Hello again everyone. I figured out that for every for crappy chapters that I write I can produce one decent one. Anyway. I've had a few questions:
For – ChbiPuppy, Inu-Yasha has heard only one side of the story of Mona. In actuality many Romans didn't know about what their soldiers did. And those who did know were the high aristocracy or the Senate. His knowledge of the event will come later.
For- everyone whose asked about the man who found Kagome… like bloody hell I'm going to tell you and ruin the chapter!
Chapter 7: I Hear You Calling Me
September 19The wolves' howls scared the Roman out of his thoughts. He was mad, and angry, and sad. Why had she lied to him? They had spent almost every moment together since he had woken up. There where so many times she could have told him that she wasn't a peasant! Inu-Yasha pulled the blanket tighter around himself. The cold winds of Britannia swept over him and into the blanket; he shivered in retaliation.
A twig snapped to his right. Inu-Yasha's head whipped to the noise. His hand gripped his spatha. The soldiers golden eyes watched the trees in an almost canine fashion. A growl echoed in his throat and left his mouth through clenched teeth.
Another twig snapped but this time, out of the bush cover, came a wolf. A fae wolf to be exact. She watched the Roman through green eyes that mimicked her home forest. A smirk could almost be seen along her muzzle. Calmly, as if Inu-Yasha wasn't even there, she lay down by the fire and started to groom. Inu-Yasha was freaked out. Wolves ate people. They didn't just walk into ones campsite and lay down by the fire like a pet! What the bloody hell was going on? He watched her and his eyes traveled over the black pelt. It was a solid black, like Kagome's hair. Weren't most wolves a multi colour?
In his mind rang the word, 'Do not mind me Roman. I'm just cold like you.'
Okay. Inu-Yasha knew what was happening now. He had gone crazy. It was the only explanation! If he wasn't crazy then why was he two days ride from Londinium, searching for a druid girl in the middle of the Celtic wilderness, and now keeping the company of a wolf? Oh yes he was completely out of his mind. Rolling his eyes, Inu-Yasha curled himself in the blanket and moved closer to the fires warmth. The girl occupied his thoughts again as he stared into the flames. Near the bottom of the fire the coals turned from red to purple. His eyes narrowed into slits. Why was he chasing her? He hated this country. Why had Caesar bothered to even conquer it? But as the coals grew brighter he knew. She had been the one woman to entice his own Celtic blood. It wasn't attraction. It was a magnetic force that pulled him to her. But what was the link? What was pulling him closer?
AS he drifted off into blackness, Inu-Yasha saw the wolf. Her green eyes gleamed at him. He could tell she was laughing. But at what… did she sense his driven need to find the girl? It didn't matter. In the morning he would be off and he would never see the wolf again. His mare wouldn't enjoy her presence. He could hear her behind him. A nervous whicker and dancing hooves were the only signs of her agitation. The blackness took over.
Kagome
She stared into the fire. Her hand reached out to touch the coals. Maybe if she burned her way of using magic, he would leave. The heat lashed at her hand and for a moment Kagome pulled away. Then knowing that her eyes were on him, she reached again into the fire. She concentrated on the fire as he had told her. If you become part of the fire, it will not burn you. Those were his words. She would rather be practicing in her own way but this was what he wanted. And he had made it blatantly clear that Kaede would not live much longer if she didn't bend to his wishes. How she loathed him. All she wanted to do was take this flame and throw it at him. Burn him alive and laugh as he screamed in pain.
A smile twitched at the corner of her lips. The fire continued to lash out at her, but she no longer felt the heat. Instead she stuck her hand in and grabbed a coal. It glowed orange in her hand. Now she had begun to master flame.
"Good job Kagome! Now make it burn!"
His voice startled her out of her thoughts. The coal regained its heat and it took a moment before it registered in her brain. "BLOODY MOTHER THAT S HOT!"
Inu-Yasha
"Faster Samara!" The pair cantered across the field. Inu-Yasha held the reins along with some of his mares' mane. They jumped over a fallen log and continued on over the field. If the soldier remembered right, the hut was about three days ride from Londinium. He really hoped he was right.
A crow circled overhead and cawed to the sky. The sound reached the earth below. Samara's ears perked up. She skidded to a stop, almost throwing her rider over her neck in the process. Inu-Yasha grabbed at her mane. It slipped through his fingers like wiry silk that had been smothered in butter. The next thing he knew, his head had hit something hard and his vision went black.
Miroku
"HAHAHAHA…. Ohhh Rheis my dear. If only your tits were bigger. They would match my lady at home."
The soldiers watched their substitute captain as he held a bosomed Brit girl tightly about the waist. His hands wandered lower and lower until it began to rise up, this time under her skirt; and the whore loved it. One man in the crowed snickered and loudly exclaimed… "OH GREAT JUPITOR! LADY SANGO? WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?"
Miroku's hands dropped faster then lightning as he pushed the whore to the ground and stood up with wide arms. In his drunken slur he attempted to say, "Oh my lover, what's cha doin' in this foul horses end of a countree?"
The soldier snickered and grabbed his superior by the cuff as he dragged him home. Half way along, Miroku fainted. "Just my luck." Carrying home an idiotic drunk was not his idea of a vacation. However the blackmail on Miroku would be worthwhile.
