Chapter Seven-Dangerous Circumstances

"Kouga!" Achicka ran to her mates arm,fearfully. "I was so very worried."

"Daddy!" Kyoko,eight now, ran to her father as well, before her warden, a stalky wolf demon could catch her. "Daddy, they're not nice."

Kouga hugged them both tightly, relieved to find that they were not hurt. "Shh....it's alright now. We're together again."

"Get in there, you filthy human!" A dangerously sinister voice ordered. Kouga turned to see three of Nyrou's people trying to shove Saraku into a dark cave.

"Hey! She's under my tribe's protection, you swines! Leave her alone." Kouga ordered.

"Your tribe,your highness, is no more. Just look about you,"Prince" Kouga. They're all groveling servants." Nyrou smirked. "Now, you two! Get back to work!" He glared at Kyoko and Achicka. "Don't worry, Kouga." He added, as his two ladies were pulled away from him violently. "You'll see them again at ration time."

"Let go of me! My father would have you dead in two minutes!! Maybe less!" Saraku tried to kick at these demons, but they were too strong for her. One of them, named Syan grabbed her wrist hard,crushing it. She screamed in pain.

"Now come. Be a good dinner and get in!" Suddenly, Kouga was there, and he growled viciously.

"She will not be dinner for anyone! You understand?" He went to Saraku's side. "Nyrou!"

"What is it, Kouga?" The tryant leader came to him.

"You promised me this girl would be safe. Look what your fools did to her wrst!"

"Well,I can't be held responsible for her disobedience. However, I do have a wisewoman I'm keeping with me." He turned towards his main den, and called out, "Rin! Get out here!"

"Rin?!" Saraku exclaimed, when she saw the tall woman that was once a girl. "What in the world are you doing here??!"

"Saraku!" Rin hurried forward, her eyes wide. "What are you doing here?!" She began to tend to her pains. "Lord Sesshoumaru shouldn't have let you come this season. All the demon tribes are at war."

"Why?" She winced, as Rin pushed down on her shattered wrist. "Ow......careful!"

"Sorry. It's got to be something to do with that awful Naraku. Has Inuyasha mentioned him?"

"Not to me, but Kagome's having a baby soon, and Sango's expecting another one. Miroku and Sango were married last season." She reported what she knew. "Lord Sesshoumaru does miss you though."

Rin sighed. "And I miss him.....but I'll never see him again..."

"What? What are you talking about, Rin?" Saraku got the impression that Rin was prisoner here as well. "What about the village you were living in?"

"Dead. Every last one of them." Her elder sister told her. "These guys never leave evidence behind. They would've killed me too, but I took care of Nyrou,so he ordered that I return here to be their medicine woman." She was talking in whispers now. "Saraku, I have an idea....."

"Hurry it up, Rin. We don't have all night." Nyrou barked.

"She needs rest. They banged her up pretty badly." Rin replied coldly. "Bed rest is best for her."

"Very well. She may stay with you in your spot." Nyrou agreed,before turning away from them. "As for you, Kouga....." He gestured to his men, who hauled Kouga to his feet. "You will be held until the third night of the full moon, then we will present you to my father for sacrafice."

"You're mad!" Genta screamed. "Kouga, his father died of fever less than a year ago!"

"I see....." Kouga looked at Nyrou. "You're still grieving! Do you think your father would have you slaughter innocents on his account?"

"I.......I don't know......" Nyrou paused,then shook his head. "It doesn't matter! He wanted your father's head on a stick! I'll give him the next best thing!" He waved his hand, and Kouga was dragged off into a den.