Kagome took a slow breath in and let it out just the same. She was going to be in deep shit if Kouga caught her trailing them. He could catch her scent at any time, and then she'd be in for an ass chewing. She could only hope he was too focused on his current task to notice.

She had been following them for the better part of an hour, staying as far back as possible, while still being able to track them. It wasn't difficult to focus on his presence as her compass, but doing that simultaneously, alongside focusing on her breathing and footing, was. She almost didn't notice the new presence suddenly within her range, but then, there was another, and then another.

There were more than a few, as Kouga had suggested, as she grew closer to the borders of his territory. She guessed there were around twenty, spread out wide, hiding in the thick trees. Some were very close. Her blood ran cold, and she took off running in the wolves direction. She had to warn them.

Mindful of her footing in the dark forest, she called forth her spiritual energy as she ran, and let it collect in her hand to act as a light. Her heart raced when minutes later, the leaves began raining around her. She could sense a demonic presence closing in on her, and it was far from friendly.

Fear gripped her, knowing she wouldn't make it to the wolves in time. She had to keep herself alive, long enough to get to them. They would need all the help they could get.

She called out Kouga's name as loud as her lungs could manage, right as a loud roar rang in her ears. She turned toward the direction of the ferocious sound, and let her energy loose to form a barrier. Once the barrier had fully taken form, the demon slammed into it.

The instant the creature made contact with the shield of energy, the reaction was so alarming, she screamed in surprise. Blinding sparks arced violently, like lightning from its surface, and the cat was thrown away from her so forcefully it had no time to right itself. It slammed into the trunk of a tree with a sickening crunch.

She had no doubt he was dead. She'd let out way more than shed intended, but she had no time to think about it. She rose on shaky legs, trying to calm her labored breathing while maintaining the barrier in front of her.

It was way more difficult than she could have imagined. And for maybe the fourth time in her life, since she'd left the Hojo's household, did she regret it. The monk would have shown her a better way.

Spying movement to her left, in the wash of blue, alerted her to the arrival of another demon. She had to pay attention. She had not sensed her closing in. It was a female this time, and she was so furious, she was salivating. She charged forward at her, claws and teeth bared, and Kagome panicked.

"Stop!" She screamed, moving her hand to the left, to expand the shield's protective wall.

Seeing this the female heeded the command, letting out a hiss of rage.

"I don't want to kill you." She managed, hearing the fear in her own voice. "But you will not be killing me. Just take him and leave-"

"You mean take his body!" The female screamed in reply, her tail flicking angrily behind her, as she began pacing back and forth like a predator.

Kagome swallowed hard as a wave of fatigue hit her instantly, and she prayed the cat didn't see her nearly stumble.

"You killed him. He is gone! You're dead!" She screamed.

Kagome barely had time to react as the female jumped at breakneck speed to the left, propelling herself off a tree, shaking loose hundreds of leaves.

The demon aimed straight for the woman's unprotected back, but adrenaline and fear made Kagome just fast enough. She swung her arm to the right and completed a perfect shield between herself and the demon, but it left her exposed where she'd not been before. The original, impressive force field fell as she moved and when she summoned more to reinforce the new barrier, it came more slowly, and there was less of it.

The cat, in her fury, flung herself at the barrier with abandon, but what compelled her to do such a reckless thing, did not damn her as it had a brother. Her clawed hands crashed into the barrier but the reaction was not the same. She shrieked in pain, and her flesh was singed everywhere it had made contact with the raw spiritual energy, but she was left alive.

Alive and still murderously angry.

"I don't want to hurt you." She tried again, as she watched the female fight through her own pain to calculate her next attack.

She was already feeling worn out. She'd used so much power already. Where was Kouga? Surely he'd heard the noise. Felt the blast of her powers upon release. Why hadn't he showed up yet?

The swish of leaves sounded to the left of her and she glanced just long enough to spot a second demon. A male. Much bigger than the one she'd managed to kill. She needed backup.

Only the pure will to survive gave her the push she needed to summon a second barrier to wall her off from him and the female.

"Stay back. I'm not here to kill you. We just want to know why you're on wolf land." She panted, ignoring the strain on her body.

The male cat hacked a laugh. "We? You're with them? What kind of monstrous human-and a priestess no less-takes up with demons?"

The word monstrous struck a chord with her.

"It's unnatural. Kouga must have her under some sort of spell." The female quipped. "And she killed Mako! She probably killed Hatori, we haven't found any trace of him!"

"We need to go, Fuu. the others began retreating the minute they sensed her power. Those wolves will be here in minutes."

"I don't care, I'm going to rip her into pieces! And then the wolves are next!"

"You'll have to get through me first!" Kagome screamed, finding the strength return to her arms at the demon's threat.

"The hell she will!"

Kagome almost hadn't recognized the owner's voice. It was barely a sentence, more of a growl, and sounded nothing but deadly. His name barely had time to leave her lips when he slammed, forcefully, into the female cat. Both bodies were sent flying from the force, but the sound of savage growling drew her attention away.

Ginta and Hakakku were already in hand to hand combat with the huge male.

But even outnumbered, the cat was holding his own. The two seemed to be beating the hell out of him, and yet, he showed no signs of losing. Somehow he managed to lock his huge arms around Ginta, despite a violent kick to the head by Hakakku.

Ginta growled, throwing his head forward into the cat's face, visibly and audibly breaking his nose, but the feline did not release him.

"Where is Hatori?" He hissed, squeezing Ginta tighter.

Ginta grunted painfully, triggering his brother wolf into action. Hakakku ran forward to intervene, screaming for Ginta to be released and Kagome paled as she watched him do so.

Ginta fell limply to the forest floor.

She felt hot tears prick her eyes even as Hakakku let loose a feral snarl.

She couldn't believe it. He couldn't be dead. He couldn't be.

Not him.

What would Kouga-

Hak's eyes bled black. "You bastard!"

Kagome screamed in horror as Hakakku ran at the cat in rage, leaving himself wide open for attack, but no words of warning formed. The cat swept the wolf's legs from under him with such grace, it left her stunned. He wasted no time beginning an onslaught of punches to the wolf's face and chest. When Hakakku finally brought his arms up to block, the cat wrapped his large hands around his neck and began to squeeze.

Watching Hakakku's arms, skinny in comparison with the cats, flail and punch and dig at the cats bloody face was one of the most disturbing things she'd ever witnessed.

She glanced at Gintas unmoving form, and then back at the two demons on the ground a few feet away. Hakakku's struggles had already lessened. She had to help him. Kouga was nowhere to be seen, and she would not let him die, too.

Her feet carried her forward on their own, her eyes locked onto her target. In a matter of seconds, she was in reach of him, and she wrapped her arms around a huge forearm. The cat had just enough time to look into her eyes before she unleashed her power on him.

His scream was the last thing she heard.