Koda's Journey

[Ken'ichi]

I decided to post here a fanfiction I started before I found and joined the roleplay Life With Koda. Even so, Ken'ichi existed as one of the main characters in this fanfiction. Though, the Ken'ichi in this fanfiction is different than the Ken'ichi in the roleplay, and his past in this fanfiction isn't as similar to his past in the roleplay. I hope you enjoy it!
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Chapter 1: The beginning from death
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Koda slowly walked under the rain toward Ken’ichi, who is lying on the ground next to the lifeless body of his father, crying.

Koda stopped a few steps away from the crying Ken’ichi.
“Ken’ichi…”

Ken’ichi didn’t responded, he just kept crying away. Koda looked at Ken’ichi’s father; a spear was imbedded to his side along with a slash on his back. Koda looked away from the body and looked at Ken’ichi.

“I’m sorry…”
Koda said merely a whisper.
“I know how you feel…”

Indeed Koda knows how Ken’ichi feels; he has lost his mother too. How much sadness and anger he felt when Kenai broke the news to him about his mother’s death.

Ken’ichi stopped crying, he was in deep thought while crying, what happened that really caused his father’s death? Other than the hunters…<br>
“This is your entire fault…”
Ken’ichi said to Koda.

“What?”<br>Koda asked.

“It’s your fault those monsters killed my father!”<br>Ken’ichi shouted to Koda while standing up.

“You lured them to me and my father!”<br>
With that, Ken’ichi charged to Koda. Koda gasped and ran out of the way, but Ken’ichi stopped and turned to face Koda, he was glaring at him, anger surged through his blood.

“Ken’ichi, I wasn’t…”
Koda tried to say, but he stopped mid-way.

Koda thought about what happened. When he was with Kenai, when he got separated from him, when those hunters chased him…<br>
End of Chapter 1

[Ken'ichi]

(Koda's perspective)

It’s been a year since Kenai decided to become a bear to take care of me. And through those days Kenai learned much more about being a bear, he even learned about hibernation. Aside that, he liked being a bear, especially being with me, we bonded much more. Our love toward each other as brothers has become one; and I loved every minute of it.

But how Kenai and I got separated? How did Ken’ichi’s father died? All of this just because…
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Chapter 2: An unwanted accident
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It was another bright day in the forest. Trees were standing high as their branches filled with leafs nearly blocking the sun’s rays from hitting the ground.

Kenai, my big brother, was walking to the south, I was riding on his back, heading to the river where the salmon run happens every year, and our nights were filled with lights that touch the earth.

This was going to be Kenai’s second salmon run, and I was excited about telling my story about the most interesting thing I had, probably about how much trouble I went through trying to teach Kenai the first thing about hibernation. Ha-ha.

“Koda…”
Kenai decided to start a conversation.
“When we reach the river, what are you planning to do other than telling your stories and eating fish?”<br>
“Well…”
I started as I turned around, facing up and resting my back on Kenai.
“I’m thinking of showing my friends a couple of moves.”<br>
I heard Kenai chuckled, He was probably expecting me to say that. What can I say? I have gotten bigger and stronger in the past year, even if not by much.

“What are you gonna do?”<br>I asked as I turned my body again.

“Well I…”

Kenai suddenly stopped, looked to the left and started sniffing the air. I got worried when I saw what Kenai was doing and jumped off of him.

“What’s wrong?”<br>I asked.

Kenai continued sniffing.
“I think I smell…”

I began smelling until I heard some footsteps, Kenai and I turned around to see a shadow running behind a tree.

Kenai sniffed again and said to me:
“Run.”<br>
Kenai and I quickly ran, but a hunter jumped in front of us, pointing his spear at us. We turned and ran to the other way but got blocked by two more hunters. Kenai picked me up with his mouth and ran to the other way, managing to escape.

But the three hunters followed, Kenai ran between two trees, hoping that would slow them down, but it didn’t. He kept running and made a sharp turn into a narrow path between two mountains, making the hunters almost lose us.

This got Kenai a good lead, but it wouldn’t last for long. He looked each direction, trying to find a good place where he can hide from the hunters. I also looked around, trying to find a place to hide also. Kenai stopped at the sight of an eagle, staring at us.

I looked at Kenai; he was staring at the eagle in awe. I looked at the eagle again and quickly realized who it was. It was the same eagle that I saw at the mountain a year ago.

I saw the eagle flying to a direction. Kenai followed it to a mountain, with the hunters following behind.

“Where are you going?!”<br>I asked.

Kenai didn’t answer me; he kept running higher into the mountain. Snow was falling on the mountain, giving the hunters a hard time to follow. Kenai looked back and I sighed in relief, but Kenai wasn’t looking forward ran straight into a frozen lake. He lost his balance and slipped, sending me flying from his mouth and land hard on the ice.

“Ow…”
I said as I rubbed his butt.
“You ok?”<br>
“Yea, I’m alright.”<br>He told me as he tried to get up on his feet.

I looked back and gasped when I saw the hunters gaining. Kenai managed to reach me but only because of him slipping on the ice.

“Kenai, the hunters!”<br>I pointed out.

Kenai turned his head and gasped; the hunters had already climbed up the mountain and are getting closer. Kenai and I managed to get off the ice, but a hunter threw their spear and landed next to Kenai. Kenai picked me up again and started running, but he stopped dead in his tracks when he reached the edge of a cliff.

“Oh no, Kenai!”<br>I cried.
“What are we gonna do?”<br>
Kenai turned around but we were cornered by the hunters. He stepped back but he was already at the edge of the cliff, one more step and we’re done for.

“I dunno…”
Kenai said in defeat.
“Unless…”

Kenai released me and gave his meanest glare to the hunters and gave his loudest roar. The hunters flinched, but they gripped on their spears and walked closer to us. Kenai gave one more roar, but this time the hunters didn’t flinch. I was totally scared, it looked like me and my brother was going to die.

But things got worse. Kenai’s roar started to crack the ground I, Kenai and the hunters were standing. Kenai and I looked at the crack, then we looked at each other.

“Uh-oh.”<br>We both said.

The ground under us broke and we both fell down the cliff along with the three hunters. Me, Kenai and the other hunters screamed as we fell, but a huge bank of snow broke my fall.

“Kenai?”<br>I popped out of the snow and frantically looked around.
“Kenai! Where are you?”<br>
A wall made of ice was in front of me, but I could see the other side. I saw Kenai coming out of the snow. He got out of the snow and started shivering, he was cold, and I am too.

Behind Kenai I saw a hunter rising from the snow, he saw Kenai and took out his spear. Kenai hasn’t noticed the hunter.

“Kenai, look out! Behind you!”<br>
Luckily Kenai heard me and turned around, I saw the hunter lunge at Kenai and they both started wrestling on the ground. I watched helplessly as Kenai struggled with the hunter. I sighed in relief when Kenai got the hunter off of him.

Kenai turned to the icy wall and shouted at me:
“Koda, go to the salmon run! I’ll meet you there!”<br>
“Do you even know how to get there?!”<br>I shouted back at him.

“No time for that, I can find it! I’ll be ok!”<br>That answer worried me.

“Promise you’ll be there?”<br>I asked him, I had to be sure.

“I promise.”<br>He replied and placed his pinky on the wall.
“Pinky swear.”<br>He said with a smile.

I chuckled and placed my pinky on the wall too, kind of like making a pinky swear but with a wall between us. I gasped and turned around to find the other two hunters popping out of the snow bank behind me. I turned to see Kenai growling at the hunter on his side, which is getting up.

“Go Koda, now!”<br>Kenai shouted at me.

