Disclaimer: Unfortunately, I don't own Princess Mononoke
Here's what I made up: Fokkusugaaru (Fokks), Kisa (kinda), Jisen (kinda), Mora, Taren
Fokks sat astride Mora, who was running smoothly and quietly through the nighttime forest. The young woman was half-delirious from pain.
It was too bad that human guard had spotted them; otherwise they might have made it out unscathed. As it were, they were forced to flee out the drain while being shot at with arrows.
Fokks had taken one in the calf, one in her side, and one in her shoulder. Another arrow had grazed her cheek. Mora, Jisen, Kisa, and Yakkul had escaped without getting hit. San had not been seriously wounded, and Ashitaka had been hit in the arm.
Fokks had turned and tried to knock away some of the arrows, and was the most badly injured of the group. They had been forced to get away from the camp as quickly as possible, so they had not had time to dress her wounds.
Luckily, Kisa had located a tunnel through the mountains that cut their traveling time down to less than a day. They were currently headed down the mountain to Irontown. The sun had risen now, and the gates were opening.
They ran into the human town and continued straight to the sickhouse. Ashitaka jumped down from Yakkul's back and went inside. Mora followed, still carrying her tribemate. The human gently slid the young woman onto a bed.
Toki ran in, gasping for breath. "I heard Fokkusugaaru is hurt," she panted, "I brought all my herbs and the other healers." The humans filed in behind the woman and gathered around the fallen Fokks.
Mora pushed through the circle and settled in the corner to watch.
Toki shooed Ashitaka out the door, "We will do all we can, but you hovering around is not going to help." The woman smiled kindly, then bustled back inside.
The Emishi prince gazed after her for a minute. Sighing, he settled down to wait.
Fokks fought her way up through layers and layers of darkness. After a long struggle, she cracked an eye open. Toki was standing over her.
The woman smiled, "You lost quite a lot of blood. It's been six hours since you got back. Do you want to see Ashitaka?" Mustering up all her strength, the young woman nodded.
Soon, Ashitaka came in and stood next to the bed. "Are you feeling alright?" he asked anxiously.
Fokks smiled and nodded again.
Her human friend smiled back, "I'm glad to hear that. I'll come back and visit later. You need your rest." Ashitaka turned and left.
Mora stood from where she had been curled in the corner and stretched. "I will watch over her. You can go back to your regular duties." she said, startling the humans.
Toki bowed respectfully and led the others out. Mora settled back down on a bed next to Fokks'. The young woman felt the world fading away as she slipped back into unconsciousness.
The next few weeks were a blur for Fokks. She would wake up, talk to a couple of well-wishers, eat a little, and go back to sleep. Three weeks after the rescue, the young woman awoke feeling much better. She sat up and looked around for Toki.
The human bustled over from the other side of the room, "You're feeling better, I see." Fokks nodded. She attempted to get up, but fell back onto the bed almost immediately.
Toki shook her head, "There's no way you'd be able to walk yet. The wound in your leg was very deep. In fact, if you exercise it too much too soon, you might tear the muscle again." Mora got up, stretched, and came over. She crouched down, offering to carry her tribemate.
Toki helped Fokks slide carefully from the bed to the vixen's back. Once the young woman was seated and balanced, Mora stood up. She trotted smoothly out the door, though her rider had to duck to keep from hitting her head on the doorframe.
The horse-sized fox switched into a smooth run, heading for the forge. They entered the building and Mora slowed to a walk.
Ashitaka came over and smiled up at her, "I'm glad you're feeling better. Unfortunately, I have some business to take care of at the gate, so I need to get going. I will come and visit you tonight." Fokks grinned back and nodded. Her human friend turned and strode out the door.
Eboshi, who had been talking to another woman near the bellows, walked over. She looked up at the wounded warrior and smiled. "So, you must be feeling somewhat better if you're out of bed. That's good to hear."
Something about the woman's smile was making the hair on the back of Fokks' neck stand up, but she felt obligated to answer, "Yes, but Toki says I shouldn't walk for a while yet. Something about tearing a muscle."
Eboshi nodded, "Well, when your leg is better, then you can start paying us back. You can work with the other women pumping the bellows."
Fokks started in surprise, "What?"
The leader of Irontown gave her a strange look, "We've treated you twice now. Those herbs are very hard to find. You owe us a couple of days' work at least."
Mora snarled, causing Eboshi to jump away. Fokks bristled, "My thoughts exactly! Just think where you'd be without by help? Lord Asano would have control and you would either be dead or a slave. I cannot believe the arrogance of humans! I'm going back to the forest, now!"
Mora turned and ran out of the forge. They shot through the streets, though the vixen could not go at top speed without severely shaking her rider and risking further injury.
As they ran towards the gate, Ashitaka stepped out into their path. Mora came to a smooth stop.
The Emishi prince frowned questioningly, "What's wrong? Why are you leaving so quickly?"
Fokks growled, "Why don't you ask that woman? I'm going home. I don't want anything to do with you humans ever again, so stay away from the forest!" Mora dodged around the human and shot off into the trees.
"Fokks, wait!" Ashitaka called.
But she was gone.