San and Eboshi forsake sleep for the next several hours. They wanted to put as many miles between themselves and the samurai as possible. The pedestal was no longer hidden. A gaping hole in the walls would reveal that somebody had been there first, and neither woman wanted to stay in the area. Yakul's tracks in the dirt vanished within the shadows of the leaves. He tried to make the ride less bumpy for San. Every tiny jolt in Yakul's movement made San feel like cracks were forming in her ribs.

"Are you sure you don't want to stop to treat your wounds?" Lady Eboshi asked when she saw San's face contort in pain, "We can find a doctor in a nearby village."

"No, I can wait." San grumbled, "I'll help myself once my brothers are well."

Lady Eboshi shook her head. San's sense of pride never seemed to fade, even in the most dire situations. Her injuries would continue to aggravate; at best, they wouldn't recover. The shine in San's eyes contrasted with her scowl and gritted teeth. Blotches of blood stained the white shirt, having leaked through her purple dress. Bits of wood remained in her hair. Eboshi couldn't imagine what San did to herself to find the pouch of leaves.

"At least allow me to bring you to an inn for some proper rest." Lady Eboshi said, "There's a town a few hours away, not the one we visited yesterday. It isn't out of our way."

San thought in silence for several seconds before nodding her head in response. As long as they remained on their path, she was fine with making a stop for one night. Her head hung low as she struggled to breathe. "Where do we need to go?"

Lady Eboshi began directing Yakul, having him head southwest. San paid little attention to what Eboshi was saying. A migraine was beginning to form in her head. It made a ringing sound in her ears that made San grind her teeth. She wondered if her face reflected the pain in her body as Yakul slowed down to make the ride comfortable. Twigs brushed past her face but she didn't feel them. Birds chirped and rabbits scampered in the bushes but she couldn't hear them. Fresh water from a river flowed freely, providing bushes of berries with life; San could smell neither.

Night transitioned to dawn as they reached the edge of the forest. Dark circles formed around both women's eyes. San couldn't think of a time she had been happy to see a human town. Despite their misgivings, humans knew how to stay comfortable. Few people appeared awake. It was still early in the morning and the sun was still rising, barely having turned the morning sky pink. A river flowed next to the town. Several fishermen were at the bank, placing newly caught fish into woven baskets. She could smell the pungent aroma coming off the fish. The scent made her hungry, but she was fine with waiting until later.

Lady Eboshi dismounted Yakul and led him through the streets of the town. A few people who had awoken early in the day greeted both women. She asked them for directions to an inn, explaining San's injuries and their weariness. San couldn't pay attention to what Eboshi was saying. The pain in her ribs blinded her and the headache was becoming worse. Another ringing sound pierced through her skull. Her eyes screwed shut and she pressed her forehead against the saddle.

"San!" Lady Eboshi snapped, bringing San out of her stupor.

"Ah, what?" She groaned.

"There's somewhere we can stay just down the street. Try to stay awake until we arrive."

San groggily nodded. Lady Eboshi took the reins from San's hands and led Yakul to the inn. It was a three-story high building with a high fence surrounding a courtyard in the back. A separate wall hid a bathing area with hot water. Steam arose from behind the wooden barrier. Horses neighed and chewed on hay in a stable next to the inn, awaiting their masters so they could continue their travel.

Eboshi rented a room for the two, She led Yakul to the stables and tied his reins to a pole. San made her own way up to the room, staggering up the stairs, dragging herself along the wall. Inside the room were two futons, each one large enough for one person. Her strength waned and she dropped to her knees. Sunlight flowed through the open window, blinding San's eyes.. Exhaustion ravaged her body as she rolled beneath the blankets of one futon. A deep breath calmed her. The pain in her right side and the dislocated left shoulder forced San to sleep on her back; normally, she slept on one side.

"How are you feeling?" Lady Eboshi asked as she entered the room.

"Better." San mumbled as her eyes closed.

"Good. I'm going to go out and purchase some supplies for the trip back. Oh, and I'll leave this with you." Lady Eboshi took the green pouch San had retrieved and put it next to her bed. "I don't want to lose this."

"If you somehow lost it..." San muttered as she smelled the tea leaves. Eboshi was sure of what San would say, though she too would be more than upset if someone lost something that important to her. She smiled before leaving.

Slumber wouldn't come to San for another hour. The sun and blankets were warm, a relaxing feeling she hadn't experienced since she lived with Ashitaka for some time.

Ashitaka.

