A/N: here is another mononoke hime story made by urs truly! ;) lol i hope u like it and if u do, plz stick with it and R&R! i would like to see how u like the first chapter at least :) . anyways, here's my story! Happy Reading!
Disclaimer: I do not own any film made by Miyazaki, including Mononoke Hime!
Summary: We all know the story...An innocent child was thrown at a wolfgod's feet to be a sacrifice for a couple to escape the wolf's wrath. What we possibly don't know is that there might have been another child, watching in the distance as someone dear to her would become a wolf. "You may be her wolf mother, but I am her human sister." Follow San as she grows, learn her ways as a wolf, and see what made her hatred toward humans grow... R&R plz!
Chapter 1: The Past, The Beginning
A group of travelers from a nearby town carefully and quietly traveled through the forest that belonged to the wolves. Their town needed new things, they needed more food for their town. A little while ago, a flood had ran through their town, destroying most of their homes and their things that were inside. It was three days ago that the townspeople decided to all go to their neighboring town which was on the other side of the forest. They brought what they had (which was very little), and began their trip. It wasn't easy though, for most of the time they had to hide from the wild animals that lived in the forest they had been travelling in.
Now, it was day four that they would go to their neighboring town. They knew it was far, but still they tried. The travelers were tired, weary, fragile. They had not slept in days, eaten very little, and seemed to be on the verge of death. Among these travelers were a family consisting of a mother, a father, a 5 year old little girl, and a baby. The mother had long light brown hair in curls, and her eyes were a rich hazel color. The father had short, dark brown hair, and coal colored eyes. Their 5 year old daughter had short (her hair length went to her chin; for now) dark chocolate colored hair with silver eyes, and the little baby had light chocolate colored hair with dark, beautiful brown eyes.
Throughout most of the trip, the baby would wail and cry, only to be harshly silenced by leader of the group. His name was well respected in their town: Ryou. Of all the things they needed now, a crying baby wasn't one of them. Usually Ryou's harsh cries would make the baby settle, but one day she would not stop. She continued to cry loudly, and everyone began to fear that her cries would be heard by the great wolf god, and in hearing those cries would come down from her home to tear apart the humans that were in her forest. Ryou began to look concerned, and ordered the mother and the father to do something before they were dead.
"Please...hush my sweet. Mother is here, there's no need to cry." the baby's mother would whisper into the infant's ear. Still, no matter how hard she tried the little child would not settle.
"Aya, you must silence our child before she calls that wolf... We do not want her of all people to be the cause of our deaths." the baby's father said, hoping, praying that their baby would settle. Ryou's temper rose quite often, but shouting at an innocent child would not make things better.
"What do you want me to do, Seiryu? I have done everything in my power to calm her, yet nothing works. I'm tired..." Aya answered, and looked at her oldest daughter. She turned to her oldest daughter, and held out her free hand, while the other carried her small infant.
"Mama...why won't Mei stop crying?" Aya's oldest daughter asked, dull gray eyes stared deep into her mother's hazel ones.
"I don't know why Kaoru. I can't seem to find the answer as to why your sister cries to me... Kaoru, my sweet...will you do mother a favor and try to make your sister smile?" Aya asked lovingly. Kaoru nodded, and her sister was in her arms in moments. Aya walked over to Seiryu, a deep sigh came from her as she leaned on her husband's chest.
Kaoru looked down at Mei, and saw how her little sister wept. What was the problem? Why would she cry constantly, with no answer to resolve it? Kaoru couldn't help but cry herself as she looked down at her sister. As her tears were dripping onto Mei's face, for a moment Mei's wail ceased, and she opened her eyes and saw her sister smiling as she cried.
"That's right Mei...there's no reason for you to cry..." Kaoru said and extended her finger to let her sister play. Mei began to laugh as she took hold and started to suck Kaoru's finger. Kaoru, for the first time in a long time (at her age, 4 days travelling seemed like a long time), smiled as she watched her innocent sister. Her eyes began to regain it's silver glow, and they shimmered in joy. The whole group laid their eyes on the sisters, and couldn't help but feel some hope begin to rise. Kaoru looked up to see her mother and father walk over. Her father put his hand on her shoulder.
"Well done Kaoru. Well done." he said with a smile.
"Thank you, daddy." Kaoru replied silently. Her mother squatted down to eye level, and gave Kaoru a kiss on the forehead.
