CHAPTER ONE: HARD TIMES, HARD DECISIONS
It had been two years since Koga bid farewell to Kagome that unforgettable, gloomy morning. He began the long journey back to the Eastern Wold Demon Tribe after making the decision to cease his hunt for Naraku. It was a painfully hard decision, but he knew that the longer he strayed from his tribe, the more vulnerable his pack members would be. Avenging his fallen comrades meant nothing if the remainder of his brothers and sisters were sacrificed for it.
Koga often let his mind run to Kagome, remembering her sweet scent and the way the wind caressed her dark tresses. He could hardly bear the thought of leaving her to Inuyasha, feeling a sense of loss due to the fact he had basically taken back his claim to her. He wanted to be with her, of course he did, but he had duties to uphold and was almost certain his destiny was to be centuries of loneliness. His heart ached for her, but he knew that wouldn't feed the hungry mouths of his clan-mates.
Luckily for him, there was a lot to do around camp, and being Alpha meant he organized most of the work that had to be done. At least it was a distraction from his lost love. Will the pain and memories ever ease? Koga wasn't so sure. Frustrated and tired, he headed over to the mighty waterfall that encased the entrance of his camp.
"Ginta! Has the morning patrol returned yet?" Koga asked as he walked up to the grey and black haired wolf demon whom he trusted dearly.
"No, not yet. Hunting is still scarce ever since the Demon Bear Tribe moved up to the mountains," the experienced warrior replied scornfully. "Think they're having any trouble?"
"I'm not gonna wait around until there is any; I'm gonna find them." Koga growled, clawed hands balling into fists.
"I'll come with you." Ginta offered, straightening from his previously relaxed position, reaching to grab his spear that was resting against a boulder.
"No, I need you to stay here and keep watch. We already lost six good warriors in the last week from those damn bastards. I won't be gone long." The wolf prince ordered, placing a solid grip on Ginta's shoulder to show he did appreciate his offer. He just couldn't afford to lose any more wolves; his numbers were already dwindling. If he didn't make a decision to unite the tribes soon, his would surely be lost. This thought made his blood boil, carrying a grim expression as he made his way down the mountain and into the forest below. Times were hard, even with the destruction of the sacred jewel.
Koga trekked through the woods, all of his senses on full alert to possible dangers. He hated to admit it, but he wasn't as strong without his jewel shards. He was still the fastest and strongest wolf demon in these lands, but his current power was a mere morsel compared to when he possessed the three sacred jewel fragments. Part of him wished that the jewel wasn't destroyed so that he could be stronger, but he also knew that the world was a much safer place without corrupted humans and demons. Destruction still occurred frequently, but such is the way of life.
The young leader stopped to scent the air, tuning his senses in on his surroundings. He could feel the wind whistle through the trees, the ground below him bustling with life. He didn't pick up any signs of his clan-mates being here, so he moved on. He didn't get very far however, once he picked up the scent of something that spiked a reaction in him. Eyebrows furrowed in concentration, recognizing the scent almost instantly. Hostility and inclination began to flow through him, a cyclone engulfing his body as he raced toward the source.
He skidded to a halt abruptly when he came in range of two combatants, one standing three times the size of the other. One was a Bear Demon, and a large one at that. It reached almost twelve feet in height, battle scars littering its ragged, muscular body. Thick drool seeped through its yellowed fangs and onto the slate coloured matted fur below, rearing up as razor sharp claws flexed threateningly towards its target. This beast was undoubtedly intimidating, but Kouga was hardly focusing on it. No, he was much more captivated by what it was trying to get its jaws around; another Wolf Demon, and a juvenile at that. The young, reckless wolf was going to get himself killed picking a fight with one of these creatures, and Koga had to help.
"Watch out!" Koga called out to him. The boy had just managed to dodge a massive clawed paw, but didn't expect the Bear Demon to lunge its mighty head forward and clamp its jaws around his small body. He let out a sharp scream as pain shocked his senses, eyes wide in dismay as he coughed up blood.
Koga watched in horror as the Bear Demon shook its head with great force, spraying blood all over the lush green woodland. Anger surged through the young wolf prince, balling his hands into fists. With lightning motion, he scored a kick to the Bear Demon's belly, causing it to tumble forward from the sheer force and let go of the motionless body it had previously used as a teething toy. Roaring from rage, Koga didn't let the creature recover as he kicked it hard in the snout, sending it flying backwards to the ground with a ground-shaking thud.
"How dare you!" Koga snarled, only seeing red as he pummeled the Bear Demon into the ground, only letting up when he realized it was no longer moving. Chest heaving from anger and exhaustion, he spit on the carcass before making his way over to the deceased wolf. Koga knelt down beside him, icy blue eyes sweeping over the terrible wounds he had sustained. Even if he was still breathing, there was no way any healer could undo the damage, no matter how skilled. Koga felt a heaviness in his chest; he recognized this boy. He wondered why he was out here alone, but none of that mattered now. Carefully, Koga scooped the small body into his arms, carrying him back to camp. The patrol would have to wait.
