Disclaimer: This story is based on "Inuyasha," copyrighted by Rumiko Takahashi. No infringement of copyright intended or implied.
Smells
Ginta and Hakkaku glanced at each other. How could they help the badly wounded neko? Neither one felt any hint of a suggestion, that might be drawn out by their usual banter. Neither said anything, until Ginta noticed a distasteful tang to the neko's odor.
He looked at the neko's human companion. "Um...okay if I come over and smell? I won't harm her—-promise."
The boy's cold eyes studied him, but then he stepped aside. Trying not to eye the boy's weapon, Ginta edged over to the cat. One sniff confirmed his suspicion. "The wounds are infected," he said. "She's fevered."
"It's the bird claws," spoke up Hakkaku. "The wolves that only got clawed, died later."
Ginta nodded, remembering pain piled onto grief. "They all got sick and died."
"You didn't have any way to heal them?" the boy asked, paling. "I can't let her die!" he added desperately, knuckles whitening as he tightened his grip on the weapon. "She saved me—she's my best friend!"
Ginta felt sympathy, having several four-legged friends he had known from pup-hood. But, what could they do?
"Ayame!" Hakkaku exclaimed suddenly.
"What about Ayame?"
"Remember when Ayame found out that we didn't have any healers?"
Ginta brightened. "Yeah! She got so mad!"
"Mad, and made us bring in every different type of plant we could find."
Ginta grinned. "I remember the smell of the plant she said was good for infections."
"I remember what it looked like."
Ginta jumped up. "Let's go!"
"Whoa! Go where?"
The boy's question kept Ginta from dashing off. "To find the healing plants. We can travel fast."
"We always kept up with Koga!" added Hakkaku proudly. He blinked at a sudden consideration. "We'll leave the wolves to guard."
They growled to the wolves.
Then, "Bye!"
Author's Note: This piece was written for the prompt "Travel", for the LiveJournal community "Inuyasha's Unsung Heroes." It was orginally posted on August 16, 2011. (10/4/2011)