Kariudo addressed the animal tribes of the forest in desperation. "Animals of the forest, listen to me!" He yelled.
"Why should we listen to you?"
"You're nothing but a filthy human!"
"What business do you have here in the forest?"
"A meeting like this hasn't been called in four hundred years!"
In response, Kariudo slipped something out of his pocket and raised it into the air. Immediately the animals went quiet. "You know what this is, don't you?" He asked. "It is the mark of the demon king. He has come to this place, and brought with him an army."
"What has it got to do with us?"
"Let the humans deal with the demon army!"
Kariudo gesture to the forest. "It was the demons who set fire to the forest, not the humans. For all the atrocities that Iron Town may have done, why blame them for this? They have not attacked the forest for two years!"
"You don't know half of what they did, human! They deserve what they get!"
Instantly, Kariudo grew angry. "And what of you animals? You attacked men that did not do you any harm, that were only bringing food to feed their wives and families! What atrocities have you also done? Are you not as bad as humans?" His clothes started flapping about, although there was no wind. Red tentacles appeared around his right arm, but they quickly disappeared.
It was Ashikata who spoke next. "Why can't you all put it behind you? Why must you let past acts cloud your judgment? This is a time where both forces are needed! Unite and drive back the demons!"
Kariudo raised his sword. "In this battle, only the demons are the enemies! Once they've finished the humans, they will come after you. How can you fight back against a colossus, when you are not a colossus yourself?" He dropped the raised sword, then walked away. "If you are not going to see what has already been made clear to you, you never should have been given the gift of speech and knowledge." With Ashikata, they both rode off on Yakuul.
Once they had left, an eagle growled, "The human speak the truth."
"Why should animals trust humans?" An ape argued. "Humans took away Forest Spirit. They took away forest."
"Yes, but many of the kodoma saw what happened. The Forest Spirit came in a form of light and touched that human. Also, the humans living in Iron Town have left us in peace to regrow."
"Yes, I believe we should help the humans." San stood up. "You heard what they said."
"That is because you are a human, daughter of Moro."
"You'd better shut your mouth, ape, or my fangs will find your flesh!"
"Why are we here arguing?" San got onto her brother. "If you will not act, then the Moro tribe will. We shall die in honour, but you shall die in shame." And the wolves bounded into the forest.
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As Yakuul galloped back to Iron Town, Kariudo tried to find out why he was helping these people. What will I gain? What advantage will I have in this? Then he realised that if he destroyed the demon king, all demons would perish. No…That's a good bonus, but it's not why I came here. Is it for glory? He realised he was making a fool of himself. He silently quoted back one of his teachings: Do you seek glory? Honour? You shall only find death.