"You are a blessing my sweet, beautiful daughter." Aya said and everyone decided it was time to take a break. After the scene they had witnessed, they felt that taking the time to rest would be a good idea. As time went by, Mei finally slept peacefully in her mother's lap. Kaoru decided to go off and play in the woods, a little bit away from the group.
"Don't stray far Kaoru. We wouldn't want to lose you." Sieryu said.
"I won't!" Kaoru called with a wave and rushed off somewhere, but stayed in sight. Sieryu smiled, and looked at his tired wife who sat on the cold, ground.
"She's finally settled. Yet I...I feel so weak." Aya said with a sigh.
"What is there to feel weak about? Mei is crying no more, and now we have a better chance at making it to the other side thanks to Kaoru..." Sieryu said as he rubbed Aya's back affectionately.
"That's the reason why I feel so weak...I am Mei and Kaoru's mother yet I couldn't even stop my youngest from crying. Now, my oldest daughter was able to have Mei stop her crying, and smile. Even laugh..." Aya said, tears began to flow.
"Come now, that doesn't mean you are a terrible mother. You are a wonderful mother you know that! I bet you anything Kaoru would say that to you." Sieryu coaxed with his deep, sweet voice. Aya looked into her husband's dark, coal colored eyes. They were beautiful every time she looked at them. It gave her strength to move on and continue their trip. Yet, why did it have to be so far away? They had already traveled for so long, 4 days... When would they arrive? It was only a matter of time...
Somewhere in the forest was a cave, and inside that cave was the wolves. The wolfgod, Moro, had just given birth to her pups, two boys and one girl. She realized that humans had come into her territory, but knew that she couldn't leave her children alone. Already she began to lose her patience as the humans continued to walk through her forest. 'How dare those filthy, wretched, humans. Going through my territory, even with their knowledge that this is my forest, and that my prescence would be with them all the time in their travels.' Moro thought through a bitter growl, her sharp fangs glowed. She turned her attention to her two little pups as one of them began to wail for food. Moro gave them a nuzzle with her snout, letting them know she was there. She sadly glanced at the third one, no movement was made. Sadly, the third pup had died the moment she had been born into the world; a cruel fate. As the two male pups were being fed, in time, she thought, she would go down there and show the humans what to fear. In mere moments would she show those humans who ruled, and who was at the end of the food chain. When her pups were finished, they started to wiggle their way deeper into the cave. Moro decided to call for a sitter, just for a while. She howled loudly, making sure the humans heard her. When she finished, she listened. Her ears were alert, and she picked up voices coming from the forest.
"Did you hear that! It's the wolfgod! She's going to eat us! We must run! We must get out of here!" a teenage boy cried, already he began to lose it in the forest.
"Calm down! Pull yourself together. If we just pick up the pace we'll be able to avoid contact." she heard a deep voice reply.
"Sieryu's right. We mustn't be afraid of the beasts that live in this forest. We are man! They are beast!" the leader (she assumed) shouted. Some of the men joined in, but most of the women felt a little insecure of what they were saying.
"Still, we must play it safe. Who knows when that damn god will attack." the leader said. 'He will be the first to die.' Moro thought instinctively.
"What of the weak here? You know that some of us will not survive." a woman said.
"True...but all that matters is our survival. Whoever survives, will move on." the leader said.
"And those who don't?" a worried voice asked, a woman's.
"Will be left behind..." the leader said. 'Has this human been hit on the head? Leave his own people behind? What loyalty do humans have! None..' Moro thought through bared teeth. The conversation she was listening to ended when she heard a squeal come from the forest. In time, a boar could be seen coming to her. Moro couldn't help but form one of her wolf smiles. One ear was on the boar's, the other turned slightly to see what the humans had to say.
"Oh great! Now the boars look down on us! What do they want to do, kill us like the wolves!" the teenage boy from before cried.
"We mustn't panic! We only have the wolfgod to fear." the leader said. Moro couldn't help but snicker, feeling a bit flattered at the leader's words. 'You musn't fear the boars, only the wolves. A nice compliment, even though it's from the mouth of a human.' Moro thought and bowed as the boar was finally face to face with her.
"This had better be good Moro. You know that I cannot leave my tribe for long." the boar said.
"I'm sorry for the inconvenience Nago. I just need you to look after my pups for a few moments. I must show those humans what happens when you walk into my territory." Moro said as she did not look up from her bow.
"Look after! I have young ones of my own you know." Nago snorted.
