Chapter 3
What Have You Got To Say For Yourself?
She didn't want to frighten the little guy more than he already was but Kagome didn't know how much more time they had before more Birds of Paradise decided to flock to them. The loosening hold on her lower-legs had Kagome nearly sighing with relief. It was working!
"Just a second," Shipo puffed through gritted teeth as he tugged on a twisted branch. "I almost have it."
A sharp snap and Kagome dropped the last few feet to the ground. Right when she started to right herself with a cry of victory, the brittle cracking of wood caused her to look back over her shoulder.
Shipo was still scrambling out of the branches right when the tree bent at an odd angle, roots shooting upwards from the earth and rising into the air. Gripping the limb beneath him in sudden terror, Shipo's large eyes locked on Kagome as he was dragged into the sky with the tree-top.
"Shipo!" Kagome shrieked in horror as she struggled to get to her feet, dirt flinging about as the Bird of Paradise continued to shake its catch one way or the other.
"Help!"
The kit clung desperately as more predators started to surround the mangled tree hovering in the air. Kagome stared helpless as large clawed hands and feet swiped viciously at his hiding place, causing Shipo to dive out of sight into the branches.
She had to do something. She'd brought down one of these with a rock for Kami's sake!
Looking frantically for anything that could be of use, Kagome suddenly dove out of the way from approaching talons. Staring up, she came face to hideous face with a Bird of Paradise, its large bulbous lower body opening in a sickening mouth of razor teeth above her.
Frozen with fright, Kagome was only vaguely aware of Shipo's frantic cries as she watched the great winged monster dive down for the kill. This was it!
A sudden yell growing in volume had the priestess blinking in confusion before the Bird of Paradise was shoved backward, away from her, crashing violently into the surrounding forests. Sitting sharply up-right, Kagome resisted the urge to cry with joy when she spotted a familiar figure land between herself and the other attackers.
"Koga!" she called relieved, scrambling to her feet.
"How many?" he demanded, bright blue eyes sharpening as he took in the scene before him.
Apparently, he had no time to talk. That suited Kagome just fine.
"Three…. I think," she replied, coming up beside him.
Koga snorted with cocky frustration. "Easy enough," he muttered. "Stay here."
"Help me!" Shipo wailed with fright as he burrowed deeper into the torn branches.
"Koga, there's a kid in there," Kagome announced, praying she wouldn't have to plead for the little would-be hero's life.
However, the alpha never answered before he shot off towards the fray.
SSS
Legs pumping, blood singing in his veins, Koga couldn't resist the urge to smirk as he raced to the growing flock. The fools were so preoccupied trying to dig out the screaming kit, they never saw the alpha coming. Their mistake.
Leaping high into the air, Koga took the closest one down with a swipe of powerful claws. Greedy bastard never stood a chance.
The Birds of Paradise were bigger at the forefront; plumper and more vicious. But, they were also foolishly greedy, not knowing when to quit gorging themselves on whatever they could catch. Up north, they were starving, desperate. Here, they were fearless.
Koga hadn't been sure if he was going to make it in time. The kitsune's traps had been easy enough to get through but they still wasted time. Ginta and Hakkaku had lagged some behind but Koga knew they'd catch up when they could. They knew the territory almost as well as he did.
Spinning sharply, the alpha kicked back another enemy trying to surprise him from behind. It was the same he'd saved the human from but apparently it hadn't learned its lesson as it swiped and snapped its wide jaws aggressively as Koga tried to steer it away from the swinging treetop. Unfortunately, the alpha couldn't fly and Koga could feel himself starting to drop back towards the ground as the stubborn monster made another dive for the branches.
Breathing deep, he prepared to push himself upward again once his feet made contact with the packed earth. His yokai grew in strength and bunched with the muscle of his legs as he shot back up, the force of the wind he favored propelling him further towards his goal. Kagome had been right. Three Birds of Paradise, including the one dead on the forest-floor.
Ginta's distant call to the human let the Ookami alpha know they'd protect her on the ground, giving Koga's full focus to his enemy.
A well-aimed punch caused the second Bird of Paradise' neck to snap with a satisfying crack, sending the limp body plummeting to the trees below as Koga threw himself towards the dangling roots of the tree. Apparently, the winged predator didn't expect the extra weight because once Koga got a good grip, the tree, kit, Bird and all fell unceremoniously towards the ground.
The hard impact caused the kit to roll/bounce out of the tree, the tiny body skidding to a stop a few feet from Kagome and the others.
Not wasting the opportunity, Koga lunged towards the Bird of Paradise as it floundered on the ground, desperate to untangle itself from the branches weighing it down. One strong swipe was all it took to send the squawking female's head flying into a nearby tree. A few weak flaps and the large wings went still forever.
Sniffing lightly at the crisp air, Koga didn't catch any more coming, yet. The scent of blood will attract more, unfortunately. These beasts would eat anything, even their own. His group couldn't stay here.
The soft cooing of the human to the kitsune had Koga making his way back towards the group, strong strides carrying him with new purpose before he suddenly snatched the little prankster from the woman's hands by his thick, fluffy tail.
Ignoring Kagome's horrified gasp, he gave the kit a sharp shake before dangling his flailing body in front of his face.
"Should have run when you had the chance, you little rat," the alpha growled.
