headed back to the clearing. It appeared that the growling and snarling had died down a bit and it was safe for him to return. His left his brother standing, looking as lost as ever, in the center of the forest with his fur pinned against his body.

    You're right, Fanggo. You have no idea how right you are.