Secret of the Princess
Chapter 5
San had made good time through the forest, and was getting closer and closer to the waterfall. She was close enough now to hear the roar of the water. It was about midday, and the birds normally resident all year around weren't in easy sight. Crickets chirruped, and small flying insects passed her by. She climbed a tree nearby and looked out onto the waterfall. Suddenly the sound of the water pouring over the edge was a lot louder. She could see a flat rocky area just above the river, but on the other side. San jumped down, and picked up her spear and checked her dagger was still on her. With fresh resolve and determination in her heart, she walked towards the river.
Ashitaka held his sword ready as the samurai came at him. With a few well- placed strokes of the deadly blade, he had some down and out instantly. Suddenly, a blood-curdling snarl, followed by another, came from the woods behind him, and San's brothers ran out to help fight. Ashitaka fought with those posing an immediate threat to him, whilst the two wolves dealt a swift death to the remainder. In a remarkably short time, all of them were dead and gone. Ashitaka turned to the wolves, who were even now running towards the waterfall.
"How come you knew where to find me?"
One of the wolves stopped and looked back at Ashitaka.
"Get on. I'll explain on the way."
Ashitaka mounted the white-furred wolf, and held on as they caught up to San's other brother and ran deep into the forest. As they closed in on the waterfall, the wolves explained what they'd felt.
"We were hunting near the cave not long after dawn. All of a sudden, we were visited by the spirit of our late mother, Moro. She said you would need help fighting some other humans. San is already in peril. We're going up to that waterfall to try to help her."
Ashitaka nodded as the wolves related their story to him.
"Moro told me to help her there as well. I just hope San hasn't gone and taken on all the samurai she can find."
The two wolves smiled at the thought of San storming an unknown number of samurai. Ashitaka leant down as the roar of the waterfall got louder as they got closer to it.
San looked out over the ruins of the enemy camp. Obviously, they hadn't left too long ago, a day at the very most. Mostly, the bits left behind were waste food and maybe torn cloth, but someone had left a shining short sword underneath a pile of sacking. San picked it up, admiring the blade. She held it in both hands and swung it, slowly at first, then slightly faster. She sheathed the sword, and hid her dagger under the same pile of sacking. She walked up to the river and began the dangerous task of crossing. Never before had she been close to the lip of a waterfall prior to crossing, but she made it over without incident. As she made it onto the other side, she became aware of a second figure. Even as she watched, a fully armoured samurai warlord strode out into the middle of the clearing. San felt her muscles tense as the tall, saturnine warrior looked at her.
"Ah. Princess Mononoke. I am Lord Asano. You may consider yourself honoured. It's not usual for me to personally dispose of petty rebel leaders."
San drew her new, silvery-blue short sword. It was about 3 feet long, and shone in the sunlight. Above, dark clouds were rolling in. She shifted her grip on the hardwood handle to make it more comfortable, and kept her gaze on the samurai.
"You can consider yourself the unluckiest person ever if you want to cross me. The Forest Spirit is with me, and you will perish in these woods, regretting the day you chose to come here."
Asano laughed at her. He drew his five-foot long katana, which was slightly bloodied from his last fight.
"Prepare to go meet your foster mother, Princess!"
Asano lunged at the girl, but San was quick, and dodged to the left. She struck down on the katana with all her might, drawing a shocked look from Asano. The samurai took a couple of steps back and swung upwards, hoping to cleave the forest princess in two. San rolled back and hit Asano on the armour, making her let go of her weapon. Asano smirked as he approached her. San ran at him, leapt into the air and delivered a smashing kick high up on his chest. Asano fell back, and San seized the opportunity to retrieve her short sword. Asano regained his feet quickly, eyes narrowed in anger. He gave a battle cry and lunged with his katana. San parried the blow, but only just. Suddenly she realised just how close to the edge of the cliff she was. The drop was easily 100 foot, and would not be pleasant should she fall. She threw herself into a forwards roll and got behind Asano. She got up and stood there facing the samurai warlord, breathing lightly.
Ashitaka had made good time on the wolves' back, and was in the forest below the cliff-top. He jumped off, and both the wolves stopped.
"You two carry on. I'll climb the cliff to get to San. Hurry up."
The wolves raced on ahead as Ashitaka scaled the cliff. He knew in his heart where San was right now, and was determined to get to her in time to save her.
Asano smiled as his katana scored a hit on the rabid forest girl. San winced and put a hand to her side. Fortunately, the wolf-skin cape she often wore had cushioned the blow, and the damage was only superficial. She glared at Asano and charged him, holding onto the sword handle with both hands. Asano smirked as he swung upwards to meet San's blow with all his might. San ducked around Asano's swing and found a joint where the armour did not cover. Now it was Asano's turn to wince. San dodged out of range and looked up. High overhead, three vultures were circling. The sun was shining through a break in the clouds, giving full illumination to the battlefield. San looked over at Asano as he came at her, katana drawn, a lusting for revenge on his features.
