"He changed!" Kagome gasps, clinging to Andy's arm like a startled child.
"Good," Inuyasha calls back to them without taking his eyes off the gargantuine dog currently taking up most of the space in the chamber, "'cause now we know his real form."
Andy's mind drifts to a world filled with darkness, sparsely lit with pinpricks of light in the distance and the aura of a being made of fire that drifts aimlessly through the vast, limitless oceans of space. Enraged barking jerks Andy out of her thoughts and causes her to look away from the floor and up to the demon before her, thoughts of what she might have been before taking this body are pushed to the back of her mind with a note to come back to them tomorrow, after this has all blown over.
"Now that I'm using this, I'll win for sure!" Inuyasha says, just before Sesshomaru begins stepping forward in order to push the half-demon back. "Yep! I'd say this battle is just about finished before it even starts!"
"Don't get cocky, Inuyasha, you don't even know how the sword works." Andy snaps at the boy.
Watching him swing the rusty sword back and forth at Sesshomaru is disheartening at best. Andy had honestly been hoping for something grander, you know, all bright lights and bad action music. Something, anything, other than Sesshomaru's taunting half-barks. Pursing her lips, Andy guides Kagome closer to the wall so as to make the two of them smaller targets.
"Here we go!" Inuyasha yells before charging Sesshomaru, leaping into the air and pointing the tip of the blade at his brother's face, "This is it, sword! Time to show me what you're made of!"
Sesshomaru leaps up to meet the attack, which does absolutely nothing except anger him, and when he comes down the demon drives his front paws into the wall beside them causing bone fragments to separate from the wall and rain down on their heads. Kagome cries out as the shield reacts violently to the attack, fiery mist rolling and thrashing around like a wild animal, protecting her and Kagome from being injured but doing nothing to inspire surety in their continued survival. When they get out of this Andy is definitely finding someone to help her better understand what's going on. She just needs to know how to make more of those light bomb things and how to put up a reliable shield, that's all she's asking for at this point. Shields and bombs.
From then on the fight doesn't get any better for Inuyasha considering his sword isn't really doing any damage to Sesshomaru, who attacks with renewed vigor as the minutes pass. Saliva drips from his mouth and when it hits the ground the space around the saliva begins to melt and warp beneath the power of his acid attacks. Brightly colored animals in the wild can often a time signal toxicity or venomous tendencies, Andy read a book about it once, she wonders if maybe the markings she'd noticed on Sesshomaru work the same way.
"Yo, Myoga! What's the deal?" Inuyasha asks, his voice carrying through the chamber. "This sword can't even bruise, let alone kill!"
"Well, uh, Lord Inuyasha, I suppose that, uh, it'll make a lovely heirloom if nothing else! Besides, it's the thought that counts!" The flea remarks, clearly nervous. "Now if you'll excuse me!"
"Hey! Hey! Whoa!"
Andy narrows her eyes as the flea demon turns around to say, "And don't let Sesshomaru push you around, ok?"
Then he's gone, disappearing before any real damage can come to him. It's cowardice at it's best. Myoga should have stayed, Andy and Kagome have so far and the only one who can really do anything right now is Andy. Next time they're making sure there's a secondary set of arrows and a bow strapped to the bike at all times just to make sure Kagome has something to protect herself with.
"Andy, can't you do anything?" Kagome asks frantically as she pulls at Andy's wrist.
"What would you like me to do, Kagome? I'm not exactly an expert on fighting demons! We could always see if a nice game of fetch cools hi-" her sarcastic remark is cut off by Inuyasha's cry off, "Andy! Get Kagome off the ground, quick!"
Green mist has begun to swirl around the floor and is slowly creeping toward them. It's toxic, Andy doesn't have to be an expert to know that. She wraps her arm around her friend's waist and is preparing to leap up into the air like she's seen Inuyasha and Sesshomaru do so many times today when the giant dog that is Sesshomaru begins hopping around, forcing the toxic gas up into the air to that there's no where for them to go. Growling, Andy bends her knees and thrusts herself up into the air to escape the fumes. Kagome screams and clings to her as they go flying, passing Myoga on the way, and Andy gains another passenger before she settles on an outcropping of bone closer to what Andy thinks is the throat. Their position gives the group a bird's eye view of the fight going on between the brothers.
