Cries of the Forest

14

The brief moment of stunned silence was broken by twin shouts of "Kiba!" and a loud whine.

So much for being unnoticed...

As the dust settled, Naruto contemplated his chances of being unnoticed. Now, he'd only recently been doing math, but he was pretty sure it was zero.

He didn't have much time to think that through though before a giant furry thing broke through the haze. Gone was the look-a-like of the People at his feet, and in their place was something much larger than the howlers he'd see in The Forest, with a stockier form and softer features, (though not very soft when curled into a snarl as they were now.)

During his assessment, it had taken a moment to assess its People. While it deemed him as being relatively okay, it didn't seem to excuse his actions, even if it was in defense.

Naruto understood, but he really hoped this wouldn't turn into an actual fight. He didn't know how he'd fare against three intelligent and skilled opponents, (two of which were bipedal.) Maybe he'd try to play it off. . . ?

"Uh, hello? I'm sorry for what I did to your. . . friend." He wasn't quite sure if they really were friends or not, but he wasn't willing to ask. (He also wasn't sorry in the least; think of the trees!) His voice seemed to snap them out of whatever stupor they'd fallen into. They didn't seem to know what to do with the snarling not-howler guarding their People, but still came closer to investigate the whole commotion. 

"Ah, n-no, we're sorry. We a-almost d-d-didn't see you in time." The female that approached first seemed unsure before him. Did he scare her? He didn't feel like he was trying to be intimidating, but her hunched form told him she was scared regardless. 

The other one was standing close behind her, his eyes obscured and posture ready. (If anything, he was intimidating, not Naruto!)

"It is fine; I didn't know this was that type of place, so I am sorry I interfered."

"What?" The male's head cocked to the side in a silent reiteration of her confusion. The not-howler had also stopped growling now that the other People were with it. 

"Everyone knows these are ninja training grounds. Why? Because that is how it's been since the Founders' time." Training? Oh; so they weren't competing for the female's mating rights. Glad he hadn't asked about his assumption. These People, while being friendly, didn't seem like the type he'd really like to out himself to. 

"I thought it was a... a park." He'd remembered asking Shikamaru about any places in The Village that he might like, places with live trees. There were pitifully too-few answers for his taste, but he was glad he'd remembered the word in time!

"O-oh. Well, w-we're s-s-still sorry for this." The male didn't seem to be paying much attention now, a small tilt of his chin indicating his gaze to be. . . oh no. He'd better get out of here before they start asking questions. 

"I think I will go now. You can continue training now." He didn't offer to heal the People he had hurt, wanting to get out of there as quick as possible and having remembered from a bit of their conversation that the female could heal. He didn't hurt him too much anyway. 

"Would you like to join?" The question seemed like a trick somehow, like he wasn't actually asking about training. He couldn't see the male's eyes behind his lenses, but he felt like it was uncomfortably intense, suspicion tensing his frame underneath those heavy-looking light clothes.

". . . No, I think I should get back," he said somewhat hesitantly, trying to subtly start backing away. The actual exit was past them, but that didn't matter. He'd probably go through the trees if he had to. His instincts started blaring at him to get away.