A gloomy overhang loomed over the tribe, even though hours passed and night had fallen since Koga had returned with the dead pup. It was a terrible reminder of the hardships they all had to face, though they didn't really need one. Koga already felt like his pack was vulnerable, and now he was itching with unease and a lust for revenge. Every wolf demon was on edge leaving the safety of the mountains. First the birds of paradise, then Naraku, and now this. His job as pack leader was to keep his clan-mates safe and fed. If he couldn't even do that, then what did that make him?
Koga had gone out straight after to locate the delayed patrol and led the small group back to camp, never letting his guard down for a second. None of his wolves were staying out tonight, not until he figured out a battle plan. That was an odd thing for Koga since he usually ran head-on into things. However, this was much too important for feeble action. When he arrived back, they were greeted by worried mates and pups. The tension wasn't just in Koga, his entire pack shared his stress of new enemies, which was also leading to the shortage of food. He felt a little out of place standing there while public displays of affection were being shared between mates, making his retreat to his den.
Oddly enough, despite being leader, he had not yet taken a mate. It wasn't so easy since he had his heart and mind set on Kagome, and even though he had left on his own path, he wasn't ready to move on. He knew he had to make the decision soon, though - the tribe needed to be repopulated. And the lack of an Alpha female had caused the pack to be dubious of such activities. As Koga struggled with his thoughts, he was intercepted by Ginta and his apprentice, Hangetsu, who was a young wolf demon with slicked-back red hair.
"Hey Koga, I was wondering if it would be okay to take Hangetsu out for a training session. Only just past the waterfall." Ginta requested. Koga appreciated that the experienced warrior was taking on an apprentice; the tribe surely needed more experienced fighters.
"That's fine by me, but I have to talk to you first. Where's Hakkaku?" Koga replied, gaining a few blinks from his friend.
"Last time I saw him, he was with Hibari in the common hollow." Ginta informed his leader, giving Hangetsu a quick nod to dismiss him. Koga nodded understandingly. Hakkaku and Hibari hardly left each other's sides. Hakkkaku sure made a good impression on the lovely chestnut-haired demoness. They would, no doubt about it, be mated soon. Once the red-haired youngster hurried off, Koga began making his way to the common hollow, Ginta following.
"Is something wrong?" Ginta questioned, concerned about his friend's obvious state of agitation. Koga tensed slightly, searching himself for the appropriate words.
"I'm going to end this. I'm going to put together a patrol to find out where the Bear Demons are nesting. You and Hakkaku will watch over things here. We leave at Dusk."
Koga kept a steady pace as he walked through the woods, following the moonlit path, while Jonetsu and Tsume brought up the rear. They passed by the Bear Demon Koga had defeated. He eyed its rotting carcass, briefly wondering if he should of brought it home as food. He grimaced at the thought, refusing to stoop so low as to feed on such vile creatures. The pack is still strong. It hasn't gotten that bad. Yet. He turned his gaze away from the rotting mass, focusing his attention on the other scent in the area. He scented the area to try and figure out the direction the Bear Demon had come from, picking up a lead and motioning towards that direction.
Koga followed the faint but detectable scent, finding that it was leading him and his comrades South. He kept his guard up in case anything suspicious was lurking nearby. However, the longer they followed the trail, the greater Koga's uneasiness made his stomach churn. He felt like he had been walking for hours and couldn't shake the tension he felt over his current location. He didn't need to be familiar with the area to know where he was. The wetlands. Even though Koga was a powerful demon, there were some places on Earth that were never meant to exist. This was one of them.
The wolf prince stopped and stood at the edge of the bog, almost retching at the thick stench of death and decay. Fog shrouded the top of the water and not a sound of wildlife could be heard except for the occasional splash of ungodly creatures under the water. Koga covered his nose as he looked around for clues, hoping to find that his quarry had changed directions. Why would the scent lead this far? Koga was sure that they missed something, somehow.
"Koga, do you think that Bear Demon might have been an outcast?" Jonetsu said, suspicion flashing in his grey-blue eyes.
"That would explain the odd trail it left. It was wandering, not hunting." Tsume agreed, obviously having picked up on the details already. Koga's brows furrowed in annoyance. He came out this far without any success to reward his efforts. He let out a sigh, looking up at the sky, as if it could offer comfort.
"We'll try again in the morning. Let's head back." he said. He tried his best not to sound defeated, unsure if his attempts were in vain or not. As he and his pack-mates turned to head back up to the mountains, a splash was heard from the bog behind them, followed by a startled yelp that came from Tsume. Koga whipped around to see his comrade being dragged by a tail covered in scales.
"Help me!" Tsume cried, one arm outstretched toward the two wolves that stood in shock.
Instinctively, Koga tried to pursue, but his friend quickly became shrouded in fog and disappeared from sight. Danger was on the back of Koga's mind now, his first instinct being to save his comrade.
"Koga! Don't go into the bog!" Jonetsu tried to warn, but Koga had, too, already been engulfed by the thick moisture. Koga ran blindly, keeping his senses sharp as he followed the faint sound of screaming. He tired easily, much to his bewilderment. He stopped to rest, chest heaving as beads of sweated trailed down the sides of his face.
