Disclaimer: Unfortunately, I don't own Princess Mononoke
Here's what I made up: Fokkusugaaru (Fokks), Jisen (kinda), Kisa (kinda), Mora, Taren
Two weeks later, Fokks' feet thrummed the ground once more. Her leg was completely healed, as were her other wounds. Mora ran beside her, panting. The young woman was herself breathing heavily.
They burst through the brush and jumped out over the pond. Fokks hit the water first, followed shortly by Mora. They both surfaced blowing and laughing.
The young woman yelled, "I win!" They swam towards the shore and climbed out. Mora shook herself like a dog. Fokks copied her, the red cloak swinging about wildly. Both toppled over, laughing madly.
The vixen suddenly shot to her feet and gazed straight off into the forest. The young woman got up, wiping tears of mirth from her eyes. Noticing her friend's posture, she perked up her ears and took a sniff.
"Human." they said simultaneously. Fokks' dirks appeared in her hands and she dashed through the trees. She broke through a bush and bowled the intruder over.
It was Ashitaka. No surprise there the young woman thought.
What she said aloud was, "What do you want, Ashitaka? I thought I told you to stay out."
He sighed, "I wanted to try and make up with you. We don't want you as an enemy. What Eboshi said was completely out of line. None of the rest of us thinks that way."
Fokks shook her head, "I don't believe you. Maybe I would have once, but not now." The human tried to get up, but his former friend held him down with amazing strength. She rolled him over and pinned him down with one arm.
Mora nudged a vine over with her nose. Fokks picked it up with her free hand.
"I'm sorry, Ashitaka." The young woman lashed the human's hands behind his back. There was a hint of sorrow in her eyes, but it quickly disappeared.
Mora crouched down and Fokks forced the Emishi prince to mount. The young woman sheathed her dirks and jumped up behind. The vixen headed off towards Irontown. They stopped near the bridge.
Fokks pushed Ashitaka off of Mora's back. "I'm sorry." she whispered.
To the rest, "Stay out of the forest!" The fox turned and ran back into the trees.
What the humans did not see were the tears streaming down the fox girl's face. When they got back to their cave, Fokks dropped down onto the ground and immediately curled up. She lay there, shaking with sobs.
Mora settled down outside, determined to keep watch until her friend got control of her emotions.
Mora leapt to her feet, growling as Ashitaka emerged from the trees. "Have you learned nothing, human? Fokks wants nothing to do with you anymore. Go back to your filthy town and leave us in peace."
The human kept coming, a determined look on his face. The vixen sprang forwards and knocked him over.
She placed her paw, claws bared, on his chest. "I should just bite your head off, but Fokks used to like you. I suppose that counts for something. I will give you one more chance before I kill you. Go back to your town and don't ever return."
Ashitaka shook his head, "No. I must speak with Fokks."
Mora snarled, "Fine then. Let's see how far your somewhat admirable determination gets you. Fokks has awoken. Fokks! The human has returned!"
The young woman emerged from the cave dry-eyed. She scowled down at Ashitaka, "I thought I told you to stay out. I should just let Mora kill you." Fokks started to turn away.
The human cried out, "Wait! Listen to me for just a moment. Then I will be silent and accept your judgment." His former friend thought for a moment, then turned back and nodded.
Ashitaka sighed in relief, "I know you're angry with Eboshi. We all are. There was a huge revolt after you stormed off. We still want you as a friend. Please, Fokks… Without you, we may lose Irontown."
The young woman shook her head, "What Eboshi said was completely selfish. It's just human nature breaking through the layers of deception. How can I be sure you aren't the same deep down? This whole thing might just be an elaborate trap. Can you convince me otherwise? If not, I might have to kill you."
Ashitaka thought for a moment, "I swear by my honor as a former prince of the Emishi tribe that we just want you as an ally. There is no hidden motive. We know what we're doing to the forest, and we're sorry for it. We are trying…"
Fokks did a double take, "You were a prince of the Emishi? No wonder you have a spirit of the forest…" She drew herself up, "I consider you personally my ally. Therefore, I am an ally of Irontown. However, if there is any sign of a secret plot, I will come back into the forest and kill any humans who follow. I also refuse to speak with the Eboshi woman."
Ashitaka nodded. Mora growled one last time, then removed her paw and let the human stand. He brushed himself off, and clouds of dust billowed out. Mora sneezed violently, and Fokks almost fell over laughing.
Ashitaka chuckled as well, and soon both were laughing heartily. The young woman wiped tears of mirth from her eyes. Once the pair got control of themselves once more, they mounted Mora.
The vixen turned and ran towards Irontown. Ashitaka turned around to find Fokks standing tall on the fox's back behind him. She smoothly ducked any low hanging tree limbs, and never seemed to lose her balance. The human shook his head and smiled. They emerged from the forest and ran across the bridge.
The entire population of Irontown, barring Eboshi, had come out to see if Ashitaka would come back. They cheered, yelled, screamed, and whistled as Mora ran across the town border. The vixen came to a stop a few paces in.
Her sudden stop catapulted Fokks head over heels forwards, seemingly out of control. The crowd gasped. However, their worry was unfounded. The young woman landed easily on her feet, drawing another cheer from the humans. She walked back and helped Ashitaka down.
He smiled, "Showoff." His friend grinned cheekily in return. She leapt up onto Mora's back and they departed at top speed, disappearing once more into the trees.
Ashitaka watched them go, gazing off into the trees until he was jolted back to reality by Toki tapping him.
"So, is Fokkusugaaru our ally again?" the woman asked.
The Emishi prince nodded, "However, she is still suspicious and refuses to talk to Eboshi."
Toki sighed, "I can understand that. What Milady said was very selfish. It's no wonder Fokks doesn't trust us."
They both stood there, staring off into the many greens and browns of the trees.