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Natural Instincts
By PapillonCameo and Tachigami May (most likely will) contain violence, suggestive material, and blood. His paws spread evenly on soft ground. Claws barely touched the soft earth and dug in when he lifted his paw in another step. Michi was a creature that resembled a dog and a fox, something that the Russian villages just couldn’t place because he wasn’t native to the land. But they decided he was harmless, mostly because he hunted and killed the bothersome rats, mice, and rabbits that during the spring and summer, ideally, would eat crops and stores and begin to overpopulate. Because of this relatively steady supply of food, and the occasional treat and praise from the townspeople, Michi was glad to stay in this strange land despite being accustomed to Japan’s main island. Their language was easy enough to learn, and he had plenty of time since as a puppy his mother had hidden him in a soft box, only to be loaded onto a cargo ship and taken away. Michi did miss his bright-eyed mother, his siblings that she had gone back to get in the meantime. But he hadn’t been that old when he had been spirited away, so his memory was rather fuzzy. Without his mother, his siblings to learn from, Michi had had to teach himself how to hunt, and he’d done a well enough job. He kept around Ferapont, a little village near a large, ocean-like lake and other small ones, but often dwelled outside the village when things got too active for him. Michi was half-wild, after all, and the only thing made by a human he had was a beige cloth wrapped around his neck. When he walked on two legs, Michi would wear this around his waist. His paws hit more solid ground, and he passed through a gate into Ferapont. His ears perked when he heard the voices of people begin to surround him, the clopping of horse hooves and rolling of carriage wheels. |
He was born as a man, but out of necessity and preference, Ruben lived as an animal. Reddish fur bristled as the wolf caught an unfamiliar scent. Then again, most smells were unfamiliar to him as he approached the town cautiously.
Usually Ruben would even have considered wandering so close to humanity, but food had grown scarce. Most animals had wandered away by now, going to greener pastures as the seasons changed, but not him. Watchful gold eyes scanned the area, and then suddenly he was off like a shot. Rabbit! It might have been pup food, but it was so much better then nothing. The weather was getting colder, and his two legged form might need the warmth of its fur. No, he would just stay as he was. It was much better that way, without all those complicated thought. All that mattered was sleeping and hunting, and finding a mate. |
Michi avoided a carriage full of hay as he moved through the little town. It was quiet here, in a relatively residential area where the houses were spread through acres of farmland. A lot of barns were here, too, used to store food and spare blankets or furniture. And as long as he didn't get into the bags of grain or knock jars or cans of food off shelves, Michi was welcome to stay and hunt the mice and rats to his heart's content. He didn't stay often enough, however, as the enclosed space was difficult to deal with. His home was, more often than not, a den underground that kept warm when he lined it with dry grass he would steal away from hay bales or barns that housed farm animals and horses. Pausing outside a rather small house, Michi lifted his nose to the wind and sniffed. It was cool, and he could smell a strange, wild scent that made him shiver. Perhaps the larger carnivores were growing closer. He didn't want to see a human hurt, and they could be so foolish sometimes. If a wolf or a bear late for hibernation were close to the town, a mauling wouldn't be far behind. He clambered onto the covered porch of the house when the door opened, sitting up on his hind legs as the human spoke. "Such a sweet thing." She clutched the wrap around her head and lowered herself down, old hand offering something sweet. Michi took it, stood, and wagged his tail to show appreciation, accepting a few strokes before going off again, heading to the barn behind this house. It had horses and an ox, he knew from his previous visit. |
He snap up the rabbit quickly, crushing bones in his powerful jaws when he couldn't get enough of the meat. He licked and slurped at the bones. Gold eyes half open, Ruben sniffed at the air again. His stomach was still tight, painful, hungry. The wolf waded through the grass, searching.