Going to the salmon run alone? That was the fear I had when I got separated from my mom, that’s why I wanted Kenai to come with me. But now it seems I’m alone again, but only temporarily, I have to be brave.

I ran past the hunters and found my exit of that place, but I hope Kenai will be ok. But I had no such luck in losing the hunters; they ran out of the narrow path to chase me.

I turned around and ran down the mountains, but I slipped and started sliding down the mountain. I continued sliding until I reached a verted rock and sent me flying into the air.

I landed on the snow, but it wasn’t very deep and pain surged through my body, but I shook it off and continued running. I kept running but I had to stop dead in my tracks when I reached the edge of another cliff, this one didn’t had anything below to save me, just a rocky fall to death.

I saw a few bushes next to me. I turned around to hide there but it was too late, the hunters had already pinned me to the cliff. I was trapped, nothing to do. I was done for.

Just when a hunter was going to throw a spear at me from a distance, a big black bear jumped on him, making the spear land next to me. I looked at the bear furiously attacking the hunter, but the other hunter joined in and started swinging his spear at the bear, making it back off.

“You ok?”<br>I heard a voice asking me.

I shook off my fear and looked next to me. A black cub was standing next to me, the skin around his nose was light-black, he had gray fur around his neck and black claws, and his eyes were light-brown.

“Yea…I’m ok.”<br>I replied.

He turned around and motioned me to follow him. I followed him and we hid in the bushes. I was gasping for breath, and then I looked at the cub.

He looked at me and said:
“You were almost killed, you’re lucky me and my father were here.”<br>
“Thanks.”<br>I replied.
“I’m Koda, what’s your name?”<br>
“The name’s Ken’ichi.”<br>He proudly said.
“What’s a cub like you doing up here all alone?”<br>
“Well, I was heading to the salmon run with my brother when…”

My explanation was cut short when we heard Ken’ichi’s father roaring in pain. I and Ken’ichi popped our heads out of the bush to see a hunter slashing Ken’ichi’s father on his back. I saw a hunter lying on the ground unconscious, while the other hunter was poking his spear to Ken’ichi’s dad.

“Father!”<br>I heard Ken’ichi shout.

I watched as Ken’ichi’s father pinned the hunter to the edge of the cliff, he tried to slash the hunter but the hunter thought well. He gripped his spear and pierced it through Ken’ichi’s father’s side.

“No!”<br>Ken’ichi cried as he ran to help his dad.

“Ken’ichi, don’t!”<br>He didn’t listen to me.

He roared in pain and fell forward, falling on the hunter but both of them fell down the cliff. I gasped when I saw that, it was like watching what could’ve happened if I didn’t tackled Denahi to save Kenai’s life.

Ken’ichi stopped at the edge of the cliff and cried:
“NO!!!”<br>
I got out of the bush; I kept seeing Ken’ichi looking at each side desperately looking for a way to get down. He found it and ran down the mountain. It started to rain after that, I stayed rooted on that mountain; I was traumatized at what I just saw…But I managed to wake up and walk down the mountain…

End of Chapter 2

[Ken'ichi]

(Back to third person)

Koda kept staring at Ken’ichi, who was glaring at him. Ken’ichi has developed hatred to Koda; he blamed Koda for the death of his father.

'No…it wasn’t my fault…,' Koda thought as he stared at the glaring Ken’ichi, but why do I feel like it was?
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Chapter 3: I know how you feel…<br>__________________________________________________

“Ken’ichi…I know how you feel.”<br>Koda said to Ken’ichi, trying to calm him down.
“But you gotta believe me; I didn’t want this to happen.”<br>
“You don’t have any idea how I feel!”<br>Ken’ichi cried to Koda, tears sliding down his face.
“It’s your fault he’s gone!”<br>
Koda slowly shook his head.
“I didn’t mean to, I didn’t even…”

“Shut up!”<br>Ken’ichi cut him off.

“But I can help you!”<br>Koda cried to Ken’ichi, almost shouting.

“How can you help me?!”<br>Ken’ichi shouted at him.
“I don’t even have anyone else to go now that my father is gone!”<br>Ken’ichi sniffed, trying to suck away his tears.
“You’re not thinking of taking care of me are ya?! You can barely take care of yourself!”<br>
Koda began to think, how can he help Ken’ichi? Besides, I have to go to the salmon run to meet with Kenai there. Maybe I can ask Kenai if he’s willing to have another little brother, Koda continued to think, Wait…That’s it!

“The salmon run!”<br>Koda cried happily.

Ken’ichi kept glaring at Koda; he was just a few seconds away from tackling Koda for that sudden cry of happiness.

“I’m heading to the salmon run!”<br>Koda told Ken’ichi.
“Why don’t you come with me?”<br>
Koda began to smile, if he brought Ken’ichi with him to the salmon run, he would find someone who can take care of Ken’ichi, even find the rest of his family. That would sure be a good way of saying sorry for his father’s death. But he didn’t told Ken’ichi about that, he wanted to be a surprise. And by the way Koda sees Ken’ichi; he’s younger than him, so Koda would be taking the role of Kenai in this journey.

“No!”<br>Koda’s smile dropped when Ken’ichi cried those words.
“I’m not going with you to the salmon run!”<br>
Ken’ichi walked closer to Koda and looked at him straight in the eye.
“I hate you for this! You don’t know how I feel! And you’re just saying this so you won’t go alone and ditch me when we get there!”<br>
“No, you got it all wrong.”<br>Koda told Ken’ichi, walking back.
“I know how you feel…”

“I’m not going with you!”<br>Ken’ichi cut Koda off again.

“You’re not even letting me talk!”<br>Koda cried to Ken’ichi, almost losing his cool.

“I don’t care!”<br>Ken’ichi walked past Koda.
“How can you even help someone without knowing how they feel?!”<br>
(Soft music starts playing)

“Ken’ichi!”<br>Koda ran past Ken’ichi and stopped right in front of him.
“Look through my eyes…”
Koda and Ken’ichi stared at each other right in the eye.
“I know how you feel.”<br>
There are things in life you'll learn and
In time you'll see

Ken’ichi just shook his head slowly and walked around Koda. Koda just looked at Ken’ichi walking away, but he’s not giving up.

Cause out there somewhere
It's all waiting
If you keep believing

Ken’ichi kept walking and stopped at the top of a hill, where you can see a beautiful meadow full of flowers and trees. Koda slowly walked to Ken’ichi and stopped next to Ken’ichi.

So don't run, don't hide
It will be all right
You'll see, trust me
I'll be there watching over you

Ken’ichi turned his head to see Koda. He glared at Koda; he wanted to get rid of him. But after watching that glare, Koda only said to him one thing, “Just trust me Ken’ichi…”

Just take a look through my eyes (Through my eyes)
There's a better place
somewhere out there

Ken’ichi scoffed at Koda and walked down the hill. He stopped in front of a broken down tree and noticed Koda still following him. Koda just want to help Ken’ichi in any way he can, but Ken’ichi keeps rejecting his offer.

Just take a look through my eyes (Through my eyes)
Everything changes
You'll be amazed what you'll find (There's a better place)
If you look through my eyes

Ken’ichi, trying to lose Koda, jumps over the broken tree and runs up a hill, goes through a cave and stops in the middle of another meadow.

He catches his breath, and hopes that he lost Koda. But Koda is a nibble bear, he followed well. When Ken’ichi turned around, he gasps to see Koda walking out of the cave he ran through. He sighed in frustration of this bear’s persistence.

There will be times on this journey
All you'll see is darkness

Koda just looked at Ken’ichi with a sad look in his eyes.

