The music for
Animal Instincts... :3
Animal Instincts
By:
Alavon
Chapter 2:
Melancholy Voices from Distant Memories
The misty night reigned down upon all of the Alaskan wilderness, sharing it's throne with the bronze hue moon which gave the snow below my boots a bright, silvery and aeneous look. A howl pierced the silent night, its mournful cry echoing throughout the distant land. I felt a soft breeze brushed past me silently and caught some of the snowflakes that was swirling around slowly in the cold air. It was a real pity that Nanoha was in a deep slumber on my back and wasn't awake to see the spectacular beauty that was surrounding us.
My log cabin was a thirty minute walk from the main town of Kiulk and Nanoha, bless her, was completely exhausted to walk the journey so here I am, carrying her on my back. Even though I'm still shaken from my ordeal not long ago, Nanoha being here with me made everything feel...
all right.
She really was indeed warm to the touch.
Was it okay to feel like this?
Do I have the right to feel like this?
Is this feeling real or is it just...
longing?
Since I was arguing with myself, I didn't notice that in the far distant was my destination. My legs once again did the thinking for me. Noticing it myself a minute later, I began to walk a little faster, or as fast as Nanoha's weight and the hard snow beneath allowed me to. Ignoring my rapid heartbeat and gasps of breath, I climbed on top of a fallen log and, carefully that I wouldn't wake Nanoha up from her nap, arrived at my 'home'.
Home.
What an interesting word.
My log cabin was not big but it was well kept; I definitely made sure of that. The previous owners and those before them were driven out by the towns people all throughout Kiulks history when Alaska was incorporated into the 'Union'. I guess, over the years, they couldn't handle the silent treatment. So this part of Kiulk is called, “Intruders Zone” and was was completely ignored.
That was fine by me; I was used to being ignored much to the townsfolk's annoyance.
Taking out my keys from my pocket, I climbed the steps of my porch and was about to insert the key into the keyhole when out of the blue, a loud howl erupted into the night....and...it sounded near...
I gulped.
The howl then turned to barks and this time, Nanoha woke up from the noises.
“Wha-what's going on?” she yawned, climbing down from my back.
“
She's coming,” I answered, frantically trying to open the door to no avail; my hands were too cold. “And I was out all day!” Nanoha raised an eyebrow, a bemused look appearing on her sleepy face as she watch my fight with door.
“Who's coming?”
And on cue, my mixed-breed husky appeared from the woods and jumped on top of me, sending me flying down the steps and on to the snow. She then began to lick my face continuously, a whine escaping her throat.
“N-no! Arf! Down girl, Down!” I yelled sternly but she just ignored me and continued on with her playful assault.
Nanoha, who at first was worried that Arf was a stray animal, began to giggle. She jumped off from the porch and walked up to me and Arf. She smiled widely and said,”She's beautiful...”
“Oh, she's beautiful alright.” I growled, finally standing up. “That is until she goes into heat!”
Nanoha blushed a deep scarlet and averted her eyes from mine. Sensing that I might have said something insulting, I quickly added,”I was joking.”
Nanoha shook her head very quickly but still did not make eye contact with me. I was starting to panic; me and my stupid mouth! I was about to say something when Arf walked up to Nanoha and began to sniff her. Nanoha kneeled down and began to pat Arf, who was enjoying the attention from someone other than me.
“Aren't you a gorgeous animal?” cooed Nanoha, hugging Arf. Arf barked happily and licked Nanoha's cheeks. Nanoha giggled. “You really are very polite. Your owner trained you well.”
I decided not to say anything at that moment; Nanoha looked too happy for me to make another mistake. Besides, just watching her was enough. After a few minutes passed by, I checked my watch; it was 10:47pm.
It was this late already?
“Uh, Nanoha?” I said, tentatively. Nanoha hummed to show that she was listening. “Why don't we go inside? It's getting really chilly out now.”
Nanoha looked up at me, smiled and...my heart skipped a beat.
What's happening to me?
“Okay,” she said, standing up.
After I calmed Arf down which took a great deal of time, I returned back to the porch with the key. After inserting it in the lock, I gave it a quick turn and the door swung open. As soon as the door was open, Arf rushed right past me and began to bark happily much to Nanoha's amusement. I turned on the light and said to her nervously,”Well, this is where I live.”
Nanoha, after peeking behind my shoulder, smiled widely and stepped right into my home, looking around like a child arriving in a toy shop for the first time.
I was really glad that I'm a neat freak.
My living room and kitchen were in the same room with the hearth pretty much separating them. My bedroom was just above the living room on the right, a spiraling oak wood staircase leading to the exposed room which held the only expensive item other than my boat; a plasma T.V. My dwelling was small in Kiulk's standard but it was comfortable and that's what counts.
The only thing I regret before leaving to fish this morning was not putting away all the fishing rods that was lying all over the living room at this very moment. Fortunately for me, Nanoha was not bothered by it at all.
“Wow! This is really neat!” exclaimed Nanoha, running to the hearth and looking at the different rods with keen interest.
