Chapter Thirteen: Strangers

"What made you believe we would find Kaya-sama farther in the East?" Nago asked.

Moro bit her lower lip. She braced herself. "I'm not certain if it is Kaya-sama or not." Moro confessed. She was aware of Nago's burning gaze and the wolves' listening ears. "I heard our father's voice. He said, "'Go farther East. You'll find her there.'" And I believe him."

"Ashitaka said that?" Ken asked. Moro nodded.

Nago rode in silence. "He didn't say if the woman was Kaya-sama or not?" he asked.

Moro shook her head. "No."

Just then they heard a rustle behind them. Moro and Nago quickly jumped off Kiba's and Ken's backs as the wolves defended them.

Standing in front of them were two warriors. Both were carrying bows and stone arrow heads, signs that they were from the Emishi tribe. One warrior was younger, and the other older, Moro noticed. The warriors looked so alike they looked like brother and sister. They had their weapons ready, aiming at their enemies heads. Moro and Nago did the same.

"What are you doing here?" the male warrior asked. His eyes narrowed at Ken and Kiba suspiciously.

Moro removed the arrow from her bow, signifying peace and respect. Slowly, Nago did the same. "We have come from the lands of the West." Moro declared. "We are refugees, fleeing from the war that has plagued our village."

"Then why come here?" the female warrior, presumably the other warrior's sister, asked. "You should have known there were war-torn parts here as well."

"We thought if we moved farther East, we might be free of that." Moro lied quickly.

"What are your names?" The male warrior asked. "I am known as Mamoru, Protector of the Light, and this here is my sister, Karou, Savoir of the People."

"My name is Moro, the Red Wolf." Moro replied. She gestured to Nago. "This is my brother, Nago, the Black Demon." Mamoru and Karou lowered their weapons. Moro could see that although they had exchanged names, they did not trust them. Moro wondered if the Emishi people knew their prince was dead. How would they react? And, what would happen to the Queen, the woman Moro and Nago were searching for as well? Would they kill her?

Suddenly Ken and Kiba growled. Moro and Nago listened closely. From traveling with them, Moro learned to trust their judgment. "I believe animals are the wisest of creatures. That is why we should trust them." Ashitaka-sama told her this many times before when Moro was training under him. How wise he had been.

"There is a human." Ken growled. "It is near the tree." He paused for a moment. "It smells like Ashitaka."

"Ashitaka-sama?" Moro repeated. She stepped forward.

Mamoru and Karou stood in the path, their arrows again pointed at Moro's and Nago's heads.

"Don't come any closer." Karou spat. "You're looking for her too, aren't you?"

Nago and Moro drew their arrows. "Yes, we are." They both said.

"Why do you want to kill her?" Nago asked, his arrow pointed at Mamoru's heart. "Death won't solve anything. It will only cause more chaos than there all ready is."

"You don't understand." Mamoru said. "She has made our tribe weaker than it was when Ashitaka-sama was exiled. If he were our leader, we would be stronger. Strong as the Emishi tribe has always dreamed of being."

They don't realize he's dead. "Your prince is dead." Moro spat. "He was killed a couple of days ago."

There was silence. "No." Mamoru whispered. Karou was shaking. "He cannot be."

"He is." Moro replied. "I saw him die with my own eyes...because I was the one who killed him."

"You killed him?" Moro was immediately reminded of Nago's previous rage. "Murderer!"

Mamoru instantly charged.

Moro aimed her arrow ready. She was ready to aim when she saw a flash of silver. Nago drove his father's short sword into Mamoru's body. Moro could hear the crush of bones and saw the crimson blood as it flowed from the horrid wound. Nago's eyes were twisted with rage.

"Oniisan!" Karou screamed. Mamoru's body fell, his blood staining the ground. Mamoru opened his mouth to form words, but all that came was blood. The light began to fade from his eyes, and he was gone. Before Karou could move, Nago pushed the knife against her throat. "One move, and you'll be like your brother." he warned. Moro understood the meaning now. "My sons are very much like their mother. My sons are very strong, and will not hesitate to kill you. Never lower your guard."

"Put that sword down, boy."

All heads turned.

Standing in front of them, with frayed clothes and a sword, was Kaya-sama, Ashitaka's sister.