Out there somewhere daylight finds you
If you keep believing

What’s going on with Ken’ichi that’s giving him more pain than the death of his father? There’s something extra giving Ken’ichi pain, more pain than he should receive from his father’s death.

So don't run, don't hide
It will be all right
You'll see, trust me
I'll be there watching over you

Koda ran down the hill and met with Ken’ichi, who’s just sitting down, trying to suck up tears. Koda sat next to Ken’ichi.

“Ken’ichi, I know exactly how you feel. I lost my mom just like you lost your dad…”
Koda said to Ken’ichi, and tears started to roll down Koda’s face as he remembered that day.

Just take a look (take a look) through my eyes (Look through my eyes)
There's a better place
somewhere out there
Just take a look through my eyes (Look through my eyes)
Everything changes
You'll be amazed what you'll find (There’s a better place)
If you look through my eyes

Ken’ichi looked at Koda and gave a sigh.
“What are we gonna do when we get there?”<br>
All the things that you can change
There's a meaning in everything
And you will find all you need
There's so much to understand

Koda raised his head and his face lightened up. What Ken’ichi asked was a conformation of joining him to the salmon run.

Take a look (Take a look) through my eyes (Look Through my eyes)
There's a better place
somewhere out there
Just take a look (Take a look) through my eyes (Look through my eyes)
Everything changes
You'll be amazed what you'll find (You’ll be amazed what you’ll find)

“You’ll know when we get there.”<br>Koda said with a tone that sounded like he was hiding something.

Just take a look (Take a look) through my eyes (Look through my eyes)
There's a better place
somewhere out there
Just take a look (Take a look) through my eyes (Look through me eyes)
Everything changes
You'll be amazed what you'll find (You’ll find a better place)

Koda and Ken’ichi just looked at each other’s eyes as the song finishes.

If you look through my eyes (You’ll find a better place)

Just take a look through my eyes (You’ll find a better place)

If you look through my eyes.

Take a look through my eyes…

“I promise, I won’t abandon you like you said.”<br>Koda said with a smile.

End of Chapter 3

[Ken'ichi]

Just to let you know, this fanfiction tends to have some backgrounds songs, they are italicized. You probably notice that in the previous chapter, just to let you know
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Dawn…Koda and Ken’ichi has decided to leave in the morning. But Ken’ichi isn’t too thrilled about going. In fact, he feels like going to the salmon run is going to be a mistake…<br>___________________________________________________________
Chapter 4: Not the best of starts
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Ken’ichi got up and walked in the morning sunlight, a gentle morning breeze brushing against his fur. He closed his eyes and sighed as the wind blows in his face. It made him almost forget about the tragedy that claimed his father’s death, but that heavy blow will never be taken away from his heart, it has left a tremendous wound in his heart to witness his father’s death.

Ken’ichi shook his head; he’s not going to the salmon run. He turned around and froze in his place when he saw Koda. Koda was still sleeping though, but his mere presence made him remember his agreement to go with him.

Ken’ichi scoffed, but he agreed to go with him there. As much as he hates to admit it, he doesn’t have anyone else to go to; he really needs Koda’s help. But what does Koda has planned for him that wants him to go to the salmon run so badly?

Ken’ichi shook his head and walked to the sleeping Koda and gently shook him.

“Wake up kid!” Ken’ichi cried, “We got a long walk ahead of us.”<br>
Koda groaned and turned over, “Three more months…”

Ken’ichi glared at Koda with great anger; he’s not cut out for this, “Hey! Wake up you lazy bear!” He angrily pushed Koda, turning him over and having his face land onto a puddle, wakening him up.

“Ok, ok. I’m up!” Koda announced as he lift his head from the puddle to see the angry Ken’ichi.

“Let’s go.” Ken’ichi said as he started walking. He knows the way, he been to the salmon run many times with his father, he practically knows the way better than Koda.

“Wait!” Koda cried as he ran to Ken’ichi, “Shouldn’t we eat something before we head off? It’s a long way and we might get hungry before we find something along the way.”<br>
Ken’ichi rolled his eyes and turned to Koda and started saying sarcastically, “Oh sure, let’s waste our time looking for the freshest berry bush, eating berries all our morning to end up heading to the salmon run like what time?” He made a motion like if he was thinking, then faced Koda and looked at him right in the eye, “The afternoon?!”<br>
“Well I’m hungry, and I’m not going hungry through all of this because of your attitude.” Koda managed to say to Ken’ichi.

Ken’ichi scoffed and started walking, “Don’t expect me to wait for you.”<br>
Koda shook his head as he looked at Ken’ichi and ran ahead of Ken’ichi, he hoped he didn’t meant what he said by not waiting for him.

Through the field and over the bridge
I look back from the main road

Koda stopped in front of a hill and opened his mouth with a happy look on his face; a field of bushes filled with berries was over it. Koda raced down the hill to have an early breakfast. Ken’ichi stopped and looked how Koda raced down the hill to fill his belly with berries.

Together with the horizon I grew up with
We say goodbye to the ole town

Koda stopped and began eating berries, munching on the branches and swallowing any berry juice and berry bits falling in his mouth. Ken’ichi just walked past Koda like if he was invisible, but he stopped in front of a berry bush just out of Koda’s sight. He looked back and ate a few berries, but he flinched and stopped eating when Koda ran to the bush next to Ken’ichi to eat berries there. Koda smiled at Ken’ichi with berry juice all over his mouth, but Ken’ichi growled lowly and walked away.

We all have our secret wings
With which to soar through the sky

After eating, Koda and Ken’ichi reached the edge of a river. Koda was still a little hungry and he saw a few fishes swimming upstream. Ken’ichi however didn’t care; he just continued walking to his destination. Koda, being the little rascal that he is, made a daring attempt to grab a fish, but he missed and slipped to the river.

Until the day we pirouette
Onto a distant peaceful land

Ken’ichi looked back and stopped when he couldn’t see Koda anywhere. But he turned and continued to his destination. He said he wasn’t going to wait for him, so he’s planning on keeping his word. He wonders why he agreed to go with this cub to the salmon run. What is it to keep him company? Or was he scared to be alone now that his father is gone?

Ken’ichi took a glimpse at the river, but immediately gave a closer look when he saw something weird in the water. Upon closer inspection, he could make a figure of a bear swimming toward him. Ken’ichi was about to walk away when the bear’s head popped out of the water, revealing to be Koda. Koda smiled weakly as Ken’ichi gave him a look which expressed ‘What were you doing?’<br>
Together with the horizon I grew up with
We say goodbye to the ole town

Koda got out of the water and shook himself dry; Ken’ichi rolled his eyes and continued walking. Koda gave a playful glare at Ken’ichi, he then ran and stopped next to him and pushed him in the river. Koda laughed and then jumped to join him.

[Ken'ichi]

Chapter too long for one post, so be sure to check out which chapter each post is so you won't get confused.
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Ken’ichi’s head popped out of the water. Second was Koda’s. Ken’ichi glared at Koda; he was not in the mood for this. Both of them could feel the current of the river pulling them, but it didn’t face a challenge for Koda and Ken’ichi swim back to land.

“Ha-ha, got ya huh?” Koda said as he got out of the water, but his smile dropped when he saw Ken’ichi glaring at him like if he was ready to kill. Koda lowered his head and moved his eyes to look at the ground, “I guess…you’re not in the mood huh?”<br>
Ken’ichi glared at Koda and turned his back; Koda shook himself dry and stood next to Ken’ichi. Ken’ichi, without any warning, pushed Koda back into the river, “Payback!”<br>
Koda abruptly popped out of the water, he gasped when the river’s current was pulling him faster than usual. He also noticed Ken’ichi’s grin. Koda suddenly went under water and arose, coughing water, “Ken’ichi…help?”<br>
Ken’ichi kept walking downstream, following Koda, “You pushed me into the water and I pushed you back. I think you can get out of the water by yourself.” With that, Ken’ichi turned to head to the direction to the salmon run.

