Caught Napping
"Come, we need to make our way to Immilmar." Elaith said as soon as the next morning came.
Kagome and Inuyasha could not understand his words as they had the evening before. No matter how badly she tried to decipher the words, she could not understand what Elaith said.
"I know you do not understand me, but you will learn on our journey. Dannalith, You will make sure that they learn."
"Do you know what they are saying, Kagome?"
"No, I do not understand them at all." She said as Dannalith moved towards her with a kind smile.
Dannalith waved his hands and cast a spell. "Can you understand now?"
"Yes, thank you."
"I am going to teach you our language, it will be faster if I can use spells. We will be heading to the north and then back to the west. Unless the seed shows us another way to go."
"The seed?"
"The gem that Elaith took from you. He may seem rough, but he is really a very kind person, when he wants to be."
"They why doesn't the youkai send us back?" Inuyasha growled.
"Because we don't know how yet. We don't know why the gate entered to your land. All I can remember is a ghost from the field outside, rushing in and grabbing the girl. We chased off the ghost, but we have no idea why the dimensional gate went awry. All I can surmise is that it had something to do with the seed you carried."
"You are talking about the Shikon No Tama?"
"If that is what you call the seed from The Tree of Life, then yes, miss."
"I don't understand," Kagome said, "what exactly is The Tree of Life?"
"The greatest of all elven treasures. There is a legend that says it sends seeds all over the world. Or rather, it would as soon as it was planted. There was no evidence to the legend, until now. Tell me, how did you come by it?"
"It was inside my body."
"What?! You mea it rooted itself inside your very being."
"That is exactly what she is saying, idiot."
"No need to get hostile, tiefling, I was just asking. We are elves. We are made of magic. I never expected that a seed would lodge itself in a human. I s it possible you have elven blood?"
"I don't think so. My grandfather always said that I was special, 'though."
"Hmm," Dannalith said as he carefully pushed aside Kagome's bangs.
"Who said you could touch her?"
"Calm down, tiefling! I was just looking at her eyes for a moment."
"Why? Don't get any funny ideas!"
"Inuyasha, sit." Kagome said. Inuyasha landed hard enough on the floor to crack a floorboard.
"Nice trick. You will have to teach me that one, witch." Dannalith said as he continued to study Kagome's eyes. "There is no doubt about it. You have elven blood, not much, but enough to allow the seed to be attracted to you."
"This makes absolutely no sense, old man."
"Perhaps not to you, Inuyasha. I believe that is what your witch called you. It makes perfect sense to me."
"She is a Miko! Not a witch!"
"Oh, is there a difference where you come from? There is not much difference here, in Rashamen. Witch is the common term they use for their holy women."
"I suppose you are right..."
"Dannalith is my name. If you prefer to be called a Miko, very well, Kagome."
Dannalith rose from his chair and went to tell Elaith his discovery. Inuyasha was quick to take over the chair that Dannalith exited.
"I don't trust any of them."
Suddenly, a flash of magic fire engulfed part of the room, burning two of the elves to ashes.
"Damn it! The red wizards have found us! Tiefling! Grab your witch and get across to the other side of the field into the trees. I will handle these lowlifes." Elaith said as he pushed the door open.
As another fireball hit the roof of the cottage. Inuyasha grabbed Kagome on his back and headed out the door. Dannalith, Elaith and the other surviving elf rushed quickly after them.
Kagome pulled her bow and fired off an arrow at one of the red robed, tattooed men. It hit him and he howled with pain as the tattoos glowed with a pink light and disappeared from his body.
As soon as they reached the trees, Inuyasha set Kagome down and drew out the Tetsusaiga. "Wound of the Wind!" He shouted as he lashed it out at the remaining wizards.
The Thayans were thrown back several feet.
Elaith let loose with a fireball, to insure their escape. "Get going into the forest if you want to live!"
Inuyasha did not need to be told. He grabbed Kagome again as stones of fire and ice came raining down upon the group. It surprised Inuyasha how well the elves kept pace with his leaps.
"Keep going until we reach a break in the woods! Do not stop and do not look back! Dangerous ghosts roam this place!"
Elaith's words rang true. Kagome kept her bow at the ready. She fired several arrows at the specters as they tried to block the path.
Inuyasha suddenly tripped as a pair of skeletal hands reached up and grabbed his feet. Kagome flew over and fell off, but was not hurt.