The name rang through her mind. He had been on her mind every day since the accident at the river. Her focus in the past few days had been on the temple. Now that she had retrieved what she wanted, her drive had slowed. Although they had known each other for a short time, her memories of Ashitaka were as clear as those of her mother and brothers. It was he that helped end the war between the humans and the forest. His generosity was what allowed her injuries to heal after thugs had attacked her. Tears flowed down her cheeks and a sob broke through her throat. She was thankful that Lady Eboshi wasn't around to see her in this state. Long had she considered tears as a sign of weakness, yet they were calming, a release of pent up angst that she had contained until now. San dried the tears from her face before she fell asleep. The last thing she wanted was for Eboshi to come back and find out that she had been crying.

Twenty four hours passed through San's slumber. Lady Eboshi had gone to sleep, awoke to explore the town, and fell asleep again before San got up the next morning. San became shocked to discover how long she had slept. On most nights, she slept for six hours at most. When she first woke up, she believed that a few hours had passed. The pain in her ribs and shoulder had faded, but not by much.

"Why don't you stretch your legs before we leave?" Lady Eboshis suggested as she sat up from her sleep. "We can get going immediately after."

San nodded and got to her feet, holding her ribs as she stood. She grabbed the green pouch and wrapped the strings around her wrist. Her legs were wobbly as she made her way down the steps and to the front door. The headache from yesterday had faded sometime in the night. With her energy restored and their supplies replenished, San was feeling optimistic.

The streets rang loud with people going about their daily routines and speaking with one another. Restaurants were busy dealing with dozens of customers. Men and women visited clothing stores, admiring new styles of clothing that had become popular in larger cities. Yakul's eyes followed the moving crowd. He received a greeting from San as she passed by stables. She wasn't looking for anything in particular. Her curiosity piqued as she continued to explore the town. Unlike Irontown, the people here didn't give her looks of distrust or hostility. Then again, she hadn't fought against them for decades and they didn't know of her origins. To these townspeople, she was just another human, unable to see the wolfish spirit which burned in her heart.

As San was wandering the streets, a worrying thought invaded her mind: what if the pouch around her wrist contained nothing more than ordinary tea leaves? Every clue Lady Eboshi gave her led to the bag, but she had no way of knowing if it was a genuine miracle worker. She wanted to test it somehow. Her first thought was that she could use it, but this was something which cured illnesses, not injuries. Maybe there was somebody in town who needed help.

Helping a stranger, a human at that; it wasn't long ago that she would have spat at the idea. Her time with Ashitaka and Lady Eboshi during this journey had changed her perspective. She wasn't sure what she would do. It didn't seem natural to go around and ask people if they knew somebody ill.

"How's that man you've been caring for?"

San heard the voice of a man sitting at a ramen shop.

"Not very well. The disease has been getting worse and I fear he may not hold on for much longer."

A woman replied to the man's question. San turned her head to see both sitting at a noodle store. The man was elderly. Greying hair was tied into a ponytail. His tan robe was covered in patches and stitches. To his left was a young woman, San's age if not younger, in a vibrant red and white kimono with cherry blossoms and lillies. Without thinking, San approached both and said, "Excuse me?"

Both turned to face San. The man smiled and replied, "Yes?"

"I overheard your conversation. You said somebody is sick?"

"Yes, a man I've been caring for since he arrived in town." The woman replied, "He was ill and I volunteered to care for him, but it appears that whatever he has is beyond the powers of medicine."

San nodded. "I have something that may be able to help. It isn't anything I've used before and most of what I know of it is from a legend, but I need to make sure it works. My brothers have fallen ill and I've traveled many miles to retrieve it."

The girl turned to face the man. "Doesn't seem like it could hurt." He said, "Is that thing around your wrist what you're talking about, young lady?"

"Yes. Inside are what look like ordinary tea leaves, but according to a friend of mine, they can cure any sickness."

Friend, a word San couldn't imagine using to describe Eboshi before their journey.

"I'll bring you to him, then." The woman said, "Excuse me, Shinji."

"Of course." The man replied as San and the woman left the shop.

"My I ask of your name?" The woman asked San as they made their way through the streets.

"I'm San. I live in a forest close to a settlement called Irontown." San answered.

"A forest, huh? That must be nice, being away from all the bustle of civilization. My name is Rin. My father is the town doctor and my mother makes clothes."

San nodded and continued following Rin. Her heartbeat was climbing. fearful that the leaves would do nothing and that she had sacrificed so much for nothing worthwhile.

"This way. San." Rin directed San to a two-story house which sat on its own. A large garden was at its right, filled with plants used to create medicines and salves. San counted seventeen varieties, some of which she had never seen. Flowers of red, orange, purple, and blue made the air smell sweet. "I don't think my parents are home. That's too bad; father may be able to help if this doesn't work."

"It better." San whispered under breath.

Rin and San headed up the stairs and to a large sliding door. As the two stood at the door, San's eyes grew wide. She couldn't see the man beyond the door, but the scent was familiar, unforgettable.

No, it can't be. San thought, It must be something else. My mind is surely playing tricks with me.

"Ashitaka, I have a guest here."