A Life Taken

Jaden Ohanzee · 01-06-2012, 12:31 AM

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Backdated to December 15th-ish Words – 2,500+

It was a seemingly normal winter day. Along the boarder of Ichika a cool breeze whistled through the snow powdered hills pushing the leafless tree limbs to creek and moan. Jaden wandered along slowly on two legs. Usually, on a normal winter day, he would be on all four paws running this patrol proudly and enjoying nature’s beauty. But today wasn’t a normal day for him. Everything had seemed to change and his world was shaken.

Upon his return to Ichika not long ago with the warrior he adored, there had been something missing from home. And, unfortunately, what went missing wasn’t metaphoric. Yes, Jaden had gained new feelings for the open road and the accomplice who helped him to explore it, but he had lost something much more important. His little friend, Verloren was nowhere to be found. The pup he took under his wing only a few months ago had vanished. No one knew where she had gone or when exactly it happened, but she had completely disappeared. The Shishen knew within him that the young female was not experienced enough to take care of herself. She might very well die without proper care and training if he could not find her.

He had promised Verloren the care she needed. Now she was gone and no matter how long he searched the land and the boarders there wasn’t a thing to find. Only ghosts of her scent wandered about and the man followed them all hopefully in loops around Ichika. For two weeks he ate nothing and slept little. For two weeks he followed the old scents knowing they led nowhere. He tore apart the house they shared in search of any sign of the girl. The man began to avoided the other wolves of Ichika while he searched. They offered no knowledge of where little Lost had gone. He wished he could blame them for her disappearance, but he knew they were much less responsible then he was as her mentor.

Even X’yrin, the wolfess he now adored, was neglected. When Jaden learned of her mate and promotion the information only distanced her from him. She was someone he loved but Verloren was his responsibility and priority. He didn’t bother stopping his search to tell her that his pup was gone. ‘X had been with him during the disappearance. There was no chance she knew anything anyway.

Whether the others missed Verloren wasn’t important now either. Obviously no one had given her the attention she needed. If they had, someone would know where she’d gone. He should have made sure she had someone looking after her before he left. Jaden had figured she would be okay in pack land by herself for a week or two. As a reward, he now rested that misjudgment and her disappearance and probable death on his mind. He could only squirm while it seared his heart.

He had finally given up yesterday, exhausted and hollow. She’d left nothing behind except him and chasing her ghost was useless. Today he would try to contribute to Ichika by patrolling her boarder while pondering where he could possibly look next. His belly cried for attention and whined about its long lasting emptiness but pack chores had been neglected too. He didn’t need or feel he even deserve to eat now. This was the least he could do to keep whatever honor he still had to his name. Alienation felt like something he had rightfully earned. The predominately ebony wolf marched a parallel line sixty meters away from the Ichikan boarder to be sure he wouldn’t be seen by any pack member possibly patrolling the boarder as well.

For a long time there was just mindless, soundless walking. He spared enough attention to listen to his mute surroundings and take in the scents of any possible trespasser. Nothing smelled wrong and he heard only the steadily growing gurgle of the East River ahead of him where it left Ichika. The sound was dreaded. Jaden had to play by the strict guidelines of his aquaphobia when he found the river’s edge. Luckily the water was shallow enough here that he could see a silhouette of its rocky bottom. The man would be able to force himself across, but his heart still began to race as the bank approached. A fear triggered hesitation gripped the warrior’s heart. Why did he have to deal with this pathetic terror now? Only a few moments of thought were sufficient to enrage the man with himself. The water suddenly raced forth as he jumped into it with a burst of anger fueled bravery. Hate for his phobia ripped across the wolf’s muzzle in a fearsome and sharp grimace which quickly disappeared when it hit. He couldn’t stifle a yip when cold fingers grasped him and ran up to his knees. The bottom of the river clanked and its cold surface crashed in anger at his defiance of its power over him. The shifting rocks below his paws made balance nearly impossible and he repeatedly fell forward into the cold. Each pause these falls caused only horrifyingly prolonged contact with the icy demon.

