Secret of the Princess
Chapter 4
San awoke with a terrible headache. She had recovered at long last, and her captors were caught by surprise. But even as she made to beat them to a pulp, she found she was tied down, her hands being pressed into the ground underneath her. Her legs were bound together above and below her knees, and her ankles were tied as well. Another rope was wrapped around her waist, and held in by stakes either side of her. She strained to feel any weakness in the ropes, but none came to light. A fury engulfed her as she tried to escape this trap. Derisive laughter greeted her vain efforts to get free, and she could see her captors. About seven samurai were squatted around a fire, roasting the deer meat she and Ashitaka had brought home. San grimaced as she continued to struggle.
"Let me go, NOW, and I will make your deaths swift. I might even be tempted to spare your lives for the time being."
The seven men laughed. It was late evening, and they'd had San hostage since the early morning. One of them leant over the captive forest girl.
"You're very mouthy for somebody in your position, Princess Mononoke. We're here by order of Lord Asano. He wants to meet you personally."
San spat in his face as he sneered at her.
"Tell your warlord that the forest will not stand for this intrusion. Now cut me loose."
The man she'd spat at gave her a look that would split a rock. Even San was unable to repress a shudder. He drew out a long blade and rested it over her neck. San's breathing became quick and shallow. The guy was starting to put pressure on the blade, drawing a trickle of blood from her neck. Suddenly, everyone's attention was caught by something in the bushes nearby.
Ashitaka had been dozing most of the afternoon, so now that it was evening, he was wide-awake. Even still, the prospect of more sleep was appealing. He lay back on his bed again, and drifted off. As he dreamt, he could hear San's voice, a voice filled with anguish and despair. The forest wasn't being ripped apart, which was some relief. But from nowhere came a giant wolf, clearly neither of San's brothers. He gasped as he realised it was Moro, San's foster mother. She approached him, not showing anywhere near as much hostility as she had last time they spoke.
"Ashitaka, we meet again."
Ashitaka was silent. He bowed before Moro, drawing a hint of a smile from the wolf.
"I've come to you to tell you of something unfolding in the forest. San is in trouble. But even if you leave now, you won't be able to help her."
"Why can't I help her?"
"Because she already has help in that area. No, I need you to go to the waterfall. That is where she will need your help."
Ashitaka looked taken aback.
"Do you trust me now Moro?"
The wolf extended her smile.
"In this form, even if I didn't trust you, could I do much about it? But to answer your question, yes, I do. You saved the forest."
Ashitaka smiled.
"Thanks Moro. Well, I'll be heading to the falls now."
Ashitaka suddenly woke up. He knew instantly what he had to do when he got to the falls, and set about looking around for all the things he might need. A short time later, and he was riding for a waterfall deep in the forest.
San glanced over to where a green glow was becoming apparent in the bushes. Soon, a veritable swarm of kodama, little tree spirits that often showed how healthy a forest was, rushed out in the form of a huge demonic monster. The seven samurai wasted no time in running away, panicked by the sight of such an entity. San couldn't help but smile. She'd been amazed by kodamas when she was younger, and had never had any trouble with them either. She watched as the green spirits came up to her, looking at her in their slightly baffled way. She strained to get free again, but had no luck. Immediately, they all began to pull on the ropes. In no time at all, San had been set free. She snapped the ropes holding her hands together, and rubbed her sore flesh, then turned to the kodamas.
"I can't thank you all enough for what you've done. Now I must go. I hope I see you all again."
The kodamas shook their heads and clicked in response as they walked away. San took up her dagger and spear, and then donned her wolf pelt and demon mask. She looked to the east, where a pall of smoke rose. She knew where it was coming from; a waterfall. She tightened her grip on her weapons and started to walk purposefully towards the column of smoke, mentally storing a picture of what the place looked like. Even though she had lived in the forest since she was a child, even she got lost on occasion.
Ashitaka was making good time on Yakkuru, and guessed he'd reach the waterfall by either nightfall or early the next day. He knew the situation would have to be bad if Moro had come to warn him of San being in danger. He could still remember how hostile she'd been towards him whilst San was helping him recuperate after being shot. He looked up at the distant waterfall, and saw a column of smoke rising up from just to the right of the river that fed the waterfall. He urged Yakkuru into a run as the war cries of samurai thirsty for battle charged him. He could see they weren't wearing metallic armour, which was a blessing, but there were at least forty samurai. Arrows peppered the ground as their ranks closed in on him.
