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Chapter 2
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The day of our journey the weather is clear with only a few clouds and a slight wind. I said good-bye to Naraku, who warned me to be careful. I signed to him that I carried my long, paring knife along with a good cherry- oak bow and a sliver of arrows.
I rushed out to see Kikyou, my friend, standing with her hands on her hips, motioning me to hurry. I grabbed my things and wrapped my knife and a sheep horn for water in a blanket; binding it with two leather straps; then I pulled the straps around my shoulders. I skipped to walk along side Kikyou, who seemed annoyed that I was late, but she said kind words about my deer skin moccasins and my ermine skin headband.
As we walked towards the horse pen, Kikyou (Who liked Naraku and could talk about nothing else but how strong, brave, and handsome he was.) asked me if he approved of me going on the trip.
"Why wouldn't he?" I answered.
"Well, you know how much he cares about you; this is the first time you have been without his protection, I mean since the accident and all," she said.
I shrugged, "he's let me go out before. Dusty and I go out all the time; she gets bored easily, so I have to make sure she gets enough exercise..."
"I swear," Kikyou interrupted, "you care more about that horse than your own safety. When are you going to learn that a horse can't fight or hunt or provide for a family like a man can."
"You mean like Naraku can, huh Kikyou?" I teased.
She blushed, "I'm just saying that you need to find someone of flesh and blood and muscle to take Naraku's place one day. Naraku may be strong, fast, brave, and handsome but he won't be around forever, you know he wants you to find a husband to marry."
She turned her head and looked back in the direction of Naraku's tipi. "He's so kind, he won't take a wife for himself until he knows that you are settled and happy; very few young warriors would do that for their sister, you should feel very proud."
"Like you do?" I joked, but she paid no attention to my comment.
I decided to leave her alone on the subject; it would be no use arguing with her.
And actually, a few suns ago when I met with Kagura he seemed kind yet he acted distant to me. I felt that Kagura fancied me as a wolf fancies a wounded deer. Yet, I suppose my brother did approve of him, or he would have never introduced us. Kagura was very self absorbed person. When he spoke to me I found myself listening to all of his accomplishments, which can become annoying. He was a suitable husband, I'm sure any girl should be happy to marry a warrior... the subject gave me an ache in my heart.
If Naraku said something was to happen then it most likely would become real; he held that kind of power over people- especially me. I sighed, I don't think Naraku understood the meaning of love; but maybe I didn't either. I let my mind wander off of the topic of my future. Several of my cousins had joined us, and we all walked the last distance to the horse pen together.
Near the pen, their was a new footpath of beaten down grass that led to a small tipi. The tipi was not made with sturdy poles but with light ones; which are used as temporaries until stronger ones are made. They are also used when traveling because they weighed less then the Burch poles.
One of my small cousins began to whisper to the others, "I hear a wanderer lives their... the council found him sneaking around the horse pen, and thought he was a horse stealer..."
"Why wasn't he captured?" Shippo, another one of my cousins, asked.
"Not sure," the first answered, "yet the warriors say he is weak, probably a loner looking to join a tribe and work his way up in the social ladder and take control; my father said to stay away from him."
I spoke up, "If he needs a place to stay then the council can't turn him away. He's probably..."
Just as I said this the young man came out of the tipi, we all froze as his gaze fell upon us.
He was only slightly shorter than my brother. There was dirt on his clothes and leaves in his silver hair, which hung down to the middle of his back. He looked very rugged and stern. Yet, his eyes... they were soft and gentle. My breath was caught in my throat. Before I turned back to my friends his mouth curved and he flashed me a warm, toothy smile.
I could only slightly hear my cousins starting to giggle. I blinked like I was caught in a dream. My senses went numb. My skin was stung with a thousand tiny needles, which sent shivers down my spine.
Then suddenly my mind changed to acknowledge a sudden pain in my arm. It was Kikyou pulling at my arm. She took me from my dream and pulled me behind the others. I turned my head and looking back over my shoulder but the young man had disappeared. I felt a tight squeeze from Kikyou's hand as she pulled me at a run to the horse pen.
