Rai ate and slept constantly so she could carry out the mission as quickly as possible and return home for the exams. Rai was in her ANBU uniform, clipping on the final attachments to her belt, when she heard her mother's voice, "Be careful, Rai." Rai turned to look behind her. She walked to the large wolf and encircled her arms around her large neck. Naruka tucked her head, pulling Rai closer to her.
"I will…" Rai stated into the soft fur. Naruka loosened her grip and let Rai slip out of her grasp. Rai scratched each Okami's head as she walked past them to the cave entrance. "I'll be back soon." She stated into the cave before she leapt into the trees, beginning her mission.
During her entire mission in the north, she had a strange and eerie feeling that she was being watched or followed. She'd keep glancing around when that feeling got strong, and take in whiffs of air, but there was nothing. She had caught up with some members of the Aiota clan, a sister clan to the Okami. Aiotas are known for their speed and friendliness, though they are shy, and their beautiful blonde gold coats. Unlike the Okami, the villages that the Aiota guard allow them into the villages and they help with farming, baby sitting, running messages from town to town, and with missions. Three of the Aiota met up with Rai: Ami, Haji, and Akita. "What's the report?" Rai asked as she jumped down from the tree. She sounded slightly out of breath.
One of the two females, Akita, replied, "We won't know until we get there." Rai looked at Akita and nodded. Akita was one of the top ranking in the Aiota, besides Aiota herself. She is like Megami of the Okami. Akita had piercing green brown eyes like her mother that blended well with her coat, making her look exotic. They took off to meet up with the majority of the Nekko clan. The Nekko looks like a small fox like creature, with big ears, small paws and muzzle, and a bushy tail like a fox, only they are actually small wolves. Now, unlike the Okami, Nikkei, and Aiota, the Nekko actually have a variety of colors, but it is mostly a sand color, while some are dusty grey, red, or brown.
"Yuzu, what's up?" Rai asked a small fox like creature. Yuzu was one of those dark dusty grey Nekko. She looked up at Rai.
"There has been a lot of random and unprovoked demon attacks along the country's borders." Yuzu explained with her little mouth moving. Suddenly, a large bird of prey landed on a branch nearby.
"We've had several scouts check them out." Haro stated, another Nekko, when Rai looked at the bird, then back to him. Haro was one of the common Nekko, the sand color. He came and sat next to Yuzu. Rai swears they look exactly like fennec foxes, except with slightly smaller ears.
"How does it look, Misato?" Yuzu called out to the large golden eagle. She raised her left front paw, as if it helped her to reach a taller height and louder volume.
"It's been unusually quiet. No travelers have passed within the last several hours." The smooth voice stated. It seemed like the forest came alive with rustling bushes and animals of all kinds began to congregate around Rai in a large circle. There were cats, dogs, and farm animals from nearby villages, squirrels, raccoons, birds, chipmunks, rabbits, stags and does, a cougar, a lynx, and a bear. Almost every type of woodland creature was there in the circle around Rai. They all came to share their news. One stag proclaimed, stamping his hoof, that the bloodshed ruined a valuable watering hole with toxin and blood. A dove stated that her and her friend's tree was knocked down during a fight. Several raccoons chatted about some people who made a mess and the food that was left over was pretty good. They all began to talk at once. Rai's head jerked quickly from animal to animal, trying to make sense of their babbling.
"… a circle made of chalk with symbols," caught Rai's ear.
"What did you say about symbols?" Rai turned to the jittery chipmunk and tail-flicking squirrel.
The chipmunk scampered up onto a nearby rock so Rai could see him, "Some men were drawing symbols with chalk on the ground." The chipmunk stated, standing on his hind tiptoes and quivering his nose. The squirrel jumped up next to him on the rock.
"They also had some weird markings on the trees," The squirrel stated, also on his hind legs and flicking his tail.
"They even had some weird symbols on their foreheads," cooed an owl. The lynx attested to that.
Rai curled her index finger around her chin, thinking. "Well, for now, we'll just have to keep an eye on those people and the demons." She glanced at the bird of prey. "Patrol your neck of the woods, report if anything suspicious happens." She looked around the circle. "We'll patrol the borders for others. Everyone keep your eyes open and ears pealed for anything odd."
"How will we know where to find them? Sometimes they just pop up out of nowhere!" A dog stated.
"Just get word to Rai as soon as possible," purred the panther, which lay in a tree, curling the end of her tail.
"Just do what you believe is best and get word to me as soon as possible," Rai stated. The animals all nodded in agreement. "Good, now scatter!" Rai said, and they all took off.