Road
( a Fanfiction in the light of Okami)
Prolougue
Ancient legends from Nippon talk of the adventures of Okami Amaterasu and his wondering artist companion Issun, the storys went down in history as a legend about courage and faith. The two saw the evil of Nippon and fixed it with the defeat of the lord of all evil, Yami. But little do people know, that a simallar event was transpiring and evil was spreading beyound the reach of the immortal sun god, and concerned an evil maybe greater then Orochi and Yami put together...
Chapter 1
It was a cold night when John Thompson was walking down the cold lonely road leading to and from Wales and Chester, it was quiet and already the tree leaves brushing and the wind and shadows had spooked him. He heard crys and dismissed them as figments of his imagination, as the walk home went on he looked up and realised, he had no idea where he was, it was dark and a feeling of dread filled the air, he looked up and saw a dark object turn in from a turn in the road, he couldnt believe it, but there it was a dog, a huge black dog as big as a horse walking right over to him with glowing red eyes!!!!!!
The man fell to teh ground but the dog began to pick up it's pace he screamed and held the crucifix necklace around his neck tightly and thrust it in the air, " by the power of god sink back from which you came demon". The dog stopped, and John sank relieved, but then it laughed, and John looked up he couldnt beleive it!! A dog was laughing like a man, and whats more it had a northern accent!!
" Dont worry John im not here to hurt you, and im not a demon as the church would make you believe" , the dog said. John sat up, " You... you can talk", he barked silently. The dog once again laughed, then it walked over and sat infront of John, at first john was scared when it leaned over to his face, then a flush and spit was felt. " Are you trying to eat me", said john in a soft voice. " No im licking you, its what dogs do to show there kind, now look im not going to hurt you, you got lost and im here to help", said the beast. The dog leaned down and tugging on Johns clothes with its teeth helped him up. " Why help me whats in it for you anyway beast", asked John. The dog looked up and perked its ears, " I help because it ensures me a glass of milk and maybe some food, and im not a beast, my name is Gytrash, at least thats what you humans have named me", Gytrash said. John could remember hearing of that name from the various travellers who had become lost on roads of northern England who found salvation in the beast Gytrash, he had also heard storys of the beasts malevolent side. As he followed the dog into the night he couldnt shake the feeling of dread.
As they continued through the night few words were said, John couldnt help but notice the dogs characteristics as overwhelmingly human, the eyes were human eyes, the voice, and even the top of its head reminded him of humanity. As they continued he eventually came to realise the dog was a good omen and he should have safe tracking following it, that was until a dark mist came over the sky.
It sailed towards wales from afar and it seemed to be darker then the night sky, John saw it and was imediatly fearful of what it meant, but Gytrash was looking determined at this cloud, eventually he muttered, " so he's coming too, or maybe i see, Orochi has been exterminated, no doubt he'll use this"
They continued as the mist followed, suddenly Gytrash stopped and stook his nose out, " What is it, why are you stopping", asked John. Gytrash turned his head, " John i smell them", he whispered. John looked around with an increasingly paranoid look, then he began hearing whispers and leaves russling, he turned and said to Gytrash in a low voice, " those whispers, are they who you talk about". Gytrash turned it's head and said, "yes, the green people, men of the Earth, usual there only seen during the day and are reclusive, what there doing here tormenting us is beyound my sense of smell, but it's probally something to do with that cloud". Suddenly John felt a tugging at his feet, he looked down and saw vines wrapped around his ankles, he screamed and Gytrashed jumped around and saw the vines, suddenly malevelent laughter was heard and he began growling, then from the darkness approached five beings covered with leaves, John looked in horror as they came closer, and it was clear the one in the middle was there leader as he stepped up leading the group.
" Gytrash... what a pleasent surprise to see you here, i see you are doing well, still helping those who call themselfs humans are you", it asked in a slow and sly voice. Gytrash braced up its hair on end. " Jack!!!! Jack o' the green, you fool, you and your possy will surely die to be out here during the nightime, and what is this hatred of humans about"!! Gytrash shouted. The green men sniggered and Jack pulled away the green locks he had for hair.John himself was terrified, " Gytrash you fool, dont you understand that this dark cloud means that we who wake at day can walk for hours, we should all look up for Amaterasu who clearly made this marvel by defeating Orochi, this black mist could be our time to rise the forests from the ground", Jack said coldly.
