It had been exactly three days since Koga sent Renkon with the message to take Ayame as his mate, and he was still waiting on a reply. He was worried that Renkon didn't even make it there, but he assured himself otherwise. If he knew anything about Ayame at all, it would be that her delay was out of spite, probably because he didn't call for her sooner.
That wasn't a problem, though, because Koga decided it was time to preform the task he had planned a few days earlier; to convince Yozora and her pack to join his tribe. He knew it was a longshot, but he had to try. He left orders for Ginta and Hakkaku regarding patrols and hunting parties, trusting them fully to temporarily lead while he was gone.
Koga hiked along the familiar road he used often enough to hunt and wander whenever he needed to think. He passed by the distincive splinter woods where the aftermath of his fight with the bear demon took place. Deep slashes and uprooted trees marked this spot as a grim reminder that even though Naraku nor the sacred jewel existed any longer, disaster still befell all the lands. He diverted his gaze from the wreckage and to the mass that Koga defeated days before. He was surprised to see that it was nothing but bones, watching the gathered buzzards as they stripped what scraps were left. He briefly wondered what could have eaten it, grimacing at the thought. On second thought, he didn't want to know. He turned away, continuing toward his objective.
Koga recognized a pointed boulder from the last time he ventured out this far. He remembered that it carried the faint scent of a bear demon, that being the signal to cross though the thick foliage. Koga retraced his actions, cutting through the vegitation and beginning the long walk east.
Koga was amazed by all the unfamiliar scents and sounds here. It wasn't that far away from home, yet he never thought of exploring this part of the forest below his mountains. He guessed he never had time, being so busy being leader and spending so much time hunting down Naraku and chasing after Kagome. The air seemed richer somehow, almost as if it was completely untouched by any demon or human. Koga liked the serene feeling. The faint croaks, chirps, and dappling of sunlight through the leaves helped him feel at ease.
Koga let his legs carry him far, finally realizing he had come to the border Yozora spoke of. It wasn't hard to detect considering it was freshly scent-marked. Pushing his worries to the back of his mind, Koga ventured into the hostile terrain.
Koga's senses were honed to their maximum, staying alert to any sounds or scents nearby. He couldn't detect any sign of the marsh yet, and he hoped he didn't have to go that far to find the band of lone wolves. However, he did pick up something unsettling. He took a few more steps, kneeling next to a stalk of round leaves. Coating it was a fresh splash of crimson, a sight Koga knew all to well. It was wolf blood. Koga quickly stood, setting off at a quick pace to determine the cause of this. Surely this pack wasn't so barbaric that they would turn on each other, would they? Koga wasn't sure, but his curiosity and desire to protect his likeness drove him to the source.
Koga detected the scent of smoke, the pungent bitterness causing him to choke and cover his nose with his forearm. He didn't let that deter him, running swiftly through the dense woods that Koga could now see was aflame. The air was thick and dry, and the snapping and crackling of trees from all directions put Koga on edge. He couldn't rely on his sense of smell or hearing any longer and it made him frustrated.
Careful not to get scorched, Koga wandered through the burning forest. His eyes widened in dismay when he caught sight of several wolves and wolf demons, their bodies burnt and blackened. One wolf was still alive, whining in agony as it weakly clawed the ground with its front paws blindly. Koga went over to the struggling beast, feeling his heart clench as he placed a hand gently on its head. The wolf's eyes flashed open, staring up at Koga. The reflection of the intense flames flickered in its defeated brown eyes, using the last of its strength to push its head into Koga's hand. It's body slowly relaxed, eyes dulling like glass as death swept over it.
Koga gently set the beast down, stroking what fur it had left before standing to his feet. His eyes narrowed in anger, focussing his attention on the scene. There was no way this was a natrual occurance. This was done by something, someone. And Koga was going to find out what it was. It didn't matter to him that these wolf demons weren't loyal to him. Koga knew a ruthless attack when he saw one, and he believed these wolves did nothing to deserve the onslaught.
