Kagome tore the sleeve of her kimono with her teeth. The sound of tearing fabric barely heard ove the animated talk between the pups.
Items from her satchel scattered before her - Ointments in jars, herbs and flowers wrapped neatly in cloth, talisman papers and a water skin full of water. She unfortunately didn't bring bandages. Then again she didn't think she would be in need of them on her journey. The fabric of her kimono would just have to do.
She just finished dressing the pups injured leg. Cleaning it with water and carefully applying some ointment to the deep wound.
It wasn't as bad as she thought, but he would not be able to walk on it for the next few weeks till the muscle and tissue regrew.
The pup scrunched his nose up in distaste. Amber eyes glaring at the bandaged leg.
"I dont like the smell of that."
Kagome smiled warmly at him "I know Taka, neither do I," she admitted, "But, it will help with the pain and keep your wound clean till we get you back to your pack healer."
She wished she had those purple pedals she orginally set on her journey for. It would have helped his injury even more.
"Here," She handed him the water skin "Drink some water."
The little pup greedily took it from her hands and started chugging the water. Trickles of water escaping the edges of his mouth.
She heard the other pup sitting next to her munching away on the dried meat and berries she had packed away for her trip. Apparently the poor pups haven't eaten for a whole day since getting lost.
"Kai let me see your wounds. I want to make sure you are okay too."
"I'm okay Sister Kagome!" He smiled showing off little pearly white fangs. "Their just little scratches. I should be healed up completely by tomorrow morning." Kai's face suddenly turned into a frown "I'm just worried about Taka. That bear scratched him pretty bad... Here Taka you need to eat to get your strength back up." Kai handed Taka a piece of the dried meat from the satchel.
Taka took the meat from his friends hand and started to nimble on it.
Taking another piece of the torn kimono fabric and drenching it with water, Kagome started to clean Takas face from the blood and dirt. Gently pushing back his bangs from his forehead, she sighed with relief when she inspected his injury. It was a little deep, but in two or three days it should be completely healed.
"So how did the two of you get all the way out here?" Kagome asked placing the bloodied fabric on the ground, grabbing the ointment next to her. She glided the tips of her fingers against the green gooey substance, picking up a glob of it.
Taka scrunched his nose up again, the bitter smell intruding his keen sense of smell.
"I know Kogas mountain is-"
"It's King Koga now." Kai interrupted. Puffing his little chest up with pride, stretching the brown wolf fur he wore.
Kagome stopped midmotion from applying the ointment to the cut. Eyes glancing back and forth between the two pups.
"King?" She questioned.
Last time she remembered he was just a leader of a powerful eastern wolf pack.
Though then again, she unintentionally overheard a wolf demon from his pack call him a Prince before. Koga immediately corrected him, telling his packmate to never address him by that title ever again.
She never questioned him about it since it seemed to bother him so much. And it just wasn't her business to begin with.
Maybe the two were connected?
"Yes!" Kai continued, eyes sparkling. "He is now King of all the Eastern Wolf Tribes. He has managed to bring all the tribes in the Eastern territory together under his ruling."
Kagome raised her eyebrows in surprise.
"Such a feit hasn't been completed in 1000 years since the Southern territory joined as one itself. Lunar legends say that one day a Alpha will rise to power and will take control of all territories bringing together all wolf tribes as one, bestowing him with title as The One True Lunar King, thus creating the Peaceful Era under his rule! And I believe he is the one that the legends have foretold!"
Kagome rapidly blinked at the sitting boy before her. His eyes still sparkling with admiration as he popped a berry into his mouth
Koga..
Kagome smiled warmly. "He's still just as amazing as always I see."
"Yes! He is the strongest warrior in the East! No, in all territories! He also battled Naraku along your side, right Sister Kagome?!" Taka eyes sparkled with excitment. His little hands clutching the dry meat.
"Oh? You know the tales about Naraku?" Kagome hummed as she finished applying the green ointment to his wound. Wiping the rest off from her finger tips against her hakama.
"Of course we do! All the tribes know of the tales of King Koga and the powerful priestess!"
