Wolfen One Part 6
He raised the bow, sighting carefully. The wolf was almost in range... just a few more steps...
The wolf took a step, cautiously, and then another. Duo nocked his arrow and pulled back on the string, waiting.
The wolf turned its head, scanning the meadow, almost as if it sensed its death lurking in the edges of the wood.
It took another step, and Duo checked his aim. One more step.
The wolf stepped forward, his head turning in Duo's direction, and Duo caught another glimpse of those weird blue eyes as his fingers released the string.
Eyes that were the same color as Heero's...
His hand that held the bow jerked upwards at the same moment, sending the arrow sailing over the wolf's head.
The wolf started, but didn't flee, didn't head towards him...
No... Impossible. He was being sentimental, foolish- over an eye color of all things. He'd let himself feel sorry for the animal, and what was wrong with that, really, it was gorgeous; its skin would be very valuable...
Though now the thought of skinning it seemed sickening.
The wolf remained where he was, not moving, but not behaving the way he had last time with the arrow. Nor was he doing what any other animal would do- what animal would stand around and wait for the next arrow?
"Wolves are supposed to have a pack, or a mate, he has neither. He's alone. Maybe he's tired of being alone. Maybe he's tired of being both feared and afraid. Maybe he wants to die..."
How would Heero know that? Unless...
"I've fought it long enough. It's tainted my whole life. It made my parents turn their backs on me, drove me out of any home I found. Why do you think I live alone here? It's so I don't have to live with people who look at me with worried eyes."
He was crazy for thinking it... but...
Duo slung his bow over his shoulder and stepped out of the brush. The wolf's head snapped up and Duo froze.
This could be very bad if he was wrong.
The wolf looked at him for a long moment, as if waiting for him to do something, then bared its teeth and growled.
Duo sat down in the snow.
"Do you really want me to kill you that badly... Heero?"
The wolf flinched as if he had struck out at it, and Duo drew in a breath.
So he was right.
Great, but now what?
The wolf decided for him. He bared his teeth again and moved towards Duo. Apparently he was planning on forcing the issue.
"You said I was the idiot, Heero, but you are. You want to die because you're lonely, but I told you that I wanted you with me. You wouldn't have to be lonely and you wouldn't have to die. So why are you trying to make me kill you?"
The wolf stopped, and Duo could almost hear Heero's response.
"Idiot again. You can't help it." Duo pulled out his knife and put it on the snow in front of him.
"Look. I know this is been bad for you. Maybe you really do want to die- and you chose me to do it for you for a reason. I don't even like to think of what that reason might be, but I can understand. If you do want to die, I will help you- but I want you to live. I want you to travel with me.
"I want to make things better for you. You choose how you want me to do it."
Duo lifted the knife up and offered it to the wolf. His other hand was empty, but he put it out next to the one holding the knife.
"Choose- and I will abide by your decision."
The wolf stepped closer and bent his head over Duo's hands...
~*~
The mayor of the village had assumed that the blizzard had taken care of the arrogant hunter when he hadn't come back to town to wait it out in warmth and safety. So when the hunter strolled into his store, a furry mass over his shoulder, the mayor cursed to himself. Now, how could he get out of paying him?
When the hunter deposited the furry mass on the counter, the mayor was ready.
"You expect me to believe that this mangy bundle of fur is the wolf?"
The mangy bundle of fur suddenly produced a set of teeth.
"It looks like a wolf to me," said the hunter with a grin. "I am kind of an expert on these things though."
The mayor backed up against the shelves behind the counter. The wolf was standing now, growling, and the mayor watched in horrified fascination.
"So, as you can see, I managed to catch the wolf."
"You were supposed to bring its skin back!"
"The skin is there." The hunter put a hand on the wolf's head. "See? Under all this furry stuff? So if you don't mind, I'd like to be paid now."
"I'm not paying you for this!"
"Okay," the hunter shrugged and turned towards the door. The wolf's growl increased, his teeth glistening, and the mayor tried harder to become one with the shelves behind him.
"You can't leave him here!"
"You said you weren't paying me. I'm not taking him with me if I don't get paid."
The mayor lunged for the cash box. "Here!" He cried, reaching in and throwing money towards the hunter. "Take it! Just take the wolf too!!"
The hunter bent down and scooped the money up off the floor. "Always glad to be of help. Call me if you need a hunter again." He opened the door and the wolf jumped off the counter and stalked out after him, leaving the mayor in a tiny crumpled heap of thankfulness.
~*~
They still tell tales, up in the Northern Lands, of the braided hunter and his pet wolf, as they sit around the firesides during the long winter nights.
OWARI
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