Howling at the Moon
Chapter 14.
'Frostbitten'
A/N: Hello my lovely readers! I'm not dead, far from it! I just came back from over seas. How was your holidays?! I hope everything was as amazing for you as it was for me. Anyway on with the story.
It was hot and muggy, the rain that fell the night before made the air hot and thick. That didn't keep the wolf tribe from doing their daily duties. Already a group of younger wolves were sparring outside and breakfast had already been made by some of the older demons. Groups of men and woman sat in circles chatting and giggling. A few of the girls giggled and blushed while the single males flaunted their muscles or discussed how strong they are.
Hiroko was demonstrating her earth powers to some of the earthen pups while Nakatsu lazily eyed her from the patch of grass he was resting on. The two had been getting closer and closer as the days went on. This was something that was well known throughout Kouga's tribe. Though Hiroko would deny it, she would never refuse a chance to sneak away with him.
While she was teaching the pups about combining different rocks to make different densities Nakatsu took the opportunity to launch a small pebble at her. Of course it wasn't big enough to cause her injury. The pebble went whizzing through the air but stopped suddenly just before it could make connection with Hirokos's butt.
Her temple throbbed with anger, she knew it was Nakatsu. That fool was always finding some way to bug her. Butterflies fluttered in her stomach. Deep down she loved his playful antics. Ever since he started showing her the first sign of attention she had been spending more time at the den. His ragitey red hair and shining golden eyes always seemed to burrow into her heart.
Swiftly, she spun around sending her curly locks into the air. Her cheeks where flushed with red and her hands balled into little fists. She didn't speak a single word. Instead she sent the pebble straight back at Nakatsu, successfully beaming him between the eyes.
While he was incapacitated she turned back to the pups and clapped her hands while titling her head to the side. She had a innocent yet devilish smile plastered on her face.
"Now that pups, is how you deal with idiots."
)o(
Kouga scanned the area the dew that had clung to the grass made the air smell fresh. The morning was going especially good. The hunters had managed to catch breakfast earlier than usual and no one was acting out or challenging him. He expected things to go a lot worse when Kagome came back. However, she handled the situation perfectly. She stood up and took responsibility for her actions, admitting you where wrong is not always a bad thing. Anyone can simply point a finger and pass the blame onto someone else, but a true leader stands up and takes blame when needed.
He knew that he to was in the wrong for turning his back on Kagome, but saying sorry to the pack would have been pointless. To them he did what was natural to a wolf; when someone betrays the pack or runs out on them, they are shunned. It was his nature, but then again Kagome was human. Even though apologizing to the pack would have been meaningless, he jumped at the chance for redemption when Kagome came back.
From that moment on he made a vow to stay with her no matter what. Even if it goes against his nature or even his pack, she was his soon to be fully mate and she would be his top priority. He took a deep breath and a smirk appeared on his face. It smelt so nice having her so near, her angelic natural aroma always clung to him.
Now that she was part wolf (Not demon), she was subconsciously coating him with it. It was a sign of possession in wolves, it warded away the attention of other females. Not that she would need to in the first place. He didn't care for any females other than her and only her.
Other females. His brow furrowed at that thought. Could Ayame still be able to challenge Kagome for the right to be his mate? Kagome bore his mark, claiming her to be his. A mark that is unable to be removed... or was it?
Sure nobody believes they could be removed but maybe that was just a myth.
He'd have to talk to one of the elders at the other tribes to be sure. If there was a way to remove it, he would let Kagome chose whether or not she would want to use it. He prayed silently to himself she wouldn't. He couldn't imagine the loneliness that would accompany letting her go.
He took a deep breath and swallowed hard. It felt as though a lump had formed in his throat. Would it be terrible to ask her not to use it? Could he really be that selfish? At the moment he could not say, in time he would find out.
He shook his head, his paranoia was getting to him lately. He had tasted what it was like for her to leave him and now it was one of his greatest fears.
Before he could continue his train of paranoid thinking he was interrupted by one of his closes friends, Tsume.
Tsume wasn't a huge looking wolf demon, he was average in size. His straight black hair reached just to his pointy ears. While his eyes held an emerald green color with just a few specks of gold. He was carrying a scroll and had an accomplished look upon his face.
"Here it is. It took awhile to find." He reached his hand out and gave Kouga the scroll.
Tsume scratched the back of his head and coughed.
"So, you're taking Kagome to the elders?"
It wasn't his place to ask but his curiosity got the better of him. Normally He and Kouga never got to talk to often, though they where close friends growing up. As they grew they both sort of went their separate ways. He was the scroll keeper, who loved nothing more than to fill his mind with knowledge of anything and everything.
Sure, Kouga enjoyed reading like he did but not to that extent. While Kouga was out hunting and rushing into battle he was more than happy to stay with his collection of scrolls.
"Thanks for this Tsume, I know how ya hate people taking your stuff." Kouga nodded his head and smiled. He would always consider Tsume to be one of his closest friends. He frowned a bit, a guilty feeling crept its way inside of his chest. He needed to reconnect with him after all of this mating business was over.