Jack moved his hands upwards and clicked his fingers, the vines around Johns feet suddenly closed in and crushed his ankles. " AHHHHHHHHH", John screamed in terror, Gytrash turned sharply and jumped to his feet trying in vain to rip of the vines. " They wont come off unless i die Gytrash, i came to you in full confidence that i wouldnt die tonight", said Jack O' the Green. Gytrash turned growling, his voice turned into more of a roar then the accent he had before, " WHY!!! WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS, LET JOHN GO I DONT WANNA HAVE TO FIGHT YOU JACK", he tensed up and then began a stare down with Jack O' the green. " We are but doing the task your brothers set for us, Dip and Gwyllg were very persistan taht you are taken out, they have full confidence in me and i will not let them down, boys get that beast", Jack said.
Two of the Green men leaped from the darkness and beared there fists, Gytrash saw it coming and leaped into the air in a backflip, the two beings miss and hit each other, Gytrash landed and bit both there feets making them lose there footing and the two fell down to the ground. Gytrash then laughed at Jack O' the Green. He turned and shook his fur and a small imp like creature fell out. " George do me a favour and change into a sword for me", asked Gytrash to the strange creature. " What!! No youve kept me inside all this time cant i atleast see whats going on, i never see any action Guy", George said. Gytrash looked at him, " fool as my sword youll be all over the action stupid, no quick hurry", shouted Gytrash. " ohhhhh fine ill turn into a sword", and with a flash of light the imp changed into a small knife around the size of a foot, Gytrash picke dit up with his mouth and held it next to the two down Green Men. " Now leave us and let John go or i'll kill your little allies Jack", said Gytrash through the knife and his teeth. Jack laughed, " Do as you will they are of no use to me anyway, they were just used as research so i could see the abilitys i have heard so much about, kill them if you must your real battle is with me", he said in a cocky voice. And with taht he jumped in the air and produced a hammer, when he landed he took out his previous pawns witha swoop and Gytrash swiftly avoided a secondry strike.
When he landed he rushed at Jack and swiped the sword but Jack managed to block himself with roots that shot from the ground to make a wall stoping the sword. Swiftly Gytrash jumped backwards and then jumped over Jack to the other side of the wall of roots, Jack turned and shouted " YOUR BETTER THEN I THOUGHT!!!!", quickly Gytrash rushed to Jack and sliced his ankles, Jack fell to the floor and his roots receded, Gytrash let go of Jacks feet and felt a rumble he turned quickly but all to late to see the wall of roots moving towards him smashing him into the floor. Jack stood up with a strange sap coming from the cut in his ankles " You beast, that really hurt, you'll pay", Jack said, roots began rolling up his body and to his arms wher ethey formed a smooth and huge sword of wood. Gytrash was on the ground and not moving after the huge slam he had just received. Jack laughed and said " This is the end Gytrash, and to think youll never be able to see the benifits your brothers will make for us all, now you sleep forever", he picked up his arm which was covered in roots the shpae of a sword and swung it. Gytrash opened his eyes and rolled, the sword hit the gorund and went right in trapping Jack, Gytrash leaped and with sword in mouth took of Jacks head from its neck. The ehad flung into the air and landed 5 metres away, the roots trapping John receeded and he was free.
" Gytrash thankyou... how long till i can get back to the inn?" asked John. Gytrash turned and sat down, " it is barely a few 100 meters, i can smell your inn, your wifes making pie, hey George you can change back now", Cytrash said. The sword changed and George reformed back into his small body. " You call that action Guy??? Ive seen more action coming from the mouths of fish" he said. He looked at Gytrash who was looking at the ground silently. George looked at the ground as well, " your brothers went with the mist from the East didnt they, they went to Wales, are you thinking off...", he said. " Wherever they are there up to no good or so it seems George, come on lets head to the inn, i want some of that pie", he turned to George and noded, George jumped up onto Gytrashes back and noded as well.
When they arrived at Johns house they were greeted warmly, they slept on a small hay stack and had there pie, in the morning Gytrash woke up and ran off in the direction of Wales.