Morning came as birds from nearby trees can be heard.
Okami slowly opens his eyes as he lightly taps his fingers on the ground, seeing that the sun had indeed set.
The orange wolf had to set out soon, but he didn't want to just yet. Okami wanted to say goodbye to the two males located in the infirmary.
He slowly gets up, his muscles popping in the process, as he walks out of his cave, making his way to the infirmary.
Upon entering the infirmary, the two males slowly lean up to see who was entering the room, only to see the orange wolf leaning back on the closed door with a smile on his face.
"Hey, guys, I'm about to head out; I just wanted to say goodbye before. Since I'm probably going to be gone for a while." Okami told the two males as they give a simple nod.
The orange wolf took notice of the two's health; Monster looked dead; it was evident that the paralysis poison was wearing off as the regular poison had stayed, it was slowly killing him. Mark was doing okay, just a little sore since the wound wasn't closed all the way.
"Hey, Mark, can you take care of Monster while I'm away. He needs to have someone to monitor him: I have to go, so Monster has a better chance."
Mark gave the wolf a nod as he took his leave, setting off on his long journey.
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The wolf lets out a big sigh as he runs his fingers through his hair, "What if Archen is right? I always bring disaster wherever I go. I hurt everyone near me; I even almost killed two of my closest friends; why does this hurt me so much."
Wet tears start to flow down his face as he collapses to the ground clutching the fur on his legs.
The orange wolf lets out all of his anger as he yells up at the sky in his language, cursing at himself in the process.
How could he ever win this battle? If he brings disaster to the world, how can any of his kind survive during the war?
Tired from all of the walking, he lets his wings out, it was risky, but he didn't care if he got caught at this point.
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After flying for a bit, he starts hearing gunshots in the distance, he flys off-road to inspect what was happening. His eyes go wide as he rushes to the animals.
Upon standing in front of the animals, his eyes begin to glow as he bears his teeth. The humans slowly start clenching their guns.
"Get out of the way, Mut. Mind your own business before I fill that brain of yours with led."
One of the males had told the orange wolf, but Okami had no intentions of moving.
"You will not hurt my kind. Who do you think I am? I am Okami, the strongest living creature ever to live. You're lucky I like your kind, or else I would rip your head right off."
Both of the human male's eyes go wide as they rush away from the group of animals; they didn't want to mess with that animal, let alone the strongest creature ever to live.
Okami's eyes stop glowing as he turns in the couple's direction with a smile on his face.
A kid rushes up to the orange wolf giving his legs a big hug. Okami leans down to the little wolf's level with yet another smile on his face.
"Thank you, Mister. I never thought we would make it out of that situation. Also, you're the strongest creature ever to live in the world." the kid says to the orange wolf with a smile on his face, the kid's eyes glowing with excitement.
It wasn't every day you get to meet the best animal of your kind, let alone the one who would be saving their kind.
"Yes, indeed I am young one, And maybe one day you'll grow up to be just like me. Show everyone your true potential." Okami then stands back up as he looks at the couple he had wished to love just like that, but honestly, he didn't know if he could raise a child right with all of this weight on his shoulders.
"I have a place you could stay, if you need one, we don't have much, but it is a comfortable place, a safe one you could raise your child in, for now, it is just me, two other wolves and a generous human."
The couple looked shocked as the wolf mentioned a human, as they look at each other before nodding towards the orange wolf.
"That's very thoughtful of you; you see, we've been struggling for the past few days. So we will take your word and live in your so-called village of yours."
Okami gives them a nod as he motions for the couple to follow him back by flight.
They soon start making their way back to the village; upon arriving, the couple looks at the place in awe, not expecting this much.
Solstice walks up to the group to see Okami had come back not with what he was intentionally out for but with more of their kind.
"Solstice, can you get these guys comfortable, also make them a good meal for all of them. I have to go back out to get Night slasher."
Solstice gives a nod as he leads the couple to a den as they start to get themselves comfortable.
Okami lets out a happy sigh; his pack was indeed growing. He was beyond happy; he soon heads out once more as he heads down the same path that he was initially on.
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It was a quiet trip as he arrived at the ancient ruins; he kneeled onto the grass as he tapped his fingers, scanning the area he was in.
No one was to be seen; where was this animal he was supposed to meet.
"Hello? Anybody out there? I'm looking for a night slasher; I heard you could heal."
Okami yells out as he walks around, feeling his surroundings, careful not to trip on anything.
He soon hears a whisper of a female voice in his ear.
"Now, who are you? What business do you have with me?"
The orange wolf turns around but sees no sign of any presence in his direction. He grew nervous about the situation, not knowing how to handle it.
"I'm over here, silly." the voice spoke out to him once more; the orange wolf turned around to see a floating green wolf.
He doesn't question her powers as he gets straight to the point, not wanting to waste any more precious time.
"My Name is Okami; my friend was poisoned by an old friend of yours and my insane form, kyoki is his name. My friend's name is Monster, and he is close to death; I've heard you can heal stuff like that."
The green wolf looked shocked before nodding to the male, confirming she could heal the poison. She soon speaks up, "But Kyoki would never do that, he may not know how to feel emotion, but he isn't evil. Why would he even want to poison your friend."
"Ever since Kyoki took form to my body, he lost control of himself. Since I am the strongest living creature, I have a lot of power. Our power combined was too much for him to handle; my friend told me he had little control, that's why he isn't dead right now."
