Dire Straits

And there she was. Jesus.

Kaede stepped out of the room and, sure enough, Manami was just standing there, waiting for her, looking ready to pounce at moment’s notice. Her instincts flared up and told her to run, to bolt, to do anything she could do to put as much distance between her and this woman as humanly possible. She managed to keep them in check, though, with whatever common sense was still working in her brain after all this. There was no running from this. Do or die, this was where she stood.

It wasn’t easy to keep that mindset as Manami stepped forward for inspection, though, sniffing away like her namesake over a freshly slain meal. It certainly wasn’t easy when she talked about how she could easily just kill her and throw her out like trash. Somehow, by some miracle, she managed to keep her composure and stand up straight despite it all. Or as straight as she could reasonably be expected to with all the damage she’d taken.

Okay. Answer time.

”Because…” She took a big gulp, swallowed her spit and pride. ”Because I can tell you three are like this big, crazy storm that’s coming to the AFW. I’d rather be a part of that then in the way of it. And because I want…need to be stronger.”

Simple reasons, but true ones. Lying wouldn't help her much at this point.

Manami cocked her head to the right, then to the left, then straight again. Her eyes relaxed and narrowed on Kaede. She was less than impressed by that answer. It was simple, and she seemed to speak with an amount of truth behind her, but it was just that. A simple truth. Hardly the declaration of loyalty she was expecting from her. Not that she couldn’t fish one out from her. But that wasn’t enough. She wanted this girl to understand just exactly what she was getting into.

“Is that all? You want to be strong? I don’t think you understand.” Firmly grasping her shoulders, Manami would throw Kaede against a wall. Quickly, she’d push an arm onto the wall beside her head, leaning in and blocking her against it with her body. “This isn’t a club. We aren’t trainers. We’re a band of hunters. A brotherhood. When one of us suffers, we all suffer. When one of us is weak, we’re all weak. So why would I want the weakest, most pathetic fighter I’ve ever had the displeasure of knowing fighting beside me?”

There was a bit of a silence, as if she were expecting an answer. It wouldn’t make a difference either way. Manami was unconvinced. Her mind set. The only words that could sway her were those she trusted. Those that had made their intentions clear long ago. Her eyes glanced to the side, looking on towards Fumika with a half-hearted gaze of interest. She could tell what the Wolf Mother was asking.

“She passed. Kaede’s will is unparalleled. She will further our exploits immensely. There isn’t any doubt in my mind, Manami.”

Her eyes then shifted towards Yuki, who looked back at them, noticing the silence. She was half asleep at this point and just wanted things to hurry along. Then again, if she did decide to kill this girl, that would be more work she just wasn’t up for right now. Decisions decisions. After a brief period of awkward gazes and dead air, Yuki gave her response.

“She…” She looked at Kaede for a second before looking back to the Wolf Girl. A sigh escaped her lips. She couldn't believe she was saying this. “...she needs some work. But she passed. Her endurance is very impressive. But that’s the only thing, Kuroda-san. I doubt she’ll be any help on the battlefield.”

Manami took a moment to absorb her subordinates’ thoughts. Her eyes closed as she The punkette was many things, but a warrior was never one she considered. It would take a considerable amount of effort to bring her into fighting condition. But even then, was this worth it? What if this all came back to harm her one day? What if those grudges resurfaced and she used her generosity now as leverage later? What could she even offer them? What good is this girl? The answer seemed obvious.

And still, the Wolf couldn’t help but let her mind linger. What was she seeing in Kaede now? A glimmer of potential? Maybe even something more? She couldn’t even say for herself as she reopened her eyes and looked back at the girl stuck against her.

“When you hear our howls, will you heed us? When the moon hangs low, will we see you amongst the forest shadows? When I mark your prey, will you pursue it until the very end? Until Hati and Skoll return with their hares, will you stay by our side?” With one long, focused breath against her face, Manami would let her gaze linger to the left, then to the right, before locking eyes with Kaede once more. Her face shifted to the side as she dialed in on the loud-mouthed brawler, wanting to melt her with her gaze. To tease out whatever scraps of resistance were left.

“Answer me, Kaede Komatsuzaki. Are you prey?”

For a moment, things got awkward - or, to be precise, more awkward than they had been just a few moments ago, if that was even possible. How could they not be? There Kaede was, with Manami standing right there, judging her with every look, surrounded on all sides by women who could - literally and figuratively - rip her to shreds in a heartbeat. ‘Intimidating’ didn’t even begin to cut it.

It became much more so when Manami advanced and pushed her hard against the wall, giving her that evil look, filling her face with that haunting smell, unearthing so many memories that Kaede wished would just go away...
For a tense, crazy second, Kaede had absolutely no idea where this was going to go...that was, until Fumika and Yuki spoke up.

Words were said. A vote of confidence from Fumika, a vote of rejection for Yuki. They both mentioned she passed, so that worked in her favor, but she could tell that just passing wasn’t enough for this. She could tell Manami was thinking, long and hard, and there was no telling how that coin flip would land. Which raised the question once more: what now?

Now? It was induction time.

It took Kaede a few moments to properly process what Manami was saying and asking - partly because she had a hard time believing this was happening, and partly because she didn’t understand at least a fourth of it. But she was clear enough to get the gist, and to come up with (what she hoped was) a suitable answer.

