Due to the death of a beloved pet of mine, I shall take some time to mourn and I don't know how long it'll be till I update. Probably not too long but still, I wanted to let the few readers know.

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San was quick in gathering her army. The boars were large in size and in quantity. The apes were also large and quite a few of them joined the fight, San asked them why they fought along side her; after all, they had been living in her forest for a only couple of months. All they had to say about the matter was that they had a duty to defend their home. Though the army consisted of only the three tribes (including the wolf tribe, of course) it was quite a sight to see. It was not only them who protected the forest. Others worked in helping out as well. However, the three tribes were the ones who were put in the most danger.

According to Eboshi's plan, San and her tribes would be the first ones in the battle. Since Asano's army would enter her forest first, San would be the one to take the first hit. Eboshi had promised back-up, though and San knew that Ashitaka would make sure she would get it. Still, it was rather unerving to be in the front line of all of this. She didn't know what to expect at all. Still, as the leader, she put on a brave face and led her tribes to the far edge of their home.

San could see the army from the edge. They looked like a large blob of bobbing figures. They were close, closer than she wanted them to be. In a few moments, the army would reach them and in all honesty, defeat them quite quickly. Once the army got so close San could not put it off any longer, she and her brothers began leading the large pack out of the forest. They stepped foot on the outside world as she had once done before when she had begun her journey for the apes. Her headdress was on, making her seem more intimidating, though in her eyes, it was her two wolf borthers who did that for her. She was riding on Kendo when it happened. She, her brothers, boars, and apes, formed a line in front of the army. The men seemed to be ready for them, their guns pointing an ready. They advanced towards the animals, slowly and carefully but still confident they would easily win this battle. Both armies advanced at the same time, weapons raised and battle cries loud and passionate. Neither of the had been prepared for the huge explotions went off all around them. They exploded near enough for her to be blown away from on top of her brother and slammed into the ground. It took a few moments for her to snap out of the hit she took and looked around. Her view was obscured by the clouds of smoke and the tears that welled in her eyes because of the rancid smell of burning flesh. She called out for her brothers but her voice was drowned out by the next collective explotions. This time they were dangerously close, way too close for her liking. She barely registered the screams of the soldiers, the moans of the dying and wounded. She called out to her brothers, getting no response in return. She got up and began searching, tripping over mutilates bodies and stepping in pools of sticky blood. A few more explosions went off around her, rattling her to her very bones and throwiing her back to the ground. Bodies flew into the air and slammed back down into the earth, killing them instantly. San foound that she could do nothing due to t he fact that she could not see or hear properly. Still, the humans had been caught by surprise and most of them were already littering the ground. To her surprise, an explotion happened right in front of her. She felt herself being lifted off the ground slammed against something and the world went black.

When she woke up, San found herself to be surrounded by mutilated bodies and every type of limbs around her. The smoke hung in the air, making her gag violently but she held it down. Now that the smoke had cleared, she could see that most of the boars had taken the worst of it. Some apes were down as well but all she could see were the bodies of the boars and humans. So many humans. She did not stray on the irony of it since she had seen this sight before and that was one too many times already. She crawled over the over the burned flesh and called out to her brothers again, wincing at the pain flowing through her body. No response.

Panicking slightly, she called out again. She tried not to pay attention to the wounded humans calling out to her for help. She limped by them, noticing she had acquired a wound in her leg somehow. As if her senses were returning to her again, she noticed the taste of iron on the corner of her mouth and traced it to the origin. Her right temple was bleeding profusely, there was a bump on the back of her head, and her arms were badly cut as well. She continued her search for her brothers, barely noticing (or trying, anyway) her wounds. She felt she searched for an eternity and finally, exauhstion caught up with her. She collapsed near a dead ape, trying not to throw up at the smell he gave off. Her ears caught the cry of a man near her. He was begging her for something but San tried not to pay attention. She glanced at him and instantly wished she hadn't. It was a young man, could have been handsome but she did not know that. Theman had no legs and his face was badly burned, probably the rest of his body as well, seeing as he was half naked. He begged something from her, could have been death, could have been something else. She didn't respond, didn't move and did not let her gaze fall away from his.

"I'm here," was all she offered and for the man but it seemed to be enough. He quieted down and the only sound left was his ragged breathing. She didn't notice how long it went on or when it stopped.

By that point, she noticed very little.

Ashitaka had run like a madman toward the spot where all the smoke originated from. He hesitated a little when he faced the huge clouds of black smoke but quickly regained his courage. He had reached the battle when all the explosives had already been detonated and all he found was what San had already seen. He called out her name until his voice went hoarse but he came up with nothing. All the animals that had not been badly injured had already left the site or were on their way. Many humans had retreated as well, none of them had stayed to care for the wounded nor did they care to.