"Don't forget about the demon slayer with her large boomerang and the monk who could suck anything up with his hand!" Kai made a sucking noise while he stretched his hand out before him, fingers spread wide.
Kagome chuckled as she tore another piece of her kimono sleeve. She leaned towards Taka ready to encircle his head with the long white fabric. Lightly brushing his bangs away so it didn't get caught within the bindings and ointment.
Kagome noticed they didn't mention the silver haired hanyou amongst their excitement.
"Sister why didn't you mate with King Koga? You were his chosen mate weren't you?" Kai looked up at her as she tied a knot in the fabric securely so the binding would stay in place.
"Huhhh?!" Kagome could feel her face heat up. Her hazel eyes widening with shock.
"How would you know about that?"
"Heh, everyone knew about the two of you." Kai stated, a smirk spreading across his boyish features. "The pups and females were tucked away deep inside the cave when we were constantly getting attacked by the birds of paradise. Only the men of the pack were aloud to hunt, scavenge and patrol the mountains at that time. Which is why you never saw us." His eyes mischievously lit up " But, we all heard about how King Koga confessed his undying love for you, claiming you as his future mate on top of the mountain in front of all the warriors of our tribe."
This isn't happening.
Kais lips perked together, starting to mimic the sound of kissing.
Oh. Hell. No.
She could feel her face scorch with heat from embarressment.
Kagome cleared her dry throat. "Yes, well that's all in the past.. We are only good friends.. And he's also mated to Ayame now." She said quickly.
"They are promised to eachother, but they haven't mated as one yet." Taka stated quietly as he put the last bit of dry meat into mouth.
Kagome raised her eyebrows in confusion.
She could have sworn Inuyasha told her that they held the mating ceremony in the mountains years ago.
He complained to her about how he kept hearing howls constantly bouncing off the mountain cliffs for days while he and Miroku were visiting a nearby village to exterminate a demon.
"That's because he doesn't have time for females right now Taka! He's to busy being King and expanding his territories to better the tribes future." Kais gleaming eyes made contact with Kagomes hazel ones. " Or maybe he's waiting for you, Sister Ka-go-me." his grin widened, sharp little fangs poking out from under his lips.
We're changing this subject right now.
Kagome squinted at Kai "The two of you never did tell me how you made it all the way out here."
She knew from where they sat they were at least a day and half of walking distance from Kogas mountain. How could they have possibly wondered so far away from home without anyone noticing?
"It was my fault." Taka said softly.
"No, it was my fault." Kai interrupted, a frown forming on his face "I didn't want to play with the other pups at the usual play area. I asked Taka to sneak away with me and to go on an adventure."
Kagome listened intently as she started to place her belongings back into her satchel.
"We were playing near the cliff," Kai continued, his eyes looking sad, guilt etched into them. "Close to the edge... I told Taka he was to slow and he could never keep up with me."
"I was chasing him, and then I tripped." Taka said. "Kai reached out and grabbed my hand to save me, but the ground gave in from the weight of us.
"Next thing you know we both fell into the stream below. The current was so strong.. it swept us miles away from home within seconds. We're really lucky we didnt drown." Kai said silently. "We separated. And I somehow managed to wash up on land unconscious. I don't know how long I was out, but when I awoke the sky was already dark."
Taka shook his head in agreement.
"The smells are all different here. I didnt recognize anything. This was the first time we were so far away from the usual mountain territory.. I ended up walking for a long time, following the stream back up. That was when the bear demon saw me." Taka shuddered. "I ran into the woods as fast as i could, but he managed to catch me still." He looked down at his injured leg. "But, I was lucky that Kai found me."
Kai smiled broadly "Mmhmm I used my ears and nose to find you! And then you came to save the both of us Sister." The smile on his face slowly disappeared. "Our parents are going to be so mad." He groaned "and King Koga is sure going to punish us."
Kagome sat up, lightly dusting her knees off from the dirt and mud. "Both of you are safe and alive. That's all that matters. I believe everyone will be relieved when they see the both of you."
She slowly walked towards the lifeless corpse of the bear demon that laid a few feet away from them.
Flies now gathered around the hunk of bloody meat, the smell of cooked flesh and blood lingered through the air.
