Chapter 8:
Don't Believe Everything You See
It was cold.
Colder than it had ever been in the Southern Lands.
Demons of all kinds stood watch on the perimeter wall; their breath coming in fluffy clouds. They either wore thick furs, or the furred species had transformed into their full demon forms. With the exception of one; opting for his humanoid form so he could be understood by those who didn't speak Dog, Wolf, or Cat.
Sesshyo was wrapped in a black skin cloak, lined with fur on the inside; finger-ing Hyokama's leather grip; pacing impatiently down the wall.
Hinosaiga was strapped over his shoulder, next to his black and gold lacqu-ered bow; and Hyokama hung at his waist. Without noticing he was doing it, he traced a circle on his arm with his claw. He could smell the blood-demons lurking in the forest; their stench was unmistakable. It had been a nearly continual assault on Star Castle for almost ten days; this was the first time they had stopped for more than an hour at a time. Sesshyo glanced down at the line of demons that was barely visible through the trees; then did a double take, spinning and trotting up to the four foot high stone wall that ran along the top of the bigger wall as protection for the lookouts. A high-ranking blood-demon was dragging a small fox-demon forward to the front of the line. Sesshyo recognized him as one of his best spies, sent to learn the blood-demons battle strategies only two days ago. The hideous demon snarled.
"I have your snoop, you dirty-blooded mutt!" he yelled at Sesshyo. "Come and claim him if you don't want his blood spilled all over your lawn!"
Sesshyo clenched his fangs in frustration. The fox, Yahi, had been one of his friend when they were both pups. The blood-demon made a show of flashing his (blood free) knife around Yahi's face, causing the fox to flinch. Sesshyo snarled.
"And who's going to spill it?! You?! Or are you to afraid to get any blood on yourself?!"
"Watch your tone, Mutt, unless you want to shorten the boy's life!"
Sesshyo ducked right que with the end of the other demon's sentence, because right at this time the blood-demon's archers decided for a little target practice and launched several dozen arrows in Sesshyo's direction; all of which missed.
"So?! Not only can't you kill a harmless little fox, you're such a coward you can't even face me yourself; you have your archers shoot at me from the safety of the forest!"
"Who said I wasn't going to kill him?"
Sesshyo cursed under his breath. He hadn't planned on the blood-demon commander to call his bluff; he was hoping to draw the argument out, to buy Yahi some time. The blood-demon laughed. "Time to die little fox."
******
He took his sweet time in tearing Yahi's throat; his incredibly long fang-like teeth could've done it in a second; but he wanted to drag it out, wanted that little Mutt to squirm, and think about all the thing he could've done to save his friend from this painful death. He could see Sesshyo swell up in fury; just what he wanted him to do. Go on, the demon thought. Go on and transform; that dose of poison sickness you got before was just an appetizer, all it need is just a bit more Yoki to feed it, then, then, we shall see who trembles in fear in front of death, Mutt.
Sesshyo's eyes blazed red; his face started to lengthen and his whole body began to glow a bright blue. The blue glow swelled until it was about thirty feet high and when it subsided there stood the huge solid white beast that was Sesshyo's true form. The glowing creatures twin tails lashed around like angry snakes, and it claws dug into the stone. The wolf-cat let out a ground shaking roar and leapt down from the wall to land in front of the demon line.
The demons balked before letting their arrows fly; but, even if they could have actually hurt him, they bounced off his thick, white fur, falling harmlessly to the ground. Why isn't anything happening? the commander wondered; dashing back into the woods, eyes darting everywhere, looking for something. He could hear the sound of his men in battle, every now and then a scream; if Sesshyo could stay in his true form like this for long periods of time, he could slaughter the whole army in two days; but his form was so powerful he could only stay like that for about an hour, after which he was completely exhausted. He would've liked to have seen a battle between Sesshyo and his father, Sessbinshi, while they were in their true forms; that would've been a fight to see! he thought wildly.
Sesshyo would probably have the advantage in a short fight, his speed would give him an advantage there; but if the fight were drawn out Sessbinshi would gain advantage with his greater experience. It would've been close. Now, lets see... ah! There! the demon ran up to a rickety, wrinkled monk, who was so old he stood bent nearly double. He looked up at the demon commander with almost totally blind eyes. "Your poison isn't working, Cho! Sesshyo continues to slay my men at rather alarming rate! You said that the extra energy it took to transform would awaken the poison!" the commander yelled loudly, to make himself heard to the half deaf human.
