"Severed Destiny"
Inu-world merged with bits taken from elsewhere, some scenes, descriptions, and dialogue taken directly from the Inuyasha movies, TV series or Wiki website. Disclaimer: It is safe to say nothing you recognize is actually mine.
Part 1: Playful Pup
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Intense golden eyes drank in what was quite possibly the most perfect spring dawning that had ever been. The sky was bright and clear. The wind tasted of wildflowers and birdsong pleasantly pricked at his ears. Puppy sharp teeth snapped at a wayward moth as he bounded through the glade on fluffy white paws.
It was truly a glorious day. Even after his second century passed him by he would surely look back on this one particular season of greening and smile. The sun was drifting across the glorious span of azure sky and He was determined to make the most of the time he had before it slipped beneath the edge of the world.
"Seto!" A strong baritone disrupted the peace. He frowned. The moth-winged to a slightly safer altitude, he leaped after it launching off his hind legs teeth snapping a mere hands breadth behind his quarry. It got away. "Setomaru!" there was a severity to the voice now that made it an imperative. The pony-sized pup sighed, sitting back on his haunches and, with a slight flicker of concentration, shifted form to approximate that of a human boy who had survived the passing of eight winters.
Shoulder-length hair of Snowy white and delicately pointed ears ensured young Seto could not be mistaken for a mere mortal even in two-legged form. He was an Inu-yōkai, a prince among forest spirits and monsters alike. The only son of the most esteemed Inu no Taishou, who was even now bellowing for his attention.
"Coming Father!" Seto called out hastening his steps back to the palace. The Great Dog General was an imposing figure any way you looked at it. He was tall and stately. His long silver hair was worn in a tail high atop his head and his dragon armor gleamed in the sunlight. In war or peace, he was a force to be reckoned with.
A terse growl and a bared fang could make even full grown dæmons tremble. But, for all that, Inu no Taishou is a kind and honorable Lord who protect those beholden to him. In the western lands, the mightiest monsters to the lowliest human peasants pay him grateful homage. Therefore, it was no surprise Seto loved his sire with every fiber of his being.
"Here I am!" he called bursting out from the wooded path and running full tilt into his father's outstretched arms. The mighty warrior caught him up and swung him around in a graceful arc. For an instant, Seto felt weightless. It was incredible. The young pup laughed in glee golden eyes shining brightly. He couldn't help but think this was what flying must be like.
Safe in his father's arms the pup schooled his features once more to impassivity and asked, "What did you wish of this Setomaru?"
His father smirked at the tone, set him down and ruffled his son's hair playfully. "This, Inu no Taishou has just received word that we are soon to play host to the Draconian ambassador and his entourage. Tell us, boy, what did your studies teach of the Centra Draconis?"
Seto's mouth pursed into a thoughtful frown collecting his thoughts before answering, "They come from the mystic valley. It is located as far from the Western realms of Fudalera as you can go and still be in Asgard any farther and you would have to cross the great salt sea. Centra are not particularly powerful when compared to Daiyōkai such as ourselves but they are one of the most ancient races in Gaia.
Centra is the name of their race they are direct descendants of the ancients, They are known for their wisdom and knowledge which dates to the sundering of Atlantis or even before. They are called Draconis or Draconians not because they are related to Dragon Youkai but because they make their home in the place where the South Western Rim of the World meets the Great Salt Sea…deep in the mountains called the Dragons Teeth."
"Myoga has taught you well. Inu no Taishou is well pleased. But what you do not know is the ambassador lost his wife some time ago and is traveling with his daughter. I hear Sora is about your age and I expect the trip has been something of a trial. Will you accept it as your duty to help her settle in and keep her company while they are here?"
"Of course Tou-San," he moved to bow, an action that would have been more effective were he not being carried. "I would consider it a sacred honor."
"Good boy." The great general smiled patting his son's head and scratching behind his ears in that way all Inu enjoyed. Even in his humanoid form, Seto felt the tip of his tongue slide out from between sharp canines and his golden eyes slide closed in pleasure as he nestled into his sire's palm.
"When will they arrive? Do we have time to go the stables Papa?" the young prince asked golden eyes bright. Inu being predatory in nature did not often keep pets. Weaker creatures were considered food more often than not. But warriors of every stripe required mounts and beasts of burden to carry supplies to battlefields in distant lands. Western Inu often enlisted the aid of lesser dragons to aid them in this way. The young prince was quite fond of the creatures that partnered his fathers fighting men and the time was quickly approaching when he would receive a demi-dragon or Qilin of his own.