"Yes, I am well aware of that. But your young are not newborns. Mine are." Moro answered. Nago couldn't help but squeal in small delight.
"Well! Pups of your own, and newborns...Fine, I will look after them until your arrival." Nago said kindly.
"You have my thanks." Moro said and rushed off to the humans. Nago turned to Moro's direction as he walked up the steep rocks.
"But make it quick!" he snapped and Moro only howled in reply.
Kaoru skipped where she was, playing to her content. She ran up some roots that had sprung from the rich soil, doing her best not to trip on them. She jumped, and looked how high she was. She had reached a log and sat down on it quietly as she looked up at the trees. They sparkled in the sunlight, and she kicked her legs back and forth to pass the time. A little while before, she had heard a wolf's howl, and a boar's cry. What did that mean? Should she worry? Why would she? She was just a child after all. Still, she thought about what was going on between the wolf and the boar, maybe a fight? No...the boars and wolves seemed to be friendly with eachother. She pushed these questions aside, and started to hum a little. When she finally seemed to be getting bored, she yawned and decided it was time to head back to her family, her people. As she got off of the log, she accidently tripped and tumbled down the roots. When she reached the bottom, she sniffled.
"Owee...I'm all muddy now. Mama's gonna scold me for this." Kaoru said to herself, and then saw that she had a large cut on her arm. She put some pressure on it and wailed slightly.
"Oh great...now I have a bad boo boo too." Kaoru wailed as her lip quivered a little, but suddenly felt that someone else was with her. She gasped a little, and felt warm inside. Something, or someone was with her that made her feel all the pain in her cut just melt away. She turned back, and saw something standing on top of the log. Her eyse were wide, and they sparkled in curiousity. It was an animal! She had never seen this one before though...who was it?
"What...are you?" Kaoru asked aloud as she made her way back up the rooted path. The animal made no attempt to run away, it only waited for her arrival. It had long, strong, antlers, and seemed to be a deer. Was it a male deer? Kaoru wondered to herself. As she finally made eye contact, she realized that she was in the precence of the greatest god in the forest! She was face to face with the great Lord of the Forest! She was surprised at first. Seeing the Lord of the Forest with the body of a great deer, and the head of a human. It outstretched it's neck to reach her eye level, and she backed away slightly. It continued to come out to her, and she found herself almost falling down again! Quickly, the forest spirit grabbed on to her shirt and pulled her back. She looked it straight in the eyes, and it placed it's head on her wound. Instantly, it was healed. She looked at it, and then at the Lord of the Forest.
"Th-thank you...Who are you?" Kaoru asked. It did not answer, but stared at her. She stared back, and outstretched her hands. The Forest Lord bent down to her level, and her forehead and it's made contact. There was an instant flash, and Kaoru found herself surrounded by...light!
"I am the Great Lord of the Forest...Who are you?" a deep and strong, yet sweet and soft, asked.
"M-Me?...I am Kaoru!" Kaoru said with a smile.
"Kaoru...What a beautiful name. You should return to your kin, little one. I fear that the time is near for them to join the Great Lord of the Heavens..." the Lord of the Forest said.
"What! Mama and daddy are in trouble! No!" Kaoru cried and instantly, the connection broke. Kaoru opened her eyes painfully, and saw that the Great Lord of the Forest was gone. Had she really seen him? She blinked, wondering. Then, she remembered her wound from her trip. She looked at her arm; the wound was gone, healed. 'I did! I did see him! Wait until Mama hears this! Oh! MAMA!' Kaoru thought and without further hesitation, she rushed back to her family, fearing that the worst was yet to come.
Moro, silently, swiftly, beautifully, rushed to where the humans were. They were no match for her. She was too smart for them, too powerful for them. 'Humans! You will know the wrath of a wolfgod.' Moro thought and could sense their smell drawing close. Kaoru made her way down the rooted path once more, hoping that she wasn't too late. Moro could see them, and she knew they had spotted her.
"WOLF!" someone cried and everyone began to panic. They screamed and shouted, the men got in front to protect their wives and children. Moro lept, leeping over the men and going straight for the leader who seemed to be the only one not risking his life. Ryou screamed as Moro instantly killed him, body and all. The men saw this, and began to panic as well. They cried and screamed for help, and the women tried to get away with their children at once. Aya and Seiryu were desperately calling out for Kaoru, hoping to find her before Moro did. Kaoru heard the screams from their resting spot, and soon enough she saw the devastation that was caused. She saw Ryou; dead. Her friends; dead. Blood was everywhere on the dirt, the trees, the leaves...everything. Her eyes were wide in fear, and she made sure to stay hidden from the white wolf, with it's fierce and mesmerizing yellow eyes. She searched frantically for her mother and father, and spotted them. What she saw next, was horrific for her.
