Many more hours of almost complete nonstop running had flown by for Amaya and her friends. She ordered them to stop when Mayu's tiny stomach growled. It was only then that Amaya realized how hungry she was; or more like how all of them were hungry. She hunted for them, catching large rabbits, trout, and a mouse for herself, despite the fact that she inhaled down the two biggest trout and the mouse before satisfying her fill. The boys ate the five smaller fish that Aneko had caught herself, while Haruko and her ate a rabbit together. Mayu ate the smaller one and one small trout all by herself.

When they were done eating, they set off once more. The pack had nearly reached the Western Lands when Mayu started nodding off, causing her to lean more towards the ground. Haruko shifted his shoulders to hold her up a little longer as he ran up next to Amaya.

"Let's rest, sister. Mayu's falling asleep more and more. Plus, I think Aneko's at her limit for the night." He said, indicating with his head to the phoenix bobbing up and down in the air. Even he, a wolf with high stamina, was slower than usual.

Amaya shouldn't be left out. She had wanted to stop for the night a few hours prior, but she had pushed her sore muscles past that request. Half-panting, half-sighing, she nodded in agreement and started slowing down, leading them into a dense forest. She limped quickly into a cave that she found, glancing every so often over her shoulders to see if they were keeping up. They were, but Aneko was sagged very low to the ground had she not been carrying the two boys in the cloth.

They practically collapsed onto the cold but welcoming stone ground, panting profusely. Haruko carefully placed Mayu next to his stomach, wrapping his tail around her to keep her warm. Aneko crawled over to him and opened the cloth for the boys to roll next to their older sister. They shuffled a bit before settling down near Haruko's warm fur. Aneko nuzzled her head under his jaws, cooing softly as she too drifted off to sleep. Haruko licked her head in affection and settled his head down next to hers.

Amaya managed to catch one last look with him before he closed his eyes and quickly fell asleep, seeing the signs of obvious love and fatherly satisfaction coming from him. She was so proud of him; he had found his family, just like she had all those months prior with Sesshomaru.

Up until she was shifted into a shadow.

Haruko had taken care of her for years, and for years she wanted to pay him back in any kind of way. He had searched for love, not tolerating his father trying to marry off females to him, regardless if they were half- or full demonesses.

But he had found her. Aneko was his love, Amaya knew that much. Ever since the party, she could see them growing closer and closer. She was certain after everything would—hopefully—go back to normal, he would ask her hand in courtship and marriage. They could live with Mayu, Katsu, and Ken'ichi as a family that would do greater deeds than their parents—if possible—had done.

Despite being exhausted, Amaya couldn't sleep. Her mind was somehow still going. Her eyes were wide open and her senses were highly erect still and it was annoying her to the point she had to control herself from growling. Something was up and she wanted—

She gasped quietly when a powerful pain ripped through her stomach and lower reigons. Amaya growled softly, quickly peering back to Haruko to see if he had woken from her noises. Luckily, he was so tired that he drifted into a deep slumber for the night.

Not wanting to take the chance, Amaya stood upright clumsily, her legs suddenly feeling like water. Her stomach felt like it was being punched in all the wrong places, making tears flood her eyes. Amaya clenched her teeth together tightly till they ached, her head growing light and dizzying. She forced herself to walk ever so slowly to the cave entrance, only to see raindrops falling from the top portion of the cave mouth. Amaya, had she not been in pain, would've sat down and savored the hypnotic sound of the 'plip plop' echo they left behind in the air.

Her skin burned now, growing hotter until she was panting out puffs of pained breath. Groaning, she continued to walk, enjoying little of the rain that fell on her pelt till it was soaked to her bones.

Amaya didn't know how long she had walked, an hour, maybe just a few minutes, hell she didn't know if it was the next morning. But when she finally felt her mind clear, she looked up to see that she was not in the same forest that she and her friends were in. No, she knew this forest; this forest brought back the painful memories of her youth.

Of the death of her children and the message of her mate's death.

'But how?' She wondered through the pain. 'This is on…the end of the Western and Southern Lands! How did I get here?' Fear replaced her pain for many moments. She felt scared, lost, in pain, alone.

All that she remembers feeling as a young cougar.

Shaking her head, Amaya forced down everything from her body, including the pain, not caring that it could be only just a few seconds. She had to find shelter; even as a cougar and now a shadow wolf, Amaya knew that she could chill down faster than necessary. Something that was not allowed since a war was going to happen in only a matter of long hours away.

She started searching for a place to settle down for the night. Lifting her nose higher into the growing cold air, Amaya sniffed with short breath, scenting out the various creatures that had lived in the forest. Squirrels, rabbits and other various prey were snuggled up in their dens. Larger prey, such as owls and even a few coyotes, had left the forest area to seclude themselves in their warm nests.

However, there was one scent that she picked out. The same scent that was of herself. It was faint, almost completely faded out with the centuries of non-usage and the seasonal changes.

Her nest. By Kami, her nest was here. Which meant they were…

Amaya choked on a sob as she walked towards the scent, her whole form moving in a zombie-like trance. When she reached it, the tears of pain and sadness that she'd been holding back all this time fell down her wet face.

An ancient tree had fallen many years before Amaya had been born. However, to this day, it had hardly even eroded away thanks to years and years of moss and vines around it. A hole had been dug out by Amaya when she had tried finding a place to birth her fledglings as a young and new mother.

The hole was still there, with the only difference being more vines had covered it up. 'If it hasn't changed, then they're over here…' She limped over to two distinctive stones erecting from the ground. On them was deeply engraved one words;

Ryo. Keiji.

