Disclaimer; I do not own Inuyasha or any of its characters. Thank you.

Author's Note; It's been a while since I watched Inuyasha, and I apologize if you do not enjoy the way I represent the characters. However, I am merely typing up a story revolving around the characters themselves, and I am hoping you will like the way the story plays out in the end. Thank you, again!

"Watch out!" The male screamed, launched forward to the blood stained earth from a simple ripple of a demon's muscle driven attack.

Horses whinnied their shrill warning of what was to come; pawing their heavy hooves violently at the air before them in an attempt at defense. Kagome rose with one of the valiant creatures, pressing her fingers against the bare neck for some kind of hold until it came back to earth. She dug her bare heels in against its ribcage, leaning away from its crown to some small degree as her fingers drew an arrow back on her bowstring. The entire world around her seemed to slow down. She could hear her heart throbbing loudly in her ears, her breath, and the steady pace at which she exhaled. Hazel pools were already fixated on the intended target ahead, and as her lungs began to burn with the need for oxygen, she released. A vibrant light pooled from the pointed tip of the arrow; spreading across the weapon and further into a tail of blush hue that singed the air in its wake. The tissues puckered at the opening of the wound, dying and ashing away from the mere presence of the device. It was when contact was made that the massive beast even seemed to register her presence, which sent it into a state of hysterics only equaled by something utterly paranormal. The cry that it uttered was higher pitched than anything that she'd ever heard in her life, but it was the final certainty other than sight that made its pain aware. A singular eye was set on her person, wiggling slightly as the horse beneath her twitched so anxiously. The world was moving again. The need to get away became ever more evident to her, and she pressed the heels of her feet into the lathered sides of the beast, which launched it forward with a heavy shudder. Kagome thought for sure that just before her horse's tail flicked across the bushes, she heard someone call her name. However, it didn't truly flash through her adrenaline fueled thought process until after she could make out the heavy trudge of the beast giving chase. Her fingers trembled against the flexing neck-line of the horse, whipped by the mane that beat down with each rapid thrust. The horse was galloping at its quickest pace, weaving between the rock foundations that spread throughout the valley it raced through. The girl twisted her head, eyes shifting to their farthest corner for a wary glance back over her shoulder. Ebony tresses cast a shadow over what she initially assumed to be a greater distance, but as the wind carried them back from her features for a brief moment she quickly deduced the demon was gaining speed on her. An appendage had evidently been severed from its massive quarters by the savagery of her elemental presence, but the rage that sent it forward forced it to ignore the jets of blood that spewed from its tattered hump of tissue. She called for a quicker speed with the greatest sense of urgency, and in that moment completely seemed to forget the notion of notching another arrow to attack.

Crimson fabric fluttered against slim fingers, snagging somewhat on the curved thumb claw till the wind released it once more. His silver tendrils coiled about his profile, tickling the tips of the alabaster ears that were erect 'pon his crown. He had smelled the thick perfume of blood long before his pools had ever set their sights on the creature that caused it. His nose crinkled in apparent disgust, and his ears folded back against his head. Even from the distance he could make out the fact that the beast was enraged by some sort of problem or another, but it hadn't quite become clear until it grew closer that it was something other than a demon that caused the problem. The tips of his toes brushed across the sand paper of the tree's limb as he walked closer to its end, and one of his hands lifted to touch the branch overhead for a smidge of extra balance as he looked on. From this new vantage point he was able to pick out the finer traces of a human's scent just beneath the odor of the demon that followed. He dropped his crown, chin hovering just above his chest, and followed the figures with his gaze with obvious curiosity. One of his ears swiveled a bit, and then the other did the same. He could make out the labored breathing of both the horse and its rider. The equine surely wouldn't be able to continue the hectic pace for too much longer, surely. There was nothing that should've really driven him to care about the worth of a single human's life. The demon would get its revenge, its fill of blood, and then would go back into the depths of the forest to continue its life. Or it would become addicted once more to the thrill of taking that life, and without warning would again attack whatever place the girl happened to be running from. Could it be as simple a process as that? His movements were quiet as his hand fell back to his side, and bent his knees for a sudden leap from his perch into the air. He held both of his hands down at his waist, bracing himself for the landing that was only seconds in passing before he took off again.

Kagome's horse dropped its haunches down towards the ground, rolling its shoulders back in an effort to slam on its metaphorical brakes as it came towards a massive wall of rocks that had obviously fallen during one of the valley's storms. She fell forward against its thick neck, knocking the very breath from her lungs as she hadn't thoroughly prepared herself for the stop. Her head whipped to one side, peering back through sweat plastered hair at the angry thing that followed. Although blood loss was beginning to effect its very being, the beast didn't seem the slightest bit bothered at the fact that it had been forced to chase its meal. The horse spun in a tight knit circle; weaving in halves until it was facing the demon completely, which is when it actually fell still. Kagome's strength was leaving her too quickly. She could hardly breathe as it was, and now the air felt as far away at the mountain tops. Her trembling hands fumbled clumsily for another arrow to notch on her bow, but even though her fingers curled around the slender middle of an arrow, it fell to the earth as her horse reared up with another whinny of fright. As she descended towards the ground in a rolling fit, her hazel eyes fell one final time on her horse as it was swept from its feet as well. The delicate bones that composed its inner structure broke loudly, splintering into a death that was all too sudden for the girl to take at once. She hit the ground, hard. Her body lurched violently to one side, which caused her to roll crudely til she came to an abrupt halt in the dust. Vision became a far off train of thought as her head swam, and she could feel the natural warmth of her blood slipping down the side of her head. Kagome groaned, dragging her fingers feebly across the dirt in an effort to continue fighting for what life she could feel draining out of her. From the corner of her eye she could see the demon raising its massive arm above its head, mouth opened at a crooked angle for what she could only presume to be its preparation for a war cry. Inwardly she cringed at the notion of her death being by the hands of this demon, and then from the depths of her senses that were fading faster by the second, she heard a voice.

"Iron Reaver Soul Stealer!"