The herd, the herd, the herd is in trouble. We don't need no God Arcs just run for you life. Run herd, freak'n run.
Chapter 25
It was as bad as Emiel said it was. The herd was scattered about, being chased by Gboros and Vajras alike. My brothers did their best keeping them away from the strays along with the strong Tails.
"Okami you made it!"
"Shiro!" I shouted over the commotion, jumping off of Emiel. "Why are they all scattered, it just makes them easier for the picking!"
"They got scared and ran about! Most of them are just pups and the weakly old!"
"Well, I'll try to gather up the strays! You and Soma hold them off with the others!" I got to work, as I ran I could hear the tail end of Soma's and Shiro's conversation.
"Just don't get in my way kid."
"Same goes for you, sister stealer."
I fought my way through the death circles the Vajras were forcing the strays into. Pushing the enemy back, I shouted to the strays. "Gather with the others! No matter what stay together!"
We were forcing the enemy back, many Gboros had fallen. It was the Vajras that were giving us a run for our money. As we gathered the strays Kage and the other Ogretails that could fight protected them. As tired as I was getting I had to keep fighting, the herd wasn't out of the waters yet.
But I think I rounded up all the strays.
"Help! Help! Ahh!" I recognized that Resonate, that roar, it was the old female Ogretail. Many looked upon her as a 'grandma,' she was always kind to me. Always giving me the sweetest of the fruits when I was young, even when it was the frost season.
Now when I look upon her, I see two Vajras's attacking her. As one knocks her off her feet the other one bites into her jugular. After knocking her down it bites into one of her legs and pulls. Now I understand why Soma calls all Aragami monsters. Looking upon this scene of cruelty filled me with a rage I haven't felt since the death of my mother.
I charged at the Vajra at her throat, cutting it with my spear with such a force that actually ended up slicing it in half. That's right I said it because it had no right for me to recognize its gender! The other released her foot and roared at me, it regretted drawing my attention after I charged at it, slicing off its head. The other Vajras seeing this started to turn tail, not before I jumped on one slicing it in half on impact. Their blood rained down upon me but I didn't care, I wanted to get rid of them all. I chased them down with every ounce of my Stamina, taking out another one as I ran. I roared a bloody roar at the ones that got away, they will remember this day and teach the fear of the Ogretail in human skin to their children! They will not be coming back...
Calming myself, I headed back to the herd. Soma looked at me with shock but I could smell something else on him that if I didn't know any better I would say it smelled like lust. But I just got done with a blood rage my senses are most likely not back to normal yet. He was a little worse for wear, but at least he wasn't covered in blood like me.
"Hey! Don't look at my sister that way you animal in heat!" Shiro shouted at Soma.
"Hey! I don't have any objections of kicking your ass, brat."
"I'd like to see you try, old man!"
"Old man?! I'm only a year older than your sister!"
"Not now guys!" I yelled at them, breaking up the fight before hand. "Can't you see we got an injured one." They focused and we headed to the circle of Ogretails, Grandma laying in the center. I could see the damage as blood leaked from her wounds.
"Grandma! Grandma, are you alright?!" She opened her eyes and looked at me.
"Hello, young one. It's been a long time... my, how you've grown... I wouldn't be surprised if you have... countless suitors... crawling at your feet."
"It's good to see you Grandma. Can you get up?"
"I don't... think so dear."
"Shiro! Grab those herbs over there, hurry!"
"You got it sis!" Shiro was quick as he dropped the herbs in my hand from his mouth. I began to place them on her would, trying to stop the bleeding as I tried to keep her awake. The herbs should help the healing process of her wounds, but... the Vajras really did a number on her. There's only so much the plants can do. All I can do now is reassure her to keep her fighting for life.
"It's alright Grandma. The Great Beast are gone, they're never coming back. Just keep your eyes open. You'll be alright, you'll be alright."
"You did good dear. I'm so... proud... of you." Her eyes are starting to close.
"No... please, don't... don't close your eyes. Come on, stay with me. Stay with me, Grandma! You'll be alright! You can't... please... don't go." I was too late. She was gone, the earth has claimed her, just like mother.
"Oh Grandma..." All the other Ogretails lifted their heads along with me and let out a howling roar. A single tear escaped my eye along with the others, she wasn't just my Grandma she was everybody's. She was a ball of sunshine to everyone alike, and those Vajras took her away without seeing how much of a jewel she really was. We all stood and watched as the earth took our Grandma away, most likely to a better place.
I looked through the crowd for Soma. I found him leaning on a tree not too far away from the herd. I headed toward him somewhat crestfallen at the life I couldn't save.
"Hey... the sun won't be setting for hours... there's a stream up ahead... you can clean yourself up... if you like."
"Yeah, I could use a clean up to get the smell of blood off me."
****** At the Stream ******
Judging from Soma's state, all he had to do is rinse off his jacket and wash his hands and face. I on the other hand had to soak down everything, leave it out to dry, and wash up my whole body.
The water was cool, much warmer than I expected. Soma was farther up stream, giving me some privacy to unwind and contemplate my actions today. Lifting my hands from the water I studied them as if they weren't my own. I killed many with these hands today, and... I loved it. I wanted to make them suffer for hurting my family. I wanted to make them pay for what they did. But did I have to enjoy it so much? Maybe... I am a monster...
"Hey," hearing Soma's voice startled me out of my thoughts. I gasped, covering my chest with my arms while dunking myself deeper into the water. "Relax, I'm not looking."
