Chapter 7
…. RUMBLE!
Koga was never nervous. An alpha that doubted didn't stay alpha for long. But, while he waited for Ginta to return with the human, he couldn't deny the slight itch of irritation in the back of his mind.
If his men didn't accept his decision, it would mean division in the tribe. They didn't need that, now. However, if any thought they wanted to take their own swing at him, not was the time to do it. Koga supposed it was better to get it out of the way now rather than later.
A friendly jab from Rokurou had the young leader smirking lightly.
"We wondered when you'd return," the hunter teased. "What took you so long?"
"Apparently, I had a riddle to solve up North," Koga quipped in return.
This caught the broad warrior's attention. "Really? You've found the source of their power?"
"You won't believe it," Koga promised with a quirk of his mouth.
"Try me, friend," Rokurou pressed. "If you succeeded, then we are saved."
"Keep that thought," Koga replied.
Rokurou's confused expression was quickly shoved to the side as another hunter was eager to take his place, giving Koga a sharp smack on the back.
At that moment, a hush started toward the back of the crowd drawing Koga's and every other hunters' attention to the break in the surrounding trees as Ginta made his way into the clearing, the human and kit in tow.
Spotting Hakkaku amongst the crowd of warriors, Koga quickly nodded to one of his loyal seconds. Without hesitation, the gruff hunter took his place on the other side of Kagome, both of Koga's betas flanking the human in a show of unspoken power and the Alpha's protection.
This caused a stir to spring up amongst the men as several confused gazes snapped in Koga's direction.
Giving his neck a quick pop, the newly reinstated alpha made his way towards the center of the ring again, meeting his betas and the priestess halfway.
Here went nothing.
"We have all heard of a great power hidden away amongst our Northern brothers," Koga called over the eerily silent clearing. "None had seen or could figure out what it was they had hidden from the rest of us. How their numbers had not dwindled; how they had not suffered as we have.
"But, now, the deception is over! I have found what they would hide away for themselves. The great protection that they enjoyed was the powers of a miko within their ranks. A miko I have now brought to not only stop the massacre of our tribe…. But the destruction of our people."
All eyes focused on Kagome, the hunters obviously taking measure of the human at their leader's side. Koga ignored the flare of irritation when he saw their curious interest on the woman. It made no difference to him if they were curious or not. However, he also spotted disbelief flash on many of their faces.
"How?" a voice called from the crowd.
"She is human!" another joined, inspiring others to voice their objections.
"Just eat her and be done with it!"
"Quiet!"
The bellow echoed through the air, encasing the ring with silence once again as Koga scanned the crowd.
"Hear this, for I will only say this once," he called in warning. "This human is under my protection. Anyone who tries to kill her will deal with me. You got a problem with that, this is your one chance to meet me in open challenge. Well?"
However, before the others could respond, a chilling shriek cut through the sky, snapping the Ookami's eyes all to the approaching shadows gliding towards them.
"BIRDS OF PARADISE!"
Immediately, the tense gathering burst into activity as Kagome felt herself jerked back behind Ginta and the other hunter Koga kept close. The stunned priestess watched as Koga yelled orders to the others, weapons being brought out from supposedly no-where as they scrambled to the rocky ridges surrounding the open ring.
"Stay behind us, human," the hunter with the white hair growled as he readied his spear in front of him.
"We'll keep you safe," Ginta promised in a soft sure tone.
Kagome found herself lost for words, watching the scene play out before her like a performance on stage. Shipo's trembling form against her chest had the priestess shrinking back as one of the winged monstrosities dove sharply towards the ravine.
Ookami, yokai and animal alike, rushed the beast with spears and arrows to bring the huge creature down permanently. But, whenever one got close enough to wound the monster, another would swoop down, snatching the wolf in filthy claws.
Kagome's eyes widened in horror as she watched the Birds of Paradise, swipe and claw at the struggling hunters. All of them but Koga, anyway. The Alpha was more than holding his own against the winged attackers but even he couldn't take them all on.
It was a blood bath.
Pained yowls and groans filled the air as the scent of blood suddenly gagged the priestess. She had to do something.
Searching desperately for something, anything, she could use, Kagome spotted a fallen set of arrows. Had the Kami smiled on her so easily?
Setting the small kit in a deep crack in the surrounding cliffs, Kagome smoothed his bright red hair from his face.
"Stay hidden," she instructed, eyes set in determination.
Shipo looked ready to argue but a passing shadow had him quickly ducking in the crevice.
"Kagome, watch out!"
Ginta's yell had the priestess turning sharply on her feet to stare in horror as the gaping maw of a Bird of Paradise came right towards her. Barely a second and Kagome realized she wouldn't make the fallen weapons in time. She had no choice.
Heart pounding with terror in her chest, Kagome took a deep breath as she tapped into her reiki. Instinct was a miko's greatest advantage in battle. The need to survive always made it easier to tap into their power without fear of harming themselves.
Right when the rank warmth of the creature's breath washed over her, Kagome lifted her burning bright hands as she pushed her reiki into the beast's aura. Without even a moment to shriek in pain, the Bird of Paradise crumbled to ash before her.
Several eyes turned in her direction, shock and horror battling with each other as they tried to grasp what they had just seen.
Lifting heavy-lidded eyes, Kagome found the piercing gaze of the Ookami alpha locked on her in that unsettling scrutinizing way before he attacked another Bird of Paradise trying to take him by surprise.
"Kagome, are you alright?"
Seeing Ginta kneeling beside her had Kagome giving him a slight nod in comfort.
"What the hell was that?" the other hunter demanded, eyes wide and cautious as they studied her in a new light.
Shaking her head, Kagome snapped her eyes back to the sky. There were more coming and she needed to stop them fast. She wasn't at her limit but she needed to focus her reiki.
"Bow," she huffed, trying to catch her breath. "Arrows."
Understanding flaring in the white-haired hunter's eyes, he dove for the nearby set, barely avoiding another set of claws as he brought Kagome what she asked for.
Taking a deep breath, she knocked an arrow and aimed, searing a wing from a nearby female and causing the thrashing body to crash to the ground, making it easier for the hunters to end the beast for good. An enraged screech above their heads and another male's head drop smoking to the ground.
Only one final arrow left her body before Kagome felt the drain of her power as she swayed slightly on her feet. She'd used too much in that first attack.
Swallowing low, Kagome fought down the nausea bubbling in her throat as a new wave of fresh blood hit her nose.
One more arrow. She just needed to fire one last arrow.
However, Kagome barely lifted her eyes to find her target before darkness circled the edges of her vision. Barely realizing how light she suddenly felt, Kagome could almost swear she heard her name calling from a distance before her world went black.
