Chapter 18
Brought to Light
This had been a mistake!
For what had to be the hundredth time, Koga ground his teeth together to prevent himself from pacing about the crowded den again. He'd expected they'd be somewhat delayed from mounting an attack on the Birds of Paradise for his men to recover from their drugging.
Hell, he was still feeling a little wool-headed himself.
What Koga hadn't expected was for the kitsune's remedy to take damn-near forever to make and then for his men to wake up, spewing their stomachs like a pup that found bad mushrooms in the woods. He'd nearly killed the little schemer, thinking he'd finally decided to finish the job and poison his men. However, Ginta's shaky promise that he was actually feeling better kept the kit's head on his shoulders.
But, this still presented a problem. His tribe was awake and recovering but some of them were still racing out of the den every once-in-a-while to empty their stomachs or just heave air, as if they had nothing left. They were in no shape to do battle.
On top of that, the hoshi had seated himself in a corner near the water-fall and remained there, just as happy as you pleased. Usually, Koga would prefer that. The human needed to stay out of the way anyhow. But, the char on his armor and the weakness of his men had every protective instinct in him on edge.
Koga wanted to fight something; anything. He wanted to rip an enemy apart with his bare hands and bring his woman back to the den where she belonged. Instead, he was stuck here, watching his men groan in agony as the kit had scampered from on hunter to the next, pushing one concoction or another that he swore was supposed to help. And, if that hoshi went through one more series of mantras, Koga was going to lose all control and swipe his too calm head from his shoulders.
He was a warrior, a man of action. This was going no-where. But, he couldn't take on the King's Nest. Koga's survival instincts were stronger than that. But, how was he supposed to free Kagome like this?
"Everything has a reason, Alpha Koga."
Tension prickled up Koga's spine, causing him to grinding his already sore fangs. Turning slowly, he speared the foolish human with an icy glare that sent warlords shaking in their boots. Count on the damn monk to keep his look of serene confidence.
"I know circumstances seem…..difficult now but—"
Koga snorted as he started to make his way towards the human. "Difficult?"
He had no idea how much Koga wanted to snap his neck. He still could, especially the more he thought about it.
"You're not from around here, hoshi," Koga ground in barely suppressed fury. "So, I'll enlighten you. The Birds of Paradise have terrorized my people since before I was even born. Yokai, animal, human, their own; it doesn't matter. They gorge themselves to bursting and still grab for more. They have never stopped and they never will. The caverns and valleys in these mountains are piled high with the death of my people. If not for us, they would have stripped all the mountains clean.
And, now, the King Bird, the worst of them all, has come here to roost. And, he has my woman in his talons."
Of all things Koga said, that seemed to be what jerked the hoshi out of his stuck serene expression.
"Your...woman," he replied in a careful tone, that could almost be a question. Almost.
"Yes!" Koga snapped, a growl roughening his tone. "My woman. The King Bird took her to draw me out and my men can't even stand on their own feet, let alone fight! They've taken everything from us and, all I have to count on to get Kagome out of that hell-hole and save my people from complete annihilation is myself, a shitty little kit I should have eaten from the start, and You."
Koga let the last word hang in the air between them, daring the hoshi to argue with the hopelessness of the situation. Koga was impulsive and unafraid of a challenge, but this was Kagome's life at stake. Not to mention, not only his tribe, but all of them. His entire People needed him to put this monster down and he literally had nothing.
Koga had no-doubt he could take down the King Bird. He was the only one strong enough on his best day. But, the flock…. He couldn't take them all out too alone. Plus, to take down the King, would mean to lose Kagome. The King Bird would eat her instantly to hurt him, and it would work.
He was literally caught between choosing his people or his mate. The two loyalties ingrained into every ookami's very being. He felt himself drowning and the only water about was in the air.
"So, how exactly am I supposed to succeed with these difficult circumstances?"
"With faith," the hoshi had the gall to say, causing Koga to snarl with a frustrated shake of his head.
It was like the human didn't hear a word he said.
"You have faith in your own strengths, don't you?" the human challenged lightly. "How faith in ours."
"Your strength?" Koga sneered, looking the hoshi up and down.
"Yes," he replied. "You'd be surprised what can be accomplished with the right talents put to use….and a little planning."
Whether Koga liked it or not, that got his attention. Cocking a brow in suspicion, the young alpha sat cautiously across from the monk.
"What kind of planning?" he asked tightly.
The bright easy smile on the hoshi's face was annoying but Koga made himself ignore it.
"Well, that depends," the human replied calmly.
"On what?"
"On, when you will tell me all I need to know."
Koga shook his head in consternation, blinking in confusion. What more did the hoshi want?
"What are you talking about?" he demanded as he studied the human, waiting to spy a trick on some kind.
"Something you've been very careful at trying not to say," the hoshi responded, folding his hands in his lap like a master waiting for his student to come clean, bare his soul. "You said 'they took everything from us'. What did you mean?"
Koga felt his ears heat in embarrassment at the patient probing in the monk's steady eyes. He'd hoped the human would miss the slip Koga's temper had caused. However, the hoshi was more observant than Koga gave him credit. Damn-it!
