Feral

Chapter 1

Iwaizumi's POV

"You be careful out there Hajime."

"Right dad." I said, waving to him and my mother as I slung my bag over my shoulder. I sighed, patting my horse who was waiting patiently outside of our home.

"Ready?" I said, him giving me a snort in response. I smiled slightly, climbing on top of him and starting off towards the forests. Hopefully this trip wouldn't be too long. Once we were there, I kept a careful eye out. Hunting was always dangerous, I know. But without it, my family didn't eat.

My parents both worried greatly about my job, but it was the only thing I even remotely enjoyed. There was no way I was going to do blacksmithing, mail delivery, servantry, or any of that. Hunting at least was exciting. Finally, I spotted a buck. That would be an enormous catch... and would sell for a lot.

Silently, I slid off of my horse and told him to stay as I snuck up closer. Using the trees and shrubs as cover while I drew the bow from my back along with an arrow. Once I was close enough, I put the arrow in place and pulled the string back.

I held my breath, steadying my aim. I closed one eye, aiming the arrow at the buck's head. Before I released the bow, I opened my other eye and let the arrow fly. The whiz of it going through the air could be heard before the sharp, flint arrow head sunk into the deer's head.

I got up from my hiding spot and rushed over, making sure the deer was dead and not in anymore pain. It may sound silly. But I cared and respected every creature that I would hunt. After all, they were still living creatures like me. I sighed, pulling the arrow out of the animal and putting it back into the quiver with the others before hearing the shrubs and bushes rustle.

It wasn't my horse making the noise.. I slowly stood up, drawing another arrow to see several wolves surrounding me. They must have already been hunting and smelled this blood. I kept my eyes on the mini pack as they were circling me, all of them keeping themselves coordinated for their attack.

I kept eye contact with the one looking ready to pounce at me before turning my back and letting another arrow sink itself into the wolf behind me that was trying to sneak up on me while others directed my attention.

This isn't the first time I have been ambushed, but not by this many wolves.. They were all too close to use arrows, so I quickly put the bow back around me and grabbed the hunting knife around my belt.

The knife certainly made up close fighting easier, but it was still a small pack against me. As I was turning, a wolf pounced on top of me. It opened its jaws to clamp onto my neck, but I pulled my arm in front of me and the fangs sunk into my arm.

It fucking hurt like hell, and I was worried this could very possibly end terribly for me since the others were closing in. It wasn't until someone, or something, tackled the wolf on top of me did I have much hope.

I heard a low and threatening growl as the pack fled. I watched them go before holding my arm to try and reduce the bleeding. Another pair of hands pressing onto the wound.

"Are you okay?"

"Yeah I'm fine. Thanks for-" I cut myself off when I looked at the man. Seeing his wolf-like ears, tail, and teeth. A werewolf huh.

"Uh, thanks for saving me." I said, finishing my sentence. The werewolf smiled at me before helping me up.

"No problem. Here we need to get this fixed, come with me."

"I can just return to my home."

"You live in that village southward?"

"Yeah."

"You'll bleed out before you get there. My place isn't far and there's a stream we can wash your arm off in." He said, making me sigh. I suppose he was right, so I just followed him.

Once we reached a stream, I kneeled down and began washing off my arm with the cold water. The werewolf wandered off before returning with some cloth so I could wrap my arm.

"Thanks." I said simply, taking it from him but he just pouted.

"Here, let me help you."

"No it's alright I can do it myself." I said while wrapping my arm one handedly, making sure the wrap was tight and tucked securely before getting up.

"Alright. I should be going back home now. Thanks, again."

"Why don't you stay the night? It's getting dark bc you have a long trip back."

"It shouldn't take me too long once I get to my horse."

"Ohhh, I see. Well, then I'll walk with you to your horse." He said with a smile. I raised my brow and told him I would be fine, but he just argued I was too vulnerable with a hurt arm. As much as I didn't want to admit it, he was right. So he tagged along.

It was a bit strange, walking with a werewolf. I knew that most of them were harmless. And many even lived among us in our own village. But I was never very comfortable around them.

I had lost one of my grandparents to a savage werewolf attack. I was little when it happened. But I never forgot. I tried to not hold any of that against werewolves, but I wasn't keen on being friendly with them either.

Once we reached where my horse and my hunt still were, I said I could manage on my own from here. The werewolf looked curious but nodded.

"Okay. Also, I'd take the path to your left on your way home. There's a lot of packs that come around at night on the right path."

"I will keep that in mind. Thank you."

"So. What's your name, or should I just call you Mr. Hunter?"

"My name is Iwaizumi."

"Nice to meet you. I'm Oikawa."