“Wait Ken’ichi…” Koda stopped when he heard a roaring sound, that isn’t his stomach. Koda turned around and almost screamed when he saw what he was heading for was a…“Waterfall!”<br>
Ken’ichi was almost out of Koda’s sight when he heard Koda’s voice shouting, “Ken’ichi help!” Ken’ichi turned to see Koda being carried to a waterfall. Ken’ichi gasped; this was going to be some rescue he’s going to have to pull.

Ken’ichi ran back, grabbed a vine from a tree with his mouth and jumped into the river. He swam to Koda to reach him faster; he hoped the vine was long enough. Koda was trying to grab any rock he could, but the current was pulling him too fast.

Ken’ichi is a strong bear, practically very strong for his age, so swimming was nothing to him, but the current made a formidable foe at pulling Koda away from him.

Koda managed to grab onto a rock, he coughed up swallowed water, his claws grinded on the rock slowly, Koda was grabbing on with all the strength he could, hoping for anything to save him. Luckily, his rescue came in the form of a black bear, “Ken’ichi!”<br>
Ken’ichi couldn’t talk though; the vine in his mouth is the only thing keeping him between life and death. Ken’ichi grabbed a rock which is a feet away from Koda. He tried to reach Koda but the vine has reached its limit, Ken’ichi can’t reach him unless he lets go of the vine.

Koda knew Ken’ichi can’t reach him, but he was surprised he jumped in to save him. After how Ken’ichi acted toward him, he thought Ken’ichi didn’t cared what happened to him. So Koda decided to try to swim at Ken’ichi, but the current was too strong and Koda was slowly being taken away.

Ken’ichi had to make a choice, either declare the rescue a failure and pull himself back to safety, or go after Koda and find another way. Ken’ichi has hated Koda so much for how his father died because of him, he preferred Koda dying than his father, and this could be his revenge. But his father raised no abandoner, he released the vine and swam to Koda, tackled him to push him to a rock, and they both grabbed the rock. “Ken’ichi what’ll we do?” Koda cried as he grabbed the rock for dear life. “I’m working on it…” Ken’ichi replied.

Ken’ichi looked around and blinked twice when he saw a tree branch submerged in the river. The tree branch is still connected to the tree; they can use it to pull themselves to land. Ken’ichi didn’t had time nor the interest to explain his plan to Koda, he just pushed him off the rock.

Koda couldn’t believe what Ken’ichi just did; he just pushed him into the river again. But Koda immediately saw the tree branch and quickly grasped Ken’ichi’s plan. As soon as he came into range, Koda grabbed the tree branch and slowly pulled himself toward land with whatever strength he had left, but he stopped midway to catch his breath, “Keep going!” a childish yet determined voice shouted from behind him. Koda blinked and looked back; Ken’ichi was holding unto the same branch, “Keep going or we’ll both drown!”<br>
Koda didn’t want to agitate Ken’ichi any longer; he looked forward and kept going. In what seemed forever in a struggle against the strong current of the river, Koda and Ken’ichi were out of the river and into dry land. Both bears sat down to catch their breath.

“Thanks,” Koda said to Ken’ichi, “I thought you were going to leave me.” Ken’ichi just stood up and shook himself dry, “Don’t flatter yourself, I only did it because I felt bad about pushing you into the water.”<br>
Koda shook himself dry and walked to Ken’ichi, “Well it was your fault I almost drown in a waterfall and…”

“Shut up!” Ken’ichi cut him off, “It’s your fault anyway! You pushed me into the water!” Koda backed up a little, Ken’ichi was so mad he was one step away from attacking him. “Do that again and next time I won’t save your neck.” With that, Ken’ichi continued his walk to the salmon run. Koda sighed in sadness and fear; this was going to be a long journey.

End of chapter 4

[Ken'ichi]

Ken’ichi wondered about that rescue. Did he save Koda just because he felt bad for him? Or did he care for the cub already after only one day of knowing him?

“You okay?” Koda asked him when he saw the look on his face. But Ken’ichi didn’t answer; he just looked forward and continues to walk.
___________________________________________________________
Chapter 5: A help that makes trouble
__________________________________________________

Koda and Ken’ichi stopped walking when they heard two voices arguing about something, which then turned into a name exchanging contest. Koda concentrated on the two voices and immediately recognized them.

“It was your fault that mammoth chased us all this way!” a voice echoed through the forest, but only just a few feet away from the cubs.
“Knock it off, eh.” A different voice cried. Koda and Ken’ichi kept looking forward; two mooses were walking toward them, Rutt and Tuke.

“Well I wouldn’t bug you about this if you would’ve left that mammoth alone.” Tuke argued.
“That mammoth walked over our nice patch of grass. Do you know how hard it is to find those types of patches?” Rutt replied.

“Rutt! Tuke!” Koda cried as he ran to the two mooses, Ken’ichi stayed behind. Rutt and Tuke stopped arguing when they heard Koda and saw him running to them.

“Hey, smallish bear! How’s it going, eh?” Rutt greeted.
“You look bigger since last time we saw you.” Tuke said, giving a noogie to Koda with his feet.
“Where’s Mr. Bear?” Rutt asked.

“Oh, we just got separated that’s all.” Koda confidently said, confident that Kenai will be in the salmon run. “So Ken’i…”

“Hey, I didn’t know you had another brother!” Tuke rudely cut Koda off when he saw Ken’ichi.
“What?!” Ken’ichi shouted, taking it as an offense.
“Well, he’s…uhhh…” Koda tried to explain, but they weren’t paying attention.
“He’s kind of cute, eh?” Rutt said as he noogied Ken’ichi.

Ken’ichi rudely got out of Rutt’s noogie and glared at the moose, Rutt’s happy-go-lucky face immediately dropped when he saw the cub glaring at him.

“Oh great going moose breath!” Tuke yelled at Rutt, “You just made the smallish bear mad!”<br>“I didn’t mean to make him angry, eh!” Rutt defended, “And don’t call me moose breath, twig legs!”<br>“Pine cone brain!” Tuke insulted.
“Nut head!” Rutt insulted back.

Ken’ichi walked to Koda as the two mooses exchanged names, Koda giggled a little, it’s been a while since he saw both of them fighting. “Do they do this often?” Ken’ichi coolly asked Koda.
“Not all the time.” Koda replied as he walked away from the Rutt and Tuke. Ken’ichi looked back at the other mooses and shook his head with a mid-smiled.

“Hey wait!”<br>
Koda abruptly stopped when that voice cried through his ears; he turned to see Rutt and Tuke running toward them.

“You cubs are heading to the fishy run right?” Rutt asked the cubs.
“Its salmon run you twit!” Tuke corrected Rutt.

“Umm…yea.” Koda answered; having a thought they were going to suggest something. Ken’ichi looked at Koda, giving him a look to say no to whatever they would ask or suggest.

Rutt looked at Tuke, and then at Koda, “I was thinking maybe we could…”
Tuke cut Rutt off, “Maybe we could you know…”
Rutt pushed Tuke aside, “Help you, eh?”<br>
Koda looked at Rutt and Tuke, they weren’t exactly known for their bravery, let alone leave them in charge of cubs. Koda looked at Ken’ichi, whose face expressed ‘Let them help and you’re as good as alone.’<br>
“How?” Koda curiously asked.

