Chapter 9
Heavy is the Head
Nothing but the sharp whip of wind filled Koga's ears as he scanned the surrounding area for the hundredth time. The night air held the distinct nip of approaching winter but Koga found he preferred the cold solitude to what awaited him inside the den.
The King Bird….. He was there; in Koga's territory.
Just the thought of that gluttonous coward had the young Alpha gritting his fangs in barely contained rage. That monster was responsible for the brutal death of too many of his people. Brave warriors, male and female, fell way too soon under his claws and fangs, only to have their bones discarded in the barren rocky cliffs. It was a sight too disgraceful for any Ookami to take.
The war would get worse. With the Birds of Paradise's leader around, that meant they'd believe they had nothing to fear. An already blood-thirsty craving for wolf meat will only grow. This had to be stopped, and fast.
A heavy footfall had Koga tensing before he leaned back against the rock-face behind him. He'd know those steps anywhere.
"No sign of them, yet," Koga replied, not even bothering to glance towards the warrior sitting beside him.
"Maybe they won't come back tonight," Hakkaku offered in his usual gruff tone.
"Maybe."
While the hunter remained silent at Koga's side, there was no mistaking the several questions that must have been bouncing around inside his head. The most important of which, Koga had no answer for. What was he going to do?
"Katashi was right, wasn't he?" Koga asked.
Hakkaku looked towards his leader, shock warring with confusion on his face. "Right about what?"
Koga shook his head in aggravation. His second was going to make him say it.
"He was right in that I needed every man we got," Koga growled. "I shouldn't have killed him."
"Of course, you should have," Hakkaku argued. "He betrayed you."
"Would you?"
Hakkaku found himself struggling with what to say. He'd never seen his Alpha and friend like this.
"Would I what, Koga?"
"If you had been in Katashi's place, and you knew what you did, would you have made the same choice?"
Koga waited as silence wrapped tightly about both of them. He didn't need to hear his second's words to confirm what he knew. Hakkaku would do what was necessary and not look back. All of Koga's tribe would do the same.
"If you weren't here, yeah, I'd do it," Hakkaku replied calmly. "And, I'd do it knowing you'd answer the same way when you got back."
Koga took a deep breath to settle his thoughts. He hated being right in this. But, more than anything, he hated regretting. An Alpha regretted nothing. He just did and lived with the consequences.
"But, what I would do or what Katashi did doesn't matter, Koga," the beta continued before he lost his nerve. "What matters right here, right now, is what are you going to do?"
That was the question. If only he had an answer.
"I can see why Katashi kept this from the others," Koga replied, his tone distant.
"Are you going to?"
"It could cause panic."
"It could."
"Some will want to give up."
"Maybe."
Koga growled low, the angry rumble comforting in his throat and belly. This shouldn't be complicated. He was a wolf, damnit! He relied on his instincts.
"We need all the men we have," Koga explained.
"Then, give them a reason to stay."
"And, how am I supposed to do that?" the alpha snapped, blue eyes flaring with frustration. "Shall I split us up? Offer spoils from the human villages just below our cliffs? Go crawling back to the North and beg for more warriors to possibly sacrifice to this fight?"
"You could trust them," Hakkaku replied, keeping himself calm in front of Koga's anger. "Katashi tried to pretend the threat wasn't real; that he could ply and distract the men from what they were facing. You're a good leader, Koga. The best we've had. If nothing else, trust that."
Koga knew there was no way out of it; not without sacrificing his honor. He'd have to tell the tribe what was happening. But still, it make what he was about to tell them any easier. How do you tell a group of desperate men their situation surpassed their worst nightmares?
The one advantage they had was Kagome. She was needed now, more than ever, and Koga was going to have do whatever it took to make his men see that. They'd be skeptical but after the last attack, she'd proven her usefulness. Now, if only she'd just wake up.
A frantic huffing raced towards the two warriors, causing them to stand as they met Ginta's wide gaze.
"Koga, it's Kagome," he panted, shoulders rising and falling as he tried to catch his breath.
Koga didn't think about the tightening in his throat as he took a step towards his other beta.
"You gotta….. She…" Taking a deep breath, Ginta rushed out his message through burning lungs. "She's awake."
