I believe I mentioned in the previous chapter that I changed the story name? I changed it again, this time to fit more of the whole story than just the stuff towards the very end.

"What?!" Gonza blurted out when Eboshi told him where she was going, "You can't travel with that girl! She'll try to kill you!"

"She may not think of me highly, but I do not believe she will try to kill me unless I provoke her," Eboshi said, "Even if she did try to harm me, I doubt Ashitaka would stand for it. Love her as he may, the boy has quite the distaste for violence."

"He'll stand around and try to talk her out of it. There's no way he would hurt her."

"I guess we'll see, won't we?" Eboshi remarked with a sly grin. Gonza shook his head, baffled as to why Lady Eboshi was refusing to let him go with her. She wasn't even going to bring one of her other bodyguards. She was traveling light, bringing only one set of clothes, her sword, an umbrella, and a single gun with its necessary munitions. She would also be riding a horse to match the speed of Ashitaka's elk.

"Why not bring one of the women to accompany you? It isn't very safe in the rest of the island, you know."

"If I'm going to finally end this hostility between the Wolf Girl and I, then I need to show her that I am truly willing to do so. Going alone should make her see how much I'm willing to risk."

"At least bring Takahiro. It couldn't hurt to have somebody who could treat any injuries or diseases you may get on the way."

"I'm afraid that he's too old to make the journey with the path we're taking. I respect the man, but he is in no physical condition to be traveling. I'm sure that even he will agree."

With one last frustrated grunt, Gonza left the room. Lady Eboshi understood his concern, but her stance would not be changed. She was going to go with Ashitaka and the Wolf Girl by herself, leaving one of her trusted bodyguards to run Irontown while she was away. She knew that Gonza could only protest for so long before giving up. She did know he was right about how the roads were not very safe. She wasn't even sure if the two experiences warriors in Ashitaka and San would be able to fend off a band of thugs or a gang of samurai. Then there was also the matter of San, the wild, unpredictable girl whom seemingly parted ways with her senses years ago. Eboshi knew it was going to be difficult to return them to her, but this was likely the only opportunity she would have.

San had spoken with her brothers the night before, about what may have been wrong with them, about where they were going, and about the woman they would be traveling with. Both of her brothers hated the idea of Lady Eboshi accompanying she and Ashitaka.

"I don't see how you can trust that woman," Okami grumbled, "For what reason would she want to travel with you?"

"We fought against her, made it torture for her to run her mining operations," Urufu said, "Now she wants to set out to find something that will heal two of her worst enemies."

"Ashitaka says that she wants to truly make peace this way," San answered, "I only agreed to this plan because of him. Besides, if she tries to harm me in any way, I can strike her down easily since she no longer has a good sword arm."

Ashitaka had just finished gathering the things he would be taking with him when San climbed up to the den. His tunic was folded, sitting underneath his sword, quiver, and bow. He and San had gathered enough food to fill eight saddlebags that Yakul would carry. They were tied shut by a long sinew string.

"Are you sure that woman is trustworthy?" San asked Ashitaka as she sat down next to him.

"I'm positive," He replied, "Lady Eboshi is a different woman from how she used to be. She may be stern and serious, but she means well, I know it."

San was still uncomfortable with journeying with Eboshi at her side. "Ashitaka, if that woman does try to harm me in any manner, I'm not going to sit back and let it go."

Ashitaka knew that San wasn't one who did not make good on their word. Her concern was not without merit; even he felt that Eboshi's offer to accompany the two seemed somewhat strange. He trusted Eboshi, though tiny specks of doubt floated around in the back of his mind. "I don't have any problem with you fighting back if Eboshi provokes a fight between you two, just please try not to kill her."

"And what if she tries to kill me?"

Ashitaka paused for a moment before replying, "If she is the one who strikes first, then do what you feel is appropriate."

San nodded, and though she was happy that Ashitaka was going to let her settle any issues between she and that woman the way she saw fit, she wanted to drop the conversation about Eboshi. For the moment, she wanted nothing more than to rest for the night with her mate before they traveled the long road ahead of them. She couldn't completely relax, however; her brothers were weighing heavily on her mind. They were the only family she had left. Ashitaka could feel the anxiety radiating from San. The fire which often burned in her eyes wasn't there. He draped his arms over her shoulders and said that everything would be alright, that her brothers would be fine once they come back. She reached up and took hold of one of his hands, relaxing as comforting warmth flowed from his fingers to her own.

"Let's try to get some sleep," Ashitaka suggested, "We set out tomorrow and it's going to be a long journey."

The two went to greet San's brothers goodnight only to find that they had already fallen asleep. They crawled into their own bed, laying close to each other as they began to drift to sleep. What kept San from completely closing her eyes was her concern for her brothers. Ashitaka, similarly, found it difficult to fall asleep as he began to think of what could go wrong during their journey. Having Lady Eboshi and San travel together was like storing gunpowder next to oil; one tiny spark was all that was needed to create a disaster.

