San watched as Kaiya took off from the camp, she was moving at a break neck pace.

"Jagar, maybe now we should go for him?"

"Actually I want to follow her, she could be more danger on her own then Ashitaka is in down there. San I think Ashitaka can handle it."

San looked her wolf brother in the eyes, she saw anger, apprehension, confusion, concern, and fear in those huge yellow orbs of his. Looking once more to the camp and then to the vanishing figure that was Kaiya and Cain she sighed and nodded to Jagar.

"We'll follow her." Quickly hopping up on his back, they took off back the way they had come.

The land rushed by beneath them as they attempted to keep Kaiya in their sites. She was moving too fast, it was dangerous for her and for San. Meanwhile San's stomach continued to do flip flops causing her to have trouble focusing.

Suddenly slivers of golden yellow broke into the sky, the sun was coming up. This was good, with the sun up it would be harder for Kaiya and her wolf to get away they wouldn't blend in as well as they did at night. The world around them was awaking and changing colors has the sky grew more vibrate. San could see Kaiya ahead of her the black beast she was riding stretching to cover as much ground as possible in one stroke.

For a moment the whole world rushed up to welcome her she could hear her brother's heartbeat, the wind rushing by, ground that was being trampled by the frantic wolves. Voices on the wind reached her, and scents floated in to her. Her eyes were greeted with the beautiful colors of the world around her, the brilliant red that was streaking into the sky with the morning sun. It was a moment she hadn't know since the day she discovered she would have a child, a moment she had forgot until know. Then suddenly it was gone, ripped through by the sounds of a rapid wolf snapping.

Somewhere in San's moment of peace Kaiya had realize who was behind her and turned around. Looking at where they were San found that they had returned to the narrow cliff passage to Iron Town. San's breath caught, there was no room for this here; neither would last for very long, if either survived the first attack. Something flashed and the light caused San to look away, which was a mistake. Kaiya was in the air and on her way down, straight for San. San was barely block as the other crashed into her. The minute San was off his back Jagar got out of the way he knew the danger this place presented.

San pushed Kaiya back trying to keep her off her. The two started back and froth like they had the first time. San was fighting to control the pain she felt in her stomach, and still be able to fight Kaiya off.

Ashitaka was working on the binds on his arms. This was wrong really wrong; he had to get to Kaiya where ever she was going, if he could just stop her from causing any more damage . . .

"Ashitaka?" A tearful Lee stood in front of him now.

"What do you want?"

"I'm sorry, this is all my fault. I thought if you were here then maybe Kaiya could sort this out, the both of you, I thought it would be better."

"Are you saying you brought me here?"

"I did but just to help Kaiya, she hasn't been the same since you left."

"I know. Lee you have to let me go find her, if she hurts some one." Ashitaka looked up at her, hoping she would let him go.

"But what if she comes back, she might not hurt anyone?"

"Lee, she's lost it, something inside her is broken, and there is no fixing it. I can't make her understand, no one can. Someone is going to get hurt I know it, now you have to let me stop her, Lee. If no one interferes there's no telling what she will do you have to let me go, now." Ashitaka spoke the words he hoped she needed to hear, if he could just get her to understand. "Lee, come on."

"Fine, but please don't hurt her if you don't have too."

Lee disappeared behind him and he felt the ropes go slack and then withdraw all together.

Lee stood in front of him again, watching him. "I won't hurt her if I can avoid it, but I can't promise she'll be okay. Chances are that she will never be the same again. None of us will."

Lee nodded and left. It took Ashitaka a moment to stretch and wake up his limbs, after being in that position for god knows how long. When he got outside Lee was standing there beside Otaku her wolf.

"He'll take you where you want to go." She said and then walked away.

Ashitaka watched the wolf for a minute; the two sized each other up as if to decide if this was a worthy match even for just the time being. Then as if silently they agreed upon it Ashitaka grabbed the black fur and pulled himself up and the two were off in a matter of seconds. Ripping across the terrain Ashitaka used his hands to guide the wolf towards Iron Town, he would try there first, that's were all the people were, and they were in the most danger.