Under the stones lied her dead children.

"My sons, my dearest boys, Mama's home." She said softly, bending her head so that her nose was just touching the tips of the stones. "I'm so sorry for everything…Oh how I wish I could give your life back. So much has happened, my Ryo and Keiji. I wish every time at the thought of you two and of my first mate what life would've been like for us all. As a family." The pain biting her sides was becoming very hard to sustain. That and her pain over her deceased children. "I love you both so…much…"

Suddenly, bushes from behind her rustled loudly. She jumped up on her feet and faced them, her downed fur sticking up in the light rain. Curling her lips, Amaya braced her muscles, waiting patiently for a chance to attack the intruder…

But it didn't come. What did come was shock and overwhelming love, seeing the person she hasn't protected since her departure.

"Amaya?!"

"Kagome!" She howled before being engulfed in the arms of her close friend. "Kagome! It's really you right?" Amaya said pulling away to take a long look at the priestess. Already, the shadow wolf could tell how much her friend had changed, given that her aura was so much stronger, mature, than when she had first met Amaya. Her features had shaped into beautifully matured cheeks, lips; everything about her had changed. Her eyes, doe-brown they were, glowed with power and love far greater than Amaya would've imagined. She wore the traditional priestess clothing, which made her even more beautiful.

"Yes…it's me, Amaya. But are you really Amaya? Because the Amaya I knew wasn't a wolf." Kagome said, her harp voice filled with slight confusion and partially joking.

Amaya couldn't help herself as she started laughing with joy. More pain had ebbed away for the moment and was replaced with happiness. "Yes, it is I, Amaya, my dear friend Kagome. Though many would not have hugged me and thought of me as Amaya right now." She said half-heartedly.

"Amaya, you seem distraught and confused like me. Is something wrong?" Kagome asked quietly.

Amaya quickly explained everything that had happened after she'd left Kaede's village and travelled all on her own. She explained how much pain, love and guidance she was given and she gave to others. How she fell for Sesshomaru and what has become of him currently. When she finished, Amaya felt out of breath from all the things she explained.

Kagome's face registered completely awe and horror. "That bitch! She'll pay for what she has done to you. I was on my way to the Western Palace to report our village has no shadow's invading whatsoever—" Kagome stopped talking when she noticed her friend groaning and she fell to the ground on her side, writhing in pain. "Oh, Kami! Amaya, what's wrong?! Where does it hurt?"

"Urgh! H-Here…" Amaya gasped, lowering her paw over her stomach and lower body. "By Kami, what's happening to me? Am I going insane like all shadows do…" She hissed painfully when Kagome's uncomfortable warm hand rested on her stomach. Amaya looked up at her, her eyes filled with plead and concern.

But she got the unexpected reaction of calm and a smile from her instead of fear and dread.

"You have no worries, my friend. Come with me please…"

o / o / o / o

Haruko was awaken by not the rays of sunlight light, but of something else. In fact, there wasn't any rays of sunshine floating into the cave. Nothing was shining;

Only growing darkness looming over the entire lands.

Gasping, he sprang up onto his feet, looking around for Aneko and the others when he didn't see them next to him from last night. "Aneko? Where are you?" he forced out in a hasty whisper.

"Over here."

The wolf spun around to see the black phoenix huddle up far inside the cave, her black feathers puffed out as she was placing herself in front of the children, who were shaking in fear. Ken'ichi was whining loudly, obviously sensing something was wrong and it was scaring him. Haruko walked over and licked his face, quieting his noises.

"What is wrong, my love? Where's Amaya?" He asked, leaning over and rubbing his head against her little bird one. When she pointed with a wing outside, he turned and snarled at the many shadows passing the cave. However, he quickly noticed that none of them were glancing their way. "Why can't they see us, or even smell us?"

"I placed a barrier spell over the cave. It'll last for as long as I deem so." Aneko explained shakily. "And I don't know where Amaya is. Should we go and search for her?"

"We're out of time." He whispered, mostly to himself. He turned back to the children. "Young ones, we need to leave."

"But Daddy—!" Mayu started, but Haruko stopped her with his tailtip against her lips.

"No buts, Mayu. We need to go and help our friends. You must promise me and your Mama right now that you'll watch over your brothers while we're gone." He said. The wolf saw Mayu hesitate and shake a little harder. "Listen to me, Mayu. You need to be brave for Daddy and Mama and your brothers too. They need you. Promise me you'll stay and guard them." It was more of a request than a question.

Mayu was quiet for many seconds, but then nodded her head. "I will, Daddy. Please come back to us afterwards, promise?"

He licked her face affectionately. "I promise." Haruko hated to lie to his newly adopted daughter. But it was something he was going to try holding onto. These children didn't need to lose another family so early. He pulled away and nodded to Aneko. "Let's go."

With one last look at the children, they ran outside of the barrier's zone into the dark forest. "Which way?" he called up to Aneko.

"This way. We don't want to grab their attention too early." She flew outside of the shadows' trial they left behind. Haruko followed her, his stomach heavy with worry and dread. Aneko flew low to the ground beside him, keeping him some company. "Don't worry, Haruko. We'll get there, I know it. We'll meet up with Amaya before we know it." She tried to make him happy. She tried, and that was something he was grateful for at the moment.

Well that's it for today! It may seem like a sucker punch to some of you when Kagome came in so unexpectedly, but it feels like it's worth it! In the next few chapters, we'll be engulfed with darkness… Until next time, R&R please and have a good day!