Drabble #21: Ascent
Title: Apart
Author: britedark
Universe: canon
Genre: friendship
Word Count: 462
Summary: What joy is there in triumph, when a friend is not there?
Author's Note: This is chapter 25 of Destiny. The chapter before this is here.
Apart
Hakkaku watched the panicked flock ascend to the sky, a fierce grin on his face, and his hands full of limp, feathered bodies. Success! It wasn't often that he'd managed to take a flock of birds utterly by surprise, particularly one with youkai in the mix. And, he'd gotten the youkai birds as well, which made it even better. Score one for the wolves!
He started to turn around, to see how well Ginta had done, and then his mohawk drooped as he remembered.
Ginta had stayed behind.
They hadn't been separated in, well, ever. They'd been born the same year to low-ranking mothers, much to the expressed displeasure of the old chief. Most of the pack followed the chief's lead, forcing the two young pups to fight just to survive, let alone gain respect. They had quickly learned the value of standing together. By the time that the young and ambitious Koga had started looking around for followers and supporters for his plans to replace the old chief, the pair had gained grudging tolerance from most of the extended pack, but no acknowledged status from the leaders.
Koga had offered them friendship and respect, and won their utter loyalty. They became his fiercest followers, unbothered by the derision of the many who saw weakness in Koga's moves to attract the low-ranking youkai.
The male wolf whined, breaking through Hakkaku's distraction. The animal watched anxiously, his own prey dead at his feet. "Sorry," muttered Hakkaku, before giving the wolves reassurance and permission to eat. Plopping down to the ground, he attacked his own birds, ripping out feathers, then feeding on the youki and blood, before pulling the body apart. He ate quickly, determined to be on the way as quickly as possible. He wanted to get back on the trail, headed back to the caves as quickly as possible, so that he could report, and then return to Ginta's side.
He felt so cold, not knowing that Ginta was near. So apprehensive. So alone…
followers, unbothered by the derision of many, who saw weakness in Koga's moves to attract the low-ranking youkai.
The male wolf whined, breaking through Hakkaku's distraction. The animal watched anxiously, his own prey dead at his feet. "Sorry," muttered Hakkaku, before giving the wolves reassurance and permission to eat. Plopping down on the ground, he attacked his own birds, ripping out feathers, then feeding on the youki and blood, before pulling the body apart. He ate quickly, determined to be on the way as quickly as possible. He wanted to get back on the trail, headed back to the caves, so that he could report, and then return to Ginta's side.
He felt so cold, knowing that Ginta was not near. So apprehensive. So alone…
Author: britedark
Universe: canon
Genre: friendship
Word Count: 462
Summary: What joy is there in triumph, when a friend is not there?
Author's Note: This is chapter 25 of Destiny. The chapter before this is here.
Apart
Hakkaku watched the panicked flock ascend to the sky, a fierce grin on his face, and his hands full of limp, feathered bodies. Success! It wasn't often that he'd managed to take a flock of birds utterly by surprise, particularly one with youkai in the mix. And, he'd gotten the youkai birds as well, which made it even better. Score one for the wolves!
He started to turn around, to see how well Ginta had done, and then his mohawk drooped as he remembered.
Ginta had stayed behind.
They hadn't been separated in, well, ever. They'd been born the same year to low-ranking mothers, much to the expressed displeasure of the old chief. Most of the pack followed the chief's lead, forcing the two young pups to fight just to survive, let alone gain respect. They had quickly learned the value of standing together. By the time that the young and ambitious Koga had started looking around for followers and supporters for his plans to replace the old chief, the pair had gained grudging tolerance from most of the extended pack, but no acknowledged status from the leaders.
Koga had offered them friendship and respect, and won their utter loyalty. They became his fiercest followers, unbothered by the derision of the many who saw weakness in Koga's moves to attract the low-ranking youkai.
The male wolf whined, breaking through Hakkaku's distraction. The animal watched anxiously, his own prey dead at his feet. "Sorry," muttered Hakkaku, before giving the wolves reassurance and permission to eat. Plopping down to the ground, he attacked his own birds, ripping out feathers, then feeding on the youki and blood, before pulling the body apart. He ate quickly, determined to be on the way as quickly as possible. He wanted to get back on the trail, headed back to the caves as quickly as possible, so that he could report, and then return to Ginta's side.
He felt so cold, not knowing that Ginta was near. So apprehensive. So alone…
followers, unbothered by the derision of many, who saw weakness in Koga's moves to attract the low-ranking youkai.
The male wolf whined, breaking through Hakkaku's distraction. The animal watched anxiously, his own prey dead at his feet. "Sorry," muttered Hakkaku, before giving the wolves reassurance and permission to eat. Plopping down on the ground, he attacked his own birds, ripping out feathers, then feeding on the youki and blood, before pulling the body apart. He ate quickly, determined to be on the way as quickly as possible. He wanted to get back on the trail, headed back to the caves, so that he could report, and then return to Ginta's side.
He felt so cold, knowing that Ginta was not near. So apprehensive. So alone…