Bubbling with rage, Koga continued to scour for survivors, as well as the attacker. He only just managed to dodge a heap of falling timber, shielding his face from the heat as he lept away. He eyed the flaming mass, snapping his attention to the sound of movement behind him. Koga could tell it was a figure, but it was hard to identify them with the amount of branches and ash blanketing them.
Koga hurried over to get a closer inspection, eyes widening when he realized it was Yozora. She was unresponsive with half her body trapped under the heavy weight of a fallen oak. Koga checked to see if she was still breathing, relief washing over him as he detected a faint but steady pulse. He wiped the debris off of her face so she could breathe easier, the action seeming to rouse her. Yozora opened her eyes slowly, blinking away the ashes that had nestled into her eyelashes. She screwed up her face when she realized how painfully dry her throat felt from the smoke, going into a fit of coughing. Koga waited for her to stabilize, watching her with concern.
"Koga..." Yozora let out a ragged breath, her words making him draw near to hear her better. He was surprised when she suddenly placed a hand against his chest. She used what little strength she had to push him away from her. Koga stared at her in confusion.
"You shouldn't be here. Leave now...before it comes..." Yozora wheezed, eyes falling closed as her arms fell weakly onto the oak that was binding her to the forest ground. Koga furrowed his brows in determination, resuming his place and digging his claws into the tree.
"Not a chance. As if I'm gonna leave a comrade behind." Koga replied hoarsly, causing Yozora's eyes to snap open, watching him with obvious astonishment. Exhaling with effort, Koga attempted to roll the large chunk of tree off her small body. Koga managed to move it slightly, but he stopped as quickly as he started when Yozora let out a pained cry and began choking up blood.
Koga was at a loss on what to do. She clearly had significant damage done, and moving her or the weight trapping her could prove fatal. At the same time, he couldn't just leave her, as that would also kill her. She would just have to bear with the pain.
"Sorry about this." Koga croaked, using his brute strength to instead lift the old oak and chuck it away from them, gaining another yelp from the woman. He noted that the task of lifting a single tree would have been easy if he still had his jewel shards, hating how much weaker he was without them. He pushed the thought aside, rushing over to inspect the damage done to the demoness.
Koga could see that one of her legs was torn up with a splinter of bone potruding at the tibia. She also had spear-like needles embedded deep in her body, one in her shoulder and two in her gut. He knew these injuries weren't from an inatimate being like a tree. It was something far greater.
Koga knew he had to remove the protrusions, gently rolling her over to her side and recieving a small whine of protest. He saw that there was no exit wound, that fact alone making him feel agitated. He exhaled agressively, looking over to her scuffed face.
"I have to remove these. Don't fight it." Koga told her, unsure if she was even awake to hear him. He didn't blame her, her body was probably in shock from her injuries, the initial attack and the death of so many of her comrades. Koga enveloped a hand around the spike nestled inside her shoulder, using his other hand to hold down her chest in case she moved. With a swift tug, Koga seperated the invasive object from Yozora's body. Just like he suspected, the action made Yozora jolt in pain.
Koga held her down so she couldn't cause any damage to herself during her delirious fit. Koga waited for her to calm down, making quick work of removing the other two spikes with one movement. Yozora didn't react as strongly this time, probably because she was half conscious from the pain and blood loss. He knew she didnt have much time.
Koga's sharp eyes caught sight of more crackling wood falling above them, quickly slinking a strong arm underneath Yozora and shifting her onto his back. Koga moved out of the way right before it made contact with the ground in a deafening crash. Koga knew he had to get her out of here, otherwise the forest would end up engulfing them in a storm of flame and smoke. Koga carried Yozora with ease as he dodged falling branches here and there, trying to find a way out of the fire storm.
"Koga..." Yozora's laboured voice sounded in his ear, causing his ear to twitch slightly. He listened to her, but kept his attention on what was in front of him.
