Warning: This chapter is a little more violent then my other chapters. That is why I changed the rating.

At hearing the gun shots, the wolves had started running at breakneck speeds to the path that led to Iron town. They were still a long way away and San couldn't help worrying about Ashitaka. From past experience she knew that he was somehow involved.

San couldn't and didn't want to think as they raced down the path towards Iron Town. The trees were a blur as they raced past. Animals scurried out of the way, calling warnings to creatures further up the path to get out of the way, the wolves were on the run. Apes, angry at being disrupted from their work, threw rocks and sticks in the wolves' path, trying to trip them or knock San off her seat on top of Kitha. Kana, who could run faster than Kitha when he had San on his back, tried to chase the apes away before they could attack him, because he lost his temper easily. Especially when the apes disrespected them and right now that wouldn't help San. Kana's worrying was all for naught because for once, Kitha ignored the apes and kept running towards Iron Town for San's sake. Kana was impressed, though if she could hear what he was thinking as he ran past the apes, she'd probably shake her head in amusement. I'll teach them a lesson after we save Ashitaka again, Kitha thought to himself after seeing how impressed Kana was. San was too worried to pay the apes any attention. She couldn't think past the feeling of despair that she felt in her gut.

After what seemed like an eternity later they reached the edge of the forest. There was a meadow then a lake and then Iron Town. Across the lake, they could see the remains of the once great fortress. To her despair, she saw the newly built buildings were all on fire and the gunfire was still far away. Kana couldn't figure out what was wrong, she only knew that something was missing.

"Kitha do you hear the children?" Kana asked once she realized what was missing.

"No, I don't," Kitha said after he paused to listen.

"I wonder where they are," Kana pondered to herself.

"What does it matter? They're only filthy humans," San said putting up her emotional walls that had been created after her adoptive mother told her about her parents.

The twins looked at her shocked. She hadn't sounded this defensive since after Ashitaka broke down the some of these walls weeks before.

"We should get going, they may need our help," Kitha said, the first to break the awkward silence.

After figuring out that the only way to cross the lake was to swim across it, the twins unhappily started across. The twins were surprised to realize the lake wasn't polluted even though a fortress lay on the bank next to it. The water was clear and cool. If they hadn't been in such a hurry the twins would have stayed there all night, but they could still hear gunshots somewhere near by. The wolves ran up the banks of the lake not wasting time to shake off the water from their coats. They had reached the edge of town when the gun shots stopped. San thought that she should feel relieved, but the ruins of the newly built town dashed away any hope that the fighting had stopped.

From the other side of town a figure obscured by the smoke and the dancing shadows of the dying fire headed towards them. They stopped ready to fight if the thing attacked them. As it got closer the twins and San started laughing at themselves for being so paranoid for out of the shadows there stood Yakuul. They automatically thought the worst. San let out a small cry of despair. Yakuul never left his master's side even when they all thought Ashitaka had died, Yakuul had stayed with him. Yakuul was agitated and kept stomping his front hoof.

"I think he wants us to follow him," said Kana realizing San was too distressed to talk to the animal.

"We might as well go and see what he wants to show us," said Kitha.

They followed Yakuul into the forest on the other side of the town. The creepy town felt as though it was closing in on the travelers as they passed by. This didn't help the nerves of San and she kept jumping at the slightest noise. If it hadn't been for Yakuul's help they would have meandered through the village thinking that everyone was dead, and San was not really in the mood to fight off any hostile humans. Thankfully Yakuul kept them moving. When they reached the edge of a small clearing, they saw that the battle still raged and Yakuul had only left to find help. The villagers were greatly outnumbered and most of them looked like they hadn't fought in hand to hand combat in years. San looked over the crowd looking for Ashitaka. He wasn't hard to spot. He fought like ten men. Then she saw him get distracted and in disbelief as he was struck down. She didn't hear herself scream, nor did she realize that she had given the wolves a signal to enter the battle. All she could think of and see was Ashitaka falling to the ground, blood soaking his shirt. All she saw was red, and she started to fight like a demon with no mercy or thought. She became a killing machine. The riflemen didn't want to cross the path of gods and a crazed human ran away. The twins realized something wasn't right with her and left the clearing. They stayed close, though, in case the riflemen came back.

"What do you think you are you doing! Get out of my way!" San cried.

"Not until you calm down," Kitha said as he and his sister kept San from leaving the cover of the trees.

"I'll kill them all! Let me go!" San screamed when Kitha grabbed her in his jaws after she had attacked him.

"You can't help anyone, especially Ashitaka like this," Kana said, bewildered, she had never seen San like this, and she didn't like it.

At hearing Ashitaka's name, she stopped trying to get out of her brother's jaws and started to cry. Kitha dropped her gently on the ground and both he and his sister sat next to San giving her the comfort of knowing they were there. After awhile her cries became less hysteric and wild. Though she was still crying she had finally calmed down.

"Let's go and see if they need help getting the wounded back to the village," Kana said careful not to mention Ashitaka.

Yakuul who had seen his friend cut down and seen San go wild, stayed where he was, not sure what to do. He wanted to make sure San was okay because he knew Ashitaka would want him to, but he didn't want to leave Ashitaka. Yakuul could hear the desperate cries of San that gradually turned into soft sobs. He was still undecided when the wolves came out of the cover of the trees.

"It's alright Yakuul come with us," cooed Kana after seeing the confusion of the elk.

Haltingly Yakuul followed the wolves and the girl that smelt like one, but didn't look like one. Her shoulders stooped like they were carrying a heavy burden. Her eyes, which once were bright and alive, dulled. Her once energetic nature was now gone and replaced by an overwhelming sadness that Yakuul would never understand.

Kana was worried. She had never seen her sister act this way. For once she didn't say things under her breathe about how sickening the smell of humans was. She just sat there without noticing what was going on around her. San was completely surrounded by her own grief.

"Do you humans need any help?" Kana heard her brother ask Eboshi

"You guys can talk?" the startled man next to Eboshi replied.

"Of course we can talk. Are you all this-"

"Kitha stop," Kana said cutting him off. To Eboshi she said "Do you need us for anything?"

"Well if one of you could go find and bring back the children and the rest of the villagers while one of you stayed helped look for a shelter we'd be grateful," replied Eboshi.

"Kitha and San will go look for the other villagers while I look for your shelter," Kana replied. She could hear Kitha grumbling about always having to do the boring work.

San was in a haze. She had stopped crying, but now she was drowning in her own sadness. She was having trouble breathing and it was all she could do to stay concious. She didn't recognize anything. She could only see shapes and colors. She could hear noises, but nothing made sense to her. She could hear people talking far away, but she didn't know what direction they were in. And even if she did she didn't think she'd be able to get up and walk. Her limbs felt like they were made of lead. She wanted to fall asleep, but something in the back of her mind wouldn't let her. She didn't know how much longer she'd be able to hold on when the screams of children reached her ears.

So, what did you think? Should I stop here? Reply to help me decide.