"What the...?" he mumbled, looking down at his palms and seeing double. He soon realized that the stench of the bog was clouding his senses, almost as if it was giving off a miasma.
"Dammit," he cursed aloud, looking around in desperation.
"Tsume! Can you hear me? Tsume!" he called out, anger beginning to bubble inside of him. Whoever or whatever was toying with him and his wolves was going to pay with their lives, he would make sure of it. He growled uncontrollably as he tried to figure out what to do and where to go. He froze when he detected a change in the scents around him, looking down to see a current of red flowing toward him.
He reacted with a jolt when he heard the sound of splashing in the water, turning his attention to a body laying face-down in the water. Koga knew the lifeless vessel was that of Tsume's, easily distinguishable by the black and white fur he wore. Koga's hands balled into tight fists, not caring about his sharp claws digging into his flesh.
"Show yourself, you bastard! I'll tear you to shreds!" Koga howled, pain and anguish layering his tone. All was quiet for several moments until faint laughter sounded, crescendoing as three giant shadows became visible through the fog. Koga focused on the shadows, eyes widening slightly when they became unveiled as Serpent Demons.
"Look at this, brothers. A puny wolf, lost, with no way out, just like his friend." one of them sneered, its voice deep and croaky. Koga glared at them, standing his ground as he let out a threatening growl. He could hardly put words together, fury and miasma dulling him.
"Look at this. He thinks he can fight us. Not with the miasma flooding your senses." another one jeered, letting out a throaty laugh.
"Little does the wolf know that this part of the wetlands is the most dangerous. Does the wolf want to die or is he simply a fool?" the last one crowed. At this point, Koga's vision began to go blurry, using all his strength to steady himself.
"Shut up, you slimy bastards. I'll waste the lot of you for what you've done." Koga snarled threateningly, causing the Serpents to laugh. One of them lunged towards him, baring its fangs as it attempted to bite through him. Koga let it think it had the advantage before unleashing his Goraishi at the last second, severing its head from its body with ease. Blood exploded from the gaping wound and the Serpent's body thrashed viciously as it sank under the water. The other two let out angry screeches, but before Koga could react, they dove and disappeared into the glade. All was quiet for a long minute before a whip-like tail wrapped around both of Koga's ankles, pulling him into the air upside down. Koga grunted at the sudden attack, struggling in their grip. Their heads emerged from the water, blazing yellow eyes staring into the wolf demon they had restrained.
"The wolf will pay with his life for killing our brother, but not before we return the punishment tenfold." they said in unison, causing Koga's eyes to widen as one of them slithered skyward and sank its fangs deep into his shoulder. Koga let out a surprised screech, gritting his teeth in pain. He knew they were going to play with him first and kill him after, but he had to stop the latter from happening. He had no idea how, though.
Koga furrowed his brows in anger as the twin took its turn and attempted to bite him, but he swung his body to the side with great force that caused it to accidentally bite the tail of its familiar. The waiting serpent screeched in surprise, driving its head into its litter-mate in retaliation. They began to fight, not realizing it as they let go of their captive. Koga fell into the water with a loud splash, not thinking twice about making his escape.
Koga managed to flee a few paces before he was dragged back into place by a binding tail, grunting as he fell on all fours into the murky water. He gritted his teeth in anger and pain, swiping at the scaled coil around his left leg. Was this really how his life would end? The only regret he had was leaving his comrades behind in this age of turmoil. The Serpents had stopped fighting, and the one who had bound the wolf prince was annoyed at the pounding it was receiving.
"Is the wolf eager to die so soon? Fine, his wish shall be granted." it said with a rumble in its throat, spreading its jaws wide as it attempted to swallow Koga whole. Koga's eyes widened, struggling harder to free himself as he watched the Serpent's head lower closer to him.
"Get your...filthy body...off of me!" Koga grunted weakly as he grabbed hold of the beast's fangs in each hand, using all his strength to stop himself from sliding down its throat. The Serpent let out angry hisses as it struggled against Koga, using all its might to crush the little wolf in its jaws. Koga was already disoriented from the miasma and could hardly feel the strength that normally surged through his powerful body, and so the Serpent was prevailing. Koga grimaced at the slick pink flesh of the inside of the Serpent's mouth, unable to stop himself from sliding down the passage.
Koga gritted his teeth, focusing the remainder of his strength to tap into the power of his Goraishi. Sharp talons sliced through slick flesh, making his escape as he tore open the Serpent's throat. Its body thrashed from impulse, but it was dead. Koga landed in a spot of shallow marsh with difficulty, quickly turning his attention on the remaining Serpent. By this time, Koga could hardly balance himself, let alone keep his eyes open. He cursed this place and these creatures in his head, vision blackening.
"The wolf dies now!" the surviving Serpent roared, lunging its mighty head toward the disheveled wolf prince. Koga tried to force his body to move, but he had breathed in too much miasma and his body was unresponsive. So this is it? Koga grinned bitterly, keeping his tired blue eyes on his opponent to face his death head-on.