“Well, uhh…” Rutt looked at Tuke and whispered, “How?”<br>Tuke shoved Rutt gently, “We can help them like this.” Without any warning, Tuke lowered his antlers and shoveled Koda up, lifting his head and sending Koda rolling down his neck and stop on his back. “We can give you a ride.” Tuke announced as he looked at Koda, who’s on his back.

‘This is ridiculous.’ Ken’ichi thought as he heard what Tuke had planned. Before he could even say anything, Rutt came from behind and did the same thing Tuke did to Koda.
“Do I have to carry angry bear?” Rutt whinely asked Tuke.
“Angry bear?!” Ken’ichi angrily yelled, and then he grabbed Rutt’s antlers and suspended himself, his face in front of Rutt. “Listen you twigs for brains! My name is Ken’ichi! Not angry bear!” He glared at Rutt, who was petrified with fear as the cub glared at him. “Got it?!” Rutt cowardly nodded. Ken’ichi scoffed and pulled himself up.

Koda silently giggled while Tuke chuckled. “Is he always like this?”<br>Koda giggled again. “Only when he’s mad.”<br>
Ken’ichi kind of heard the conversation and looked at Koda. Koda saw the look Ken’ichi was giving him and immediately quieted down and lowered his head.
Ken’ichi had enough; he goes to get off of Rutt’s back. “Well, I’m off the loony express.”<br>
“C’mon Ken’ichi.” Koda cried. “Trust them, we could use a ride.”<br>
Ken’ichi stayed silent, it could be faster this way since they have longer legs and can walk faster, and maybe he should take this opportunity.
Ken’ichi looked around and sighed, “Alright, we could use a ride.” Without any warning, Rutt jerked to the left, making Ken’ichi almost fall off.

“Alright smallish bear, which direction?” Rutt asked.
Koda looked to each direction. “Hmmm…that way!” He pointed to a direction.
“Alright brother bears, hang on.” Tuke said and they were off.

Ken’ichi holds himself back from going postal on Tuke for taking him as Koda’s brother. He’s not his brother, when will they get that through their thick heads? Though, does Ken’ichi even like the thought of him as Koda’s brother? He thought about it, but he was immediately remembered of…Ken’ichi shook off the idea and the thought which went to his head.

[Ken'ichi]

Night fell. A few minutes after they took off, Koda started telling his stories. Ken’ichi didn’t enjoy them, but Rutt and Tuke seem to enjoy them.

“So we pulled him as hard as we could, but the only way to free him was to cut off his tongue and…”

“Please stop!” Rutt suddenly cried. “I don’t like the way this one is turning out.”<br>“Rutt is weak to stomach those types of stories” Tuke explained. “Better move to the next one.”<br>
“Oh.” Koda began to wonder which other story to tell. “You wanna hear how I met Kenai again?” Koda suggested.

“Yea, I like that one.” Rutt agreed.
Tuke nodded. “I never get tired of that one”<br>
“No! No more stories!” Ken’ichi shouted, which startled the birds and animals around the forest. “Don’t you ever get tired of talking?! I don’t care about how you met your brother named Kenai! I could care less what you did that made you careful about what you lick! I don’t care how you found the biggest pine cone in the world!”<br>“It was a pine nut.” Koda corrected him.
“I don’t care what it was; you’re getting on my nerves! I just want you to shut up!!!”<br>
His yelling has made the forest very silent, never has Ken’ichi been so angry before. Koda, Rutt and Tuke stayed quiet. Rutt was scared stiff, not only did he heard Ken’ichi’s shouting crystal clear but he’s carrying an angry bear which could do anything drastic just to shut others up.

Rutt and Tuke gulped and continue their way without saying a word. Koda stayed quiet, keeping himself from telling more stories, Ken’ichi would burst again if he continued. He looked up and gasped to see the night rainbow, it looked just as he saw it last time with Kenai when they were riding the mammoths. He started thinking about Kenai; he wonders if his big brother has made it out of that mountain alive, will he find him in the salmon run?

“Please spirits…” Koda whispered under his breath. “Look out for Kenai.”<br>
Koda heard a screech and looked to a tree to see an eagle standing on a tree branch, looking at Koda. The eagle gave another screech and flew off. Kenai had told Koda about the eagle before, Kenai had told him the eagle is the spirit of his brother watching over them. Those words are still fresh in Koda’s heart.
Koda smiled. “Keep an eye on him…Sitka.”<br>
Koda was looking where the eagle flew off he didn’t noticed a pair of a bear’s glowing eyes watching him from the shadows, the bear blinked and moved to keep up with the party.

“Ow!”<br>
Koda and Ken’ichi were startled when the mooses were jerking back and forward.
“Nice going twig legs!” Tuke cried as he tried to untangle his antlers from Rutt’s.
“I’m sorry; I wasn’t paying attention to the road, eh.” Rutt said.
“That’s no good excuse to bunk antlers with me!” Tuke yelled.

“That’s it, I’m out of here!” Ken’ichi cried as he got off Rutt.
“Ken’ichi, wait!” Koda cried, and then jumped off Tuke’s back. “Thanks for the ride guys, are you going to be ok?”<br>“Yea, you guys go ahead.” Tuke said as he continues trying to untangle his antlers from Rutt’s.
“You’re hurting me, eh!” Rutt complained.
“It’s your fault anyway!” Tuke yelled.

Koda giggled as the two mooses argued, but then turned to catch up with Ken’ichi.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
“Ken’ichi!” Koda cried. “Wait for me!”<br>
Ken’ichi turned his head and stopped to let Koda catch up, but when he did Ken’ichi started walking again, not letting the cub to catch his breath.
“How can you be friends with weirdoes like that?” Ken’ichi asked.
“They’re not weirdoes!” Koda defended. “They just fight a lot.”<br>
Ken’ichi scoffed. “Well maybe they wouldn’t fight so much if someone wouldn’t get their attention by telling stupid stories!”<br>“You can’t blame everything on me!” Koda angrily cried.
Ken’ichi continued glaring at Koda. “Now I really know why you got separated from your brother.”<br>
Ken’ichi started walking again, but Koda ran ahead and stood in front of him. “What are you saying?” He asked partly angry.
“What?” Ken’ichi coolly asked. “You’re going to do something about it?”<br>Koda is now angry, he can take an insult about his story-telling ramblings, but when it comes to insulting his brother, he has crossed the line. “I warn you Ken’ichi; don’t pick a fight with me.”<br>“What are you going to do?” Ken’ichi coolly taunted Koda, “Talk me to death?”<br>“I warn you, when I get into a fight I go crazy and I’m a raging ball of brown fur!” Koda threatened Ken’ichi, giving a slash which missed Ken’ichi’s face by a few inches, but Ken’ichi didn’t flinched. “I got some moves, so you better watch out what you say about my brother!”<br>Ken’ichi seemed unfazed by Koda’s threat and walked around him. “Ha! If you’re like this, then your brother must be a stupid, arrogant jerk”<br>
Koda’s eyes widened. What Ken’ichi just said was the ultimate insult, and this really made him mad. Koda, as fast as lightning, ran and stood in front of Ken’ichi, giving the meanest glare he had. “Take that back!”<br>Ken’ichi wasn’t afraid. “No.”<br>Koda got closer to Ken’ichi’s face. “Take it back!”<br>But Ken’ichi’s response was, “I said no!”<br>
Koda had all he could take from Ken’ichi’s attitude, he pushed him down a hill that was behind them and both of them rolled down to the bottom. Koda landed on Ken’ichi, but he wasn’t happy about having Koda on him.
“Why you…” Ken’ichi angrily whispered under his breath.