"If there's more that could be of help, then it could be the king between your tribe's survival or destruction," the human pushed. "What do you not want to say?"
Shifting his jaw side to side, Koga heaved an irritated sigh.
This was the hardest blow to his tribe. The unforgivable part of this war that nearly destroyed them and forced the Eastern tribe to be stronger than they ever had to be. But, it was also their greatest embarrassment. To admit it to anyone, especially a human, was to acknowledge something that never should have happened in the first place. It was a disgrace!
Unfortunately, Koga had to admit, the human was right. Right now, they needed anything that could help. It was just hard for a yokai to admit his failings, especially an ookami.
"We almost won," Koga forced between his tense fangs. "Years ago. But, the Birds of Paradise took something that put them at the advantage over us."
Leaning back, the hoshi relax his posture slightly, head tilting in curiosity. "And, what did they take?"
"Our home."
SSS
The smell was revolting. Kagome had thought scents like this must only exist in the pits of hell but apparently, the Birds of Paradise were capable to bringing that torment to the realm of the living.
And, they didn't seem to care. Filth, rotting flesh of kills, and the putrid stink of dung coated everywhere. It hung in the air, clung and creeped into everything. It was like it wanted to slide inside her like pond scum and fester inside her body.
If not for the torn fabric from her hem wrapped around her nose and mouth, Kagome was sure she would still be vomiting from the ungodly smell.
How could anything live in this?
But, they seemed perfectly content to wallow in their own filth. Kagome shuddered as she tried to imagine what that must be like day in and out. Even the Eastern tribe was cleaner than this.
Hell, Koga's men were neat-freaks compared to this.
Another stab of guilt ran through Kagome's chest as she thought of the young alpha again. This was all her fault. She never should have left and now, Koga was going to be hurt in a horrible way before entering the fight of his life…. If he ever showed up at all.
Kagome knew how fragile an ookami's pride could be. And, since she'd tried to leave, there was no way Koga's wasn't smarting from this. He'd probably decided she'd earned this torment and leave her here.
A part of Kagome wondered if she had.
Shaking her head sharply, Kagome forced herself to stand on shaking legs. She couldn't fall into feeling sorry for herself now. Let her conscious punish her later. She needed to find a way out.
Despite the taunting promise of the King Bird, Kagome refused to believe that terrifying drop from the peak was the only way out of this mountain. Something about how the cave was hollowed out wasn't right to her.
Once Kagome had gotten over her initial horror of the situation, and the winged beasts had stopped their chilling screeching, Kagome had taken the time to try and get a grasp of her surroundings. It seemed the expected, at first glance; piles upon piles of soiled straw packed as close together as should ever be allowed. What floor that was visible was covered in years-worth of lacerations and scars from the large talons. But, the walls….. those were different.
They also bore the signs of scrapes and slashed, from the talon-like hands that the Birds of Paradise all shared. But, there was something else under them. A marking of some sort that looked purposeful, rather than accidental. Upon closer inspection, Kagome was almost certain it was an image of some sort. Or, rather, it had been at one point. The deep slashes had made the shape impossible to make out but still, it was there.
That was when Kagome began to wonder. Perhaps this nest had belonged to someone before the Birds of Paradise took it over. It made sense. They didn't seem the type against taking others' homes. And, if there had been another people, or yokai, living here, then that meant there was more than this open-aired cell to the mountain.
She just had to find it.
Tip-toeing carefully around the rumbling bodies of her captures, Kagome was relieved to find a break in the cracking stone wall towards the back of the cave. A tunnel!
The darkness of night would make the walkways pitch black but Kagome was willing to chance stumbling in the dark than remain surrounding by these monsters as they slept.
A quick glance towards the King Birds huge body showed the bulbous creature snoring as loud and grating as knives on the floor. She just had to remain quiet and be swift.
Keeping her hand to the wall, Kagome practically ran down the tunnel, careful to skirt around the clattering of dry bones thrown haphazardly about. The passage was large enough a Bird of Paradise could follow but, it was too low for flight. That was the one advantage Kagome had. Even the battle-field, so to speak.
Still, she didn't want to risk them chasing after her too soon. Kagome needed distance. Problems were easier to handle at a distance. It gave her time to think, to plan. If she could do that, she could survive anything. Had survived anything.
This was no different.
A sudden sharp turn had Kagome squeaking in surprise as she leaned against the rough-hewn wall. So much like the Northern tunnels. A lot, actually.
Brow furrowing in concentration, Kagome found herself running the palm of her hand slowly down the shaped rock. Nostalgia hit Kagome hard as memories flooded her. She so hoped the wolves in the north were safe.
They'd done so much for her; risked so much. They'd made her feel safe for the first time in years. And, how had she thanked them? By giving into panic and trying to break her promise to keep all the ookami safe from their enemies. There had to be a way she could make this right.
A light breeze coming from her right had Kagome snapping out of her musings as awareness suddenly took over. Swallowing low, she quickly made her way further into the dark, twisting black before her. Her eyes were useless but everything else was as sharp as could be.