"Of course it isn't working, you fool. You're a demon you tell me why it's not working." the old man said stiffly.
"Sorry, but whenever I try to think, this big Cat-demon pops into my head; I wonder why..." he snapped sarcastically.
"That is why, you big idiot. No poison in all the land is strong enough to bring down an enraged, fully-transformed demon."
"Most of men could be dead by the time he changes back!"
"Here," the old monk said, handing the commander a small leather pouch.
"Ground up kitsune bones; can change anything back into what it was before.
Throw this in his face and he'll change back."
"Glad to see you're good for something, old man."
******
The demon commander raced toward the huge creature ripping through his men like a cyclone. His timing had to be perfect; if not the creatures jaws would be shredding him well. His boots crunched in the fresh red and white snow, drawing the huge demon cat's attention. He leapt over Sesshyo to land next to the perimeter wall of the castle. "Comere you baka." the blood-demon hissed.
Sesshyo snarled, then raised a huge clawed paw to smush him like an insect.
The commander quickly reached into his cloak and pulled out the pouch; digging his hand in, he drew out some grayish-blue dust. Hope this works, he thought, flinging the powder in Sesshyo's face. It fell across Sesshyo's nose like bluish snow; then, with a 'pop' noise the cat disappeared in a puff of smoke to be replaced by the demon's normal form. It would've been comical if it wasn't for the seriousness of the situation. Sesshyo looked, stunned, at the blood-demon for a second, then, noticing he was being surrounded by snarling demons.
He stepped undividedly back toward the perimeter wall, glancing up to see if anyone was standing there. The blood-demon laughed, drawing his sword and sprinting toward Sesshyo; who leapt upward to land on the top of the perimeter wall. Sia raced up to him; snarling. "You fool! You could've been killed!"
Sesshyo turned and smiled at Sia. "I'm fine." he said, right before he passed out.
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Ok, that chapter was lousy.
I started off Ok, but I had a weekend-long fastpitch softball tournament, and that really messed me up...
I need more reviews! There's no sense in writing this if no ones reading it; please!
You don't even need to make a complete sentence! Just put 'good', 'bad', etc... just click the little link down there, and you'll make my day!
Don't Believe Everything You See
It was cold.
Colder than it had ever been in the Southern Lands.
Demons of all kinds stood watch on the perimeter wall; their breath coming in fluffy clouds. They either wore thick furs, or the furred species had transformed into their full demon forms. With the exception of one; opting for his humanoid form so he could be understood by those who didn't speak Dog, Wolf, or Cat.
Sesshyo was wrapped in a black skin cloak, lined with fur on the inside; finger-ing Hyokama's leather grip; pacing impatiently down the wall.
Hinosaiga was strapped over his shoulder, next to his black and gold lacqu-ered bow; and Hyokama hung at his waist. Without noticing he was doing it, he traced a circle on his arm with his claw. He could smell the blood-demons lurking in the forest; their stench was unmistakable. It had been a nearly continual assault on Star Castle for almost ten days; this was the first time they had stopped for more than an hour at a time. Sesshyo glanced down at the line of demons that was barely visible through the trees; then did a double take, spinning and trotting up to the four foot high stone wall that ran along the top of the bigger wall as protection for the lookouts. A high-ranking blood-demon was dragging a small fox-demon forward to the front of the line. Sesshyo recognized him as one of his best spies, sent to learn the blood-demons battle strategies only two days ago. The hideous demon snarled.
"I have your snoop, you dirty-blooded mutt!" he yelled at Sesshyo. "Come and claim him if you don't want his blood spilled all over your lawn!"
Sesshyo clenched his fangs in frustration. The fox, Yahi, had been one of his friend when they were both pups. The blood-demon made a show of flashing his (blood free) knife around Yahi's face, causing the fox to flinch. Sesshyo snarled.
"And who's going to spill it?! You?! Or are you to afraid to get any blood on yourself?!"
"Watch your tone, Mutt, unless you want to shorten the boy's life!"
Sesshyo ducked right que with the end of the other demon's sentence, because right at this time the blood-demon's archers decided for a little target practice and launched several dozen arrows in Sesshyo's direction; all of which missed.
"So?! Not only can't you kill a harmless little fox, you're such a coward you can't even face me yourself; you have your archers shoot at me from the safety of the forest!"
"Who said I wasn't going to kill him?"