Koga's grin faded when a figure suddenly appeared in front of him, unable to identify them in his current state. Am I hallucinating? The figure stood their ground against the Serpent, waiting for it to draw near. When the figure judged its distance, they pulled out a small gourd from their furred cloak. The Serpent hissed, mouth agape as it intended to swallow the both of them whole. The figure cast a generous amount of a clear liquid onto the beast, causing the beast to stop its advances. It began to laugh hoarsely.
"Does the wolf think this substance will harm me? I am...I am..." the Serpent cut off, his laughter transitioning into screaming. The liquid was beginning to cause its skin to disintegrate, foaming and steaming. Koga stared in awe, attempting to stand. Wolf? Did he hear right? He was aware there were gentle hands on him then, looking over to the figure who came to his aid.
Dark black hair cropped the most beautiful face he had ever laid eyes on. He didn't trust his eyes in his current state, for all he knew he was already dead and she was an ethereal spirit coming to take him to the underworld. Who knew hell could be so inviting? The woman placed something over his mouth and nose, and suddenly breathing became easier. The Serpent was too busy thrashing and rolling in an attempt to relieve itself of the pain to care about Koga any longer.
"Come with me." she urged, wrapping a strong arm around Koga's body to help him stand. He staggered, unable to help but lean on the small woman for support. He was too disoriented to be wary of this stranger. All he cared about right now was getting out of this bog, and she was helping him do that. That was good enough to him right now. Koga's legs felt heavy, as if he was made of stone. He despised the feeling, wishing he could still feel the surge power from the sacred jewel shards he once possessed. With the help of the outlander, Koga soon caught sight of the cover of forest.
The woman helped Koga out of the water and onto the bed of weeds that made up the bank. The fog was thin here, and Koga was able to take generous gulps of fresh air without the haziness of tainted sustenance. He held his body up on his hands and knees, blinking away the dizziness thanks to the freshness of forest air. He could feel the strength slowly returning to him, but he knew it would take a day or so to fully recover, especially from the bite wound he obtained.
"It is still dangerous here. You must find the strength to find shelter." the woman spoke in a voice so pacifying that Koga was doubting she was even real at all.
"Who are you?" he asked hoarsley, pushing himself up to look at her. Icy blue eyes stared into shining silver ones, and now that Koga's mind was a little clearer, he could make out exactly what this woman was.
She was no spirit, but a Wolf Demon like he. She wore furs the colour of the night sky styled in a long hooded capelet and skirt. Bandages covered most of her legs, from ankle to thigh, and arm guards the colour of slate clung to her wrists. Her lustrous wavy hair was cropped short at the back and gave off a deep blue sheen under the moonlight while her breast plate bore the union of ruby and slate. But most of all her light silvery eyes held an intensity that made something inside Koga twist with intrigue. The woman pulled down her hood to reveal herself to him.
"My name is Yozora. I saw you what happened to you and your friend." she explained, kneeling at his side so she could converse easier with him.
"Why did you help me?" Koga pressed for answers, slowly but surely recovering from the effects of the miasma. He looked over at the woman who called herself Yozora, unable to help but feel cautious. He didn't know who she was or what her intentions were, after all.
"The same reason you would help me if I was in danger," she said bluntly, shocking Koga.
"It's what we wolves do for each other. Do I really have to explain it to you?" she asked him, causing him to frown slightly and look away.
"You're right." he grumbled, attempting to push himself to his feet. When he staggered, Yozora placed a hand on his chest to steady him, her soft touch and care triggering a blush to creep to his cheeks.
"Thanks..." he said softly, trying to focus his strength where he needed it. He took a few steps with her help, then looked back at the death water he had just escaped from with perked ears.
"Did you see a third wolf demon?" Koga asked suddenly. He realized that he was so fixated on rescuing Tsume that he forgot about Jonetsu. He wasn't sure if he had come after him since his senses were unreliable at the time.
"A third, you say? I saw someone fleeing. Did he have grey fur?" Yozora replied. Koga's eyes widened slightly, gritting his teeth in anger. Jonetsu fled? He didn't take him for a coward.
"Did you see what direction he went?" Koga asked. Yozora thought for a moment before motioning toward the mountains. Koga was clearly troubled by this discovery and hoped the lesser wolf demon had a good reason for it, otherwise he would surely suffer punishment. And Koga wasn't one to show mercy on traitors.
"I'm sorry about your friend." Yozora said as if to change the subject. Koga didn't want to be reminded, but he appreciated the sympathy. By this time, Koga regained enough strength to walk, senses sharpening as he became more comprehensive of everything going on around him.
Koga examined the woman before him while scenting around for details about this foreign part of the forest. Even though his eyes weren't on her, he kept a close watch on this mysterious female.
"So, you've fought those Serpents before?" Koga challenged, gaining a sharp look from Yozora. By her reaction, it was almost as if he caught her off guard, like he had witnessed something he shouldn't have.
