The Lonely Wolves

Akazaru and I were sitting on a bench, near a park. I had managed to buy some food for him, since I had not enough money for both of us, I'd rather have him to eat since he was still young. 

I could see in his cute round eyes all the gratitude he held to me, yet the pain to see me like this. I pet his head, assuring him that I was alright but, deep inside, I was starving. I had not eaten anything for the last two days, so my strengths were diminishing, but I had to hang on for him. The two of us were the only family we had left, so I could not just leave him alone.

Flagging down the chef, I ordered three bowls of their Orange Chicken. Knowing I could pay my way with my lineage, I put down the money as he brought out the fresh food. Noticing a bench with only a pup and a young man who looked slightly familiar, I carried my portions to sit next to them.

"Hello!"

I tilted my head, smiling at them gently.

Akazaru lifted his head to look at the newcomer and waved his tail, showing he was happy. The smell of fresh food got me first, then I looked towards the girl, about the same age as me, I guessed. I nodded and said:

"Hello."

Yipping a greeting toward the puppy, I looked at the boy. Seeing that he was my age, I felt no need to be nervous.

"Ah... Do you mind if I sit here? Oh! My name is Okami. Rae Okami~"

Blushing I scratched the back of my neck before waiting for an answer.

I nodded then said:

"Please, help yourself to sit if you want. My name's Connor Inuzuka and this is Akazaru, my partner."

Akazaru barked a little at his name and came to sit on my legs, leaving a place for the Okami girl to sit.

Sitting next to him, I set down the trays of my food.

"Well. I guess I got enough for all of us huh!"

Laughing, I scratched behind Akazaru's ears, smiling.

"Please, dine with me. I'll go get another serving if I'm not satisfied, I have the money for it. And I'm sure this adorable puppy would love to eat!"

Akazaru's tongue was out of his mouth as he was panting. I shook my head.

"I appreciate the offer, but I can't accept it. I wouldn't like to impede you from your meal."

Akazaru looked at me and cried a little, pushing my hand with his nose. I peted his head, knowing what he meant, yet I couldn't do it.

Noticing Akazaru whine, I growled lightly. Barking my question, I waited for an answer.

Was Connor starving?

Keeping the trays out, I narrowed my eyes at Connor.

"No, as an Okami I now treat you as a guest. It is my duty to see your whims are fulfilled, at least for the day."

Before Akazaru could reply, I said:

"No, I'm not starving, don't worry."

My belly growled when I ended my sentence, but I tried to look as if it wasn't affecting me at all. Akazaru kept on pushing me, whining even more.

I sighed and said:

"Alright, for you, friend."

He looked as he was smiling and started to lick my face, happy, his tail waving rapidly.

Reading their expressions, I reached into my pocket. Fourhundred bills, in total, is what I handed to Connor.

"Please. Take this. And eat."

Cracking my tray open, I used my chopsticks to feed myself the now warm chicken. At the perfect heat, it was delicious.

I opened the meal's container but shook my head at the money.

"I can't accept that. That's way too much."

I shared my meal with Akazaru, who barely ate from it to let me replenish.

"Theres another tray. And please, take it... I come from a wealthy family, and I would much rather the money go to you who needs it."

I pet Akazaru when I was done, scratching in that spot behind any canine's ears that felt amazing. In a few yips, I told Akazaru:

If he doesn't take it, you do. That way you can feed him, please.

I sighed as I saw Akazaru take the tray.

"Why are you doing all this? We barely know each other."

Connors question was reasonable. Therefore, I deigned it worthy of an answer.

"Him."

I pointed Akazaru.

Akazaru and I both looked at each other, confused.

"What about him?", I asked.

"I know why dogs fend for their masters. I know why wolves howl at the moon."

Laughing, I waved at the chef across the street to make a few more batches.

"He's fending for you. He's got meat on his bones, which means you're feeding him your food. This means that you truly care for him. And by the way he was pining at you to eat, he truly cares for you. Thus, I assume that you two are partners in life, and have been or a while. Am I wrong?"

I shook my head.

"No, you're not. We've been together for a long time now. As both of us are Inuzuka, we were bound to be together."

Nodding my head, I understood entirely.

"Well. As Okami, I understand his words. He's quite wise for a dog."

Going to get the three extra trays, I laid the cash on the counter before returning to the bench. Setting one in front of Akazaru, I handed one to Connor.

"Please, eat. I would like to hear about why you cannot feed yourself."

I took the tray and nodded.

"I choose not to feed myself because I want Akazaru to grow correctly. He's still a young pup, so it is important at his age."

I started to eat, forgetting my manner in that instant. Those two days of starvation seemed so far

Nodding gently, I went to get them both water.

How strange...

Connor wanted his pup to grow properly, and I admired him for it. Getting the water, I asked the chef for a bowl, before pouring water in it for Akazaru. Handing the other bottle to Connor, I cracked into my second serving and ate once more.

I drank some of the water, then I looked at Akazaru, sighing.

"He's the only family I have now, and the same goes for him."

I scratched his head between his ears and he waved his tail, moving his head to lick my hand then gently bite it.

"Judging by that and your funds... You were disowned, weren't you."

Tilting my head to the side, I let my eyes soften.

"Being removed from one's pack is hard.. I understand."

"In a way, I was asking for it..."

Akazaru yawned and laid down on my legs, about to sleep.

"Explain, please."

Gathering up the empty trays, I waited for Connor to continue.

I peted Akazaru's back as I said:

"My family is known to be the wildest amongst the entire Inuzuka Clan. But I was not in accord with some of their ways. Where they prefer violence over speech, I prefer peace and harmony. When Akazaru was born, they banished us from the family, saying they would see us as enemies if we were to come back to them."

A tear fell doen my cheek as I continued:

"Ever since, we have lived on ourselves, careful not to cross my family ever again."

Instinct took over, and I let out a deep growl. To be removed from a pack was a curse, and especially toward someone so young. Most packs would wait until they were full grown to banish, unless the banished killed a pack member or took an Alpha.

"That... I can't.."

Rage built up inside of my chest.

I sighed.

"We learned to live together, or, at least, to survive. We had to do some bad things in order to do so, but if we didn't do them, we probably wouldn't be here today."

"I understand... Well.. Now what will you do? Do you have a place to stay? Or work?"

Leaning back against the bench, I looked over at him with a raised eyebrow.

I shook my head.

"We live in an abandoned shack, at the village's border. We'll probably do as we always do: try to survive as long as we can."

I slammed my fist down on the bench, right in between us. Leaving a dent, I looked at him, my eyes burning with anger and hatred.

"No."