note: means telepathy...ok?..ok...read on!
Wolfsong Chapter 8
Thwack!
Song winced as Sesshomaru's staff cut through her defenses to smack her in the ribs. Rolling away, she came to her feet alongside him and whipped her bow staff into an arch; planting it against her hip as the far end struck him across the chest, bouncing it off his collarbone. Grunting at the impact, he spun to face her and struck at her chest. Dropping down and to the right, she let his strike pass harmlessly over her left shoulder, came up under his guard, and brought her own staff up between his legs hard enough to catch his armor, lift him off the ground and throw him back. Moving faster then she ever had in her life, she quickly pinned him down by lightly resting the end of her bow on his throat.
"Game", she whispered harshly as her breath rasped in her throat.
Sesshomaru climbed to his feet, "You are dismissed. Well done half-breed."
Grinning like an idiot at her first confirmed win, Song bowed and limped off to the baths. She had been training with Sesshomaru since she had arrived 6 months ago and today she had earned her first victory.
I still can't touch him with a blade though….bastard.
Reaching the bathing chambers within the palace, Song was joined by one of her old pack sisters, New Moon.
Moon was a blood-sister to Lotus and was just as lovely barring the lattice of scars that marred her creamy golden skin. New Moon was a well known warrior; her silken black hair pulled back into a single thick braid and her black inu ears were pierced with small, silvery bronze hoops, as was the base of her inky tail. She had piercing orange-yellow eyes with hints of fiery red that glowed like banked coals, or molten iron. A thin blade passed itself off as a hair ornament in her braid and a bronze case containing three tiny throwing stars made up the clasp at the end of the hip length braid. Today, as always, she wore a short, snug black leather vest that stopped two inches below her breasts and a pair of hakamas that matched her eyes, leaving her arms, hands, and feet bare.
Song smiled and paused to clasp her wrist in greeting before stripping off her sweat soaked clothes and sinking into a tub of hot water.
Moon perched nearby; cleaning her nails with the hidden blade in her hair.
"How was your match?"
Song groaned, "Awful. But I finally managed to lay him out. He'll probably get me back for it later, though. Oh, and thanks for the bow help. He would've beaten me again without it."
Moon chuckled, flashing a fanged grin as she changed the subject. "Lotus is due to pup today. She asked me to tell you that the pups should be born tonight at dusk…and to congratulate you on your win."
Song chuckled, "One of these days she is going to See the wrong thing and I'll laugh. I still haven't gotten used to the fact she can see the future…a Seer…Mother and father would never believe it."
Moon laughed, the rich sound bouncing off the bathing chamber walls, startling the lesser dog demon folding towels nearby. "My parents were the same. They always thought my expertise with weapons was just a talent. They never realized it was one of my abilities."
Song snorted, "I can't imagine how they missed the fact that their own daughter knew how to use a weapon just by picking it up. Lotus had the more obvious potential for talents like that, though….not that she ever needed them with half the males competing for her favor. She's changed though…hasn't she?"
Moon sheathed her tiny blade and nodded. "Yes. Life on the road was harsh and here at the palace she was just another pretty face. She even had me teach her knife fighting. A good thing too since I've caught wind of her defending herself more then once. She has amazing eye to hand coordination. And her Sight allows her to anticipate her target. It's fascinating to watch her fight."
Song chuckled and, deciding she had soaked long enough, began to scrub the last bits of dirt and sweat from her skin. "I'm sure it is. Where are the others?"
Moon blinked, "Lotus Moon is in her chambers, Nightfire is on her way here…and Brightfeather is with Shadowfox guarding Lotus. Why?"
Song rinsed and stepped out of the now murky water. "I was just curious. And Lotus will never forgive me if I miss the birth of her pups." Drying herself quickly, she dressed in a fresh, clean pair of hakamas and a wrap tunic and turned to face New Moon, "Lets go-"
"Sister!"
Night fire strode into the bathing chamber. Windsong laughed and clasped her wrist, "Shouldn't you be with Lotus? Dusk isn't far off."
Night fire gestured to the fires lighting the room and heating the great tubs of water for soaking. "Just here to check on my spells. Heading that way your self's, eh?"