~*~ When we arrived, Kikyou let go of me, after flashing me a harsh look, and began to load up her pony, I was still in a trace as I looked for mine. Dusty, my horse, was my best friend. She was my loyal companion as well as my protector. She appeared from the center of the huddle of horses in the enclosed fence.
She was a beautiful mare who was the color of the golden desert sand. Her mane and tail were so black that they shinned blue. She was smaller than the great war horses that the warriors used. But I always thought of her as many times faster and more beautiful than any other horse. I rubbed her nose and put her face to mine and smelled her sweet sent. Dusty and I had grown up together. Every time I see her I remember the time we first met.
It was the same day as the accident.
Yet, when I looked into Dusty's eyes I could remember so much more about what had happened; what truly happened. The story appeared in my mind. I could remember it now. My mind flashed to the incident...
~Many snows ago, when I was a small child, I had wandered away from my brother's care and walked deep into the youkai forest. What drew me to the land I will never know, but the experience changed my life.
Traveling on in the dark, cold, haunting night air; I was prey to any wild animal. Lost, scared, and hungry I huddled behind a thin bush of stiff wiregrass, freezing and alone. Every sound I heard made my heart jump. Dark shadows lurked among the gloom cast by the whole moon above. I prayed to my Guardian Spirit to protect me.
Unexpectedly, the long shadows began to come closer, their shape undecipherable. The sounds of night awoke my censes and I prepared for the worst. I began to make out more than one shape coming towards me. I hid my face in my arms and curled my knees up to my chin. I dared not look up.
My mind imagined a horrible monster, with long dripping fangs and long pointed ears about to devour me where I sat. Heavy sounds came closer towards me. I felt hot breath on my arms, then a soft light touch.
My fear vanished.
I looked up slightly from under my arms, peering into the darkness I could make out a long white moon marking, along with two moonlit shinning eyes. An angelic man stood in front of me. He raised his head and towered over me, his outline barely visible in front of the great moon.
I was only slightly frightened, only because my brother had always told me horror stories about demons. Yet, I could not find it in my heart to be afraid. As the youkai looked down on me, more demons began to surround us; a whole pack. The demon in front of me was obviously the herd's leader, a great youkai with a strong powerful chest and torso. Old battle scars, along his body, became visible to me against the great light put out by the moon. He owned the land that I was a stranger too, and he knew it.
I cowered back and shook not from fear of this great demon but from cold. Almost as if the youkai knew I was cold, he removed a piece of cloth that hung around his shoulders, and drew it up to my chin. I could feel his breath on me; it warmed me. His body was so powerful, yet so soft, with a parent-like touch. He knew I was a lost child...
I don't know for how long I lay on the ground with the youkai, but I
was so happy and content that I didn't care. Yet the demon had other
plans. Pulling away from me he turned and walked backwards, almost
disappearing with the bright moon behind him. He walked only a few
feet then stopped and looked at me...
For the first time in my life, I felt a feeling in my soul that would
soon become my most precious gift. I was so little then, I didn't
realize that The feeling was indescribable but it almost felt as if
my soul had jumped up into my heart, and then my heart whispered sweet
words into my ears, filling my mind with soft voices of wisdom and
supremacy.
I knew not how I could understand these words, for at first they
seemed like another language that I had never known. It's as if I
heard an echo repeating the words over and over again until I could
understand.
Two very simple, warming words "Follow me..."
Not knowing who to obey my legs just moved on their own and I crawled
forward at first toward the father youkai. He again walked a few more
paces and then turned to me again... "Follow me..."
I found the strength in my legs; I stood up and followed him deeper
into the forest. The grass soon grew taller than my head, and I had to
run to keep up with the father demon. But I censed that I was not
alone. The whole pack of youkai seemed to be following us. Just out of
sight; a circle of protection.
I was almost walking through time. The tall grass looked like a long
tunnel, and the youkai's white hair fairly glistened in the moonlight.
