Chapter 10

Surprise, Surprise

It happened so fast, Shiro never saw it coming. A chilling screech and the roar of falling rocks were the only warnings before the northern alpha's hunting party was encased in inky darkness. The chalky cloud of rubble choked the air, causing the big male to gag as he tried to draw a breath along with the others.

"What was that?" a hunter coughed out.

"Everyone alive?"

"How do we get out of here?"

Already the questions were starting to fly and Shiro was still struggling to just inhale. He should have known better! An abandoned nest, what was he thinking?! However, the Northern alpha didn't have time to berate himself. He had to get his tribe out of here before bad turned to worse.

"Taro," he snapped to his left. "Everyone accounted for?"

"All but Koga and his hunters," the male replied with a stiff nod.

"What? They're out there?"

That couldn't be good. If this was a trap then that meant—

The sudden sharp crack of stone had every Ookami immediately stilling as they watched the high ceiling of their make-shift cell. At first slight, the crisp sound moved across the creased rock, chipping small stones to clatter to the floor. It wasn't till the acute crevices cut through the surface that Shiro brought his spear in front of him.

The abrupt sting of light only blinded the group for a second before they were greeted with the horrifying sight of Birds of Paradise flocking about the ragged brim of the outer walls. With a deep swallow, Shiro watched as more and more gathered about the perimeter with eager hungry gazes. This wasn't a cell. It was a bowl! And, things had just changed from bad to dire.

SSS

"Kagome!"

The young priestess jumped in surprise as she glanced over her shoulder at the excited call. Only Aiko could sound so enthusiastic and frightening at the same time as she glanced about in near frantic haste.

"Over here, Aiko," Kagome called. "What has happened?"

Suddenly, the priestess found herself crushed in a firm and eager embrace as Aiko spun her around with eager glee.

"It's happened, Kagome! It worked."

"What worked?" she grunted out, struggling to breathe through her constricted ribs. "Aiko…..air…."

Suddenly remembering her friend's frailty, the Ookami female quickly released the coughing priestess, practically bouncing with excitement.

It worked. After weeks and months of fruitless effort, it had finally worked. Aiko had been hesitant to request Kagome's aid in this, knowing Shiro's pride was smarting as it was, but, if the human knew something they didn't, she was willing to try anything. Afterall, if her knowledge could help Shiro's father, why not this too?

"The herbs worked," she announced with pride. "It's been confirmed."

Kagome blinked in confusion, trying to piece together her friend's vague words, before her eyes widen with delight.

"You're sure?" she asked, placing a careful hand on the alpha female's stomach. "It worked alright?"

"Yes," Aiko declared. "The mid-wife told me this morning. Soon, the tribe will have new pups, thanks to you."

Kagome blushed in pleased embarrassment. "I don't think you can give me all the credit."

"Still, I couldn't dare hope this would happen without your help."

"Have you told Shiro yet?" Kagome asked as she cleared her throat.

Aiko grinned in her usual teasingly wicked manner. "I will when he returns. But, first, I want to see if he notices himself."

Kagome couldn't help but giggle. Ookami noses were impeccable and could spot anything….provided they knew what to look for. There was a very strong possibility poor Shiro would be clueless for days unless Aiko tells him.

"May the Kami help him," Kagome chuckled. "Well, in the mean-time, I will send you some of my Ashitaba for your stomach. You will thank me for it later."

"Thank you," Aiko sighed with relief. "I've yet to experience the pup sickness but it supposedly comes on suddenly."

"It can vary but, better to have it now, just in case. I'm afraid Shiro may not know how to handle it."

The happy female giggled with knowing glee. "Ah, my poor Shiro. He really will be clueless."

Suddenly, a knowing glint flashed in the female's eyes. "Speaking of clueless males, you'll be happy to know Koga is out of the den."

The mentioning of the Ookami male had Kagome stiffening.

"Oh?" she asked as she rolled her stiff shoulder. Why would she care where he was?

"Yes," Aiko continued. "He went out with Shiro and the others to clear a nest. Quite eagerly, so I heard. Apparently, he really wanted to get away from here. Any ideas why?"

Kagome was sure her face must be bright red. Thank goodness, her wrappings hid her mortification so well. There was no way she'd be able to bring herself to speak about what happened at the spring. She still owed Koga her payback, anyway.

Shrugging slightly, the priestess returned to her task. "Your guess is as good as mine."

Aiko chuckled low as she crouched beside her friend. "Maybe a female finally scared him off," she offered with a grin.

Kagome could snort slightly. If Aiko only knew. "Maybe."

"Well, either way, he can't cause any trouble here being out on a hunt and it will keep all the hunters busy all day. Let's just enjoy the peace and quiet while we can."