"We should get to higher ground! Even a demon can't stay in those fumes for long." Myoga remarks from where he's perched on Andy's shoulder.
"What about him? What about Inuyasha? Will he be ok?" Kagome asks, blue eyes wide and terrified for their friend.
"Uh, probably not, huh?" Myoga glances down at the gas slowly rising toward them, nearly tips himself over, and finally flees with a cry of, "Forget the heroics! It's every flea for himself!"
Eyes narrowing, Andy watches as Inuyasha begins to cough before he attempts to escape from the fumes. He only makes it about half-way to where they're perched before the toxicity gets to him and the boy in red ends up sprawled out across a bone.
"My arms and legs are going numb." Inuyasha says as he attempt to get back onto his feet.
Red eyes appear in the mist behind him, then teeth, Andy's eyes widen as Sesshomaru bites down on Inuyasha before anyone can yell at him to run and turns back to take the younger of the two back into the toxic mist. Once there Sesshomaru bites down harder and shakes Inuyasha like he's a chew toy, back and forth vigorously in the hopes of getting the squeaker out of the soft, fabric prison. Then, in a stroke of pure genius that has Andy letting out a relieved breath, Inuyasha drives the tip of the rusted sword into Sesshomaru's eye. The attack doesn't result in the half-demon getting freed but Sesshomaru does leap up into the air and keeps going until he's broken through the armor and bone of his father's shoulder. Without waiting Andy grabs Kagome up and leaps them the rest of the way up the throat so that they can have some protection among the dead demon's fangs.
"Inuyasha!" Kagome begins to call out the moment she's released from Andy's grip.
She and Kagome are forced to watch as Inuyasha frees himself, leaps away from Sesshomaru, and lands on the shoulder pads of his father's armor with his back facing them while Sesshomaru snarls at them all. But mostly Inuyasha, because he's the one that stabbed him in the eye.
"Now do you see the power of Tetsusaiga?" Myoga demands as he pops out of nowhere, "Oh, you're giving Sesshomaru what for, I hope."
"Myoga?" the flea turns to look at Andy with a look of wide-eyed pleasure. "Stop talking."
"This thing's about as useful as a walking stick!" Inuyasha yells at the flea demon.
"Oh, so maybe it isn't from your father."
Kagome makes a sound of disbelief as the flea demon attempts to run again. Andy merely rolls her eyes at the silly little thing and turns her attention back to Inuyasha and his brother, who have gone back to fighting only this time Sesshomaru won't be able to kill any of them off by exposing them to copious amounts of noxious fumes. Armor and bone quiver frighteningly beneath their feet as Sesshomaru's body compromises the already fragile balance of the bone structure keeping everything aloft. A particularly aggressive stomp drive Inuyasha back toward them and Kagome takes the opportunity to start shouting encouragements at their aggravated teammate.
"That's it! Sock it to him, Inuyasha! I think the first one hit!" Her falsely jovial voice grates on Andy's ears a bit but she knows that Kagome's only trying to help so she bites her tongue and lets Inuyasha be the asshole.
"What are you, nuts? It wasn't even that close!"
"But the sword's yours now! All you gotta do is believe in it!" Blue eyes flick to meet Inuyasha's wide golden with something soft and sweet as she says, "Just like we believe in you!"
"You are nuts. This sword is good for nothing! Me, I'll live, I'm half demon. Andy'll live too, because she's whatever she is. You though? You ain't got a chance."
"So I should just... give up hope?" Kagome asks, tears welling in her eyes. It makes Inuyasha blanch when he sees them.
"What-what are you doing? You're not crying, are you?" Kagome lets out a sniffle which sends Inuyasha into a panicked fit of, "No crying!"
This only gets a terrified yell out of Kagome, "Oh, Should I laugh?"