Inuyasha screamed as he lashed the skeleton hands off at the wrists. The skeletal hands gripped tighter into Inuyasha's ankles, drawing blood.
More skeletons came up from the ground, many of them wearing ruined armor.
The only thing slowing down the undead creatures were Kagome's arrows.
Elaith ran up and helped pry the skeletal hands off of Inuyasha's ankles. "That sword of yours would help us about now!" He yelled. "Run, girl!" Elaith grabbed Kagome just in time to keep her from being cut down by an axe wielding skeleton. "Shoot the ones with the green glowing in their eye sockets," Elaith said as he helped Kagome to steady herself. "They are the most dangerous. They can cast magic."
"What about Inuyasha?"
"It looks like he can take care of himself." Elaith said as he pointed to Inuyasha. Inuyasha had let loose with more magic from his sword, shattering hundreds of skeletons and felling several trees.
One of the skeletons had a green glow coming to its fingers. It stood right in Inuyasha's path.
"Shoot the one with the green light if you want your protector to live!" Elaith shouted to Kagome as he pulled his own sword and hacked at skeletons trying to hinder Kagome.
Her arrow hit the mark, causing the skeleton to crumble to dust, but not before it got it's spell off.
Inuyasha reeled for a moment, nearly dropping Tetsusaiga. He took a couple of ragged breaths and ran to Kagome, falling at her feet.
Dannalith and Lorius picked up Inuyasha as Kagome picked up Tetsusaiga. They ran as fast as they could through the path that Elaith was clearing through the trees.
They finally reached a large field on the other side. The skeletons did not follow out of the forest.
Elaith fell to the ground and breathed heavily, "That was too close. Damn Red Wizards. How dare they put bane skeletons in the Ashenwood! Is the Tiefling okay?"
"Yes sir, he seems to just be sleeping. "
"Oh good. Any normal human would have been killed by that death blast. Good thing, none of us are normal. Dannalith informs me you are of elven blood, Kagome. Now that I can see what you can do with that bow of yours, I don't doubt it. Arcane Archers are rare, but Divine Archers are even rarer. Only elves have that power. It comes directly from the weave, or more precisely, from the essence of the elven gods. Here Kagome, take the seed back. I sense both of our goals reside at the Tree of Life." Elaith said as he reached into his pocket and handed Kagome back the Shikon.
"Thank you."
"Don't you think you should wake your lover up now? We can only rest here a short time. This place is worse than the forest after the sun goes down."
"My lover?"
"Oh, my mistake. I thought it was always that way with Wychlaran and her berserker on a dajemma. I didn't think it mattered if the holy woman had elven blood and the berserker was half demon."
"We are not lovers." Kagome said as a faint blush flooded onto her cheeks.
"Ah, I see, but you want to be. Perhaps you will get your chance." Elaith's eyes softened as he looked at the ground and picked a small blue flower from among the grasses. "Never give up hope. The minute you do, you will regret it the rest of your life. I have had over one hundred years of regret because of one moment of lost hope."
Kagome pulled Inuyasha into her arms and tried to figure out a way to wake him. "Elaith, is that why you are seeking the tree?"
"Not that it is really any of your business, but yes."
"Here, hold your hand like this," Dannalith said as he took her hand and made her turn it palm down over Inuyasha's head. "Now take a deep breath and will him to awaken."
"Will him to awaken?"
"Of course. Don't tell me you are a wilder?"
"What is a wilder?"
"A wilder. A person who comes by magic without being trained. I have it! Many years ago, several elven houses were nearly destroyed by those that feared their wild talents. To escape death, many of them opened dimensional portals and crossed through. At least one of your ancestors must have been one of those. That is the magic I saw in your eyes."
"Quit talking nonsense, Dannalith, and show the girl what to do. If we don't get moving, it will take us forever to get to Immilmar. We can make it to the small village between here and there if we move soon. I don't want to run into any telthors before we find shelter.
Inuyasha stirred as Kagome did as she was instructed.
"What's a telthor?" Inuyasha groggily asked.
"A powerful type of ghost. They protect the land here. Now that everyone is awake. Lets check our things and get going. " Elaith said.
###########
The sun was dipping low in the sky as Elaith spotted a small settlement.
"I will go talk to the people here. If there is an inn behind those walls, we may be welcome. If not, we may need to sneak in."
"Wouldn't it be just as easy to make camp out here?"
