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Chapter 3
She walked deep into the forest for about an hour, then stopped in a small clearing, to bask in the sunlight with closed eyes and take in the various scents that surrounded her. 'It smells...fresh, the sounds create a peaceful and calming feel to me. She opened her eyes, smiled, then took off running with incredible speed. 'This, this is so thrilling, it's alost the same as flying through the air but, my blood is heating. I...I love this.' She ran for hours to stretch and push her muscles, learning her limits.
Dusk was upon her, so she came to a walk again, feeling a bit parched and hungry. She stopped, feeling a prescence ahead. She scented the air, her notrils flaring, catching the scent of a buck. Prism eyes tinted crimson, she lowered herself to a crouch and began approaching the unsuspecting stag. With quick speed, she pounced on her prey, digging the claws of her left hand into its back and her right through his chest, encasing his erratic beating heart in a tight grasp. She dug her claws into his heart, causing the stag to fall to the ground immediately.
Slowly, she pulled her blood covered hand out of its chest and found herself mesmerized with the sight of the blood. She brought her a hand a bit higher to get a better look, then sniffed and licked the blood off her hand. A very slight rustling sound to her right drew her out of her blood musing, a little irritated that she was not paying attention to her surroundings.
With a silent vow to herself to not let it happen again, she pushed her aura towards the being in the brush, certain to only use a little so she wouldn't frighten it. She could tell the being was a youkai, small, nervous, curious, and starved by scent alone. "You have no need to fear me. I will not cause you any harm. I can tell that you are starved. Come, I will share my kill with you little one." She could literally taste the unease and curiosity from the little being, but hunger had obviously won out, because it slowly came forward with extreme caution.
'Hmm, it seems to be a young, male, kitsune. Alone? What has happened to his pack to cause him to travel alone, I wonder.' Slicing large strips of bloodied meat for the fox demon, she gently placed it on the grass away from her person. She nudged him a little with her aura, causing him to relax a bit more visibly. He approached and picked up the meat, sniffed it, then shoved it whole into his mouth, devouring it within seconds. Her eye brows shot up and her eyes widened at the sight. 'Definitely starving,' she mused to herself. The kitsune quickly apologized for his behavior and thanked her genuinely, licking the blood off his fingers.
The kitsune looked at the woman whom was sharing her meal with him. 'She's different. Very different. I can't smell her scent and only get feel of her aura from her nudging me with it here and there. What is she? Where'd she come from?' He asked himself these questions, lost in his studying of her his breath hitched when she looked upon him, their eyes connecting for the first time. 'Her eyes...they're so beautiful! I've never seen anyone with those type of eyes. It reminds me of the vibrant colors that can be seen in the sky with sunlight after rainfall, but with a more brilliant shine.' Realization struck him as he noticed that he was staring intently into her eyes. He could feel a powerful, old magic within those brilliant prism eyes of hers. Blushing, he quickly averted his eyes, looking somewhere into the forest instead. Clearing his throat he said, "Forgive me, it was rude of me to stare like that." She only smiled at him and placed more strips of meat before him.
"May I ask, um, what your name is and what kind of youkai you are?" She stopped chewing her food with a startle and looked to him again, but with confusion in her eyes this time. Swallowing her food, she tilted her head to the side and repeated in a questioning tone, "Name? Youkai?" He realized then that she was truthfully confused. She had no idea what he was talking about. Clearing his throat once more, he indulged a little further with her.
"Um, yea like what it is that they call you and type of natural creature you are beneath the skin." For a moment they sat there in silence blinking at each other. She tilted her head on the opposite side from where it was and looked out into the forest. He could tell that she was thoroughly confused and disturbed by it as well. That's when he also realized that this woman was entirely naked! Quickly averting his eyes, his cheeks tinted pink, he stammered out, "Um, why are you naked and alone in the eastern forest? Don't you know that there are many males ningen and youkai that wouldn't think twice to capture you and use your body to sate their desires?" She looked at him again, with a blank expression. In a very low voice she replied, "They could try and fail painfully. As for your questions little kit, I do not have or even know if I have what you call a name. Nor do I know what type of youkai, as you have said, I am. As for your last question, I am as I was when I was awakened by the kamigami no shisha. Tell me kit, what is it that you are called, your name?"