"Don't talk. You need to save your energy." Koga said before she could say anything. Koga could feel her body tense, presumably due to anger.
"It attacked us while we slept. The serpent...it breathes fire now. My wolves...they...I couldn't stop it from..." Yozora trailed off, too grief-stricken to continue. Koga understood, knowing what she was feeling all too well. He didn't need to hear anymore to find his cause. Whatever attacked them did so while they were helpless and defenseless. Koga vowed to see to it that he repaid the favour.
"There isn't anything anyone could have done." Koga tried to console her, not sure why he cared enough to do so.
Koga could see he was escaping the eye of the firestorm, looking behind him at the illuminated scene. A sudden shiver passed through him that made his fur stand on end, snapping his head forward just in time to see a wide-open mouth with huge barbed fangs only inches away.
Reacting quickly, Koga jumped into the air, kicking the top of it's snout with the back of his foot and sending it crashing to the ground. The sheer force kicked up dirt and dust, making it impossible to see anything. Koga quickly lept far away from the beast before it had a chance to recover. He found cover at a small cave shrowded in vegitation, laying Yozora there.
"Don't do anything to draw attention." Koga told her firmly. Yozora grabbed his arm with surprising force before he had a chance to leave.
"It was asking for you. Please, avenge my friends." Yozora said intensely, letting his arm go as she slipped into unconsciousness. Koga guessed she used up the last of her strength, but he couldn't worry about that right now. Her words struck him hard like a kick to the stomach. The serpent came here looking for him thinking that he was part of this pack. It killed everyone trying to get to him. It took dozens of innocent souls. All Koga saw was red.
The dust was beginning to settle, and Koga could make out the silhouette of the serpent staring right at him. Narrowing his eyes angrily, Koga took a steady pace toward it, ignoring the sickening twinge in his stomach. His instincts were screaming at him to flee, but for once he ignored them.
As the cloud of debris cleared, Koga recognized the serpent as the one he had encountered in the wetlands. However, it was different now. It was bigger than it was before, and it's formerly pale silver exterior now bore dark black stripes from head to tail. A crest of spikes decorated it's head and trailed down to it's tail, which was now tipped with a sabre. It's eyes were now bloodshot, and it gave off a demented vibe that was off-putting.
"You..." The creature breathed, sending shivers through Koga. What in the world happened to this demon in order for it to have undergone such a transformation?
"Came back for a beating, did you?" Koga taunted, faking his confidence. He only wanted to distract it from Yozora, unknowing of the fact the beast was more interested in Koga than the woman it half killed.
"The wolf killed my brothers..." It seethed, breathing raggedly from how angry it was.
"This one seeks revenge. This one had to become stronger, so this one devoured our brothers. Now this one is ready to devour the wolf." The crazed demon finished, hysterically lunging at Koga with wide open jaws. Koga dodged the attack, watching the creature take a mouthful of bark and leaves. Did he hear that right? This scaly cur devoured it's brothers in order to gain power? Koga felt sick.
"Not on your life!" Koga screeched, unleashing his Goraishi as he raced towards it. The serpent turned it's head slowly toward Koga, freezing there and letting Koga believe he had the advantage. All of a sudden, it disappeared. Koga stopped dead in his tracks, looking around frantically. Koga felt heat behind him, leaping into the air to dodge a spiral of fire that seemed to have come out of nowhere. When he landed, he felt a great force crash into his legs, causing him to trip and fall forward.
Koga moved his hands in front of him before he hit the ground, propelling himself into the air and twisting his body so he could land on his feet. Koga scanned the area though focussed, narrowed eyes, waiting. All was quiet, but Koga wasn't listening for sounds. He was sensing the air, feeling the vibrations. He felt a gust of air coming from his right, timing himself and side-stepping to move out of the path at the last moment. A rush of wind moved past him, whipping up his raven tresses. It was as he suspected. The serpent didn't disappear. It was camouflaged.