Crouching low next to the corpse she started going through the demons armor to see If he had anything valuable tucked away.
"What are you doing" Taka asked from his seated position.
Kagome didnt look up, just continued to rummage. "To see if he had anything valuable."
She didnt personally like doing this type of stuff, it always made her feel guilty.
When traveling with Miroku and Kohaku, they usually did the looting. Taking items from both demons and humans.
She remembered one time she watched Miroku doing the same thing as she was doing right now. Unlike her though he found pieces of silver tucked away in a little coin purse inside the demons chest armor. He soon noticed the frown she had on her face as she watched him.
With a charming smile on his handsome face he simply said "Lady Kagome, he wont be needing this anymore where he's going."
They looted what they could from the deceased bodies. Gold, silver, armor and weapons.. Kohaku would even skin demons. Using their pelts for armor, clothing or as blankets while the bones were fashioned into weapons.
Kohaku would have definitely skinned you, she thought as she looked at what remained of the demon.
Unstraping the blade from the demons hip she lifted it up to her eyes.
She was no weapon expert by any means, but the short blade looked to be a wakizashi. And a well made one at that. Its sister blade, the katana unfortunately wasn't with it. The bear probably attacked a wondering samarai at one point in time and took it from his corpse as a prize. Now the prize will be passed onto a new owner.
Standing up she walked over to Kais sitting form. His gray demonic eyes never leaving her.
"Here" she said. "A prize for your first real fight."
Kais eyes widened "I didnt do anything sister. You're the one that defeated him."
"From what I witnessed you injured him and defended your friend. Keeping the both of you alive long enough for me to reach you. Who knows what would have happened if you didnt show up in time Kai."
Kai outstretched his hands, taking the blade from Kagome. His eyes wide with awe.
He practiced with swords before countless times. In fact he just started his training to become a warrior for his pack last summer.
But, this was his sword.
His prize.
He no longer had to share a weapon with the other trainees from the armory.
He had his very own weapon, just like the powerful warriors in his pack.
Just like his King.
"You know our ways?" Taka asked.
"A little." She admitted.
She knew in most battles, for a demon, especially a upcoming warrior in training, retrieving a prize from your dead opponent that you defeated was a big deal.
Similar to recieving a medal.
He didnt kill the bear, but he managed to land a strike on a demon who was hundreds of years older than him, which to her was pretty impressive.
Picking up her satchel from the ground she swung it over her shoulder.
"Kai can you carry my bow and quiver for me? I'm going to need help since I'm going to be carrying Taka on my back as we make our way to the mountain."
"What?" Both pups questioned in union.
"Sister, please don't worry about us, we will be fine on our own. We don't wish to bother you any further."
"Yes. We are wolf demons, we can handle it." Kai clutched his new sword to his chest.
Threw squinted eyes she peered down at him, her hands now on her hips.
"Just like how you handled that bear demon?"
Kai opened his mouth to make a retort, but Kagome quickly continued speaking. "Bear demons don't travel in packs like wolf demons. But, if he was mated, that mate will track all of us down for revenge. Starting with you two since you are both young pups."
"Sister Kagome we are much older than you." Taka replied softly.
Her eyes shifted from one pup to another, taking in their appearances.
Well, he's definitely right.
They looked to be around seven to nine years old to the human eye, but she knew better.
Demons aged extremely slow, making some humans think that they were immortal beings.
She knew the two pups before her had to be at least 250 years old...give or take a few years. "That's not the point." She sent a glare at Taka.
"Do you two even know how to get home? And don't even bring up your strong sense of smell and hearing. I know the both of you are to far away from your home to pick up anything from way out here."
The truth is young demons weren't fully developed in their abilities till they reached their young adult years. Yes a young demons were stronger than a human in all aspects: speed, strength, endurance..etc..But, up against a adult demon - They stood no chance. Which was why they were constantly looked after by the adults within their group till their coming of age.
And she wasn't about to leave two young injured boys alone in the woods.
Both pups remained silent.
"Thought so."
Kagome walked towards Taka, squating down next him, her back facing him. She pulled her long wavy locks over her shoulder to the front.
"Come on Taka, hop on and let's get the two of you home."