CHAPTER FOUR: Zero Days Since Last Death
"Do you sense anything?" Hoshitaba asked his female companion as they moved soundlessly through the trees to avoid detection.
"The earth below us is compressed and the undergrowth is torn. Something big passed through here, and my guess is that it was bears." Tokkan replied, keeping her gaze fixed ahead of her. She suddenly signaled for them to stop, crouching on a thick branch as she surveyed the area below. A human girl lay sprawled out on the ground with an evident slash wound across her back. Tokkan couldn't see any sign of bears, but something felt wrong. Why would this human get attacked, but not eaten? She watched as the girl struggled to pull herself to her feet, crying out for help after her vain attempt.
"Koga would want us to help her." Hoshitaba commented, appearing less weary about the situation than Tokkan.
"You're right." Tokkan agreed with a nod, jumping down from the shield of leaves and onto the ground beside the human girl. She appeared to be estranged, not even noticing them while she cowered in fear.
"They're coming...someone help me...they're coming..." the young girl cried helplessly. Tokkan and Hoshitaba exchanged a fearful look, snapping their attention to the oncoming noise, which was closing in from all around them.
"I should have known this was a trap. Hoshitaba, get out of her quick-" Tokkan began, deep blue eyes widening as she watched her comrade become impaled by a sharp talons belonging to their despised enemy.
"No!" Tokkan cried, grabbing hold of Hoshitaba and ripping him away from the bear demon before it had a chance to do further damage. Hoshitaba coughed up blood as he leaned against Tokkan's chest, breathing ragged.
"I-it's too late for me, you have to get out of here." The injured male said through clenched teeth. Tokkan felt panic arise within her as she eyed the five bear demons who had them surrounded, looking down at her comrade as more blood ejected from his throat.
"You aren't going anywhere. You can go die, while we dissect the female." a skinny bear demon sneered as it swiped a jagged paw towards them. Tokkan supported Hoshitaba's weight as she leapt in the air with him, aiming for the protection of the trees. She almost made it, but one of the bear demons had jumped and clamped its jaws around her ankle, swinging her to the ground with great force. The impact separated the pair of wolf demons, leaving them both writhing in pain in the dirt. Tokkan had landed on her back, void of injury to her pregnant belly. She attempted to get to her feet, but sharp claws met the side of her face to throw her back down. Each time she tried to get back up again, another bear demon had its turn with dealing a blow. They were playing with her, intending for her to have a slow and painful death. Tokkan struggled to her feet, body shaking from torment, barely even conscious. She braced herself for another blow, eyes widening when she witnessed a flash, and then the decapitation of the demon who was aiming for her. Not a second later, she was scooped up gently and laid down a safe distance away. Tokkan blinked hazy eyes up at Yozora, shocked to see it was her.
"Hoshitaba is still there...please save him..." Tokkan said weakly before passing out from exhaustion. Yozora stood, clenching Oshikakushu tightly as she raced back toward the puzzled bear demons. She didn't want them following her to Tokkan, and she had every intent to do everything in her power to save Hoshitaba.
"It's cowardly to torture an opponent." Yozora growled as she swung her mighty halberd at one of the bear demons, slicing off its arm with ease. It reared back in agony, only angering the others even more. Yozora ran towards Hoshitaba, who was laying motionlessly on the ground, but a female bear demon stood in the way to block access to him. Another, more agile beast moved in close, and Yozora raised her weapon quickly to block a powerful hit. The bear demon reacted quickly, entangling its long claws in the halberd and jerking it away before ramming its head into the night-haired female, sending her tumbling through bush and dirt. It raced toward her, not giving her a chance to recover as it bared its fangs, intending to embedd them into her flesh.
Yozora rolled away at the last second, kicking its head away with great force. She got to her feet swiftly, running towards Oshikakushu, but before she could make it, a mangy-looking bear demon tackled her to the ground with a force so great it knocked the wind out of her. She fought with its fangs, gripping the two canines with all her strength to stop it from tearing out her throat. The sharp fangs were slowly inching closer to her as the beast overwhelmed the wolf. Yozora cringed when she could feel the tips of the beast's fangs ripping into the flesh at her neck, turning her head at the sound of rushing footsteps. She recognized Koga moments later, who had mounted the beast that was pinning her down, grabbing its head between his hands and twising it upside down with great force. The beast fell limp on top of Yozora, and she pushed the vile creature off herself with some difficulty. Koga offered her a hand, to which she accepted, getting to her feet.
"I moved Tokkan to a safer place. They've taken Hoshitaba hostage." Yozora updated him, causing him to nod simply. Koga took a gander at the scene, noticing she had killed one by herself and managed to injure one more. Koga couldn't deny it; he was impressed. But he would save his praise for later; more important matters needed to be dealt with at the moment.
"They may be big, but they're clumsy. I'll trip the one on the right so that it falls into the one behind it. You'll have an opening to retrieve Hoshitaba before they can recover." Koga said to Maruishi, gaining a nod. He looked to Yozora next.
"Go back to Tokkan and protect her." Koga ordered. His words seemed to displease the young female, that being obvious by the shock on her face.
"But I can fight-" Yozora tried to argue, getting cut off by the enraged wolf prince.
"Now!" he snapped, holding her challenging gaze with ease. Yozora drew back, yanking her halberd out of the ground before running back toward where she left Tokkan.
Koga bounded forward with incredible speed, kicking the right-most bear demon's legs from under it and sending it tumbling backwards into its likeness. The female guarding Hoshitaba was left stunned, giving Maruishi the opportunity to carry out the rest of the plan. He reached Hoshitaba, void of hesitation as he snaked an arm underneath the unconscious male to carry him. The female bear demon let out a hostile growl, swiping a paw at the fleeing wolves. Maruishi dodged the swoop only by an inch, successfuly finding himself out of range from the bear demons. Once they were out of danger, Koga didn't have a reason to hold back. Flexing his Goraishi, he slashed at the air with great force, sending a sharp wave of energy towards the remaining bear demons which sliced them into pieces. Koga spit on their carcasses, turning his attention to Maruishi and Hoshitaba.
"Is he alive?" Koga asked as he walked over to them. Maruishi was holding Hoshitaba in his lap, looking up at Koga with dismal.
"He's lost too much blood." he said quietly, bowing his head in sadness. The silver-haired wolf demon's shallow breathing ceased moments after Maruishi spoke, eyes turning glassy as life left his body. Yozora continued to support his body, staying vigil.
"I sent him to his death...I'm a fool for letting them go on their own." Koga muttered disdainfully, looking at Maruishi through half-closed eyes when he placed a hand on his shoulder supportively.
"Tokkan is waiting for us. We can still save her and her pups." he said, successfully bringing Koga back. He nodded, bounding away with his loyal companion towards Tokkan and Yozora. The two males found the two females by the river. Yozora stood protectively in front of Tokkan, relaxing when she saw Koga and Maruishi return. Koga hurried over to Tokkan's side, scanning her injuries. He felt a surge of hateful emotions, toward the bear demons as well as himself. He brushed the hair out of her face, the action causing Tokkan to blink open her eyes weakly.
"Hoshitaba...?" Tokkan asked weakly. Koga couldn't look her in the eye as he simply shook his head. The female grew solemn, turning her head away as she began to sob. Koga gently scooped her up in his arms to carry her, not saying anything as he headed in the direction of the mountains. Maruishi and Yozora followed silently.