"What?" she asked in response. She looked tense. But Koga didn't let up; he needed to know who this woman was and what she was doing here. It was still technically part of his territory even though it wasn't used often. Where was her tribe? What were her loyalties? Even her scent was alien to him.
"That liquid, whatever it was. You knew it would work on those bastards. So obviously you've fought them before. That leads me to believe you live around here." Koga pressed for answers, causing Yozora to slightly lose the resolve she had radiated up until now.
"You're keen as they say even close to death, Koga, leader of the Eastern Tribe." Yozora replied smoothly. It was Koga's turn to be taken aback. So she knew of him? Koga was equally exalted as he was alert.
"If you know who I am, then you would also know that my territory reaches even past the borders of these mountains. Which means you're trespassing." Koga said flatly. Yozora blinked slowly at him, keeping a refined air around her.
"You're going to talk about trespassing after I saved your life?" she asked motionlessly, crossing her arms. Koga couldn't help himself; he wanted to see where this would go. He wanted to test her reaction. It was in his nature to be curious and playful. And serious when he had to be.
"It is what it is. I did thank you." Koga pointed out, watching Yozora with rising interest. The smaller wolf demon remained collected, and Koga was impressed with her tenacity.
"Oh. I see. So what you're telling me is you feel entitled to this land even though you have no use for it. Nothing else can strive here, because you are a prince and everything must go your way." Yozora shot back with a slight sneer to his title, striking a nerve in Koga. He furrowed his brows slightly, growing serious.
"My title isn't just for show. I could have your head in an instant if I wanted to. You're in no position to talk to me like that." Koga said cooly. His ego was superior to his judgement sometimes, especially when someone challenged his rein and power. A clear folly of his.
"Are you threatening me?" Yozora asked, sparkling silver eyes narrowing only slightly. Her pointed fangs just poked out from behind her supple lips in a small, challenging smile. Koga was confused by her manner, not quite sure what to make of it. He had no idea what she was capable of, and he was also injured. But he wasn't about to let her have any advantage.
Koga was about to reply, but he quickly slid into a fighting stance when he heard the rustle of foliage around him. He quickly regretted what he said as he surveyed the few dozen strangers who stepped out of the cover of the trees in order to join in on their conversation. Shit. Koga wondered to himself why he didn't realize they were there, cursing when he identified the stench of the bog to be the culprit. He looked around carefully to judge the situation. These strangers were all wolf demons as well, and their ragged, scar-bearing pelts exhibited questionable living conditions.
Koga quickly became aware of his current position, looking straight at Yozora. So, she was also a leader. An alpha, who led a pack of rogue wolf demons. Koga couldn't deny he felt nervous. He was powerful, but in his current state he knew taking all these wolf demons on at once would prove to be tedious. And fighting his own kind didn't sit right with him either, especially not now when their numbers had dwindled so dramatically in the past year.
As proud as Koga was, he knew when a battle wasn't appropriate. He relaxed his body, raising his hands in submission.
"It wasn't my intention to come off as threatening." he explained, looking up at Yozora to search her face for pardon. When he did that, however, he was met with a fist to the jaw, knocking his head to the side with great force. Koga spit out blood from his now busted lip, a growl forming deep in his throat.
"How dare you look upon her as if you're so familiar?" a large male wolf demon with heavily tanned skin, amber eyes and white hair kept in a high ponytail was the perpetrator in which Koga wished dearly to embed his claws into. Koga was about to snap, but then Yozora grabbed the male's wrist to stop him from landing another blow.
"That's enough, Mokuzai," she ordered, voice firm and assured. Mokuzai quickly submitted to her, hanging his head as he stepped away from the wolf prince. She turned her attention back to Koga.
"Did those jewel fragments give you too much vanity, or did that come with the title?" she asked Koga, a slight grin on her face as if she was acting light-hearted about the situation. Koga was speechless, never having been challenged like this before.
"Yozora, we should kill him and send his head back to the mountain tribe. That'll send a message to teach them they have no right acting like they own everything!" chided a young, hot-headed female with sandy-brown hair.
"That will only cause a war. Will you take the responsibility for our lost brothers and sisters, Suna?" she asked the young female. Suna flattened her ears in embarrassment for her outburst, bowing her head in submission. Koga was surprised at how much respect Yozora's pack had for her; his own wolves didn't even respond to criticism as well as that.
Yozora turned her gaze from her underling to Koga and he dared to look at her. The authority she carried herself was impressive. She was self-assured, but he could tell she didn't let it get to her head.
"No harm will come to you. As long as you can understand one thing." Yozora declared. Koga eyed her quietly, his only option being to follow along.
"And what's that?" he took the bait, letting her play him.
"We rule this side of the mountain. Any sign of activity from your tribe will be taken as a direct offense, and I will have no choice but to retaliate." Yozora explained. Her bold words made Koga's temperament run short, feeling outraged by her declaration.
"You can't just claim territory! There are valuable landmarks in this area that my brethren need access to. You can't take that away from them." Koga refused, easily detecting the tension sparking from the wolves around him. But no one spoke except for Yozora.