Snapping Koga out of his thoughts was a hard blow to the back, sending him flying forward. It seemed that perception wasn't enough to win this battle. Koga had to think of something else. He felt another force, jerking his body in mid-air to try and change the path and dodge whatever was to come. He grunted in pain when he felt the unprovoked sensation of something sharp slicing his arm, watching the spray of his blood fly through the air. Koga's eyes slowly widened, getting and idea. He knew how to end this fight.
Koga felt the next rush of wind, but this time he didn't move. He braced himself for the impact, letting the serpent land it's hit. Koga was surprised when he felt thick fangs sink into his shoulder, letting out a pained yelp as it re-pierced his previous, tender wound. He didn't expect it to attack there; it probably remembered from the last battle. Koga kicked the beast off of him before it had a chance to swallow him whole, falling to one knee as he held his gushing wound. He may have sustained an injury, but at least his plan worked. Blood coated the serpent's mouth, making it's camouflage ability useless.
The serpent, however, noticed this, turning away and attempting to flee. Koga quickly reacted despite his state, grabbing a sharp piece of log and driving it into the serpent's tail, pinning it there. The creature let out an angry screech, whipping it's head around and charging for Koga. Koga charged right back, lightning surging around his Goraishi from sheer power. He dodged the Serpent's bite by sliding underneath it, and slicing open it's belly from the speed and force had had built up. He rolled out from underneath it before it collapsed ontop of him, watching the two pieces of the serpent fall apart with an earth-shuddering crash.
Koga knew the serpent was dead, and revenge was sweet. He looked up towards the sky when he felt a trickle of water, unable to help but grin slightly as more rain droplets fell. Soon, the forest floor was drumming with rain, and it was oddly calming. He was glad he didn't have to worry about the fire destroying anything else.
Koga turned toward the small bramble cave he had left Yozora at, his body heavy from exhaustion and pain. He saw that she was still there, collapsing beside her in the tiny cave. He didn't care how crammed the cave was, or that their bodies were pressed together. He was too tired, and couldn't make the trip back home. Yozora would just have to hold on until morning. With that, he let his eyes fall closed and fell asleep instantly.
Thin beams of sunlight filtered in through the thick bramble sheet that was blanketing the two wolf demons from the outside world. Koga's bright blue eyes fluttered open, feeling disoriented as he looked around the cramped cave but couldn't quite register what he was looking at. After a few moments, it came to him. The fire, the dead wolves, the serpent. Yozora.
Koga blinked when he looked down at the woman he was nestled against, a bright red blush tinting his cheeks. He raked his eyes down her figure, unable to help but make a mental note of how attractive she was. Clearing his head of his thoughts, he leaned over to look at her face, becoming entranced by her slumbering beauty. He was equally relieved and impressed that she was still alive, but she took more of a beating than he did so he understood why she was still unconscious.
Koga examined the state of her wounds. The stab wounds she bore had closed and seemed to already be healing. He guessed the soft moss she was laying on had soaked up her blood and helped it to clot and close. However, her leg would have to be set, otherwise she would never be able to walk again. He didn't need to have knowledge in healing to know that. He gently brushed at her furs as he tried to get a better look, that being what it took to cause Yozora to jolt awake. She sat up quickly, but since th cave was so small, she ended up hitting her head on the ceiling of the cave. Yozora let out a startled yelp, holding her forehead in pain. Koga couldn't control himself, letting out a snort of laughter.
"Don't worry, it's just me." he told her, offering a friendly smile. Yozora was tense from pain, laying back down as she gripped her wounded stomach. Koga watched her as she stared up at the roof of the cave in silence, letting her keep to her thoughts. His eyes flashed slightly with interest when she turned her head to lock her gaze with his.
"You killed it?" she asked quiety, causing Koga to simply nod. Yozora watched him for a few moments before diverting her gaze so he couldn't see the emotion in her eyes, but Koga caught it easily. Yozora propped herself up on her elbows in order to look down at her body. She tried to move her broken leg, wincing in pain the instant it lifted off the ground. Koga waited for her to get used to the situation.