Kagome
Kagome sat straight up in her bed. This was the one time where she could get away from him. What had she just seen? In her dreams she had been a raven. She was circling around the sky and watching a white horse. It had reared and something had fallen off. Slowly she got out of her bed and shivered at the loss of warmth. She slipped a heavy black wool skirt over her and added a wool cloak with a hood. Her feet were cold and the stone stairs were colder. Her breath misted in front of her. At the top of the stairs when her dainty feet met wood she looked around from under the hood. Her deep dusky purple eyes scanned the hut. The door to her right was the only other bedroom, and to her utter disgust, had taken it from Kaede. The old priestess was now left to sleep by the fire in a heavy pelt blanket that had been made from the hides of the animals Kagome caught for supper.
However Kaede was not in her usual spot. Instead of asleep by the flames she was hunched over them muttering in Celtic. Normally they used Latin since the old language was forbidden. But ere was her grandmother defying all laws as usual. A content smile emerged on Kagome's face. "Kaede shouldn't you be asleep?"
Kaede didn't answer.
"Kaede, I said shouldn't you be asleep?" Kagome moved closer when no answer came from the older lady. When she was about a foot away she heard Kaede murmur softly. "Go find him."
It took a moment for the Celtic words to register in her brain. "Go find who?" The rearing white mare flashed in her mind again. The thing that had fallen off became clearer. It was a man. A man with white hair, amber eyes, and a legion prefects badge on his shoulder. Kagome's hand flew to her mouth as she tried not to scream in terror.
" Go find him."
A distant rumble alerted her of thunder. For a moment Kagome's eyes flashed as again she was soaring above the sky. Her wings were holding her in the wind and below her was a white mare. The empty hills called her closer as she descended. Her black wings pumped her downwards closer to him. She saw the blood trickle from a gash on his head and watched the mare step away from the bloods metallic smell. In this form she could smell it too. It taunted her and pulled her closer. Her eyes could only focus on that shiny red liquid.
"Go find him…Child of the Ravens."
The door to the hut opened and slammed shut bringing Kagome back to the small hut. He stood there glaring. His lips twitched as if the were going to smile, but he refrained. His final act was to go over and push Kaede away from the fire. Kaede didn't move. "What are you doing woman? You're magic is pathetic."
Kagome's lips curled into a snarl. The thunder echoed again. Her blood pounded to the sound. Her hair softly began to rise and her eyes flashed at him. In her mind was a voice that called for flesh. It wanted to be fed on death. Her body pulsed in black light and her arms spread out.
He smirked and lifted his walking staff over Kaede. Kagome's voice rang deeply around the hut. "Touch her and die the death of the raven, Druid."
His eyes widened and he looked at her. Really looked at her. She was in a raw state of energy. His death was assured if he didn't agree. Quietly he nodded and retracted his staff. With a growl of threat he strode past her and entered his room. The door slammed hard enough to shake the rafters above.
Kagome looked at Kaede. A shadow moved in the corner. The lilting voice rang through the cabin. "Go Kagome… he is held by fate. The ravens protect their family and friends."
The lady
Green eyes watched the girl nod and run out the door. She didn't even bother to close it behind her. The lady walked out of the shadows and looked at Kaede. The woman was doing well in looking after her great granddaughter. Well maybe more then one great. In fact all the war mages were of her line. It was passed to the children by their parents. Never in her long everlasting life had she imagined that one of her children would mate with a Raven. This grand daughter would be interesting to watch.
The lady shut the door and then watched Kaede again with her green eyes. Black hair that formed into the shadows behind her lifted and floated like a cloud. The teasing smile that never left her face twitched. "It is not yet you're time Kaede. The goddess would not want you to leave her grand daughter alone. You are her faithful servant, and through me you will gain a second chance." The Lady wrote a rune in the air and where her fingers had been glowed blue. It covered Kaede's body and filled her with a rejuvenating light.
Etain
The forest flashed by his eyes like blurs. His sides heaved at the pace that his rider had set. He had just woken up to fins his lady perched on his back and kicking his sides. Now he felt like a yearling again. Her body was tense and unforgiving as she pushed him on. She was either scared to death or angry enough to kill barehanded. Neither pleased the horse!
When her fingers tightened in his mane and her legs were making it hard for him to breath, he finally had to stop. His pace slowed to a canter, then a trot, then and a walk. When all four hooves were planted on the ground Etain looked back at his rider and gave a snort of disapproval.
Kagome
She stared down at her horse and bit her lip. She knew that she had surprised him and wasn't in the best riding shape but she had to hurry. Noting that she would apologize later, Kagome jumped down from the horse and ran into the bushes. Her heart raced as ran through the trees. Branches seemed to jump out at her in the morning darkness. One flung out and scratched her across the cheek in her haste.
The sky was finally turning blue when she entered a large field. A white mare was grazing still in full tack, and a raven was circling overhead. Its dark blood eyes watched her as he cawed out in greeting. Kagome only had a mind for the body that was lying slumped against a rock. Blood was crusted into matted silver hair. She was too late.