“Um, be careful,” I said, walking up to her with a lopsided grin. “They're my livelihood.”
Nanoha did not look up but nodded. She then sat down on my couch but not before removing two of my rods and placing them neatly beside a wall. A good ten minutes passed in silence which was due in part of my efforts in starting the fire. It was really lucky that it only took so little time to warm the area of my living which at this moment was actually important. After making sure that the fire was at the right temperature, I then sat at the opposite end of my leather couch, rubbing my hands nervously while Nanoha stared at me with an amuse look to her face.
“Well,” I began, rubbing the back of my neck. “I guess we could, um, start with introductions again?”
I couldn't help but notice that my heartbeat was beating out of control and for a moment I felt like I was going to throw up. Nanoha seemed to not have notice my fidgeting manner and replied back while looking down at her feet, ”I guess we should...”
We both did not make eye contact but then, at the same time, we spoke.
“You go-”
“Maybe you-”
We both stopped mid-sentence and after a long awkward silence, laughed. Arf, sensing our happiness, took that moment to bark happily and jump on my lap.
“Arf!” I began to push her down but she began to whine, clawing at my thighs. I sighed. “I guess it can't be helped.”
Nanoha, who was watching the one-on-one battle, smiled gently and said,”How old is she?”
I looked up and answered while scratching the back of Arf's ear, ”Hmm...I don't know.”
Nanoha looked taken aback by my answer. She scooted closer to me and after Arf placed her head on top of Nanoha's thigh, she asked,”But how can you not know?”
I was really glad that we were having a conversation but I made a mental note to start it again with formal introduction.
“Well, you see, I found her almost three years ago when I went to a stream to fish.” I then stole a glance and after seeing the interest in those slate blue eyes, I continued. “As I was walking to my usual spot, I heard some barking. And let me tell you, they weren't happy ones.” Arf seemed to understand what I was talking about and began to whine, licking my fingers. I patted her some more before continuing. “I then decided to check in on it. That was when I saw her trapped in a poachers catching instrument. I don't know what it was called but it looked like a Venus fly trap but made of iron.”
As expected, Nanoha gasped, covering her mouth. Arf, sensing Nanoha's distressed, began to crawl towards her and licked her face. “Luckily, I was able to break off the chain because it was so rusty; I just used a rock. Unfortunately, I couldn't separate the 'mouth' from her leg because I was afraid that I was going to make her bleed to death.” I did not look at Nanoha because if I did, I might not be able to finish but I could tell that she was listening to me intently. “It was really fortunate that Arf was small; it was easy to carry her to my snowmobile. I drove all the way to the Veterinary clinic in Aleknagik and Arf was taken in without a second thought.”
“Since Arf's here then I'm going to assume that everything went all right,” whispered Nanoha, still in stupefied shock. I nodded and stroke the bald spots on Arfs lower left leg where the spikes once were.
“Yeah, it did,” I said smiling slightly at the memory. “The vets then said they were willing to buy Arf from me because of her beautiful red and orange coat. But Arf started barking so hard at me and I just couldn't say yes. So I brought her home and named her “Arf” because she barked too much.”
At this, Nanoha laughed and I soon followed, both of us petting Arf much to her satisfaction. Some time passed and silence engulfed us again and I couldn't remember my home feeling so unbearably...quiet.
I decided to look up at Nanoha and was shocked to see that she looked troubled. I needed to break this silence so I asked,”So...where are you from?” Nanoha's head snapped up so quickly that I was afraid she might have sprained her neck. Her eccentric blue eyes were wide-eyed and the image of her looking at the mayor shot right through me like a bullet.
“Nanoha? Are you all right?” I asked, leaning towards her instinctively. Nanoha blinked a few times and seemed to have finally relaxed a bit. After shaking her head a few times, she answered in a croaked voice,”Yes. I'm fine.” I let out a sigh of relief and decided to speak before another wave of silence would crash on us.
“Okay,” I laughed, rubbing my thighs. “I'll go first. Let's see. Um, I'm Fate. Fate Testarossa and I'm twenty-three years old. I was born in Fairfield, Maine on March 14, 1988 and-”
I stopped.
I never met this girl in my life. I don't know anything about her and I don't think I should just throw her my past life out like that. They're not exactly happy memories...
“Uh, Fate?”
I shook my head, smiled at Nanoha and said,”Sorry, I'm fine. Where was I? Oh! That's right. I then moved to Unalaska four years ago. Stayed there for about two years working in a fishing vessel and after saving enough money, I bought my own small boat and I became a fisherman-for-hire here in Kiulk.” After seeing the confused look on Nanoha's face, I added quickly,” I basically fish for restaurants in Alekgnaik.”
Realization dawned upon Nanoha's face and she nodded slowly, not taking her eyes off of me. I pulled back a strand of hair from my face and then asked in what I hoped was an encouraging voice,”So...what about you?”