"Kagome. You and Inuyasha may be safe from the spirits here, but the rest of us may not be. Unless you know how to create a barrier."
"I could try."
"How sweet. I will go and talk to the inhabitants first. Dannalith will stay here with you."
"I am sorry, Kagome, about Elaith. I know your powers are considerable, but as a wilder, it is difficult to master them. It is like knowing to play a musical instrument by ear, and then trying to learn to read music. You have the horse before the cart. That makes your abilities as dangerous as much as helpful. Do you understand?"
"Yes, Dannalith, I think so."
"Feh, who cares. If Kagome says she can do it, I believe her. It doesn't matter what you think."
"I am glad you think so, Inuyasha, but Dannalith is right. If I messed up, we could all die."
"I will protect you, Kagome."
"I know you will try. We don't know anything about this place. It is nothing like Japan."
"Doesn't seem all that different to me. Ghosts, youkai, oni, neko, same crap, different day."
Kagome went over to Inuyasha. He turned his back on her, but she still wrapped her arms around his waist. "I am glad you are with me, Inuyasha, I... I"
"I know."
###########
Just before the sun set, Elaith came back and announced that they were welcome.
"We, oddly enough, have Inuyasha to thank for this good fortune."
"Why me?"
"One of the guards called on one of their witches. They saw your hair and ears and determined that you were sacred. The majority of the telthors that inhabit this area, happen to be dog spirits."
"Heh! I finally get the respect I deserve."
"Oh, Inuyasha, there is a catch."
"Great. Now what do these stupid villagers want?"
"Nothing really. They want you to attend a feast, only warriors allowed. None of the rest of us are invited. Kagome is to be housed with the witches. She should be fine. We three elves are to be housed in a guest house. If we do not agree to the terms, we are not allowed in."
"It sounds fine with me, Elaith."
"Kagome!" Inuyasha said as he stood and whirled around.
"Inuyasha, This is the safest place on this plain. We are lucky to be given this chance."
"I need to stay with you to protect you!"
"I will be fine."
"You will not!"
"Do you want me to say it!"
Inuyasha sighed, "Alright. Just don't sit me."
"Good, come along." Elaith said as he walked with the rest into the small village.
###########
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"Come, we need to make our way to Immilmar." Elaith said as soon as the next morning came.
Kagome and Inuyasha could not understand his words as they had the evening before. No matter how badly she tried to decipher the words, she could not understand what Elaith said.
"I know you do not understand me, but you will learn on our journey. Dannalith, You will make sure that they learn."
"Do you know what they are saying, Kagome?"
"No, I do not understand them at all." She said as Dannalith moved towards her with a kind smile.
Dannalith waved his hands and cast a spell. "Can you understand now?"
"Yes, thank you."
"I am going to teach you our language, it will be faster if I can use spells. We will be heading to the north and then back to the west. Unless the seed shows us another way to go."
"The seed?"
"The gem that Elaith took from you. He may seem rough, but he is really a very kind person, when he wants to be."
"They why doesn't the youkai send us back?" Inuyasha growled.
"Because we don't know how yet. We don't know why the gate entered to your land. All I can remember is a ghost from the field outside, rushing in and grabbing the girl. We chased off the ghost, but we have no idea why the dimensional gate went awry. All I can surmise is that it had something to do with the seed you carried."
"You are talking about the Shikon No Tama?"
"If that is what you call the seed from The Tree of Life, then yes, miss."
"I don't understand," Kagome said, "what exactly is The Tree of Life?"
"The greatest of all elven treasures. There is a legend that says it sends seeds all over the world. Or rather, it would as soon as it was planted. There was no evidence to the legend, until now. Tell me, how did you come by it?"
"It was inside my body."
"What?! You mea it rooted itself inside your very being."
"That is exactly what she is saying, idiot."
"No need to get hostile, tiefling, I was just asking. We are elves. We are made of magic. I never expected that a seed would lodge itself in a human. I s it possible you have elven blood?"
"I don't think so. My grandfather always said that I was special, 'though."
"Hmm," Dannalith said as he carefully pushed aside Kagome's bangs.
"Who said you could touch her?"
"Calm down, tiefling! I was just looking at her eyes for a moment."
"Why? Don't get any funny ideas!"
"Inuyasha, sit." Kagome said. Inuyasha landed hard enough on the floor to crack a floorboard.