"I figure we should set out as soon as everyone has calmed down. I don't want to start a riot when we do decide to leave."
It was the most sensible though Tsume had heard from Kouga for awhile now. Grantit he had no qualms with the new lady being in their midst but he did find it to be a horrible plan. Kouga should have warned the tribe before bringing her. Maybe then they would have had an easier time accepting the human girl.
Kouga wasted no time in opening the scroll, revealing all its hidden secrets. It was a map that gave away all the locations of each main wolf tribe and sub tribe.
Tsume glanced at the intricately painted scroll then back at Kouga. It seemed odd for one such as he to ask for such a scroll. As a leader Kouga should know where each tribe was settled. The desire for an answer hung at the tip of his tongue but he kept his mouth shut. It was not his place to question his alpha.
Kouga ran his eyes over the scroll then gave a sideways look towards Tsume. As if reading his mind Kouga answered the unspoken question.
"I though Kagome would like to see it." He stated simply.
Tsume blinked astounded. Sure he knew they where going to be mates, but to give someone so new such valuable information was unheard of. Not only did this map indicate each route to take to get to every tribe and sub tribe but it showed secret entrances that where usually left unguarded.
This would not sit well with the elders if they where to find out that is, he hoped his friend was making the right choice.
"When you are done with it... please bring it back to me." It wasn't an order but rather a nervous request. He hated loaning things out to people. The items most of the time would be returned in horrible quality, some where even impossible to repair. Normally he would flat out deny anyone who asked but Kouga was alpha. And an alphas word is law.
Kouga rolled up the scroll carefully and offered a light chuckle before patting Tsume on the back.
He was such a timid worried wolf.
"Tsume, you've known me probably longer than anyone, I won't let you down."
The smaller male wolf perked up and smiled. Seeing for the first time in years his old friend.
)o(
Kagome yawned and stretched her arm over to where Kouga would have been resting. She wasn't shocked at all when she felt the spot empty. He had a knack for waking up earlier than her.
The mugginess in the air made her groan. Humidity was the worst for her. She hated the heat, though she adored the rain.
"I suppose you have to take the good with the bad." She smiled and pushed the fur away. Today was a new day, she wasn't going to mope around because of the weather. Kagome was determined to do something productive today.
Stretching once more she got to her feet and noticed she had no clothes to wear. Normally Hiroko would have brought her a Kimono but she hadn't today. Kagome bit her tender lower lip, the fear that she was upset with her secretly lingered. She shook the feeling and ran her fingers through her hair to try and untangle the mess. She'd have to wear her current atire until she was able to find the curly haired wolf demon.
She felt stupid for letting Kouga whisk her away like that. She should have ran back to her time to pick up some supplies and clothes.
Feeling as though she did enough with her appearance she exited their den and made her way into the main den. The smell of breakfast was still lingering a bit. She wasn't surprised when she saw all the nasty looks from the wolf demons. She expected them to be like this. Normally she would feel nervous or even sometimes scared but now she held her head high and kept walking.
Her stomach growled a bit but she didn't try to get some food. She knew there wouldn't be any for her, or at least they would try to make it seem that way. She turned her nose to the scowling female that poorly hid the pot of morning meat.
She would not let them get to her, she would prove that she was better than that.
Finally making her way out into the sunshine she spotted Hiroko and Nakatsu, they seemed to be content sitting next to each other.
'So that's what she was doing...' Kagome grinned from ear to ear and waved to them. Of course they waved back.
Before Kagome could continue her little leisurly walk she was grabbed from behind and twirled in the air.
"There you are, I've been waiting for you to get up. Do all humans like to sleep the day away?" Kouga asked and planted a kiss on her forehead.
She giggled. It used to be he only held her hands when they met up but now this was so much better. It felt great to finally be wanted.
"Well, I'm sorry for not being a morning person, what have you been up to?"
Her question brought Kouga back down to earth. He set her down then reached within his fur pelt he pulled out the scroll and placed it in her hands. Kagome took it and traced her fingers along the golded colored case. It appeared to be made with gold but it had an odd bluish tint to it and had carvings of wolves laid into it.
Pulling it open Kagome gazed at the intricately painted lines. They swirled along the paper elegantly, whoever painted it was very good at their craft.
"Kouga, this is beautiful." She exclaimed. She had seen the artworks on many scrolls but the detail on this one blew those out of the water.
"We're here." Kouga stated simply as he unrolled the scroll more and pointed to a small picture of mountains.
"In order to reach each of the major packs we'll need this scroll to find them. The way could be dangerous if we're not careful. Each tribe likes to have a certain amount of secrecy."
Kagome blinked for a moment as a look of confusion set on her pretty features.
"What about your tribe Kouga? Shippo was able to find this place within a couple of hours, why is this tribe so exposed?"
Kouga laughed nervously then shook his head. "We have protection on the ground set up along the roads. Your kit can fly." He stated simply. Of course he was embarrassed that the fox could find his tribe so easily but not many people would venture this far into the mountains. The birds of paradise made sure of that.
