They six stood there, looking at each other. They all had bad wounds and bruises and Miroku was breathing difficulty. They all guessed what had happened to the others.
"Kagome." Sango said. "Miroku needs your bandaging materials."
"Yeah, sure." Kagome said and took the first aid kit from her pack.
"Well did you beat your opponent mutt?" Kouga asked.
"Yes I did. It was Bankotsu." Inuyasha answered seriously.
"Kagemaru's traps are getting more dangerous all the time." Sango remarked while helping Kagome to tend Miroku's wounds.
"Yeah. We have to be very careful from now on." Ayame agreed.
"We have to rest here until Miroku gets better." Kagome said. "And you too should take care of your wounds. Sango, Kouga, Inuyasha."
"Keh! I will be fine!" Inuyasha huffed.
"So will I." Said Kouga.
"Don't be foolish." Ayame snapped. "Your wounds need healing."
"Damn it, I hate waiting." Inuyasha cursed. "Right now Kagemaru is surely planning something for us."
"Ayame and I can go ahead to search for him." Kouga suggested.
The others were stupefied about his suggestion. Normally he would want to go alone, or just kill him instead of the mere searching. But in that situation, it seemed to be the best choice. Kouga and Ayame were the least injured.
Kagome nodded. "It would be best. But be careful."
"Yeah, and don't go further than a day's journey from us." Sango advised.
"We will be alright. Don't be worried." Ayame promised.
"Yeah, if something happens I'm there to fight." Kouga said, and so the two left.
"Are you sure it was a good idea to let those two go alone?" Inuyasha asked.
"Kagemaru may attack them, yes, but they're strong. And we have to take care of our more serious wounds." Sango reminded.
"Damn it." Inuyasha growled. "I don't trust that damned wolf guy."
"Well you'd better to start." Kagome remarked. "If something's gonna attack us from that direction, they'll warn us. Without them we would be helpless."
Inuyasha sighed and jumped onto a branch, where he could see faraway mountains. Sango looked at Miroku and whispered: "Get well soon, Houshi-sama."
Meanwhile, Kouga and Ayame were running their usual speed without cyclones. They could see the mountains nearer and felt a great jyaki in there. Both of them recognized it.
"Kagemaru is on those mountains." Ayame said.
"I feel it too." Kouga agreed. "We'd better stop and rest here."
Ayame went to drink water from a river, which flowed nearby. Kouga jumped onto a branch and looked towards the dark mountains. He had a very bad feeling that something was wrong.
"Ayame." He said. "Come away from that river. There's something."
Ayame quickly stood up, right when a giant snake appeared from the water and hit towards her. She managed to avoid and Kouga jumped down to help her.
"What is that?" Ayame yelled while jinking the blows.
"How could I know? I bet it's sent by Kagemaru!" Kouga answered.
Suddenly the snake hit towards Kouga and bit him onto his shoulder. He yelled in pain and fell onto his knees, holding his bleeding shoulder.
"Kouga!" Ayame shouted and ran towards him, but the snake was faster.
It caught her with its tail and left her high into the air. She screamed, and Kouga tried to stand up, for nothing. The snake disappeared back underwater and Kouga realized there had been poison on its teeth. Little by little his senses weakened, until he fell onto the ground unconscious.
His only hope was the others now. But they didn't know where he was. Was there no hope?
Hmm what should I do to him? Maybe kill him? Big evil grin I'm teasing you!