"No! You should shut up and let me protect you!" Inuyashs yells back before his attention is pulled to Sesshomaru, who has begun a snarling advance, "Heh, you two just stay here and watch."
They both watch as Inuyasha walks out to meet his brother in what will probably be the last fight of his life, looking like he's not afraid of anything with his chin raised high and his sword resting on his shoulder.
"Wait a sec, I didn't just imagine that, did I? Did he just say he'd protect me?" Kagome asks, eyes still trained on the boy in red.
Andy rolls hers before saying, "Well, yeah, I mean, he pretty much lost his shit when we thought you died, Kagome, I'm pretty sure he likes you too much to just let you die here."
Kagome and her share a look before turning back to watch the fight between the two brothers. Sesshomaru is honestly the more terrifying of the two, but being able to turn into a snarling, rage filled dog that's probably as big as a four or five story house that can drool acid isn't exactly not terrifying. Andy curls her fingers around Kagome's as they watch Inuyasha taunt Sesshomaru before bringing the sword out in front of him despite knowing the futile nature of his efforts... Or, maybe, not so futile after all seeing as the sword gives an ominous pulse. Excitement makes Andy's hands tremble as she watches Inuyasha handle the sword.
Off to the side Sesshomaru's little henchman begins shouting encouragements to his master, which wouldn't be all that bad if they weren't so grating. Kagome's the one who gathers up a few skulls and creeps closer so she can lob them at his head.
"Get him, Lord Sesshomaru! Bite his little head off! That's right! Nibble on his little- ow!" the first skull hits with a sickening thunk but doesn't take Jaken down so Kagome goes for more.
"We'll see who eats who!" Kagome growls before she pitches another skull at Jaken's head, successfully toppling the demon in a matter of seconds.
Andy remains a few feet away, ignoring the spectacle Jaken is making of himself in favor of watching Sesshomaru as he leaps up into the air as high as he can and comes down with his left paw extended. Inuyasha waits until he's in range before leaping up into the air so he can stab him with... Andy blinks rapidly to make sure she's not just seeing things. She's not. The once rusty sword Inuyasha had been wielding is now sharp enough to cut into flesh and the hilt is surrounded by fluffy pff-white fur.
Red pours from him as Sesshomaru lands on the ground, three of his legs sprawled out awkwardly while the other one is tossed off to the side. The separated appendage twitches and flops around for a sickening few moments before going still which allows Andy to look away from the truly horrific sight in order to get a closer, more focused look at the newly formed blade Inuyasha is holding. It looks like a fang. The splendor of it is diminished as Sesshomaru regains his footing and stands before Inuyasha, his blood pouring like a river from the space where his arm once was. Andy gags but doesn't look away.
"The old man really did leave something worthwhile." Inuyasha says to Sesshomaru, clearly taunting and Andy doesn't know how she feels about that because... well, he's hurt and Andy would be more focused on getting this over as quickly as possible instead of prolonging Sesshomaru's pain. "So here we are, two brothers fighting over father's sword. But compared to him, you and me are nothing. Don't you get it? We're like a couple of fleas jumping around on his body! Huh. We'd be lucky if he didn't squash us flat.
"So maybe I don't have too many memories of him, but it was me father chose to hide his tomb in, after all. I'd rather give up an eye than give up this sword. Maybe I'm not so worthless then, am I?"
Before Inuyasha can truly finish talking Sesshomaru lunges at him, mouth open wide, and a furious sounding roar escaping his throat. It's a bold move on his part, one Inuyasha answers with a dramatic swipe of their father's sword across Sesshomaru's chest. The force of the attack and the sword's power coupled with Sesshomaru's wound sends the transformed demon plummeting over the side of their father's shoulder, unable to stop himself from falling. Before he can go splat, however, the dog shrinks into a small ball of blue-hued white light and zips off into the sky while Jaken races off in pursuit.
Andy finds herself racing across the space so that she can pull Inuyasha into a fierce hug before checking him for injuries. It's really just an excuse to get a better look at his ears but she really is genuinely concerned for him. The surprising thing is that he lets her search for injuries for far longer than Andy would have let anyone if she were in his shoes.