"Your wounds are pretty bad. You should come with me to the mountains, we have healers there." Koga said, offering a hand so he could carry her out of their temporary residence. Yozora shook her head, beginning to shuffle herself out of the enclosed space without putting any weight on her bad leg.
"I can't leave my wolves." she said as she worked her way out. Koga stared at her, unable to help but feel concerned. Didn't she know they were all killed? He wasn't sure of what to say. Being around Kagome had taught him how to be sensitive, even if it was to a small degree.
"Yozora...they're gone." Koga said quietly, but she didn't seem to be listening to him. Koga followed her out, eyeing her as she attempted to stand. Yozora winced in pain the second her bad leg touched the ground, losing her balance and falling forward. Koga quickly grabbed her before she could hit the ground. Yozora pushed his hands off her waist, causing Koga to jerk back in confusion.
"I don't need your help." she snapped, struggling to pull herself onto all fours. She began to drag herself in the direction of the charred forest. Koga felt an array of emotions from admiration and frustration. It was noble of her to want to save her pack, but it was also foolish to wander around in her condition. He walked infront of her, kneeling to block her path and become level with her.
"I won't stop you from going back. But at least let me carry you. If anyone is still alive, they won't be by the time you get there in your condition." Koga reasoned, shocking even himself. Yozora stared at him, her dark blue eyes blazing. After a few moments, she calmed down, nodding silently. Koga took that as an invitation to offer his strong back to her. Yozora climbed on without a word, and Koga lifted her with ease, starting off toward the destroyed woodland.
Koga walked at a steady pace, looking around at the blackened wasteland that was once lush with vibrancy and life. The thought made Koga angry, feeling like something precious was stolen. The only sound in their current radius was that of the crunching of dry leaves and twigs underneath Koga's feet. The silence was eerie and made Koga's fur stand on edge.
As he walked deeper through the ash-blanketed forest, a sharper scent hit his nose that made his stomach churn uncomfortably. He looked onward, squinting his eyes at a heap on the ground a few metres ahead. As he neared, he felt his chest tighten when he realized it was a girl, her entire body burnt black. He attempted to turn away so Yozora couldn't see, but he wasn't quick enough.
"S...Suna!" Yozora screeched, jerking herself off of Koga's back with great force. She dragged herself over to her comrade's charred body, visibly trembling as she mourned for her deceased friend. Koga had to look away because the sight was reminding him of all the times he mourned for lost comrades, but his heart went out to her. Koga heard the sound of footsteps, instantly going on the defensive. He stayed close to Yozora defensively, waiting for whoever was near to show their face. He couldn't scent anything because of the thick smog that lingered in the air. His eyes widened in shock when he saw Ginta leading a small patrol, their eyes meeting with equal thoughts.
"Koga! We finally found you!" Ginta exclaimed, running over to him, the others following close behind. Koga met him half-way.
"What are you doing here?" Koga asked, feeling uplifted and relieved to see familiar faces.
"We saw the smoke in the direction you left in. So I gathered a small pack to come find you." Ginta explained. Koga rested a firm hand on his friend's shoulder in a gesture of appreciation, nodding approvingly. He could see the uneasiness in his Beta's eyes, understanding quite easily why he was on-edge. It was hard not to be, being surrounded by death and decay.
Ginta blinked when he noticed Yozora, looking back at Koga.
"Who's that?" Ginta asked in a hushed voice, causing Koga to look behind him and over to the woman who looked like a heap of black furs from the way she was crouched down.
"The Alpha." Koga said simply, walking back over to her. She spoke before he had a chance to, silencing him.
"You should head home with your pack." she said in a pensive tone, keeping her eyes down. Koga narrowed his eyes at her, feeling impatient.