With his hind legs he pushed Koda off of him, slamming him into the ground. Koda quickly got up on his feet and tackled Ken’ichi, slamming him unto a tree. Ken’ichi recovered and yelped fierce fully as he tackled Koda. The tackle was more powerful than Koda’s; he bounced a few times and rolled on the ground, slamming unto another tree.

Koda weakly got back on his feet, shook his head and looked at Ken’ichi. Ken’ichi was ready to fight, even against someone who is trying to help. Ken’ichi however, wanted to fight with Koda ever since that horrible day his father died, but for some reason he kept himself from doing it. The only reason Koda is fighting is because Ken’ichi has insulted his brother Kenai, which is an insult that terribly angers him. Ken’ichi is fighting because he wants revenge for the death of his father; he wants to do the same to the bear responsible for the tragedy, even if it wasn’t Koda’s fault. Koda and Ken’ichi charged at each other with a yelp of anger.

A dark-gray bear jumped out of the shadows, ran down the hill and jumps between Koda and Ken’ichi.
“Hold up you two!” The bear cried, separating the two fighting cubs.
Ken’ichi and Koda stopped, but they kept glaring at each other. The mysterious bear began to catch his breath; he had run a long way to stop Koda and Ken’ichi before they rip each other to pieces…<br>
End of Chapter 5

[Ken'ichi]

“Now I get what this is all about…” The gray bear says as he sits on a rock, with Koda sitting on the ground to his left, and Ken’ichi sitting with his back turned to his right.

The gray bear looks at Koda, “You’re mad at that cub because he called your brother a stupid, arrogant jerk.” Koda nods.

“And you-” The gray bear turns to Ken’ichi, “You’re mad at him because he killed your father by dragging hunters toward you?”<br>___________________________________________________________
Chapter 6: A strange acquaintance
__________________________________________________

Koda shakes his head, “It was an accident. I was being chased by the hunters and his dad saves me but-”<br>
“Shut up!” Ken’ichi rudely cuts Koda off, “I don’t want to listen to your lame excuses again!”<br>
“Excuses?” Koda slowly pads over to Ken’ichi, “Your dad gave his life for me, the least you should be is happy for having a dad who willingly gives his life for others.”<br>
Ken’ichi covers his ears, “Shut up! I don’t want to hear your stupid words!”<br>
“I’m not-”<br>
“Shut up!!!” Ken’ichi goes to give a good slash at Koda to make him shut up, but the gray bear grabs his paw before he could do so.

“Enough! Now the least you two could do is to apologize to each other.” He looks at Koda, “You should apologize for attacking him when he insulted your brother, he’s just angry because he has lost his father.”<br>
Koda sighs, “I’m sorry…”

The gray bear nods and turns to Ken’ichi, “And you have to apologize for being so stubborn and ignorant to him. Your father sacrificed his life for his, it wasn’t his fault. You should apologize for giving him such stress and hurt for this.”<br>
The bear lets go of Ken’ichi’s paw, but Ken’ichi just scoffs and turns his back on him, why should he say sorry for being angry at Koda when it was his fault that his father is dead?

The gray bear just chuckles, “You haven’t changed at all, Ken’ichi.”<br>
Ken’ichi blinks in confusion as the gray bear walks by him, how did he knew his name?

Koda pads close to Ken’ichi, “How did he know your name?”<br>
Ken’ichi glanced at Koda with a mean look, but he settles down, “I don’t know.” He said, firm and low, “I’ve never even seen this bear before…”

The gray bear turned his head back to the two cubs, “Hey you two! We better start our way if we want to reach the salmon run before night falls!”<br>
Koda blinks, how did he know they were going to the salmon? Ken’ichi looks at Koda’s puzzled expression and rolls his eyes, it’s common sense that in this time of year all of the bears plan to go to the salmon run. But still, does that bear even plan of joining them?

“What’s wrong?” The gray bear asks as he walks back to the cubs, “Oh I get it, you two are feeling kind of weird of having a bear join you two on your journey from out of the blue, right?”<br>
Koda gives a nod, but Ken’ichi just keeps silent, staring at nothing as he ignores them.

The bear chuckles, “Well c’mon, you bears might need an older companion to keep an eye on you guys.” He smirks, “Now you two make up, so we can go to the salmon run, together!”<br>
Koda looks at Ken’ichi, then back at the bear, “OK, it’ll be fun to have another bear around!” He said excitedly.

The bear nodded, “Then it’s settled!” He grabbed Ken’ichi and dragged him to his right and Koda to his left, “We’ll go to the salmon run, together.”<br>
Ken’ichi looks at Koda, who right now is giving a soft smile, trying to have him come along. Ken’ichi looks at the bear and just scoffs, “Fine then…”

“In case you’re wondering…” The bear looked at Ken’ichi, “My name is Kamali.”<br>
Ken’ichi’s ears perk up and look at the bear, which identified himself as Kamali. For some reason, Ken’ichi found that name…interesting. Ken’ichi inspected Kamali’s body…But no, it wasn’t who he thought it was…<br>
“Well? Shall we get going?” Kamali asks with a smirk.

Koda nods and takes a head start, “Yeah, c’mon!”<br>
Kamali chuckles and follows Koda; Ken’ichi stays behind and stares at Kamali though…<br>
‘Same name…same personality…different body…Maybe it’s just a coincidence…’ Ken’ichi thought as he kept looking at Kamali…<br>--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
“So Kamali…” Koda decides to start a conversation after an hour and a half of silence, “Have you ever been to the salmon run? Or only heard of it?”<br>
Ken’ichi rolls his eyes at the question, obviously this bear have been to the salmon run before, why the stupid question?

Kamali chuckles, “Well, I been to the salmon run a long time when I was just about your age, but I haven’t returned to the salmon run ever since…”

Ken’ichi glances at Kamali, “You’re kidding, right? Every bear goes to the salmon run once a year; I doubt you missed it all this time.”<br>
Kamali shook his head, “I just had trouble with my family and other business that I couldn’t make it.”<br>
Ken’ichi doesn’t reply, he just keeps his thoughts to himself for not to ‘insult’ Koda and Kamali. Koda glances at Ken’ichi, wondering what that cub is thinking. He feels bad that his father is gone because some hunters followed him to a cliff. Koda will never forget that terrible nightfall, that brave act Ken’ichi’s father did just to save him. He never got to say thank you. Koda bowed his head and closed his eyes, whispering his thanks to Ken’ichi’s father, in hope that his spirit would listen to his grateful whispers…<br>
“What’s that…vibration?” Ken’ichi shakily asks.

Koda’s thoughts and whispers were interrupted when he also felt the earth shake, keeping himself from falling to the ground. Kamali stands up on his hind legs and looks around, he gasps and goes down on all four and immediately jumps out of the way, pushing Koda and Ken’ichi with him.

“What was that for?!” Ken’ichi asks Kamali.

Suddenly, a giant foot stomps on where they have been standing. Another foot comes into view and the other rises and goes out of view, and the second foot rises and goes out of view. But then another set of foots appear and does the same. Koda stands up and takes a closer look…Mammoths!

“Oh wow! Mammoths!” Koda announces excitedly.

Kamali and Ken’ichi pad closer to Koda to look at the herd of mammoths heading their way to their destination.

“Wow, look at them all!” Kamali says as he watches the herd of mammoths.

Koda immediately began remembering when he and Kenai rode on the mammoths a year ago…When they were just acquaintances, when Koda learned that Kenai’s brother, Sitka, was a spirit. Koda’s thoughts immediately went to Kenai; he wonders how he’s doing…all alone, without his little brother on his side to aid him…<br>
“Yeah, mammoths, very nice…” Ken’ichi sarcastically says, “Now, let’s go before night falls over us again.”<br>
Ken’ichi starts padding to the direction of the salmon run, Kamali nods and follows. Koda notices the mammoths are heading the same direction Ken’ichi and Kamali are going…he gets an idea.