Jaden was freed of the monster an eternity later and pulled himself up the muddy snow banks with teeth clenched, chest heaving, and heart racing. The disturbed river soon fell back into its regular rhythm only to be replaced with untamed laughter. Jaden’s eyes darted over his shoulder and found two optime practically rolling on the riverbank with laughter. The seen had been comical; a full grown wolf jumping along a shallow river like a shocked tabby cat looking almost as if he was trying to cross without touching the water itself. The wolf in question had been attempting just that and the truth didn’t help as he swallowed embarrassment and his pride.

He waited tensely for their amusement to falter. Every second of their cackling was like a serrated blade against the Ichikan’s swallowed pride. But the two strangers, a big, scraggly looking gray wolf and a dirty little russet coyote, simply couldn’t help it. Every time they eyed the dark wolf and his dripping pelt it reminded them about the entertaining spectacle they had just beheld. Silence, you fools!! The snarl was slightly muted by the thinly snow covered land around them and fell on the two bystanders dully. They settled into a malicious silence and twin smirks looked up at the crimson and ebony wolf who now faced them. We are the fools? Thought one, the larger gray wolf, but he kept his mouth shut. Usually his travel companion did the talking. He was better at it. More eloquent, the coyote had once told him. He wasn’t sure if that was what the word meant or not.

Jaden took a deep breath to clear his mind with the fresh silence and dug deep for the peace he was obligated to offer as an Ichikan. Please forgive my words, He exhaled tightly. His humiliated gaze stayed low as he approached and offered his hand to help them up the steep riverbank. The russet coyote, who’d knelt by the water to catch his just returning breath, easily saw that Jaden wasn’t truly sorry for his outburst. Why would he be? The coyote didn’t care for forced peace anyway, not with big Gus the gray wolf to back up his sharp tongue. The coyote dipped a cupped hand into the river and tossed a fair amount of water on the Shishen’s scarred chest. With a bark of surprise and an embarrassing flailing of his arms, Jaden jumped away from the two and they easily fell back into their ravenous laughter. Jaden angrily composed himself and a low growl rumbled from his chest but he stood his ground. He knew that another handful of water was likely to have a similarly humiliating effect on him even if he tried to suppress it.

We are the fools? gasped the coyote with a snort. He then recovered and started breathing smoothly accented words. We are the fools when you act like that to a ‘lil water, ay? I think not.

Yeah, we aint fools. Chucked Gus in agreement.

Before the coyote could scold his friend for speaking up, Jaden sneered nastily, AINT fools?! I offer piece despite your mockery and you mock me still. I am a warrior of Ichika no Ho-en! His temper was getting away from him and with it went any neutrality in his voice.

Ichika no Ho-en? The coyote gawked mockingly. He and his friend were relatively new to the area and despite their attempts to give all the packs a wide birth before now, the name of one meant nothing to them. Are all fighters of yer proud pack as scared of water as you?

A threatening growl pushed past the Shishen’s bared teeth but he still did not approach the water. You’re lucky, you pathetic dog, that I pity your ignorance enough to leave you and your eloquent friend down there in the mud where you belong.

Eloquent? Asked Gus thoroughly confused.

Our friend here is being nasty. Sighed the coyote shortly and stood from his crouched position. He is calling ya stupid.

But I thought you said you was eloqu-aint—

Gus, he is calling ya stupid! The coyote barked in annoyance but placed a trusting hand on his friend’s shoulder after a pause. Trust me. He is calling you and me stupid. Now, what happened to the last guy who made fun of yer speakin’ and learnin’ troubles?

I beat em’ to where he couldn’t talk about it no more. Growled the wolf bitterly ans shifted his gaze. You think I’m dumb? Gus demanded pointing a clawed finger at Jaden.

The pack wolf was still standing at the top of the riverbank menacingly.To keep this simple for you, he growled, yes, as a rock.

