Chapter 16
Two Heads Are Worse than None
Kagome had done some pretty foolish things in her short life. She'd be the first to admit that. However, clinging desperately to the filthy talons clutching painfully around her arm, the young priestess had to conclude this was possibly the stupidest thing she'd ever tried.
It had been too easy; way too easy. Kagome's instincts had been screaming that warning in her head but she'd ignored them and followed Shipo out of the tribe's den, in the middle of the night, during an active war.
Yep, this was the height of her stupidity.
And, that height was growing more significant as the Bird of Paradise continued to carry Kagome up, and up, and up, into the mountains.
A part of Kagome hoped Shipo would be alright but she had no delusions about her current situation. Shipo would find a hiding place and stay there till he could make his escape. She, unfortunately, wasn't so lucky.
With no-one knowing where she was or that she had been taken, there was no rescue coming. The only chance Kagome would have was if Shipo tried to go after Koga. But, there was no chance of that. After what Shipo did to them, it would be suicide.
No, Kagome was going to have to get herself out of this one. She just hoped the great beast carrying her didn't decide to just drop her and pick her piece by piece off the rocks.
A sickening smell suddenly assaulted Kagome's nose, causing her eyes to water sharply and her throat to close up in a gag. Blood and decay hung in the air like a cloak trying to smoother the senses. Peeking through blurred eyes, Kagome was greeted with a scene that had to be straight out of Hell itself.
Bones of the conquered littered the ground and crevices strewn throughout the picked bare mountains. Blood, old and new, stained black over the rocky cliffs and mixed with the putrid smell of waste.
Kagome couldn't decide what was worse, the sight or the smell. But, then a chilling screech rent the air and she realized that was the most horrifying thing she'd ever heard.
An answering ungodly call was scratched from the monster holding her securely as it made a sudden rise on a caught wind, only bringing itself to dive into the open, dug out opening at the top of a particularly high peek.
Kagome barely gasped in surprise before she felt herself flung to the floor, the dirty rock of the floor biting into her palms and knees.
Frightening chatter and the restless fluttering of wings surrounded her in the cold darkness of the cave. Fear choked her in a suffocating hold as Kagome tried to stop herself from shaking.
She had to get a grip if she wanted to stand a chance.
"This is the female?"
"Interesting….."
The rasping voices caused Kagome to still her trembling, the grating of the two tones like sand on her skin. With liberate slowness, Kagome lifted her gaze off the floor to travel up the massive, filthy body of a Bird of Paradise.
The matted feathers and ever present scent of dung was expected but when Kagome moved passed the lower half of the hulking beast, a scream of petrifying terror lodged in her throat. Instead of one twisted blue torso thrusting out of the bulbous lower half, two shared the half-mangled body, with twin sets of heads studying her with a gleaming appreciation and amusement.
There was no mistaking this horror. Before her, was the King Bird.
"We had heard the pup alpha had taken a human as his mate…."
"How delightful to see the rumors were true….."
Kagome swallowed as she tried to force herself to deny the assumption; to make her tongue work at all. Unfortunately, the priestess found herself unable to say anything.
"Don't bother denying it, human…"
"We can smell the fool's scent on you…."
"Though, not as much as we assumed….."
The hiss-like quality to the laugh they released was enough to make Kagome scoot away from the disgusting beast, kicking her legs out to propel her towards the entrance. It wasn't till the cliff-edge gave slightly under her palm did Kagome realize none of the winged yokai were making a move to stop her.
Glancing over her shoulder, Kagome found herself frozen as she stared in horror at the sheer drop of the cliff-face. It was straight down all the way to the rocky cliffs below.
A laugh that could only be described as evil shivered up her spine, causing Kagome to lock eyes on the monstrous King-Bird.
"Now, you understand, human…"
"There is no escape from the King-Bird's roost…."
"Till that fool of an alpha comes for you….."
"You are ours….."
Another nightmarish laugh rang through the cave, joined by the other Birds of Paradise's squawking calls as they celebrated their catch with their leader. Kagome clung to the nearest rocky outcropping in the cave, the rough stone under her fingers a weak comfort as she squeezed her eyes shut against the burn of tears.
'Koga….Please, help me!'