"Nice trick. You will have to teach me that one, witch." Dannalith said as he continued to study Kagome's eyes. "There is no doubt about it. You have elven blood, not much, but enough to allow the seed to be attracted to you."
"This makes absolutely no sense, old man."
"Perhaps not to you, Inuyasha. I believe that is what your witch called you. It makes perfect sense to me."
"She is a Miko! Not a witch!"
"Oh, is there a difference where you come from? There is not much difference here, in Rashamen. Witch is the common term they use for their holy women."
"I suppose you are right..."
"Dannalith is my name. If you prefer to be called a Miko, very well, Kagome."
Dannalith rose from his chair and went to tell Elaith his discovery. Inuyasha was quick to take over the chair that Dannalith exited.
"I don't trust any of them."
Suddenly, a flash of magic fire engulfed part of the room, burning two of the elves to ashes.
"Damn it! The red wizards have found us! Tiefling! Grab your witch and get across to the other side of the field into the trees. I will handle these lowlifes." Elaith said as he pushed the door open.
As another fireball hit the roof of the cottage. Inuyasha grabbed Kagome on his back and headed out the door. Dannalith, Elaith and the other surviving elf rushed quickly after them.
Kagome pulled her bow and fired off an arrow at one of the red robed, tattooed men. It hit him and he howled with pain as the tattoos glowed with a pink light and disappeared from his body.
As soon as they reached the trees, Inuyasha set Kagome down and drew out the Tetsusaiga. "Wound of the Wind!" He shouted as he lashed it out at the remaining wizards.
The Thayans were thrown back several feet.
Elaith let loose with a fireball, to insure their escape. "Get going into the forest if you want to live!"
Inuyasha did not need to be told. He grabbed Kagome again as stones of fire and ice came raining down upon the group. It surprised Inuyasha how well the elves kept pace with his leaps.
"Keep going until we reach a break in the woods! Do not stop and do not look back! Dangerous ghosts roam this place!"
Elaith's words rang true. Kagome kept her bow at the ready. She fired several arrows at the specters as they tried to block the path.
Inuyasha suddenly tripped as a pair of skeletal hands reached up and grabbed his feet. Kagome flew over and fell off, but was not hurt.
Inuyasha screamed as he lashed the skeleton hands off at the wrists. The skeletal hands gripped tighter into Inuyasha's ankles, drawing blood.
More skeletons came up from the ground, many of them wearing ruined armor.
The only thing slowing down the undead creatures were Kagome's arrows.
Elaith ran up and helped pry the skeletal hands off of Inuyasha's ankles. "That sword of yours would help us about now!" He yelled. "Run, girl!" Elaith grabbed Kagome just in time to keep her from being cut down by an axe wielding skeleton. "Shoot the ones with the green glowing in their eye sockets," Elaith said as he helped Kagome to steady herself. "They are the most dangerous. They can cast magic."
"What about Inuyasha?"
"It looks like he can take care of himself." Elaith said as he pointed to Inuyasha. Inuyasha had let loose with more magic from his sword, shattering hundreds of skeletons and felling several trees.
One of the skeletons had a green glow coming to its fingers. It stood right in Inuyasha's path.
"Shoot the one with the green light if you want your protector to live!" Elaith shouted to Kagome as he pulled his own sword and hacked at skeletons trying to hinder Kagome.
Her arrow hit the mark, causing the skeleton to crumble to dust, but not before it got it's spell off.
Inuyasha reeled for a moment, nearly dropping Tetsusaiga. He took a couple of ragged breaths and ran to Kagome, falling at her feet.
Dannalith and Lorius picked up Inuyasha as Kagome picked up Tetsusaiga. They ran as fast as they could through the path that Elaith was clearing through the trees.
They finally reached a large field on the other side. The skeletons did not follow out of the forest.
Elaith fell to the ground and breathed heavily, "That was too close. Damn Red Wizards. How dare they put bane skeletons in the Ashenwood! Is the Tiefling okay?"
"Yes sir, he seems to just be sleeping. "
"Oh good. Any normal human would have been killed by that death blast. Good thing, none of us are normal. Dannalith informs me you are of elven blood, Kagome. Now that I can see what you can do with that bow of yours, I don't doubt it. Arcane Archers are rare, but Divine Archers are even rarer. Only elves have that power. It comes directly from the weave, or more precisely, from the essence of the elven gods. Here Kagome, take the seed back. I sense both of our goals reside at the Tree of Life." Elaith said as he reached into his pocket and handed Kagome back the Shikon.
