By
Jeslyn Nighthawk
Disclaimer: Still don't own it, but maybe I can borrow Sessh-chan for a few days. Oh the things I could do with that tail…
Chapter 3The camp was nothing more than a few ragged pitched tents and some campfires. The women and pups were crouched around said fires in an attempt to keep warm. The smell of cooking meat permeated the small clearing, but from what Miyu could tell, there was not nearly enough to feed as many as were in the pack.
Her heart nearly broke to see the hungry looks on the pups' faces, but she was here under orders from her Lord, and she would see those orders through. The faces of the pack adults were filled with hostility as they looked upon her and her men.
"Captain!" She called, not even looking at him as he rode up beside her. "Form a perimeter around the camp. Bring in any hunters that might return. Do not kill anyone unless it is unavoidable – Lord Inutaisho wants no blood spilled."
"Hai!" Himura turned his mare around and began shouting orders to his men.
Miyu rode into the center of the small camp, knowing that on her coal black stallion in her hunting gear she looked almost like one of them. She had chosen to wear her gear today for that reason – it would eliminate much of the feeling of alienation from the beginning. She would show them that she was a hunter, as they were, and hope that they would be willing to make peace.
"Who is leader here?" She demanded, pitching her naturally soft voice so that it would sound more forceful and carry through the entire camp.
An old woman came forward, rebellion in her eyes. "Who wants to know?!"
"I am Miyu. Lord Inutaisho has sent me here with a message, and all the power I need to enforce it." Her voice was cold, leaving no doubt what that enforcement would entail.
"I am the leader of this pack until the hunters return. What message do you bring from the Dog Lord?"
Miyu noticed Himura riding into place just behind her. At her glance, he nodded. Good, the men were in place. She turned back to the old woman. "Lord Inutaisho bids me to tell you that you are welcome in his lands on one condition: you must swear fealty to him. You may stay, but you must be his subjects. If you do not accept his terms, you will leave – willingly or not."
"And what makes that pompous dog think that we wolves will accept his ultimatum?" The old woman's voice was full of derision and pride.
"You are but a small band of rag-tag refugees," Miyu's voice became even colder, if that were possible, and her eyes narrowed at the insolence confronting her. "These men are some of my Lord's best fighters. They follow my orders, and I follow my Lord's. However, as my Lord would prefer that no blood be shed in this conflict, he has left it to me to negotiate with you. So I will offer an ultimatum of my own."
The old woman raised an eyebrow in surprise. "What would that be?"
"Your hunters will return shortly?" At the old woman's nod, she continued, "I personally will fight the hunter of your choice. If I lose, my life is forfeit and you may deal with my men as you choose. If I win, your tribe swears fealty to my Lord, and you may live here in peace. Do we have a deal?" Miyu was well aware that her men were stiffening behind her. They had not likely suspected that her solution would take such a possibly deadly form. Still, this was a way to prove Lord Inutaisho's strength to the wolves, and her strength to her men.
The old woman considered for nearly five minutes, and Miyu could sense her men growing restless behind her. Himura moved to her side in a silent show of his confidence. Finally the old woman said, "We have a deal," and left to tend her fire, ignoring the armed men in her camp.
***
The hunters returned to camp just over an hour later. They were obviously surprised when they found the armed men surrounding their pack, and it caused quite an uproar. Still after nearly an hour of explanations, the elders of the wolf tribe were huddled together as they debated who should be the champion. Finally, as the sun was setting, the chosen one stood before her.
He was tall, standing nearly a head above her. He had long black hair, tanned skin, and slanted, highly expressive brown eyes. He was muscular in wiry way. Only his twitching tail gave away his anxiety at the upcoming fight.
"Are you ready?" Miyu asked, her voice hushed. This would be a fight without weapons. Only claws and fists.
The young wolf sneered at her. He might be older than me, she thought, but he has a lot to learn. Miyu dropped into a defensive stance just as the wolf lunged at her. She stepped to the side at the last moment, and as he rushed by, unbalanced, she hooked a foot around his ankle, crashing him to the ground. He was up in an instant, and suddenly much more wary of her. He circled her a few times before lunging again, this time getting in a good swipe on her left arm. Miyu growled as she felt the blood flow down, and as her rage built, venom began pooling in her claws. Noticing this, and somehow remembering she did not want to kill the insolent pup, she tried to cool her rage, succeeding only far enough to make the venom recede.
Thinking about the close call, Miyu decided that it was time to end this farce of a fight. With a growl, Miyu reached out and grabbed the wolf around the neck, throwing him to the ground. As soon as he landed, she was on him, knee just below his ribs, and claws just a hairs breath from his throat.
"I win," she whispered and got up. She did not turn her back to him as she faced the pack elders. "I win. Do any of you protest my victory?" There was a tense silence as Miyu's party waited for the verdict.
The old woman stepped forward once again, "How could we protest, youngling? You beat young Takeda almost without breaking a sweat and without shedding any blood. If you are an example of the Dog Lord's power, we feel no qualms in following him. You may tell your Lord he has our pledge. A pack representative will arrive at court as soon as we are able to send one." Miyu nodded to the elders then turned to her men who were now looking at her with admiration and not a little awe.
"Make camp! And bring the extra supplies here, it's been a harsh season, and I have no wish to see these little ones remain hungry," Turning, Miyu once again faced the pack elders. "This is our offering of peace. Please take it." The old woman nodded, and Miyu returned to camp where Himura was waiting to bind her wound.
TBC
A/N: Wow! This is my longest chapter yet. As far as it goes, I actually expect the chapters to get longer as the fic goes on. Um…no reviews for my last chapters…that's kind of depressing. Is it fair to say no more chapters till I get some reviews? Those from my beta-reader don't count. Speaking of my ever faithful and wonderful beta-reader (notice my sarcasm- she failed to send this chapter back to me before I was ready to post This is the revised version that she finally sent me, then I had to wait for ff.net to come back up.), she too is desperate for reviews. Unlike me, She has received no reviews that are not from me and is becoming very disheartened. So, anyone who likes L.J. Smith and The Night World should go read her fic "Strange Choice or Fate That is Strange." It is very funny and worth the time. Besa-sama can be found in my favorite authors and we both would be eternally grateful for any reviews (I am helping to write that fic- mostly Rashel's dialogue.) Thanks for reading and I send out another desperate plea for feedback- even flames.
Ja ne.