Ashes floated in the air as the fire outside died away. Lady Eboshi bid Ashitaka and San goodnight half an hour ago and retired to her tent. Outside, the light from the embers faded before San and Ashitaka's eyes. Ashitaka was sitting with his legs crossed. San was close to his left, sitting up straight to avoid irritating her ribs further. Her breathing remained slow. Every inhalation caused her side to sting.

"How did you get hurt?" Ashitaka asked when he noticed San wince.

"It was when I tried to get into the temple." San answered, "I hurt my shoulder trying to break through the front door. When I tried to climb the walls later on, I fell and landed on my side."

"You should have asked Rin to treat you."

"I didn't want to waste time. When we get home, I'll do something about it."

The last spark of the fire flickered away. Both decided that it was time to sleep, although neither felt tired. Ashitaka wondered if the tea San had given him to recover was making him more energetic. San's double-sided pain kept her awake. She was able to get to her feet and lay down, but each bit of movement caused her injured bones to ache. A slight yelp escaped her lips as she lay down in the tent.

"Have you checked how bad this could be?" Ashitaka asked as he lay down next to her.

"It won't kill me, it's fine." San remarked.

"There's a chance that it's worse than you think."

San rolled her eyes. There was no reason for Ashitaka to be concerned, it was just an injury that kept her from being as mobile as usual. She lay flat on her back, her head tilted to face Ashitaka. He wanted to hold her the same way he used to when they slept at each other's side. Maybe he was overly cautious, but he didn't want to cause her any pain by accident. His worry reflected in his eyes.

"I won't neglect my injuries when we get back." San swore.

Ashitaka didn't want San to think that he saw her as weak, but he didn't want to see her in pain. She was one of the toughest people he'd met. Seeing her wincing and growling in pain made Ashitaka feel uneasy. Her promise made him feel better. San could tell the sense of peace that had fallen over Ashitaka. To further make him feel better, she caressed his cheek with her good arm. A smile formed on each of their faces. They lay together, silent as the night rolled on until they fell asleep.

The trio began to make their way back up the mountains before the sun could rise. Ashitaka had been absent when the two women wandered within the caverns. San explained what happened in their previous trip through the cave, how she and Eboshi found themselves lost to finding the strange chamber deep within the tunnels. Lady Eboshi informed both that they would be taking an alternate route to the one they first went through; this time, they would be going the way she intended. Yakul was timid when he heard the discussion. His hesitation was detected by Ashitaka. He brushed the elk's fur, assuring him that they would remain unharmed inside the darkness.

"We're going to have to find the mouth of the cave I had intended to leave through." Lady Eboshi said as they finished packing up their campsite, "Let's hurry up to the mountainside."

A lone scout traversed the mountains, armed with a bow in one hand and a katana at his side. His orders were clear: eliminate whoever stole the artifact his brigade was sent to retrieve. A trio of villagers pointed out to his captain that two women were searching for the temple, one beautiful, tall and pale-skinned while the other was short, tan, and savage in appearance. The object he was looking for was a green bag filled with crushed tea leaves, according to several monks back in the capital. Three other scouts were sent with him, though they split up to cover more ground. He was to take the high ground and search the mountains. Another man would check the caves while the remaining two would patrol the base of the mountain range on horseback.

There were plenty of caves the scout could have used to find the trio, though he preferred to take the high ground. The caverns would not have enough light for him to aim well. Their enclosed spaces would be another disadvantage to his usual style of engagement. He was used to hiding far away before striking, avoiding melee combat whenever possible. Time wasn't on his side, however, as the three would have an easier and quicker path. With not a moment to spare, he trekked through the mountains relentlessly. When encountered with a high wall of stone, he scaled with the gear he normally used to climb trees. Nobody else would take the route he followed. Although there were rumors of demons and evil spirits, he believed no such tales and pressed on. His captain would be furious if he failed his given task. Even more displeased would be the emperor, who had his sights set on immortality yet failed to gain it even when so close. Before the tea leaves of an ancient tree born during Japan's creation, the emperor had tried to use the blood of great spirits to attain everlasting life.

The early dawn hours shifted to the twilight of dusk as the scout reached the other end of the cave. His arms and hands were covered in scratches. Although they ached, he was prepared to strike when necessary. He found a ridge overlooking the cave. With one knee resting on the ground and the other up to steady his aim, he drew his bow and readied an arrow. Nobody in his unit was faster than he, and he was confident that an uncouth peasant and a lax noblewoman wouldn't be able to reach the other end of the cave before nightfall. One eye was shut while the other remained trained on the mouth of the cave. Whoever first exited the cave would feel his arrow's sting. A sense of pity fell over him, as he felt that it was unfair to the two women that they would have to be his targets. That was no matter at this point.

Although it was weak, San could see light at the cavern's end.

"We're almost out." She informed Ashitaka and Lady Eboshi.

"Good. We'll set up camp somewhere far away from this cave." Lady Eboshi said.

Soon, all four could see the glow of the setting sun. They picked up their pace, eager to be out of the cramped, dark cave. The light in Eboshi's lantern had begun to fade an hour ago and wouldn't last much longer. As they were near the exit, San's steps slowed. Ashitaka and Eboshi turned to her and saw her glare at the exit.

"What's wrong?" Ashitaka asked, "Do you hear something?"

"No, I smell something." San replied, "There's a human outside."