I was now running through the tall grass, and breathing heavily, my
legs moved without my mind telling them too. I lost the father demon
among the tall grasses and trees.
I remember calling out to him.
I kept running.
I ran until the ground beneath me disappeared. My feet slipped out
from under me, and I feel down, rolling over and over again down a
hill. I finally stopped at the hills end; I lay on my back for a few
minutes to catch my breath.
I choked and spat dirt out of my mouth. Then I kneeled and gently
stood up. Looking out in front of me I saw another group of youkai
standing with their loyal dragon servants. I looked to see the father
youkai only a few feet in front of me.
He turned and called to the group. They looked up with bright eyes,
and smiled with mouthfuls of fangs.
The canines scared me, as well as their claws and sharp eyes. A sound
came from behind me, my head snapped in the other direction as a horse
walked up behind me. It gave a soft horse whine and stood beside me.
Suddenly, I felt a huge power lift my young body up from the ground
and onto the back of the horse. My eyes turned to the father youkai
and he stared back at me. Then with a whimsical voice he spoke again,
"This horse will take you home, little one. Rest your wide eyes; you
have nothing to fear from us."
My eyelids suddenly grew heavy, as sleep made my body weak. Yet
before I could close them, the father youkai struck the horse's flank,
and it bolted off back through the woods.
I tried to get a last look at the demon, but my vision grew blurry for
I had fallen asleep on the back of the moving horse. ~
"Kagome! Kagome! Com'on what are you doing? Get Dusty and let's go!" My head slipped out of my dream world. It was Kikyou that had called me. She and the others were already on their horses and had started walking down the trail to the meadow.
I laid my blanket across Dusty's back and pulled her lead rope around to her back. Then I pulled her to a large stump of a tree. Climbing up on the stump I look a leap and landing on my stomach across Dusty's back. Holding on to her neck I twisted myself around to face forward. "One day," I thought, "I'll find a better and more graceful way to climb on your back Dusty." I situated myself atop her and then clicked my tongue to make Dusty walk and joined my friends.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Well that's chapter 2, R & R if you love me : )
Chapter 2
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
The day of our journey the weather is clear with only a few clouds and a slight wind. I said good-bye to Naraku, who warned me to be careful. I signed to him that I carried my long, paring knife along with a good cherry- oak bow and a sliver of arrows.
I rushed out to see Kikyou, my friend, standing with her hands on her hips, motioning me to hurry. I grabbed my things and wrapped my knife and a sheep horn for water in a blanket; binding it with two leather straps; then I pulled the straps around my shoulders. I skipped to walk along side Kikyou, who seemed annoyed that I was late, but she said kind words about my deer skin moccasins and my ermine skin headband.
As we walked towards the horse pen, Kikyou (Who liked Naraku and could talk about nothing else but how strong, brave, and handsome he was.) asked me if he approved of me going on the trip.
"Why wouldn't he?" I answered.
"Well, you know how much he cares about you; this is the first time you have been without his protection, I mean since the accident and all," she said.
I shrugged, "he's let me go out before. Dusty and I go out all the time; she gets bored easily, so I have to make sure she gets enough exercise..."
"I swear," Kikyou interrupted, "you care more about that horse than your own safety. When are you going to learn that a horse can't fight or hunt or provide for a family like a man can."
"You mean like Naraku can, huh Kikyou?" I teased.
She blushed, "I'm just saying that you need to find someone of flesh and blood and muscle to take Naraku's place one day. Naraku may be strong, fast, brave, and handsome but he won't be around forever, you know he wants you to find a husband to marry."
She turned her head and looked back in the direction of Naraku's tipi. "He's so kind, he won't take a wife for himself until he knows that you are settled and happy; very few young warriors would do that for their sister, you should feel very proud."
"Like you do?" I joked, but she paid no attention to my comment.
I decided to leave her alone on the subject; it would be no use arguing with her.
