A/N: This little piece is an outtaken part of chapter 27 of Forest Spirit, titled The Place Without Scent. It was placed at the end of that chapter, but then it got cut out. I highly recommend reading Forest Spirit ch 27 before reading this bit.

(FS) At the Den

He was sitting by the open gate, watching the moonlit forest, shadows of the trees moving across the ground and against the sky. Chikara and Kiba sat on his sides, warming him with their bodies, providing a sense of security.

He was left here alone pretty often, but he didn't fear the place. This was his safe haven, a place where no thunderstorm could reach. His guardian wasn't maybe as playful as his father had been, but he was cool to be around most of the time - after all he had to practice his tricks on someone. And if he was bored he could always go to the village near the dwelling. After the trip to the human nobleman's palace his guardian was less reluctant to let him go and interact with humans, trusting in his ability to sense danger and flee or defend himself. This acknowledgment - although never spoken aloud - was a source of his pride.

But tonight he was keeping watch in the den and he was waiting anxiously at Inuyasha and Kagome. The miko had promised him to bring Inuyasha back and the young youkai believed her.

Suddenly, a movement between the trees drew his attention and he jumped to his feet, his tail swaying in anticipation. Then it bristled out when he saw that it was Yami, running at top speed, as if chased by a swarm of youkai.

Chikara and Kiba stood up, growling and barking, as if encouraging their pack mate to run faster and trying to scare away whatever was chasing him. Shippou could sense a faint tingle of youki, but he couldn't see anything

"Yami!" he called the dog, who was just a few leaps away from the safety of the ancient barrier. Suddenly, mid-leap, Yami yelped and fell to the ground, as if something tugged him down. To Shippou's shock and fear the dog started to slide across the snow, as if dragged by a hind leg. He was fighting, trying to wiggle free, clawing at the ground and trying to bite whatever was holding him.

With a battle howl Chikara sprang forward, followed closely by Kiba. The silence of the night filled the barks, growls and yelps of the canines trying to free their captured companion, fighting against a silent, invisible foe. It seemed it was a losing battle, Shippou realized it when Kiba was suspended in the air, wiggling and yowling when his body started to twist as if something was squeezing it.

With a scream the little kitsune leaped out of the safety of his den, determined to this time do whatever it took to save his pack from the danger that came upon them like a lightning from a clear sky.