Kagome let out a bubbly giggle.
"So you're telling me my little Shippo managed to outsmart your guards?"
He shook his head. Her laugh made his heart flutter. He loved seeing the way her eyes lit up when she was happy.
"We're wind wolves, most of us anyway. What we can do is move fast, and manipulate wind to a point, we cannot fly so yes he was able to best us." His tone was teasing.
He sighed. "We're not the strongest elemental wolves, but we make do. We also have a few stray fire and earth elements in our pack so we have a pretty decent defensive line."
"Like Hiroko with her earth affinity." She added thoughtfully.
He nodded then turned his attention back to the scroll. Placing a clawed finger on the scroll once more he traced along a small black line with his claw.
"This is the safest route we can take."
Kagome tilted her head and followed the line with her eyes. She watched Kouga stop on a beautifully painted picture of a waterfall.
"A waterfall? That's where the first pack is located?" It hardly seemed like a protected place.
"The first major pack. There are other smaller settlements but we do not need to visit them. This one however..." He gave emphasis by tapping the scroll. "Is the home of the water wolves, it is also where my father was born."
Kagome looked at Kouga and wondered, what kind of man was Kougas father like? Kouga must have gotten that cocky attitude somewhere.
"Your father?" She couldn't help but ask. Her curiosity always got the better of her, it was both a blessing and a curse.
"Yea, he controls water unlike any other. We don't see eye to eye most of the time, he's also not very fond of humans." Kouga shook his head. Getting his fathers acceptance would be a tough thing to do.
"Oh great..." Kagome groaned. She was hopping to at least have a single bit of luck on her side, but sadly that was never the case. Even still, the idea of seeing each tribe was lucky enough.
"When do we leave?" The sooner the better she thought. She had been thinking about each of the lands for awhile now and she just couldn't keep her excitement from bubbling over.
"Tomorrow at dawn, it should take us about a day if we keep at top speed." He was happy with her excited scent swirling around him. He'd rather her be happy about visiting than nervous. Wolves do not to well around nervous humans.
He spoke while rolling up the scroll carefully. Damaging something this priceless would be unforgivable. Especially in the eyes of the tribes scroll keeper.
Kagome was just about to voice her displeasure about running non stop when a sudden pain made her cry out.
Kouga had it all figured out. They'd set off tomorrow after he'd give word to his tribe about the completion of their mating mark. Then they'd make their way to the-
His thoughts suddenly cut of by the sound of her distress.
She grabbed the front of her shirt and stumbled forward. Was she having a heart attack? She doubted it she was a healthy young girl with no history of disease but the pain said other wise.
Kouga who was now yelling for Hiroko and Nakatsu was supporting almost all of her weight. When Seconds ticked by far to slowly for Kouga until the duo managed to arrive. The look of horror was easily readable on each of their face.
Nakatsu was normally so cheerful and silly, seeing that look made Kouga quesea.
Hiroko ran over and quickly brushed Kagomes bangs from her face.
"Kagome what's wrong? What's hurting you?" She asked while trying to keep her voice at a calm level. It wasn't working Kagome wasn't responding to her questions. Her heart sank and her breathing seemed heavy. Before she allowed herself to panic even more she took a deep breath.
"Lay her down Kouga!"
Kouga nodded and immediately set Kagome down on the grass as gently as he could. She was already in a huge amount of pain by what he could tell. When he slid his arms from under her she started convulsing violently. A group of on lookers had managed to crowd around the drama that was unfolding.
This wasn't good, Hiroko had seen this a couple of times at the human village. There was a girl who suffered from these terrors weekly, and from what she saw they were excrutiating. She prayed Kagome did not come down with the same sickness.
Hiroko placed her palms on Kagomes cheeks they were icy cold and started barking orders.
"Nakatsu run and get water and the healer fast! Kouga you hold her body down so she doesn't hurt herself."
Each male took to their assigned jobs fast. Nakatsu ran at full speed into the den while Kougas held her arms and torso to him.
Hiroko lifted one of Kagome's eye lids to find her eyes rolled back into her head.
Before she could say another word Kagome suddenly stopped moving. Her convulsion seemed to end and Hiroko let out a hushed cooing sound.
"Everything's going to be alright..." Her voice wasn't her normal velvet smooth tone but rather it was shaky.
Kouga released her lower body and moved up to her side once the convulsion stopped.
He took one of her hands in his and stroked her forehead lovingly.
He let out a breath of relief she was still breathing. But that didn't do much to ease his mind. Hopefully the healer would have more information.
As quickly as Kouga himself Kagome threw her free arm out and clutched the grass beneath her. Her blue eyes flew open and her lips parted. With each breath she released a small amount of fog could be seen as if it were a cold winters day.
Their eyes were drawn to the frost that was spreading from beneath her clenched hand.
A/N: Hm, I don't know if I like this chapter all to much... but I know you guys probably really wanted an update. Even though it takes me awhile to update I won't forget about my stories. I'll always be here updating! So enjoy and please review!