And actually, a few suns ago when I met with Kagura he seemed kind yet he acted distant to me. I felt that Kagura fancied me as a wolf fancies a wounded deer. Yet, I suppose my brother did approve of him, or he would have never introduced us. Kagura was very self absorbed person. When he spoke to me I found myself listening to all of his accomplishments, which can become annoying. He was a suitable husband, I'm sure any girl should be happy to marry a warrior... the subject gave me an ache in my heart.
If Naraku said something was to happen then it most likely would become real; he held that kind of power over people- especially me. I sighed, I don't think Naraku understood the meaning of love; but maybe I didn't either. I let my mind wander off of the topic of my future. Several of my cousins had joined us, and we all walked the last distance to the horse pen together.
Near the pen, their was a new footpath of beaten down grass that led to a small tipi. The tipi was not made with sturdy poles but with light ones; which are used as temporaries until stronger ones are made. They are also used when traveling because they weighed less then the Burch poles.
One of my small cousins began to whisper to the others, "I hear a wanderer lives their... the council found him sneaking around the horse pen, and thought he was a horse stealer..."
"Why wasn't he captured?" Shippo, another one of my cousins, asked.
"Not sure," the first answered, "yet the warriors say he is weak, probably a loner looking to join a tribe and work his way up in the social ladder and take control; my father said to stay away from him."
I spoke up, "If he needs a place to stay then the council can't turn him away. He's probably..."
Just as I said this the young man came out of the tipi, we all froze as his gaze fell upon us.
He was only slightly shorter than my brother. There was dirt on his clothes and leaves in his silver hair, which hung down to the middle of his back. He looked very rugged and stern. Yet, his eyes... they were soft and gentle. My breath was caught in my throat. Before I turned back to my friends his mouth curved and he flashed me a warm, toothy smile.
I could only slightly hear my cousins starting to giggle. I blinked like I was caught in a dream. My senses went numb. My skin was stung with a thousand tiny needles, which sent shivers down my spine.
Then suddenly my mind changed to acknowledge a sudden pain in my arm. It was Kikyou pulling at my arm. She took me from my dream and pulled me behind the others. I turned my head and looking back over my shoulder but the young man had disappeared. I felt a tight squeeze from Kikyou's hand as she pulled me at a run to the horse pen.
~*~ When we arrived, Kikyou let go of me, after flashing me a harsh look, and began to load up her pony, I was still in a trace as I looked for mine. Dusty, my horse, was my best friend. She was my loyal companion as well as my protector. She appeared from the center of the huddle of horses in the enclosed fence.
She was a beautiful mare who was the color of the golden desert sand. Her mane and tail were so black that they shinned blue. She was smaller than the great war horses that the warriors used. But I always thought of her as many times faster and more beautiful than any other horse. I rubbed her nose and put her face to mine and smelled her sweet sent. Dusty and I had grown up together. Every time I see her I remember the time we first met.
It was the same day as the accident.
Yet, when I looked into Dusty's eyes I could remember so much more about what had happened; what truly happened. The story appeared in my mind. I could remember it now. My mind flashed to the incident...
~Many snows ago, when I was a small child, I had wandered away from my brother's care and walked deep into the youkai forest. What drew me to the land I will never know, but the experience changed my life.
Traveling on in the dark, cold, haunting night air; I was prey to any wild animal. Lost, scared, and hungry I huddled behind a thin bush of stiff wiregrass, freezing and alone. Every sound I heard made my heart jump. Dark shadows lurked among the gloom cast by the whole moon above. I prayed to my Guardian Spirit to protect me.
Unexpectedly, the long shadows began to come closer, their shape undecipherable. The sounds of night awoke my censes and I prepared for the worst. I began to make out more than one shape coming towards me. I hid my face in my arms and curled my knees up to my chin. I dared not look up.
My mind imagined a horrible monster, with long dripping fangs and long pointed ears about to devour me where I sat. Heavy sounds came closer towards me. I felt hot breath on my arms, then a soft light touch.
My fear vanished.
I looked up slightly from under my arms, peering into the darkness I could make out a long white moon marking, along with two moonlit shinning eyes. An angelic man stood in front of me. He raised his head and towered over me, his outline barely visible in front of the great moon.
