Marsu walked through the thick forests behind Tasa, watching the shadows around him warily, waiting for some sort of ambush of insectus. He still didn't know whether this was just a trap or not, and was watching every step he took.
"Don't look so worried, long ears." Tasa laughed from over her shoulder, the plates of her face keeping her expressionless, but her eyes showed her amusement. Marsu faltered at the teasing, blinking in surprise. He wasn't used to the idea that insectus were intelligent- but the more he talked with her, the more he came to believe that it was true. She seemed more intelligent than even some humanus he knew.
He heard a loud crunch under his foot and Tasa flinched in front of him before they both looked down at what he had stepped on- a large insectus arm, the plates brittle and cracked as the green blood seeped onto his foot.
"We're close." Tasa said darkly and turned around to continue through the forest as Marsu frantically tried to wipe the blood off his foot.
"Here we are." Tasa said happily, but frowned when she saw those around the clearing of the forest, different shades of insectus around them on the ground, in varying degrees of pain and death.
Marsu looked around as well, his eyes wide at the amount of insectus around him. "How many are there?" He whispered in horror.
"Too many." Tasa said bitterly, looking up as a rather brightly colored pink mantis insectus landed beside her.
"Ah Tasa, I'm glad you're back. I suppose this is our guest?" The insectus looked over at Marsu curiously.
"Yes, could you please notify the queen he's here?" Tasa smiled weakly to the other insectus before leading Marsu to a large dirt mound, sticks jutting out from the sides of the entrance.
"So what is that?" Marsu pointed to the building curiously.
"That's the entrance to the hive." Tasa said, moving aside a large plank of wood that was only waist-high and walking in, putting it back behind Marsu.
Marsu walked into the darkness uneasily, suddenly realizing that Tasa was no longer beside him. He heard a deep hiss and froze, feeling warm breath against his neck.
"Oh look, it's a humanus." A sultry voice said in amusement. "Do you suppose he's the messanger from Okami?"
"He must be." Another far more serious female voice said from in front of him. "What is your name?"
Marsu tried to ignore the hairy leg brushing against his, and set his jaw stubbornly. "My name is Marsu. I am a scout of the Okami kingdom, and came to see if your kingdom was as dire need as your messenger said."
"So, are we worthy of the Okami kingdom's help, Marsu?" The sultry female voice said bitterly.
"Calm down, Pikla. Our race is not known for being kind to the humanus. They just want to be sure of the problem before they come to fix it." The voice said before moving into the light, making Marsu freeze in shock. She had a female torso connected to a spider's thorax, the either legs of the spider body resting against different areas of the cave entrance as she moved closer to him. He noticed with horror that a red hourglass was inlaid on her chest and abdomen. "So, Marsu." She smiled at his wide eyes. "What do you think of our kind?"
Marsu looked up at her thoughtfully, and to the brown spider behind him. "I think your kind has been driven to desperation. You don't seem like you want to eat humans and humanus, but there's not enough resources for all of your kind."
The queen looked down at him in pleasant surprise. "You are different than most humanus that come to visit us, Marsu. I believe our kingdoms will be able to get along very well."
Marsu walked with the queen across the field of the dying, trying to ignore a particularly young looking girl who was trying with futile effort to connect her arm back to her shoulder.
"We can not last much longer. The disease has begun spreading into the hive. We banish those who have the first symptoms to the surface, but it seems as if it may go to the entire population very soon. Fortunately it only effects those with plates." The queen held out her arm- which the skin was smooth and black, rather than jutted and sectionalized like Tasa's. "But unfortunately, most of the insectus in my hives are plated."
"Hives?" Marsu said in surprise.
"Why yes- I'm the queen of the hives. Those in Okami and Tora, all the hives that have not gone rogue." The queen said proudly.
Marsu boggled at the idea, and returned to staring at the ground. "So, I will try to convince the prince to come here as quickly as possible with healers."
"Oh, that's wonderful." The queen said in relief. "In exchange, I will offer the humanus of Tora and Okami the insectus' protection. My queens in Tora tell me the humanus are fighting quite fiercely over there."
"I'm sure they'll be glad to hear that." Marsu smiled. "Especially the Tora king- he's visiting Okami right now."
"Oh? I've heard he's rather dashing." The queen smirked as Marsu chuckled.
"He's mated with a human from another world- it's causing quite the stir in Okami."
"Indeed? Even more interesting- I hope to meet them as well." The black spider raised on her legs to look higher over those around her. She frowned and lowered herself again, looking down at Marsu sadly. "I'm afraid we can't last much longer at this rate. I have already lost half of my hive."
"This is only half?" Marsu stared at the thousands of insectus around him.
"Little humanus- did you really think we were so weak?" The insectus queen laughed.
Jan boggled at Marsu, blinking a few times in shock. "Thousands? And that's only half?" He gasped.
"Yes, and she said if we go to help them, she'll offer us and the Tora kingdom her protection. She's the queen of the hives both in this country, Tora's and apparently the few in the human kingdom as well."