SSS
Shipo was sure he'd never run so fast in his entire life. Not wanting to give himself the chance to think too much about what he was going to do, the little kit continued to push his body beyond its limits. He had no idea how he was going to wake Koga up. If the dumb oaf had drunk too much of the sake, he wouldn't wake up for at least a day. And, unfortunately, there was no antidote.
The one hope Shipo had was if Koga had shown a form of restraint… Yeah, like that would happen.
If that was the case, Shipo would just have to smack his silly till the idiot barbarian snapped out of his stupor.
Shipo couldn't help but shake his head at the idea. What a waste of a perfectly good prank. It would certainly never work again. But, Shipo had no choice.
Spotting the now familiar waterfall, the little kitsune prepared himself for the worst. If the tribe was still sleeping, then maybe he wouldn't get eaten on sight. Once he woke them up, it was anyone's guess.
He'd just have to speak fast.
Plunging through the pounding water, Shipo was greeted with the deafening snores and snorts of the sleeping wolves. That brought a moment of relief to the kit before panic started to grip him. He had to hurry and find Koga.
The barbarian hadn't moved from the last spot Shipo had found him, arm wrapped comfortably around one of the sake jars and flanked by his two betas.
Gathering what courage the little kit had left, Shipo carefully scampered over and patted Koga's face. However, when Shipo was prepared for the upcoming strike, he heard the Alpha give a sharp snort and start to turn on his side.
Shipo then patted the warrior again, harder this time. Nothing.
Huffing in frustration, the little kit started to pound on Koga's back as he started to feel his panic rise inside his little body.
"Wake up, you oaf!" he wailed in anger. "You can't be asleep right now. Kagome needs your help!"
A large hand sudden gripped Shipo's fist, causing the kit to stare up into blazing blue eyes as they glared down at him.
"What did you do?" Koga growled, causing Shipo to freeze under his accusatory stare.
Joy and relief at seeing the alpha awake was quickly replaced with fear as Shipo stammered his way into the explanation he hoped wouldn't mean his death.
"K-kagome's in trouble…..and…..and, I c-can't do it,…..b-by myself…..y-you gotta…..g-go and get her….."
"Where is she?" Koga demanded, his hold tightening in an unspoken threat around Shipo's little fist.
"The Birds of Paradise!" Shipo cried in humiliated fright. "One of them took her and now they have her and she needs your help so go and get her already!"
Time seemed to stand still as Shipo waited for the Ookami alpha to take his vengeance on the weaker yokai. But, the big male never moved. He said nothing; did nothing. Shipo wondered if the barbarian was even breathing. Instead, he just stared at Shipo.
Was he angered that Kagome had left? Shipo had left that out but he imagined even the big brute could put those pieces together. Was he going to punish Kagome for that by leaving her there? Surely not. Ookami were too proud to let that happen. Kagome was his….wasn't she?
"Kagome…."
The breathless word snapped Shipo from his thoughts as the sudden rise of yoki gripped him in an almost smothering weight. The ground was ripped from under Shipo's feet when he suddenly found himself hanging midair from Koga's grip as he stood to his full height.
"Kagome is…."
Another wave of yoki crashed and snapped sharply through the cave, causing the water from the fall to crackle with energy. Shipo started to tremble as he stared in helpless horror. This was going to be the end of him.
"Kagome."
With a raw growl ripping itself up his trained throat, Koga suddenly threw back his head and released a thunderous roar of vengeance that boomed through the den and down the mountain side.
SSS
The echoing bellow caused the loan figure to jump in surprise. A rare occurrence, since he'd mastered the art of calm years ago. Still, since a call could only occur from a yokai of noticeable power.
Turning sharply on his sandaled heel, the young man turned steady indigo eyes towards the distant mountains.
He hadn't planned on going that far into the unforgiving territory. However, there was always a chance a village was in need of assistance. And, if the roar he had just heard was any indication, there was an angered yokai somewhere that could cause havoc.
No, he could not ignore this. His master wouldn't expect him to, anyway.
Sighing with resignation, he began his slow, stable steps joining the light ringing of the rings on his shakujo staff. He would see what help he could offer and take whatever payment available for his efforts.
Yes, all in a day's work.