He wandered closer to the village, slunk towards it. There was so much food there... If only he could sneak inside without being caught by anyone. There was a way, a way he could beg for food. The thought flitted away, carried by the wolf's mind as it caught scent of meat, and delicious meat at that. |
The barn offered warm shelter from the cold, and Michi smiled a doggish smile as he entered through a gap in the door. Here it was quiet, save the occasional movement of the ox or horses in their stalls or the shifting of mice in the hay scattered about. One of the horses wasn't actually a horse, but a man like Michi. He didn't know the man's given name, however, because he never turned. It seemed he preferred life as a four-legged creature, simpler and without most necessary responsibilities of a human. Michi had never decided what to be, and transitioned from animal to human from day to day. Some days he ran about as a human, wearing clothes he had found or stolen from lines outside and were hidden away in a shack that he called home as a human. He approached the sturdy chestnut horse nearer the door, lifting himself onto his hind legs as a greeting and receiving a large nose to the stomach in turn. He chirped, a noise between a bark and a whine, and the horse bobbed its head in the direction of a stack of hay bales. Mice were there, bothering the animals and moving about to steal feed and contaminate it, share their fleas. Michi drifted about, light paws landing softly as he stalked a rat, a mouse, catching a few before growing quite tired, clambering underneath the brown horse's body as he lowered his head in sleep. |
Soft, calloused, paws lifted and dug into the ground. Claws clicked over rock as the wolf advanced, hiding now and then from the sight of man. Then he saw it, there it was! A big huge, piece of juicy flank. He'd been hunting all day, and nothing like that nice piece of meat had caught his eyes since. He was starving, surviving on rabbit, on barely anything at all. But this, this beautiful prey was calling for him to sink his teeth into it.
He leaped, snarling and growling with white teeth gleaming in the darkening light. A whiny penetrated the haze of hunger, of wolf instinct, crowding out his human mind. A horse, he'd attacked a horse! Ruben shivered, knowing he would be hunted down now, but he was so hungry. His claws dug into the animal as he tilted his head to try and rip out it's throat, to let the warm blood flow. Just him, no one else, it was crazy ... But the lone wolf had already done something like this before, taking down deer when they had still been around. |
Michi was sure he heard something strange, and a gust of air tickled the teased white fur in his ears. He buried his nose in the dusty hay, sneezing a bit as it tickled his muzzle and looking around. Things didn't seem right. It was tense, as if they were being watched. Michi dug himself down deep into the nest he'd made to sleep in, covering himself with hay using his tail. It wasn't right... Something wasn't right... A beastly snarl broke out amongst startled, then pained, whinnies of an injured horse, and suddenly it was a frenzy of flying hay and mixed smells as his flight instinct took hold, sending him darting out of the area in a series of high yelps that communicated his distress. He flew through the town, away from the fields and into a slightly more populated area, bandanna-like cover flapping in the wind made by his travel. His legs took to digging at the door of an old shack that didn't look much larger than a storage shed until the old door opened, and he shot inside, heart pounding as he nudged it closed and started a transformation. The fur fell away mostly, the tail shortening and the paws lengthening. The arms grew, as did the legs, and the bent figure straightened up. After a painful transfer from a small animal body to larger human one, Michi stood as a relatively tanned young man of twenty, thin and aerodynamic, with a head of hair that varied from white to brown to orange-red, sticking up in all directions and obscuring his deep, bright eyes. The cold was seeping through the door now, and he used his stiff fingers to close it all the way. Rubbing feeling into his now-bare arms, Michi dug in a pile of old clothes and found some mismatched clothes, piling them on to combat the chill in the air. Whatever had happened, Michi didn't want to deal with it, but he hoped the horses and ox got out okay. |
The meat, it tasted so good. The horse made a gurgling sound, before falling silence at last. Red meat, so warm and good. He gobbled up as much as he could before the sound of shouts and human feet. They were coming. With a growl and a snap, the wolf leaped away from the carcass. An arrow made his fur stand on end, brushing against his tail as it did. No matter, he was going to get away and leave them all behind, he always did.