"Please! Don't kill us! P-please we beg you!" Seiryu pleaded.
"Humans! You are worthless creatures! What are you doing in my forest?" Moro asked sharply.
"We only wanted to get by to the other side! P-please let us pass!" Aya cried.
"Stop your foolish crying. Why should I let humans pass? Of all creatures, you?" Moro said with a snarl.
"We beg of you! Please...wolfgod let us through!" Seiryu said and took Mei from Aya's hold. He put Mei on the ground, as a sacrifice to Moro.
"What's this?" Moro asked and sniffed the bundle. Mei began to cry. Her screams made Moro draw back quickly, already annoyed at this one's cry.
"It's a sacrifice! Please accept our daughter in exchange for letting us through!" Seiryu said as he bowed to Moro. Aya screamed.
"Sacrifice! Seiryu--"
"It's the only way!" Seiryu interrupted. This only made Moro more angered and more upset with the humans than she already was.
"Have you no loyalties to your own kind? You are scum. You should not even be allowed to live! You are a traitor, to your own kind, your own pup. Why should I let you pass now!" Moro roared and instantly, both Aya and Seiryu fell to the ground, dead. Blood covered their bodies as red dripped from the wolfgod's mouth. Kaoru was terrified, she had witnessed her parents death, she had seen with her own eyes how they would just sacrifice their own daughter! What if it had been her? Questions popped into her small head, and she dropped to the ground. Moro heard a thump, and looked up to Kaoru's direction. Kaoru stayed perfectly still, not even breathing. Fortunately she had not been seen, for she drew back quickly to hide behind the tree. Moro squinted her eyes, saw nothing, and then stared down at the child. Mei wailed and screamed shrilly, rocking back and forth in her 'little bed'. Moro bent down to Mei who continued to cry loudly. Kaoru watched, she couldn't believe she wasn't doing anything. In her mind she saw herself rushing to Mei's rescue, but in reality she was scared to death of dying...
"Young infant... You are innocent, not yet become a wretched human." Moro said softly, seeming to try and calm Mei down. Moro gave Mei a nuzzle with her snout affectionately, and Mei extended her little hands to feel Moro's cold, moist, nose. Moro drew back, surprised. This kind of affection for a human was strange to her, and yet she felt warm inside as she looked at this child. Moro bent down once more, and saw Mei begin to laugh and giggle.
"You will become my daughter. Your name will be San. You will grow and learn to be a wolf, and in doing so you will eventually become one. When that time comes, you will take over my, 'throne', becoming the new wolf leader. I do not expect you to understand now, but you will...Someday, my beautiful young wolf daughter." Moro said and took hold of Mei in her fangs, making sure she only had the cloth in her mouth.
Mei seemed to laugh in delight, thinking she was getting a ride. Kaoru watched, remembered every word that Moro had said. She watched as Mei was being carried away, back to where Moro lived. Kaoru couldn't help but feel anger rise, as her eyes narrowed. They became dull, gray once more as she followed Moro quietly down the path. Every so often, she would hide behind something when she could tell Moro would turn her head back. Soon, they were close to Moro's home. As Mei watched Moro enter her cave, she saw a boar walk out back to his tribe. She made sure that Moro was not aware of her prescence, and slowly crept up. When she reached the top, she peeked into the cave, and saw two little white wolf pups, and Mei in the middle. Moro wasn't in the cave... Kaoru walked inside, and bent down to Mei. Her little sister was asleep, and Kaoru was relieved to see she wasn't dead. She picked her sister up, and sat down to hold Mei. Mei opened her eyes, and smiled as she extended her hands to play. Kaoru did so, and then felt something bite her.
"Ouch!" she yelped and saw one of the wolf pups bite her on the leg. She put Mei down, and held up the little pup. Still too young to see, the wolf pup did nothing when he was dangling in Kaoru's arms. Kaoru stared at the little pup, and put him down on her lap.
"You know it's not nice to bite me." Kaoru scolded but pet the little one softly on the head. He seemed to like that, and began to wag his tail. The other pup began to wail out, calling to his mother. Kaoru picked that little one up as well, and gave it a pat. The two were settled, and the one who had called for Moro gave her a bite.