Kagome nodded with warm relief at her friend. That sounded perfect.

SSS

"What do we do?!" Ginta shrilled in horror.

"Do I look like I have a plan?" Hakkaku snapped, gripping his head in panic.

He was gone. Koga was gone! Their fearless leader had gone over the ledge and now they couldn't see him anymore. Where was he? Was he alive? The hunter found himself completely lost about what to do next. On top of that, the approaching shadows over-heard were becoming more and more numerous.

This was bad. Very bad! The tribe was trapped, the plan went to shit, and Koga was GONE!

"We've got to help them!" Ginta yelled, snapping his terrified gaze towards the crumpled wall of rocks.

"How are we supposed to do that?" Hakkaku growled as another big shadow glided ominously overhead.

"Maybe we can clear the entrance," Ginta offered before he started to race towards the rockslide.

However, before he could even get half-way there, a large winged body dropped heavily in front of the hunter, causing his footing to waver slightly. Ginta immediately backed up, staring at the cold, dark eyes gleaming at him with open hunger.

"We gotta get to the entrance first," Hakkaku growled as he brought his spear in front of him, a determined glint in his gaze.

Koga or not, they were not going down this easy. They were Ookami, afterall. If these winged bastards wanted a fight, they'd give them a fight.

Nodding in silent agreement, Ginta pulled his Kyoketsu from his belt, the long chain dangling in his clenched hand. They would avenge their leader. Koga wouldn't expect any less.

With a fierce battle-cry, both hunters rushed towards the enemy, weapons raised as it spread its massive wings in challenge. However, before they made it to the great monster, both Ookami froze when a familiar sound reached their ears.

Snapping his gaze back, Hakkaku stared in hopeful shock. It couldn't be. Could it?

A swift whoosh of air and a furious snarl were the only warnings before a familiar figure fell upon the landed Bird of Paradise, cleaving its bulbous body practically in half with sharp claws. An agonized gurgling cry and the hateful beast went limp as the attacker straightened, flicking his long ponytail over his shoulder.

"Can't you two handle a single Bird of Paradise?" he called over his shoulder, cracking his knuckles.

"KOGA!" the two cried in relieved delight before they rushed to their leader, clinging in jubilant adoration.

"You're alive!"
"You saved us!"

"How did you get back so quickly?"
"We thought you were dead!"

"The tribe is trapped."
"More Birds of Paradise are coming!"

"WHAT DO WE DO?!"

A swift shake tossed both babbling hunters off Koga as he shook his head in frustration. Count on these two to just fall apart and talk at once. You'd think they'd never been trained.

"Shut up!" he yelled as he glared up the now broken ridge.

They were right on one thing, the tribe had to be freed. These winged rats were gonna eat them in their own nest.

"You two clear the entrance," Koga ordered sharply. "I'll keep these weaklings busy till then."

"You got it, Koga," both answered eagerly before they ran for the rock pile.

Growling low, Koga crouched low before leaping towards the jagged peak.

"They want a nest cleared," he gritted out. "Let's clear it."

SSS

"Move out and keep your spears ready!" Shiro yelled as he kept his weapon high against the curved claws swiping at him. "Don't make yourself an easy target!"

Already, some of the flock lay dead, scattered about the floor, but the bodies were making it difficult to maneuver about the hollowed out nest. If too many more fell in, the Ookami would be too crowded to fight.

They needed a change in plan. Anything that would bring the battle into their favor.

"Shiro, we need to make space!" one of the hunters, Kouki, yelled as he jabbed frantically at an enemy.

"You got any ideas?" Shiro hollered back, lunging out of another's reach before his foot caught under a fallen corpse.

Landing hard on his back, the Northern alpha stared in winded shock as deadly claws reached for him. However, before they hooked into him, the large body was shoved harshly to the side, sending it colliding with another Bird of Paradise and both rolling over the side of the nest.

A calloused hand reached down to Shiro, causing him to stare up the armored arm to the glowing blue eyes piercing sharply into him.

"Need a hand or can you use your own legs?" the other alpha snapped in irritation.

Huffing sharply, Shiro shoved Koga back away from him as he tugged his foot free.

"Speak for yourself," he growled.

Looking about, Koga positioned himself back to back with the Northern alpha. "Your information sucks, by the way."

"I'm catching that," Shiro replied. "Well, you got any suggestions?"

"Just have the others keep half an eye on the door," Koga smirked as he popped his neck. "And, be ready to run."

"About time," Shiro added. "It's getting cramped in here."

"Then we take the fight to them!"

Leaping as high as he could, Koga slashed all about him, taking down as many of the Birds of Paradise as possible. The sudden burst seemed to renew the tribe's efforts as they fought with a new ferocity that started the arrogant attackers. Just because it was their turf didn't mean they automatically gained the victory. Not if Shiro had anything to say about it.