”No.” She straightened up, summoned what little reserves she had left to harden her body, and put on the proudest face she could manage. ”Never again.”

That was what she was looking for. The horrible scent lingering around the punkette dispelled all at once with her words. Kaede was on her way to becoming something greater than herself. Something strong. Something fierce. What was it exactly? That all depended on the karate girl, and the path she forged for herself alongside her new mentors. But that would be a long and tireless journey, fraught with danger after danger and trial after trial. For now, Manami was content to take in the embers burning in the pinkette’s gaze.

“I like those eyes of yours.” With those words, she backed away from Kaede, fully taking in her composed stance and fiery eyes. It was a far cry from the hopeless loudmouth she had destroyed not long ago. This girl was giving her chills. “Kneel, Kaede. On both knees.”

Without a moment’s hesitation, Yuki nodded towards Manami before heading towards the kitchenette. From the shelf just under the counter, she grabbed a long, serrated knife. It was marked with man-made etchings and countless scratches. This was no kitchen tool. It gave a thick, foreboding aura from the blade’s dark colors. One could just barely make out the stained blood tainting its grooved edges. It’s form, from the handle to the blade’s very tip, was warped and twisted. It was otherworldly. Horrid. Sinister.

Slowly, with heavy step after heavy step, the blonde she-wolf brought the terrifying blade to the Wolf Girl. Firmly, she grasped the hilt and looked the blade over. Her eyes were almost as sharp as the metallic edges she carefully ran a curious finger over. Just as her pupils left the tip, they drifted up, looking down upon the kneeling pinkette. After a moment, without taking her eyes off her, Manami would grasp the blade in her palm and make a quick slash against her soft skin. A red line of blood seeped through the indentations as she squeezed her hand into a fist. When she uncurled her fingers, a thick red coat painted her entire hand. Taking a second to gaze upon her work, she held her hand out to the the future omega.  

“You fully understand what you’re getting into, Kaede? The oath you are about to swear? If you do, take my hand. Accept the wolf’s blessing. Rise to your feet as the warrior you believe you are.”

There was little doubt in Manami’s mind that their new recruit would choose the right answer. Fumika came up from behind, looking down with a wide smile. Yuki leaned back against the wall, looking sidelong at the two with half-interest, half-irritation. Kaede was a smart girl when she needed to be. When she had to be. Of course, as always, if she refused...the knife was still in her hand. Otherwise, Fumika had a big kiss waiting for her.

All of this was scary, sure. Thunderbolts and lightning, very, very frightening. But Kaede would be lying if she said there wasn’t some appeal, too. That she wasn’t feeling a raw energy run through her veins. That the thought of being alongside these three insane, powerful, and dangerous women made her feel a little insane, power, and dangerous...feelings she could learn to like.

She managed to keep her composure, by some small miracle, when Manami came over with the knife, and she kneeled in obedience before Manami, as if she were paying homage to some dark god. Maybe she was. On a day like this, nothing could surprise her anymore.

...except maybe the blood, when Manami sliced up her hand with the knife. That surprised her. A little.

There was only a flash of - she felt - understandable hesitancy, before she reached out and took the hand, grasping it tightly as she pulled herself up and rose to her feet. She was a little wobbly as she stood, an effect of the hell she’d been through in the past few hours, but at the same time, she was more sure in her stance. Something had changed. Whether it would stay changed, she could say, but she was on the right track.

Breath in. Breath out. ”Okay.” She looked from Manami, to Fumika, to Yuki, not quite sure what to do now. She did know she was hungry as hell, though. Hadn’t eaten since this all started. ”I know this is kinda weird, but...you guys want some pizza?”

After all the things she’d done. After all the pain she’d endured. After all the curses the two wished upon one another. Manami could finally say that she was impressed by Kaede Komatsuzaki.

When the girl took her hand and rose to her feet, she saw a noticeable change in her composure. It wasn’t just the placebo working. This girl was on her way to becoming a warrior. Of course, just like the rest of them, the road would be long and arduous. Fraught with danger and endless trials. But Manami’s smile would illustrate her confidence better than words ever could. Kaede’s first step would be one in the right direction. She could tell.

She wondered what questions their new recruit would have for her. There were so many bases to cover, they could probably be at this for a while. She was expecting anything, really. Except one. Yuki and Fumika raised an eyebrow at the same time when they heard the question. Manami cocked her head to the side. Seems no matter how hard you tried, you couldn’t take the Kaede out of Kaede.

“Are...you being serious?” She chuckled a bit at the question. “Kaede, there’s still plenty we have to go through. First, we-”

GROWLLLL!

Someone’s stomach was on the fritz. At the same time, Manami and Fumika looked towards the sound. Yuki was looking down towards the ground, a faint hue growing across her cheeks. After a few painfully silent seconds, she slowly craned her head to face them. The expression spoke for itself really. Manami, in turn, craned her neck back to Fumika, who gave a soft smile. In fact, the Wolf Mother's own stomach wasn't holding up so well. Running those errands took a lot more out of her than she expected. Seems they were at an impasse.

“Fumika, you can drive.” She said, going to wait by the door.

The first step. Her first decision as a wolf of the Dire Pack. Pizza. Kaede’s future couldn’t be brighter.