Now, Night fire was a true example of the diversity of their pack. A Neko hanyou, she had rich, coffee colored skin and beautiful sea colored eyes that couldn't decide if they wanted to be blue or green. Red-gold hair tumbled over her shoulders in curly waves and she was dressed a bit more flamboyant then her two sisters. She wore a sleeveless wrap tunic in a red-gold that matched her hair and was decorated with strange symbols in inky black. Beneath that she wore a snug black shirt with full sleeves that belled out before being gathered up into snug black leather wrist wraps studded with fiery colored stones. Her hakamas were black as well with more strange symbols like those on her over tunic done in red-gold trailing along the outside of each leg. Snug to the knee before flaring to be gathered up again mid-shin by black leather ankle wraps that matched the ones on her wrist, they allowed her freedom of movement unhampered by extra fabric. Neat, slim black shoes with no heel and a slim black katana completed her ensemble.
"Well " , said New Moon once Nightfire had finished with her spells, "We had better get moving, or we will be late for certain."
Night fire and Song nodded and followed their pack sister out into the hall. Chatting quietly among themselves, they made good time; stopping only to allow Nightfire to renew the odd spell or three. As though they had timed it, the sun was just showing its fiery colors as they paused outside Lotus Moon's door.
Knocking twice, New Moon entered, her sisters following. Immediately a black kitsune with silver molting stepped out of the shadows by the door.
"Greetings sisters, Lotus should be entering labor any moment now."
Shadowfox was petite and fine boned; an assassin trained by Sesshomaru himself. Clothed simply, she wore a sleeveless tunic like Nightfire's, but hers was a dark charcoal grey and was belted with a deep purple sash that matched her eyes. The under tunic was a deep shade of grey blue with long , slightly loose sleeves that were gathered up into snug cuffs along her forearm. Her legs were clothed, not with hakamas, but with loose leggings to match the over tunic and she wore soft felt boots colored a dusty black. Her slanted violet eyes were not unlike her sister Nightfire's sea colored ones and her skin was moon-pale; and as lustrous as crushed pearls in the moonlight. Her midnight tresses were molted with subtle silver patches and were caught up in intricate braids that wound about her head and left her ears free to move. The smallest of her sisters, she was certainly the most deadly as demons and humans alike constantly underestimated her.
Clasping wrists with each of them, she motioned for them to follow her as another hanyou stepped out of the inner chamber.
"Your going to be late sisters; hurry."
The four hanyous exchanged glances and smiles as they followed the last of their pack, Brightfeather. Brightfeather was a raptor hanyou; what kind of raptor remained a mystery as she had a bit of all of them. Bright piercing golden eyes and brown waves rich with red were currently flowing about her shoulders and down her back to mingle with the feathers running down her spine; freed from their usual twisted bun. Her dusky skin made her eyes seem lighter and more vivid and was laced with scars not unlike New Moon's; avian scales peppered her arms. Slightly pointed ears poked through her hair and a pair of immense, reddish brown wings streaked with creamy white along the primary's and specked with a dark, chocolately brown all over were folded along her spine. Her clothing was minimal; her top had no back and fastened behind her neck and below her wings, behind her back. Her sleek midriff was bare and she wore leather breeches that sat low on her hips and wove up the outside of each leg, showing a large strip of golden skin from hip to knee before flaring out to pool over her feet. A slim peacock-like tail that matched her wings flared out slightly behind her as she walked. Intense and aloof as any bird of prey, she was their Healer; both of the body, and of the mind.
Together, they entered Lotus's bed chamber, and stood protectively about their pup swollen sister.
"Its….begun", she gasped as the last of them greeted her. Smiling with shared joy, they all began to sing, chanting the birth-song of their family as Lotus swayed to its hypnotic rhythm.
Windsong felt her breath hitch when Sesshomaru suddenly burst in to take his place at his mate's side. An almost painful squeeze in her chest made it hard to breathe properly as her longing to be held by her own mate overwhelmed her. Swallowing hard, Song struggled to keep the rhythm as Brightfeather caught wind of her struggle.
'/, here sister…give me your pain…share the burden that it not drag you down; now, when our sister needs us most '/,
Song sighed in relief as her sorrow melted away at her sister's mental touch; and smiled as she was filled with peace and joy in return.
The labor was short and swift; all three pups passed with an ease unheard of by humans. Slowly they let the birth-song fade as the last pup was cleaned and returned to Lotus. Purring happily, they each in turn nuzzled each pup; memorizing their scents as pack.
