Life with Koga
Chapter 2
By Alicia Maxwell
Koga and I got back to his tribe's den around dinner time. Automatically, he sought out Hakkaku and Ginta to tell them of the good news, seeing as they are his best friends. We found Hakkaku and Ginta by the river, eating fish.
"Hey!" Koga dropped a hand down on both men's shoulders and they both jumped. "What did I tell you two about how things work around here?"
"'The leader eats his fill'," Hakkaku sighed.
"'And then the others eat'," Ginta finished the statement solemnly.
"You guys can chill, you know," I giggled slightly. "Don't you guys know Koga well enough to know when he's joking?"
"Huh?" Ginta looked up. He seemed surprised to see me but then I realized what really surprised him. "How long have you been here?"
"All day. Why?" I asked.
"Hear that Hakkaku? She's been here all day Koga still isn't in two pieces! I think she's set a new personal record!"
"Yeah, she sure did. The previous record was four hours twenty-three minutes and five seconds before she got so frustrated with him that she threw him at the wall and shattered his entire rib cage."
"My god… did I really throw you that hard Koga?" I asked worriedly.
"Ah don't worry about it. It's all good now," he smirked, tossing an arm around my shoulder.
"Who are you and what have you done with Koga and Alicia?" Hakkaku and Ginta demanded in unison.
"Oh come on," Koga said, "It's still us. We're just getting along better."
"And… why is that?" Hakkaku asked.
"Koga-chan and I are going to join the Eastern Tribe and the Western Tribe by becoming mates," I smiled. Hakkaku and Ginta fell back, laughing hysterically.
"Oh come on now," Ginta silenced his laughter, "what's the real reason?"
"She just told you ya blockheads!" Koga yelled.
"But she was just kidding," Hakkaku insisted. Then he saw the angry look on Koga's face and added, "Right?"
"No! Not right!" Koga shouted. "Come on Alicia. Let's go. It's almost dinner time," Koga lead me away by the hand, back to the den.
That night at dinner, Koga kept me close by his side. It seemed peculiar to everyone, considering he usually kept a safe distance between the two of us and soon whispers filled the den. That's when Koga got to his feet, dragging me up with him, and made his announcement.
"Okay guys, I've got an announcement to make! So shut up!" Koga barked. "Now listen up! From now on, Alicia here is my woman! Lay a hand on her and you die! And it won't be quick! Anyway, this means big changes around here! First of all, our brothers and sisters from the western caves will be joining us soon. Second, our tribe will now be under the rule of both Alicia and myself. If you can't take orders from a woman then get out of here while you still can!"
"Third," I spoke up, "tomorrow night, we feast!"
A cheer echoed through the den. Then Koga pulled me aside.
"What are you doing?!" he whispered. "You can't promise that tomorrow's hunt will go any better than today's!"
"I'm not promising that," I smiled. "I know a farmer down in the village who's trying to sell three hundred cattle and he's too stupid to know that the price he's asking for all of them would be more suitable for the price of one."
"And where do you propose we get the money? We're demons! Our culture involves bartering and no cash!"
"You were saying?" I held up my wallet to his nose.
"You are the smartest woman in the world," he replied.