His ears twitched this way and that, taking in the noises of pursuit. Quick as lightning, Ruben veered away from the hunters, or rather the wolf did. He was running on instinct now, and soon had plunged into the forest. The moment he was safe within the trees, the wolf veered towards a river, where he splashed into in order to wash away the blood matting his fur. That done, the copper furred wolf slunk from the water and wandered towards a nearby cave to collapse upon the ground. With a stomach fuller then it had been in a long time, it lay down its great head and fell asleep. |
Once he was dressed relatively well, Michi stepped out, unsteady on two feet. A few villagers were passing by, armed with makeshift weapons. "What's going on?" He asked one of the men, whose hands were grasped around the sturdy handle of a rake. "A wolf." The man sighed, and shook his head. "Attacked my strongest horse. Killed it and left such a mess. I don't know where I'll get another like him..." He moved on, giving Michi a familiar wave. The young man turned and looked into the trees. He could smell blood on the air. His friend had been killed... Of course Michi didn't know a lot about the horse, but the thought of his death... it made his eyes water. He shook his head, wandering out of town and hopping the lowest part of the fence. A walk would clear his head, perhaps. And without realizing it, he was actually following the scent of blood until it vanished. A river... He crouched to stare into it on a slight stony outcropping, and lost himself in the movement of the water, like silver silk from another country... Which country...? Egypt, perhaps. He understood they had the most exquisite silk... |
An unfamiliar scent drifted through the air. It was like, but unlike, the scent of the horse he'd attacked earlier. The wolf lifted it's head, golden eyes holding a dangerous gleam. It was still hungry, and was desperate enough to attack anyone who drew near. Quietly, it slunk forward, body low to the ground, it's belly brushing against the ground. The wolf's ears lifted, tracking the movements of his prey.
There! A man with strange colored hair. Wait, what? The wolf hesitated, shaking it's head vigorously. No, it was time! With a loud growl, Ruben leaped onto the man. He was only satisfied once claws dug into flesh, and his maw was poised above the man's throat. For some reason, the wolf didn't chomp down. It was probably that human part of him, holding him back. |
The water's fresh scents, carrying with it so many other smells from upriver and its splashing, rushing sound obscuring every other noise, especially that of anything nearing him. But he'd been here before, Michi had, and couldn't even prepare himself when something lunged, making its presence known only after it knew he couldn't gather the will to run or react. The weight put him on his back, sending a high yelp out of his mouth that sounded perfectly animalistic and a fearful whine sliding into the air. He didn't dare move, twitch, or even swallow, the teeth on his neck had him immobile. His hands were grasping at the ground, as if it could save him, but Michi had his fate sealed perfectly in his head. He would be killed as food, just like that horse shifter he had befriended. His eyes filled with tears that spilled into his hair. |
The wolf sniffed the skin, nipped at it lightly. There was an attractively musky scent about the man... Such a simple thought made the man in the wolf resurface, and soon he was shifting, changing, until a naked human sat astride the stranger. His teeth nipped skin again, and a different kind of growl escaped his throat. That scent made him so excited. Instinctively, Ruben's hands moved to pin the other man's shifting arms as he pressed himself closer with hunger in his golden eyes.
The man was running on instinct now, as he always had. He'd lived in the wild for so long, he didn't even really know how to talk, save for the most basic of words. Such courtesies slipped Ruben's mind more often then not. He didn't see why it mattered anyway. |
Michi gasped, the surprise at the sudden sharp pain and the change that took place before him mixed in a way that overwhelmed the senses. He had been able to feel that this one was like him, and a mix of blood that indicated he had killed recently. There was little doubt in Michi's head that this was the one that killed the horse. Perhaps out of desperation? Wolves---even shifters---didn't travel into towns or villages to kill farm animals often. But that wasn't the most prominent thing on his mind---the fact that he was pinned by a near-wild, completely-naked wolf shifter was a bit overwhelming. He couldn't move his arms. Nervously, Michi shifted and looked away. He had to... run... No... This wasn't violent... There was a strange look in his eyes the young Dhole shifter couldn't place. He swallowed, finding his voice: "Um... D-do you need something...?" He couldn't figure out what else to say, not in this situation. |
Ruben bent his head, nuzzling and nipping at the other man's skin insistently. Couldn't the other one tell what he was trying to do? It had been so long since he'd been so inclined, felt this kind of hunger... With his clawed fingers, he tugged and pulled at the cloth covering the other shifter.