Gus looked over to his coyote companion who simply shrugged in an I-told-you-so sort of way. He then began pulling himself up the riverbank with the intentions of beating some respect into this scraggly looking warrior. Gus had fought bigger and more heavily armed wolves before. In truth, Jaden looked a little weak anyway; sort of skinny and shaky from his recent lack of food. Perhaps the shaking was really an incredible rage barely contained in the Shishen, but with a fear of water and an apparent inability to hunt, how much of a fight could this a wolf really put up? Even with the little dagger on his hip? Gus was given a jarring clue when a quick and hard shin-kick struck him in side of jaw just as he reached the top of the bank.

The fight didn’t last long. The Ichikan easily out matched Gus once the gray wolf finished pulling himself back up the riverbank. He could take a beating and his hard head was the only reason there was any kind of fight at all. Jaden was lost in it. Nothing went through his mind but pure hate: hate for the mockery he had sustained, hate for the loss of Verloren, and hate for himself and his stupid fear. So concentrated was he on beating the breath out of Gus that he failed to notice the russet silver-tongue creep up the bank and lung at him from behind. Sharp teeth sank into the back of his calf but he didn’t miss a beat. Wince and quick shift of weight, a limp Gus spun over Jaden’s knee and crushed his littler friend who quickly let go. The Shishen limped a step or two away and glanced back at his newly bleeding leg with a primal snarl.

Gus had already realized he wouldn’t win when adrenalin and rage fueled claws strongly threw him off his companion. Pulling himself out of the riverbank’s mud, he noticed the now demonic red and black blur hammering punch after punch into his companion’s face. He could see blood and it scared the hell out of him. He didn’t want his life long friend to die because of a stupid confrontation like this. The only thing he could think of doing in the seconds he used to react was his first action. The large wolf came up behind Jaden and locked his arms around the man in an attempt to restrain and hopefully calm him.

But it was a hopeless gesture. Jaden’s blood lust raged. He could smell their fear, something he hadn’t sensed in a long time and it inspired him to strike much harder and move with brutal speed. He had to suppress an instinctual erg to tare at the coyote’s throat as his fists began to sting from the cuts left by the victim’s sharp teeth. When Gus picked him up and robbed him of his punching bag he didn’t stay restrained for long. A backward headbutt to the snout took the strength from his arms, an elbow to the diaphragm took the wind from his chest, and a powerful kick to the knee took the balance from his stance. And, as Jaden spun to face the gray wolf, steel flashed and took the beat from his heart.

The motion seemed so natural, so easy. Jaden felt like he could count the milliseconds between each attack he made, yet it didn’t give him time to stop the practiced kill strike. In the half second he had to justify it, the murder became a strike back. There was little more definition to it; simple revenge but not only against this brute, against everything bad thing that had happened. It seemed right and just as he drew the weapon. Jaden realized in his heart how very wrong it was as soon as his victim’s stopped at the end of his dagger. A familiar sickening guilt descended like rain on the shaken Optime as he pulled his blade from the others belly and watched him fall. Very suddenly the sounds of fighting seemed to dissolve. The Ichikan murderer stumbled back on his wounded leg and felt numbness spread from the warm blood on his hands. He breathed and watched the lifeless body tumble down the riverbank with a splash. Not a single one of his tired muscles twitched as it began to slowly float down the river and away from Ichika. When the corpse disappeared around a far bend, Jaden’s deep blue eyes followed its blood trail back up the snow. The gray wolf’s russet companion lay unconscious not far from its end. He was alive, but why did it matter? He’d awaken to find his friend gone.

Jaden killed again, something he had sworn against. And worse, it wasn’t even an accident. He wished it to be and told himself he had just lost control, but how much truth was really there? Nothing existed further from peace than murder. What honor now remained in his Ichikan title now? Shishen, his packmates might still call him, but it was no longer valid. He, a murder, didn’t belong in peaceful Ichika. They wouldn’t stand for it if any of them found out. But the shock of battle and the bitter numbness of murder had an ability to block the mind. The warrior sheathed his bloody dagger slowly and hobbled back into Ichika. Before this, alienation had been a personal punishment. Now the wind battered his fur and the trees moaned in horror as if the very land detested his presence.

Jaden does. Jaden speaks.Jaden thinks.

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