"You don't give us orders. We've resided here long before you showed up. There is no where else for us to go. If you do not agree to my terms then I'll be forced to kill you and I do not wish to end your life." Yozora replied evenly. The way she put her words made Koga feel like the bad guy. Forcing them to leave would be cruel on his part.
"Then join my tribe. We could use valuable hunters and fighters. You'd be welcome there." Koga offered, seeing the surprise in the other wolves.
"Thank you, but we don't need your help to survive. Besides, we know about the bear demons that plague the mountains. They don't come down this far often. As far as I'm concerned, your mountains are too dangerous." Yozora respectfully declined. Koga looked between her and her wolves, staying confident despite his disadvantage.
"From the looks of how skinny you all are, that tells me this part of the forest isn't as bountiful as you make it out to be." Koga expressed his doubts, causing some of the wolves to snarl defensively.
"Cut out his tongue!" Mokuzai howled, taking a step toward Koga. Yozora quickly extended an arm to stop her restless second-in-command, letting out a warning growl to silence her comrades. She shot a sharp glance at Koga, and he could detect impatience from her.
"Please...I do not wish to kill you." there was desperation in the beautiful wolf demoness' voice and it moved something inside Koga. He closed his eyes momentarily to think, opening them with new-found resolve.
"Alright. But the offer is still open. If you change your mind, you're welcome in my tribe." Koga backed down. Yozora bowed her head lightly in response.
"Thank you, Koga. I will send one of my wolves to escort you." she offered, but Koga simply grinned.
"I may have taken a beating, but I'm strong enough to see myself home." he declined her offer. Yozora didn't press.
"As you wish." she said simply, watching him for a few moments before turning away, her pack-mates following after her. Koga watched them leave, icy blue eyes shining as dawn peaked across the horizon. Koga wasn't aware he was here all night, feeling the weight of exhaustion kicking in now that the adrenaline was gone.
Koga set off to head back home, ignoring his heavy legs and aching muscles. He couldn't get Yozora out of his head. She was clearly a noble leader, which was odd for a pack of loners. By reputation, they were usually blood-thirsty, angry murderers with false justification. For the most part, the one called Mokuzai fit that description. But in spite of that, Yozora easily controlled their attitudes. And she didn't use force to do that, only her words and principle.
Koga knew she was trying to protect her pack by declining her offer, but she failed to realize that the only reason the bear demons were a problem was because of his so few numbers. If they joined forces, they would stand a better chance. Was it pride or poor judgement? Koga couldn't answer that, of course, but he felt an odd nag. He didn't want to leave it like that. He felt like his affair with her was unfinished. He wanted to help Yozora, and her pack members as well. He hadn't the slightest clue on how to do that, but he figured he could think after he got some rest.
Koga was greeted by Hibari and Hakkaku, who were both on guard duty together. Koga doubted their productivity, though. Hakkaku raced to Koga's side, Hibari following close behind.
"Koga! You're alive! I'm so relieved!" Hakkaku exclaimed, clinging to his close friend. Koga gasped in surprise, wedging the tearful wolf demon off of him.
"Hey! Of course I'm alive!" Koga grunted with a huff, crossing is arms as if he was offended. At the sound of Koga's voice and the scene Hakkaku was making, other wolves began crowding around.
"Koga!"
"I knew it wasn't true!"
"Where's Tsume?"
"We were so worried!"
Those were some of the words Koga was able to make out from the excited crowd he had gained. He looked to all of them, confusion clouding in his blue eyes.
"Where's Jonetsu?" he asked, coldly serious. Everyone fell silent, turning in unison to the leader's den. Just then, Jonetsu emerged from it, locking eyes with Koga with a jolt. It was obvious he did not expect the wolf prince to have survived the battle, taking up authority in his absence. Snarling, Koga took a step toward the frozen male.
Jonetsu growled back, standing his ground against the wolf prince. The other wolf demons watched in silence, a belly-churning tension pulsing through the air.
"Go, attack him!" Jonetsu's order echoed through the mighty ridge. Silence passed, and not a single soul moved. Frustrated and embarrassed, Jonetsu pointed a clawed finger towards Koga.
"I said, attack! How dare you disobey me?" he barked, getting nervous when the tribe remained still. Koga took a step toward Jonetsu with blazing eyes, returning the favour as he pointed in the traitor's direction.
"Go." Koga commanded. Like a switch being turned on, three wolves broke out into a run instantly, heading for Jonetsu with lolling tongues. Wide eyed, Jonetsu turned tail and made a run for it.
He didn't get very far, however, getting tackled and held down by three wolves who showed obvious distaste for his treachery. Jonetsu writhed on the ground to try and shake them off, but the wolves had their fangs driven deep into his flesh.
"Get off, dammit!" Jonetsu whined, gasping when he saw that Koga was only a tail's length away from him. Desperate, Jonetsu punched one of the wolves who was latched to his leg, causing it to whelp in pain. That was all Koga needed to see. Jonetsu was able to shake the other two off, breaking out in a run. In an instant, Koga was at his side, making Jonetsu's eyes widen in fear and surprise. With great force, Koga grabbed him by the head and slammed his face down into the hard mountain stone, creating a small crater.
