There were a few mistakes in these next 2 chapters. Think I've corrected most of them. Still having issues with this site though as it's jumbling up my work when I upload it, so let me know if anything is out of place.
"We have been blessed with a miracle. The goddess walks among us once again!" said Kemu, clapping his hands together as if he was celebrating.
"Why do you look so jolly?" snapped Issun. "Somebody died in that wretched lake and it's a miracle Ammy here is still breathing!"
"Yes, it's a miracle. That's what I said." Kemu grinned, and Issun had to fight not to leap up from Ammy's side and jab the Wep'Keer elder in the nose with his sword.
Issun had wanted to keep the situation quiet. Ammy looked as if she had been through enough without being mobbed by the entire village. Unfortunately, that's exactly what was happening. The commotion at the lake had not gone unnoticed and the word of something falling from the heavens had swept across the village in moments. Kemu had barged his way in to Tuskle's hut almost as soon as Issun and Oki had arrived. Soon after, the entire village had gathered on the snow outside where they sat with their heads bent as they prayed.
Issun blamed Oki. Issun had wanted to take Ammy to Oki's secluded house outside of the village, but the Oina warrior had been adamant that Tuskle was the best person to heal wounds.
"It's not as bad as it looks, Issun," said Tuskle, spreading a green herbal paste over the bleeding wound on Ammy's side. "I can heal the wound and there's no broken bones anywhere from the fall."
"Then why does she look so awful?"
"She's tired. A fall like that will take its toll on anyone. She needs to sleep but you don't need to worry so much, Issun. Now stop bouncing around. You're giving me a headache."
He hadn't realised he was bouncing, but he couldn't help it. It was wrong to see Ammy this way. She'd managed to follow him and Oki up to Tuskle's hut but she'd collapsed as soon as she'd stepped inside. Her breathing was haggard, exhausted, and her fur seemed to have turned a dirty white that gave her a sickly hue. Managing to calm his movements, Issun patted Ammy's warm nose. "Furball, what have you gotten yourself in to this time? You just can't get anything right without me. Well, you get better and I swear I won't ever leave you again."
The door to the hut opened. Issun leapt up ready to yell at the newcomer. It was bad enough that Kemu had stuck his big nose in, but just as he opened his mouth and took a deep breath ready to bellow, he realised it was Oki. Water dripped from his clothes.
"I've searched and searched that lake. I can't find whoever was with her," he said. "How is she?"
"She needs rest," said Tuskle, moving quickly to close the hut door as the villagers outside began to creep closer.
Oki nodded. "I've tried asking everyone to leave. I haven't told them what's happening but they seem to know Amaterasu is here. The only person I've spoken to is Samickle. He's still searching the lake."
Kemu gasped. "Ask them to leave? Their prayers are helping her! Why I should-"
"Oh be quiet, gramps!" said Issun. "And don't try and give me a beating because I'm a celestial envoy and there must be rules somewhere about not beating important people like me! Ammy needs a bit of peace and quiet; that's all Oki meant and I agree with him."
Even though Kemu was wearing a mark, Issun still saw him turn red. He could almost see steam coming from the elder's ears. Wow, he'd done it this time. He hadn't seen Kemu this mad in ages.
He'd forgotten how funny it could be.
"Kemu, I think the villagers are concerned about the darkness Amaterasu brought when she called the moon," said Oki, placing himself between Issun and Kemu, as if he'd guessed that Issun was close to bursting out laughing. "They need reassurance and I think they will be comforted by you. We can't keep this a secret forever so they should be told what is happening. I'd tell them myself but-"
"But I can tell stories better than you," said Kemu, his skin returning to a more normal colour. "Yes, yes. I will speak to them." He grinned and Issun knew he was already planning his great story. It would probably go on all night. Kemu never shut up.
"They should be moved back to the village. Even though that cursed ark is gone, the lake is still colder than anywhere else in the country," said Oki. "We wouldn't want them to freeze. Their prayers will still reach Amaterasu if they pray in the village."
Kemu opened the door and cleared his throat. He waved his arms in the air. "Villagers, I have wonderful news. Our great deity, saviour and mother to us all has returned. She returned in a glorious blaze of light from the heavens. I'll tell you the rest but first let us return to the village and pray together for her."
"Well, that's one less problem to worry about," said Tuskle, closing the door firmly as soon as Kemu had left.
Issun rolled his eyes. "Yeah but poor Ammy's never gonna get any peace now! Everyone will be back as soon as the sun rises tomorrow!"
"Well, her wound is bandaged and there's nothing more I can do except pray," said Tuskle. "You could carry her to your house, Oki. Even now the monsters are gone nobody ever ventures far out of the village. It'll be quiet there."
"Good idea," said Issun. "What do you say, Oki?"
Oki was silent and Issun couldn't read his expression behind the mask. The Oina tribe really annoyed him at times. It was weird not being able to see someone's face. Oki seemed to be staring at Ammy thoughtful. Finally he nodded. "All right, but first-"
"First you two should rest a while," said Tuskle. "You'll have to wait for the villagers to fall asleep anyway or they'll follow you, whether they're afraid of the world outside the village or not. In the meantime, have some hot tea. You've both been in that lake and I'm surprised you haven't frozen to death, especially you Oki. Just because you're a warrior doesn't mean you should go round dressed the way you do."
"He does that because he's hard as nails," said Issun. "He must be to survive living here in that skimpy shirt."