"Inuyasha?" Kagome asks as Inuyasha drives his sword into the ground and falls into a crouch, "Inuyasha, are you ok?"
Laughter pours out of Inuyasha's mouth as he says, "I take it back. So the sword's not such a piece of junk."
Andy throws her hands up into the air with a, "He's fine."
When Myoga reappears, the fucking coward, Andy tunes him out in favor of fixing the laces on her shoe. By the time she's double knotted both sets of laces to keep them from coming undone Inuyasha is impatiently ushering her toward a giant bird skeleton that squawks at her as she passes. Andy ignores the impression of delight she gets from the bird, because she's not going there today, and climbs onto the back of the one Kagome is awkwardly sitting on. She holds on tight as the birds take off into the sky, flying until they reach the portal where they hover long enough for the group to leap off their back and into the tunnel. It's a quick trip, one that ends with Inuyasha carefully lowering Kagome to the ground while Andy ends up in a sprawl of limps and weeds.
"So, how are you doing?" Kagome asks as Andy pulls herself up off the ground.
"I feel pretty ok, actually. Everything's back to normal." Inuyasha says.
"Good! I'm glad! That means you can help me figure out what the hell is going on with my body, because the next time we run into your brother I don't want to be winging it." Andy snorts, "Ha! Get it? Winging it? And I'm a bird?"
Inuyasha and Kagome stare at her for a long moment before Inuyasha nods, slings his arm over her shoulder, and says, "I wouldn't mind having another person around to kick his ass. We can be a team. We'll kick Sesshomaru's ass together!"
"Sounds like a plan! We need a group name though, so he knows when to begin trembling, I'm thinking the Nefarious Three."
"Sounds like a shit name." Inuyasha says, scratching at his chin.
"It'll be wonderful you fuck!"
"Language!" Kagome screams as she races to catch up, "Language!"
Conversation quickly devolves after that, spiraling into a mess of half-thought up names and witty jingles that Andy attempts to come up with on the fly as names are tossed out by Kagome while Inuyasha rolls his eyes at their antics before offering a contender of his own. It's nice, makes the trip back into the village a little less exhausting. Andy isn't even sure how Kagome's still standing seeing as she's drained and she hasn't even been through half of what Kagome went through today. When she comments on it, joking but only kind of, Inuyasha shrugs.
"It's not all that surprising." He says, hands folded into his sleeves. "If you think about it, you've used a lot of energy to do what you did today, ya know? Flying and making shields or whatever they were, that takes effort, and it doesn't help that you don't know what you're doing either."
"You're going to help her, right?" Kagome asks.
"Well, duh, can't have her getting herself killed before we find the jewel shards." Inuyasha replies, eyebrow twitching.
With an exaggerated noise Andy throws her arms around Inuyasha's neck, then gets her legs around his waist, and squeezes him tight as she pretends to sob into his hair, "You do care! And here I thought you weren't, that you didn't, oh, Inuyasha!"
Inuyasha bats at her face with his hands as she goes to place a kiss on his cheek, grunting and whining at her as she avoids his flailing hands and plants a wet one on Inuyasha's temple where his hands can't quite reach. His ears flatten against his head as he glares at her.
"Oh, what a good boy you are! Who's a good boy? You are! Oh, yes you are! Such a good, pretty boy." Andy coos, ignoring Kagome's snicker and Inuyasha's promises of a slow, painful death.
She hops down and quickly pats him on the head, right between his ears, before turning and taking off at a mad dash toward Kaede's village. Inuyasha chases after her but doesn't seem too interested in catching her considering the fact that he never actually does despite practically breathing down her neck. Behind them, Kagome's laughter echos through the trees.