The townspeople had only heard rumors but few believed it to be true. Whispers from those who worked in Lady Eboshi's home further stirred the curiosity, but when the day came, the townspeople could not believe their eyes. Lady Eboshi calmly stepped out from behind the walls of Irontown to meet Ashitaka and San. She brought only her sword, a gun, an umbrella, and a horse. She was dressed in her usual robes with the right sleeve folded and pinned. There was no pause in her stride, no sign of concern which marred her calm demeanor. She was a polar opposite of San, who was dressed in ragged, torn clothes and was staring daggers towards Eboshi. Ashitaka was standing beside San, dressed in his blue tunic and holding Yakul's reins.

"Hello, Lady Eboshi," Ashitaka greeted as he bowed. Lady Eboshi silently bowed to him and San.

"Are you two ready to go?" Lady Eboshi asked, "I've already placed my affairs in order."

Ashitaka was prepared for the long road ahead. He looked to San to see if she was ready, and she responded with a single nod. Earlier in the day, the two said goodbye to Okami and Urufu. The two had warned San one last time to keep her eye on Eboshi. Ashitaka promised that he wouldn't allow anything to happen to San, to which she said she could take care of herself.

"If either of you two brats try to lay a single finger-" Gonza bellowed as he pushed through the gathered crowd.

"Gonza!" Lady Eboshi sharply interrupted, "I told you before that I will be fine. There is no need to threaten my companions."

San's right eye twitched when she heard the word "companions" exit Eboshi's mouth.

Gonza dipped his head and quietly replied, "Forgive me, Milady. I only wish to see you return safe. I would not be so nervous if it was only Ashitaka who was traveling with you." Gonza's gaze shifted towards San, an exact opposite of everything Lady Eboshi was. Eboshi was tall, fair-skinned, with long, soft raven colored hair. She never flew into fits of rage or acted on impulse. San was short, her skinned tanned by years spent wandering the forest, with rough, unevenly cut brown hair that didn't even hang past her chin. She lacked the grace and sophistication of Lady Eboshi, being prone to rabid bouts of fury.

"I am doing this to help her, so there is no reason for the two of us to act hostile towards each other" Lady Eboshi said, "Isn't that right, San?"

San slowly nodded her already low-hanging head. She could feel the eyes of the townspeople staring uneasily at her. She wished that the gates would close, shutting out those faces so they could leave. They were all ready; why were they lollygagging around the entrance of Irontown?

"I think it's about time we headed out, don't you think?" Lady Eboshi asked Ashitaka and San, "It would be best to leave while the day is still young; we'll be able to travel longer."

"Yes, let's get going," Ashitaka said, "Come on, San."

Lady Eboshi effortlessly mounted her horse, securing her feet in the stirrups with little effort. She gripped her horse's reins in her left hand tightly, wrapping a few inches of the leather around her fingers so it would be easier to control. Ashitaka and San both got on top of Yakul, with San riding in front and Ashitaka in the back. The two had thought it would be better if Ashitaka were to sit behind so he that would not have to worry about Yakul's reins if he needed to use his bow. San could use her spear in one hand while holding the reins in the other.

Before they finally set off, San took one final look at the forest. She had never been far from her home and only once did she spend a long time away, that time being when she had broken her arm and leg. But she couldn't let this anxiety overcome her. There was nothing that was going to stop her from saving her brothers from death. She was still unsure if bringing Lady Eboshi was a wise idea. Personal feelings aside, what could she do other than bring them to the temple? With one arm missing, she surely couldn't fight as well as she used to. She couldn't possibly be able to walk for a long time without needing a rest. She may have used to travel with men to drive oxen or march through the forest to battle spirits and Gods, but that was more than a year ago. San couldn't tell how well conditioned Lady Eboshi was under her robes. For all she knew, Eboshi had become weak. She hoped that these worries wouldn't come into fruition.

Eboshi's horse trotted several feet behind Yakul. She wanted any feelings of malice behind harbored by San to evaporate as they traveled. Later at night, when they were at rest and preparing to sleep, would be the best time to converse with her. By then, she would be a bit more docile and complacent, with less to focus on than she would on the road. For now, she was content to ride in silence. The area where they would diverge from the normal path was still a ways away. It would take them a few days to reach it, but no more than a week. There would be no road from that point on, only Eboshi's memory to guide them to the temple. As far as she knew, there wouldn't be any threats when they left the road, aside from wild animals. While they were on the road, Eboshi's hand rested on the grip of her katana. There was a civil war brewing. There was no telling what sort of men they were going to encounter on the road. She was anticipating samurai, the supposedly honorable warriors who fought for the honor of their daimyo. She knew that was rarely the case. Some killed for money, some for personal glory, others for both. She had dealt with all those types before, though back then she had more than a savage and an exiled prince to accompany her. Then again, these were two warriors who couldn't be bought out.