The Howler (Bruce Banner/Hulk Fanfiction)

Chapter 18: Long Days

Fanggo awoke to find that his brother had already gone. He didn't mind too much as he shook his fur and rose to his paws, arching his jaws in a massive yawn. Fanggo decided to find Jolt and take him for a tour of the territory, considering they hadn't managed it the day before.

He scurried across the camp and came to a halt at the Training Fang's den. He squeezed his way in and stepped carefully around the den until he found where Jolt was sleeping. He was curled into a ball at the back of the den with a paw flicked over his muzzle and tail as he dreamed. He looked so peaceful that Fanggo didn't want to wake him, but they had to get going before someone asked them on a patrol and Jolt didn't know where the territory started and it stopped.

Fanggo stretched out a paw and shook Jolt's shoulder. "Jolt. Come on, Jolt. It's time to get up," Fanggo urged. Jolt rolled over and groaned. Fanggo chuckled, but didn't take no for an answer. He stretched out his neck and sunk his teeth into Jolt's scruff. He shook Jolt's body and Jolt let out a yelp of surprise. He swung his hind leg around and slammed it down on Ginger's tail.

Ginger sprang awake automatically. She narrowed her eyes at Jolt and immediately leaped for his haunches. Fanggo set Jolt down as the two of them wrestled around in an attempt to wake each other up. "Alright," chided Jolt with amusement glowing in Fanggo's eyes. "Come on, Jolt."

Jolt offered Ginger a small smile before he scurried after Fanggo. The two headed from the den as they headed toward the entrance. Jolt struggled to keep up with Fanggo's long strides. "Fanggo! Slow down," Jolt complained as he leaped forward and nearly skidded past Fanggo.

"You're going to have to learn to keep up, little one. You'll grow, but for now you have to use your size to your advantage. You'll figure that out when we do battle training," Fanggo explained when Jolt finally seemed to be able to keep a bit of pace with him. It also helped that Fanggo slowed down.

Jolt tipped his head. "Do you think that that's a good idea with, you know," he pressed.

Fanggo forced his voice to remain calm. "We can't stop your training because it could cause a reaction from me. We'll just be careful, okay?"

"Okay," sighed Jolt as he dragged his tail forward and stretched his jaws wide in a yawn. He shook his head to clear it before he scampered forward. "Which border are we going to?"

"Shaded Forest Pack," replied Fanggo. He lifted his head and tasted the air as he was able to detect the border. He slightly grimaced when he realized that he was detecting another scent. His muzzle wrinkled as he realized that the scent that he was scenting was his brother's.

Jolt was able to detect the scent of Shaded Forest Pack and quickly found the border. He kept to their side of it and tried to walk the straight line with his paws pressed back to back as he lumbered forward. "Isn't this the pack that fought us recently?"

"Yes, but we fight either pack," Fanggo replied distracted as his head swiveled around. "It just depends on the day. Sometimes they fight each other as well. You need to know that no one from another pack is your friend."

    Jolt grumbled as he sprang forward and stumbled in front of Fanggo. Fanggo looked down to him, asking for an explanation. "What about Shuriken? I thought that Fingo really likes her?"

    "That's different. Healers have different responsibilities than Fangs do. He's allowed to do so. You're not," Fanggo reminded with a flick of his paw against Jolt's shoulder. "Let's just keep going. There's a scent around here that I don't like."

    Jolt reared on his hind legs and sniffed the air. He pinned his ears against his head as he grumbled loudly. "I don't smell anything."

    Fanggo lifted his tail and flicked it against Jolt's head as he passed by. "You'll have to learn how to detect the scent of other wolves." Fanggo lifted his head and thrust a paw against the ground, bringing it back with dirt clumped in his claws. But, this isn't wolf scent. Not in the slightest. I have no idea what this is, but I don't like it one bit.

    Jolt didn't say anything as he bounded forward. He halted when he noticed that Fanggo had stopped as well. He clustered behind him for a moment before Fanggo headed forward. He bounded after him before Jolt suddenly was tackled to the ground. He yelped as he fell with his paws thrust up in an attempt to push the wolf off of him.

    Fanggo spun around once more with his teeth bared, ready to protect his pup. He froze when he realized that it was just Ginger. The young pup pinned Jolt to the ground until Fanggo took a step forward and sunk his teeth into Ginger's scruff and hauled her backwards off of Jolt. "Ginger, what are you doing here," Fanggo snapped as he set Ginger down as Jolt rose to his paws quickly.

    "I heard Jolt leave and I thought that I would see what was going on," answered Ginger as she scrunched up her muzzle. "It's kind of boring staying at camp. I didn't think that you would mind if I came out here."

    Fanggo sighed. "Alright. I guess as long as you're here, you can help me teach Jolt some hunting moves."

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    Fingo brought Shuriken to the border and touched his nose to her ear. "So, are we good now? If I promise not to be angry with you anymore."

    "I think it sounds good to me," she asked as she licked his cheek. "I'll see you at the half moon in a few nights, alright? We'll talk more then."

    Shuriken turned to walk in the other direction when Fingo let out a small bark. "Wait! Shuriken!"

    She spun around and tilted her head in surprise. She then padded back over and rumbled in amusement. "Yes, Fingo. You know that I have a lot to do, right? I can't be gone all day."

    "Yeah, I know. I just wanted to say one more thing in case I don't have time to say it later," Fingo explained as he seemed to ramble on without an end in sight.

    Shuriken narrowed her eyes. She lifted one of her paws and rested it over his. "Go on, Fingo. If you're just going to stumble of your words then this might take a while."

    Fingo gulped. "Yeah, sorry. Shuriken, I've known you since I was a pup. I know that I've had feeling for you for so long." He let out a heavy breath. "Shuriken, I wanted to ask you if you would make me the happiest wolf that I've ever known and be my mate?"

    Shuriken seemed a bit taken back. Her eyes turned serious for a moment before she took a step forward and pressed her forehead to his. "This isn't going to be easy. Fingo. We're in two different packs."

    Fingo's heart fell as he let out a low sigh. "I take it that you don't want to be my mate?"

    "No! I never said that. I said that it would be hard. I never said that I didn't want to try. You know that I love you more than anything, Fingo. That was why I was so hurt after yesterday. If you will take me as your mate across pack lines, then I will forever be your mate," she whispered in his ear gently.

    Fingo wagged his tail and licked her cheek. "You would make me the happiest wolf alive, Shuriken."

    "I'll see you at the half moon," she told him as she took a step back. Her ears flicked toward the pine forest. "I really need to head back."

    Fingo nodded vigorously. "Y-Yeah, me too," he stammered as he flicked his tail behind him. He felt excitement cause every fiber of his fur to spike while thinking of having Shuriken as his mate.

    She cast me more glance over her shoulder before a jog turned into run and she disappeared into the dark forest. Fingo turned around and sighed heavily and headed back to camp, feeling like a young pup.