Minutes pass and Andy ends up being the triumphant winner of their impromptu footrace. Smiling, Andy goes to plop down next to the irori as she waits for the others to get back. Kagom and Inuyasha amble in after a while, who sit down next to the fire as well. Once everyone's situated Andy lays down, spreads herself across the floor, and lays her head in Kagome's lap while she drapes her legs of Inuyasha's. They stay around the fire for a moment before Kaede comes ambling in to speak with Kagome about the events of the day. It's a wild ride of an explanation but Kagome gets through it eventually, leaving the older priestess with only a few questions that Inuyasha doesn't stick around to answer.
"But how is it that ye, child, were able to pull the Tetsusaiga?" Kaede asks, her lone eye wide. "I must say, ye continue to surprise me."
"My theory is that because Kagome is mortal. Don't forget that Tetsusaiga was forged by Lord Inuyasha's father as a way to protect his mortal mother. It was his feelings toward mortals that allowed Lord Inuyasha to wield it effectively." Myoga, who has once again popped up out of literally nowhere, says to the ground.
Kagome's fingers threat through Andy's hair, lulling her to sleep, as she says, "You're right... That's when the sword reacted."
"And then he cut off Sesshomaru's arm." Andy peels an eye open. "Did anyone grab it by the way? We can use it as ransom, or, I can use it to see if he plays fetch."
Her comments is ignored, probably for the better, as Myoga pushes on to explain, "For someone like Sesshomaru who could only hate humans, wielding Tetsusaiga was impossible."
"'tis a strange story, aye. To Inuyasha his half-human heritage has been a curse. His feelings for his mother have been tinged with shame, and yet, those same feelings are what make him different. That is why his father chose him for his resting place. Perhaps, the one who most resembles the father is not Sesshomaru, but Inuyasha." Kaede says, brows furrowed in contemplation.
A few moments of idle conversation pass before Kagome gently moves Andy's head off of her lap so that she can go off in search of their friend. Andy feels like it's probably going to have to be a private conversation so she remains curled up by the fire, drifting in that place between sleep and awareness, and listens to Myoga talk to Kaede about traveling beyond the village to search for jewel shards. Eventually they would have had to leave the village as it would be foolish to think that the shards would eventually migrate back to them. Sighing, Andy begins running through a list of all the things they're going to need for this trip. Food and clean water are top of the list, medical supplies come next, then toiletries and clothes, and the list stays pretty small as the group is so small which means they're going to run out of something eventually so they'll end up having to either hunt for or buy food.
Eventually, they're also gonna run into trouble. Andy's asked Inuyasha for help, yeah, but she's not sure how he's going to help her when she isn't even a demon. The way he was taught to control himself probably won't work for her and if that's the case there's only so much good his training will do her. Andy closes her eyes, takes a few breaths, and reaches into herself. Aunt Phoebe said that more exposure to demons and magic would probably speed up her awakening but surely there's something she can do for herself? Depending on someone else to get the ball rolling just isn't something Andy's good with and she's not always going to have rage. In fact, the amount of rage she's felt over the past week has been wildly unfamiliar territory for her.
So if rage isn't going to work what will?
Fear and sadness won't always be an option despite the flicker of power that says otherwise, anxiety isn't something Andy wants to associate her power with because it just seems like a really bad idea and she's not about putting herself through that kind emotional turmoil, the only thing that she really thinks would be a viable option for her is relying on the love she has for Kagome and Inuyasha to drive her. After all, what better motivator is there than to protect the people you love? Andy thinks of Kagome as she dries to draw on her power, then Phoebe, then Inuyasha, and it isn't until she just stops thinking and settles into what she's feeling that something flickers in the darkness of her mind; vibrant and swirling and bright.
The feeling is gone as Andy's mind is overcome with excitement, then disappointment, her concentration broken by a feeling that hadn't even been half-formed before it distracted her. Annoyed, Andy lifts her head and lets it thunk onto the ground before she rolls over to stare at the fire. Meditation looks like it's gonna have to become a thing. Isn't that supposed to help you focus your thoughts? Andy's never done it before but she thinks that if it can help her push her awakening along... Inuyasha said he would help, they're going on an adventure for magical death shards, and there are going to be plenty of fights along the way so Andy will get plenty of exposure, but she also needs someone with experience to help her get through all of this. And the only person she can think of who would even have that type of presence of mind is a self-absorbed pricks with a superiority complex to rival a god. There's no way in hell she's going to him.