The first two pups were tiny males; perfect and healthy. The firstborn looked just like his father, the secondborn had his mother's blue eyes, his aunt's black hair, and his cheek stripes were gold. And the final pup was a delicately made female that had red-gold hair, vibrant sea green eyes, and delicate jade colored cheek stripes.
Song couldn't take it. Holding her niece, she felt the numbing from Brightfeather fade away. Burying her nose in the pups silky hair, she let her nose fill with the newness of its scent and shuddered as tears pricked her eyes. Blinking quickly, she pled exsuastion, congratulated them once again, and fled.
'/, He will come for you, sister…he will come '/,
Tears streaked her cheeks as, instead of heading to her room, she snagged the Tetsusiaga and her bow staff, and slipped out to the dojo to practice. Channeling her loneliness and grief, she flowed from one kata to the next, each increasing her speed and complexity. She worked til her muscles trembled in true exsaustion and sweat soaked her clothes, making them cling to her skin. Slowly, she ran through the simplest of the katas Sesshomaru had taught her, cooling down as she slowed. Slowly coming to a stop, she noticed she wasn't alone.
"Hello, Sesshomaru, shouldn't you be up with your mate and new pups?"
"You are ready", he stated coolly, ignoring her question. "Your mate should reach my palace tomorrow at dawn. It is time for you to return to him. Be ready."
Song gaped at him. "But I-"
"Do you question this Sesshomaru's authority?"
Windsong shook her head in denial; speechless.
"He has sent messengers since you came into my charge. I have told him he may visit my lands and attempt to win you back. If he fails, he must not return."
Song stiffened, "He didn't drive me away, Sesshomaru. I left because it became apparent to me that I was not good enough to fight beside him, or in his stead."
Sesshomaru stepped closer, narrowing his gaze at her quiet defiance. "I have trained you, kept your training secret from your mate, clothed you, fed you, housed you…and you dare to defy this Sesshomaru?"
Song raised her gaze to look him in the eye, her jaw firm with her stubbornness. "Yes. He is my mate and I will return to him whether you approve of it or not!"
Sesshomaru paused, "You have proven worthy of my father's sword and for that I will dismiss your unruly behavior." Stepping forward again, he unsheathed the sword Tokijin. "Now…defend yourself."
Windsong sighed and drew Tetsusiaga, "This will be a short fight. Must you always challenge me when I'm already exsuasted?"
Sesshomaru growled, "An enemy will not care if you are tierd, or not. Now …fight."
Flowing smoothly into a defensive crouch, she flashed a grim, fanged grin. "Very well then….my Lord."
A breeze swirled about them as they circled the dojo; each looking for a hole in the other's defenses. Then suddenly, they came together with a clash of blades. Snarls and oaths mixed with the crash of mythical attacks and the ring of blade on blade filled the building.
Windsong spoke true…the battle was a short one. In a matter of moments, she found herself on the run from his blade. Knowing she would need to turn the tables somehow, she waited for her chance. Feeling her energy slip away as he forced her to dodge attacks left and right, she called on her miko powers.
Sheathing herself in miko energy and pumping it through her system to replace her lost energy, she finally saw her opening. Moments later she had disarmed him and her blade rested against his throat.
"Game."
Panting for breath, she released the purity energy. Sesshomaru sheathed his blade and bowed to her. Gaping in shock, she barely managed her own bow.
"Go prepare yourself…I will send for you at dawn."
Nodding, she watched him leave til a flicker of movement nearby caught her eye. Wearily, she turned to face it, sword at the ready.
"Who's there-"
Shock froze the words on her lips as the intruder stepped out of the shadows and into the light.
"Kouga?!"
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It was too much to take; Song fainted dead away. His weary, pained face the last thing she saw as he caught her falling body.
Kouga sighed and cradled his prone mate against his chest. It had been far too long since he had held her; much too long. A whimper slipped past his lips as he buried his face in the crook of her neck. Her scent washed over him and for the first time in months he was whole again. He sighed as instantly the beast within calmed and was content once again. A purr rumbled up as he scooped his prize into his arms and he smiled.
"I've missed you…wench."
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Author's note: Ok! There it is! I'm still working on the next chapter so I don't know when it'll be up. Plus I'm working on getting a new job…mmmyeah…but enough of that, read and review please! Thanks and enjoy!
One more thing….its now early spring right when things start warming up. Her parents died a year ago in the early spring, she was found by Kouga late spring/early summer and they became mates in the fall. She left right before winter started and now we have come full circle ….just thought I'd put that out there….Toodles!