So he was behind the tree. "Soma, is there something wrong?"
"There was something about today that bugs me."
"What is it?"
"The Ogretails... they actually cried at the death of that one Ogretail."
"She was an old one and everyone loved her. Many called her 'Grandma.'"
"Aragami... they can really feel remorse?"
"Of course they can! They can feel remorse, along with happiness, sadness, and anger."
"And... love?"
"Yes... let what you witnessed today be proof of that. You saw the tears, tears are the expressions of the soul. Everyone sheded a tear because they loved that old one."
"Then... perhaps, we're not so different."
"Not by much, no."
"Okami-"
"What do you think you're doing, you pervert!" I heard Shiro cry out. Two sets of stomps, Kage must be with him.
"Soma, I'd appreciate it if you didn't approach my sister when she's in such a vulnerable state." Kage added in. "One might question your intentions."
"I wasn't looking, I just needed to talk." Soma said with a growl.
"Just needed to talk? You could have waited until later!"
"I just needed to get something off my chest, that's all!"
"Or something on it. I should ripe off your balls for this!" Shiro shouted.
"Do you even know what those are?!"
"Of course, we have them too!" Shiro said proudly. "And they're most likely bigger than yours!"
"Keep dreaming, junior." Soma said, I could practically hear the smirk in his voice.
"You want to bet! Kage help me out."
"Leave me out of this idiotic competition."
"Seconded," Soma agreed with Kage.
"Come on Kage! We have to protect the honor of our sister and our BALLS!"
"..."
"... Idiot."
"Hey!" Shiro yelled at Soma.
"Look, why does it matter to you if I got close to your sister while she was unclothed? You guys are naked all the time."
"No we're not," stated Kage.
"What?"
"Our scales act as armor protecting our vital areas. They can be removed if we wish or for the others' cases cracked."
"Otherwise, you'd be able to see what makes us male." Shiro had to add in.
"He doesn't need to know this! I don't need to hear this! So all of you can take your conversation and your BALLS somewhere else, OKAY!"
****** A couple of seconds later ******
After they finally left me I got out of the water and got dressed. Heading out to the fields I encountered Soma and my brothers. All three were unable to make eye contact with me.
"Kage, Shiro, take the herd and hide them near the Den. Things are getting crazy these days so stay low. I'll come back when things have cooled down."
"Stay safe, sis." Kage said as he left.
"And don't let Soma show you his balls."
"Quit being disgusting!" Soma growled as Shiro ran off laughing. "Hey."
"What?"
"Are you sure it's alright to have so many of them so close to your home? I mean, what will they eat, the food supply will run out quick with that many in one area."
"Soma... Ogretail can actually survive on just grass." He remained silent at this. "Come on let's head back, with no Chopper coming to pick us up we have a long walk ahead of us."
"Man, what a drag." Soma said placing his God Arc on his shoulder.
"Oh and Soma."
"What?"
I gave him the warmest smile I could muster. "Thank you, for coming with me. Ever since I was little, I've always felt different from the other Ogretails. Even at the Den I felt different from the other God Eaters. I always felt somewhat alone, but you... you came for me. It was in that moment I realized I'm not truly alone... not anymore. So thank you, from the bottom of my heart, thank you."
"Hmph, you read into things too much. Let's get moving."
"Right," we walked for a while in silence until Soma finally broke the silence.
"Hey..."
"Yes?"
"I've been wondering for a while... how does... the mating thing work for Aragami?"
"Ah, now that is something mother did tell me."
"Why tell you that and not where offspring come from with mates."
"Because she wanted us to understand it and be able to defend ourselves." I explained to Soma. "You see Soma, in order to claim a mate you must fight them and be victorious. If you win they will bare their neck to you, putting their lives in your hands. You can either mark them as yours on their neck or ripped out their throat. In a way, they are submissively saying 'I'm yours.' Of course, there's also a chance that you will lose to them, where they will be dominating mate or they will kill you to state they're not interested and want to make sure you don't come back for another try. Mother got many mate challenges and she always come out victorious."
"So she killed the challengers?"
"No... she let them go. In a way, I think she was lonely. She wanted a family, but she wanted someone strong enough to give her one. When she couldn't find anyone she just made her own family."
"Do your brothers get challenges?"
"Of course not! They're like Shio's age, barely even 12. If anyone comes after my brothers heads will roll!"
"I see... then, what about you?" I had to stop at this for a moment. But I looked at him and continued on.
"No... Soma, look at me. In Aragami point of view I'm not the prettiest thing out there. Let alone what kind of children I would bare. In all honesty, while I was out there I accepted the fact I was most likely seen as ugly and would most likely never find a mate. But I didn't mind, most Aragami never find a mate."
"I see... but, this marking thing?"
"It's most likely the most intimate thing and the ultimate sign of trust in the Aragami world." I exposed my neck to show him what happens. "Usually after the loser exposes their neck in submission the winner will lick the neck to clean the area. It also leaves their scent to ward off others, saying 'their mine.' It also gives you a familiarity with your potential mate to help you recognize their scent where ever they are. In a way you taste them to see if you like them. Then after that you lightly bite down, not enough to cause heavy bleeding but enough to leave a mark. After that they're yours forever... Ah, there's the Den. Come on Soma. Soma?"
"Ah, sorry. I just got distracted. Let's hurry up, I'm tired." Why was his breathing ragged? We didn't even run.