The green wolf nods sadly before asking Okami one last question.
"Can-Can I see him?"
Okami just smiles as he nods, giving the okay for kyoki to come out and take form to his body.
Kyoki slowly takes form as he listens to his surroundings, not knowing the situation he was put in. Night slasher knew what to do for him to be able to recognize her.
She lets out a whistle in a specific rhythm that was well known to Kyoki. Kyoki snaps his head in the direction of the noise, immediately hugging the green wolf. Soft crying noises could be heard coming from Night Slasher.
"I missed you so much, Kyoki; I'm glad that you have found a suitable host as well. The strongest animal in the world, you got really lucky. I also have heard about your friend; I can help you guys, but I can also help you. Kyoki, would you like the ability to see like Okami. Make contact with any surface, and your surroundings will be a bit blurry, but you will see enough to make out what is around you."
Kyoki slowly nods his head as light begins to surround them, as she gives him some of her power, giving him the ability to see just like his host form.
"We should get going; we don't want your friend dying, do we now." She gives a small smile as she gives Kyoki one last hug before he goes back, Okami takes form once more.
"Before we go, if you don't mind me asking, why do you float. I've never seen an animal do that before without wings." A sudden laugh emerges out of the green wolf as she smiles.
"I would consider myself half dead, just like your insane form. If you didn't know, I am a general caretaker for souls just like kyoki until they find their hosts." Okami nods, understanding the wolf; they talked for a bit longer before making their way back to the village.
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"What happened to you? I can see all of the faded scars."
Okami snapped his head in the wolf's direction before he let out a sigh as he dips his head, ears going down in the process.
"I'm hunted just like the rest of our kind. But since I am more powerful, I'm hunted more than any other animal is. I've almost died twice already; humans have finally realized I can't be killed. Archen wants to start a war; that's why I'm recruiting animals like ourselves."
Okami says as he lets out yet another sigh.
It didn't take the both of them much longer to reach the entrance of the village. Night Slasher seemed to like how the place looked.
"This place is nice; it feels relaxing and secure. I can see this being a home for our future generations once mating season comes around."
Okami cringes at the thought of mating season; he doesn't know if he would ever meet his supposed mate. Nor ever mate with any girl.
"I don't think I ever could; I mean, everyone has the chance to, but I don't think I wanna take the chance on raising a kid with all of this weight on my shoulders."
Night Slasher understood the orange wolf; any wolf would feel the same way if they were in his position.
Okami leads Night Slasher to the infirmary where the two males were being held; they soon gained the males' attention as they inspect who was entering.
"Okami, you're back; Monster can't speak anymore; he's getting worse by the second. I'm also guessing that is Night Slasher who is beside you." Okami nods as the female rushes to Monster's side. She slowly glides her fingers across the grey wolf's body to locate where all of the poison was.
"We're lucky we had arrived at this moment; the poison had nearly reached his heart." the female replies looking up at the group.
Her hands begin to glow as she places them over the areas where the poison was located. The group could suddenly see the poison coming out of Monster's body as the color in his face was slowly coming back.
"He will survive; he just needs to rest for a couple of days. If you plan on having him out, don't have him do any crazy fighting, or the poison will enter his body once more. The poison isn't completely out, but I did take out the part that would have a chance to kill him."
Everyone in the room nods to this information as Monster's chest slowly rises up and down, hinting that he had fallen asleep.
"I'm glad that he is going to be okay; it would be hard to win this war without him or any of you guys. Speaking of which, Night Slasher, would you like to stay with us. You could run our infirmary for anytime one of us gets hurt. I think it would make Kyoki happy if that is possible." Okami says to the green wolf with a slight chuckle at the end.
Night Slasher agrees; she didn't want to miss the opportunity to stay in a nice place like this one. She missed the feeling of living in a village like this one.
She remembers her parents vaguely, she had missed them a lot, but humans had to be so evil and cruel. That got her to question something, why did this human want to live with a kind like theirs?
"Hey, human, why do you have a strong desire to live with a kind like us?"
Okami looks over at Night Slasher in shock, not knowing she could speak perfect English either. Mark looked over to the green wolf with a smile on his face.
"I had always liked your kind as a child; I had started working at my dad's laboratory at the age of ten as the youngest worker. I had quit when he lied about keeping your kind safe." Night Slasher nods, understanding who the male's father was.
"What is your name, human?" the green wolf questions the male who had looked back down at Monster.
"Mark, Mark Hayes. It's nice to meet you, Night Slasher."
The group decided it was best for all of them to head back to their dens, as Okami had shown Night Slasher to an available one.
Ōkami then heads back to his own den.
"It's nice to see you able to sleep in here again. I never thought I would see the day."
Okami spoke up as both of the males took a seat next to a built-in fireplace that Mark had made a while ago.
Mark lets out a chuckle as he agrees with the orange wolf; he was glad to be able to sleep in the den once more.
"Well, with your help, I can. I'm glad that you can control yourself, even if it's only for a limited amount of time."
Okami smiles before letting out a yawn, laying down on one of the made beds, getting himself comfortable.
"Goodnight, Mark."
Okami slowly speaks before the darkness consumes him as he hears Mark's faint voice before losing Consciousness.
"Goodnight, Okami."