Down in the forest, San's wolf brothers had found their way up was blocked by a recent landslide. They both ran further along to see if they could find a way up to help their sister.
Asano's katana and San's sword met with a clang, but for once, neither seemed inclined to relent. Asano quickly dodged back and sliced at the smaller sword. San winced as shockwaves ran up her arms. She had been holding on with both hands, but now let go with her left hand. Asano swung again, knocking the sword away from her body. San realised she was nearing the cliff again, but felt powerless to resist. Asano saw his chance and swiped at San. San gave a scream of pain and shock as the katana sliced through her right wrist, and her weapon fell over the edge of the cliff and landed in the plunge pool below the waterfall. A blow from Asano left her on the very edge of the cliff. Although she had always been strong, she couldn't hold the tears back now. Asano stood before her, his katana dripping with blood. She cringed as she awaited the blow that would kill her. She cradled her severed wrist into her wolf pelt. Asano walked up to her and looked her over.
"Well, now who's the winner, Princess Mononoke? Or would you like to be called San in your last moments of life?"
San was too busy trying not to pass out to answer him. Asano carried on.
"I see living with wolves doesn't teach you automatically to be well mannered does it? Now I've beaten you, shall I throw you over the edge, impale you, drown you? It's entirely your choice. But hurry up. I don't like to keep those that benefit from my talent for killing waiting."
He indicated to where a vulture sat, confident San's injury would prove to be fatal. Again, San failed to answer.
"You really are proof of how strong mixed races can be, Princess Mononoke. Although I should drop the titles. Now answer me this question; is it true you were raised by the wolf god Moro?"
San nodded. Asano looked thoughtful.
"So you have no human parents?"
San gritted out an answer, blood dripping to the floor.
"I hate ALL humans! ESPECIALLY you. My parents left me to die in front of Moro, my cowardly mother and my stinking father."
Asano smiled.
"Well after I cut your hand off, there was little else I expected you to say. But before I kill you, I'm going to tell you this."
San looked at him, confusion competing with pain for space on her pale features. She could feel herself going light-headed.
"What do you mean? Moro's dead, my mother's dead, my father's dead. ALL my family's gone. And how would you know what happened to my father?"
Cliffhanger! In more ways than one it seems for San. Please R+R!
Chapter 5
San had made good time through the forest, and was getting closer and closer to the waterfall. She was close enough now to hear the roar of the water. It was about midday, and the birds normally resident all year around weren't in easy sight. Crickets chirruped, and small flying insects passed her by. She climbed a tree nearby and looked out onto the waterfall. Suddenly the sound of the water pouring over the edge was a lot louder. She could see a flat rocky area just above the river, but on the other side. San jumped down, and picked up her spear and checked her dagger was still on her. With fresh resolve and determination in her heart, she walked towards the river.
Ashitaka held his sword ready as the samurai came at him. With a few well- placed strokes of the deadly blade, he had some down and out instantly. Suddenly, a blood-curdling snarl, followed by another, came from the woods behind him, and San's brothers ran out to help fight. Ashitaka fought with those posing an immediate threat to him, whilst the two wolves dealt a swift death to the remainder. In a remarkably short time, all of them were dead and gone. Ashitaka turned to the wolves, who were even now running towards the waterfall.
"How come you knew where to find me?"
One of the wolves stopped and looked back at Ashitaka.
"Get on. I'll explain on the way."
Ashitaka mounted the white-furred wolf, and held on as they caught up to San's other brother and ran deep into the forest. As they closed in on the waterfall, the wolves explained what they'd felt.
"We were hunting near the cave not long after dawn. All of a sudden, we were visited by the spirit of our late mother, Moro. She said you would need help fighting some other humans. San is already in peril. We're going up to that waterfall to try to help her."
Ashitaka nodded as the wolves related their story to him.
"Moro told me to help her there as well. I just hope San hasn't gone and taken on all the samurai she can find."
The two wolves smiled at the thought of San storming an unknown number of samurai. Ashitaka leant down as the roar of the waterfall got louder as they got closer to it.
San looked out over the ruins of the enemy camp. Obviously, they hadn't left too long ago, a day at the very most. Mostly, the bits left behind were waste food and maybe torn cloth, but someone had left a shining short sword underneath a pile of sacking. San picked it up, admiring the blade. She held it in both hands and swung it, slowly at first, then slightly faster. She sheathed the sword, and hid her dagger under the same pile of sacking. She walked up to the river and began the dangerous task of crossing. Never before had she been close to the lip of a waterfall prior to crossing, but she made it over without incident. As she made it onto the other side, she became aware of a second figure. Even as she watched, a fully armoured samurai warlord strode out into the middle of the clearing. San felt her muscles tense as the tall, saturnine warrior looked at her.