The Dog General snorted at the blatantly imploring expression on his pup's face. "The envoy will not arrive for some weeks yet and I have no pressing need in the court. You think you are of an age to ride boy?"
"This Setomaru is surely up to the task father." the boy nodded, not seeing the mischievous sparkle in his sire's eye. In a flash he found himself scooped up and deposited unceremoniously sprawling across his father's broad shoulder.
"Not what I meant." The boy grumped sullenly over the indignity of being seen carried about like a small whelp.
"Should I put you down?" The general asked incredulously, one arched brow creeping upward.
His son did not speak but found himself unable to completely suppress the whine that curled in the back of his throat. Slim, delicately clawed, fingers tangled instinctively in the older Inu's silver-white hair. The general would have had a bit of difficulty dislodging the puppy prince if he actually intended doing so.
The general's laugh was loud and bright ringing about the glade and his long strides carried them swiftly to the stables hewn into the foot of the mountains. A great many beasts were outside the well-kept caverns grazing in the paddocks or sunning themselves on the rocks outside the den. Some few were saddled and bridled in preparation for some great journey.
"Have you any beast in mind?" Inu no Taishou asked as he slipped his son off his shoulder into his arms before approaching the nearest paddock of young animals.
"Mother would be disappointed if I picked one of the two-headed ones." Seto sighed, the breath of air fluffing his silver-white fringe.
"Hmmm," the general rumbled, the Longma were sturdy and brave in battle. The Qilin was even-tempered and loyal. The twin-headed demi-dragon crossbreeds disparagingly referred to as 'mudra' were seen as less prestigious mounts, but many of the palace grooms insisted they possessed the best characteristics of both parents.
"It has been many centuries since your dam has ridden into battle. The choice mount will be a companion for this Setomaru, and no other," the general gave him a gentle squeeze before setting him down, "It is for you to decide."
Inu no Taishou opened the gate to admit the boy but did not follow into the lush green expanse where the beasts rested.
Young Seto was quick to shift to his four-footed form, aiming his little black nose to the ground he went sniffing about, his jaunty tail waving about like a battle standard as he sought out a healthy young beast from the heard.
The lady of the west would be most displeased at the undignified display. She was inordinately sensitive to appearances. But Inu no Tashou smiled. He knew such things can be deceptive, It was best young Inus learn to trust their nose to discern the truth of things.
It wasn't long before the young prince had separated a beast from the heard. The oversized pup made a great a show of growling and nipping at the creature's heels to hurry it over to the fence where his father waited.
It was an adolescent Mudra, a fact made apparent by its muddy green scales and the lack of horns on its twin heads. The creature was a herbivore, in keeping with the qilin aspect of its twin nature, but the tough scaled hide of the demi-dragon make the twin-headed beast unpalatable as a prey animal. There was a keen intelligence in those slit-pupiled yellow-green eyes. It clearly wasn't afraid of a mere pup but humored him none the less.
The general stretched out his hand to the nearest sinuous neck, lacing his fingers into the spiky black mane.
Seto shifted back to his humanoid form and casually smoothed his hair and ensured there was no grass clinging to his pristine white clothing. That too made the general smile; the pup was every bit as fastidious as his dam.
"This Setomaru has done well Tou-san?" The boy asked a little uncertainly.
"This Inu no Tashou is well pleased." The general bowed, taking his son's hand in his own and using one carefully pointed claw he drew a tiny drop of blood from the young prince's palm. Then directed the boy to hold his hand under first the right muzzle it flared its broad nostrils drawing in the scent. "Ahh" it breathed eyes going wide in recognition. The left head pushed the right out of the way so it too could take in the young prince's scent, "Unn" it grunted, nodding its agreement before licking the proud prince jaw to brow, leaving a trail of green saliva coating his pointed ear.
"EEEeee," the perfectionist prince squealed and blanched, shying away from the questing pair of grass-stained lips and disconcertingly moist tongues. He couldn't scramble back over the fence fast enough.
"Now you know why most of my men attach a cage-like muzzle to the bridle of their mounts." The general explained gently, but there was no way to disguise the chuckle rumbling deep in his chest. He wasn't going to ask the boy if he had thought of a name the young demi-dragon. Inu no Tashou had stopped naming his mounts own long ago.
They were stout companions sure enough but he had far too many beasts cut out from under him during in midst of the battle fray. 'Attachment' was inevitable at times, but it was best to mitigate the loss as best one could. Naming something made it your responsibility. And when you did that its loss cut much deeper.