"What's wrong with that? It's just another person."

"There were no other living people in these mountains when Eboshi and I passed through." San's instincts were telling her not to exit, not yet. It was an innate feeling that her brothers and all mundane wolves possessed. Their sense of danger helped tell them if somebody was friend or foe, ally or enemy. She grabbed her spear, which Yakul was carrying at the side of his saddle, and slunk towards the exit. "Something doesn't feel right, Ashitaka. I'm going to see who's there."

San kept her back against the cave wall. At the mouth of the cave, she peeked outside and scanned the area. She couldn't see the human, though his scent was strong. He would have to be hiding if that was the case.

"Well?" Lady Eboshi asked.

"I don't see anybody." San said. She took a step outside of the cave to get a better view of the surrounding area. Before she could take a second step, a sharp pain erupted in her left thigh. Her leg failed and she collapsed to the cold hard ground. An arrow was sticking out of her leg, pinning her dress to her skin and staining its purple cloth with blood.

"San!" Ashitaka shouted as he rushed to her side. She heard the twang of a bowstring and deflected the incoming arrow with her spear. Her gaze turned towards the origin of the sound. Sitting atop a ridge overlooking the cave with a man in a dark tunic, armed with a longbow and a quiver full of arrows. Ignoring the biting pain in her leg, she dragged herself back into the cave.

"San, are you-" Ashitaka was about to say "hurt" but stopped short when he saw the arrow in her leg. He helped her further back into the cavern. Lady Eboshi and Yakul hurried over to see what had gone wrong. "Who was that?"

"I'm not sure." San replied through clenched teeth, "Whoever he is, he has the high ground and can see us before we can see him."

Ashitaka broke off the tail of the arrow and removed the shaft from her leg, grimacing as San let out a sharp hiss. He removed his sleeves and tied them around her thigh. Their cerulean shade turned deep purple as blood mixed in with the cloth. His fists clenched, cracking his knuckles and turning them white. They wouldn't be able to leave so long as that assassin remained outside.

"Where exactly is he?" Ashitaka asked.

"On a ridge to the east." San replied; judging by the setting sun, the mouth of the cave stood at the north. Ashitaka nodded and strode to Yakul. He took his bow and arrows, neither of which he had used in a long while, but his skill had yet to deteriorate. The strap of the quiver rest over his shoulders. With an arrow in one hand and his bow in the other, he sprinted to the exit.

The scout caught sight of another figure, though he didn't recognize him from any description given by the villagers. Nevertheless, he released his arrow.

Ashitaka's eyes were already fixated on the ridge by the time he reached the mouth. He rolled out of the way of an incoming arrow and fired his own. His aim had been compromised by his running and the arrow missed, breaking several feet away from the scout. The killer readied a second arrow and fired, though Ashitaka ducked behind a boulder before it could hit him. Although he was ready with another arrow, he was unsure about exiting cover. Whoever was attacking them was a skilled bowman.

Lady Eboshi refused to sit idly while Ashitaka fought against the assassin. They had no other weapons suited for range; San's spear and her katana were too heavy to throw. Then she remembered San's knife.

"Where's your dagger?" She asked San.

"Yakul should be carrying it." San replied, "Why?"

"How far away is that man?"

"I'm not sure."

Lady Eboshi shook her head. She wouldn't normally act in a situation where she had little

information to go on, but this was a different case. "I'm going to borrow it for a minute."

"What are you planning?"

"You'll see."

Lady Eboshi removed her heavy blue robe and set it atop Yakul's saddle. She took the dagger and tested its weight. It wasn't made for throwing and the balance would make it difficult to be accurate, but it was the best option they had. The assassin was focused on Ashitaka. Even if she missed, there was a chance his focus would divert.

The scout had yet to release his next arrow. He hadn't been informed of a third man, much less one armed with a bow of his own. His breathing remained steady even as his arms grew tired from pulling the bowstring. With one eye open, he solely concentrated on the boulder concealing his target. Lady Eboshi remained unnoticed as she stepped into the open. San's knife was unseen by the scout until its tip slashed a part of his open eye. Ashitaka perked up when he heard a harsh scream.

"Ashitaka! Now!" Lady Eboshi commanded as the blade fell to the ground. He whirled out from behind the boulder and aimed at the scout. The man was clutching his eye with both hands, having dropped his weapons the moment San's knife cut with ease. His hands dropped as Ashitaka's arrow pierced his chest. One second after, he crumpled to the ground, prone atop the ridge.

Lady Eboshi was at the campfire alone that night, having ordered Ashitaka to take care of San in their tent. An artery in San's thigh had been punctured by the arrow; by the time Eboshi and Ashitaka returned, the blood had poured down her calves and ankles. They set up camp several feet away from the cave. San had lost too much blood to walk very far; even if she rode Yakul, it could have been fatal if she wasn't treated within minutes. Ashitaka and Eboshi couldn't stop the bleeding with their supplies. Therefore, they had to cauterize the wound on their own. Eboshi started a fire while Ashitaka explained to San what they were doing. She was hesitant but accepted the idea. Yakul trotted away when he saw Ashitaka holding the flat of his sword to the fire. He overheard the conversation and didn't want to see or hear the result. The apologetic face on Ashitaka showed that he felt the same, but they had to make due with their provisions. A harsh, piercing shriek echoed throughout the mountains when Ashitaka finally set the heated metal on the bleeding gash.