“Wait, I got a better idea how to get to the salmon run even faster.” He claims.

[Ken'ichi]

Ken’ichi turns around, “Me too.” He says sarcastically, “We can get there faster if you don’t slow us down like you have done all this time.”<br>
Koda glares at Ken’ichi but he ignores him, “We can ride the mammoths!”<br>
Kamali shakes his head and blinks; this is the first time he has heard a suggestion like that. He can’t even picture bears riding on mammoths. Ken’ichi just rolls his eyes at Koda’s suggestions; he believes that idea is the dumbest he has heard from Koda all day. But Koda wasn’t faced by the doubts of the suggestion; he just picked his mammoth and climbed on a mammoth. He sits on the mammoth’s back and looks at Kamali and Ken’ichi, gesturing to them to hop on.

“C’mon, they won’t hurt ya.” He assures them.

Kamali shrugs and laughs, “OK, I’m in.”<br>
Kamali jumps on the mammoth behind Koda’s mammoth and sits on his back. Ken’ichi rolls his eyes and turns around to continue the track, but the mammoths Koda and Kamali were riding on were getting ahead.

Ken’ichi sighs, “This is so stupid…walk or ride…walk or ride…” Ken’ichi closed his eyes and gave a threatening growl, “Oh fine! Wait up!”<br>
He ran after the mammoth Koda’s riding and climbed to its back. Koda turns around and laughs that Ken’ichi gave in and joined them on the mammoths.

“Welcome aboard, Ken’ichi!” Koda exclaims as he laughs.

“Yeah yeah, very funny…” Ken’ichi replies, “Just keep your talking to a minimum!”<br>
Ken’ichi lies down just a certain distance from Koda on the mammoth’s back, sighing as he thinks about this journey of his with Koda. He was thinking of ditching the cub when they were just a distance from the salmon run, but now he’s having second thoughts about doing that…<br>
Koda on the other hand was excited; it has been a long time since he last rode a mammoth. He began remembering when he climbed on the trunk of the mammoth and stood up on it, he loved doing that, but he doubts he can do it again since he’s bigger now. Hey, one year can make a bear cub grow a lot.

Kamali, who’s riding on the mammoth behind Koda’s, lies back as he watches the scenery as the mammoth walks by them. It truly is beautiful, clear blue skies, crystal blue ponds, birds chirping happily and other animals scurrying about on the ground.

“Enjoying the view Ken’ichi?” Kamali hears Koda asks.

A short pause from Ken’ichi, “…Sorta…”
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night has fallen again, and Koda’s voice could be heard in the night-time sky.

“And when I saw him, I ran as fast as I could and I tackled that hunter with all my strength before he could kill Kenai.”<br>
Koda has turned on his story-telling mode; currently he’s telling the final events of how he met his brother, Kenai. Right now he’s just finishing his story, just finished telling how he tackled the hunter who turned out to be Denahi, one of the two brothers of Kenai.

“He was lucky I came in time, or he would have to be my brother with a knife in his chest.” Koda laughed at the thought, but immediately went serious, “I mean, I know he can’t survive something like that. He could’ve died…”

Ken’ichi could notice the sadness in Koda’s eyes as he begins to thought how his life could’ve been like if he would never went after Kenai that night. Kamali can clearly hear it as he lay back on the tusks of the mammoth he’s riding on. He too could imagine the pain and sadness Koda could’ve gone through if he didn’t do what he said he did…<br>
Koda shed a smile, “But that didn’t happen, thanks to me.” He chuckled, “And after that, Kenai decided to become my brother and live happily ever after, the end!”<br>
Ken’ichi laid down, his back away from Koda. Death…that’s something Koda’s story reminded him of. Ken’ichi closes his eyes and begins remembering everything…his mother…his father…and even…his own brother…<br>
Ken’ichi opens his eyes and a tear rolls down his cheek…<br>
“Something wrong?” Koda asks as he doesn’t see any movement on Ken’ichi.

“No…” Ken’ichi coldly replies, “…Koda…What do you think…of how your death will be? Are you afraid of dying?”<br>
That question caught Koda off guard, “Gee, I never thought about it…I always used to think that the adult life would be care-free and easy. But then after I learned about hunters and other risks, well…I began to think that adult life was harder than I thought…”

Ken’ichi sits up, but his back still turned, he doesn’t want Koda to see that he actually has tears forming in his eyes, damping his cheeks as the tears rolls down.

“But…why would you ask a question like that?” Koda asks, curiously.

“Well because…because…” Ken’ichi gives in and turns his face to Koda, revealing his damp cheeks and tear-filled eyes, “Because I am…I’m terrified of dying…I’ve seen so many deaths that I can’t even keep my mind straight anymore…After their deaths, I…I’ve been terrified of dying…”

Koda blinks as Ken’ichi lies back down; he has just heard what is probably Ken’ichi’s biggest confession…His fear of dying. That could be the explanation of Ken’ichi’s attitude…his lack of trust to others, probably fearing that they would betray him and finish his life off. His aggressive attitude and fearless ways is just a bluff to make others think he’s not defenseless…Is it really a bluff?

No, that can’t be the real reason he’s so bitter to others, there must be a bigger reason…Something bigger than Koda thinks.

“Ken’ichi…I may not exactly understand, but if it’ll make you feel better, you can have my shoulder to cry on.” Koda suggests, with a hint of smile on his face.

“No shoulder in the world can relief me of the pain I’ve felt then…” Ken’ichi replies simply.

Koda blinks, “What do you mean?”<br>
Ken’ichi sighs sadly, “It’s my family…It wasn’t only my father that got taken away…my mother was brutally taken away too by those…” Ken’ichi makes a slight pauses, “those monsters” He finally says while turning his head away from Koda.

Koda could feel the pain Ken’ichi must’ve felt when he lost his mother; he too lost his mother to a hunter.

“I…I also had a brother…” Ken’ichi confessed.

“You did?” Koda asks, “What happened to him? Did you two get separated?”<br>
“He was also killed by those monsters…” Ken’ichi answers as he buries his head on the mammoth’s warm back.

Koda couldn’t believe it, Ken’ichi’s family is gone, every single one of them. Koda bit his lower lip; his idea just went down the drain. He planned to reunite Ken’ichi with his family or relatives when they reached the salmon run, but now that he has heard this, it won’t happen. Koda could hear Ken’ichi sobbing, his face buried on the mammoth’s back, damping its fur. Koda’s idea may have backfired, but he’s still determined to do everything in his power to make Ken’ichi feel better. Kenai…that’s his answer, Koda knows he can find an answer within Kenai, he may know what to do. But for now, Ken’ichi needs a shoulder to cry on, he needs someone who can understand his pain and find a remedy for it. That someone could be Koda, and he’ll do anything…anything to help Ken’ichi.

Koda lies down next to Ken’ichi and nuzzles him a little, trying to comfort the broken up black cub. Back at the mammoth behind Koda and Ken’ichi’s, Kamali heard the whole thing, lying down on his mammoth’s tusks, he looks up into the sky, a hint of tear in his eyes.

“I’m sorry Ken’ichi…” He whispers as he looks at the night sky…<br>
End of Chapter 6

[Nikiski]

Great work, Keni! Which reminds me that I have to type mine out on ff.net... @@

[Kirchy]

Wow, that's great! Ken'ichi's personality in this reminds me of Kia.

[Kia]

Good!

