Disclaimer: Unfortunately, I don't own Princess Mononoke
Here's what I made up: Fokkusugaaru (Fokks)
Fokks awoke slowly, not remembering for a moment where she was. She was reminded, however, when she tried to stretch.
She jolted back to reality when she heard footsteps, and not Ashitaka's. The captive leapt to her feet, and glared out at the human. It was a woman, apparently missing an arm.
Fokks snarled as her captor drew nearer, but did not get a response.
The woman stood on the other side of the bars, looking imperious. "I am Lady Eboshi, and you will address me as such." she ordered.
The feral human spat through the bars, "You're a human, just like all the others. I don't attach names to disgusting creatures like you."
Eboshi smiled, a false look of concern on her face, "Tsk tsk. That's the kind of behavior that's keeping you locked up. I am the leader of this town, so what I say goes. I could have you killed if I wanted."
Fokks snarled, putting all of her pent-up frustration and anger into it, "You humans are all the same. All living in this filthy abomination you call Irontown. All you care about is money and acting important. You think that just because you can blow things up, you should rule the world and make all the decisions. Well, you're wrong. If humans had ultimate control, the forest would be dead, the animals dead. You would destroy yourselves for the sake of material possessions."
Eboshi shook her head, turned, and strode away. Fokks sat down again, trembling with hate and anger. She watched as the woman passed Ashitaka, who was coming towards the cage. He was carrying some meat, bread, and water.
The two humans spoke for a moment. Eboshi seemed to be refusing something. Ashitaka kept cajoling, and the woman eventually nodded. She continued away from the cage, and he came towards it.
The captive watched him warily, unsure if he was still on her side. The human sat down in his spot and handed the food through the bars.
Fokks, who had not eaten since the day before, wolfed it down in seconds. She gulped the water thirstily. Ashitaka smiled, and began undoing the knots holding the cage door shut.
The captive backed away, not knowing the human's reason for his actions. He finished untying the rope and entered the cage.
The young woman crouched in the corner of the cage, her feral instincts taking over. She growled, warning him not to come closer.
Ashitaka stopped, "Don't worry. Eboshi decided you can come out, provided I keep an eye on you. However, she also said that your hands must stay bound."
Fokks slowly relaxed. She stood and allowed the human to lead her out of the cage. She knew that, if she made a fuss or ran off; Ashitaka would get in trouble for it. For some reason, the young woman did not want this to happen.
She went with him quietly, gazing around. She was appalled with what she saw. Dead trees, trunks and branches, made up the dwellings around her. Fokks didn't think she could ever be comfortable living in such places.
Turning her gaze back to the front, she caught a glimpse of the gigantic pyramidal building that was the forge. A strong, putrid stench wafted from the top, and she raised her arm to cover her nose.
Ashitaka smiled, "I know, I know. It stinks. There's nothing I can do about it." The young woman nodded, and they continued onwards. She noticed that the other humans were staring at her as they went past.
One picked up a rock, but Ashitaka frowned and gestured for him to put it down. Grudgingly, the man complied.
Fokks looked ahead again, and saw a small hut, built for one person, with a little fenced-in yard beside it. A red elk emerged from around back of the house, and stood regarding the young woman.
Ashitaka led her up to the fence, "This is Yakkul. Yakkul, this is Fokks." The elk inclined his head politely, and Fokks returned the gesture.
She reached out with both hands and rubbed up and down his nose. Her human friend was amazed to see the feral young woman smiling for the first time since he'd met her. Her gaze transferred from Yakkul to her hands, and the smile faded.
She rolled her shoulders, which were stiff from being in the same position for so long.
Ashitaka led her back to the wooden cage and locked her inside.
"I'm sorry. I'm trying to convince Eboshi to at least let you out of there full time, but I haven't done it yet." he apologized.
She leaned against the bars wearily, "Don't apologize for the human woman's problems. You are nothing like her, except in physical form. You have a spirit from the forest, and so you will always be different." Ashitaka smiled at the compliment and left.
The captive gazed out over the walls, to the forest, where she belonged. The longing she felt for her snug little cave was almost overwhelming. She curled into a tight ball and fell asleep.