"And leave you here for the crows? You're mourning, I get that. That doesn't mean you have to throw your life away!" Koga snapped. Yozora tensed slightly but didn't flinch. Koga felt bad for yelling, but he didn't know what else to do. He couldn't just fling her over his shoulder and take her home against her will. That wasn't his way anymore.
"I..." Yozora began, suddenly snapping her head up and staring at the trees. Koga heard it too, a faint noise. He waited for it to sound again, hearing it more clearly once it did.
"Yozora!" a voice not too far off called, causing Yozora to gasp.
"Mokuzai!" she called back desperately. The distant sound of rustling leaves was heard, growing louder by the second. Mokuzai, two wolf demons and three wolves came to a hault at higher ground, looking down at the unfamiliar wolf demons below. He bore his fangs, leading the small pack down the hill to challenge the intruders. While his and Koga's wolves howled and intercepted each other, Mokuzai ran past Koga and right towards Yozora. He fell to his knees, scooping Yozora up in an embrace.
Koga watched the display, eyes widening slightly as he felt a small pang of disappointment he didn't quite understand. Ah, so it was like that, huh. He quickly pushed the thought away. What did he have to be jealous about? He didn't want this woman. Clearing his head, he turned his attention on the fight that was about to break out.
"I'm so happy you're alive." Mokuzai breathed with his head buried in her shoulder. It was an interesting display, since he was almost twice her size, and easily taller than Koga.
"And I, you. How did you escape? Where did you go?" Yozora asked him, burrying herself in his thick furs comfortingly. Mokuzai was about to respond, but Koga beat him to it.
"Hey! Control your wolves!" Koga snapped, causing Mokuzai to snarl and look to Yozora for answers. She nodded lightly.
"He saved my life. I would have died if he didn't find me when he did. And he killed the serpent that terrorized our brothers and sisters." she explained. Mokuzai's eyes went wide at this information, shooting a hostile glance at Koga. He slowly relaxed, raising an arm to signal to his pack to settle down. He unwrapped his arms from Yozora's body, walking over to stand next to Koga. Koga twitched one eyebrow, not fond of having to look up at this wolf demon.
"Thank you. I don't know what I would have done if-" Mokuzai began, but Koga cut him off.
"Save it. I didn't do it for you," Koga scoffed, crossing his arms. Mokuzai stared down at him through narrowed eyes, obviously annoyed he was interrupted.
"You lot have no where else to go. My offer still stands. We have food, shelter, and we can heal your wounded. You can stay here and die, or come with me and survive."
Mokuzai was outraged, standing toe-to-toe with Koga.
"Who are you to give us orders like that?" Mokuzai snarled in Koga's face. Koga simply glared back, not intimidated.
"I accept your offer." Yozora's voice cut in, causing the two brute men to turn their heads in unison and stare at her.
"What?!" Mokuzai gasped, stunned.
"If I had not sent Koga away, we would have been safe in the mountains, and all our friends would still be alive. I will not make that mistake again." Yozora explained, causing Mokuzai to hang his head in submission. Koga stared at her, moved by her reasoning. She must be blaming herself for what happened. Koga knew the feeling.
"Let's get something clear first," Koga began, catching everyone's attention.
"Although I'm offering you hospitality, don't think for one second that I'll let you try anything funny. Touch any of my wolves and you'll wish the serpent got to you." he said rather harshly, gaining some growls in response, including Yozora. He knew he needed to set boundaries and make it clear he was serious.
"Understood." Yozora replied silently staring up at Koga evenly. She looked tired and her eyes had less fire than when he had first met her, but he didn't blame her for it. She must be feeling devastated. He was impressed at how well she was holding it together in front of her pack-mates.
Koga held her gaze before nodding, signaling to Ginta and Hakkaku that they were leaving. Mokuzai knelt to pick up Yozora to carry her, being surprisingly gentle despite his large size. He hushed the complaintive whines from the distrusting wolves, following Koga's lead to the mountains.