To his great luck he found one of San's brothers. Kanha made it out of the battle, hurt and bleeding but alive. He informed Ashitaka that Kendo had been seriously hurt and needed help. He nodded and began helping Kanha with his brother. Kendo had recieved a blow to the head and was bleeding profusely. Other than that, he recieved minimal injuries. However, the blow seemed to have been hard enough for Kendo to be completly out of it. After a long struggle, they got the wolf out of the battlefield and into the forest. After the wolves were back in the forest, Kanha told Ashitaka to continue his search for his sister while Kanha tried to wake Kendo. Ashitaka returned to the battlefield, resuming his search for San once more. As more time went by and the sun started to set, he started to panic, wondering wildly where she could be. By then, he was covered in dirt and blood from all the bodies around him. The moans of the wounded had all but subsided, leaving him in a world of silence. Briefly, he wished they would start moaning again, anything but the overwhelming silence that surrounded him. Still, it was because of the silence that hee heard it. A low, disembosied moan but he recognized it somehow. He turned and saw a figure leaning against the body of a boar. He scrambled to get to her, his heart becoming less tight than it had been. She was trying to get up but an injury in her leg prevented it from happening. He whispered her name softly, as if he said it too loud she might shatter.

Her face was covered in dirt and bruises. Her temple had a large bump, not as bad as her brother's but bad enough. Her lithe body was covered in dried blood and cuts. He helped her stand, looping his arm around her waist and helping her walk. They tried their best through the obsticles that were in their way and after what seemed like an eternity, they stepped back into her forest. Neither of them had said anything but Ashitaka could see her trying not to look at the bodies that lay strewn all around them.

Most of them were humans, very few Apes and boars. Yet the animals were so big that they spilled a lot of blood and most of the ground was covered with it. A lot of human life had been lost, more than the animals, and the forest had suffered as well. A small comossion consisting of apes trying to calm down the fires that threatened the to expand from the trees was happening as they entered the woods but Ashitaka led San away from it. The Apes could handle it and San did not see it as well. Her eyes were scrunched in pain. He let her down gently and took a look at her leg. There was a large and deep gash across her calf and it was bleeding profusely. He took off his shirt quickly and ripped it, tying it tightly above the wound so it would stop the bleeding. San bit her lip but let no sound come out of her lips.

He used the rest of his now ripped shirt and wiped away the dirt and dried blood from her leg. He worked quickly and effciently, trying not to cause San any more pain than what she was already in. She was quiet for the most part, letting Ashitaka tend to her. But when Ashitaka cupped her face to clean the cuts there, he saw the anger and hatred in her beautiful eyes, as he had seen when he first met her. It ocurred to him how much time had passed that it surprised him to see this look on her face again. He had found it haunting, even beautiful once. Not the hatred but the intensity of her feelings, whether it was revenge or love.

"She'll pay, Ashitaka," she whispered hoarsely, her blue eyes turning deep in color, "Gods help me, she will pay."

Ashitaka did not answer. Instead, she kept on cleaning her face. It was not that he did not share her feelings of betrayal because he did, very much so. He trusted Eboshi with the most important person in his life but now, he knew better. Eboshi had chosen to place the life of her townspeople over San's, just because she was of wolf spirit. He had wrongly judged Eboshi.

It was in Ashitaka's nature to believe in people, to trust them. But all things came with an extent. This was his. He trusted Eboshi before and now she failed him. That was all he needed. No violence would befall her, not from him anyway. Nothing of that sort, it was not the way of his people. Instead, he chose to keep an eye on her. Keep your friends close and your enemies closer. A philosophy Ashitaka decided to apply on Eboshi.

Noticing that Ashitaka said nothing, San met his eyes. Her gaze was hard and demanding an answer.

"I am not like that, San," explained Ashitaka, "I do not wish to vow revenge on anybody. However, I know better now than to trust her completely, don't I?"

San scoffed. He continued his duties, feeling San's gaze on his face but he continued. The sounds of the commotion disturbed San but she was most relieved when Kanha came over to annouce that the fires had been subdued. He also informed them that Kendo was awake but very grumoy, "A very good sign," according to Kanha. Ashitaka offered to take a look at him but Kanha denied gruffly. He had not been speaking to the human, he said to him with a meancing growl. Sighing, Ashitaka held up his hands in defeat. They were back to not trudting him once more. It was best to not push ahead.

San and her brother conversed quietly while Ashitaka went to find the river that spanned throughtout t he forest. He found it, a par to fit he had never seen before. It was a waterfall, a big one and beautiful in shape. He curiously looked along th edge and saw a long way down. The bottom was filled with jagged rocks, beckoning death. He stepped back, washing the piece of cloth in the water when he heard something. Kanha burst through the trees and called him back. Ashitaka quickly ran back, wondering what in the world could happen now. A man had stumbled out of the forest, his clothes battered and he was wounded. However, he was not from Asano's army. Ashitaka quickly recognized him. He belonged to Iron Town. Running to him before he collapsed, Ashitaka asked what had happened. It took a while for the man to answer and when he did, it sounded as if every word was painful to say.