He understood the words, somewhat .. But the memory was swamped by his need. Ruben shifted his hips and let out a soft whine, pleading. This was different then when he was a wolf, caught in the moment with true wolves, overwhelmed by the animal that he had shifted into. That was when his mind was lost, but this time was different. He was completely aware, and yet so driven still. |
Sudden realization hit and had Michi shaking his head, face going from quite cool to very warm in just a moment. When his arms were free he brought them up, pushing a little on the other man, though he was much heavier and larger than him. He tried to speak as a human would, but the words he wanted came out in a high bark-like whine. Michi wasn't a wolf, not like this one at all---he wasn't even from the same country! True he was naturally friendly, but not this friendly! He drew back, as far into the ground as he could as it froze for winter. Maybe this shifter was too wild to understand any language? And species didn't exactly speak the same language, even if a bark or growl or whine sounded the same to a human. Michi shivered, giving off the scent of fear, something even he could smell. |
The scent changed, subtly at first. Ruben shook his head, backing away with a small whine. He hung his head and crouched down. He was still trying to clear his mind, but it wasn't working so well. The copper haired man, long locks flowing down his back in disarray, looked at the other shifter in confusion. Ruben had thought that the other canine shifter wanted that kind of thing, but apparently not.
If only he could remember more of those words he heard others using so often. It wasn't very hard to understand, if one was used to hearing them. Maybe it would be easier, once he got used to hearing someone talk after so long. |
Michi let himself sit upright again, staring in a bit of disbelief of what had happened. It was so strange... He felt bad, now, as if he were a bit of a bully. The shifter didn't have any fur now, and it was cold, and perhaps this one's transformations were just as painful as his own. Biting his tongue, Michi reached up and untied the knot that held the neck of the long jacket closed, unbuttoning the front and shrugging it off. It was cooler, but not uncomfortably so, as he pushed it forward in an offering. Perhaps it would settle this one's more wild inclinations. Perhaps it was his friendly disposition that wanted this one to be able to speak with him, or at least give him the time of day. While in his furry, four-legged form, the villagers would pet him and give him an occasional treat, but nothing else. As a human they tended to disregard him and ask him to do simple things around the house, as that was all he was capable of for a small amount of food or an article of clothing. None were shifters, like this one, and perhaps he could speak with him. But Michi was too nervous for the wolf's more instinct-driven side. Perhaps he was too young... |
Ruben snatched up the clothing quickly. Before even thinking of slipping it on, he sniffed at it and rubbed the fabric against his skin to try and put his scent upon it. It was a gift, and helped the fog of his long transformation begin to fade away. "Thank you." The words were spoken softly as the wolf man slipped the jacket on. It was just long enough on him, falling to his thighs and covering his groin.
He pushed his tangled hair from his face to expose perceptive golden eyes. "You're uncomfortable." A smile tugged up Ruben's lips as he leaned forward to poke at the other shifter's shoulder playfully. |
Michi calmed a bit, now that the wolf was on the relatively same level. He sat back, onto his legs and folded them under him, a method to stand quickly if necessary but otherwise rather comfortable. The gift was well-received, anyway, and while Michi was sure he wouldn’t get it back, he had more of the same clothing. He nodded, looking down a little. He couldn’t quite meet the eyes of the shifter. “Um, yes... I haven’t been out here in a while... I try to live close, inside, the village.” He wasn’t as in-tune with the wild side of him as he was when he was a pup. Michi had lost a good amount of that when he learned human languages and started wearing clothes when he changed. He ducked, feeling foolish for speaking next: “Did... you come into the village?” It was a question Michi felt he already knew the answer to, but he had to know for certain. His blame wouldn’t rest on the wild shifter, though---most large game had traveled on for the winter, and wouldn’t be back for a while. |
The explained why he hadn't caught the other shifter's scent before. Then again, Ruben had been lost, nearly entirely. He wasn't even sure what he'd done, taken by the wolf as he had been. "Well then .. well ... " Ruben realized he was far from used to speaking with any other person. His voice was rough and coarse with disuse.