He'd probably call her vermin before trying to cut her head off.
Whatever.
Andy groans as she sits up and rolls her shoulders before hobbling over to her backpack which is resting against the wall near the door. She's quick to pry her battered copy of The Last Unicorn, one of the two books she'd decided to bring with her outside of her textbooks so that she can entertain herself during the less adventurous moments of their adventure. It's one of her favorites, though most fantasy books are, and she'd been quick to shove it into her pack before she left to meet Kagome at the wellhouse. Tucked between her textbooks and a notebook The Last Unicorn has found a new home for itself along with her more well kept copy of The Neverending Story, which Andy has been using to freshen up her German. Settling back down next to the fire Andy cracks open her book and sets her bookmark off to the side so she doesn't loose it, she's getting comfortable when Myoga appears on her shoulder.
"What are you reading, my Lady?" He asks, bulbous eyes scanning over the paper.
"The Last Unicorn, it's an American novel about a creature who finds out she's the last of her kind and goes off in search of her brethren." Andy says to which Myoga nods slowly.
"And you are fluent in this language?" Myoga asks to which Andy offers a smile and a nod.
"Yeah, Kagome's fluent too... or getting pretty close if she's not already."
"Do ye speak many languages?" Kaede asks from her spot across the irori and Andy bites her lip as she nods slowly.
"I speak a few. My aunt and I moved so often as I was growing up that it became important to learn a few." she brushes her hair over her shoulder before continuing, "Greek is my first language as it's the one spoken most often in my home, after that it's English because that's a pretty common language in terms of business dealings, then Japanese and German, though my German is a little rusty."
"You must be very well educated." Myoga says.
"Yeah? I mean, modern education is pretty affords better opportunities for people but we were moving around all the time, my aunt and I. Children pick up languages super easy when they're younger and their brains are still developing, my Aunt Phoebe made sure I became fluent in a few of the languages she speaks so that I had more opportunities as I got older."
Because aunt Phoebe is brilliant and can speak more languages than Andy can really identify... most likely because she's been alive for several thousand years and has just picked them up as she's traveled. Growing up Andy had been introduced to several languages due to their constant moving but also her aunt's insistence that she learn them. Considering how often they moved and how much easier being able to speak more than one language made the transitions it's not all that surprising that her aunt would have wanted her to at least have a basic understanding.
"Are all women so well educated where you're from?" Myoga asks just as Kagome makes her way back into the hut.
The younger girl makes her way over to them, sits down beside Andy, and asks, "What are we talking about?"
"Education systems," Andy ways then goes to answer Myoga's question. "Not all children are provided the opportunity for proper education but I know many who are."
Myoga tucks his arms into his haori sleeves and settles into silent contemplation on Andy's shoulder. Cutting a glance at Kagome, who shrugs, Andy returns her attention to her book while Kagome talks to Kaede about anything the older priestess might need so that Kagome can get them when she heads back through the well. Looks like they're going to be making a spontaneous return trip in the next few days as Kagome has decided to travel beyond the village and wants to make sure they have everything they'll need for an extended trip. A trip back is a good idea because Andy wants to get a sleeping bag and a camera before they get too far from the well. Seeing as she's going to be making friends along this mission and wants a way to remember them in the future- and isn't that a morbid thought, outliving everyone you love- so getting a camera is a must. It doesn't even have to be a good camera. Andy just wants to be able to take pictures and look back on them one day and remember all the things the shit show of her life gave her. Besides, it might help her remember one day when she's going through another awakening.
She reads for a little while, gets as far as Mommy Fortuna capturing the unicorn before she goes to push her hair out of her face and gets a whiff of herself. Snapping her book shut, Andy goes to exchange the battered copy for her toiletry bag, a towel, and her pajamas. It's late enough that Andy figures she can take a bath and then just go to sleep without anyone trying to question her life choices. Before she leaves she asks Kagome if she wants to go with her and waits a few minutes for the other girl to gather her things up before heading off in search of the secluded part of the river Kaede had shown them not so long ago. A very damp Inuyasha follows a short distance behind, respectful of their modesty but careful to be well within range should they need his assistance.