In a mad scramble of blood and feathers, the Ookami started to wonder if there was any end to the struggle. Then, the familiar sound of shifting rock had Shiro glancing towards the entrance. Already the glaring light peeked through the top and every-once-in-a-while hands grabbed rock and pulled from the huge stack.

"Get to the entrance!" Shiro yelled, swinging his spear towards a too near Bird of Paradise. They needn't to get out of here.

Several hunters lunged to the pile of rock, kicking or pushing through the opening to aid in the effort. Shiro, Koga, and a few more of the warriors held a strong perimeter against the last of the Birds of Paradise, keeping them away from others.

A sudden yell of victory had the others sliding through the widened opening. Grinning with satisfaction, Shiro nodded to Koga in signal. It was time to get out of this nightmare. However, right when they were about to make their get-away, a high-pitched cry jerked Koga's gaze behind him.

The pup was stuck between the mutilated bodies, tears bubbling in his big eyes as he struggled to get his footing. Already, Koga could see the kid wasn't going to make it on his own. A final Bird of Paradise was lunging towards him, jagged mouth opened wide to swallow him whole.

Running at full-tilt, Koga raced to the kid, fist raised as it slammed hard into the attacking youkai, knocking it back.

Scooping the kid up as fast as he could, Koga rushed to the entrance of the cave. It wasn't till the higher placed stones started to crumble over them that Koga realized the misstep.

Flinging the kid up as high as he could, Koga shot him through the opening before he was buried by the falling rock.

SSS

"Papa!" the little pup cried as he launched himself at one of the hunters, tears running down his face.

The large male held the kid close, being sure to keep him close.

"Where's Koga?" Ginta asked, looking about in panic.

Hakkaku started to grow nervous as he noticed no-one had anything to say, not even Shiro. Everyone had been hurrying to clear the way for the others to get out that they hardly noticed who was doing what. The sudden onslaught of dropping stones had taken everyone by surprise and they had to move out of the way. Then, out of no-where, the kid had shot out like an arrow and landed with a slight bounce on the rocky ledge. But, what happened to Koga?

The shifting of rock told Hakkaku his answer and he dashed hurriedly to rake what he could from the crushing heap pinning his alpha down. It wasn't long before Ginta joined him, followed by Shiro, Taro, and several others till rock was practically flying behind them.

They had to get him out. They just had to. One particularly large stone shoved to the side and a large tanned arm was revealed. A grin of satisfaction brightened Ginta's face before they doubled their efforts to clear the rubble away.

Finally freeing his head, Koga gasped in a deep breath before shaking his head in frustration.

"Ugh! Did the mountain fall on me?" he asked as he tugged his other arm free, grunting in frustration.

Shiro snorted in amusement as he clapped him hard on the back. "What's wrong? A little rock hurt you?"

"I'll give you a little rock up your ass," Koga gritted back as he straightened, stretching high as he popped his joints. "All alive?"

"Yes, thanks to you," Shiro replied, grinning like a fool.

Koga nodded as he rolled his neck, desperate to smooth out the crick in it. That could have gone so much better.

"Well, the nest is clear now," he groused as he popped his back. "Next time get your sources straight."

Shiro nodded, his gaze going dark. This was never supposed to happen. They would have brought all the hunters in the tribe if they'd known the nest was still occupied. Had the Birds of Paradise planted a trap for them? Or, could the deception be much closer to the tribe than they thought?

The possibility sent a shiver down Shiro's spine. He knew what the Elders were capable of but surely they wouldn't send all of them to their death. Either way, when he got home, someone was going to explain this disaster….and possibly die for it.

"Well, regardless, let's just head back and—"

"Look out! Here comes another one!"

The sudden shout had Shiro turning right before the Bird of Paradise slashed low before it started to swoop upwards again. The group it attacked had scattered slightly but the area had been dense by the surprise attack.

A swiftly thrown spear and the beast was skewered before it fell over the ridge, the hunters watching it disappear into the forest below.

"Serves it right."

"May it rot in hell."

Shiro was about to add in his agreement when the metallic scent of blood reached his nose right before Riku's enraged yell rent the air. Koga and Shiro both stared as the hunter cradled the small body of his son in his arms, red staining the front of his tunic.

Both alphas knew what needed to be done. The pup had to be returned to the tribe as soon as possible. If the wound wasn't too bad, they would just need to keep it from bleeding out. But, it was a gamble whether the kid would make it or not.

Locking eyes with mutual agreement, Shiro and Koga didn't dare speak the horrifying thought they shared aloud. Was the pup strong enough to survive?