"Yes, I can remember that... But after a certain point all I remember is hunger, and needing food. Game's been scarce around here for years, but now ..." There was nothing anymore. Humans had scared the deer away, or hunted whole herds down to feed themselves. The forest was being decimated slowly by them, their axes thudding into wood and taking away the territory which belonged to the nearby wildlife. |
Mich tilted his head, feeling his ears twitch despite being in the body of a human. Yes, this one had to be near fully wild, his voice was so rough... He leaned forward, falling onto his hands. "I'm sorry it's like that. The humans... They're growing a lot more now. They keep killing animals and raking up the land to build more... houses... and make wolves and weasels go off because they attack their horses or oxen or chickens... But they don't know we do it to stay alive... They let me stay because I catch mice and rabbits, I keep little pests away." It was so sad, though. The humans populated without worry, any time they liked, had children as if it was the only thing to do. Michi couldn't find the will to leave, but couldn't find the will to turn his back on a peer that was struggling. Perhaps it was that pack mentality he had almost lost. "If you... stay around. I might be able to collect food for you from day to day. There are so many rats and rabbits that try to hide away in barns and little sheds... I can catch some extras, and the humans give me things for what I do." But they were becoming so loud nowadays... Michi wanted to leave, hope to find his way as a wild dog, like his mother, his siblings did. Maybe someday he'd find the courage... |
"So you're a pet," spit out Ruben with scorn. A low growl rose from his throat, and a haze of wildness filmed his eyes over. The wolf crouched low, ready to pounce at any second, his clawed hands digging into the ground. This tame ... thing, had no right to offer him food!
He was far too proud to accept the kindness, even if it meant his death. They weren't pack. "No, I won't take pup food from you." Never from the human's little pet shifter. It would have been too humiliating. Not to mention the fact that the scent of humanity clung to the other canine shifter. Thinking of that only made Ruben growl again as he remembered them hunting him. |
Michi shook his head, lowering his head in a show of submission. "No, I'm not a pet!" He barked. "I keep their home free of overpopulating pests! That way they don't hunt me and I can live as I'd like! I know no other way. I was separated from my mother and she never taught me to hunt larger prey, I don't know how..." He shook his head, biting back a desire to cry. "No. I don't care! I don't care, you can go ahead and die if you like! But I hope you die knowing someone at least offered to save you." Despite having fingers and human skin, Michi backed away from the show of anger on all fours. He didn't dare try to threaten the larger being. No, he was fast, but he couldn't overpower the creature that could spend days tracking something. Michi wouldn't be able to escape. Instead, he bit the words back and slunk to the village again. Suddenly he didn't feel like staying in the forest... |
He snorted, shook his head, and leaped forward to block the other shifter's way back to the village. "You should live wild for a while, and see just how exhilarating it is. Of course there's always the threat of starvation, but .. Ah what freedom!" It was a brutal world out there, but it was so wonderful. Maybe it was time he moved on, but Ruben refused to leave this other shifter behind.
"I could teach you how to hunt, once we leave this place behind ..." The light shoulder shove Ruben did quickly was intended to be playful, the type of thing pack members did. That enticing scent of his ... Ruben really couldn't leave the strange haired canine shifter behind. In fact, the scent was familiar. A flash of it seared through his mind. He'd been there when he took down the horse. |
Michi twitched when the possibly-older shifter took to barring his way. Despite having been raised near a rather safe haven, Michi's wild side wouldn't let him simply accept quick movements without an immediate response from him. He brought his hands up, clutching the outermost layer of mismatched clothing. The bump sent him slightly off balance, stumbling a step to the left. "I... I don't know... I'm not that large." The admission was rather embarrassing. Dholes were small, which was why up to ten were necessary to take down large prey. He ran his hands through his hair, a bit tangled, but constantly wild as if it were windswept. The combination of colors laid upon his head in several layers, the white and light orange-red always in his eyes. "Maybe I wasn't meant for the life of... a wolf. Or anything similar. Maybe I'm supposed to be a farm animal, or pet." he shook his head, leaning against the tree. Michi was sure he wouldn't be allowed to leave, but he just had to be patient. Perhaps as patient as the wolf. He did make a good argument---being wild would refresh him. it might even bring back his more acute instincts... |
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