Ashitaka's eyes opened, but he couldn't see anything. It was like a black fog had enveloped over his vision, and, even opened, they were unable to render any images to him. He tried to move, but he felt strangely numb all over his body, and he was unable to control himself. Next, he tried shouting to someone for help, but his voice, likewise, would not cooperate with his intentions, and, in defeat, Ashitaka closed his eyes again.
It probably wouldn't be long before San found him, he thought. She would probably be looking for him right now. He doubted the townspeople were looking, because if he wasn't in the town, they usually left him alone, so no one would go to his house and see that he was gone. Not that it really mattered. San was all he needed.
He remembered one time when they had gone hunting together. Ashitaka had considered himself to be a fine hunter, and it was true- compared to most men, he was the best of the best; he had been trained to be since his childhood. But the best of the best could only watch, dumbfounded, as a sixteen year old girl silently stalked her prey, smelling every leaf, examining every footprint the creature left behind- slowly following it's trail, until she came to it (unbeknownst to the prey {another feat deemed impossible to most men}) and leapt upon it, deftly slitting its throat with her large dagger, while at the same time, pinning in to the ground so that it was unable to escape. After that particular hunt, he humbled himself and asked her to teach him how to hunt like that. She just laughed and said that it would take time, so they had both agreed that after Iron Town had been stabilized, she would begin teaching him.
But would she ever get the chance? Here he was, sitting in the middle of the forest, completely paralyzed, and with ferocious beasts wandering the forest. Now, compounded to that, his leg wasn't feeling particularly well, either. In fact, now that he was thinking about it, it felt strange, and downright painful. The wound had probably gotten infected. He sincerely prayed that they wouldn't have to amputate it after they'd found him. If they found him…
He closed his eyes, again, but sleep did not come easily this time. He was exhausted, but he could only lie there. The extreme pain had left most of his body, and all that was left was a tingling feeling that traced itself up and down his body.
Again, he tried to move, and to his surprise, he was able to lift his arm. It was, however, all that he could do before he fell back, energy depleted. It was a rather embarrassing situation- he, the prince of the Imishi, who had been trained since childhood to be the best of the best, now lay here, unable to move anything more than his arm.
Resolution welling up in him, he strained his taxed muscles, and forced himself to rise, slowly. He swaggered for a moment, but managed to stumble along at a fairly decent pace for someone in his condition. If he had been traveling to San's cave, then the town would be south…but now he didn't know which way south was. The thick forest was shielding the stars light from his eyes, making it impossible to determine his location through them. His best choice, then, would be to search for an opening in the canopy, of which there were many in this particular forest.
He briefly looked around for his sword, but then decided that it wasn't worth the energy. If something attacked, he doubted that he'd be able to protect himself, even now. With nothing to aid him, the prince stumbled on through the forest, going through his mind trying to think of something, anything, that lived in the forest that matched the description of the animal that had attacked him. Nothing presented itself, and slowly, painfully, he continued on.
San cupped her hands over her mouth and let out a long, ululating howl. She listened intently for a response, and it came quickly, flying over the hills. They were on their way, and would be here shortly.
She had almost decided to aid the townspeople in their search, but she'd wanted to do this alone. Besides, all those bodies would make it hard to smell, something that she took great pride in being able to do. And they would take a long time to prepare and leave, at which time she might've been able to find the boy.
Her heart raced. She was going to meet her prince at the edge of the forest, but she got sidetracked when she caught sight of strange men walking around the town. She assumed that Iron Town would only welcome friends, so she merely had a curious intent in following them. Now she kicked herself for having not gone to the forest immediately. Ashitaka had probably called for her, and gotten worried. He probably went into the forest to look for her- alone, and unprotected. What if something had happened to him?
"San!" one of her brothers called. "San, what is the matter? Is everything all right?"
San looked up and saw her two brothers racing over the last hill. "I need your help," she pleaded with them. "Ashitaka is missing somewhere in the forest, and I fear he may be in danger. It is late, and he has not come back."
"I do not suppose it ever entered your mind that he can take care of himself?" her older brother snorted.
San glanced at him, exasperated. "It is not my place to presume, brother. If there is any possible notion that Ashitaka may be in danger, I will assume the worst until I see him with my own eyes."
He growled lowly, a wolf equivalent of a sigh. "You are as headstrong as you ever were. Come- I will run on ahead and search for him. Brother, take our sister with you and search for the lad in another area. Inform me if you find anything."