Sounds that she usually over-looked were louder than ever and the barely noticeable brush of air called her like a siren through the night. She was getting close. She had to be.
Any opening was an escape. And, she was not about to be used as bait in this war. Koga deserved more than that.
Suddenly pitching forward, Kagome swallowed a scream of terror as her hands and stomach hit the crumbling packed rock floor. Squinting in the darkness, she barely made out a long hard shape that was currently half-propped against the wall, one of her legs laying sprawled over it.
Well, that was humiliating.
Pulling her leg over, Kagome picked up the shape to feel the splintering surface of wood. Patting one end carefully, she found the dry remnants of wrapping. A torch!
Too bad she had nothing to light it with. Still, this was just further proof. These tunnels belong to someone before the Birds of Paradise. And, the similarities were starting to become unsettling to Kagome of who that could be.
Swallowing low, she continued after that breeze that still teased her, her recent find gripped tightly in her palm.
A soft whistle caused Kagome to freeze momentarily. Fear seized her chest as the terrifying possibility she was found ran through her mind. However, this was different. The screech of the Birds of Paradise was piercing and cold. This was almost soothing.
A break in the tunnel told Kagome she was nearly reaching her destination. What she saw, had her both crying with joy and frustration.
A streak of moonlight, more beautiful than she ever thought possible, sliced the darkness of the cavernous cave like a well-honed blade. The echo of her footsteps as she raced across the floor, went unnoticed by the young priestess as she stared up at the hole that seemed to be punched into the ceiling of the chamber. A strong stray wind rustled across its surface, filling the room with its haunting whistle.
It was an escape; a way out. It was freedom and light in all this darkness. And, it was unreachable.
On top of that, any possible exit from the large cave was cut off, filled to bursting with fallen rocks all the way up to the top. She was trapped.
Dropping to her knees, Kagome felt her throat constrict with angry tears. It was right there, in her grasp. But, she might as well be held in the King Bird's claws, for all the good it did her.
Rubbing her head, Kagome glared all her frustration down at the packed rock floor. She wasn't giving up. Not now, not ever.
However, in the cool light of the moon, something caught Kagome's attention. Another image, simple in shape and obviously crudely made, the picture of a wolf at hunt looked back at her.
Shifting herself backward, she found the depiction of another wolf, a pack. To the left were other animals, foxes, bears, baboons, all running desperately from the attacking predators. To the right, great shadows figures of Birds of Paradise filled the skies above the packs' heads.
Realization stabbed through Kagome like a knife as she scampered away from the ancient drawings. This wasn't just the taken home of some unlucky yokai. This was….
"Now, you see…."
The rasping taunt caused Kagome to snap her wide eyes at the large lumbering form of the King Bird unrolling like a billow of smoke form the cramped tunnel, the eyes of both heads gleaming in the darkness.
"This is the Eastern tribe's den," Kagome breathed softly, chin wobbling under the horror of it.
"Was!" the right head snapped with a mocking laugh.
"Now, it's ours," the left head added.
"You see now, it's hopeless…." The right head replied with a sickening logic.
"No way out…." The left teased.
"Why do you think we let you go?"
"We don't mind. Search all you like."
"Feed your curiosity…."
"Before we feed on you…."
"Koga will stop you," Kagome threw back with all the vehemence she could possible feel.
"He will try…." The right head responded with a nod.
"But, he won't succeed." The left added.
"You don't know that," Kagome snapped. "You don't give him near as much credit."
"We know he will falter," the right chuckled.
"Koga doesn't hesitate," Kagome defended.
"He will this time," the left taunted. "His tribe….."
"Or, his woman…"
"Which will he choose?"
"It won't matter in the end…."
"He will lose both…."
Righteous fury burned in Kagome's chest as the twin heads cackled with maniacal glee. Already, she could feel the warm glow of her reiki struggling to come to the surface of her clenched palms. However, Kagome stuffed her hands inside her worn sleeves.
Not yet. She needed to wait. The time would come when she could give Koga the one thing she should have in the first place. She'd help him win this war. But, for now, she had to be patient.
The King Bird reveled in his victory as he made the mocking gesture of guiding Kagome back down the tunnel she just left. That was fine. Let him think he won.
Head bowed and hands hidden in her sleeves, Kagome calmly made her way back the way she came. She knew what she had to do. She just hoped the Kami would give her the opportunity.
Careful to watch her step, Kagome was sure the distance shifting of rock was just her imagination. The slight whistle of the wind was the last thing she heard before turning the corner back into the thick blackness.
Attention!
Hello, everybody! Thank-you for following! Don't worry. Story is still continuing. And, it about to get SO GOOD! Anywho, just letting you all know, I have another story in fairy-tales. I need readers and reviews. They help in this endeavor. It's so easy to find, same author, after all. ;) If you lovely people are just hear for Inuyasha fixes, that's fine. I get it. And, hope you enjoy this story. In the mean-time, I'd appreciate what opinions you could give on my fair-tale. The King's Wolf. I will be updating normally for this story, every Thurs. The fairy tale will be every Saturday. Love you all! And, thank you for sticking with me thus far.