"Hah," said Oki emotionlessly. He knelt beside Ammy, said a quick prayer and then placed his hand on her. "I wish she could tell us what has happened. I'm concerned about the village. It must be something awful to put our goddess in this condition. There could be monsters returning to the land." He stood. "I'm going to look around before we move her, just to make sure it's safe. Before then, I'll have one last look in the lake too."
Issun bounced over to the window. It was difficult to see outside but the slim crescent of the moon was reflected on the dark lake. After a moment, he saw something move. Samickle must still be searching.
"Are you sure there was someone else with her, Oki?" said Issun.
"Yes."
"You could have been seeing things…" But Ammy's reaction seemed to have confirmed Oki's belief. There had been someone with her so what had happened to him or her? Issun glanced back at Ammy, her ragged chest rising and falling slowly as she breathed. This was really bad. Something was happening and there was no way to know what. His skin was tingling, just as it had done the day the land had been cursed by Orochi.
"We'll find whoever was with her," said Oki. "I hated seeing her so sad earlier." He brushed his hand against her once more. "I'll be back later to move her. Stay with her, Issun."
"I'm not leaving her anywhere. From now on, I'm stuck to Furball." Issun smiled as he jumped on her. He'd forgotten how comfortable she was. He hoped she was stronger in the morning. She was different to how she'd been, and it wasn't caused by the fall. Issun had noticed that her crimson markings had changed slightly. They were identical to how Shiranui's had been. Ammy had regained her old power. She must have been magnificent before the fall. He'd love to see her like that.
As Oki left, Issun snuggled in Ammy's fur close to her skin where he could hear her heart beating. The thumping had been erratic earlier but now it had calmed and the sound of it was soothing.
Tuskle sat in her chair by the window and yawned. "My, what a day. I think I need my rest too. Issun, make sure you wake me before you leave. I'll give you some herbal paste in case the wound needs any more."
"Thanks."
Tuskle settled in the chair and soon her quiet snores filled the hut. Issun didn't intend to go to sleep since he wanted to watch Ammy, but he liked the feel of her heart and her breathing. With every breath he swore he felt her getting stronger. It wouldn't take long. Ammy could recover from anything. Even death hadn't stopped her.
He jolted as he realised how close to sleep he was. The hut was darker than before and the candles were almost dead. He sat up and stretched. As he did, he saw Ammy's open eyes peering at him.
"Hey, Furball," he said, smiling and patting her face.
She tried to lick him but she couldn't reach him where he was. Issun laughed quietly so as not to waken Tuskle. "I know, Furball. I'm pleased to see you too."
She stared at him. It had almost been a year since they'd been together but Issun could still understand her from her eyes. She had a long story, but she couldn't tell it, even though she desperately wanted to.
Yawning, she rolled on to her front and then slowly stood. Issun felt her legs wobbling, but, just as she had earlier by the edge of the lake, she forced herself to stand. Issun could feel the determination in her. The fall may have weakened her, but he knew that would fade quickly. Nothing kept Amaterasu down.
Glancing briefly at Tuskle, Ammy quietly placed her paws on the door and pushed it open. Issun shivered as he felt the scrape of the wind. It was snowing again and the ice seemed to stick to the back of his throat.
"What are you doing, Ammy? You need to rest."
But again he felt the determination. Quietly they left the hut. Issun felt Ammy tense as her paws sunk in to the snow and for a brief moment he felt a shiver ripple through her body before she shook herself. She padded forward and then paused as she gazed about Ezofuji. Laochi Lake was silent. On its surface the moon trod unbroken. Oki and Samickle seemed to have given up.
Ammy raised her head, staring at the snow that surrounded them. She felt tense. Watchful.
"Ammy, you're kinda freaking me out. It's as if you're looking for monsters or something," said Issun. "Well there aren't any. As soon as you left on that ark they all disappeared. Yes, there are imps around but they don't hurt anyone any more. They keep to themselves. You did it, Ammy. You saved the land."
Of course she couldn't reply, but she did sit, as if reassured by his words. Tilting her head back, she stared at the moon. Issun leaned his head in to his hands. How was he going to solve this? Last time they'd been everywhere together. Anything Ammy had heard, he'd heard too. Ammy had never needed to tell him anything before.
"Ammy, are we in danger? Bark once for yes," he said.
She gave a faint grumble.
"Is that a dunno? Are the monsters coming back?"
Another grumble.
"How did you fall? Were you in a fight?"
She snarled and Issun felt her tense with anger.
"Wow, that's a bad memory, Furball. You're not being very helpful, but it seems to me as if you're not too sure what's happening either. Well, we'll just have to keep our eyes open won't we? Look, for the moment you should rest. You don't seem to think we're in imminent danger. I know you're tense though so maybe when you feel better we should take a look around Nippon so that we can check everything is all right. What do you say?"
She barked and wagged her tail. Issun grinned. "That's the spirit! This brings back memories. It'll be just like old times."
She barked again and her tail wagged so hard that half her body seemed to move with it. Abruptly though she froze. Issun saw her turn to the lake, her tail drooping.
"Oh… you're pal who fell… I don't know what to say. I'm so sorry, Ammy."
And with that she seemed to slump slightly. She sat and lowered her head. Issun drew his sword and jabbed her lightly with it. Immediately she yelped and leapt to her feet before snarling.
"I won't have you down in the dumps, Furball! We'll find whoever did this to you and we'll get them back. Nobody messes with you, Ammy. If they do, they have me to answer to. We're a team and we'll fight this together."