[Truttle]

I want to apologize to Ken’ichi deeply. I’m so unobservant that I had missed reading this fan-fiction. I did another browse through the boards and when I found it, I spent the whole day reading it today and I was left astounded. I mean I knew you were good Ken’ichi, but I had no idea you were this good! This is such a good story that if it were to be finished then it should be published. It completely trounces everything I’ve done. Kudos Ken’ichi!

Could I ask how long it took you to make it?

[Ken'ichi]

Hehe, thanks for the comments guys. And Truttle, it's taking me quite a lot to even write a chapter since according to some people in ff.net this fan-fic is very original, and you know how hard it can be to start something from scratch.

The real place where I'm keeping this fan-fic is in ff.net, here's the link to it.
www.fanfiction.net/s/1825655/1/

I'll still be updating here, but I'll be happy if you could write your comment as a review in that site, it has 23 reviews and on it's 7th chapter now. I'll appreciate it if you would

Chapter 7 coming after this post!

[Ken'ichi]

Ken’ichi stares at nothing. Koda is fast asleep next to him, while Kamali is still on the mammoth behind theirs, probably sleeping.

‘I…I can’t believe I told him…’ Ken’ichi thought to himself.

But he did…Ken’ichi told Koda about his family’s fate…Koda now knows the reason for Ken’ichi’s bitterness…His hole in his heart…Everything he ever loved…Taken away…<br>
He sighs and tries to fall asleep; all that crying has worn him out…<br>____________________________________________________________
Chapter 7: A brand new direction
__________________________________________________

Ken’ichi finds himself in a dark place; no light within sight, just pitch-black darkness…Nothing is seen overhead or in the distance…<br>
“Where…Where am I?” Ken’ichi asked to no one in particular, his question echoing in the darkness.

He takes a few steps forward, and out of the darkness he sees a bear standing at the edge of what looks like a cliff…A closer look is enough for Ken’ichi to realize who that bear is, “Father?!”<br>
The bear looks over his shoulder with a smile, it is his father! Ken’ichi couldn’t help but to shed a tear and run after his dad. His father turns to face Ken’ichi, but as he does so he disappears out of thin air. This forced Ken’ichi to stop at the edge, looking around, wondering where in this pitch-black place his father has disappeared to.

“Father! Where’d you go?!” His question echoed in the darkness…But no reply…Instead, the cliff under him began to crumble…It’s preparing to fall from under Ken’ichi and threatened to drop him in the pitch black infinite abyss below. The patch of ground separated from its body and began to slowly tilt, forcing Ken’ichi to sink his claws at the patch of ground’s edge to prevent himself from sliding off the ledge down to the abyss.

“Ken’ichi!” A familiar voice echoed through Ken’ichi’s ears. He opens his eyes to see Koda, standing at the edge of the stable ground, extending his paw to Ken’ichi, “Here! Grab my paw!”<br>
Ken’ichi hesitated at this offer; he’s staring at the cub that doomed his father, the cub that has dragged him miles and miles just to keep him company toward the Salmon Run, and then leave him behind when he finds his brother. He feels anguish to accept the help of someone like that, the idea sickens him. Accepting the help of someone like that is like taking a spear to his side.

And yet…Koda was the only one who has showed him hospitality and generosity in his time of need, he helped him to move on from his father’s death, even though it wasn’t successful. Koda treated Ken’ichi like…a brother. And yet, Ken’ichi kept dissing the cub, saying that he hates him and blaming him for everything. All of this just to grow hatred toward a bear cub who didn’t mean to send his father to his death.

“Ken’ichi!” Koda cries out as the ground that is holding Ken’ichi from falling cracks a little bit further away from him.

Ken’ichi still hesitates as he holds on for life. Inside, Ken’ichi hates Koda for what his lack of luck had took his father…But…Deep down, Ken’ichi is actually grateful to have someone who cares about him when those who are originally suppose to fill those feelings are gone.

Ken’ichi may not see it…But he’s staring at the answer he’s been looking for…Koda…In a way, Koda is his light, his savior, his path, his strength…When Ken’ichi needs help, he can always go to him.

The ledge which Ken’ichi is holding on to is slowly crumbling, soon it’ll break and he’ll down the endless darkness. His only choice is to trust Koda…Ken’ichi makes his choice…He extends his paw to Koda, who grabs it in time to save Ken’ichi from falling as the ledge crumbles at that last moment.

Koda smiles as he holds his friend from falling. Ken’ichi, in return he…smiles! He’s actually smiling back at him!

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The slow opening of one’s eyes mark the beginning of a new day as Ken’ichi slowly wakes up with the morning sun beaming down his head through some opening from the tree tops…Wait, he’s lying on the green grass in a meadow with a lake close by, not on the mammoths like he was last night. Also, where are Koda and Kamali?

“Good morning, sleepy head,” A voice greeted with a laugh.

Ken’ichi shook his head to rid of the sleepiness, and in the lake, looking at Ken’ichi from the inner edge, holding his body up from the water by having his arms out of the water and on solid ground, there’s Koda, looking at Ken’ichi with a grin.

“Where are we?” Ken’ichi plainly asked, “I thought we were on the mammoths.”<br>
Koda just giggled and got out of the water, “Well, we were getting off track so we had to get off of them. Kamali had to carry you off the mammoths and to this meadow, where we waited for you to wake up.”<br>
Ken’ichi scratches his mane as he gets up, still a little bit sleepy. The cool morning breeze blowing against his body, brushing his fur as it passes around, over and under him. Thinking about his own brother who has passed away thanks to the cruelty of the hunters…<br>
Koda looks at Ken’ichi’s pondering face; soon he finds his eyes going down to Ken’ichi’s neck, where he can barely make out a strange, but almost invisible, line of nearly hairless skin from his neck to his chest…This intrigued him, curiosity has raised by a little…OK, so maybe a lot. “Ken’ichi…” Koda begins as he steps closer to him. “How…How did you get that scar?”<br>
Ken’ichi blinks and looks at Koda, a question he never thought of answering…Never. Ken’ichi sighs. “It’s…It’s a scar I received when…When those hunters came along and killed my brother…I tried to save him, but I ended up with this wound that ended up giving me this scar…”

Ken’ichi looks away from Koda, that terrible day still fresh in his mind…Those faces from the hunters…His brother’s horrific roars in his final seconds…The pain from that wound he could still feel…But the pain of losing his brother was bigger than any wound he could’ve had…<br>
“Can I see it?” Koda curiously and innocently asked.

Ken’ichi doesn’t think much of the scar, as it tends to bring back some memories, though it doesn’t bother him when others ask for a glimpse of it. “Sure…”

Koda pads closer to Ken’ichi as he raises his head to let Koda have a better look at the scar. As Koda has a closer look on the scar, he realizes just how deep and long the once fatal wound is, very fatal that could’ve killed this black cub if wasn’t treated quickly. Koda blinks hard and steps back, signaling the end of his inspection on the scar. Ken’ichi lowers his head back down after letting Koda see his scar. And yet, as his silver eyes looks at Koda, the sun hitting Ken’ichi’s face, he can see that the scar on Ken’ichi’s body has gotten more than from his chest to his neck, but it also has reached his right cheek and barely avoiding his right eye.

“Ah, you’re awake.”<br>
Koda and Ken’ichi turns to the sides to see Kamali padding back toward them. “Are you guys ready?”<br>
Koda smiles, “I sure am!” He turns and looks at Ken’ichi with a smile. Ken’ichi looks at that smile and remembers the one that Koda gave him in his dream, the same one when he grabbed his paw.

Ken’ichi kept looking at Koda, and for the first time ever since he met Koda, Ken’ichi smiles.
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