"Thought you could take my place as leader, eh? You don't even have what it takes to lead a patrol, let alone a tribe." Koga seethed. Jonetsu grunted in pain, glaring up at Koga.
"Says the one who's making us all starve while sending our comrades to their deaths to fight an enemy we have no hope of defeating!" Jonetsu snapped. There was a crowd gathered around them at this point, and to Koga's astonishment, some of the onlookers murmured in agreement.
"It's tough for everybody," Koga replied pensively, staying quiet for a few moments as he got lost in his thoughts. He grew serious quickly, shoving Jonetsu harder into the ground.
"But this isn't about me or the pack. This is about you. Did you get this idea while you were running home with your tail between your legs, or were you planning this beforehand?" Koga asked, resulting in Jonetsu to divert his gaze nervously. Koga let out a fit of laughter, shocking the wolf demons around him.
"Now that I think about it, I could deem you a coward. But I never thought you were plain stupid." Koga sneered, grabbing Jonetsu by the hair roughly.
"N-no! Please don't kill me!" Jonetsu suddenly cried out. Koga almost felt sick from how pathetic this wolf demon was. They had shared a home, food and friends, and yet he showed such disloyalty and skepticism. Koga was disheartened. Is this what fear and hunger drove his race to?
"Fine. I'll let the bear demons do that for you, since you seem to think fighting our enemies is all in vain," Koga said, oddly calm.
"Show your face in my territory and I'll finish the job. Get out of my sight." Koga ordered with a snap to the ending, letting go of Jonetsu's head. The dark haired wolf demon stumbled to his feet, scurrying off past the waterfall and toward the forest. Koga watched him leave, letting out a soft sigh. What kind of leader was he if his own followers doubted his choices and capabilities? Koga tried to push the thought out of his head, but the feeling of shame still lingered. What kind of leader was he...if he couldn't even have the woman he loved? Koga was snapped out of his thoughts by Ginta, who he was aware was talking.
"Koga? I said 'are you okay'?" Ginta repeated.
"Don't I look okay?" Koga replied, raising his head high and crossing his arms, the action causing his shoulder to sting immensely. He winced, looking down at his shoulder. Oh, right. He was wounded. Ginta looked at him with worry in his eyes, and Koga let out a small huff.
"I'll see a healer about it, don't worry." Koga said, putting Ginta's grievances at bay. Koga noticed there was still a crowd hanging around, and one look in their direction was enough to send them back to their posts.
"Hakkaku," Koga called, catching the spiky-haired demon's attention. Hakkaku broke away from Hibari after whispering something to her, heading over to his leader and friend.
"What is it, Koga?" Hakkaku asked, equal interest flashing in his and Ginta's eyes. Koga jerked his head to indicate he wanted them to follow, and they did so willingly. Koga led them to his den, ignoring the scent of Jonetsu all over his nest of furs. He sat down, feeling relief wash over him now that he could relax and rest. Ginta and Hakkaku took their places in front of him, watching him with expectant eyes.
"Tsume didn't make it. The scent we were tracking led us far east, to the wetlands. We encountered a group of serpent demons there," Koga began, gaining saddened looks from his two familiars. Tsume was a fine warrior, and it was a great loss.
"How did you make it out? N-not that I don't think you can handle yourself or anything..." Ginta started.
"It's just that the wetlands are forbidden for how dangerous it is...poor Tsume..." Hakkaku finished, looking down sadly. Koga nodded in agreement, choosing his next words carefully.
"I was saved by the leader of a marauder group of wolf demons. They're living near the wetlands." Koga explained. Ginta and Hakkaku gasped in unison, leaning into their intrigue.
"Marauders? Why would he save you? Do you think it's a trick?" Hakkaku asked. Koga shook his head is disagreement.
"First of all, it's a she. And I don't think so. We made a, uh, a compromise. Sort of." Koga said, scratching his cheek in a perplexed manner. Ginta and Hakkaku exchanged nervous glances, turning them on Koga.
"Are you gonna let them stay there?" Ginta asked, careful not to offend Koga's judgement.
"Well, for now. But I'm gonna try and get our packs to unite." Koga told them, looking just as puzzled as they did. He had no idea how he was going to make this work. He wasn't eactly charismatic.
"It would make us stronger...but Koga...if they're living on their own in invaded territory...do you think they're trustworthy?" Ginta asked, looking doubtful.
"Yeah, what if they agree and end up betraying us?" Hakkaku added. Koga had already thought about that, and he figured he could handle Yozora and Mokuzai at full strength if they tried anything.
"Then I'll just have to make a deal with them. Something that they would want." Koga decided, crossing his arms as he pondered a solution.
"What would that be?" Ginta asked, making Koga frown.
