The Darkness Before the Dawn
Prologue
The stillness of the Western Lands was split by an inhuman scream. At the same time, lightning cracked across the sky illuminating the forest clearing. The next second a lizard-like shape dashed through the clearing followed by many others of the same. This was from whence the screaming came. Unintelligible words issued from the creature's mouths as they continued running east...
Miles away, Kagome and Shippo jerked awake to see InuYasha, Miroku, and Sango apparently ready to fight. Kilala transformed stood near them, growling into the trees. None of them seemed to notice Kagome and Shippo until Kagome spoke.
"I-InuYasha?" she voiced uncertainly. Said hanyou turned towards her with a warning look and she fell silent. Shippo whispered a question in her ear, "Kagome-chan, what's going on?"
Pulling the small kitsune comfortingly into her arms, she returned softly, "I don't know."
Suddenly the tension seemed to clear from the air, and InuYasha took his clawed hand off of the hilt of Tetsusaiga. All three turned back to the fire that was still burning and sat down, Kilala transforming back and curling up beside Sango.
"What was that all about?" Kagome asked after several minutes of silence. She had directed the question at InuYasha, but he just leaned against the trunk of a nearby tree out of the circle of firelight with a "Feh". Because of this it was Miroku who answered the question.
"InuYasha smelled something strange on the wind. Sango and I woke to find him standing and looking like he was about to go off somewhere. About that time I sensed a strange aura to the east. The three of us took guard around the camp Not long after, you and Shippo awoke."
"What did he smell?" Kagome mused, half to herself and half to the group in general.
"He wouldn't say," replied Sango with a glance to InuYasha.
Just then the hanyou jumped up once more. The reason soon became clear as the sound of breaking twigs and running feet reached the group's ears. Seconds later, a small figure burst into the clearing, and, panting, fell to her knees.
The five friends stared at the little girl in the middle of the camp in confusion. InuYasha was the first to speak.
"What're you doin' here?"
The girl looked up at him, still breathing quickly. Then she got to her feet and said, to the surprise of all, "Lord Sesshomaru is in danger."
"WHAT?!"
Torie-san: What are the lizard things? Why's Sesshomaru in danger? What the hell happened here?! What did InuYasha smell? What---ok, I'm gonna stop myself now. Read and Review and you'll find out.
Next Chapter:
Rin's Tale