"Ah. Princess Mononoke. I am Lord Asano. You may consider yourself honoured. It's not usual for me to personally dispose of petty rebel leaders."
San drew her new, silvery-blue short sword. It was about 3 feet long, and shone in the sunlight. Above, dark clouds were rolling in. She shifted her grip on the hardwood handle to make it more comfortable, and kept her gaze on the samurai.
"You can consider yourself the unluckiest person ever if you want to cross me. The Forest Spirit is with me, and you will perish in these woods, regretting the day you chose to come here."
Asano laughed at her. He drew his five-foot long katana, which was slightly bloodied from his last fight.
"Prepare to go meet your foster mother, Princess!"
Asano lunged at the girl, but San was quick, and dodged to the left. She struck down on the katana with all her might, drawing a shocked look from Asano. The samurai took a couple of steps back and swung upwards, hoping to cleave the forest princess in two. San rolled back and hit Asano on the armour, making her let go of her weapon. Asano smirked as he approached her. San ran at him, leapt into the air and delivered a smashing kick high up on his chest. Asano fell back, and San seized the opportunity to retrieve her short sword. Asano regained his feet quickly, eyes narrowed in anger. He gave a battle cry and lunged with his katana. San parried the blow, but only just. Suddenly she realised just how close to the edge of the cliff she was. The drop was easily 100 foot, and would not be pleasant should she fall. She threw herself into a forwards roll and got behind Asano. She got up and stood there facing the samurai warlord, breathing lightly.
Ashitaka had made good time on the wolves' back, and was in the forest below the cliff-top. He jumped off, and both the wolves stopped.
"You two carry on. I'll climb the cliff to get to San. Hurry up."
The wolves raced on ahead as Ashitaka scaled the cliff. He knew in his heart where San was right now, and was determined to get to her in time to save her.
Asano smiled as his katana scored a hit on the rabid forest girl. San winced and put a hand to her side. Fortunately, the wolf-skin cape she often wore had cushioned the blow, and the damage was only superficial. She glared at Asano and charged him, holding onto the sword handle with both hands. Asano smirked as he swung upwards to meet San's blow with all his might. San ducked around Asano's swing and found a joint where the armour did not cover. Now it was Asano's turn to wince. San dodged out of range and looked up. High overhead, three vultures were circling. The sun was shining through a break in the clouds, giving full illumination to the battlefield. San looked over at Asano as he came at her, katana drawn, a lusting for revenge on his features.
Down in the forest, San's wolf brothers had found their way up was blocked by a recent landslide. They both ran further along to see if they could find a way up to help their sister.
Asano's katana and San's sword met with a clang, but for once, neither seemed inclined to relent. Asano quickly dodged back and sliced at the smaller sword. San winced as shockwaves ran up her arms. She had been holding on with both hands, but now let go with her left hand. Asano swung again, knocking the sword away from her body. San realised she was nearing the cliff again, but felt powerless to resist. Asano saw his chance and swiped at San. San gave a scream of pain and shock as the katana sliced through her right wrist, and her weapon fell over the edge of the cliff and landed in the plunge pool below the waterfall. A blow from Asano left her on the very edge of the cliff. Although she had always been strong, she couldn't hold the tears back now. Asano stood before her, his katana dripping with blood. She cringed as she awaited the blow that would kill her. She cradled her severed wrist into her wolf pelt. Asano walked up to her and looked her over.
"Well, now who's the winner, Princess Mononoke? Or would you like to be called San in your last moments of life?"
San was too busy trying not to pass out to answer him. Asano carried on.
"I see living with wolves doesn't teach you automatically to be well mannered does it? Now I've beaten you, shall I throw you over the edge, impale you, drown you? It's entirely your choice. But hurry up. I don't like to keep those that benefit from my talent for killing waiting."
He indicated to where a vulture sat, confident San's injury would prove to be fatal. Again, San failed to answer.
"You really are proof of how strong mixed races can be, Princess Mononoke. Although I should drop the titles. Now answer me this question; is it true you were raised by the wolf god Moro?"
San nodded. Asano looked thoughtful.
"So you have no human parents?"
San gritted out an answer, blood dripping to the floor.
"I hate ALL humans! ESPECIALLY you. My parents left me to die in front of Moro, my cowardly mother and my stinking father."
Asano smiled.
"Well after I cut your hand off, there was little else I expected you to say. But before I kill you, I'm going to tell you this."
San looked at him, confusion competing with pain for space on her pale features. She could feel herself going light-headed.
"What do you mean? Moro's dead, my mother's dead, my father's dead. ALL my family's gone. And how would you know what happened to my father?"
Cliffhanger! In more ways than one it seems for San. Please R+R!