"Ouch! I just finished explaining to your sibling that it isn't nice to bite me!" Kaoru scolded playfully.
"It isn't nice to be wandering into someone's home." a voice said from behind. Kaoru's eyes went wide and she looked around. No one could be seen.
"Wh-where are you?" Kaoru asked. Suddenly, she looked to the entrance and saw a huge shadow. It was replaced by a large white wolf, it's yellow eyes giving a deadly stare.
"What are you doing here? In my cave? With my pups?" Moro asked fiercely as she walked in.
"Not all of these little ones are yours!" Kaoru had the courage to say when she put Moro's two pups down and started to walk to Moro. Moro instinctively rushed up to Kaoru and made her sit.
"What gives you the courage, the right to speak to me like that! Do you not realize I am a god?" Moro asked.
"I realize you are a god...I also realize that you have my sister. I want her back." Kaoru said.
"You are her sister?" Moro asked and sniffed. Yes. She could tell that there was a similar scent.
"Yes. I want her back. You have no right...to keep her!" Kaoru cried.
"Foolish girl! I could kill you right now, do you realize that?" Moro asked.
"Y-yes..." Kaoru answered. Moro couldn't help but smile as she strode past.
"I will give you a chance to live. Get out of my forest, get out of my home, stay away from my pups. That is all I ask, and I will not kill you." Moro said as she sat by her pups.
"I will do that...when I have my sister with me." Kaoru said. Moro snarled and rushed back to Kaoru.
"She is my daughter now! I claimed her! You have no right to take her away from me." Moro said.
"You had no right to take her away from me!" Kaoru said in return and Moro's fur stood on end. She growled, and then gave Kaoru a roar of anger. Kaoru was shaking, but she stood her ground.
"Leave. If you do not, I will kill you." Moro said.
"I'm not leaving without her." Kaoru said and then saw a white ball of fluff off to the side. She walked over to it, and Moro got in her way.
"Is that another one of your children?" Kaoru asked.
"Yes...my daughter. Her life was, short lived." Moro answered sharply.
"So that is why...you've taken in my sister..." Kaoru said. Moro's anger ceased, and her fur relaxed. She brushed past Kaoru again, and over to her pups.
"Perhaps..." she answered. Kaoru began to walk to the entrance of the cave. Moro smiled, feeling she had won this arguement. Kaoru turned to Moro.
"Wolfgod...you may be her wolf mother, but I am her human sister." Kaoru said and then left. Moro felt a little shaken at the girl's words. What did she mean by that? How could words like that come out of a little girl like her? Moro wondered what Kaoru would do. Would she steal her sister back? Only time would tell. One thing Moro knew: If Kaoru were to ever come back, she would have to kill the girl. She turned her attention to her pups, and smiled at them.
"If you ever come back...I will have to kill you." Moro said quietly, and looked at San. She gave her daughter a lick.
Kaoru walked through the forest, she didn't know where she was going. How could a 5 year old survive in this forest? She wouldn't. She would live with her neighboring town, for now... When she would be older, she would live in the forest, adapt to it's ways. Moro was her mother now, but Kaoru was still alive. She was still Mei--San's older sister. As Kaoru finally made it to her neighboring town, she told them everything (besides San) and they allowed her to stay there until she was older to live in the forest by herself. 'I will never leave her. I am her older sister. I will always watch her, always protect her. Like you will do wolfgod, I will do the same.' Kaoru thought as she entered a small house she would be calling 'home'. Yes, she would always watch over her little sister, and no matter how long it would take..maybe someday she would have her sister back. For now, her sister was a wolf...she would always be one. Hopefully, in the future she would be human once more. Kaoru would wait until that day came, and happiness filled her as she dreamed about seeing her younger sister once again.
A/N: well, there's the first chapter of this story! I hope you all like it so far so plz leave a review :) the next chapter will be about San mostly of how she is adapting to being a wolf and all, and Kaoru will be watching from a distance and all. here's a little insight into the next chapter: -5 years have passed, and San is becoming more like a wolf every day! Kaoru is able to slip away from the village and watch over her sister from a distance. But what happens when Moro finds out that Kaoru has been watching all this time? What questions will come to her mind when she sees Kaoru? "Trying to steal her away from me? I will not allow it!"- well, there's the insight, and i hope u stick with this story! or at least give it a chance ;) -Em