I was only slightly frightened, only because my brother had always told me horror stories about demons. Yet, I could not find it in my heart to be afraid. As the youkai looked down on me, more demons began to surround us; a whole pack. The demon in front of me was obviously the herd's leader, a great youkai with a strong powerful chest and torso. Old battle scars, along his body, became visible to me against the great light put out by the moon. He owned the land that I was a stranger too, and he knew it.
I cowered back and shook not from fear of this great demon but from cold. Almost as if the youkai knew I was cold, he removed a piece of cloth that hung around his shoulders, and drew it up to my chin. I could feel his breath on me; it warmed me. His body was so powerful, yet so soft, with a parent-like touch. He knew I was a lost child...
I don't know for how long I lay on the ground with the youkai, but I
was so happy and content that I didn't care. Yet the demon had other
plans. Pulling away from me he turned and walked backwards, almost
disappearing with the bright moon behind him. He walked only a few
feet then stopped and looked at me...
For the first time in my life, I felt a feeling in my soul that would
soon become my most precious gift. I was so little then, I didn't
realize that The feeling was indescribable but it almost felt as if
my soul had jumped up into my heart, and then my heart whispered sweet
words into my ears, filling my mind with soft voices of wisdom and
supremacy.
I knew not how I could understand these words, for at first they
seemed like another language that I had never known. It's as if I
heard an echo repeating the words over and over again until I could
understand.
Two very simple, warming words "Follow me..."
Not knowing who to obey my legs just moved on their own and I crawled
forward at first toward the father youkai. He again walked a few more
paces and then turned to me again... "Follow me..."
I found the strength in my legs; I stood up and followed him deeper
into the forest. The grass soon grew taller than my head, and I had to
run to keep up with the father demon. But I censed that I was not
alone. The whole pack of youkai seemed to be following us. Just out of
sight; a circle of protection.
I was almost walking through time. The tall grass looked like a long
tunnel, and the youkai's white hair fairly glistened in the moonlight.
I was now running through the tall grass, and breathing heavily, my
legs moved without my mind telling them too. I lost the father demon
among the tall grasses and trees.
I remember calling out to him.
I kept running.
I ran until the ground beneath me disappeared. My feet slipped out
from under me, and I feel down, rolling over and over again down a
hill. I finally stopped at the hills end; I lay on my back for a few
minutes to catch my breath.
I choked and spat dirt out of my mouth. Then I kneeled and gently
stood up. Looking out in front of me I saw another group of youkai
standing with their loyal dragon servants. I looked to see the father
youkai only a few feet in front of me.
He turned and called to the group. They looked up with bright eyes,
and smiled with mouthfuls of fangs.
The canines scared me, as well as their claws and sharp eyes. A sound
came from behind me, my head snapped in the other direction as a horse
walked up behind me. It gave a soft horse whine and stood beside me.
Suddenly, I felt a huge power lift my young body up from the ground
and onto the back of the horse. My eyes turned to the father youkai
and he stared back at me. Then with a whimsical voice he spoke again,
"This horse will take you home, little one. Rest your wide eyes; you
have nothing to fear from us."
My eyelids suddenly grew heavy, as sleep made my body weak. Yet
before I could close them, the father youkai struck the horse's flank,
and it bolted off back through the woods.
I tried to get a last look at the demon, but my vision grew blurry for
I had fallen asleep on the back of the moving horse. ~
"Kagome! Kagome! Com'on what are you doing? Get Dusty and let's go!" My head slipped out of my dream world. It was Kikyou that had called me. She and the others were already on their horses and had started walking down the trail to the meadow.
I laid my blanket across Dusty's back and pulled her lead rope around to her back. Then I pulled her to a large stump of a tree. Climbing up on the stump I look a leap and landing on my stomach across Dusty's back. Holding on to her neck I twisted myself around to face forward. "One day," I thought, "I'll find a better and more graceful way to climb on your back Dusty." I situated myself atop her and then clicked my tongue to make Dusty walk and joined my friends.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Well that's chapter 2, R & R if you love me : )