Three days later…
Kai watched Sora as she loped ahead of him on the narrow mountain path. His white stallion following her black mare like a love struck yearling. His red eyes strayed to his surroundings. The Japanese Alps was a beautiful place. Snow peas blossomed underneath and the sky was crystal clear.
/Halt! Are you friend or foe?/ Came a loud snarl. Sora halted her mare and called back.
"Friend. Hiyuma! Jougen! It's me Sora!" A snarl reverberated all around them.
/Go back canine! You're not welcome here./ Sora snarled and morphed, leaping from her saddled and faced the trees.
/Come say that to my face! I'm Sora Getsuga! Eldest granddaughter of Norishiro Getsuga!/ Sora thundered walking stiff legged toward the trees.
A lithe snow leopard and a monstrous lion, scars decorating his face, came out of the shadows, fangs out and claws bared. Sora's hackles were raised and she tenses her haunch muscles, ready to spring into a fight. Suddenly a new lighter voice was heard.
/Hiyuma! Jougen! How dare you attack Lady Sora! Stop this outrage!/ A leopard landed lightly in front of Sora, facing the lion and the snow leopard.
/She is the last canine Hirotetsu! And she brought outsiders!/ The lion roared. Sora snarled, showing her gleaming white fangs.
/Peace Hiyuma! I invited them to come. You know the ancient laws as well as I do./ Hirotetsu growled. Both opposing cats nodded and sat on their haunches as Hirotetsu turned to Sora.
/Cousin Sora, it does my heart great pleasure to see you again…even if you still are miss growly pants!/ Hirotetsu said, morphing to his human form.
(This cousin of Sora's looks remarkably like her. That is except for his eyes and short hair and no scars.) Drazer stated in the back of Kai's head. Kai snorted.
Hirotetsu turned to Kai and raised an eyebrow. "Cousin dear, who are your guests?" Hirotetsu asked. Sora rolled her eyes, morphed back, and punched Hirotetsu, none to lightly, in the chest.
"The red head is Canine Tala Ivanov, the brunette is Tiger Tarifina Hwitari, and the slate haired one is Phoenix Kai Hwitari. Tari is Tala's shin mate and I'm Kai's." Sora told Hirotetsu quietly, a faint blush gracing her cheeks.
Hirotetsu's eyes widened and he said something in a strange harsh language. Sora shook her head snarling out in the same language. Hirotetsu whispered ion fear.
"Why then, Sora, did you bring him?" Sora looked troubled and then she trembled.
"He is my shin Hiro." Sora whispered. Hirotetsu looked relieved.
"Then he has no claim Sora. You are safe." Sora sighed and nearly fell in relief.
Kai jumped out of his saddle and hurdled to Sora's side. He wrapped his arms around her frame and whispered soothingly in her ear. Sora shivered and relaxed. Hirotetsu raised and eyebrow.
"You are right Cousin. He is your shin." Kai growled. Sora laughed
"Easy love. That's no insult. It's a compliment." Sora said. Kai relaxed and buried his head in her hair.
Hirotetsu smiled.
"O! where are my manners? Come Sora! Bring your shin and your friends. We must feed you and prepare for grandfather's Ceremony." Sora winced and whispered in horror.
"Formal attire?" Hirotetsu smiled maliciously and nodded. Sora grimaced.
"I am, point blank refusing to wear the dress Aunt Himitsu made for me." Sora + dress= priceless blackmail.
Sora groaned and climbed back onto her black mare.
"Hashire! Hashire Momo!" Sora commanded. The mare snorted, reared, and lunged forward. Kai jumped in his saddle and made his stallion bolt after Sora, Tari and Tala hot on his heels as Hirotetsu followed at a stately leopard lope.
/Turn left Sora. That is were the peaceable members of the family are lodging. I highly doubt you want to spend the night in the lions den./ Sora snorted and reined Momo left. A waterfall graced their sight and sprayed them with water. Kai saw Sora plunge, horse and all, into the pool below and disappear. Hirotetsu followed, but he walked behind the waterfall calling over his shoulder. /carful, follow me! It's slippery!/ Tala rolled his eyes and Tari laughed. Kai ignored Hirotetsu and plunged his stallion into the water. The shock of the cold nearly made Kai yell, but his stallion took him under the waterfall.
A strong hand grabbed him and pulled him upwards. He slipped out of the saddle and found a dripping wet Sora. Another woman caught his horse and led it away. Tari and Tala came the same way and Sora caught them, her dripping wet hair curling around her face. Kai drooled. Sora chuckled and wrung her hair out. Hirotetsu appeared, wearing some silk pants in a dark emerald green fighting shirt with a lighter green under shirt and dark green sash.
"Cousin dear. Come bring your guests. Grandmother must meet them." Hirotetsu said. Sora whipped around to face her cousin and snarled in the harsh grating language. Whatever she said, it must have been scary, because Hirotetsu cowered backwards. "As you wish milady." He beckoned the gang to follow him and Sora's at the back. He led them to a spacious room/cave. There were two large beds, a small table, a changing area, and another door.
"This shall be your room. The other door leads to the hot springs and bathes. Dinner shall be served soon. Come, get them dressed. They are soaking wet." Hirotetsu said, bowing low as he left. Sora snarled and turned to her friends. "You are to stay here. You are to eat here. You do not leave this room. If you will excuse me I must attend my grandmother." Sora stormed out of the room before anyone could ask what was wrong.
wll heres chapter two. i will not post until i get some reviews. good or bad. cliff hanger!