Chapter 25

Witch, Please!

A sharp hiss snapped through the air as Shipo pulled his stinging hands from the lock of his cage. The wards that old crone had put on the latch had been stronger than the kit expected and now his smarting palms was the price he paid for fiddling with the irritating obstacle.

This was no way for a strong and mighty warrior to be captured!

Truth be told, Shipo had expected the witch to start taking him apart as soon as they returned to her lair but, she'd just shoved him in this cramped cage and went back to her spells. Apparently, she was saving him for something.

Shipo had no idea what the ogress was working on but he wasn't about to hang around and find out. The shrieks he'd heard alone would follow him in nightmares for weeks. Whatever she was planning was terrifying.

So, when the crone had cackled in amusement and rushed from her home, to do who knew what, Shipo decided this was his opportunity to escape….provided he could just open this stupid door!

The sudden whooshing of air and muttered cackling caused Shipo to quickly scoot backwards till his back slammed against the rear bars of his cage.

The resulting rattle, however, went unnoticed by the pleased sorceress as she made her way past the kit's prison, a small jar cradled between gnarled hands.

"Soon enough, soon enough," she crooned as she caressed the worn clay in her palms. "Soon, this will all be worth the trouble."

Another pleased cackle rasped across the room, causing Shipo to suppress a shudder. If he never heard that hateful sound again, it would be too soon.

"And, don't worry, dearie," the crone added as she snapped those large eyes in his direction, greedily. "I haven't forgotten about you. I have some very special plans for you."

"You can forget any plans for me, witch," Shipo shot back with a sudden burst of terrified bravado. "I won't be here much longer!"

"You're right," the ogress replied with an eager grin. "Soon, you'll be all-over the place."

Petrifying horror froze the blood in Shipo's veins as he watched the ogress march towards the back of the cave.

Shipo knew sorceresses were known for using living ingredients in their magics. Humans and yokai alike feared them for the pieces they took from their victims. Even dying didn't save you from their evil.

Suspicion chilled Shipo as he watched the crone flare up her internal hearth fires. The witch was at work, crouched over the collected piles of clay she'd kept covered with damp sacks.

Swallowing low, he covered his ears with trembling palms as he watched her knead and mold the gloopy mess into a shape he could only dare imagine.

Whatever the ogress was planning, he needed to get out.

'Koga! Where are you?!'

SSS

The smell was sharp, muddied but undeniable. The sorceress was nearby and Koga could feel his claws starting to sharpen against his clenched palms as he struggled to keep his irritation at bay.

They were moving so slow!

The old miko, Kaede, had insisted joining them up the side of the nearby green mountains and now their previously slow-moving group was crawling at a snail's pace. It was maddening to Koga, who was used to moving with the unabashed speed of the winds themselves but, he knew better than to say anything about it.

Kaede was old but determined and the ookami respected that. She would get up this ridge if it killed her. The problem was, once they reached the top, the miko had to pull her weight in a fight. But, Koga supposed Kagome was already taking that into consideration. Even now, his woman remained at the older priestess' side like a protective tigress.

The thought brought a pleased smile to the Alpha's face. Kagome really was a fierce one when she chose to be. It was one of the things he loved so much about her. Humans really were more surprising than he thought.

He just wished they moved a little faster!

"Nay," the old miko's voice called from the ledge beneath him. "I do not require ye're help, Ginta."

The priestess was winded, breathing heavily and a shaky hand pressed to her chest. She needed to rest. However…..

An abrupt wave of muddy scent hit Koga so suddenly, it barely took him a moment to find it when something hit him across the face. Hard.

Shaking his head, Koga snarled in warning as he snapped blazing blue eyes towards the being stupid enough to strike him. However, what he saw had him pausing in confusion. This wasn't a being at all. This was a…..puppet?

A doll, really. Molded into the humanoid form of a soldier, complete with crude armor and sword, the clay figure was lifting its weapon to strike right when Koga suddenly kicked his foot through its chest. A sharp twist of his leg and the doll was sent hurtling over the ridge and down the cliff-side.

A shocked cry from Kagome and an infuriated yell of his name was the only response Koga got before he glanced over the edge, seeing the three plastering themselves against the ridge.

"Will you watch it up there?" Kagome shrieked, eyes flashing with righteous fury. "A warning would have been nice, too!"

Before Koga had the chance to say one way or the other, heavy syncopated stomps came through the nearby trees of the cliff-face. Looking over his shoulder, Koga spotted not one, or two but dozens of these clay soldiers making their way towards him.

"Prepare yourself, Kagome," Koga shouted as he spun on his heel, fists clenched on either side. "More are coming your way."

"Wait, what?!"

Koga gritted his teeth in irritation as the closest puppet drew its sword, aiming it with a clumsy precision in his direction.

"You over-grown clay pots aren't worth the effort," Koga snarled viciously. "But, I gotta get through you to get to your Master. And, I will get to her."

With a chilling howl, Koga raced towards the marching lines of clay soldiers, slashing and smashing through their ranks with uncontained fury.

"You hear that, Urasue," Koga shouted over the shattering of bone and clay ringing through the air. "I'm coming for you!"