Chapter 4
San awoke with a terrible headache. She had recovered at long last, and her captors were caught by surprise. But even as she made to beat them to a pulp, she found she was tied down, her hands being pressed into the ground underneath her. Her legs were bound together above and below her knees, and her ankles were tied as well. Another rope was wrapped around her waist, and held in by stakes either side of her. She strained to feel any weakness in the ropes, but none came to light. A fury engulfed her as she tried to escape this trap. Derisive laughter greeted her vain efforts to get free, and she could see her captors. About seven samurai were squatted around a fire, roasting the deer meat she and Ashitaka had brought home. San grimaced as she continued to struggle.
"Let me go, NOW, and I will make your deaths swift. I might even be tempted to spare your lives for the time being."
The seven men laughed. It was late evening, and they'd had San hostage since the early morning. One of them leant over the captive forest girl.
"You're very mouthy for somebody in your position, Princess Mononoke. We're here by order of Lord Asano. He wants to meet you personally."
San spat in his face as he sneered at her.
"Tell your warlord that the forest will not stand for this intrusion. Now cut me loose."
The man she'd spat at gave her a look that would split a rock. Even San was unable to repress a shudder. He drew out a long blade and rested it over her neck. San's breathing became quick and shallow. The guy was starting to put pressure on the blade, drawing a trickle of blood from her neck. Suddenly, everyone's attention was caught by something in the bushes nearby.
Ashitaka had been dozing most of the afternoon, so now that it was evening, he was wide-awake. Even still, the prospect of more sleep was appealing. He lay back on his bed again, and drifted off. As he dreamt, he could hear San's voice, a voice filled with anguish and despair. The forest wasn't being ripped apart, which was some relief. But from nowhere came a giant wolf, clearly neither of San's brothers. He gasped as he realised it was Moro, San's foster mother. She approached him, not showing anywhere near as much hostility as she had last time they spoke.
"Ashitaka, we meet again."
Ashitaka was silent. He bowed before Moro, drawing a hint of a smile from the wolf.
"I've come to you to tell you of something unfolding in the forest. San is in trouble. But even if you leave now, you won't be able to help her."
"Why can't I help her?"
"Because she already has help in that area. No, I need you to go to the waterfall. That is where she will need your help."
Ashitaka looked taken aback.
"Do you trust me now Moro?"
The wolf extended her smile.
"In this form, even if I didn't trust you, could I do much about it? But to answer your question, yes, I do. You saved the forest."
Ashitaka smiled.
"Thanks Moro. Well, I'll be heading to the falls now."
Ashitaka suddenly woke up. He knew instantly what he had to do when he got to the falls, and set about looking around for all the things he might need. A short time later, and he was riding for a waterfall deep in the forest.
San glanced over to where a green glow was becoming apparent in the bushes. Soon, a veritable swarm of kodama, little tree spirits that often showed how healthy a forest was, rushed out in the form of a huge demonic monster. The seven samurai wasted no time in running away, panicked by the sight of such an entity. San couldn't help but smile. She'd been amazed by kodamas when she was younger, and had never had any trouble with them either. She watched as the green spirits came up to her, looking at her in their slightly baffled way. She strained to get free again, but had no luck. Immediately, they all began to pull on the ropes. In no time at all, San had been set free. She snapped the ropes holding her hands together, and rubbed her sore flesh, then turned to the kodamas.
"I can't thank you all enough for what you've done. Now I must go. I hope I see you all again."
The kodamas shook their heads and clicked in response as they walked away. San took up her dagger and spear, and then donned her wolf pelt and demon mask. She looked to the east, where a pall of smoke rose. She knew where it was coming from; a waterfall. She tightened her grip on her weapons and started to walk purposefully towards the column of smoke, mentally storing a picture of what the place looked like. Even though she had lived in the forest since she was a child, even she got lost on occasion.
Ashitaka was making good time on Yakkuru, and guessed he'd reach the waterfall by either nightfall or early the next day. He knew the situation would have to be bad if Moro had come to warn him of San being in danger. He could still remember how hostile she'd been towards him whilst San was helping him recuperate after being shot. He looked up at the distant waterfall, and saw a column of smoke rising up from just to the right of the river that fed the waterfall. He urged Yakkuru into a run as the war cries of samurai thirsty for battle charged him. He could see they weren't wearing metallic armour, which was a blessing, but there were at least forty samurai. Arrows peppered the ground as their ranks closed in on him.