When they reach the river Andy tosses her things onto the rocks before stripping out of her clothes and wading into the shallows. All of her soaps smell like peaches and Andy hopes that it's not too offensive to Inuyasha's senses as she begins lathering herself in peachy goodness. Somewhere behind her Kagome splashes around for a moment before a burst of coconut seems to overpower Andy's peach obsession.
"So, do you want to head back tomorrow then?" Kagome asks.
"Might as well? I feel like it's a little weird for us to be heading back so soon but I guess it would make more sense if we went back now and grabbed some stuff than if we waited."
"Want to head out after breakfast? I think I might have an extra sleeping bag at the house."
"I need to swing by mine anyway, wanna grab a camera for the trip."
"Will your aunt be home?"
Andy dips under the water to rinse out her hair before popping back up and saying, "Not unless we leave at an ungodly hour. Don't worry about it, she won't really be missing anything."
With that said Andy makes her way back onto the rocks where her clothes and towel are waiting, tosses her toiletries off to the side, and grabs the fluffy towel to dry off with before changing into her pajamas for the evening. Kagome's soon to follow her out of the river and once she's dressed the two make their way back toward Kaede's hut, their path light by the orange light of a setting sun. When they reach Kaede's Andy is quick to put her things back in her pack and settles back into her usual spot near the fire where she begins carefully picking through the tangles and knots that have formed in her curls. It's a familiar process, one that doesn't take much concentration and allows her to engage in conversation with the group.
Myoga's regaling them with some anecdote about some time he spent in the court of a human Lord several years ago. Andy isn't sure if she believes half of what's coming out of the little demon's mouth but she won't lie and say that it isn't a humorous tale. Andy grabs her pack so she can dig out a brush and a scrunchie, the light blue velvet is slipped over her wrist while she uses the brush to help her pull back her hair so she can braid it without misplacing her hair tie. The elastic is a bit worn but Andy's not too worried about it seeing as she's got a few more shoved into her toiletry bag. Besides, this isn't even her favorite. Andy's favorite is safely tucked away at home, a shiny purple velvet covering in pretty gold stars. The one she's currently tying her braid off with is just blue and lacks any real decorations. Andy smiles as she flips her braid over her shoulder just as Myoga finishes off his story to the polite giggling of Kagome.
"Alright," Andy says after conversation has lulled into something less engaging, "I'm tucking in for the night."
As she spreads out on the ground, head cradled in the bend of her arm, the rest of the group begin discussing the hunt for the jewel shards in hushed tones. Seeing as she's already exhausted it doesn't take long for the low tones to push her into the waiting arms of her dreams, which are full of images Andy only gets brief glimpses of before they're gone; her first attempt at walking among the race of man looking as they do- bipedal and flat faced and naked, a small village full of peaceful people, an invader, a man with dark hair and deceitful eyes, the peaceful people slaughtered under his order by men who laugh and scream their victory to the skies, her attempts to save a child failing, watching the child die, her rage and disbelief, the man's eyes glinting as he draws back his bowstring as he level the arrow at her.
You're turn little bird.
Pain lances through her as the arrow rips through the tender flesh covering her throat, it's enough to make her jerk back and reach for the shaft which he jerks out with a gurgling shriek. Blood pours from her in a river, soaking the front of her borrowed coverings and forcing her to her knees as the loss begins to kill her. When she wakes up later, after her body has repaired her damaged flesh and she's regained her strength, it's to the smell of burning wood. Ash rains from the sky as she looks this way and that in search of other survivors. She finds none. She is alone. Terrified and confused and full of pain, she flees the desolate mortal village as fast as her powers will carry her.
It isn't until the next morning, long after Andy has woken up well before dawn panting and trying to calm her racing heart, as she eats the breakfast Kaede had insisted she take that Andy realizes she's just experienced her first memory and that it was of her own death.