Two days later, Tora managed to slip away again, heading to the border. Her sisters were still giving her grief about the death of Ushi and it was really getting on her nerves. But what was on her mind right now was the fact she needed to talk to Raiju.
Something wasn't sitting right with her.
She wasn't sure if those rogue Koga just happened on their camp or if someone had told them where the Iga lived. Tora hoped it wasn't the latter and, more importantly, hoped it wasn't the Koga she held close to her heart.
What if…? No, it wasn't true. Raiju wasn't the one responsible for the death of her sister. She didn't believe it was him. He wouldn't do that to her, not at all.
Soon, she had arrived at the border and sat down to wait for Raiju. It wasn't too long before he arrived.
Tora got to her paws slowly and stared evenly at the Koga's eyes before her nerve broke.
"What is it?" Raiju asked, padding over to stand beside her. He could tell from her uneasiness that something was wrong, but he wasn't sure what.
Tora shook her head, but seemed to regain her composure in the following minutes of silence. "You weren't the one who told those Koga where the Iga base was, were you?"
Raiju instantly replied. "I didn't."
Tora noted his instant answer, but was content with his reply. "Thank you," she replied. After a moment, she sat back down, raising a hind leg to scratch an ear. Now that she had heard the truth from Raiju, she felt happier and her concerns disappeared.
Raiju, however, frowned slightly and an ear flicked back in displeasure. He was lying to her and he knew it. How could she not notice? He shook his head. He supposed it didn't matter; she could find out later when it was time. Heh… Raiju mentally laughed.
The pair continued to talk until the sun started its descent in the sky, prompting Tora to bolt to her paws after she had gotten intimate with her Koga. The knotting had surprised her, but she figured all male dogs did that when they mated with females. How else were litters born?
She thanked Raiju for his company and the discussion they'd had, before hurrying back to her own camp. Tora didn't want her sisters even angrier.
By the time she got back to the Iga camp, her father was on lookout duty – something he rarely did these days. But Tora supposed it was because of the rogue Koga's recently. He turned his head when he saw her and called her name.
"Tora! I was so worried."
Tora felt bad when she saw the anxiety in his expression. "Sorry, dad. I was out walking." She had had a quick swim in the nearby stream after the mating was over, so there shouldn't be any scent of Koga on her.
Hakutaka studied her, despite his ageing, weary eyes. "You say that every time, Tora, but what are you really doing? I do have to wonder."
Keeping her alarm to herself, Tora's eyes widened at her father's statement. Did he possibly know what was going on, what she was doing behind their backs? She desperately hoped not; it was still too early to have been found out.
"I'll go and eat and get some rest. Thanks for the concern, dad. I'm fine." Tora padded off, mindful to keep her gait even until she had gone from her father's eyesight. Feeling his eyes on her back, she almost started sweating.