With that, the god raced off into the woods.
San jumped up onto her brother's back.
"It is turning cold out," he said. "Where is your fur?"
San instinctively clutched at her chest. Her fur wasn't there. "I left it on Ashitaka's post beside his house. It will let him know that I am searching for him if he comes back while I'm away."
"Do you not have any protection?"
"Don't be such a worrywart! Let's get going!" San said, scratching his muzzle affectionately before he, too, pounced into the forest.
"We'll look by the way to our den, first," San informed him, shouting over the wind. "He probably went looking in that direction, first."
"Will everybody please shut up?! I understand that you are all concerned, but this must be as organized as possible!" Gonza shouted over the commotion.
Many of the men had already taken lanterns and gone looking out over the hills, and even women had joined into the search.
"Fueli!" Gonza shouted at a man in the crowd. "Fueli, take you and ten other men and search near the woods by the river! Di'zhai, take your family and trace the edge of the forest until you reach the marker, and then return the way you came until you reach the other marker! I require ten men to search through the interior of the forest alongside me!"
From above, Lady Eboshi watched intently as the entire village came alive at the notion that the young prince may be in danger.
"Quite a devotion these people had for him," Yuugi said, stepping up next to her on the ledge.
"Indeed," Eboshi agreed. "In a town such as this, everyone knows everyone. It is difficult for someone to go unnoticed for long, and the people here have developed a strong bond between themselves. I suppose it's only natural, after all that they've been through."
"You have been through it as well, Lady Eboshi," Yuugi commented, indicating her missing arm.
Eboshi smiled. "Yes, I have had my share of trials. I hope that I have become a better person for it. I only wish I could help them…" she said, looking down on the dispersed crowd.
"What do you mean?" Yuugi asked. "Are you feeling all right?"
Eboshi looked at him. "Yes, I am in good health. It's just…I am not the same woman I once was. Certain circumstances, along with the loss of my arm, have caused me to grow weak, and much of the spirit has left me. I find it difficult to maintain that once energetic resonance that I once had."
"Are you sure you are feeling all right? I can understand how these 'circumstances' may have taken their toll on you, but you do not strike me as the kind of person who would harbor difficult memories. I suspect that there is something else."
Eboshi sighed, and turned away from the balcony. "You are correct. There is much more to our current situation."
"Our? You mean the town?" Yuugi asked.
Eboshi shook her head. "Yuugi, I thank you for coming, but I wonder if you wouldn't mind departing for the night. I've become very tired, and am in need of rest."
Yuugi paused. A woman had never dismissed him before.
He hesitated slightly, but then said: "I understand. Goodnight, Lady Eboshi. Sleep well."
"Thank you," she whispered, sinking down into a chair, and seemed to fall asleep almost instantly.
Ashitaka stumbled over a tree root, and fell for the second time in only a few minutes. At this rate, it would take him forever to find anything. He could only pray that someone would arrive soon. He was pretty sure it was almost dawn, and if he could hold out until sunlight, the chances of someone finding him would be that much greater.
He called out every ounce of willpower that he had left to conjure up enough energy to stand up again, and continue on.
Again, he called out loudly for someone, anyone, to come and help him. It hurt his throat terribly, and it was only the third time he'd tried it, but it was better than nothing.
And this time, a wolf howled back in return.
The rush of relief that washed over Ashitaka was like a warm blanket that he could curl up in. He nerves so relaxed that his vision temporarily faded out, and he sank to the ground in a stupor.
"Ashitaka!" a voice called from somewhere. Was it San's voice?
"San," he wheezed, barely managing an audible sound. "San…San…" he kept saying over and over again.
And it was thus that she found him- badly bleeding, barely breathing, and in shock, while repeating "San" all the way back to the town.
"Ashitaka," San asked, leaning over him like a mother does her cub, as she escorted him back to the village, "are you all right? Can you speak?"
"He's been badly hurt," her brother commented. "And he's lost a lot of blood, and still losing. If we don't hurry, he might not make it."
"No!" San pleaded with the wounded boy, "Ashitaka, please hold on! Oh, Brother, hurry!"
"Do you want him to fall? Any faster may be dangerous for him- I can only balance him so much. Why do you not get on along with him?"
"I can't!" San cried, "I can't balance him and myself on you while you're running."
"He managed to do it with you on his mount, if I recall," her brother answered back.