"I'll tell you when I figure it out." Koga replied condescendingly. He knew the only way this could work is if he went to the eastern border again. But he remembered Yozora's threat, and so he was torn. Would she even listen to what he had to say, or would she simply launch an attack? Koga wasn't so sure she was that unreasonable; she had given him a few chances during their meeting, after all. He didn't want to put his tribesmen in danger, but he also needed to reach out to potential allies.
Ginta and Hakkaku watched their leader as he thought in silence, perking themselves up when they detected the flash in Koga's expressive eyes.
"I know what to do. But I'm going on my own." Koga declared. The two delegates showed obvious distaste for the idea, not caring about stepping out of line. Koga might be their superior, but he was also their closest friend, having gone to hell and back together. They weren't about to let Koga get into something he couldn't handle, not without a fight.
"But Koga! That's reckless! And you'd be outnumbered if things go south!" Hakkaku protested.
"If I bring anyone with me, it will look like an invasion. I backed off with them thinking it's their land. They're going to get the wrong idea and throw their lives on the line to defend it. If it's just me, they'll know they have the advantage and I have a feeling they won't be as hostile." Koga explained his strategy. Ginta and Hakkaku stayed quiet, knowing he was right. However, that didn't mean they had to like it.
"When are you gonna go?" Ginta asked, sulking in his spot.
"In a few days. I think that's enough time to prepare, and for the tension to settle." Koga said, referring to the dispute that took place a little earlier on. Koga briefly wondered if he did the right thing exiling Jonetsu, but quickly dismissed the thought. His tribe didn't need to see any more bloodshed.
"I want you two to take someone with you and try hunting. But don't go past the river." Koga commanded. The pair nodded in response, moving to stand up.
"One more thing," Koga said, catching their attention.
"Ginta, find Renkon and bring him here. I've made a decision about something." Koga finished. Ginta nodded an 'OK' and hurried out to find the wolf demon who was named, returning several minutes later.
"You called for me?" Renkon said, voice kind and friendly. Renkon was a tall, slender boy with dark red hair tied back in a small ponyail and brown eyes. He wore brown furs like most of the Eastern tribe, as well as burgundy chest armor and anklets. He was the fastest runner in the tribe besides Koga, and often underwent errands that required distance.
"How do you feel about making a trip to our Northern brethren?" Koga asked him, sparking interest and confusion in the infamous duo, as well as Renkon.
"It wouldn't be any trouble at all. But what's in the Northern tribe that you need?" Renkon asked politely.
"It is the Northern tribe that I need. I want you to send word to the elders that I agree to be Ayame's intended, on the condition that they move here to the mountains." Koga informed, causing Ginta and Hakkaku to burst out in alarm.
"Koga...you know what this means, right? You'll never get a chance to be with anyone else." Ginta said in a soft voice, obviously upset for him. He knew Koga didn't feel anything for Ayame, and he could tell she wasn't his type. Koga was incredibly expressive and passionate when it came to mateship, so Ginta knew he would be deprived of that.
"This isn't about me or what I want. It's about keeping our tribe, our race, strong and formidable. We need the extra members." Koga said to Ginta, a glint of heaviness in his eyes. Koga turned to Renkon.
"Is this understood?" Koga asked the young wolf demon, recieving a determined nod. Koga returned the gesture, and Renkon excused himself to set off on his mission. Hakkaku opened his mouth and was about to speak, but Koga quickly cut him off.
"Shouldn't you two be off somewhere?" Koga pointed out. He knew they wanted to talk to him about his sacrifice. But he didn't want to. It was something he had to do, and they couldn't talk him out of it. It saddened him that this was the kind of life he would live, but he knew he would suffer more anguish with a struggling pack than a nagging mate. Ginta and Hakkaku hung their heads in defeat, heading out of Koga's den, leaving him in silence.
Koga laid down eagerly, glad he could finally rest his weary bones after the exhausting events that transpired over the last 24 hours. He fell into a deep sleep quickly, easing his mind of all his troubles. He dreamt of the comforting, familiar image of long, black locks he yearned to run his fingers through. The owner of the locks turned around to face him, and Koga felt shivers run through him when he gazed upon her chocolate-brown eyes. She laughed and called out his name, and although Koga desired so desperately to reach out and hold her, his arms wouldn't move. She turned her face from him, and Koga was painfully aware that her image was moving farther and farther away from him.
"Ka...gome.." Koga called out, his voice sounding slow and distorted. Koga tried to run after her, but the harder he tried, the farther she became. The bright sky that illuminated the scene became dark, almost as if it was closing in on itself.
"Kagome!" Koga called again, this time with more anguish. Suddenly, everything disappeared, except for the echo of his lost love's name.
Blackness followed by silence ensued, causing Koga to snap awake from his nightmare. He was aware he was sweating and frantic, cursing aloud as he rubbed his face aggressively. How many times did his mind have to torture him with the same dream? Drained and depressed, Koga forced himself to fall back asleep. He needed to recouperate for what was to come.
AN: So, this is my story of Koga's life after Naraku's defeat and Kagome's disappearance. It's pretty much going to be about Koga healing, and finding new love. I've always wanted to write a story involving my Inuyasha OC and Koga, and now I finally have the time. Thanks for reading!