Rin did not ask why the strange girl called Kagome joined their group. Rin took one look at her empty eyes and realized that Kagome needed a friend.
The first order of business was to fix that wound on her back. Rin took Kagome to a river.
Rin took a cloth and washed the jagged cut on Kagome's back.
"Kagome?"
Kagome did not wince when Rin smeared the poultice onto the cut.
Rin had been taught by a kind old lady in the village how to make the poultice one night after the villagers had caught Rin stealing bread.
The wounds had been harsh.
Kagome looked back at Rin.
"Yes?"
Rin tied a piece of cloth around Kagome. The cloth would hold the poultice on. Rin hesitated.
"How did you get this?"
Kagome pulled her shirt back on.
"A demon. A very bad demon."
Rin touched the place where the cut was, gently.
"Well, you're safe now. Lord Sesshomaru will protect you." Kagome smiled, looking tired.
Koga had been keeping an eye on Kagome. Okay, he had been following her.
Her scent mingled with blood, which made Koga feel cold. Had that mutt, Inuyasha, allowed Kagome to get injured?
Worse still, he smelled other scents he did not recognize with her. Had she been kidnapped?
Koga ran faster than he had ever run. But could you blame him? He loved her.