"I'm afraid!" San said, beginning to lose control of herself as they walked on. "I don't want to move him or hurt him anymore than he already has!"
"Where is that damned search party?" he snorted. "It figures that those humans would search in all the wrong places. We could use their help about now…"
Despite herself, San couldn't help but ask: "Do you now take help from humans, Brother?"
He whisked his
head. "Necessity makes allies," he said simply, not saying anything else.
"We're almost to the town. Shall I escort you all the way?"
"I would be grateful," San
answered. "I don't think I could carry him. Especially because of the condition
he's in."
The underbrush parted, and they entered the clearing that surrounded the outskirts of Iron Town.
People passing up and down the edge of the forest spotted them, and came running. Some of them slowed when they realized that a wolf was carrying Ashitaka, but it made no aggressive moves, so they rushed in.
"Ashitaka," one of them said. "Is he all right? What's wrong with him?"
"He's been attacked," another replied. "Look at his leg! What a mess! You, go and fetch the medicine man!"
"Everybody be quiet!" San shouted. "Get out of my way; he needs to get back to the town, and be placed in a warm den!"
Her commanding voice did not (for the first time) require a menacing growl from a wolf in order to be obeyed. They parted and allowed San and her brother to carry Ashitaka into the town. Where was Gonza? His presence would be most helpful; more so than many of the townspeople who, despite trying to be helpful, were getting in the way.
A man who smelled strongly of herbs approached cautiously. San had to shield her sensitive nose to the stench, but after a moment, she grew accustomed to it.
"He's been injured," San said, stating the obvious. "He needs attention right away."
The doctor examined the wound on Ashitaka's leg. "Has it already been cleaned?" he asked. "It doesn't look like the wound carries dirt."
"I cleaned it," San said, simply. "I've been taught that a wound must be cleaned before anything else is done."
"You were taught well," the doctor said, leading the wolf further into the town. "There will be less chance of infection. How did you clean it?"
San looked at him, puzzled. "What do you mean?"
"What did you clean it with?" he restated.
"I don't understand," San said, following him. "I cleaned it with my mouth, and a piece of my kimino served as a primitive wrapping."
The doctor nodded and mumbled something about "under the circumstances", before he motioned for another strong smelling man to come and help him.
"Thank you, Brother," San said as they gently pulled Ashitaka off of him. "I will remain here for a while. If you care to return to the forest with our brother, you may."
"That is all that I desire. I have no intention of staying here," he said flatly, and he turned to leave.
"What the?" one of the men commented. "What did this to his leg?"
"I don't know, San answered, stepping into the low-roofed building along with them. Other people started to follow, but the doctor shut the door and bolted it.
"Can't really allow people in here," the doctor said to San. "I normally wouldn't let you in, but I don't think you'd listen."
San grinned, half humorously, half menacingly. "No, I would not."
"Well, there is a reason for it," the doctor said, scrubbing his hands in a water bucket hanging on a wall. "When we operate, some people have been known to…act inappropriately- namely, trying to stop the operation, or bawling or some such nonsense. I suspect you are a strong enough person, though. I do not advise you to watch, but you may, if you wish."
He turned and went behind the curtained room that they had placed Ashitaka in. For a brief moment, San hesitated. She wasn't exactly sure what they would do, and she wondered if she shouldn't be afraid. But she could not be afraid- she was San, daughter of the wolf tribe. She would be brave.
She passed through the curtain, and saw the doctors tying Ashitaka down to the table.
"It's a good thing he's already in shock," one of the men commented. "This is going to be pretty tricky to patch."
San's skin bristled. Why tie him down?
One of the doctors noticed her state, and said accordingly: "Patching the wound will be painful. If he weren't already in shock, he would be able to feel the full brunt of the operation. However, if he comes to during the operation, it could be dangerous for the health of every man in this building. Therefore, I would ask that you, in the best interests of the patient, if for no one else, do not interfere while we work."
San was torn between her need to protect her love, and the desire for him to heal. She didn't want them to hurt him, but she knew it had to be this way. Perhaps this was what the man had meant earlier. No one wanted to see these things done to their loved one. Yet, she could not leave Ashitaka alone.
So as they began a more thorough cleansing of the wound, and Ashitaka groaned softly, San went to the head of the bed and wrapped her arms protectively, comfortingly around Ashitaka's upper torso. She nuzzled her nose against his cheek, and prayed to whatever gods were left that the operation would be over soon.
