Having stopped off at a secluded village, set deep in a valley and having regained supplies, Ashitaka and San made their way further east. For Ashitaka had a purpose. He was going to his village to warn them of this new deadly demon that seemed unstoppable. He had neglected to tell San this for he wanted to do it secretly. They would stop in the great forest surrounding the village near to the watchtower, which he presumed the town had re-built and in the night he would go and warn the elders. He hoped he might see Kaya as well just to see how she was. Then he would simply sneak back to the camp and they would continue their travels in the eastern regions, attempting to seek out more information about the demon, the nightwalker and that mysterious little girl.
The sun was setting behind them as Yakul trotted through the great forest. "This place is so beautiful, It feels like home" said San as she stared up at the great trees towering above them, orange light cascading through the canopy and creating strange shadows on the forest floor. Great vines curled around the trunks of many trees like great pythons and the distinct sound of running water could be heard. Good, thought Ashitaka to himself, I can hear the waterfall, we're close enough.
"Let's stop here. Yakul is tired and I wouldn't want to spoil your fun. You obviously like it here!" he said looking at San who was still looking around in awe.
It was a calm night. The sound of chirruping crickets echoed off the trees, like a symphony in a great opera house. Ashitaka, who had been sitting outside the makeshift shelter, slowly got up and quietly began walking towards the edge of the forest. He could see the watch tower through the trees and a chill snaked up his spine like a spark of electricity, for he could sense something wasn't right. The air was heavy and thick and he felt it smothering him. He gasped for breath. He couldn't hear the crickets anymore. Then he heard it. Click. Click. Click. He broke into a run. Kodama began to appear around him rattling their heads merrily. Ashitaka sprinted, leapt over the wall and clambered up the tower as fast as he could. It was empty - that was strange but Ashitaka fixed his eyes to the forest, gripping the wood tightly. A sense of déjà vu hit him. The last time he had been at the top of the watch tower, the Demon, that had taken the boar god Nago had burst out of the forest towards the village. And now he could feel it was close, charging through the forest leaving death and destruction in its path. He looked into the forest - now glowing a bright white, covered with Kodama. "They've come because they think it's the forest spirit" he whispered to himself, as the realisation hit him. "Leave this forest. It's not the Forest spirit! Can't you see?" he shouted, desperately towards the trees. The Kodama just rattled their heads more and the air grew thicker by the minute, eventually becoming too much as a darkness clouded in Ashitaka's eyes and he felt a sharp pain as his head hit the watchtower floor.
The screaming was shrill and filled with terror and Ashitaka bolted up. How long had he been out cold? It was still dark and as he slowly got to his feet he swayed a little and fell onto the side of the tower and then he saw the edge of the forest. The wall had been smashed through - bricks were lying everywhere and the ground had been burnt around the area. Thick globules of slime covered the ground and dead Kodama littered the forest floor. Then he heard more screams. And then a rifle shot pierced the air. Ashitaka turned to see the village. His village. "The demon" he shouted. He clambered down the tower and when he was nearly at the bottom he jumped onto the grass landing heavily, sprinting through the grassy fields down to the village, tripping over his feet at one point but Ashitaka didn't care and anger welled up inside him. "Ashitaka!" he heard San cry out. Then he heard the sound of Yakul's hooves drawing closer. Then a sharp force pulled him backwards and he fell to the ground.
" You must stop, Boy! You cannot save your people now. It is done with. How will it benefit anything if you go and get yourself killed. The world needs you Ashitaka, we have foreseen you playing a great role in the forth coming apocalypse whether it be for better or worse." Boomed the gruff voice of Lord Okkoto. Ashitaka struggled desperately to get up, but no amount of effort could break the spell he seemed to be under. The girl in the black robes walked past him as San jumped off Yakul and stopped by Ashitaka. The girl stopped and stood watching the destruction of the village. "Can't you do something? That thing," spat Ashitaka, "It's afraid of you. Please help them!" he shouted, his voice breaking with emotion. "The girl turned her head. Those hypnotic swirling eyes fixed on Ashitaka and another voice, a smoother, more gentle, male voice came from the girl's mouth and San fell to her knees, "Lord Hayano" she whispered in disbelief.
"I'm sorry Ashitaka, but if we went and faced the creature then it may defeat us for it weakened our powers when it bit into our arm. Your people will die for a noble cause and they will be cleansed off that demon's hatred before they ascend to the next life. Now we must wait for the demon to leave. Do not fear, for it will not come this way - it knows we are here and it is not so stupid as to try and challenge us even if our powers are weaker." The voice from the girl said.
"What is happening? Why do refer to yourself as we?I don't understand why the …." San was asking when the voice interrupted but this time it was the voice of Moro, the great wolf goddess, "Hush San, we will explain another time. But first we have a matter of more importance. You must stay here, do you hear me my daughter, stay here." And with that the girl began to walk down the hill towards the village of the last generation of Amishi people, now all dead except one exiled prince who now sat on the slope of the hill, holding his head in his hands as San watched the mysterious girl. Then she heard Ashitaka let out a small sob she hugged him tightly, holding him close to her trying to comfort him.
They remained like that for an hour, frozen with cold, and filled with many emotions. Yakul was contentedly nibbling at the grass nearby. " This night seems like it'll never end. But it's still dark. What do you think the girl is doing down there?" shivered San through chattering teeth. Ashitaka remained silent and continued looking down the hill towards the village. Then suddenly he twisted around and looked back into the forest. "What? What's wrong?" said San, sounding alarmed.
" Can't you feel it?" whispered Ashitaka, still staring towards the trees. San looked at him, then looked back towards the village. Ashitaka stood up and began to run towards the forest's edge, when he saw it, shining in the moonlight. The great Nightwalker was approaching.
" Ashitaka look! That girl look at her!" shouted San and Ashitaka looked back towards the village and the girl was floating high in the air and she was radiating a strange blue light. Little round blue lights rose from the ground and kept adding to the light surrounding her. The lights were coming from the dead people on the ground. "The girl. She's taking their souls." Said San, watching the amazing, beautiful sight. As they watched the spectacle the nightwalker stepped right over them and was walking down the hill. The girl was floating higher and higher and now the light was becoming so strong it was unbearable and suddenly it exploded and blue rays washed over the fields and an amazingly powerful force swept over fields like a strong wind. Then everything went dark and deadly silent and the girl, who was now at least 50 ft in the air, snapped out of the trance and was falling. The nightwalker stretched out its long arms and she landed softly. It looked back towards San and Ashitaka, then slowly carried Ruri off towards the forest. So many questions needed to be answered. And Ashitaka and San were determined to be the ones to find those answers.