"Thank you."
"Don't you think you should wake your lover up now? We can only rest here a short time. This place is worse than the forest after the sun goes down."
"My lover?"
"Oh, my mistake. I thought it was always that way with Wychlaran and her berserker on a dajemma. I didn't think it mattered if the holy woman had elven blood and the berserker was half demon."
"We are not lovers." Kagome said as a faint blush flooded onto her cheeks.
"Ah, I see, but you want to be. Perhaps you will get your chance." Elaith's eyes softened as he looked at the ground and picked a small blue flower from among the grasses. "Never give up hope. The minute you do, you will regret it the rest of your life. I have had over one hundred years of regret because of one moment of lost hope."
Kagome pulled Inuyasha into her arms and tried to figure out a way to wake him. "Elaith, is that why you are seeking the tree?"
"Not that it is really any of your business, but yes."
"Here, hold your hand like this," Dannalith said as he took her hand and made her turn it palm down over Inuyasha's head. "Now take a deep breath and will him to awaken."
"Will him to awaken?"
"Of course. Don't tell me you are a wilder?"
"What is a wilder?"
"A wilder. A person who comes by magic without being trained. I have it! Many years ago, several elven houses were nearly destroyed by those that feared their wild talents. To escape death, many of them opened dimensional portals and crossed through. At least one of your ancestors must have been one of those. That is the magic I saw in your eyes."
"Quit talking nonsense, Dannalith, and show the girl what to do. If we don't get moving, it will take us forever to get to Immilmar. We can make it to the small village between here and there if we move soon. I don't want to run into any telthors before we find shelter.
Inuyasha stirred as Kagome did as she was instructed.
"What's a telthor?" Inuyasha groggily asked.
"A powerful type of ghost. They protect the land here. Now that everyone is awake. Lets check our things and get going. " Elaith said.
###########
The sun was dipping low in the sky as Elaith spotted a small settlement.
"I will go talk to the people here. If there is an inn behind those walls, we may be welcome. If not, we may need to sneak in."
"Wouldn't it be just as easy to make camp out here?"
"Kagome. You and Inuyasha may be safe from the spirits here, but the rest of us may not be. Unless you know how to create a barrier."
"I could try."
"How sweet. I will go and talk to the inhabitants first. Dannalith will stay here with you."
"I am sorry, Kagome, about Elaith. I know your powers are considerable, but as a wilder, it is difficult to master them. It is like knowing to play a musical instrument by ear, and then trying to learn to read music. You have the horse before the cart. That makes your abilities as dangerous as much as helpful. Do you understand?"
"Yes, Dannalith, I think so."
"Feh, who cares. If Kagome says she can do it, I believe her. It doesn't matter what you think."
"I am glad you think so, Inuyasha, but Dannalith is right. If I messed up, we could all die."
"I will protect you, Kagome."
"I know you will try. We don't know anything about this place. It is nothing like Japan."
"Doesn't seem all that different to me. Ghosts, youkai, oni, neko, same crap, different day."
Kagome went over to Inuyasha. He turned his back on her, but she still wrapped her arms around his waist. "I am glad you are with me, Inuyasha, I... I"
"I know."
###########
Just before the sun set, Elaith came back and announced that they were welcome.
"We, oddly enough, have Inuyasha to thank for this good fortune."
"Why me?"
"One of the guards called on one of their witches. They saw your hair and ears and determined that you were sacred. The majority of the telthors that inhabit this area, happen to be dog spirits."
"Heh! I finally get the respect I deserve."
"Oh, Inuyasha, there is a catch."
"Great. Now what do these stupid villagers want?"
"Nothing really. They want you to attend a feast, only warriors allowed. None of the rest of us are invited. Kagome is to be housed with the witches. She should be fine. We three elves are to be housed in a guest house. If we do not agree to the terms, we are not allowed in."
"It sounds fine with me, Elaith."
"Kagome!" Inuyasha said as he stood and whirled around.
"Inuyasha, This is the safest place on this plain. We are lucky to be given this chance."
"I need to stay with you to protect you!"
"I will be fine."
"You will not!"
"Do you want me to say it!"
Inuyasha sighed, "Alright. Just don't sit me."
"Good, come along." Elaith said as he walked with the rest into the small village.
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