Toran raised an eyebrow curiously. "Well that makes things a bit easier. Instead of fighting both the humans and insectus, we could focus on just the humans."
"It would make getting Sei the throne easier as well." Rain nodded.
"Then we're all in agreement?" Jan looked around at those around him, who nodded. "Alright, now for the hard part. The king is… slightly biased against the insectus- they killed his wife and daughter. But I'm sure if it's for the good of the kingdom he'll set that aside." Jan said with a shrug, but Toran and Sei frowned as Jan turned to walk toward the throne room.
"NO." The king stormed, his fangs bared down at Jan in anger. "They are insectus- why should we help them?"
"They are dying, your majesty. If we do not help them now, they are lost. They offered us their protection from the humans- they will not hurt us any further." Jan looked around him at the happy whispers of approval.
"I do not care." The king yelled angrily. "They are mindless beasts who kill for pleasure- let them rot in hell for all I care." The king growled.
"It is for the good of the people to help them." Jan said in horror, baring his fangs up at the king as well.
"You do not know what is go for my people, Jan. You are just a prince. You have no say in the matter."
Jan's fur bristled on his neck and back as he let out an angry growl. "Then perhaps it is time that changed. You no longer know what is best for your people. You are blinded by hatred and sloth- and I challenge you for alpha of the Okami pack." Jan stood, baring his fangs as well, ignoring the gasps of shock from those around him.
Naru walked down the halls, chewing on a piece of fruit he had gotten from the kitchen. He looked up in surprise as he saw Carlisa running toward him, tears staining the fur of her cheeks. She stopped in front of him and buried her face in his green shirt, sobbing as Naru dropped his fruit in surprise.
"What's wrong?" He asked in concern, putting his hands against her back for reassurance.
"That idiot!" Carlisa yelled through sobs. "He know he can't win- he's a horrible fighter." She said harshly, looking at Naru in desperation. "Jan challenged the king- they're fighting for the throne tonight! He can't win against the king, he was in the war with the humans, and an amazing warrior. Jan can't beat that!." Carlisa shook her head in denial.
"I'm sure Jan knows what he's doing." Naru said softly, but looked up in concern down the hall as wolves burst from their rooms and ran toward the throne room. He knew Carlisa would never be the same if Jan lost…
Jan stood in front of the ceremonial circle in the dungeon of the castle, looking behind him at the wolves around the top level of the room. He walked over to Toran, holding out his hand. Toran took his wrist firmly, and they watched each other for a minute.
"I'm sorry things started out so badly." Jan said uneasily, glancing to Althea. "I'm not sure how this will turn out-I've never been the best with a blade. I'm more of a bow guy. But… if I lose, get out of the kingdom as quickly as possible, and forget about Okami. With him as the leader for much longer, the insectus will take us over."
"You won't lose." Toran said firmly. "Just stay low, and keep moving. He's older- so he's slow."
Jan smiled uneasily and nodded, looking over to Althea. "I hope you get back to your world, Althea. This place is too violent for someone as nice as you. Just stay close to Toran- he'll take care of you."
Jan looked up at his group of sisters, taking a deep sigh before walking over to them. He hugged each one, paying special attention to the youngest before turning back to Carlisa, who stood beside Naru, tears streaming down her cheeks. Jan wrapped her in a tight hug, smiling against her hair.
"If I don't make it, go with Naru to Tora. I know you'll be happy with him, and I hope you two have a wonderful life." He felt Carlisa's gasp and chuckled. "I've seen the way he looks at you. I'm dense, not stupid." He moved away from Carlisa, smiling reassuringly before poking her nose playfully. "Don't be so sad, Carsie."
"Be careful." She whispered.
Jan turned at last to Rain, who was standing with Sei away from the other wolves. He walked over slowly, ignoring the shocked expressions of those around him.
"I don't understand what's happening." Rain said desperately. "Why is everyone so worried?"
"This is a fight to the death." Jan said, his stomach churning uneasily at her horrified expression. "If I don't win-" He paused at her gasp. "If I don't, then just leave here and try to take over the human kingdom with Toran. But before I go, I want to tell you a story." Jan smiled meekly.
"It's about an arrogant wolf whose parents were killed by humans. He thought all humans were evil and destructive, but one day he came upon two humans who seemed to be different." Jan glanced to Sei uneasily before continuing. "And then one day, much to his surprise, he realized he had fallen in love with one." Jan looked down at Rain, his blue eyes bright. He moved a lock of hair from her face and leaned down, kissing her softly. Sei looked away uneasily as the kiss deepened, Jan holding Rain for support as he bent her low to the ground, then standing her back upright.
"Don't you dare die down there." Rain said softly, setting her forehead against his.
"Yes ma'am." Jan chuckled and let her go, walking to the edge of the pit where the king was already waiting, his dagger drawn.
"Are you about done?" The king growled angrily.
Jan grinned back at Rain and looked down at the king. "Yep." he said simple, and jumped into the pit.