San and Kaiya paced around each other glaring, both were starting to wear out and they knew how dangerous their positions were at the moment. Neither was willing to give the inch it would take for the other to go down. The constant shower of rocks over the edge was a reminder of their location and the consequences they would face if they gave at all. There was no doubt in either's mind that if they went over they would be dead.

Both were bleeding from various locations on their bodies, both were starting to sag. The whole thing had been a mostly even battle, the pain that was present in San's stomach proved to be no handicap as Kaiya's anger had distracted her mind. Jagar and Cain had watched from the sidelines, both knew this was not their battle to fight.

Now Cain and Jagar were both alerted to the risk interference as the wind brought the sent of another wolf. The wolf Cain recognized the rider he did not, that didn't matter though because Jagar knew the rider.

As Jagar and Cain came into sight Ashitaka's heart skip a few beats. He tried not to panic as they got closer. Arriving at the seen finally he was blocked by the two large wolves.

"Ashitaka this is their battlefield, their war." Jagar spoke as Ashitaka began his protest to being blocked.

"You have to let me stop them, if they continue-"

"One will die." Cain muttered.

"Or both will." Jagar added.

"Jagar?"

"I kept San from coming to you Ashitaka, she was in no state of mind to aid you, and now I will do the same to you."

With a growl Ashitaka pushed between the contrasting furs, but went no farther then were he could see what was happening.

"This is it isn't it, one of them will die now." It was a fact not a question. Ashitaka knew that.

San screamed out as Kaiya rushed her once again lucky San had been turned enough to hit ground and not open air. San saw her opportunity. She hated the idea as soon as it entered her head but the crazed look in Kaiya's eyes was the look of a rabid animal, San had no real choice at least point.

San pulled her feet up and as Kaiya came crashing toward her with the intent to kill her then and there San kicked out. She caught Kaiya in the stomach and sent the girl back into the air. For a moment Kaiya seemed to float and then she was gone she vanished from sight.

There was an inchorent yell from behind San it was mostly just a noise. Then Ashitaka was there over her. Tears brimmed his tired eyes as he looked down at her.

San remembered her stomach and curled up moaning. After a minute the pain passed for now, and she allowed Ashitaka to pull her to her feet. The minute she was up she was in his arms, crying. San hugged him, but promptly let go as her stomach twisted again. She threw up onto the dark earth that was already stained from the fight.

"San?" Ashitaka's worried voice touched her.

"Don't worry I've been feeling sick all morning. It happened a week ago too remember, I hadn't thought about it till just now, but it's happened a couple times hasn't it." San spoke and then slowly her eyes opened in realization. "Ashitaka!"

"San are you?"

"I think so."

"You're pregnant?" Ashitaka smiled weakly but happily.

San rushed into his arms again and hugged him tight.

"San." Ashitaka's hushed voice whispered in her ear. He wiped her face clean as best he could with his shirt sleeve. "What a mess, huh?"

San laughed, and then cried, and then laughed some more. She was unsure of how to feel at this moment.

Eight and a half months later. Ashitaka sat next to a very tired San at the edge of their cave home; he watched her hold the baby boy in her arms. Twelve hours of screaming and pain all for this little bundle. He was so tiny with gently dark skin, like his mothers. San patted his head. He had small white hair, that had surprised them both, but they found it couldn't be more fitting.

"Have you picked a name yet?" Lee stood behind them now, still wiping blood off her arms, from helping with the birth.

"He has such white hair, but it looks like gold when the morning sun hits it just right." San whispered. "Oro, how about that little one? Does Oro sound good to you Ashitaka?"

"I think it's perfect." He kissed the top of her head and looked out to the mixture that now lived in the woods, black and white fur speckled the rocks, and here and there people mingled among the gathering.

The smiled and watched as the sun continued to rise higher and higher bringing it's golden light to the world.

This is dedicated to my grandmother.

March 3 or 4 (depending on who you talked to), 1926 – August 16th, 2005

Ris Night

I'm sorry if you misunderstood me I was quitting this story, when I say I would like you to review it's not that I really care about all the mistakes I miss I don't need some in depth insight of how you feel about me stories, I would be perfectly happy if all the wrote was it was good or it was bad, that would take what all of five minutes of your time. If you wish to leave more then please do I love to read them, but I would like it if people would at least tell me if they enjoy or not so I know if it's worth my time.