Nanoha looked as though I just asked her how her sex life was because she literally jumped a foot in the air and stared at me with a reddening face that would have put a tomato to shame. I couldn't help myself and I began to laugh...hard. I doubled over and fell to the floor with Arf who left the leaving room in confusion. Nanoha pouted and said embarrassingly,”Mou, Fate! What's so funny?!” But then she started laughing too and she slid onto the floor along with me. She looked at me sideways since we were both on our sides and said,”I guess it's my turn?”
I nodded.
She sighed and turned over until she was facing the ceiling. She bit her lower lip and then said slowly,”My name...is Nanoha Takamachi. My parents came from Japan with my brother and sister some twenty-four years ago. I was born one year later in Los Angeles, California on February 29, 1988...oh, wow. You look surprise.”
I was.
“You were born in L.A.!” I sputtered, sitting up. “AND you're older then me?!”
“I wouldn't be so sure about that...”
I laughed disbelievingly. If she's from L.A. then no wonder she was attacked-
Wait a minute...
I turned to look at Nanoha who was smiling widely as if knowing what I was about to ask.
“Did you say '
February 29'?
Nanoha nodded, trying very hard not to laugh.
Then I knew what the joke was about and my jaw dropped.
“You were born during a
leap year?”
At this, Nanoha started to laugh. I just stared at her in awe and then I laughed too.
“I can't believe this!” I said, pounding on the floor. “You're actually
five years old?”
“That's right,” replied Nanoha, wiping away tears of laughter from her eyes. “Next year I'll be six.”
For almost three minutes, we laughed non-stop and every time we were about to calm down, one look at Nanoha and my laughing fits would re-emerge again, harder than ever. It felt really nice laughing along with another person; it felt really...good.
Nanoha was the first one to regain her composure and said,”Yeah, I guess in legal terms, you're older then me but by birth year, I'm older than you.”
We both laid right back down my fur rug and stared at the ceiling, not saying anything but I learned from pasts mistakes not to let it go too far. I cleared my throat to get Nanoha's attention and then asked carefully,”If you're from L.A. then why are you here in the middle of nowhere?” I turned to look at her, expecting a response but instead I saw that she was....
….
crying.
I jolted right back up and said quickly,”I'm sorry, I-”
“No,” said Nanoha, barely audible but firmly. She slowly looked up at me and something inside of me wanted me to go and hug her but a voice from the back of my head was telling me it would be a very bad idea. The bright colors of the fire was obscuring her face, making it appear quite lovely but mournful and I had to look away before her pain would slice my will in half without warning.
“Fate,” pleaded Nanoha. “Don't be sorry. I'm just...not ready to tell my story...” And then she said something that completely caught me off guard. “It's also the same reason why you're not telling me
yours.”
My eyes went wide and I quickly looked her but she was staring at the fire with a distant look on her face. I rubbed my forehead to calm myself down and I concluded somberly that we were heading towards a minefield. Rubbing my hands together, I asked tentatively,”Do you have a place to stay?”
Nanoha shook her head but she sat up and looked at me with the most serious look I had ever seen in my life.
“I don't want anyone's pity,” she began, her face only inches away from mine and I couldn't help but notice the mango fragrance emitting from her hair. “I know I can take care of myself.”
“I know you can,” I said, ignoring my erratic heartbeat that was beginning to bug me. “I was just wonder-”
Nanoha cut me off.
“Me living here in Kiulk, Fate, would only make matters worse for you.”
I looked at my hands and I had to agree with everything she said...except for the last part.
“My life would not get any worse. On the contrary, you being here made it better!”
I realized too late what I said and looked away, anywhere but Nanoha's face. For the longest time, Nanoha and I did not say anything and for once, I was glad.
Did I scare her?
Ba-bump...
What is this?
Ba-bump...
All I want is a friend; was it too much to ask?
Ba-bump...
It's too much...
...to much to
bare.
Nanoha was the first to break the silence and I didn't know if I should feel scared or relieved. I closed my eyes, waiting for what, I did not know; my body was doing everything for me.
“Fate...”
Please...don't do this to me...
“Fate...look at
me.”
My will was shattered in a heartbeat and I obeyed and then, before I even knew what was happening, I was instantly and utterly...
embraced.
“Thank you Fate,” She said, tears mixing into mine. “That was the first time in my life that someone said those words to me. Thank you, Fate!
Thank you so much!”
Nanoha...
She hugged me harder and...
I hugged her back.
Her slender body shivered under my touch and this new feeling was engulfing me so much that I couldn't hold back my tears anymore. This act...it felt...oh...so..
.right.
“Fate?” she whispered.
“Yes...Nanoha?”
She hugged me even harder and uttered at my ears the three words that I always wanted to hear since I was a little girl,“
Be my friend?”
My hear skipped a beat and even though for some strange feeling I felt a little...
sad...I couldn't help but be...
happy.
Happy...
Tears still streaming down my face shamelessly, I whispered back,”Of course, Nanoha.
Of course.”
And at that moment, our destiny's were intertwined, forever setting us towards an unknown course that would ultimately decide...
our fate.