They found the pond. Getting off the wood-elk, Kariudo waded out to the island where the Forest Spirit once dwelled. He raised his sword. "Oh great Forest Spirit!" He called. "I know that even though you seemed to have died, you still dwell in this forest! So please! This is our time of greatest need! Listen to us, great one! Come and help us!" The Forest Spirit would know what to do in this time of peril.
For minutes, they waited. Suddenly, bright ball of light floated down from the sky. They were so bright, that they seemed to be from the heavens. They gathered together to form a golden body. "Forest Spirit!" Kariudo gasped. It was indeed. The great god walked up to him, its footsteps forming flowers where they fall…and taking them away when he lifted them.
Its body of radiant light touched his outstretched hand, and then, it disappeared.
Slowly, the clouds formed and gathered. Then from them, droplets of rain came down to the ground. They extinguished the flames in the forest.
Little one…
Kariudo spun around in surprise.
Little one, you still have much to learn. The first thing you must know is: who are you?
Immediately the voice ceased. Kariudo pondered over the question. Who am I? Well, sometimes I can't answer that question either. Who was he? Sometimes, he was Kariudo the wolf, and other times, he was Kariudo the human.
He sighed. The hunter would have to think deeply about this.
"Kariudo!" Ashitaka ran towards him. "Kariudo, what happened?"
Kariudo sighed. "Well, I don't think I can answer that question. We'd better head back."
-----
"Take your positions, riflemen!" Lady Eboshi called. "Ready….A little closer…FIRE!" The massive explosions rocketed into the charging demon warriors. They stunned them for a moment, then the warriors resumed attacking. "Second line…ready, fire!" The bullets shook the demon warriors up, and the first line of attack fell. The second line was still moving. "Hold them back!" Eboshi ordered, then dropped down to meet Ashitaka. "Yes?"
"Lady Eboshi, I still think uniting with the animals is the best way," Ashikata urged. "We won't be able to hold them back for long."
"Yes, Ashikata, I understand your concerns, but now is not the time! The animals are far too busy trying to replant their forest and repair their homes, so now is not the time!"
Inside Iron Town, Kariudo stared at himself in the mirror. Who am I? He still could not answer that question.
He walked towards his bag, and took out some of his weapons. Slipping on some padded combat clothes, Kariudo picked the dagger and samurai sword. Wait. Is this really the weapon that reflects who I am? He was told long ago by his teachers that a weapon reflected who he was. This samurai sword is light and elegant…And as far as I know, that's not me. He put the sword back into his bag.
He looked at himself in the mirror again.
"You seem to be at quite a split, human." The image of the wolf goddess who had appeared to him before came now, into the mirror. She smiled. "You seem to think of yourself as two different identities. One the wolf…And the other the human. But really, who are you?"
"I – I really have no idea," He admitted.
"That is why you cannot become stronger. Your fighting skills, I must say, are quite excellent, but inside, if someone broke into your mind, then who would defend? The human or the wolf?"
"I want to be both," He said. "I want to be them at the same time."
The wolf god smiled again.
Kariudo's mind suddenly realised it. "Wait…I want to be both…I am both. I'm not just one I am two! I am human and wolf!" He bowed quickly. "Thank you, wolf god."
"Why, you always had my admiration warrior. The demon king is a deceitful and scheming creature. Now that you are complete, you are worthy enough to face him."
"But how? How can I defeat a ruler of demons?"
"You will know…" The image disappeared.
Quickly, Kariudo ran to his bag. Inside, he found the perfect weapon. He grabbed the rest of his padded clothing, put it on and took out the red dye. I am a wolf…He smeared the wolf markings onto his face. I am a human…The hunter took his weapon and walked outside.
He knew they couldn't win this fight if it continued, so he got Ashitaka and they set off on Yakuul.
-----
Grabbing her sword and dagger, San fitted the mask onto her face and got onto her brother. "Let us go," She said.
"Wait for a moment, San!" Ashitaka and Kariudo, riding on Yakuul, approached them.
She hissed. "You lied to me!" She snapped in anger. "You told me the humans wouldn't hurt the forest anymore, and for that, I can never forgive you!" Even though she loved Ashitaka and greatly admired Kariudo, old rules engraved into her heart by her mother Moro took hold.
Never trust a human…
Humans are enemies…
They are deceitful…
Before they could say anything, San had jumped off her brother and took out her sword. Leaping from side to side, she stabbed at Ashikata.
Kariudo ran in, deflecting her blow.
San gasped and stepped back. He was now wielding a double-bladed sword, whirling in a dizzying vortex of power.
Throwing her fears aside, she tried to strike him, but he evaded it and stabbed at her. San barely was able to block it, there was such strength in the blade that it nearly wrenched the sword from her grip.
As she moved to slice him again, Kariudo suddenly grabbed her and lifted San up so easily.
She scrabbled around, trying to get out of his grip. "You're a good fighter," He said, "But you leave your defenses wide open." Then with that, he –
Kissed her?
San looked at him, stunned at what had just happened. He let her go. "Send the word. Tell all the animals in the forest to gather around the Forest Spirit's pond." Then, as he was turning around to leave, he added, "By the way, that kiss was to calm you down. It wasn't anything mutual."
-----
"You are quite mischievous, aren't you?" Ashikata teased.
"As I said, the feeling wasn't mutual. I don't have any interest in her," Kariudo replied.
"Right." Ashikata sat down. "Will the animals respond to our call?"
"Once they find out we're humans, they all be swarming to see us," he promised. "Don't worry about it."