Sesshyo cursed under his breath. He hadn't planned on the blood-demon commander to call his bluff; he was hoping to draw the argument out, to buy Yahi some time. The blood-demon laughed. "Time to die little fox."
******
He took his sweet time in tearing Yahi's throat; his incredibly long fang-like teeth could've done it in a second; but he wanted to drag it out, wanted that little Mutt to squirm, and think about all the thing he could've done to save his friend from this painful death. He could see Sesshyo swell up in fury; just what he wanted him to do. Go on, the demon thought. Go on and transform; that dose of poison sickness you got before was just an appetizer, all it need is just a bit more Yoki to feed it, then, then, we shall see who trembles in fear in front of death, Mutt.
Sesshyo's eyes blazed red; his face started to lengthen and his whole body began to glow a bright blue. The blue glow swelled until it was about thirty feet high and when it subsided there stood the huge solid white beast that was Sesshyo's true form. The glowing creatures twin tails lashed around like angry snakes, and it claws dug into the stone. The wolf-cat let out a ground shaking roar and leapt down from the wall to land in front of the demon line.
The demons balked before letting their arrows fly; but, even if they could have actually hurt him, they bounced off his thick, white fur, falling harmlessly to the ground. Why isn't anything happening? the commander wondered; dashing back into the woods, eyes darting everywhere, looking for something. He could hear the sound of his men in battle, every now and then a scream; if Sesshyo could stay in his true form like this for long periods of time, he could slaughter the whole army in two days; but his form was so powerful he could only stay like that for about an hour, after which he was completely exhausted. He would've liked to have seen a battle between Sesshyo and his father, Sessbinshi, while they were in their true forms; that would've been a fight to see! he thought wildly.
Sesshyo would probably have the advantage in a short fight, his speed would give him an advantage there; but if the fight were drawn out Sessbinshi would gain advantage with his greater experience. It would've been close. Now, lets see... ah! There! the demon ran up to a rickety, wrinkled monk, who was so old he stood bent nearly double. He looked up at the demon commander with almost totally blind eyes. "Your poison isn't working, Cho! Sesshyo continues to slay my men at rather alarming rate! You said that the extra energy it took to transform would awaken the poison!" the commander yelled loudly, to make himself heard to the half deaf human.
"Of course it isn't working, you fool. You're a demon you tell me why it's not working." the old man said stiffly.
"Sorry, but whenever I try to think, this big Cat-demon pops into my head; I wonder why..." he snapped sarcastically.
"That is why, you big idiot. No poison in all the land is strong enough to bring down an enraged, fully-transformed demon."
"Most of men could be dead by the time he changes back!"
"Here," the old monk said, handing the commander a small leather pouch.
"Ground up kitsune bones; can change anything back into what it was before.
Throw this in his face and he'll change back."
"Glad to see you're good for something, old man."
******
The demon commander raced toward the huge creature ripping through his men like a cyclone. His timing had to be perfect; if not the creatures jaws would be shredding him well. His boots crunched in the fresh red and white snow, drawing the huge demon cat's attention. He leapt over Sesshyo to land next to the perimeter wall of the castle. "Comere you baka." the blood-demon hissed.
Sesshyo snarled, then raised a huge clawed paw to smush him like an insect.
The commander quickly reached into his cloak and pulled out the pouch; digging his hand in, he drew out some grayish-blue dust. Hope this works, he thought, flinging the powder in Sesshyo's face. It fell across Sesshyo's nose like bluish snow; then, with a 'pop' noise the cat disappeared in a puff of smoke to be replaced by the demon's normal form. It would've been comical if it wasn't for the seriousness of the situation. Sesshyo looked, stunned, at the blood-demon for a second, then, noticing he was being surrounded by snarling demons.
He stepped undividedly back toward the perimeter wall, glancing up to see if anyone was standing there. The blood-demon laughed, drawing his sword and sprinting toward Sesshyo; who leapt upward to land on the top of the perimeter wall. Sia raced up to him; snarling. "You fool! You could've been killed!"
Sesshyo turned and smiled at Sia. "I'm fine." he said, right before he passed out.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ok, that chapter was lousy.
I started off Ok, but I had a weekend-long fastpitch softball tournament, and that really messed me up...
I need more reviews! There's no sense in writing this if no ones reading it; please!
You don't even need to make a complete sentence! Just put 'good', 'bad', etc... just click the little link down there, and you'll make my day!