"They took Lady Eboshi away," said the man tiredly, "they ambushed us on our way here. We were on our way to give Princess Mononoke medical help when a large group of men ambushed us, killed us, and took her away."

The man was shaking by now and it took all his strength to continue.

"They killed our group, women as well. I don't know where they took her but---"

"Did they enter the town?" asked Ashitaka worriedly, trying to calm the man so he could get as much information as he could.

"Yes, it was a large army. They went in by force. They came from around the forest. Our own army was coming here to help the wolf princess so we were caught off guard."

Ashitaka sighed heavily. He turned to San whose face was expressionless.

"They planned this," she said softly to him but it was so quiet around them that he heard her clearly, "They sacrificed their soldiers so they could get to Eboshi. Just like Eboshi sent me to take the biggest blow."

The man began whimpering. He was in pain but also very frightened. Ashitaka turned back to him.

"I'll get her back, don't worry," he promised the man.

"Young one, you must. The town will surely fall down without her to lead us." He turned to San, who regarded him as if he was scum and said, "they will attack again. They don't want just Iron Town, they want this forest as well."

"I understand," said Ashitaka and helped the man stand up once more. He turned to say something to San but she was already in front of them. Her face was screwed up in fury.

"You are going to help them find that wretched woman?" she asked angrily, her eyes flashing with anger, "after all she's done to us?"

Ashitaka sighed. He had no time to explain his actions to her, he must move quickly. Yet, he knew he must before he went. She was right, after all the trouble Eboshi had caused his actions were irradical. Yet, he knew what he must do.

"San, the town will surely fall without her leadership," he explained, trying to hold the man up, "I must get her back and find some way to get the soldiers out of Iron Town."

San clenched her fists. She could not possibly understand him. He was a good man, she knew this and she had guessed it was one of the few reasons why she felt the way she did for him. He was her conciensce of sorts. Yet, there had to be a line somewhere and he crossed it. She felt utterly betrayed. There she was, bleeding and almmost blown to bits and yet he was going after the woman who had done it. She could not help the glare that she gave him, o the growl that ecaped her lips. She could help the ultimatum she gave him as well.

"Very well, Ashitaka," she said quietly but her voice held hard emotions ranging from sadness to hatred, "You do as you see fit. However, if you leave for that women, you will not find me here waiting for you. You leave after that woman, Ashitaka, and you have no home in the forest or with me, do you understand?"

His eyes widened at her demand. He did not know what to say. Surely, she couldn't be serious----but her eyes were the quintessential example of pain and it kille dit to see, hatred. He shook his head, extending his hand to touch her once more as he had done before but she pulled away. He felt as if the ground had just collapsed under him. They had been so close, both emotionally and physically. Surely, she could not throw that away so quickly.

"San, It's not right–" he said sadly, "You cannot expect me to choose–"

"No, you are right," said San, almost sadly but the bitterness was nestled within the sadness, "you have already chosen. Take the human and get out of my forest."

"San..."

"Now!"

His nostrils flared. He would not fight with her. This would have to wait. His home was in trouble and he needed to get Eboshi as soon as possible. The quicker he could get her, the sooner he could come back and patch things up with San. So without hesitating, he took the man and helped him walk. It was a long way out of hte forest but on the way, he could get information on how to get around it. Asano's soldiers must have taken a day or so to go around the forest so they couldn't bee to far away. He had to hurry nonetheless for night was threatening to fall. Night came quicker and it was cold by now. If he didn't hurry, the chances of finding Eboshi would turn somberly slim. He tried not to think about what he was leaving behind. It wasn't working well though.

Kanha said nothing as the young man walked away, another human in tow. San did not speak either. She sighed heavily and sniffed but when she turned around, her face was clear and angry.

"Let's get all of us together and figure out what to do," said San, her voice commanding and strong. Kanha nodded and went on his way. Before he disappeared into the woods, he turned around and looked at her.

"Was what you said true?"

San had already turned so that Kanha could not see her face.

"Yes,"

Kanha nodded, feeling sad for his sister. However, more important issues needed to be solved here and if San could postpone her sadness, he could do it for her as well. She heard his soft paws hit the ground as he ran to get the rest of her tribes. She looked down at what had been Ashitaka's blue shirt and winced in pain. The damned necklace grew cold now. It was not hurting her but it made her shiver. This is what she had feared. His alligiance would always be with the humans. Not that she could blame him for he was human as well. That's what was expected from him. He was extremely loyal to those he cared about and he cared about his new family and home. Yet, he did not seem to be very loyal to her. He always found that anyone else needed his help but what about her? Did she not need his help as well? Her hand reached for her necklace and touche dit. It felt moist but it was cold as ice agaist her skin. She thought about ripping it off but stopped. She could give up Ashitaka, she knew, quite easily if the right motivation struck her. However, just because she could give him up did not mean she gave up on her feelings for him. Nothing could do that. So she left the necklace where it was, burning coldly against her skin.

He heard the rustling of the animals behind her and turned.

"It is time for us to take charge..."