Eyes wide and mouth hanging open from her explanation, he shook his head and asked," Wait, did you just say that you were 'awakened' by a Kamigami no shisha?! That's...that's just..." Her head tilted again and she grinned at his stammering. He shook his head and tried to speak again. "Sorry, I mean, my name is Shippo. I come from the far end of the eastern forest, where it meets the north. My parents were murdered by ningen men in uniform. There is a horrifying battle waging in home between the ningen army and the kasshoku ookami tribe. They are the cousins of the Northern Lord Osamu, leader of the kuro ookami tribe. Ningen and youkai have been at war for a while now, the ningens wanting more land and to rule over youkai as well. My family and I were driven from my home once the war started. My okaa and otou were both killed during our escape." It grew deafeningly quiet after his explanation, great sorrow and a slight bit of despair souring his scent and aura.
Looking her in the eyes again, with a look of seriousness and determination he stated," You are new to this world. I will keep you so that you won't be lost or alone."
She slowly nodded, accepting his demand. Despite the fact that he was definitely correct in his statements, it was also very clear that he was lonely and afraid. 'I shall keep you as well little one.' She voiced internally, smiling from the warm feeling that crept into her chest. Shippo nodded in return, satisfied that she had not rejected him, then began again. "Since you have no name, may I give you a name?" Once she gave a nod he said, "I think niji would be a good match for you, but I think I will call you Iris." She tilted her head again, causing him to giggle. "You see, my sofu traveled to different lands, bringing books of legends and stories of old back with him.
I learned of different cultures and their beliefs, Greek being my sofus' favorite. There is a goddess by the name of Iris, and I think that name fits you perfectly." He nodded with a smile at the last part of his words. She stared at him for a moment. Watching how each of his emotions would give off a color in his aura, it was both amusing and mesmerizing. 'Hmm, he does not wish to be alone. 'I need to find why exactly I am here. I'm looking for something...I can feel it, but is only but a soft drum in the background. I also wish to know what it is I am as well. I feel...lost, but home. It is strange, that feeling'.She smiled at Shippo and nodded, causing him to smile relief and joy. Both were startled out of their musings by the howl of a wolf. Shippo looked at Iris and said, "We should probably get moving if you're done Iris. There's going to be another attack and I'm not sure which will attack first, but I do know that I don't want us to be in the middle of it." With an affirmative nod, Iris raised from the ground, wiping the blood from her mouth with her arm.
"First Iris, you need to bathe. You can't just walk around with blood smeared upon your face like that. It'll attract predators and prey. I know where a hot spring is that should be safe to use. While you're bathing, I'll see if I can find you some clothes." With that he turned around, leading his new companion to a hot spring, grateful to longer be alone. 'Even if I don't know what she is or who she is, I feel no ill will from her. Plus, she said the kamigami no shisha awakened her meaning she's of the kamis. Who knows what her powers are! I mean just look at her appearance, it's obvious she's not from here or anywhere in the world even. Taking her to Lord Osamu might be the best route to take. He'll know what to do when he sees her.' With his inner debate done, he turned to make sure Iris was following. She admiring and lightly touching everything they passed, leaving it with little tendrils of light only a youkai could see. The plants seemed to become brighter and healthier with her touch. 'Yep, definitely a good idea to take her to Lord Osamu.'
-wWw-
Lord Osamu awoke hours before the sunrise to a feeling of loss. Sitting up in his futon, he gazed out his windows, trying to understand why he would feel that way. 'It is as if I am missing something important.' Noticing that there was an agitated aura outside the screen to his chambers, he realized it was his son, Isamu. Rising out of his futon and slipping on his hakamas, covering his manhood with ease. Placing his haori upon his shoulders, he opened the shoji screen, inviting his son inside. Isamu passed him swiftly, turned and knelt on one knee. "Father, word from the mountain tunnel arrived. There was a disturbance, for the guards report that they were placed under some spell which caused them to fall asleep. When they awoke, they immediately sent word to the castle by one soldier. They did not enter the mountain to find anything for fear of your wrath. We must go check the mountain, sire."
He was almost snarling from this news. It hadn't even been eight hours and already there was trouble! Taking a deep breath to calm his self, Osamu nodded and turned to finish dressing. After placing his sword within his obi, he called to his son, "Come, Isamu, we must go and check the mountain tunnel and cave as you have said. I feel, my son, that when we arrive there, we will not be happy."
